Chapter 416

The metallic sword intent, like a guzheng strummed in haste, sliced through endless winds and waves, circling the sky as it clashed with the iron fist—fist aura and sword qi exploded into a turbid surge, howling in all directions.

But at that moment, Ji You’s movement suddenly paused for an instant.

It was a deliberate pause, not caused by external force.

The problem was, in a life-or-death duel, the greatest taboo was pausing or shifting the rhythm of attack, for both implied an opening.

As expected, Qi Rong had been searching for such an opening throughout his rain-like punches; thus, as his right fist shattered that powerful Dao sword, his left hand shot forward in an instant.

It was a light—a brilliant violet light.

Like holding a bolt of heavenly thunder, the violet light erupted from his left palm like a cannon hammer slamming into Ji You’s chest.

Amid a muffled explosion, Ji You was violently flung backward.

A crack echoed with a thud as he was smashed into the mountain forest; when he rose, a fissure had already appeared on his chest.

His mud body naturally bled no blood, yet the pain intensified due to his body’s material, causing Ji You to convulse all over.

Why did he suddenly close in?!

Seeing this, the young nobles from the clans turned pale.

The young clansman’s sword had shown from its first strike a clean, sharp, decisive aura—his battle intent unmatched, clearly a being who had truly fought to the death.

But how could he suddenly close the distance and strike?

If he had a close-range killing technique or a weapon to break through, it would be fine—but he had none!

This sudden shift not only shattered his own sword rhythm but also literally handed his own chest to the enemy’s palm!

Even Gong Buyi and the youths standing by the riverbank could see this was a grave mistake.

“It seems you’ve only experienced a few minor skirmishes—you’ve never truly fought for your life. I overestimated you.”

“Is this how your human race fights? Stopping short, so you dare close in without dodging?”

“Indeed, as Prince Wang Chen said, if you injure an opponent of higher status on the arena, you must later be taken to apologize to them.”

Qi Rong spoke with mockery, laughing as he spoke.

Ji You rose from the pit, his eyes narrowing: “True. In my past fights, I never dodged.”

“How dull.”

Qi Rong had already lost interest the instant Ji You erred; now he looked at him as if he were already dead, and without another word, lunged forward again with a crushing punch.

The powerful fist aura shook the night with thunderous roars, its overwhelming pressure making countless minds ring with static.

Seeing this, Ji You stomped hard, shooting from the forest like a meteor; into the gale before him, he slashed his sword, his sword intent crushing down upon the rushing fist.

With a massive explosion, Qi Rong swelled his muscles, his blood qi boiling as he accelerated his punch speed.

Simultaneously, he fully activated his [Mighty Body Divine Qi].

This was his true killing mode—no longer blocking swords with fists, but using divine qi to guard his body, his fists devoted solely to slaughter.

Boom! Divine qi erupted outward; a fist brimming with killing intent surged along the blade’s length.

Ji You’s sword was braced by the divine qi—he understood his intent, instantly sidestepping—but still took a crushing blow to the shoulder.

The heavy fist intent surged through him, forcing a muffled groan; the faint cracking sounds near his ears made his pupils contract sharply.

Undoubtedly, his mud body cracked again.

Too bad this world had no cement—even mixing in some glutinous rice water would’ve helped.

Hum!!

A sharp sword intent suddenly surged.

No hesitation was allowed in this critical moment; Ji You swung his arm back, his sword intent exploding violently as it swept forward.

Like a silver thread bursting open, the sword moved with blinding speed, as fine and sharp as willow leaves.

His sword lineage came from Qi Zhengyang, the head of Lingjian Mountain’s sword sect, and his four lifelong sword techniques; Ji You built upon them, refining six distinct swords from these four.

This was the ultimate swift sword, fueled by extreme sharpness.

[Willow’s Renewal in Return and Departure]

Qi Rong never expected his sword intent to accelerate so suddenly; his protective divine qi was still retracting when the piercing sword intent struck him hard.

Crack! The hardened divine qi was cleanly severed! Qi Rong’s pupils shrank sharply.

This protective technique had always been unbreakable—only those far superior in realm had ever shattered it. This sword stroke shook him to his core.

The ultimate swift sword carried a cutting edge that severed all things—it was not the same sword path as his earlier heavy strike.

“Indeed, your sword path is exceptional—but alas, your combat rhythm and awareness fail to match its sharpness. Ultimately, disappointing.”

Hearing this, Ji You did not reply; his long sword hummed, its intent unextinguished.

At that moment, Qi Rong’s fist intent erupted violently, punching through the sword curtain; his right arm snapped back like a drawn bow, then swung down again with full force.

