"Clang!"

    Xu Nian''s sword clashed directly with Dugu Jingcheng''s fingers, producing a continuous ringing sound.

    Both Xu Nian and Dugu Jingcheng staggered back three steps. Could their swords really be equally matched?

    The crowd around them was astonished. Dugu Jingcheng had used his hand as a sword and managed to block such a fierce sword strike, truly astonishing.

    Xu Nian was also surprised in his heart. Dugu Jingcheng''s move had seemed simple and casual, but in reality, it was infinitely profound.

    Swordsmanship was not just about releasing Spiritual Energy through a sword—that was too simplistic. It involved the integration of the heart, intent, Gang Qi, and strength.

    If one could merge heart with intent, intent with Gang Qi, and Gang Qi with strength, one would achieve the state known as Man and Sword as One—Dugu Jingcheng had reached this state.

    By comparison, Xu Nian hadn''t achieved this yet, but the combat with Dugu Jingcheng had enlightened him greatly.

    "Again!"

    Xu Nian shouted loudly, his Xuan Iron Sword swinging once more.

    This time, Xu Nian employed not the Ling Feng Thirteen Swords, but the Gale Sword Technique.

    Twelve sword shadows streaked through the Void, their chilling light making it impossible to discern which sword was real and which were just afterimages.

    However, facing such fierce sword light, Dugu Jingcheng stood immovable as Taishan, watching Xu Nian''s strike with a glint in his eyes.

    This time, Dugu Jingcheng didn''t use his finger as a sword; instead, he drew the sword from his waist.

    He did not employ any Swordsmanship techniques but slashed out plainly with his sword.

    "Clang!"

    The moment Xu Nian''s sword clashed with Dugu Jingcheng''s, Xu Nian''s sword shadows instantly dissipated. Not only that, Xu Nian felt a terrifying force from his sword that numbed his arm, nearly causing him to lose grip of his sword.

    Xu Nian retreated fifteen steps to unload the force from his hands.

    Seeing Xu Nian actually brandishing a bone, Dugu Jingcheng, normally as expressionless as an iceberg, surprisingly cracked a smile.

    He had fought many battles against people, but this was the first time he had ever seen anyone use a bone as a weapon.

    However, having seen Lin Han beaten into a sorry state by that very bone before, he did not dare to take it lightly.

    "Brother Dugu, here I come," Xu Nian said with a sly grin. Then he stepped forward as two great streams of Dragon Energy surged within him, unleashing the roar of a dragon. Gang Qi also roared within him as he swung the bone fiercely towards Dugu Jingcheng.

    "Clang!"

    Dugu Jingcheng instantly raised his sword to block, but the force transmitted through the bone was somewhat beyond his expectations, sending him flying, sword and all.

    Dugu Jingcheng''s figure drifted backward, his toes tapping the ground continuously, attempting to dissipate the force from his body.

    But Xu Nian chuckled lightly and, once again like a fierce tiger, followed up without hesitation, swinging the bone at Dugu Jingcheng.

    It was a totally barbaric style of fighting, overpowering all technique with sheer brute force.

    At this moment, Dugu Jingcheng''s eyes finally showed a trace of solemnity. Spiritual Energy surged within him, pouring into the long sword in his hands, which emitted a dragon-roar-like sound.

    "Sword Qi, One Strike Edict, explode!" Dugu Jingcheng spat out a phrase. In an instant, his sword became incredibly sharp, laden with an immensely powerful Sword Qi, as it struck straight against the bone in Xu Nian''s hand.

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    "Clang!"

    The ringing sound burst like a clap of thunder. Xu Nian and Dugu Jingcheng were both shaken by the terrifying force, retreating thirty feet before stopping, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.

    This clash left both men with serious injuries, the terrible force shaking their weapons and damaging their internal organs.

    The surrounding crowd was shocked—both men had once again fought to a draw.

    "Let''s decide the outcome with one move," Dugu Jingcheng, holding his sword, said to Xu Nian, his eyes full of fighting spirit that had reached its peak. As he finished, an extremely strong Sword Intent burst forth from his body, so powerful that even the weeds within three meters of his feet were slashed apart by the terrifying Sword Qi.

    "Good, I had the same idea," Xu Nian nodded without hesitation, his eyes also alight with the flames of battle.

    A thunder and fire, two great forces, burst forth from his body, transforming into two small dragons that coiled around him.