As soon as the words fell, Han Zimo's treasure sword materialized in his hand, and he performed a showy sword flourish.
"Han Zimo of Jin Tao Heavenly Sect, I request your guidance!"
With the sword in hand, Han Zimo's aura surged to its peak, his semi-king-level profound energy exuding considerable pressure.
Before him, Lin Xueyan conjured the Azure Cloud Ancient Sword, casually flicking its edge in front of her, her king-level cultivator's aura unleashed without restraint.
"Lin Xueyan of Gu Dao Heavenly Sect, I request your instruction!"
She stood firm, sword in hand, her robes billowing and long hair dancing in the wind. Despite her young age, she already possessed the demeanor of an otherworldly sword immortal.
Many spectators were captivated, unable to tear their eyes away. However, a portion of them focused on the Azure Cloud Ancient Sword in her hand, which glinted with a cold edge.
"Damn, isn't that Elder Ye's personal sword? How did it end up in her hands?"
"Elder Ye is truly generous! He's willing to bestow his renowned sword upon his disciple!"
"Yeah, I wish I had a master like that!"
Some couldn't help but recall the shock that swept through the Four Sects Assembly when Ye Yun wielded this very sword.
As a result, their gazes towards Lin Xueyan were filled with even greater admiration.
On the side of the Nine Nether Demonic Sect, Chen Wuyi, having arrived late, was unaware of the previous events and was utterly astonished by Lin Xueyan's outburst of cultivation.
Yet, considering that Lin Xueyan had only recently begun cultivating, her current prowess was likely achieved through forced elevation by elixirs. This thought somewhat eased his concerns.
"Even if she's a true King-level cultivator, that alone won't defeat our sect!"
Chen Wuyi sneered inwardly, confident in his sect's trump cards.
"What does it matter if she wields the Azure Cloud Ancient Sword? The important thing is always the wielder!"
On the martial arts stage, Han Zimo snorted coldly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"Prepare to receive my attack!"
Han Zimo suddenly drew his sword and charged, the blade tearing through the air with a hum, striking Lin Xueyan at an extremely tricky angle.
But facing his fierce, thunderous sword strike, Lin Xueyan remained still, her gaze fixed ahead, showing no intention of dodging.
"What's wrong with her? Did she not react in time?"
The onlookers were astounded. With the power of Han Zimo's sword strike, even a King-level cultivator would be severely injured if hit.
Seeing this, Han Wangfeng chuckled coldly to himself.
Indeed, her cultivation was forcefully boosted. She had the power but lacked actual combat effectiveness, making her no match for Han Zimo's sword.
Now, let's see if Ye Yun can still be so arrogant later!
However, before his smugness could last, the scene unfolding on the martial arts stage stunned him.
Lin Xueyan merely shook her head slightly at Han Zimo's onslaught.
"There are too many openings, not as good as my junior sister."
With that, she didn't even use her sword. Instead, she calmly raised her hand.
In a flash, her slender fingers precisely landed on the edge of Han Zimo's sword, halting its advance completely.
Boom!
At that moment, the audience below erupted, all staring at Lin Xueyan's action in utter disbelief.
Han Wangfeng's gaze froze. Catching a sword attack with bare hands, especially Han Zimo's? Was he dreaming?
"How is this possible?!"
Han Zimo on the martial arts stage was the most profoundly shocked. After all, being able to precisely pinch the sword's edge meant that the core of his technique had been seen through.
Lin Xueyan looked at him calmly and slowly said.
"Nothing is impossible. Your swordsmanship is far inferior to mine."
The comprehension of sword intent isn't just about the damage bonus it adds to sword moves; more importantly, it signifies a qualitative gap in swordsmanship.
Lin Xueyan released the sword edge, a playful smile appearing on her face. "Aren't you a self-proclaimed genius? Wouldn't you like to open your eyes?"
Lin Xueyan's casual demeanor and words were the greatest humiliation to Han Zimo, who prided himself on his swordsmanship talent, instantly plunging his mood to the depths.
He gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Fine, I'd like to see just how capable you are!"
