Chapter 790: The Sword Path

Everyone's hearts lifted, even more nervous and excited than the person directly involved.

"Ahhh, I'm getting so nervous I could die! Who do you think will win?"

"I think it's Senior Brother Lu!"

"I also think Senior Brother Lu has more hope..."

Many disciples leaned toward Lu Shen in their hearts, not only because he displayed a stronger realm, but also because, compared with Ye Qingran, they knew Lu Shen better.

Lu Shen, who had been brimming with confidence, suddenly felt a bit hollow when his gaze met Ye Qingran's...

He suddenly realized that after learning his realm, Ye Qingran seemed to show not the slightest sign of panic.

Could she already have a clear plan?

Lu Shen clenched his hand, forcing himself to stay calm.

Compared with his sparring with Ji Rufeng, the duel between Lu Shen and Ye Qingran started much more gently; both sides intentionally probed each other's style and strength.

Ye Qingran realized that Lu Shen was evidently more balanced.

"Senior Brother Ye, what are you best at?"

"What do you mean?"

Lu Shen, surprised, met Ye Qingran's gaze, feeling a slight stir in his heart.

After a while, he replied, "Sword Path!"

In fact, the Jade Autumn Sect has always excelled at the Sword Path; most disciples in the sect practice the Sword Path.

"Since that's the case, I'll compare Sword Path with Senior Brother Lu."

When those words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

"Is Ye Qingran crazy? She knows Senior Brother Lu excels at the Sword Path, yet she still wants to duel him?"

"Isn't this like striking a stone with an egg?"

Even Lu Shen himself was momentarily stunned.

What did Ye Qingran say, that she wants to compare Sword Path with him?

Lu Shen gave a gentle smile, yet full of confidence, "Junior Sister Ye, you just returned to the sect and don't yet know—my Sword Path, within the sect... has no defeats so far."

In a sect that primarily practices the Sword Path, having no defeats is a clear testament to Lu Shen's Sword Path.

"Senior Brother Lu truly is Peerless Heaven's Pride; such record commands respect," Ye Qingran clasped her fists, then shifted, "But it's a coincidence—my Sword Path also currently has no defeats."

"Hahaha, Ye Qingran, you couldn't be dueling the mountain monkeys with your Sword Path, could you?" Gu Jirong seized any chance to mock Ye Qingran.

The other disciples didn't show overly strong reactions, but the way they looked at Ye Qingran was clearly skeptical.

Ye Qingran says her Sword Path currently also has no defeats?

Ye Qingran ignored Gu Jirong and instead asked Lu Shen again, "What does Senior Brother Lu say?"

Lu Shen's eyes flickered; he hadn't expected the conversation to reach this point, with Ye Qingran still so insistent, and he couldn't help but look at her with newfound respect.

"Since Junior Sister Ye insists, I shall not decline."

Lu Shen smiled and nodded, "Junior Sister, make your move."

This time, Ye Qingran didn't need to borrow a sword, because she possessed the Ruinous King's Sword.

In battles between sword cultivators, there is no such thing as fighting without a weapon; that would be an insult to the Sword Path.

True Sword Path must be intimately linked with the sword.

One principle of the Sword Path is speed.

In all martial arts, speed that cannot be broken is paramount, and this is illustrated vividly in the Sword Path.

From the moment Lu Shen brandished his sword, his expression changed to a solemn, fierce one, with sword intent soaring to the heavens.

Ye Qingran did the same.

In the next instant, Lu Shen moved, his figure like lightning as he surged toward Ye Qingran; Ye Qingran met him, and the onlookers could only see flashing cold light, the bodies becoming afterimages.

A single touch would separate them.

The two exchanged positions.

The swords in their hands never left their sheaths.

Jade Autumn Sect disciples were all shocked; in the first encounter of the two sword cultivators, both instinctively did not draw their swords.

Lu Shen not drawing his sword is one thing, but how could Ye Qingran dare?

Isn't she afraid that Lu Shen could kill her with a single sword strike?

At this moment, a ripple arose in Lu Shen's heart.

That earlier encounter finally made him understand why Ye Qingran was so determined to duel him.

Her Sword Path is not weak!

"Second move, begin!"

Both still chose not to draw their swords.

The clatter of sword sheaths was not as crisp as blade clashes, but sounded dull.

When the onlookers saw clearly, their swords met, evenly matched.

But the next second, everyone noticed something odd.

A long strand of hair from Lu Shen's temple fell, fluttering in the wind before landing on the ground.

In contrast, Ye Qingran was as usual.

"Goo-dong~"

It was the sound of someone swallowing.

Lu Shen's hair had been cut off; what that meant seemed self‑evident.

The way everyone looked at Ye Qingran finally changed.

Lu Shen lowered his gaze, glanced at the broken hair on the ground, a profound depth in his eyes.

If you look closely, his hand gripping the sword hilt tightened, the joints flashing white.

"Junior Sister Ye, it seems my sword must be drawn."

Ye Qingran smiled lightly, saying nothing.

Lu Shen squeezed the sword hilt, slowly pulled the sword outward, exposing a one‑centimeter blade; a cold glint flashed, his figure vanished on the spot, his whole being seemed to turn into a silver light that shot toward Ye Qingran.

"You lost."

"What?"

Lu Shen held the sword, the tip ten centimeters from Ye Qingran's brow, while Ye Qingran's Sword Sheath was almost against Lu Shen's throat, less than half an inch away.

Everyone's gaze froze.

The same thought rose in everyone's mind: what if Ye Qingran's sword had already been drawn?

Lu Shen lowered his gaze, looking at the blackened hilt, his complexion turning pale.

"Senior Brother Lu, you actually lost?"

"The invincible Sword Path Senior Brother Lu, actually defeated in his own strongest field… defeat?"

"Ye Qingran, what exactly is she, a demon?"

Lu Shen gave a bleak smile, "I lost."

"Senior Brother Lu, I concede."

Ye Qingran retracted her sword.

Lu Shen shook his head, feeling as if he had dreamed.

He had never imagined that the Sword Path he had always taken pride in would one day be defeated so brutally.

"Senior Brother Lu, if you think you have been defeated, then you truly are defeated." Just as Lu Shen's heart was enveloped by endless frustration, a melodious voice sounded at his ear, startling him.

He looked at Ye Qingran, met her faint smile, and instantly understood her meaning.

"Thank you, Junior Sister Ye."

In that moment, Lu Shen felt his loss was wholeheartedly accepted.

In this world, there is always a higher mountain.

Defeat is the true essence of the Sword Path.

"Ye Qingran, you are utterly arrogant! Senior Brother Lu sparred with you in the Sword Path, and you didn't even draw your sword!"

Gu Jirong shouted again.