Chapter 995: Who Won?

For the sword cultivators of Longsword Mountain, being challenged to a duel at their doorstep and failing to win even after a prolonged fight was an unprecedented situation. Not only had it never occurred throughout history, but it was a possibility the cultivators of Longsword Mountain had never even conceived of.

Ji Yuan was well aware of the impact the previous three duels had on the cultivators of Longsword Mountain. Yet, from the moment he arrived, he had adopted an aggressive, accusatory stance. While his admiration for their exquisite swordsmanship had recently softened his approach, he knew he needed to be firmer to compel someone else to step forward.

Outwardly, after waiting a moment and seeing no one step forward, Ji Yuan smiled again and addressed the assembled cultivators of Longsword Mountain.

“If no one steps forward, then I reiterate my request: I ask my fellow cultivators of Longsword Mountain not to harbor the scoundrels within your sect. Grant Fellow Daoist Lu justice, and give justice to the deceased Pavilion Master of Jingxuan Sea Pavilion and the many innocent cultivators!”

“Nonsense! There is no one in Longsword Mountain as you describe. If anyone in our sect had committed such despicable acts, we would have purged them long ago; we wouldn't need you, Ji Yuan, to come here and demand accountability!”

A cultivator from Longsword Mountain could not help but retort.

Ji Yuan shook his head.

“Those who understand swords recognize true character. The few fellow Daoists who dueled with me earlier were indeed righteous, but to claim the entire Longsword Mountain is likewise might not be true. Although I, Ji Yuan, am a humble rogue cultivator, I have a slight reputation in various cultivation circles and would not wrongly accuse good people…”

Ji Yuan paused, then spoke again in a deep voice.

“Since I, Ji Yuan, stand here today to demand accountability, there must be such a scoundrel hidden within Longsword Mountain—a person you all despise! Their actions not only framed Fellow Daoist Lu and harmed Jingxuan Sea Pavilion, but they will also bring destruction upon living beings and cause chaos throughout the world!”

These words were exceptionally severe, far more so than his initial pronouncements upon arrival. At the same time, Ji Yuan kept a constant watch on the aura fluctuations of the Longsword Mountain cultivators. With his spiritual eyes fully open and his concentration absolute, he knew that if anyone showed the slightest sign, they would not escape his detection.

Unfortunately, even at this point, Ji Yuan still could not detect anyone problematic within Longsword Mountain.

However, Ji Yuan’s words finally caused someone else in Longsword Mountain to lose their patience. A cultivator carrying a sword case, standing near the Longsword Mountain Sect Master, looked around, gritted his teeth, and prepared to step out of the clouds to duel Ji Yuan. Yet, before he could take a step, the Sect Master beside him looked at him.

“Junior Brother, are you confident?”

“Not very confident. I’d have to fight him to the death!”

The cultivator answered bitterly. The Longsword Mountain Sect Master sighed and shook his head.

“Then you’ve already lost. It’s futile. Ji Yuan’s swordsmanship has long surpassed the realm of divine mastery. Without reaching the Cavernous Profundity realm, one simply cannot keep up with Ji Yuan’s sword dao…”

With a sigh, the Longsword Mountain Sect Master stepped onto the clouds and slowly walked forward.

“Senior Brother…” “Sect Master!” “Master!”

“Venerable Sect Master!”

As the Longsword Mountain Sect Master slowly approached, Ji Yuan felt a sense of sharp intent gradually piercing through the mist, even though the Sect Master walked steadily on clouds, made no move to draw his sword, and emitted no sword aura.

‘He’s finally here!’

Ji Yuan’s heart tightened slightly. He had been waiting for the Longsword Mountain Sect Master to act. A peerless sword immortal of the True Immortal level could take a life with a single move; even Ji Yuan had to be cautious. Yet, his outward demeanor remained calm and collected.

Waves surged in the heart of the Venerable Sect Master of Longsword Mountain. Ji Yuan was undoubtedly the most powerful opponent he had ever encountered in his cultivation, bar none. Furthermore, the outcome of this battle concerned the honor of Longsword Mountain. Even at his level, it was hard to maintain a calm mind, but by the time he reached Ji Yuan, all distracting thoughts had vanished.

“Mr. Ji, I am Rong Yun. I have come to experience your swordsmanship. You need not hold back!”

Rong Yun cupped his hands towards Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan, with a serious expression, returned the gesture.

“To duel with Sect Master Rong, if I, Ji Yuan, wish to keep my head, I will naturally go all out. Please enlighten me!”

