Sword Keening, Death

Sword Keening, Death...

During his duel with Zong Peng, the members of the Zong Clan had witnessed firsthand Qin Wentian's incredible power.

Tyrannical was the only word that could truly describe him. Without even drawing his sword, Qin Wentian had shattered Zong Peng's Astral Nova.

While Li Nian and Jian Feng might be stronger than Zong Peng, could they replicate what Qin Wentian had done? Could they completely overpower Zong Peng and secure an effortless victory?

The members of the Zong Clan couldn't help but worry that Li Nian and Jian Feng, the most powerful among their respective groups, might team up against Qin Wentian.

"Who is that guy?"

On the edge of the precipice, several spectators turned their attention to Qin Wentian. They had never heard his name before, but the eyes of the Zong Clan members seemed to burn with unwavering confidence in him. They believed that he could defeat both Li Ran and Jian Feng.

Some of the onlookers even recognized Qin Wentian. They had crossed paths with him when he was cultivating his sword at the precipice. Now, they realized that he was the helper invited by the Zong Clan.

However, even though Qin Wentian was undoubtedly powerful, in the face of Li Ran and Jian Feng, he appeared to be nothing more than a spectator. He simply couldn't compare to these two formidable opponents.

"You actually dared to participate in the Heavenly Dipper level battle?" Li Nian's eyes glinted with curiosity as she addressed Qin Wentian.

"Li Nian, if Brother Qin hadn't spared you that day, do you think you'd even be here?" Zong Qian shot back.

Li Ran's gaze also landed on Qin Wentian, his expression oozing with disdain. "Just step aside."

The upcoming battle was between him and Jian Feng. He had been eagerly awaiting this fight for a long time. Therefore, the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Li Clan had conspired to sideline the Zong Clan from the competition, making their victory contingent on the outcome of Li Ran and Jian Feng's battle.

Jian Feng remained composed, his eyes briefly flickering with recognition as he looked at Qin Wentian. Wasn't this the cultivator he had sensed that night?

He merely spared a casual glance at Qin Wentian before returning his attention to Li Ran. Like Li Ran, he believed that this battle had nothing to do with Qin Wentian.

It would be in Qin Wentian's best interest to leave the platform voluntarily.

Qin Wentian stood there quietly. Battling Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns didn't faze him in the slightest. He had faced the pinnacle geniuses of Grand Xia, including transcendent talents, in the ancient kingdom and emerged as the top-ranked contender. In Sword Reverence City, his only reason for participating in this battle was to assist Clan Lord Zong Yi in acquiring control of the sword range. To him, this battle held no real significance.

Unfazed by Li Ran's words, Qin Wentian acted as if he hadn't heard them. Li Ran, who was now fully focused on Jian Feng, expressed his irritation with a furrowed brow. His eyes gleamed with a cold light as he shifted his gaze toward Qin Wentian. With a sharp whistle, the ancient sword on his back levitated before him, its blade pointing directly at Qin Wentian.

"You shouldn't be in this battle. Your first mistake was agreeing to help Zong Yi. I gave you a chance to withdraw earlier, and you didn't take it—that was your second mistake," Li Ran said coldly. He then turned to Jian Feng and suggested, "We shouldn't overdo it. Let's each make a single sword move and see who can defeat him first. What do you think?"

Jian Feng, upon hearing Li Ran's proposal, shifted his gaze to Qin Wentian and remarked, "You're no match for us. You should leave the platform while you still have the chance."

In Sword Reverence City, Jian Feng believed there was no one at his level who could defeat him. The only exception was Li Ran from the Li Clan, a talent of extraordinary caliber. Jian Wuyou, the leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect, had selected him as the Sword Son when he was still in the Yuanfu Realm. With several years of cultivation, his Sword Heart had become even more resolute. He firmly believed that it was virtually impossible for anyone at his level in Sword Reverence City to defeat him.

