Chapter 35: City-Toppling Reappears

"Such brilliant sword technique; the Sword Dao cultivation of these two has likely reached a level beyond the reach of ordinary men."

Jin Jiuling could not help but praise aloud. He was the lay disciple of the renowned Shaolin master, Kugua Dashi, and was hailed as the number one expert in the Six Fan School in three hundred years. He was a man who kept his true self hidden, and his martial arts were unfathomable.

If not for this, how could he have committed eighty-seven major crimes, making the name of the Embroidered Bandit resound throughout the world?

Yet, if he were to face either Yu Liancheng or Ye Gucheng, he would likely have been defeated long ago, his life in jeopardy.

"Indeed, the sword technique of these two has truly reached the pinnacle of the current age." Hua Manlou's expression was solemn as he nodded slightly. Although he was blind, what he could "see" was truly no less than anyone else.

"I have heard that Ximen Chuixue has been traveling the Edo, and his sword technique has reached an even higher level. Perhaps only he would be qualified to contend with these two in Sword Dao," Jin Jiuling said.

"I only wonder, in today's battle, who will win and who will lose?" Hua Manlou said.

"Hmph, of course it's my half-master; that goes without saying." As Yu Liancheng's half-disciple, Shangguan Xueer had more confidence in him than anyone else, even though she could only see two swirling, changing sword lights that moved as nimbly as dragons.

As for the disciple of Ye Gucheng, the Nanwang Shizi was already dazed and mesmerized, shocked into silence.

He had previously thought his own sword technique had reached completion, and that aside from his master and Ximen Chuixue, he would find few opponents in the world. But only now did he realize how far he was from a true Sword Dao expert.

He had previously thought that there was no one in the world who could be the opponent of his master, Ye Gucheng, but only now did he know there was another Sword Dao expert who was not the least bit inferior to his master.

Suddenly, the Nanwang Shizi noticed that the sword momentum of his master, Ye Gucheng, had become somewhat sluggish, no longer as elegant as before.

This was only a slight change; others might not have noticed, but as Ye Gucheng's disciple, how could the Nanwang Shizi fail to see it?

The Nanwang Shizi was puzzled and astonished.

With his master's level of sword technique, such a mistake should not have occurred, yet it had.

He was merely watching from the sidelines and could not experience what Ye Gucheng was feeling at this moment.

Yu Liancheng's sword was too heavy, and his offensive was swift, while his defensive was like a mountain or a peak.

Even though Ye Gucheng's sword technique was a notch above the Ximen Chuixue of the past, he still could not achieve a quick victory. Instead, his True Qi and physical strength were constantly being consumed by the rapid exchange, and his sword technique was naturally not as agile as before.

If Yu Liancheng wished, relying on the physical strength granted by the "Ruyi Heavenly Demon Art" and his own extraordinary sword technique, he could even exhaust Ye Gucheng's True Qi and stamina, then pierce his throat with a single sword strike.

Ye Gucheng was like a flying immortal; his long sword thrust out with a *whoosh*. It was not only unimaginably fast, but the sword momentum was also ethereal and unpredictable, difficult to fathom.

Clang!

Yu Liancheng thrust out with his sword, yet it split into nine rays of light, only to merge back into one in mid-air, once again sealing off Ye Gucheng's lethal strike.

He did not pursue, but stood holding his sword: "City Lord Ye's sword is indeed exquisite to the extreme, but it is not the true essence of your sword. I want to see your Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens."

"Very well, I shall satisfy you."

Ye Gucheng had already leaped up, like a piece of blue sky and white clouds rising slowly. Suddenly, he swooped down; a ray of sword light flew obliquely. The sword light was like a bolt of silk, like a wild goose in flight; the Sword Qi came without a trace, ethereal and beyond compare.

He seemed to have merged into one with his sword. The sword light was brilliant and swift; there were no variations, not even a follow-up move. He had actually poured all his strength into this one strike.