Fierce fist wind slammed toward him; Ji You retreated half a step, crossing his sword to block.

“Bang—!!”

Under the force of the blow, Ji You was blasted ten zhang away, his qi spiraling wildly out of control.

At this moment, fine cracks appeared on his arm, spreading from elbow to wrist.

The cross-block had not been a sword cut—it was pure defense; he absorbed his opponent’s fist power alone. It looked like sword versus sword, but in truth, it was his arm taking the full impact.

Ji You landed heavily, yet without hesitation, he stomped hard, shattering the riverbank as sword qi erupted violently before him.

Seeing this, the crowds on both riverbanks changed expression again, now even more speechless.

Ever since the plain-looking human had been punched in the chest, they’d noticed his swordplay and movement had become extremely cautious.

But since then, his attacks had grown frantic and clumsy, repeatedly struck hard by the enemy.

Though none knew why he bled no blood, the clear cracking sounds confirmed he was grievously wounded.

“Damn it—he can’t win…”

“No, his sword is faster than before, his dodges more agile.”

“What do you know? He’s adapting—but in a life-or-death battle, adaptation isn’t enough!”

Gong Buyi growled grimly, his gaze fixed on the many descendant clans surrounding the area, seeking a chance to slip his young kin away before the plain human fell.

But after scanning the surroundings, he found no opening at all.

In truth, every descendant present knew their general’s nature.

For the general, mere killing brought no pleasure—he had slain too many since ancient times.

Thus, he had spent a century favoring torture, delighting in watching them slowly descend into despair, always leaving some alive to let their minds unravel bit by bit.

That was why he disliked their interference—battles with chaos would kill them too fast, denying them time to despair; naturally, none dared intervene.

But not intervening didn’t mean they’d leave openings for the general’s plaything to escape.

As Gong Buyi burned with frustration over the lack of opportunity, his granddaughter, grandson, and other young nobles beside him couldn’t help but cry out in shock.

Gong Buyi whirled around instantly, his face turning pale.

There, high above the riverbank, Ji You’s iron sword had been knocked aside by a punch—yet the ferocious fist intent remained unrelenting, driving Ji You backward as if he’d stumbled.

Simultaneously, a violet light flashed from the descendant’s other palm, exploding with a roar.

Damn it!

In an instant, all realized the deadly threat was upon them.

But at that moment, Ji You’s long sword suddenly rang out in a clear, resonant tremor; as it struck the ground, the blade bent sharply.

A sudden sword qi erupted, its powerful force flinging his body sharply to the right.

Qi Rong’s iron fist grazed past him; the violent fist intent, like thunder, burst through the riverbed, sending water exploding upward.

At that moment, Ji You thrust his arm forward.

It was a different sword intent—unlike any he had used before.

This intent was sharp, clear, and pure, unaided by any mental force, yet it pierced straight to the heavens in an instant.

Countless onlookers sensed this sudden shift in sword intent, realizing the sword qi he had sustained since his first strike had finally boiled over.

Like a wind blade slicing across the face, all could not help but fix their gaze.

[Dao Sword: Thought Unblemished]

Ji You gripped his hilt, sidestepped, and slashed in a circular arc!

“Boom!!!!”

Like a silver river cascading from the ninth heaven, this clean, powerful sword slashed toward Qi Rong, who was hurtling toward the ground from momentum.

Qi Rong’s senses were acute—he immediately sensed he was under the blade’s edge, yet he did not panic; instead, he channeled all his qi and fully expanded his [Mighty Heaven Divine Qi].

He had full confidence in his protective divine qi and believed he had already gauged the true power of Ji You’s sword.

But to his shock, the next instant, the incoming sword cut cleaved through his divine qi barrier—the blade’s supreme edge pierced his body with brutal force; the intense pain made Qi Rong’s eyes widen in horror.

With a muffled boom, Qi Rong was split apart and flung backward; his body smashed through the riverbank, rolling and crashing, kicking up clouds of dust.

His heavy body was as hard as steel; when it struck the ground, it shattered countless ancient trees, their lush branches and leaves collapsing with crackling snaps, raising even greater dust storms.

Ji You landed swiftly, his sword intent unceasing, roaring like a tiger and dragon.

Losing his brute, unreasonable body was a great problem for Ji You—why? Because combat is improvised; in the split second of life and death, there’s no time for careful thought, so most moves are instinctive muscle responses—this is why experience matters so much.

His body’s inertia was forged under the condition of his peerless physical form.

Just as he had begun—instinctively closing in, then killing with fists.