Sword Sovereign of the Celestial Emperor

"If what you demonstrated in defeating Wei Zheng is your full strength, then you are no match for me."

Chu Ming's expression was calm. Even in the face of the mighty Hu Xueqi with his Thousand Snow Sword, he remained cool and unflustered.

His goal was to secure one of the three spots to enter Sword Peak, so he was already prepared to face all contenders.

"There's no point in talking, make your move!"

Hu Xueqi frowned. He hadn't noticed anything unusual off the stage, but standing on the arena opposing Chu Ming, he felt the overwhelming aura radiating from Chu Ming, which seemed to be eroding his will. If he didn't strike now, he feared he would lose the courage to attack.

Swish!

The Conjugate Sword in Chu Ming's hand, dripping with blood, swiftly slashed out. The attack was a mix of deception and reality, transforming into thousands of Sword Auras, resembling a sky full of stars, quickly enveloping Hu Xueqi.

Clang, clang, clang, clang…

Hu Xueqi's swordsmanship was far superior to Wei Zheng's. His sword produced a myriad of Sword Lights, forming a gigantic millstone that completely obliterated Chu Ming's Sword Lights.

Sword Lights shot through the air, leaving a trail of sparks on the ground.

Whoosh!

Chu Ming's gaze turned cold. With white waves surging around him, he swiftly retreated with his right foot and extended two fingers of his left hand. Two Sword Lights burst from them, striking through the surrounding whiteness towards Hu Xueqi.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two streaks of Powerful Qi turned into beams of light, piercing the white waves, heading directly towards Hu Xueqi.

Clang! Clang!

Hu Xueqi's swordlight flickered, forming a dense barrier of Sword Lights in front of him, a mix of reality and illusion.

The two Sword Lights were immediately absorbed by the barrier, which then fractured from the center.

Whoosh!

Hu Xueqi retreated rapidly, snowflakes drifting down from the sky, adding a chill to the air.

"Thousand Mountains Collapsing Snow!"

Hu Xueqi's body turned into a strong gale, swiftly approaching Chu Ming. His Sword Light resembled an avalanche, carrying an overwhelming force, with its sharp blade pressing down on Chu Ming.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

As the Snow Light touched the ground, fragments of ice continuously formed, spreading a layer of frost.

"Deceitful Sword!"

Chu Ming did not retreat. With his reaction speed and Soul Power, every move that Hu Xueqi made was within his perception.

Stomp!

His right foot struck the ground, sending countless ice shards flying. Numerous Sword Lights, refracted like beams of light, created an illusionary world, a blend of reality and mirage.

His attack clashed with Hu Xueqi's Flying Snow Sword Light. Simultaneously, Chu Ming sidestepped to his right, releasing countless Sword Lights from his sword which reconstituted into an overwhelming shroud around Hu Xueqi.

Swish, swish, swish...

The arena was filled with shadows of swords clashing, forcing spectators to step back to avoid the stray Sword Lights.

As the surrounding white waves dissipated, the intertwining Sword Lights vanished, revealing two figures colliding fiercely.

Clang, clang, clang, clang...

The blades of the swords collided, sparking brightly. Chu Ming's face remained untroubled as his sword attacks reached extreme speed, continually closing in on Hu Xueqi.

Hu Xueqi's face turned pale, sweat appearing on his forehead. Chu Ming's rapid sword attacks forced him to focus solely on the sword dao, which drained his mental strength.

Whoosh!

Swish!

Hu Xueqi realized he could not delay any longer. Chu Ming was like an endless ocean before him; prolonging the fight would only be disadvantageous.

Thus, he deflected Chu Ming's longsword with one swing and leaped backward, his white clothes fluttering, black hair flying, both hands gripping his sword as Sword Aura surged at its tip, like silver serpents entwining.

"Snow River Flowing Shadow!"

Zing!

Hu Xueqi's Sword Light reached an extreme speed, instantly appearing in front of Chu Ming, the air splitting and forming white waves spreading out.

"Flowing Clouds Like Water!"

Chu Ming dodged and retreated, myriad Sword Dao Auroras flashing in his mind. A hazy Sword Light burst from his Conjugate Sword, darkening the sky and thickening the air like water.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

Hu Xueqi had cultivated his Snow River Flowing Shadow to the Transformation Realm, and Chu Ming had also reached this level with his Flowing Clouds Like Water. Moreover, Chu Ming's comprehension of the sword dao far exceeded Hu Xueqi's.

"Gah…"

Threads of blood fluttered through the air as Hu Xueqi felt a tremendous force hit his chest, his internal Spiritual Power reversed, and he couldn't help but spit out blood.

In a pavilion at the City Lord's Mansion, a black figure stood silently, observing the Hundred Battle Arena with unwavering eyes.

The pavilion was high enough to give a perfect view of the entire arena.

"This person is quite interesting."

A melodious voice murmured. Seeing Chu Ming's Flowing Clouds Like Water, a ripple of interest appeared in the black figure's stoic eyes.

"Miss Ye, the Patriarch wants to see you regarding some arrangements for Sword Peak."

Just then, a tall figure stepped out from the back of the pavilion, cupping his fists respectfully to the black-clad woman.

The person had sharp features, bright eyes, a tall stature, and a handsome appearance, exuding a certain charm.

This man was Ye Family's foremost prodigy, Ye Chengtian. While not on the Profound List, his fame and prestige in the Beiming Domain were considerable.

"I know!"

The melodious voice replied as the mysterious woman turned and descended the pavilion, heading towards Ye Family's meeting hall. Ye Chengtian watched her graceful silhouette, his eyes filled with fervor.

The mysterious woman had not only remarkable talent but also an impressive figure, suggesting her beauty was unparalleled. Most importantly, her master was a Life and Death Realm King.

Whosoever gained the favor of this mysterious woman would essentially rise to unprecedented heights.

Ye Chengtian was Ye Family's most gifted individual, a future Patriarch if all went well.

Because of this, Ye Feiying continually created opportunities for Ye Chengtian, hoping he could earn the mysterious woman's favor. But what frustrated Ye Chengtian was that she never gave him a second glance.

...

Whoosh!

In the Hundred Battle Arena, a bloody flash flew through the air as yet another swordsman fell to Chu Ming.

At this moment, Chu Ming's winning streak had reached eighty-three matches, surpassing both Hu Xueqi and Lin Xuan, making him the top contender.

The spectators below the arena were now numb to the outcome.

Unlike Hu Xueqi, Lin Xuan chose not to challenge Chu Ming; instead, he remained in place, healing his wounds.

"Could it be that the record will be broken this time?"

An elder in a yellow robe watched Chu Ming's white figure, feeling a slight tremor in his heart.

Nobody knew when the Sword Peak originated, but the Ye Family had presided over it for 120 years, hosting the Hundred Battle Arena eleven times. Including this time, it was the twelfth.

Historically, the highest winning streak was achieved fifty years ago by a swordsman from the Sword Domain, with ninety-four consecutive wins. That swordsman was now a Great Power of Transcendence, with the potential to become a Life and Death Realm King.