96. Blades of Destiny

Nightshade Xian's sword trembled with a dark aura, its edge rippling as if the void itself had been condensed into a single blade. Ling Tian, standing amidst the battlefield of corpses and flickering flames, met his opponent's gaze with unwavering calm.

The air between them tensed, a moment of silence stretching before the inevitable clash.

Then, they moved.

CLANG!

Their swords met in an explosion of power, shockwaves rippling outward and sending shattered rocks flying. Nightshade Xian twisted his blade, attempting to slip through Ling Tian's defenses, but Ling Tian responded with seamless precision, parrying each strike with deadly grace.

"You fight well," Nightshade Xian admitted, his smirk returning. "But let's see how you handle this."

With a burst of speed, he vanished into the shadows, his presence disappearing completely.

Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. Shadow Step technique…

He did not panic. Instead, he closed his eyes.

The battlefield's noise faded into silence.

He listened.

A faint disturbance—behind him.

There!

Ling Tian spun, his sword sweeping out just in time to clash against Nightshade Xian's descending strike. Sparks danced between their blades.

Nightshade Xian's smirk widened. "Not bad."

He flicked his wrist, his sword dissolving into countless shadow tendrils that lunged toward Ling Tian like fangs of a beast.

Ling Tian exhaled.

A single step forward—his aura flared, golden and azure qi swirling around him.

He raised his sword.

Then—he slashed.

A crescent of golden light erupted from his blade, obliterating the shadow tendrils in an instant. The shockwave blasted Nightshade Xian backward, his body skidding across the battlefield.

Coughing, Nightshade Xian wiped blood from his lips.

Ling Tian walked forward. "Enough tricks. Face me properly."

Nightshade Xian chuckled, rising to his feet. "Very well."

Dark energy erupted around him, his power reaching its peak.

Ling Tian's grip tightened on his sword. His own aura flared in response, the golden-azure radiance burning like an unquenchable flame.

This was it. The final confrontation.

The moment their blades clashed again, the earth itself would tremble.

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