Volume Two – The Nine Provinces Revealed, Joining the Spirit Ruins Chapter 153: An Effortless Victory

Han Lian thrust his sword forward abruptly, the sword forms gorgeous and seemingly brimming with endless variations.

"That's the Unadorned Sword Art of Unadorned Peak." A disciple recognized it immediately.

"As expected of Senior Brother Han Lian, he has even comprehended the Unadorned Sword Art."

"Such a formidable Han Lian, to think he hid his strength so deeply."

"How will Chen Yu respond to this? How many moves can he possibly last?"

"Heh... Han Lian has been consolidating his foundation at the First-Yin Six-Aperture Realm for over half a year; naturally, his strength is immense."

...

The discussions beneath the stage rose and fell in waves, filled with shock and anticipation. One by one, they watched Chen Yu nervously, wondering how he would handle this.

Han Lian's gaze turned even more unkind as he thought to himself: *Still not drawing your sword? Do you truly look down on me, Han Lian?*

Meanwhile, Chen Yu took a step, and the moment Han Lian's sword thrust forward, he retreated swiftly, maintaining the exact same speed as Han Lian's sword, making it impossible for Han Lian's blade to ever touch him.

"You cannot escape," Han Lian said in a cold voice. His sword stance shifted once more, and dozens of sword shadows suddenly pierced through from all directions, forcing Chen Yu to the edge of the sparring stage in the blink of an eye.

"Chen Yu, still not drawing your sword? One more step back and you'll be off the stage," Han Lian said in a deep voice.

Everyone else watched Chen Yu nervously as well, all believing he was being far too arrogant. Xue Ren and the others clenched their fists tightly, their faces etched with worry.

Yet Chen Yu remained completely calm. Only then did he speak, saying, "Han Lian, although your sword is gorgeous and boasts endless variations, from beginning to end, a true sword has only one form."

Just as everyone was pondering the meaning of Chen Yu's words, he moved. Yet, he still did not draw his sword.

Forming a sword with his fingers, Chen Yu suddenly thrust toward the right side. At the tip of his finger, a golden flower was blooming, colliding precisely with one of the dozens of sword shadows cast by Han Lian.

"Is he insane? Has he grown tired of living?" The other disciples were even more astonished at this sight.

Only disciples at the Yin-Yang Realm could discern the clues, especially those who practiced the Unadorned Sword Art themselves.

Han Lian himself was equally shocked. At that moment, a cry echoed involuntarily in the depths of his mind: *Could this Chen Yu have seen through my Unadorned Sword Art? Impossible...*

Though Han Lian was unwilling to believe it, the moment Chen Yu's sword-finger pressed against that sword shadow, he had no choice but to believe it. The sword shadows from all directions dissipated accordingly. Seized by a sudden shock, Han Lian immediately withdrew and stepped back, gazing at Chen Yu with a solemn expression.

Many people were still clueless, asking one another, "What just happened? Why did Senior Brother Han Lian retreat? Could his Unadorned Sword Art have been seen through?"

"How is that possible? That is the Unadorned Sword Art! Could it be something an outer disciple like him can break?"

One skeptical voice after another rang out, but more people remained silent and shocked, harboring even greater tension and confusion regarding Chen Yu on the stage.

Xue Ren and the others waved their arms excitedly, shouting, "Senior Brother Chen Yu, you are amazing..."

Chen Yu maintained his detached expression, not pressing forward aggressively despite Han Lian's retreat. He calmly explained, "Although the Unadorned Sword Art is exquisite, Han Lian, you have only just caught a glimpse of its threshold and have yet to comprehend its true subtleties. Otherwise, it would not have been so easy for me to break it."

Even though Chen Yu spoke the truth, it grated harshly on Han Lian's ears. He said in a deep voice, "Is that so? Easily broken? Hmph, I'd like to see just what kind of ease you're talking about."

Han Lian let out a long whistle and lunged forward with his sword raised. This time, instead of the Unadorned Sword Art, Han Lian employed the Gale Sword Art, a style he excelled at even more.

As soon as this sword appeared, a violent wind arose instantly. The sword wind rushed downward like a giant eagle spreading its wings. Without the slightest panic, Chen Yu thrust out his sword-finger and declared, "Five-Elements Blazing Fire Sword."

The scorching sword qi spread rapidly like flames, seemingly transforming into a wall of fire blocking his front.

"The Five-Elements Blazing Fire Sword? Do you think you can block this?" Han Lian said disdainfully. But the very next moment, he sensed something was amiss; his sword seemed even harder to control than usual, his sword qi was weakening, and a counterforce was rebounding against him.

"What on earth is happening?" Han Lian was filled with bewilderment, yet he still refused to retreat, continuing his assault toward Chen Yu.

Rumble... Countless trails of sword qi slashed downward, threatening to submerge Chen Yu in an instant. But right at that moment, Chen Yu's sword qi surged violently, surpassing Han Lian's power in the blink of an eye.

"Not good, wind aids the fire's momentum?" Han Lian understood what was happening immediately. "It's the air. You used the Blazing Fire Sword to alter the atmospheric pressure and disrupted my Gale Sword Art."

Alas, Han Lian realized it far too late. Chen Yu's sword qi had already counterattacked, knocking him back in one fell swoop and nearly sending him tumbling off the sparring stage.

Han Lian gazed at Chen Yu with an even graver expression, gripping his sword tighter still. Chen Yu's strength completely surpassed his imagination, leaving no room for even the slightest bit of relaxation.

"You are strong, but I am not someone who can be defeated so easily either," Han Lian said in a deep voice. Suddenly, he activated a Mist Talisman, shrouding the entire sparring stage in thick fog so that the situation upon it could no longer be clearly seen—save for the churning mists that testified to the fierce clash ongoing between the two.

Even though Han Lian's figure was lost from sight, Chen Yu remained calm without a trace of panic. While evading Han Lian's attacks, he opened his mind to perceive the changes in his surroundings. Before long, he pinpointed Han Lian's exact location.

Forming a sword with his fingers, Chen Yu slashed toward where Han Lian was. That scorching sword qi rapidly dispersed the thick fog. Han Lian was also taken aback; by the time he reacted, Chen Yu's finger-sword had already reached right in front of his chest.

"Not good..." Instinctively, Han Lian crossed his sword horizontally across his chest to parry Chen Yu's finger-tip. However, right at that instant, a massive force surged from Chen Yu's finger, instantly blasting Han Lian away to the edge of the stage.

"I concede the match," Chen Yu said with a slight cupped-fist salute.

Han Lian got up indignantly. Though deeply unwilling, he understood that Chen Yu had held back just now; otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as merely being knocked off the stage.

"Senior Brother is mighty, I am truly impressed," Han Lian said, and departed.

By the time the disciples reacted, the battle between the two was already over. One by one, they watched Han Lian's departing figure in disbelief, completely failing to understand what had actually transpired.

"Is there anyone else down there who wishes to offer guidance?" Chen Yu swept his calm gaze across the crowd.

"Too arrogant! Having just fought a match, you still wish to fight again? Hmph... In that case, let me come and test you." At that moment, another figure leaped onto the sparring stage. "Su Xiang of Bright Spirit Peak, here to learn from you."

Chen Yu said calmly, "Please."

Su Xiang did not give Chen Yu time to rest either; after exchanging courtesies, he immediately launched his attack.