They stood ten *zhang* apart, facing each other. After their greetings, neither moved first. Yet, merely by standing in the air, an extremely oppressive aura spread, akin to the stifling feeling mortals experience before a summer thunderstorm, but far more intense.

Lu Min held his breath, and Xiezhi’s eyebrows twitched. Previously, he had only acknowledged Ji Yuan’s swordsmanship, but now he had to reconsider. This oppressive aura contained terrifying sharpness, making it feel as if merely breathing could cut one’s lungs.

Indeed, those who could cultivate and attain the Dao in this era were not to be underestimated.

Moreover, this time was vastly different from Ji Yuan’s duel with Tu Yi. Not only would they not hold back their power, but it was entirely possible they might strike to kill.

Subconsciously, Xiezhi pulled Lu Min back on the clouds, slowly retreating. Many cultivators from Longsword Mountain made the same movement.

Two True Immortals dueling, both sword immortals, meant that staying too close was not a wise decision.

Shortly after everyone had moved away, Ji Yuan and Rong Yun suddenly attacked simultaneously.

“Zheng—” This was the sound of Rong Yun’s longsword being drawn from his sleeve.

“Om—” This was the hum of the Green Vine Sword.

Incredibly, both of them, without prior agreement, neither dodged nor avoided. At the same moment, they thrust their swords towards each other, aiming for the center. With only ten *zhang* separating them, the two True Immortals drew their swords simultaneously, and almost at the very instant their swords were unleashed, their tips collided.

“Clang—”

Two immortal swords—one with a hilt wrapped in green vine, the other with a white jade scabbard—collided tip-to-tip. At that moment, boundless sword intent and sword qi instantly formed a terrifying storm.

“Swish—Whoosh—”

This was a storm composed of white light. As the wind rose, it obscured the figures of both duelists. However, everyone soon stopped caring about the duelists themselves, as the terrifying sword wind reached them at an unimaginable speed.

“Look out—”

“Dodge!” “Quickly, get away—”

The cultivators on Longsword Mountain’s side unleashed spells to counter; some actively moved in front of others to parry with their swords, while others resisted collectively. Although the Longsword Mountain disciples were further away, they had already retreated into the mountain gate’s protective barrier under the guidance of their elders.

Whoosh… whoosh…

As the storm struck, ocean waves turned into foam, and sea reefs crumbled like tofu cut by a fine fishing net, turning into fragments and even dust. The sky and distant horizons were swept clean, and magical clouds and mist dissipated into nothingness.

As if realizing the immense impact of their duel, Ji Yuan and Rong Yun almost simultaneously flew high into the sky. Their figures were completely blurred by the intersecting impact of sword intent and sword qi.

Spectators could only see flashes of sword light shimmering within. Besides using spiritual eyes, they dared not perceive with their divine sense, as even touching the periphery of the combat area would be shredded by sword intent, potentially damaging their mental power or even their primordial spirit.

Ji Yuan wielded his sword at the highest speed of his life to date. Rong Yun, too, was experiencing the most difficult battle since attaining the Dao.

The gale was transformed from sword intent and sword qi. The sky sometimes formed white clouds in response to the sword intent, sometimes black clouds, and sometimes black and white converged to create a rotating yin-yang fusion.

“Rumble…”

Thunder rumbled in the clouds, but what flickered wasn’t lightning; it was terrifying streaks of sword qi, transforming into bolts of thunder that continuously danced within the clouds. Sword light and lightning intertwined and fought, symbolizing the clash between these two great sword immortals. When these intertwined sword-light thunderbolts struck the sea, they often silently carved terrifying ravines into the ocean.

Most spectators knew that, let alone intervening in this duel, they could hardly withstand even one of these terrifying thunderbolts without sustaining severe damage.

Xiezhi’s eyebrows twitched ceaselessly, thinking that duels between sword immortals were indeed incredibly perilous. Only Ji Yuan would dare to challenge at the gates of Longsword Mountain. If placed in his shoes with his current understanding, Xiezhi would not want to do such a thing.

“Senior Xiezhi, can Mr. Ji win?”

Lu Min’s eyes were stinging painfully from the sword light, turning red and occasionally shedding involuntary tears. But top-tier True Immortal sword immortals fighting without reservation was a sight that might not occur once in a thousand years. No sword cultivator, even at the cost of their life, would want to miss any part of such a spectacle.