"Since you're reluctant to make a move, allow me to deal with him first before we engage," Jian Feng suggested confidently.

Li Ran sensed that Jian Feng intended to give Qin Wentian a chance, but he had run out of patience. He steadily advanced towards Qin Wentian, his hands reaching out to grasp his hovering sword.

Brilliant rays of light radiated from Li Ran's sword, so dazzling that onlookers struggled to keep their eyes open. His entire sword glimmered like a blazing sun, its brilliance so intense that it seemed almost blinding.

As the wind picked up, the glow intensified. The spectators could barely shield their eyes from the overwhelmingly bright light. It was as if Li Ran's sword emitted a harsh, sun-like glare.

In a flash, Li Ran transformed into a streak of sword light, leaving spectators with no choice but to shield their eyes if they couldn't withstand the brilliance. The light emanating from Li Ran's sword was so intense that it resembled the harsh rays of the blazing sun.

With a swift, powerful slash, Li Ran's sword descended upon Qin Wentian. In an instant, an intense beam of light appeared right in front of Qin Wentian, sending shivers down the spines of those who witnessed it.

Li Ran aimed to swiftly sever Qin Wentian's throat with this single strike.

It was rumored that due to his pride, Li Ran rarely drew his sword. However, today, in the presence of countless spectators at the sword range battle, just before his showdown with Jian Feng, he decided to unleash his most flamboyant and attention-grabbing attack to eliminate Qin Wentian.

He intended to offer the life of the Zong Clan's Sword Son as a sacrifice to his sword.

Even amid the blinding glare, some spectators squinted their eyes, eager to witness Li Ran's life-stealing sword technique.

Members of the Li Clan wore smirks of arrogance and pride on their faces. Li Nian, in particular, displayed a sneering expression.

The moment Li Ran's sword descended, Qin Wentian calmly closed his eyes. His own sword, which was strapped to his back, suddenly shot out of its sheath at lightning speed, soaring into the air before landing gracefully in his outstretched palm. His movements appeared incredibly casual and smooth. Remarkably, he made no effort to dodge Li Ran's sword strike.

Li Ran was exceptionally fast, but Qin Wentian's sword was even quicker.

His hand, holding his sword, quivered as the sword's keening echoed through the air with each vibration. Spectators could easily imagine Qin Wentian being struck down by the intense sword beam unleashed by Li Ran.

Even members of the Zong Clan were perplexed. Why wasn't Qin Wentian attempting to dodge?

With the sword's attack speed, there was no longer any chance for Qin Wentian to evade, even if he had intended to.

The sword beam descended, seemingly slicing Qin Wentian's figure into pieces as the spectators watched in stunned silence.

The Zong Clan members felt their hearts grow heavy, while others thought it was an unsurprising outcome. Li Nian's smirk grew more pronounced as her sneer deepened.

"Hmm?" Just at that moment, something bizarre happened. They witnessed a faint shadow slowly elongating, gradually forming into a figure that eventually appeared two steps behind Li Ran. Li Ran directed the sword beam at the silhouette, but it vanished completely, causing his attack to strike empty air.

"This... How fast!" The audience gasped in amazement. Even with his blinding attack speed, Li Ran couldn't land a hit on his opponent?

The sword intent faded, and with it, the sword beam dissipated. Yet Qin Wentian could be seen standing in his original spot, with his back to Li Ran. The spectators all fixated their gazes on him, eager to see if Qin Wentian had been injured by the strike.

Li Ran slowly turned around, but Qin Wentian remained unmoved. This prompted the audience to sigh, thinking that Qin Wentian hadn't escaped Li Ran's attack.

"How is this possible?"

A raspy voice shattered the silence. As Li Ran turned his body, he gasped, revealing a bloody wound on his throat, from which fresh blood flowed incessantly.

In an instant, everyone's attention focused on him, their faces filled with terror.

Li Ran gradually collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The sound of a sword, a person falls.

