Chapter 243

It made every hair on his body stand on end, a chill creeping through his heart.

"I hope you don't regret this!"

He felt the invisible pressure pressing against his entire body.

Senior Dugu Yifang let out a heavy grunt.

With a sweep of his wide sleeves, he shot straight into the sky.

Seeing this, Senior Dugu Qiubai shifted his stance slightly and followed after him.

The entire journey passed in silence.

In no time at all.

The two arrived one after the other outside a thatched hut.

"We're here. Do as you please."

He gestured with his eyes toward the sword hut not far away.

Senior Dugu Yifang spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this.

Senior Dugu Qiubai nodded and stepped forward.

He had not the slightest doubt the man was deceiving him.

Because.

Long ago, when he was in the void.

He had sensed a terrifying, peerless sword intent.

And the moment he saw the sword hut, he was certain.

Inside was absolutely a master of the sword Dao!

And his cultivation was stronger than his own!!

In an instant.

His heart, long isolated for years.

Suddenly blazed with intense battle intent.

As his foot came down.

A terrifying sword intent erupted violently from his body.

With every step he took.

The sword intent grew denser by a fraction.

When he was still three zhang away from the sword hut.

The entire space was already filled with endless sword intent.

That overwhelming, piercing sharpness.

Even the heavenly phenomena manifesting in the void were instantly shredded to nothing!

Sssss!!

Feeling the sword intent so thick it nearly solidified.

Senior Dugu Yifang's pupils shrank sharply.

Even though his cultivation was not weak.

He could not help but tremble slightly, secretly drawing in a sharp breath.

On his aged face, faint traces of surprise appeared.

A flicker of relief passed through his heart.

Fortunately.

Fortunately, he had not clashed with the man just now.

Boom!!

Just as Senior Dugu Yifang's thought flashed through his mind.

A sword intent even more powerful erupted from within the sword hut, shooting into the sky.

In an instant.

It collided with Senior Dugu Qiubai's sword intent.

At the same time.

Accompanied by the sound of a door opening.

A figure walked calmly out from inside the hut.

This man was none other than Senior Dugu Jian, the Sword Saint—the very target of Senior Dugu Qiubai's journey!

With his movement.

The two sword intents, previously evenly matched in the void, suddenly changed.

The sword intent belonging to Senior Dugu Jian gradually grew heavier.

Within just a few breaths, it gradually gained the upper hand.

Clearly in a six-to-four advantage.

In an instant.

Senior Dugu Qiubai's face grew grim.

"You use the sword?!"

He looked at him deeply.

Senior Dugu Jian spoke slowly.

"I abandoned the sword long ago!"

Senior Dugu Qiubai shook his head, sparing his words.

But his gaze toward him was filled with battle intent.

Upon hearing this, Senior Dugu Jian's eyes lit up.

His previously stern old face broke into a faint smile.

"Oh? Then, what is a sword?"

"All things under heaven and earth—grass, wood, bamboo, stone—can become a sword!"

Senior Dugu Qiubai replied without hesitation.

The moment the words left his mouth, his face darkened.

It was then that he suddenly realized.

In this exchange of question and answer.

He had become like a disciple being examined by his master!

The moment this thought arose.

A flicker of dissatisfaction rose in his heart.

His entire Xin Qiji surged sharply higher.

Yet what troubled him was.

As his sword intent intensified.

The other's sword intent rose as well.

Always maintaining a slight edge over him.

He took a deep breath.

Feeling the powerful pressure emanating from the void.

The long-standing barrier that had resisted breakthrough for so long now showed faint signs of loosening.

Sensing this.

A look of resolve flashed across Senior Dugu Qiubai's face.

Without a second thought.

He pushed his cultivation technique to its absolute limit.

He directed his vast internal true essence to violently strike the barrier.

Once... twice... three times...

Each time he struck...