Jian Lingkong's expression darkened slightly.
He, too, was shocked that Tuoba Yan had been instantly annihilated by Jiang Chen. A grave look appeared in his eyes, and he no longer regarded Jiang Chen with any trace of contempt.
A grim, predatory expression appeared on his face as he stared intently at Jiang Chen. "It seems we all underestimated you. You truly live up to your reputation as someone who could ascend to the Ninth Celestial Palace and emerge from the Land of Despair. Before I reached the Emperor Realm, I certainly would not have been your match. As for now..."
RUMBLE!
A terrifying wave of air suddenly erupted from Jian Lingkong's body.
This wave of air shot into the sky like a hurricane.
It forced the many experts in the square to retreat one after another, not daring to get too close.
Terrifying Sword Qi crisscrossed through the air, filling the space above the square.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The solid ground continuously cracked and shattered under the assault of the wildly dancing Sword Qi.
"Sword Heart?" Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes.
"That's right!"
Jian Lingkong spoke with immense pride. "I have practiced Sword Techniques since I was a child, dancing with the sword, living and breathing with it day and night. I was already on a grand path in the Sword Dao. Now, having received the inheritance of the Mystic Sect, I have finally condensed a Sword Heart and stepped into the Emperor Realm. Jiang Chen, if you surrender now, there's still time. Otherwise, once I unleash my Sword Techniques, you won't stand a chance!"
Sword Heart.
The Heart of Swordsmanship!
This was something a Martial Artist could only form after reaching an extremely high level of attainment in the Sword Dao and glimpsing its very essence.
One could say...
...that among those of the same realm, a Swordsman who had condensed a Sword Heart was invincible!
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, sizing up Jian Lingkong. The corner of his mouth lifted as he said slowly, "To be able to condense a Sword Heart proves that your talent in the Sword Dao is indeed not to be underestimated. Unfortunately for you, your opponent is me! It's just a mere Sword Heart. Did you think you were the only one who has one?"
"What?"
Jian Lingkong froze for a moment, then his eyes widened, his expression changing drastically.
An equally terrifying fluctuation of Sword Qi erupted from Jiang Chen's body.
A powerful wave of Sword Intent pressed down on him, making Jian Lingkong's face drain of color. He felt as if the Jiang Chen before him was a towering mountain peak.
The Sword Heart within his body trembled violently.
It was like a court official meeting his sovereign.
"You... you've condensed a Sword Heart too?" Jian Lingkong's face was incomparably grim.
Just moments ago, he had been showing off his Sword Heart. He never imagined that in the blink of an eye, Jiang Chen would reveal one of his own.
More importantly...
...Jiang Chen's Sword Heart seemed even more powerful than his.
This was something Jian Lingkong found hard to accept.
His features twisted as he let out a cold snort. "So what if you've condensed a Sword Heart? I started practicing the sword at the age of three. Do you really think I'll lose to you? Take this—Sword Realm!"
HUM!
Surging waves of Sword Qi burst forth from his body.
They transformed into thousands upon thousands of sharp Sword Auras.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
These Sword Auras shot toward Jiang Chen like a torrential storm, blanketing the sky and leaving him with no room to dodge.
Jian Lingkong wore a savage expression. "Within my Sword Realm, you have no chance of escape! You can only face it head-on. I refuse to believe your Sword Heart is truly that strong!"
Beside them, Zhao Hongluan and Gai Shi had grave expressions.
Zhao Hongluan asked nervously, "Gai Shi, do you think Jiang Chen can win?"
Gai Shi hesitated for a moment before giving a wry smile. "If they were in the same Realm, I'm confident Jiang Chen would win. But Jian Lingkong is an Emperor Realm master, after all. With both of them having a Sword Heart, it'll be very difficult for Jiang Chen to win!"
The Arhat beside them also nodded, saying in a deep voice, "By condensing a Sword Heart, Jian Lingkong's combat power is already on par with mine. If Jiang Chen can block this attack, then he'll be worthy of being my opponent!"
Fox Mei'Er gave a charming smile. "That's not necessarily true! I think we've all underestimated this Brother Jiang Chen of ours!"