In battles between sword cultivators, the sword wind posed the greatest danger. A simple misstep could result in a slashed throat.

Li Ran considered himself superior, generously allowing Qin Wentian the chance to concede the battle. Yet in the end, he perished from a throat slash. The Li Clan's Sword Son had fallen.

A bone-chilling sensation enveloped Li Nian's body. Overwhelmed by horror, she stared at the scene before her in disbelief. Her body involuntarily trembled.

Members of the Li Clan wore ashen expressions. They had partnered with the Heavenly Sword Sect to give Li Ran a chance to confront Jian Feng and determine who would gain control of the sword range for the next decade. Now, the Li Clan had been unexpectedly eliminated from the competition and lost a Sword Son.

"Remarkable."

"Sword Son, Qin Wen."

The members of the Zong Clan burned with fanaticism in their eyes. Moments ago, they were filled with anxiety, but now their disappointment had vanished completely, replaced by a surge of hot-blooded excitement.

That sword attack had been nothing short of magnificent, wiping away the humiliation the Zong Clan had endured and turning it into a resounding slap across the faces of the Li Clan. Li Zhentian's earlier words were still echoing in the air, making his current situation feel like he was slapping himself in the face.

"Clan lord Li, don't count your chickens before they hatch," Zong Yi spoke with an indifferent tone, and his words ignited a chilling gleam in Li Zhentian's eyes as he stared at Qin Wentian on the platform.

"Clean that up," Li Zhentian ordered, waving his hand as a member of his clan approached and removed Li Ran's lifeless body. All three powers had agreed that life and death in this contest would be determined by their own fate. Li Ran had intended to kill Qin Wentian but had ended up losing his life instead.

Onlookers in this area wore expressions of astonishment. It seemed that the Zong Clan had prepared well in advance.

Initially, the Li Clan had aimed to directly challenge the Heavenly Sword Sect in the final battle for control of the sword range for the next ten years. They hadn't anticipated becoming the sacrificial pawns, paving the way for the Zong Clan instead.

In the next battle, as long as the Zong Clan emerged victorious, control of the sword range would be theirs.

When the crowd's gaze returned to Qin Wentian, they saw him incline his head, fixing his eyes on Jian Feng. "You might as well step down from the platform while you still have the chance."

Qin Wentian's tone was nonchalant, devoid of any emotional fluctuations. While Jian Feng had "granted" him the opportunity to step down earlier, now Qin Wentian was returning the favor.

However, the circumstances had shifted.

Previously, everyone had found Jian Feng's words reasonable. Now, their positions were reversed.

A single sword strike had taken Li Ran's life. Despite Jian Feng's exceptional talent within the Heavenly Sword Sect, was he powerful enough to face the Zong Clan's Sword Son?

The young woman who had once mocked Qin Wentian's sword skills as clumsy on the flatlands beneath the precipice felt a surreal sense of disbelief. The person she had belittled was now telling her esteemed Senior Brother Jian Feng to step down from the platform voluntarily.

"Sword keening, manifesting sword shadows. What second-level insight have you grasped?" Jian Feng inquired, a sense of trepidation in his heart due to Qin Wentian's formidable sword intent.

"I have no idea what others call it, but I've named it Sword Melody," Qin Wentian replied indifferently. Jian Feng nodded in agreement. "Sword Keen, Sword Melody—it's an apt name for it. If I were to engage with this intent, my fate would be the same as Li Ran's. I concede my defeat."

Jian Feng's words echoed through the air. Unconcerned about the opinions of others and unswayed by the prestige of the Heavenly Sword Sect, he turned and descended from the platform. He was admitting defeat.

Was this an act of fear or a testament to his resolute Sword Heart?

In truth, it was precisely because Jian Feng's Sword Heart was resolute that he could utter these words with honesty and sincerity in such a situation. If he crossed blades with Qin Wentian, his death was almost certain. Therefore, he chose to step down from the platform.