Xiezhi was also unwilling to miss the clash between Ji Yuan and Rong Yun. The manifestation of the “Dao” among immortal cultivators was far clearer than the simple and brutal power struggles of ancient times. As an ancient divine beast, although he was born with certain Dao-attaining talents, he could not underestimate those who came later.

“I admit the Longsword Mountain Sect Master is indeed formidable, but he’s still a bit short of beating Ji Yuan.”

In the realm of the Dao, some achieve enlightenment and clarity in a single day, while others cultivate bitterly for centuries without any progress. The difference between them is sometimes small, but at other times, it is so vast that one cannot see the path ahead.

“Clash—” “Gong—”

A sound that pierced normal people’s eardrums resonated, and sword qi erupted like a thousand waves. Everyone knew this sound represented another direct clash between the two great sword immortals. The overflowing sword light, beyond layers of radiant rings, displayed rainbow-like colors, but this beauty was a deadly beauty.

Ji Yuan stepped on the wind, transforming into a formidable aura, his body moving like a wandering dragon. Rong Yun’s figure changed unpredictably, moving like lightning. Their immortal swords sometimes flew from their hands to clash and strike, transforming into lightning amidst the wind and clouds, soaring to the sky and diving into the sea to compete in sharpness. At other times, they were held in their masters’ hands, man and sword merged as one, confronting the enemy together.

Ji Yuan and Rong Yun’s hands either formed sword fingers or continuously made hand seals; all their transformations were sword moves. As True Immortals, how could they not possess other abilities? Yet, at this moment, the two displayed great understanding, tacitly choosing to only use swordsmanship.

‘It’s not him.’

By this point in the duel, Ji Yuan already understood that Rong Yun was not the person he was looking for. After another clash, he attempted to speak to end the duel.

Since it wasn't Rong Yun, continuing the duel would yield no results. If Ji Yuan won, Longsword Mountain would lose face. If he lost, it would be even worse. In such a situation, at best he might suffer severe energy loss from a sword strike; at worst, he might even perish.

“Sect Master Rong, continuing our duel will yield no result.”

“What? Didn’t Mr. Ji come to Longsword Mountain to demand accountability? How can we not decide a victor?”

Ji Yuan had enough strength to speak, and Rong Yun could also speak, his sword edge even sharper.

“I only pursue scoundrels and villains. I have no intention of fighting Sect Master Rong to the death!”

“You’ve said harsh words, you’ve said pleasant words. I, Rong, have only one thing to say: don’t even think about stopping until a victor is decided!”

Although Rong Yun’s sword strikes carried anger and were merciless, at the same time, there was an exhilarating sense of satisfaction. How many years had it been since he could unleash his full power like this, without any reservations!

Even rarer was the enlightenment gained within the sword dao! Ji Yuan wants to stop? Sorry, whether for the sect’s honor or for himself, that’s impossible!

Ji Yuan boosted his spirits. Since Rong Yun wanted to fight, then so be it. He himself also felt exhilarated. He decided to make his swordsmanship even more unrestrained and cast aside all reservations. Rong Yun, as a pure sword immortal standing at the peak of this era, deserved to witness the marvels of the sword dao transformed from the supreme Dao of heaven and earth.

The next moment, Rong Yun suddenly discovered that Ji Yuan’s sword had changed!

The Green Vine Immortal Sword no longer carried its previous formidable killing power; instead, vitality was contained within its sword light. The sword intent and sword light transformed into living dragons, and around them appeared the four seasons and shifting winds and clouds…

Rong Yun felt he still had strength and wanted to continue dueling Ji Yuan with his sword, but as he constantly clashed with Ji Yuan, it became increasingly difficult to produce the same sword technique resonance as before.

‘My sword… can’t touch him.’

This was merely a feeling, not reality. In truth, Ji Yuan was still engaging Rong Yun, and his sword moves and incantations hadn’t stopped. Yet, this feeling in Rong Yun’s heart grew stronger and stronger, as if he, while holding his sword, was placed within the vastness of heaven and earth.

This was a spiritual feeling, a sense of his own… insignificance!

“Zheng—”

The two immortal swords clashed again. Their blades slid past each other, generating not sparks but sword light. Ji Yuan and Rong Yun, holding their immortal swords, passed each other, then stood ten *zhang* apart, back-to-back. Ji Yuan held his sword reversed behind him, while Rong Yun’s longsword hung down, pointing diagonally towards the sea.

The two greatest sword immortals of the current era fell silent.

A tension even greater than before the battle arose in the hearts of all spectators.

‘Who won?’