Chapter 96: Can Your Level Even Kill Me?

Li Chen’s sudden display shocked everyone present.

Thousands of spectators below stared dumbfounded at Li Chen, wondering: this guy’s good-looking enough, but now he’s showing off with such effortless flair—he must be a true master.

Chu Ruoyan and Wu Nanzhi, watching the forging master Qiu You’s stunned expression, burst into fits of laughter.

Who told you to pick Li Chen? He and his opponent aren’t even on the same level.

Don’t even mention giving him a magic treasure—even if you gave him a single leaf, his opponent still couldn’t match it.

This claim sounds exaggerated, but both of them believed Li Chen could do it.

Li Chen was speaking the plain truth: if he hadn’t been holding this prop, anyone else would’ve lost already.

Since this contest is about weapons, not technique, he’d say exactly what he saw.

Besides, Li Chen had already realized: that kid across from him was cheating—this was scripted!

Could a cultivator who just picked up the Separation Sword really master its corresponding sword techniques so quickly?

Could such a genius even exist?

Aside from Li Chen himself when he looked in the mirror, he couldn’t find a second person like it.

If his opponent were truly that powerful, how could he be so easily defeated by Li Chen?

Since his opponent was cheating, Li Chen had no intention of holding back.

Besides, he never planned to hold back anyway.

Still, everyone could see Zhao Chong was indeed powerful—just not against an opponent of this caliber.

Upon hearing Li Chen’s words, forging master Qiu You felt his pride wounded: “Impossible! His sword is all show—even if it struck someone, it’d have no power. Are you his paid shill?”

“How about we test it ourselves?” Li Chen said, unimpressed, returning the sword to him, then gesturing with one hand—the hilt of the fallen Separation Sword flew straight into his grasp.

He lightly activated his energy, and five sword fragments whistled toward him.

A refined longsword appeared in Li Chen’s hand, its blade gleaming with icy radiance.

Merely standing there, he exuded an invisible pressure that made it hard to breathe.

Seeing this, the spectators rubbed their eyes, utterly incredulous.

“His sword intent is insane—it feels like a Sword Immortal has possessed him!”

“Could he be the legendary Capital’s Fastest Sword, Feng Wuhen?”

“I’ve seen Feng Wuhen—he’s somewhat handsome, but nowhere near this absurdly handsome. Still, I think only Feng Wuhen could match his sword intent.”

“No wonder that guy got crushed even while cheating—he ran into a true sword master.”

Among the spectators were plenty of discerning sword cultivators who recognized Zhao Chong’s high proficiency with the Separation Sword—this wasn’t a shill, what was it?

Li Chen’s simple sword-drawing stance had already sparked uproar below.

I don’t coddle anyone—I told you there was a problem, you didn’t believe me? Then come try it yourself.

Qiu You was certainly Bufu —this spiral sword was his pride, and he’d used it himself; it carried the force to shatter ten thousand jin!

Hearing Li Chen wanted to test it, Qiu You said: “I’m naturally strong—I can’t easily hold back my strikes. Watch out.”

Li Chen urged: “Don’t worry—use all your strength. You think your level could kill me?”

At these words, the spectators below erupted in murmurs.

Qiu You is a renowned master—dude, are you really this reckless? Afraid you’ll get killed?

Qiu You was also growing angry.

Fine, fine, fine—you said it yourself.

Youthful arrogance, huh? I’ll show you what true strength means!

I was once among the Top 72 in the Capital Sword Tournament—now I’m being looked down on by a junior?

Today, I’ll teach you the true value of having once made the Top 72 of the Capital Sword Tournament!

I admit you have some skill—but I’m stronger!

Qiu You struck—sword qi surged in all directions, rippling outward from his center; where it passed, plants withered, dust flew.

Coupled with the terrifying power generated by the spinning Spiral Sword, countless spectators began retreating.

This was the power of a Capital-renowned master—even if he was just a blacksmith, it proved the Capital teemed with hidden dragons and tigers.

But he was facing Li Chen.

As Li Chen swung the Separation Sword, the blade emitted continuous crackling sounds.

The original five-segmented sword began splitting endlessly, instantly multiplying into thousands of fragments. Golden energy clung to each fragment, their sword light bright enough to illuminate the heavens!

Then, a sword intent suffused with divine majesty tore through the void!

Its power could obliterate the entire arena!

In an instant, sword qi filled the air, divine energy rippled!

The moment Li Chen swung the Separation Sword, the energy of heaven and earth seemed drained!

The blinding golden light dimmed all things around it!

Shock!

An unparalleled shock appeared before everyone’s eyes!

That sword intent made everyone feel terror!

Thousands of spectators below wore expressions of utter horror; those farther away turned in alarm, wondering what had happened.

Before this terrifying sword intent, forging master Qiu You was like a candle in the wind—merely brushed by the edge of the sword qi, he was instantly flung over ten meters, rolled over a dozen times, and only stopped when he slammed into a tree trunk behind him.

His eyes were hollow with fear—he had faced that sword qi head-on; no one knew better than him how terrifying Li Chen was.

No wonder he told me not to hold back—my level? I’m not even worthy to carry his shoes!

When all this ended, the scene fell silent.

Everyone stood frozen, too stunned to speak.

Far above, a sword scar cleaved through the clouds, making even the strongest swallow hard.

!

It seemed to remind them that the terrifying, suffocating sword intent had truly existed.

Even though the move had passed some time ago, their hearts still pounded wildly.

Thank heaven Li Chen had swung upward—if he’d swung horizontally, everyone present would’ve died on the spot.

Seeing Qiu You’s ghost-struck expression, Li Chen remained unfazed.

I told you I was strong—you didn’t believe me? Well, here’s proof.

If I’d just sparred with you slowly, you might’ve thought I got lucky.

This one strike shows you the gap.

As for the Separation Sword’s current star-strewn appearance, it’s a unique refinement ability granted only after the imperial Li family’s cultivation reaches its peak.

Whatever prop he grasps, he can instantly refine it!

Transform it into whatever he desires.

The founding emperor won the empire partly because of this ability!

Among the entire imperial family, perhaps only Li Chen could wield this technique.

After all, ordinary swords couldn’t withstand even one of Li Chen’s swings.

This scene was so shocking that many still hadn’t recovered.

Zhao Chong, who had just been defeated and felt dejected, now felt his loss was entirely justified!

How could he possibly win against such a powerhouse?

Li Chen turned back, tossed the refined Separation Sword to Zhao Chong, and said: “Cultivate hard. Don’t go astray—you’ve got real talent.”

With that, Li Chen left, vanishing from everyone’s sight.

He’d shown off—time to go.

Soon after Li Chen left, the crowd below went wild.

At first, someone shouted an offer of 100,000 taels of silver for the sword Li Chen had just used.

That was already a high price—but before he finished speaking, others began frantically bidding, pushing the price to an astonishing figure.

Zhao Chong wasn’t stupid—he couldn’t sell this! This was a divine weapon!

Not even 100,000 taels of gold—I won’t sell it!

Hearing he wouldn’t sell, some bold souls rushed forward to snatch it!

“Master! Brothers! Cover me!”

Saying this, Zhao Chong grabbed the divine weapon and bolted away!

These people, seeing a divine weapon, acted like rabid dogs—how could Zhao Chong not be terrified?

In an instant, chaos erupted around the arena.

The instigator of all this had long since walked far away.

And his single strike had already become legend in this place!

(End of Chapter)