C87 Executing Ability

They couldn't even withstand the residual impact!

Is this the true power of the Inner Sect elites?

The disciples were utterly astounded.

After the clash, both combatants were forced to retreat.

They each staggered back seven or eight meters before coming to a halt.

Incredibly, they were equally matched.

The arena erupted into a commotion.

The disciples were deeply shaken. It was now clear to them that Lin Xuan possessed strength on par with the Condensation Spin Stage.

And Chen Xiao was no ordinary practitioner of that stage.

He was a third-level Condensation Spin Stage elite of the Inner Sect, known for holding his own against those at the fourth level.

Yet, in a head-to-head confrontation, Lin Xuan stood his ground against Chen Xiao.

The disciples were in awe.

They now understood the reason behind Lin Xuan's bold wager.

Lin Xuan indeed had the requisite power.

They had been too quick to mock Lin Xuan, and now, embarrassment washed over them as they hung their heads in shame.

But perhaps they weren't entirely at fault.

After all, such a precedent had never been set in the history of the Drifting Cloud Sect.

With this realization, the disciples were even more astonished.

Lin Xuan had just set another unprecedented record.

On the stage, Chen Xiao's face took on a grave expression.

His punch, though a test, had been delivered with the full force of the Condensation Spin Stage.

Not everyone at the second level of that stage could have withstood such a blow.

Yet Lin Xuan had managed to do just that.

What's more, Lin Xuan's cultivation was only at the fourth level of the Qi Transformation Stage, barely into its middle phase.

His display of strength was nothing short of terrifying.

Now he understood Lin Xuan's formidable reputation, hailed as the sect's top prodigy, with Xu Annlan himself vouching for Lin Xuan's abilities.

His prowess in battle spoke volumes.

In that moment, Chen Xiao was profoundly moved by Lin Xuan's talent.

However, this was not the time for such reflections.

He was the one who had thrown down the gauntlet.

He was an Inner Sect elite, challenging a newcomer who had been part of the Inner Sect for a mere three days.

He could not afford to lose this battle.

Despite Lin Xuan's exceptional talent, he had the advantage of being an entire major realm above him.

Defeat would likely spell a grim fate for him.

So, he was prepared to unleash his full power to secure victory.

With a steely gaze fixed on Lin Xuan, Chen Xiao declared icily:

"Lin Xuan, your talent and strength are indeed remarkable!

I must admit, I'm quite impressed.

But you are still just a new disciple.

I cannot—will not—be defeated by you!

Prepare yourself, for I will no longer hold back!"

With those words, he grasped the air and a slender saber materialized in his hand.

"Very well!"

Lin Xuan nodded in acknowledgment, drawing forth a treasured sword, his face etched with resolve.

Chen Xiao truly lived up to his reputation as an Inner Sect elite, far surpassing Chen Annrann in might.

Lin Xuan knew he had to tap into his real strength to emerge victorious.

The crowd, invigorated by the anticipation, wondered if Lin Xuan's earlier move was merely a probe.

Were they about to witness his true capabilities?

The sheer force of that single strike had been astounding!

What spectacle would unfold if they engaged in full combat?

The onlookers grew more eager by the moment.

Simultaneously, they instinctively retreated.

The previous aftershock had nearly caused them internal injuries.

Another outburst like that, and they risked serious harm.

No one wanted to be wounded simply by spectating.

A safe distance was the prudent choice.

They withdrew to the perimeter of the plaza and halted.

The center now lay bare.

Not even Chen Annrann, Zhou Zhe, or other Qi Transformation Stage Peak practitioners dared come close.

Only a few late-stage Condensation Spin Stage deacons remained, their duty to record the event.

An unusual tableau had taken shape.

Unconcerned with the scene around them, the two combatants on the platform focused solely on each other.

As Lin Xuan's words fell, Chen Xiao's presence transformed, radiating a fierce and penetrating edge.

This was the nascent form of Saber Intent!

Though similar to Chen Annrann's, Chen Xiao's was more advanced; he was at the third level of the Condensation Spin Stage, surpassing Chen Annrann by a major realm and three minor realms.

Moreover, his martial arts mastery was significantly beyond that of Chen Annrann's.

This power was far beyond anything Chen Annrann could muster.

Indeed, Chen Annrann's display of strength paled in comparison to his own.

Meanwhile, the formidable presence of the third level of the Condensation Spin Stage burst forth with a thunderous explosion.

The fearsome force whipped up waves of air that surged in every direction, making onlookers shudder.

Without delay, Chen Xiao took action.

"Sky-Filled Flame!"

With a frosty shout, he swung his blade, unleashing a colossal flame blade light tens of meters long that swept toward Lin Xuan.

The intense heat waves radiated outward, causing the temperature of the entire plaza to soar.

It was as though he had stepped into an inferno.

Bolstered by the nascent Saber Intent, the force of the attack multiplied several-fold.

The Void itself rippled faintly, as if it were struggling to bear the strain and warping under the pressure.

The sheer might of this power was both awe-inspiring and terrifying!

Nor did the speed leave anything to be desired.

In less than the blink of an eye, it loomed over Lin Xuan's head.

Lin Xuan's expression grew stern.

Unexpectedly, Chen Xiao had deviated from the norm, employing the Concept with his second move.

Moreover, he had invoked the embryonic form of Saber Intent.

In Chen Xiao's hands, it was over ten times more potent than when wielded by Chen Annrann.

It stood to reason—the more advanced the cultivation, the greater the power of the Concept.

Lin Xuan inwardly sighed.

Now, he would have to reveal even more of his capabilities.

Instantly, a blinding sharpness emanated from Lin Xuan, piercing the heavens.

The air shattered wherever the light touched.

The clouds above were silently sliced into innumerable fragments by an unseen force and scattered to the winds.

Even the formidable flaming blade light seemed to be caught by an immense hand in the Void, its speed abruptly halted.

Its power was significantly diminished.

The disciples nearby felt the intensity acutely, a chill that cut to the bone, their skin stinging, their sight suddenly enveloped in darkness, as if struck blind.

They quickly averted their gaze, and only then did their vision begin to clear.

Their astonishment grew exponentially.

They had not anticipated that Lin Xuan could still summon such power.

What kind of martial arts could this be? They had all gathered at the very edge of the Fighting Arena, still hundreds of meters from the platform.

Yet, they couldn't even bear to watch from a distance.

It was utterly astonishing!

The deacons at the late Condensation Spin Stage surrounding the platform also experienced a momentary blur. They quickly channeled their True Qi to clear their vision. As they refocused on Lin Xuan in the arena, they were profoundly shaken.

"Could this be the Artistic Conception of Creation?"

"5% Sword Intent!"

"The rumors are indeed true!"

"Lin Xuan has managed to manifest 5% Sword Intent, and he's only been at the beginner level for a month!"

"His aptitude for understanding is simply frightening!"

The deacons were astounded, their exclamations echoing with extreme shock.

None of them had anticipated that Lin Xuan would truly grasp and demonstrate the 5% Sword Intent.