Her foxy eyes were silky and alluring as she stared intently at Jiang Chen.
A look of curiosity and passion glinted within them.
「Just then...」
The terrifying Sword Realm had already completely engulfed Jiang Chen. Facing the tyrannical waves of Sword Qi, Jiang Chen remained perfectly calm. He shook his head gently. "Sword Realm? With this move alone, your strength already surpasses Alu Tian's. It's a pity, but it's useless against me!"
"Eight Trigrams Sword!"
With a cold snort, Jiang Chen swept his Spirit-Slaying Sword in front of him, creating a circular Sword Shield.
The blade moved from top to bottom, carving an "S"-shaped arc down the center of the Sword Shield.
SWISH...
An Eight Trigrams Yin Yang Sword Diagram materialized before him.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Under the power of the Eight Trigrams Sword, the strongest Saint Tier Defensive Sword Technique, the crisscrossing Sword Qi couldn't even break through the Eight Trigrams Sword Diagram.
Jiang Chen's figure flashed.
He appeared in front of Jian Lingkong, his left hand balled into a fist. It glowed with a black light, like an iron sledgehammer, as he smashed it forward. "North Nether Divine Fist!"
"Damn it! Block it!"
"One Sword to the Sky!"
Jian Lingkong roared, sweeping his longsword. A wave of sword energy surged forward like a gushing spring.
However, such a sharp attack was as fragile as paper under the shadow of the black fist.
BOOM!
The Sword Aura shattered, and the terrifying force of the fist slammed directly into Jian Lingkong.
"Gah..."
Jian Lingkong cried out miserably as he was sent flying backward.
His chest had caved in, a fist imprint clearly visible upon it. The dark energy left by the blow pulsed with terrifying Destruction Power, forcing Jian Lingkong to spit out several mouthfuls of blood.
"Damn you..."
Jian Lingkong's face was filled with venomous hatred. He gripped his longsword, about to charge at Jiang Chen again.
But as soon as he began to circulate his Profound Technique, he felt a sharp pain inside his body, coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood, and his face turned deathly pale.
Jiang Chen said indifferently, "If you don't want to die, you'd better start healing immediately. Otherwise, this is as far as you'll ever go in this life."
"You..."
Jian Lingkong's face alternated between ashen and pale, but he knew what Jiang Chen said was true.
Staring at Jiang Chen with a gloomy gaze, he gritted his teeth and said, "I have lost... However, I only just entered the Emperor Realm today. The day my Sword Dao reaches Great Success, I will definitely defeat you!"
"You won't get the chance."
Jiang Chen said faintly, no longer paying attention to the venom-faced Jian Lingkong. He turned to Fox Mei'Er and the Arhat and said calmly, "You two, do you still want to give it a try?"
Fox Mei'Er covered her mouth with a light laugh. She blinked her eyes charmingly and said with a bewitching smile, "Brother Jiang Chen, a girl like me is no match for you."
Jiang Chen looked at the Arhat.
The Arhat's expression shifted several times. He glanced at the unscathed Jiang Chen, then at the silent Tuoba Yan and the healing Jian Lingkong. A bitter smile touched his lips as he said, "My strength is slightly greater than Jian Lingkong's, but only by a limited amount. Even if I could defeat you, it would come at a significant cost."
Gai Shi curled his lip. "If you're scared, just say so. No need to put on a brave front!"
"Hmph!"
The Arhat snorted coldly and said indifferently, "Brother Jiang is the strongest Human Emperor. I have only just broken through to the Emperor Realm, and my cultivation is unstable. I simply do not wish to fight him. Gai Shi, if you have a problem with me, you are more than welcome to fight me instead!"
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
Gai Shi's face flushed red with anger.
The two of them were at daggers drawn, on the verge of coming to blows.
「But just then...」
An incomparably terrifying fluctuation of aura suddenly emanated from the Mystic Sect, making everyone's heart tremble. Above the Mystic Sect, a terrifying tribulation cloud had abruptly appeared.
Everyone's expression changed drastically. Two words surfaced in their minds at the same time: Divine Tribulation!