CHAPTER 81: I, NANTIAN YIJIAN, SHALL ONE DAY STAND UNRIVALLED AMONG ALL PEERS WITHIN MY REALM

Seeing Jun Xiaoma worn out and squatting to rest, Nantian Yijian's heart surged with joy. "Tired already? Then let's end this."

Without hesitation, he leapt up with the guqin case strapped to his back, seized his flying sword, and charged straight at Jun Xiaoma.

Just as Nantian Yijian closed in, Jun Xiaoma looked up with a strange smile. "Sorry, but you're the one who's going to lose."

Nantian Yijian's heart clenched as he saw Jun Xiaoma suddenly sprang to his feet. "No way!"

"Little brother, your experience is still too shallow. Remember this: never let your guard down until your opponent is truly defeated."

With that, Jun Xiaoma activated his movement art, slipping past Nantian Yijian's strike before swinging his massive hammer down at him.

Seeing the hammer about to land, Lu Chen sighed. "Looks like Little Jian's going to lose. Still... I have to admit, his growth is remarkable."

Jun Laoye continued gnawing on a piece of meat, unfazed by the attack. "Just keep watching. I told you, don't underestimate Little Jian. He's gained quite a lot this time."

Nantian Yijian shouted, "Nantian Third Sword, Shatter the Art!"

Without lifting his gaze from his food, Jun Laoye added, "Ah, here it comes. Back in the secret realm, Little Jian found a hidden compartment inside his guqin. Inside was an incomplete sword art. What you're seeing now is that very move."

Lu Chen caught sight of a phantom giant sword glowing with silver light materializing around Nantian Yijian, shielding him from Jun Xiaoma's hammer strike. He exclaimed in surprise, "Hm? A third sword?"

Jun Laoye finally stood up, eyes fixed on the condensing sword light. "Yes, a third sword. Normally, he can only summon one, but this sword art is designed to work with the flying sword. When he pushes it to full power, he can temporarily summon several more, like a second and even a third one."

Nantian Wan'er pointed eagerly at the fully formed flying sword. "Look! Lu-gege, a third sword has appeared."

"With three flying swords and his sword-control art, he's practically unstoppable now."

As the fight reached its peak, Jun Laoye shouted excitedly, "Little Lu, let's move up front. I'd bet on Little Jian winning within thirty seconds!"

Lu Chen took Nantian Wan'er's hand and dashed toward the arena. "Alright, Wan'er, let's go."

Jun Laoye stuffed a few more pieces of meat into his mouth, downed a big gulp of wine, grabbed a lamb leg, and hurried after them. "Let's go!"

Jun Laoye shouted, "Little Jian, hurry! Use your full strength! Strike while he's weak and finish him!"

Nantian Yijian blinked at Jun Laoye, then channeled his spirit qi, recalling his three flying swords. He turned to Lu Chen with a grin. "Boss, keep your eyes open. I'll show you all I've gained in the secret realm."

Lu Chen nodded with a pleased smile. "Haha, very nice. Go on."

"From here on, it's my solo performance."

Nantian Yijian set down the guqin case and shouted, "Nantian Third Sword, Offense Break!"

His fingers danced through a series of seals, and the three flying swords aligned before him. Sunlight gleamed along their edges, linking them together like one massive blade. "Let's finish this!"

Nantian Yijian was aware of his weakness. His spirit qi reserves could not sustain the three flying swords for long.

Jun Xiaoma was caught off guard now, but once he realized Nantian Yijian's limited reserves, the tide could turn in an instant. Nantian Yijian had to end this quickly, especially by breaking Jun Xiaoma's will first.

Gripping his massive sword with both hands, Nantian Yijian's aura flared to its peak. "If you were still at the Qi Regulation Realm, I might not be able to touch you. But now, you're only at the Qi Absorption Realm."

Jun Xiaoma steadied himself, hammer in hand. "So what? I have over a hundred years more battle experience than you."

"No. You're wrong this time. Sometimes battle experience can become a burden."

Nantian Yijian's gaze sharpened, his presence surging higher. "Boss always said a top cultivator should be invincible among those of the same realm. Today, I'll prove I am invincible in mine."

"What? This energy... impossible!"

Jun Xiaoma roared and charged forward.

"I am Nantian Yijian, the one who shall one day stand unrivaled among all peers within my realm!"

With a fierce bellow, Nantian Yijian gripped his blazing sword and charged. The blade's dazzling light struck straight at Jun Xiaoma's eyes.

Seeing the giant sword hurtling toward him, Jun Xiaoma faltered. "How can someone at the Qi Absorption Realm wield such power?"

