After a brief moment of tension, waves of cheers erupted, all in support of Hugh Xu.
Seeing this, Felix Zhu's face grew darker. He muttered in a low voice, "Leon Huang, you'd better win this match. If you lose, I'll make sure you wish you were dead!"
On the platform, Hugh Xu stared coldly at Ian, his tone indifferent: "The Asura Sword technique is a slaughter sword art, and the Asura Sword is a blade made for killing. When the two are combined, their power multiplies. If you don't want to die, it's not too late to surrender now!"
"Is a sixth-grade spirit weapon really that rare? I have one too."
Ian smiled and the Falling Star Sword appeared in his hand.
"This sword is called the Falling Star Sword. It once slaughtered three thousand Devils. Compared to the Asura Sword, it's nothing special!"
Hugh Xu glanced at the Falling Star Sword and nodded. "Good. Since you also have a sixth-grade spirit weapon, this will be much more interesting. Otherwise, fighting a weak opponent wouldn't be worth my time!"
"You're very confident."
A playful smirk appeared at the corner of Ian's mouth.
Hugh Xu nodded in agreement. "I've always believed I'll become stronger. You're just a tiny pebble on my path to greatness. Go ahead—show me your strongest sword technique."
"Let's see if you're qualified!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ian stepped forward. The Falling Star Sword in his hand turned into a fiery red streak, aiming straight for Hugh Xu's brow.
"Clang!"
Hugh Xu casually swung the Asura Sword, easily deflecting Ian's lightning-fast strike. Immediately, he launched a counterattack.
"Ding ding ding ding!"
A string of impact sounds rang out continuously.
The two figures flashed and intertwined across the platform, crossing paths again and again.
They were competing purely in sword intent, abandoning brute force and flashy moves.
Down below the stage.
Henry Ji narrowed his eyes and said to Tiffany Wenren beside him, "Both of their swordsmanship is at a high level. Just by sword arts alone, neither of us would necessarily be their match."
Tiffany Wenren nodded in agreement. "So what? I'm not a pure swordsman, not even really a swordsman at all. If I fought them, I’m confident I could beat either one in three moves!"
"Not necessarily!"
Henry Ji shook his head, his eyes carrying a deeper meaning.
Compared to the sects, Sanctum Martial Academy’s rules are much harsher. Everywhere you have to fight—if you don’t, you’ll fall behind.
You fight for reputation, for resources, for luck. That’s why Sanctum students are so aggressive.
In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged seventy or eighty moves, but neither could gain the upper hand.
Those who had thought Ian would be crushed now looked worried—after all, they’d all bet on Hugh Xu to win.
"Hugh Xu, what are you waiting for? Beat him already!"
Liam Liang shouted impatiently.
Hearing this, Hugh Xu bounced back to the edge of the platform. He stared intently at Ian and said slowly, "You're a good opponent. Sparring with you has sharpened my sword intent. So next, I’ll go all out—be careful!"
"I've gained a lot too. You're a worthy opponent, so I'll use my strongest sword technique to defeat you!"
A wind rose...
Hugh Xu slowly raised his Asura Sword. Instantly, a terrifying aura of bloodlust and slaughter filled the entire platform, making the air itself feel thick and crimson.
"Kill!"
Afterimages flashed!
They covered the whole platform.
Shadows of Hugh Xu appeared in every direction—no one could tell which was real and which was fake.
"Amazing! Is this the power of the Asura Sword technique?"
Everyone below the stage stared wide-eyed.
Harriet Gu's eyes flashed with worry as she stared unblinking at Ian.
Facing Hugh Xu's omnipresent attacks, Ian chose to respond with unchanging defense.
Suddenly, his brow twitched—a blood-red sword appeared without warning.
"Ding!"
But it was as if Ian had already anticipated it—the Falling Star Sword instantly appeared at his brow, blocking the Asura Sword's assassination.
Missing the mark, Hugh Xu's figure retreated, only to reappear eerily behind Ian.
"Ding!"
The Falling Star Sword stabbed backward, clashing with the Asura Sword once more, sending sparks flying.
Hugh Xu repeatedly launched assassination attempts, but Ian blocked each one with ease.
At this moment, Ian felt a bit grateful to Darren Fang Easton. If not for that month of training, he might not be able to withstand Hugh Xu's Asura Sword with his current cultivation.
"Your sword may be fast, but it can't break my defense!"
"Not necessarily!"
"Whoosh!"
Hugh Xu's shifting figure sped up once again.
"Clang clang clang!"
Five consecutive strikes, each faster and stronger than the last. Ian's sword hand began to feel numb.
Down below the stage.
Henry Ji spoke again: "Tiffany, under Hugh Xu's Asura Sword, how many moves could you defend against?"
"I'm better at attacking!"
Though Tiffany Wenren sounded tough, her eyes grew serious. Imagining herself in Ian's place, she realized she couldn't defend at this level.
Suddenly, Hugh Xu's afterimages vanished.
He looked deeply at Ian. "I can't break your defense, so now I'll use a secret technique. Once I activate it, my speed will double and my strength will triple. If you can still block me, I’ll concede!"
"Boom!"
As soon as Hugh Xu finished speaking, a ring of blood-red flames erupted around him.
"Kill!"
Ian only saw a blur before Hugh Xu's sword appeared at his chest, moving at incredible speed.
Retreat!
He flew backward!
But Ian still couldn't avoid the sword's edge—a shallow wound appeared on his chest, only two centimeters deep.
Hugh Xu gave him no time to recover—his second sword strike came immediately.
This strike was like a streak of blood-red lightning, even faster than the first.
"Pfft!"
Another wound appeared on Ian's chest.
"Well done!"
Seeing this, Liam Liang laughed loudly.
Henry Ji said, "The Asura Sword is terrifying. Tiffany, could you block it?"
"I couldn't!" Tiffany Wenren shook her head, eyes flashing with shock. "But if he fought me, I wouldn't give him a chance to use his secret technique!"
"Intent!"
Facing Hugh Xu's third strike, Ian unhesitatingly entered a state of sword intent, merging with the surroundings.
"Whoosh!"
The third sword stabbed into empty air.
"Heart!"
Suddenly, Ian's figure appeared high above the platform.
"Hugh Xu, take my Nine Heavens Falling Sun Sword!"
A vast, radiant sword aura burst from Ian, instantly filling the arena and dispelling the Asura Sword's murderous intent.
Brilliant, dazzling light!
It was as if a golden crow had fallen from the sky.
Ian became one with his sword, descending like a falling sun, driving away all killing intent and darkness, bringing light to the world.
"This is... sword heart!"
Seeing this, Henry Ji and Tiffany Wenren were utterly shocked, unable to believe their eyes.
Once you enter the realm of intent, you can merge with heaven and earth, borrowing the power of the world itself.
Once you reach the realm of heart, you become the center of heaven and earth, commanding the power of the world itself.
One borrows, one commands—which is stronger?
"Kill!"
Feeling the overwhelming pressure descending from above, Hugh Xu struggled to breathe. But he refused to give up—stomping his right foot on the platform, he shot upward like a blood-red shadow to meet the falling sun.
"Pop!"
The two forces collided, devouring, canceling, and attacking each other.
Two breaths later...
A blood-soaked figure fell from midair, crashing onto the platform and losing consciousness. Then, another figure, bathed in golden light, drifted gently to the ground like a feather...