"Illusion Realm, Manifest!"
Li Xuan uttered a low shout, and a golden light instantly flashed in his eyes. The next moment, Xu Shaoyang's gaze became unfocused, and he vanished from his original position.
Li Xuan's eyes closed slightly, but he quickly snapped them open.
Bang!
This time, Li Xuan's figure was directly sent flying. The blood that scattered in mid-air fell, exceptionally dazzling.
"Using illusions in front of me, you're still too young. But I have to say, your illusions do have some merit." Xu Shaoyang's figure slowly reappeared, and then he walked towards Li Xuan step by step.
Li Xuan sighed helplessly at this, and after wiping the blood from his mouth, he stood up.
In these past few days, Li Xuan had practiced the eye technique Illusion Realm quite a bit. Yet, he hadn't expected that he still couldn't draw Xu Shaoyang into the Illusion Realm. However, Li Xuan soon came to terms with it; Xu Shaoyang was a Sovereign realm cultivator, after all, a vast chasm separated them.
His attempt had indeed fallen short.
"You can still move, not bad." Seeing Li Xuan stand up, the fervent light in Xu Shaoyang's eyes grew more intense. The more Li Xuan displayed such resilience, the happier Xu Shaoyang became. If he were to die in one blow, what use would such a destined one be?
Li Xuan no longer hesitated. With his Good Sword appearing, he directly unleashed a sword strike.
"This sword has good power. Unfortunately, your strength isn't enough to injure me." Xu Shaoyang merely waved his hand, deflecting Li Xuan's sword strike. Simultaneously, he advanced another step towards Li Xuan.
Li Xuan said no more. He directly activated the Nine Layers of Sword Intent, integrating it into the Sword Technique Heaven's Gate Opened, and slashed at Xu Shaoyang again.
"Nine Layers of Sword Intent, rather interesting." Xu Shaoyang's eyes flashed with a hint of admiration at this sight. To reach this level at Li Xuan's age was already extraordinary. This destined one, Li Xuan, indeed had some skills.
However, the more outstanding Li Xuan performed, the more resolute Xu Shaoyang's determination to obtain him became. Only by seizing Li Xuan's fortune could Xu Shaoyang hope to ascend to a higher level!
With this thought, Xu Shaoyang no longer held back. He pressed his left hand downwards, and Li Xuan's sword strike was restrained when it was still a zhang away from Xu Shaoyang. Not only that, a terrifying pressure instantly trapped Li Xuan in place.
"Open for me!" Feeling the restraint, Li Xuan let out a fierce roar, and his unyielding will was automatically activated.
Seeing Li Xuan actually break free from his oppressive restraint, a trace of surprise flickered in Xu Shaoyang's eyes. The next moment, Li Xuan unleashed another sword strike.
"One Sword Shatters All Laws!"
Xu Shaoyang parried with a wave of his hand and then stepped closer to Li Xuan again.
"Heaven Slaying Three Swords!"
"Layered Sword Technique!"
Li Xuan attacked directly, unconcerned about the numbness in his hand.
"Suppress!"
Xu Shaoyang uttered a single word, "Suppress," and the sword qi Li Xuan had gathered instantly dispersed.
"One Sword, Heaven's Gate Opens!"
Li Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood, which then merged into the Good Sword. With the fusion of the Nine Layers of Sword Intent, he once again slashed at Xu Shaoyang.
"So many sword techniques and divine abilities, I underestimated you." Xu Shaoyang's pupils narrowed. The power of Li Xuan's sword strike was even greater than before. Even Xu Shaoyang felt a sense of pressure. But, it was only pressure.
Xu Shaoyang waved his large hand, and with two fingers, he directly pinched the Good Sword, making it impossible to move no matter how Li Xuan urged it.
The gap between them was stark.
At this moment, Xu Shaoyang was only ten steps away from Li Xuan.