With that, Han Zimo attacked again, this time a close-quarters assault, significantly more threatening than before.
But Lin Xueyan moved like a graceful dragon, easily evading the strike. Then, she swung the Azure Cloud Ancient Sword and launched a fierce counterattack.
"Now, it's my turn!"
A sharp glint flashed in Lin Xueyan's eyes, and the Azure Cloud Ancient Sword struck out like a gale, its speed and angle so treacherous that Han Zimo's expression changed drastically.
Not good!
Han Zimo hastily tried to retreat and dodge, but the sword edge was already upon him. He desperately retracted his sword to defend, barely blocking a strike, and was forced to retreat repeatedly from the impact.
But this was just the beginning. Having gained the advantage with one strike, Lin Xueyan transformed into a whirlwind, launching a tempestuous barrage of attacks at Han Zimo.
Facing Lin Xueyan's superb swordsmanship, Han Zimo was completely suppressed. He couldn't manage another sword strike throughout the subsequent exchange, appearing utterly disheveled and nothing like a genius.
"How can this person have such powerful swordsmanship? How is this possible?!"
Han Zimo's face was extremely grim. He couldn't fathom how someone who had achieved their cultivation through external means possessed such terrifying swordsmanship.
The rest of the fight was a mere showcase of Lin Xueyan's sword skills, with Han Zimo being utterly battered, a hint of despair creeping into his eyes.
"It's over."
As Lin Xueyan spoke calmly, the sword light on the Azure Cloud Ancient Sword surged, and with a swift slash, it struck Han Zimo's treasure sword.
The power of this strike was astonishing. With a deafening roar, the martial arts stage was engulfed in a massive cloud of dust. Han Zimo was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing to the ground a hundred meters away, tumbling several times before barely stopping.
After concluding the battle, Lin Xueyan sheathed the Azure Cloud Ancient Sword and looked towards Yu Wenya.
"Senior, may you announce the result?"
Yu Wenya's expression faltered slightly, clearly shaken by Lin Xueyan's incredible strength. She wondered when such a terrifying sword prodigy had emerged within the Eastern Domain.
Then, she took a deep breath and nodded. "I hereby declare that in the first match of the Four Sects Assembly, the winner is Lin Xueyan of Gu Dao Heavenly Sect!"
As her words fell, the entire venue remained silent, as if the spectators were still recovering from the shock of the preceding moments.
"Is… is she a monster?"
"Catching a sword with bare hands, crushing Han Zimo, I can't comprehend this!"
"Elder Ye actually managed to teach such a monster?"
"Indeed, if she could comprehend sword intent, she would completely surpass Elder Ye from back then!"
"Sword intent, if she could comprehend it, she would indeed be more formidable. But she's only fifteen years old; her comprehension might not be that easy to achieve."
At this point, whether Lin Xueyan's cultivation was attained through external means was no longer important. The key was that she possessed peerless swordsmanship that matched her cultivation level.
The strength Lin Xueyan displayed now was only lacking the initial stage of comprehending sword intent compared to Ye Yun in his prime.
"Master, did I perform well?"
Lin Xueyan returned to her master's side, looking like a child seeking praise.
"Mm, Xueyan, you did wonderfully. Now, certain people should feel too embarrassed to talk nonsense anymore."
Ye Yun praised her, patting her shoulder. Then, he smiled at the sullen Han Wangfeng and added salt to the wound.
"Elder Han, does your face hurt? Remember, if you don't have the strength next time, don't be so arrogant."
"You..."
Han Wangfeng's face turned ashen, wishing he could rush forward and fight Ye Yun. The critical issue was that, given the outcome of the battle, he had no grounds for rebuttal and was rendered speechless by the retort.
He could only suppress his rage resentfully and went to check on Han Zimo's injuries.
In the past, Jin Tao Heavenly Sect always acted arrogantly due to their strength. Now, Han Wangfeng's inability to vent his anger brought secret amusement to those who disliked Jin Tao Heavenly Sect.
"Weren't you arrogant before? Looks like you kicked an iron plate this time!"
"They deserve it completely!"
"Long live Elder Ye!"