C90 Slash

Many true disciples and Inner Sect Elders at the Spirit Opening Stage may not even grasp a mere 10% of the Artistic Conception.

Yet Lin Xuan achieved it!

This left Chen Xiao utterly astounded.

But the event unfolded before his very eyes, forcing him to accept the reality.

Right now, though, he had no time to ponder further.

Lin Xuan's sword light was already upon him.

The might of 10% sword intent was overwhelming. Despite being a full realm above Lin Xuan and wielding 5% Saber Intent, Chen Xiao's defenses crumbled effortlessly against Lin Xuan.

In that instant, a lethal threat loomed over him.

He knew that failing to counter this sword could result in grave injury.

With no room for negligence, Chen Xiao's True Qi burst forth from his Dantian, as he summoned his 5% Saber Intent for another desperate strike.

This time, Chen Xiao unleashed eight strikes of Scarlet Flame Blade Light.

He attacked with reckless abandon, disregarding the toll on his body.

Yet his efforts paled against the Gale Sword Beam, enhanced by 10% sword intent.

As their attacks collided, Chen Xiao's shattered instantly.

It barely made a dent in the Gale Sword Beam's formidable energy.

Still, it bought him precious instants against Lin Xuan's onslaught.

Chen Xiao had realized that once Lin Xuan's 10% sword intent was revealed, his defeat was inevitable.

Without hesitation, he used the rebound from the clash of blade and sword lights to propel himself backward.

He plummeted off the stage and retreated over a hundred meters before coming to a halt.

Despite his proactive evasion, the impact left his vitality in turmoil, and he could no longer hold back the blood that now trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Looking back at Lin Xuan on the stage, Chen Xiao's shock deepened.

Lin Xuan's prowess likely surpassed that of most late-stage Condensation Spin Inner Sect elites!

Meanwhile, on the stage.

The unyielding Gale Sword Beam continued its descent, unchecked by Chen Xiao, and it struck the stage with unrelenting force.

A horrific blast echoed across the square!

The ground trembled several times as though a massive earthquake had struck.

Far off, disciples who had already left the square were writhing on the ground, nursing internal injuries and crying out in agony.

The deacons surrounding the stage paled and sprang into action, swiftly retreating.

They didn't stop until they were a hundred meters away, their hearts still pounding with residual fear.

They turned their gaze back to the stage.

For a moment, the stage was obscured by a cloud of dust, blinding them.

Then, a strong gust of wind swept through, clearing the dust away.

The sight that met their eyes was startling.

A deep fissure had split the stage right down the middle, nearly dividing it in two.

Lin Xuan stood his ground, his expression icy as he methodically sheathed his sword, seemingly unfazed by the chaos.

The onlookers stared, eyes wide with disbelief, frozen in shock.

Their astonishment was palpable.

It took a moment for the crowd to snap out of their daze.

A collective gasp rippled through the air, followed by an uproar that reached a fever pitch.

"This stage was built to withstand the ferocity of Inner Sect elite battles—how could it be reduced to this?"

"Senior Brother Chen Xiao has been defeated? I didn't even catch how he was bested!"

"Have they determined a winner?"

"Senior Brother Lin Xuan's strength is formidable."

The disciples buzzed with conversation, their eyes fixed on the ravaged stage and Lin Xuan's serene demeanor, their shock undiminished.

Even as they came to their senses, the awe they felt did not wane.

Moments before, they had witnessed nothing but a maelstrom of wind and fire engulfing the stage.

Then, the ground had lurched as if seized by an earthquake.

When they finally gathered their wits, Chen Xiao had been cast down from the stage, defeated, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, clearly wounded.

The stage itself was nearly cleaved in half, left in ruins.

Lin Xuan remained on the stage, his expression cool, as he slowly withdrew his sword.

Before this turn of events, it was Chen Xiao who had unleashed his 5% Saber Intent, his might surging.

At that moment, everyone had believed Chen Xiao would emerge victorious from the duel.

In just a few moments, the scene had transformed dramatically.

The tables had completely turned.

It was unbelievable to them.

Even fully awake, they were enveloped in a surreal haze.

The spectacle before their eyes seemed too fantastical to be real.

It was as if they were all caught in a dream.

The disciples were astounded by Lin Xuan once again.

This time, their amazement extended beyond Lin Xuan's talent to his formidable strength.

He nearly cleaved the arena in two, vanquishing Chen Xiao, proving his might to be superior to that of most Inner Sect elites.

His prowess greatly outstripped that of the ordinary Inner Sect disciples.

Their gazes towards Lin Xuan were filled with awe and veneration, with no room left for any trace of disdain.

Despite Lin Xuan's mere month within the sect, compared to their years in the Inner Sect, they knew that in this world, strength reigned supreme.

Seniority held no weight against the stark disparities of true power.

The display of strength Lin Xuan now revealed was something they couldn't hope to match.

They could no longer afford to regard Lin Xuan with their former attitudes.

Amidst the crowd, Chen Yuze stared at Lin Xuan from afar, his expression stunned, still grappling with shock. He whispered to himself:

"Lin Xuan, I truly underestimated you."

He had been bested by Lin Xuan in the Grand Competition and had since joined the Inner Sect.

In under ten days, Lin Xuan had followed suit.

And while he had once been a whole realm ahead of Lin Xuan, now the tables had turned, and it was he who had been overtaken.

Their next encounter was in the Fighting Arena.

Despite deploying the rudiments of his Concept, he had been defeated by other Inner Sect disciples, all of whom Lin Xuan had subsequently overcome.

Now, Lin Xuan's strength had surged to more than tenfold what it was during the Grand Competition.

Following that, several Late Qi Transformation Stage disciples fell to Lin Xuan's blade.

Even Chen Annrann, wielding the nascent form of Saber Intent at the pinnacle of the Qi Transformation Stage, succumbed to Lin Xuan's skill.

And now, Chen Xiao, an elite at the third level of the Condensation Spin Stage, had also been bested by Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan's strength had soared beyond the bounds of his imagination.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring himself to believe it!

Shock had rooted him to the spot, and even after several moments had passed, he was still unable to regain his composure.