Yang Jing’s eyes snapped open as a sharp whistle suddenly tore through the air.

The Celestial Waterfall Sword transformed into a cascade of starlight, erupting with the Sword Qi Thunder Sound as it slashed at the Cyan Sparrow. The heavy blow knocked the Cyan Sparrow several feet off course, its sharp claws grazing past Yang Jing’s side.

Yang Jing felt the sharpness radiating from those claws. He knew that even with the resilience of his True Yang Body, a direct hit would have disemboweled him.

’If I didn’t have Thunder Escape as a trump card, I never would’ve dared take such a risk.’

A surge of aura erupted behind him. Sima Peng had used Wind Escape to appear at his back, thrusting a Magic Sword shimmering with Spiritual Light at Yang Jing. Due to the limits of his cultivation, Sima Peng could only refine a single Magical Treasure—the Cyan Sparrow Ring—but he was by no means short on Spiritual Artifacts.

The Spiritual Artifact in his hand was a Magic Sword called the Nine-Breath Sword. It wasn’t a Flying Sword of the type used by Sword Cultivators; instead, it relied on the Restrictions etched into its blade to transform Nine Breath Gang Wind into an all-penetrating Sword Wind.

While it lacked the fluid agility of a Sword Cultivator’s Flying Sword, its sharpness was in no way inferior.

Yang Jing acted as if he hadn’t seen the whistling Sword Wind at his back. He gripped the Celestial Waterfall Sword, and for the first time, achieved the state of Man and Sword as One.

The next moment, his Sword Qi transformed into a long rainbow, shredding the incoming Nine-Breath Sword Wind to pieces as it shot toward the sky.

The Celestial Waterfall Sword was, after all, a Spiritual Artifact Yang Jing had personally refined. In the state of Man and Sword as One, there was absolutely no barrier between them.

With one flap of its wings, then a second, the Cyan Sparrow caught up to the Tunneling Speed of Yang Jing’s Sword Qi Thunder Sound. It extended its talons, attempting to seize the Flying Sword.

A ruthless resolve hardened in Yang Jing’s heart. His sword rainbow suddenly erupted with dazzling Five Elements True Fire, once again taking the form of a dragon to clash with the Cyan Sparrow. The two began a fierce battle in mid-air.

The Fire Dragon was nimble, the Cyan Sparrow majestic. Each collision between the Nine Breath Gang Wind and the Five Elements True Fire triggered a sky-shattering explosion. Spiritual Fire burst apart and the Gang Wind disintegrated. The Nine Breath Gang Wind possessed immense Magical Power, but the Five Elements True Fire was of superior quality.

Even for Yang Jing, with his accomplished Body Refinement, the violent impacts made his marrow itch and his organs go numb.

An ordinary Sword Cultivator would have been shaken to death by the shockwaves alone.

More and more Cultivators gathered to watch the battle, their faces paling as they took in the astonishing scene.

"Are those two really both in the Foundation Establishment Realm? What kind of divine might is this?"

Even Dong Xiji felt dejected. Yang Jing was one thing, but he never thought that Sima Peng, whom he’d somewhat looked down upon, also possessed such astounding abilities.

Iron Head looked even more anxious. Proficient in his Bright Qi Talent and having cultivated the Grotto Dark Dharma Eye, he could see that his master was beginning to fall into a disadvantage.

’That Cyan Sparrow is formed from Nine Breath Gang Wind, which is already known for being inexhaustible. On top of that, its essence is a Magical Treasure, making its Spiritual Mechanism incomparably dense. It’s already incredibly difficult for Master to clash with it head-on in his Man and Sword as One state. His Magical Power is bound to run out eventually. And that’s not even considering Sima Peng, who’s just waiting leisurely on the sidelines.’

He took out the Seven-Star Flying Thunder Spear, gripped it tightly, and said to the Yu Hou under his command.

"The moment Master breaks away from that Cyan Sparrow, we will immediately pilot the Flying Boat and get in front of him! Then, we’ll use the Void Five Weapons Array on the boat to manifest the Five Weapons and strike down Sima Peng!"

Zuoqiu Feng shook her head.

"Iron Head, calm down. Sima Peng’s aura suddenly skyrocketed; he must have used some kind of Secret Technique. Most of those techniques don’t last long. Once his augmented Magical Power fades, Yang Jing is guaranteed to win. If Yang Jing can’t hold on until then, I will step in to block Sima Peng."

A faint Five-Colored Profound Light began to shimmer around her, a sign she was ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.

The various Nascent Soul experts watching the battle were already speculating on what kind of Secret Technique Sima Peng was using. It was capable of multiplying his Magical Power, apparently without any risk of him losing control.

"Something about this young man feels very wrong."

Canyuan True Monarch commented with a frown. He hailed from the Profound Pure Sect and was extremely knowledgeable about various Divine Soul Secret Techniques. However, the Primordial Seed originated from the Primordial Storage Realm and was a tool of that realm’s Top Tier Divine Being, the White God. Viewing the battle through a Water Mirror, he couldn’t be certain.