"You are a sword cultivator, and these sword techniques and divine abilities are indeed powerful. If not for your weaker cultivation, perhaps today I truly would have capsized in the gutter. But all of this ends here." Xu Shaoyang said slowly as he looked at Li Xuan.
"Letting you die by my sword is also a fitting end to the fortune you paid." Xu Shaoyang murmured to himself, then with a thought, spiritual energy surged out. The next moment, a massive spiritual sword formed from spiritual energy instantly coalesced.
Seeing Xu Shaoyang's actions, Li Xuan remained still. Xu Shaoyang paid him no mind, perhaps thinking Li Xuan had given up. After all, the gap between them was an insurmountable gulf.
"Rest in peace. This sword of mine is a full-powered strike. This way, I won't be disrespecting you. However, I will gladly accept your fortune," Xu Shaoyang said, then pointed downwards. The spiritual sword, some ten zhang in size, instantly shot towards Li Xuan.
But the next moment, Xu Shaoyang's expression changed drastically. Li Xuan had actually moved, charging directly towards the spiritual sword.
Boom!
The spiritual sword pierced into Li Xuan's body, but bizarrely, the spiritual sword seemed to be absorbed, disappearing within Li Xuan's body.
"You said I should kill you properly, why use a sword?" Feeling the immense spiritual energy surging into his body, a pleasure that reached his soul spread throughout him. Li Xuan glanced at the dumbfounded Xu Shaoyang, a slight smile curving his lips.
"You... you can actually absorb spiritual swords?!" Xu Shaoyang was not a fool and instantly understood.
Crack!
The next moment, Li Xuan's aura instantly surged.
Seeing this, Xu Shaoyang knew his sword strike had actually helped Li Xuan break through his cultivation. Li Xuan, already at the early stage of Karma Realm, was difficult to kill. Once he broke through, the commotion here would quickly attract outsiders.
At this moment, Xu Shaoyang finally revealed a great killing intent for the first time. Then, he moved and lunged at Li Xuan.
"Azure Dragon, stop him!" Li Xuan, at a critical juncture of his breakthrough, spoke with a thought.
Roar!
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, Azure Dragon directly swept out from the Hell Suppressing Tower. Accompanied by a dragon's roar, Azure Dragon's body astonishingly grew to ten zhang in size.
"A Sovereign realm spiritual beast, Azure Dragon!" With Azure Dragon's appearance, Xu Shaoyang's figure was forcibly halted. At this moment, Xu Shaoyang's expression finally turned grim. Who would have thought that Li Xuan would have a spiritual beast of Sovereign realm cultivation by his side!
Although Xu Shaoyang was confident he could defeat Azure Dragon, it would take time. Once that time passed and Li Xuan broke through, the two of them together would be more than Xu Shaoyang could handle. With this thought, Xu Shaoyang felt a desire to retreat.
Perhaps sensing Xu Shaoyang's hesitation, Azure Dragon let out a dragon's roar and then swooped down towards Xu Shaoyang. Initially, Azure Dragon had intended to emerge earlier but was suppressed by Li Xuan. Now that Li Xuan was at a crucial breakthrough point, how could Azure Dragon miss such a good opportunity?
"Damn it!" Xu Shaoyang cursed under his breath, but he was forced to engage in a battle with Azure Dragon. Xu Shaoyang knew clearly that even if he chose to retreat now, Azure Dragon would likely pursue him. If Guan Zeyang and Fan Libai discovered this, that would be Xu Shaoyang's true death trap.
Time gradually passed. Although Azure Dragon was at a disadvantage, its defense was incredibly strong. Moreover, its fearless fighting style truly made Xu Shaoyang feel overwhelmed. Meanwhile, Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
"Late stage Karma Realm, and directly skipped the middle stage. Old dog Xu, I truly thank you."
Li Xuan finished speaking, his gaze shifted, and he looked at Xu Shaoyang, who was locked in combat with Azure Dragon.
The next moment, his sword rose.