Bai Luan, clad in white robes, began to move without wind, his powerful spiritual energy like a tidal wave surging towards Li Xuan.
In an instant, Bai Luan's figure vanished from his original position.
He reappeared a meter behind Li Xuan, his left hand silently placed on the back of Li Xuan's head. A slight upward curve played on his lips, as if everything was within his grasp.
"Such speed!" The crowd gasped in unison, clearly taken aback by how stealthily Bai Luan had struck.
Li Xuan, at this moment, was still looking with a solemn expression at the spot where Bai Luan had been, appearing completely oblivious to Bai Luan's presence behind him. The onlookers shook their heads, the outcome seemingly foregone.
Even Xi Chu Yun and Shi Hong Yi's expressions changed drastically. However, it was too late to intervene.
"Die!" Bai Luan's face contorted into a grimace as his spiritual energy surged. He slammed his palm onto Li Xuan's head.
But as his palm descended, Bai Luan's triumphant expression froze. Li Xuan's body dissolved into countless spiritual lights, vanishing into thin air.
"An illusion!" Bai Luan was the first to react, spinning around abruptly and unleashing a palm strike behind him.
*Bang!*
A palm met a fist head-on, the terrifying recoil sending Bai Luan hurtling back over a hundred meters. It was then that the crowd realized that while Bai Luan had appeared behind the 'Li Xuan' who was there moments ago, the true Li Xuan was now slowly emerging from the void.
"My heavens, that figure earlier was merely a clone of Xuan Sect's Li Xuan! I was watching intently and didn't even notice!"
"Not only did you not notice, even Bai Luan, the strongest under the Saint Son, was unaware."
"I never imagined Xuan Sect's Li Xuan possessed such keen insight!"
"..."
After Li Xuan and Bai Luan separated once more, standing in mid-air, the onlookers finally understood.
A torrent of exclamations erupted, clearly shaken by Li Xuan's maneuver.
Li Xuan, observing Bai Luan's increasingly dark expression, smiled faintly. "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. It remains to be seen who the hunter is. With your own technique, against you. Are you satisfied, sir?"
"You could see through my footwork?" As Li Xuan spoke, a look of gravity appeared on Bai Luan's face.
Outsiders were unaware, but Bai Luan knew his Dragon-Tiger Steps intimately. They imbued his movements with the power of dragons and tigers, making his speed far beyond what ordinary individuals could track.
With these Dragon-Tiger Steps, Bai Luan had launched countless surprise attacks without fail. Even with divine sense, it was difficult to predict his trajectory beforehand.
Yet, Li Xuan had not only seen through his movements but had also managed to leave behind an afterimage and conceal himself in the void after Bai Luan had locked onto his aura.
If not for the sensation upon contact during his strike, which alerted him that it wasn't Li Xuan's true body, Bai Luan might not have reacted so quickly to counter. Moreover, Bai Luan felt a twinge of fear; had his reaction been slower, he might have been injured by Li Xuan's palm strike.
"Everyone believes themselves to be strong, even priding themselves on it. But in this world, you are not the only outstanding existence. To me, your footwork is merely average."
Li Xuan chuckled. While Bai Luan had been speaking, Li Xuan had sensed something different about his aura, and had prepared himself.
In truth, Bai Luan's footwork was indeed a divine technique. Had Li Xuan not practiced the Carefree Steps, being intimately familiar with the speed of such techniques, he too might have fallen for Bai Luan's trap.
For anyone else, the battle might have ended then.
After all, a strike from a Half-step Dao One realm cultivator was not something to be taken lightly.
"I underestimated you!" Bai Luan's face grew even more somber. He had intended to use his footwork for a decisive blow, only to have Li Xuan see through it and retaliate. His prior condescension vanished instantly.
Bai Luan knew that if he continued to face Li Xuan with the same mindset, he might very well embarrass himself in front of so many factions today, perhaps even perish here.
"Unleash whatever other means you have. In another half-hour, our Xuan Sect's reinforcements will arrive."