This was the Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens.

This was no longer a sword technique of the human world, but one that had descended from beyond the heavens.

It was indeed as flawless and pure as the blue sky and white clouds, seemingly approaching perfection, without gaps, without blemishes, naturally formed, flawless and complete.

A sword technique like this was already an unbreakable move, worthy of being called the "God" among sword moves; the praise for it in the Edo was not an exaggeration.

Fortunately, Yu Liancheng was not trying to break this sword.

And the key to victory did not lie in whether one could break the opponent's sword.

Just at this moment, Yu Liancheng's entire body radiated an indescribable quality; every movement possessed a heart-palpitating beauty, elegant to the extreme.

The long sword pierced the empty air.

The sword move was indeed also extremely beautiful, like ripples stirred up on a lake by the spring breeze.

The Sword Qi was also extremely gentle, like a lover's gentle hand caressing a cheek.

Under the reflection of the sword light, it was as if there were misty rain, as if the pure moon were casting its glow, as if flowers and trees were piled with snow... all kinds of beautiful imagery were displayed before everyone in an instant, making people infatuated and intoxicated, as if they wanted to sink into it and be unable to extricate themselves.

But just at this moment, Yu Liancheng flicked his wrist, and the sword momentum changed again. Those countless beautiful images suddenly merged together, transforming into a heavy, dull, yet world-threatening killing move.

This sword was filled with majesty and dominance, its momentum like Mount Tai pressing down, carrying an irresistible force that made the very air groan as if unable to bear it, and in an instant, it had descended with a boom.

In mid-air.

Two rays of sword light crossed and collided, emitting a heart-palpitating sound of weapons clashing, echoing endlessly throughout the forest.

After a moment of stagnation, the violent force swept in all directions. Suddenly, sand flew and stones rolled, and the fierce wind whistled like knives cutting the face. Even Jin Jiuling, Hua Manlou, and the others had to retreat several steps.

After waiting for a long while, the figures of the two finally reappeared.

Everyone widened their eyes, wanting to see clearly who had won and who had lost.

Yu Liancheng's posture was calm and relaxed, as if he had not just experienced an unprecedented fierce battle, but was out in the countryside enjoying the flowers. The Duoqing Sword in his hand also seemed like nothing more than a writing brush ready to compose poetry or paint at any moment.

Ye Gucheng's complexion was very white; his face had always been white, but before it was a lustrous white, while now it was deathly pale. His expression was cold and detached, but his hand was trembling slightly, and a smear of bright red on his chest looked like a Cold Plum just beginning to bloom.

He said slowly: "What was the name of that last sword strike?"

Yu Liancheng said: "City-Toppling."

Ye Gucheng said: "The three sword techniques recorded in the legendary 'Great Radiance Treasure Canon'?"

Yu Liancheng nodded.

Ye Gucheng praised: "Good! Good! Good! What a move, City-Toppling. Not only is it beautiful enough to topple a city, but it also possesses the power to topple a city."

Yu Liancheng said: "That is precisely the exquisiteness of this sword."

The "City-Toppling" move was beautiful beyond compare, as if it contained all wonderful imagery and fused them into one. Yet the killing intent was as light as the wind and as clear as the clouds, without a trace of smoke or fire; a moment of carelessness, and one would die under this sword.

And this sword was not only beautiful, but it also contained the power to topple a city. Just the pressure of the sword momentum alone was enough to make those who could withstand it few and far between, not to mention that Yu Liancheng also practiced external martial arts.

These two complemented each other, and the power that erupted was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

One force overcoming ten thousand techniques, that is likely what it is.

The only pity was that Yu Liancheng had not yet completely fused these two kinds of exquisiteness together.

Ye Gucheng looked down at the smear of bright red on his snow-white clothes and suddenly sighed: "I have lost."

Yu Liancheng also nodded: "Indeed, you have lost."