After Being Reborn, I Refuse To Be The Holy Son Of The Sect Anymore

Chapter 14:

At the summit of Azure Sun Mountain, on the sparring platform, two prodigious sword talents finally clashed. The tension among the crowd reached its peak. All the inner disciples and core disciples of the Azure Sun Sword Sect had gathered in the square, holding their breaths. Even the sect master, Jiang Qitian, clenched his fists tightly, silently praying that Xiao Yang wouldn’t lose too disgracefully. The sect couldn’t afford such humiliation.

“Senior Brother, you mustn’t lose!” Jiang Ting whispered to herself, her heart pounding.

“Rebellious son, don’t let us down!” Xiao Zhenshan muttered nervously, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The power that Li Xingyao had previously displayed was overwhelming—practically invincible. Even Qin Fei, with his innate Dao physique, had been utterly defeated by her, unable to retaliate, his sword crushed in a single move.

Every disciple of the Azure Sun Sword Sect pinned their hopes on Xiao Yang, wishing for him to defeat Li Xingyao and restore their sect’s reputation. Everyone, that is, except Qin Fei.

Qin Fei’s eyes glinted with malice as he watched Xiao Yang standing tall on the platform. “The drug’s effects should start kicking in soon,” he thought to himself with a sinister grin.

On the sparring platform, Xiao Yang raised his right hand. 

His flying sword transformed into a dazzling streak of light several meters long, surging toward Li Xingyao like a dragon. The sword’s aura spilled forth like quicksilver, permeating every inch of space and locking onto its target.

Li Xingyao’s crescent-shaped eyes sparkled with a faint smile, hidden beneath her veil, unseen by anyone. Without hesitation, she extended her hand, completely disregarding the sharpness of Xiao Yang’s flying sword, and reached out to grab it barehanded.

“It’s the Starlight Plucking Hand!” someone exclaimed in shock.

Seeing this, Qin Fei’s expression twisted into a gleeful smirk. He, too, had fallen to this very technique, his sword crushed, his years of cultivation wasted in a single moment.

Jiang Qitian shot to his feet, his heart pounding as he watched Li Xingyao execute her signature move. The two elders beside him looked equally alarmed. They had witnessed the terrifying power of the Starlight Plucking Hand before. If Xiao Yang’s flying sword were caught, it would likely suffer the same fate as Qin Fei’s.

The disciples surrounding the platform turned pale, dreading the outcome. 

But just as Li Xingyao’s hand was about to clasp the flying sword, it flickered unexpectedly, narrowly brushing past her palm and evading her grasp.

“What…?” Li Xingyao was momentarily taken aback.

Even the previously composed Li Daozhen nearly spat out her tea in astonishment. For the first time since mastering this technique, Li Xingyao had missed her target. Her Starlight Plucking Hand had failed.

Before she could recover, Xiao Yang’s flying sword arced around, aiming directly at her midsection.

Li Xingyao reacted instantly, drawing her sword in one fluid motion. 

“Clang!” 

Her blade met Xiao Yang’s flying sword, deflecting it with a powerful strike that sent it spinning away.

“That speed…” The crowd gasped in disbelief.

Li Xingyao’s draw and strike had been faster than Xiao Yang’s flying sword—something that seemed almost impossible. Most sword cultivators refined their swords into their bodies, allowing for instant deployment as flying swords. 

Yet, Li Xingyao had chosen to wield her blade externally. The speed with which she drew and struck defied logic, a testament to her unparalleled mastery of swordsmanship.

Xiao Yang, however, was unfazed. 

In his previous life, he had dueled with Li Xingyao for a millennium, transitioning from adversaries to kindred spirits. He understood her abilities better than anyone. Her pride, relentlessness, and unyielding strength were balanced by her straightforward nature. She was fearless and forthright, possessing the skills to justify her arrogance.

But her strength had earned her countless enemies, ultimately leading to her tragic end, tortured and killed by Qin Fei’s schemes. 

Xiao Yang tightened his control over his flying sword, sending it hurtling back toward Li Xingyao. The blade darted through the air, splitting into countless shimmering lights that converged on her from every direction.

Li Xingyao’s sword danced in response, weaving a defensive web of afterimages as metallic clashes echoed through the air. Sparks erupted around her as the flying sword’s relentless assault bore down. Yet, astonishingly, she managed to fend off the barrage with her single blade.

“Clang!” 

With a mighty swing, Li Xingyao knocked the flying sword away, forcing a temporary reprieve. Xiao Yang’s blade returned to his side, circling him protectively.

When the audience shifted their focus to Li Xingyao’s weapon, they were stunned. Her once-pristine blade was now riddled with chips and cracks, its edge ruined.

“Impressive. You’ve earned the right to see my true strength,” Li Xingyao said coldly, pointing her damaged sword at Xiao Yang.

“Enough warm-ups. Let’s begin,” Xiao Yang replied, standing tall and composed, his aura calm yet unyielding.

“Humph!” Li Xingyao’s body trembled as an overwhelming burst of sword energy erupted from her. The aura coalesced into a magnificent phoenix that let out a piercing cry, shaking the air. The heat emanating from the platform was so intense that the space around her seemed to distort, despite the protective barrier surrounding the stage.

“So this is the true strength of the Fuyao Saintess…” someone whispered in awe.

Xiao Yang remained unfazed, his expression tranquil.

“Whoosh!” Li Xingyao surged forward, her blade aiming directly at Xiao Yang. 

The phoenix’s wings unfurled, transforming into countless fiery sword lights that rained down upon him like a tempest. The sparring platform quaked under the onslaught, and even the protective barrier flickered under the strain.

The disciples watched in silent dread, overwhelmed by Li Xingyao’s sheer power.

Xiao Yang responded by recalling his flying sword into his body, merging himself with its energy. Raising his hand, he extended two fingers, meeting Li Xingyao’s sword head-on.

Golden light, tinged with fiery sparks, enveloped Xiao Yang, shielding him from the fiery barrage. A similar radiance emanated from Li Xingyao as their forces collided. 

The platform trembled, and the surrounding barrier quivered, on the verge of shattering.

“Impossible…”

“So powerful…”

The crowd stared, slack-jawed, at the duel unfolding before them.

The clash between the two sword prodigies had left everyone utterly speechless.