“What a pity, you’re only a Second Stage Martial Venerable. No matter how powerful your technique, it’s useless against absolute strength,” Chen Wendao said, attributing Lin Xiao’s resistance to his exceptionally strong technique.
However, he still feared Lin Xiao’s formidable physical strength and wouldn’t let him get close, slashing out a sword strike from mid-air.
Dazzling light burst forth instantly, illuminating heaven and earth. The brilliant sword light carried unmatched power, like a rainbow across the sky or a bolt of lightning, slashing toward Lin Xiao.
Boom!
Thunder essence surged within Lin Xiao’s body as he executed the second form of the Thunder Sword Technique. A massive thunder greatsword appeared before his blade, accompanied by faint rumbling thunder. Radiant light illuminated all directions, and the thunder greatsword, imbued with ferocious power, seemed to shatter the void itself, exuding terrifying pressure.
As Lin Xiao swung his longsword, a massive sword light formed from condensed thunder power blasted toward Chen Wendao’s sword light.
“Rumble!”
A deafening explosion rang out, and a blindingly bright light erupted. The two sword lights collided, unleashing rolling shockwaves and vast, unmatched fluctuations that surged toward Chen Wendao.
Chen Wendao’s expression changed drastically. He hurriedly retreated, simultaneously striking out with a palm to block the surging, overwhelming fluctuations.
Only by retreating and using his palm strike did he manage to avoid being affected by the powerful waves.
“Thunder power, he actually possesses thunder attribute power!”
“That thunder power is terrifying, nearly injuring Chen Wendao with one strike.”
“Another peerless prodigy has emerged!”
In that instant, the crowd exclaimed in shock. Lin Xiao’s strength, not only from the earlier azure dragon strike but also the power of this sword, stunned everyone.
Whoosh!
At that moment, a figure charged toward Chen Wendao.
It was Lin Xiao, adept at seizing opportunities. How could he let such a chance slip by?
However, just as Lin Xiao approached, a golden cover suddenly shot out, enveloping him from above. The golden cover emitted dazzling golden light, trapping Lin Xiao within. The light then solidified, as if crystallising, becoming impenetrable and locking Lin Xiao firmly inside.
“Chi!”
Lin Xiao’s incoming sword strike pierced the light cover, but he was forcefully repelled, unable to break through the golden cover’s barrier.
“Hmph, earlier I was only worried you’d escape, so I feigned weakness. Did you really think I couldn’t defeat you?” Seeing Lin Xiao trapped, Chen Wendao sneered, a smug look on his face.
Losing ground in a fight against a junior had cost him face, and he nearly fell to a sneak attack. Fortunately, he had the Mysterious Golden Light Cover, which turned the tables.
By speaking this way, he could salvage his reputation.
“No wonder a Sixth Stage Martial Venerable couldn’t defeat a Second Stage Martial Venerable. Chen Wendao was deliberately feigning weakness!”
“So that’s it. Chen Wendao wanted to trap this youth, fearing he’d escape, so he intentionally showed weakness!”
The crowd suddenly understood. Otherwise, if a Second Stage Martial Venerable consistently held the upper hand against a Sixth Stage Martial Venerable, it would be too incomprehensible.
After all, the higher the cultivation, the harder it is to break through, and the greater the strength gap between each stage, making cross-stage battles difficult. At the Martial Venerable realm, fighting across so many stages was simply too exaggerated.
“But isn’t it a bit despicable for a Sixth Stage Martial Venerable senior to use such tactics against a Second Stage Martial Venerable junior?” some whispered, though, being from the Lanlan Empire’s side, no one spoke out.
However, the youths from the two empires were different, cursing loudly:
“Chen Wendao, I didn’t expect you to be so shameless, using such tactics against a junior.”
“The Chen family is utterly shameless. The head of a family resorting to such lowlife tactics!”
“Your Lanlan Empire seniors are shameless to this extent, truly an eye-opener!”
The youths from the two empires raged, not only targeting the Chen family but also cursing the Lanlan Empire’s seniors.
This made the faces of the Lanlan Empire’s senior experts darken. Chen Wendao’s actions were hardly honourable. Given the vast gap in their cultivation, he shouldn’t have needed such tactics.
Chen Wendao’s face also looked grim, but he calmly snorted, “Hmph, defeat is defeat. What does the method matter? I did this only to ensure he had no chance to escape.”
But the youths from the two empires wouldn’t buy it, continuing their curses, though Chen Wendao eventually ignored them.
The victor is king, the loser a bandit. No matter how they cursed, it was futile.
Being cursed was better than being defeated. If he had the strength to easily crush his opponent, why would he need the Mysterious Golden Light Cover? This was a last resort.
“Chi! Chi! Chi!”
Inside the Mysterious Golden Light Cover, Lin Xiao relentlessly slashed with his Yaoguang Broken Sword, striking the barrier light repeatedly. However, his power seemed to be absorbed by the light, his sword repelled, unable to break through.
“Hmm?” Lin Xiao frowned slightly. The sudden appearance of the Mysterious Golden Light Cover caught him off guard.
He had seen this cover before, during the battle at the Feng family, when Yi Xuanfeng was trapped by it for a long time.
Ling Hu and Lin Qinglun also frowned, not expecting this old man to have such a trick. Empress Dowager Meng Xi and Meng Ying also furrowed their brows.
But Hu Yue’s gaze was filled with confidence in Lin Xiao.
“Hmph, this Mysterious Golden Light Cover is a treasure I obtained from ancient ruins. Dreaming of breaking it is delusional!” Seeing Lin Xiao struggle inside, Chen Wendao sneered, “Now, do you understand the consequences of offending me? If you want to live, cripple your dantian, and I might spare you. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless against a junior!”
“Is that so?” Lin Xiao sneered mockingly. Whether the Mysterious Golden Light Cover could be broken aside, it was merely a trapping treasure. Did they think he was ignorant, never having seen it before?
Moreover, when it came to treasures, did he fear his Yaoguang Broken Sword was inferior to this cover?
“If I can’t break the light barrier, I’ll strike the cover itself!”
Lin Xiao switched to wielding his sword with both hands, soaring upward, and heavily slashed at the golden cover.
“Pointless struggling,” Chen Wendao said with disdain. Though the trapping light barrier emanated from the Mysterious Golden Light Cover, the cover itself was indestructible. Trying to break it was futile.
Clang!
But at that moment, a loud metallic clash rang out. The Mysterious Golden Light Cover was knocked upward several meters, clutching in a one-inch-long sword mark on its surface.