"Your Saint Sect's obstruction of our Xuan Sect's forces has caused us considerable casualties. However, your Saint Sect likely did not anticipate that our Xuan Sect disciples would be afraid to die. Once they arrive, there will be no escape from repaying what is owed to our Saint Sect!"
"And for the deceased senior and junior brothers and sisters, their blood vengeance will be completed by me!"
"The path of blood vengeance begins with you!"
As Li Xuan finished speaking, his Carefree Steps activated, and he vanished from his original position. In an instant, Li Xuan shot out from the void, his massive fist hurtling towards Bai Luan's chest.
As Li Xuan's punch approached, a flicker of apprehension flashed in Bai Luan's eyes. However, Bai Luan did not evade. He too moved, throwing a punch towards Li Xuan.
*Bang!*
A deafening roar echoed across the heavens.
Li Xuan and Bai Luan were once again locked in combat. Their figures moved with increasing speed, and apart from the sounds of their clashes, their movements were impossible to discern.
In just over ten breaths, they had exchanged over a hundred blows. Shockwaves rippled through the air, causing the ground below to tremble.
"Dragon-Tiger Force!"
"Unrivaled Fist!"
*Boom!*
Two fists collided again, the terrifying aftershocks spreading in all directions. The mountains below crumbled.
The entourages of various factions retreated dozens of miles due to the fierce battle between Li Xuan and Bai Luan. Even the leaders of these factions had spiritual energy barriers protecting them.
Li Xuan and Bai Luan separated, their eyes locked onto each other. Their breathing was labored, and their faces were pale. Yet, in the next instant, they flew towards each other again.
"Senior Brother Li Xuan's strength is truly formidable! He shows no fear before Bai Luan and has not been at a disadvantage from the start until now!"
Among the spectators, the Chief of Peony's eyes were filled with deep astonishment. Although she had heard the accounts of other disciples, knowing Li Xuan was extraordinary, she had not expected him to fight Bai Luan so fiercely.
"I also did not expect Senior Brother Li Xuan to be so capable. Looking at it now, we truly took advantage of him regarding that Level Five ruin." The Chief of Green Lotus echoed with a look of shock, a hint of self-mockery in her words.
"Does this not also demonstrate Senior Brother Li Xuan's excellent character, as you described? Otherwise, how could he win the affection of our Thousand Blossom Palace's Junior Sister Green Lotus? This Li Xuan will surely be a celestial being in the future. Being my Thousand Blossom Palace's son-in-law would not be bad."
The Chief of Peony chuckled as she spoke.
The Chief of Green Lotus blushed and then playfully chided, "Senior Sister, you're teasing me again. Besides, even though Senior Brother Li Xuan is not at a disadvantage, Bai Luan is after all the strongest under the Saint Son. If Bai Luan still has a trump card, I fear..."
"My dear, stop worrying. If it comes to it, Senior Sister will help protect his life. Since Junior Sister cares so much for that Li Xuan, it's only natural to be more proactive." The Chief of Peony burst into laughter.
*Boom!*
At that moment, a deafening explosion drew their attention. Li Xuan and Bai Luan, in mid-air, were once again driven apart.
Their breathing was now chaotic, and their faces had turned even paler. It was clear that the sustained battle had taken a heavy toll, and they were both beginning to falter.
"Sword, come!"
Bai Luan's low cry was heard as a spiritual sword materialized in his right hand.
The sword was five feet long, adorned with intricate, small patterns. These patterns were now absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, drawing it into the spiritual sword.
"Bai Luan is actually using a Primordial Spirit Weapon!"
"This spiritual sword is inscribed with formation patterns that absorb spiritual energy for augmentation. Its power is likely even greater than a Primordial Spirit Treasure!"
"It seems Li Xuan is in danger."
"..."
Upon seeing Bai Luan summon his Primordial Spirit Weapon, the crowd began to lament for Li Xuan. Bai Luan's own strength was already formidable, and now with a Primordial Spirit Weapon amplified by formations, the gap between them naturally widened.
Li Xuan frowned upon seeing this. Bai Luan was actually using a sword?
"Young master, I've discovered something. These people nowadays... their brains are a good thing," the Heavenly Dao Brush said speechlessly.
The Cang Ling Tower: "..."