A rare flicker of fear crossed his eyes as he staggered back ten steps, pressed against the arena's edge.

Watching from the sidelines, Jun Wudi remarked, "Xiaoma's going to lose this time."

"What? Brother Xiaoma might lose?"

"Impossible! Their spirit qi reserves are worlds apart!"

"After such prolonged attacks, Nantian Yijian's spirit qi should be nearly depleted. In a battle of attrition, he should be the one to collapse first."

Hearing the voices from below, Jun Xiaoma's heart jolted. Then he recalled that his spirit qi reserves were several times greater than Nantian Yijian's.

"I see... I've been fooled from the start. Even with my cultivation suppressed to the Qi Absorption Realm, a perfected Heavenly Pool's sea of qi remains unchanged."

Jun Xiaoma glared at the incoming sword and shouted, "If I can hold out until your spirit qi runs dry, you'll be the one to lose!"

"Hahaha, you've realized it a bit too late."

The massive sword in Nantian Yijian's hands spiraled forward, closing the distance to within three meters of Jun Xiaoma.

"Not necessarily."

Jun Xiaoma braced himself, lifting his giant hammer before him. He poured all his strength into releasing his spirit qi. A faint phantom of a massive bear appeared, barely shielding him.

In a half-crouched stance, eyes locked on the incoming blade, Jun Xiaoma whispered, "Please... block this strike."

Nantian Yijian roared again, "Offense Break!"

The sword surged forward with blinding speed, slicing cleanly through the bear phantom and shattering it like paper.

Jun Xiaoma thought desperately, Is this the end? No... there's still a chance.

He frantically channeled the spirit qi in his body, condensing it before him.

"Haha, there's no chance left. This next strike is the true Offense Break."

Nantian Yijian released his grip, spun mid-air, and kicked the sword's hilt. The sword's spirit qi detonated instantly.

The blade split into three. Two swords struck Jun Xiaoma from either side, knocking the Double Flame Hammers from his hands, while the third shot straight for him.

Nantian Yijian followed closely behind the sword, kicking its hilt again to give it a second burst of speed. "Here comes the final blow!"

In that instant, he became one with his sword, forming a colossal golden translucent blade surging toward Jun Xiaoma.

Jun Wudi narrowed his eyes. "That sword... its power nearly matches the fifth level of the Qi Regulation Realm."

"What? An attack from the Qi Absorption Realm, yet rivaling the Qi Regulation Realm in power?"

"Impossible!"

Before the crowd's murmurs could spread further, a burst of blue light erupted in the arena, and the giant sword clashed against it.

The arena was engulfed in a dazzling explosion of spirit qi.

When the light faded, everyone saw Jun Xiaoma encased within a glowing blue barrier, the phantom of a massive bear clutching the giant sword's light-forged blade.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as they realized the implication behind it. This was spirit qi projection, a trait unique to the Qi Regulation Realm."

It broke the tournament rules. In that moment, everyone knew Jun Xiaoma had truly lost.

"Spirit qi projection... Brother Xiaoma has unleashed power beyond the Qi Absorption Realm. He couldn't win while suppressing his cultivation."

"Jun Xiaoma lost... Nantian Yijian is terrifyingly strong. He's nearly on par with the Second Young Master."

"No, something's still going on in the arena..."

At that moment, the bear phantom crushed the giant swordlight with its paw.

Nantian Yijian was thrown backward, crashing hard onto the arena floor.

The three flying swords, stripped of their spirit qi support, clattered to the ground with a sharp metallic chorus.

Nantian Yijian spat out a mouthful of dark blood and recalled the swords into his guqin case. "Urgh... you lost."

Jun Xiaoma's eyes widened in surprise. "What? That giant sword was just for show? You never infused it with spirit qi?"

He hurried over to help Nantian Yijian to his feet.

Nantian Yijian smiled. "Heh, of course, and you fell for it. Strategy is part of strength. I only wanted to throw you off balance. Since you've lost, step down."

"Well said... You've earned my respect as a brother."

Jun Xiaoma, straightforward as ever, leapt down from the stage and cupped his fists toward Nantian Yijian. "Brother, even with your cultivation at the Qi Absorption Realm, your strength surpasses mine. You'll go farther than I ever will."

Nantian Yijian returned the salute. "You're not bad yourself. I only took advantage of the rules this time. If it were a real fight, no one knows who'd win."

He wiped the blood from his lips and rose to his feet. Slinging the guqin case onto his back, he glanced briefly at Lu Chen before turning to face the crowd. He laughed. "Who's next? Who dares challenge me?"

The words had barely left Nantian Yijian's mouth when his strength gave out, and he collapsed backward.