"Hmph! Sima Peng is from the Central Continent; it’s only natural he has his own inherited Secret Techniques. Canxuan, don’t tell me you’re planning to interfere just because your sect’s disciple is at a disadvantage?" Elder Yan had once suffered a major loss at the hands of the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, so he naturally spoke up for Sima Peng, using his words to hold Canyuan True Monarch in check and prevent him from stopping the Magical Combat.

’If an outstanding disciple of the Six Sects like Yang Jing is defeated by a genius from the Central Continent, it would be a satisfying way for me to vent some frustration.’

Canyuan True Monarch snorted coldly. ’Still,’ he thought, ’it isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a heaven-sent talent like Yang Jing to suffer a loss now and then.’ He suppressed his unease, deciding to inspect Sima Peng more closely later.

As the Northern Army Governor, he was extremely sensitive to any cultivator with an unusual Divine Soul.

BOOM!

Under the pincer attack of the Cyan Sparrow and Sima Peng, Yang Jing suddenly dissipated his Sword Light. He then executed a sword escape, dodging the Cyan Sparrow’s pursuit.

"Yang Jing, aren’t you supposed to be arrogant? Why are you running like a beaten dog?"

Sima Peng roared with laughter as he commanded the Cyan Sparrow to give chase. The deeper the Primordial Seed burrowed into his Divine Soul, the more refreshed and clear-headed he felt. It was as if all kinds of profound principles were spontaneously revealing themselves to him.

’Is this what an epiphany feels like?’

He was overjoyed.

It was a pity. Sima Peng had originally been a dedicated cultivator with a deep foundation and a firm Daoist heart; otherwise, the Celestial Treasure Tower would never have sent him to the Western Continent. If only he had noticed the change in his own disposition from the very beginning, grown vigilant, and sought help from the Profound Pure Sect, it might not have been impossible to extract the Primordial Seed from his Divine Soul.

But now, the Primordial Seed had already occupied the majority of his Divine Soul. The situation was beyond saving.

Yang Jing suddenly came to a halt, exiting his state of Man and Sword as One. He seemed to be resigning himself to his fate, yet his face showed not a hint of despair.

"Sima Peng, did you really think this was the full extent of my Five Elements True Fire?"

He pointed one finger toward the sky and another toward the ground.

The next moment, pinpricks of five-colored flame suddenly ignited in the empty air all around.

The flames seemed minuscule at first, but in the very next instant, they merged into a surging, monstrous ocean of fire that instantly engulfed the triumphant Sima Peng.

This was the very same Five Elements True Fire that the Cyan Sparrow had scattered earlier. An ordinary True Fire, once dispersed, would simply be extinguished. But Yang Jing’s Five Elements True Fire was condensed from five different types of True Fire. It inherently contained the principle of the Five Elements’ mutual generation, allowing it to continuously absorb the world’s Spiritual Qi to sustain and strengthen itself.

"Not good!"

Sima Peng cried out in alarm and activated his Treasure Robe.

This robe was an Uppermost Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact. When activated, an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be unable to breach its Defensive Spirit Light, even if Sima Peng just stood there and took the hit.

But beneath the tide of Five Elements True Fire, the Defensive Spirit Light lasted only a few breaths before instantly shattering.

Fortunately, those few breaths were just enough time for him to recall the Cyan Sparrow to his side.

The Cyan Sparrow plunged into the sea of fire, spread its wings, and let out a clear, piercing cry.

Billowing waves of Nine Breath Gang Wind erupted from the Cyan Sparrow, sweeping out in all directions and blowing the sea of Five Elements True Fire apart.

A trace of fear lingered in Sima Peng’s heart. ’If that Treasure Robe hadn’t held out for that brief moment, I really would have died in that inferno.’

But before he could react, a flash of lightning flared behind him. Yang Jing, who had been hundreds of yards away, crossed the vast distance in an instant and appeared at his back.

Sima Peng’s eyes widened in fury and terror. His Treasure Robe had been severely damaged while blocking the sea of Five Elements True Fire. He could only force himself to activate another Defensive Spiritual Artifact.

It was a Jade Pendant tied to his waist, slightly inferior to his Treasure Robe.

The Defensive Spirit Light had just flared to life when Yang Jing, gripping the Celestial Waterfall Sword with both hands, brought it slashing down.

The Sword Gang flared. Under Yang Jing’s immense strength, the Defensive Spirit Light shattered on impact.

Sima Peng, and even the Primordial Seed within his Divine Soul, were utterly shocked. He didn’t have time to command the Cyan Sparrow Ring to block, instead hastily activating Wind Escape and vanishing in a flash. He reappeared a hundred yards away, the Treasure Robe on his back sliced open by the sharp blade, revealing a long, narrow gash.

’If not for the robe’s excellent material, which had deflected the blow for an instant, my spine would have been severed.’

"Thunder Escape!"