Jiang Chen’s sword streaked through the air, its blade like a flash of flowing light.

He had cultivated every form of his Aurora Sword Technique to Perfection, and the power of each was astonishing.

The First Technique, the Flowing Light Technique, was especially honed to absolute perfection.

When he struck, the entire blade transformed into a white streak of light, vanishing in a flash. Its speed was so immense the naked eye could barely trace its path. The white Sword Aura pierced the air, forging ahead unstoppably, aimed straight for Jiang Ziyou’s heart.

This was a strike meant to kill!

"What a terrifying sword strike. Even I would have to use some of my tricks to block it!"

"Didn’t the Jiang Family say Jiang Chen was a waste? He commands such powerful Swordsmanship, with the strength to shatter Jiang Ziyou’s Canglang Swordsmanship in a single blow. If he’s a waste, then are there any geniuses left in this world?"

"Judging by that last exchange, Jiang Chen’s comprehension of Canglang Swordsmanship far surpasses Jiang Ziyou’s!"

Sima Tao and the other spectators whispered amongst themselves, their faces etched with shock.

These were individuals who stood at the apex of Yandu City’s martial hierarchy. With insight far beyond that of ordinary people, they had gauged Jiang Chen’s true strength from that single, swift exchange.

Jiang Ziyou could execute the Overlapping Waves Technique at the Great Success Realm, surpassing many masters of the older generation. Yet, even a strike that powerful was shattered by a single blow from Jiang Chen.

The difference in skill was immediately obvious!

’I didn’t expect this kid to have some skill. Good thing I made arrangements beforehand, or I might have suffered an unexpected defeat...’ Yun Haoran narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Jiang Chen atop the altar. A chill emanated from him.

"Don’t get cocky!" Jiang Ziyou snapped, her brow furrowed. "Block this!"

She thrust her sword forward, and a point of Sword Qi condensed at its tip, holding its form.

With a flick of Jiang Ziyou’s delicate wrist, a series of sword shadows rippled out from the blade—one, two, three...

Like a peacock fanning its tail, the sword shadows formed a circular disk, materializing before her like a shield of Sword Aura.

DING! DING! DING! DING!

The flowing light of the sword charged forward, smashing against the Sword Aura shield with the clang of metal on metal. Each impact let out a deafening, piercing shriek. With every collision, a blast of Qi erupted, kicking up a gale that raged in all directions.

Even the hard surface of the altar was gouged with vicious marks from the stray Sword Qi!

"The Sword Shadow Shield? It’s said to be the most difficult technique in the Canglang Swordsmanship to master! Jiang Ziyou’s talent in the Sword Dao is truly remarkable!" Sima Tao’s expression grew serious as he cried out in alarm.

Jiang Tai’s face was full of pride. "Ziyou started practicing with the sword at six and awakened her Sword Soul at ten. Her comprehension of the Canglang Swordsmanship is the greatest in the history of our Jiang Family. What does a mere Jiang Chen amount to!"

"As expected of someone chosen by the Saint Martial Sword Sect. Miss Ziyou’s future is limitless!"

"She might even become a Sword Dao Grandmistress one day!"

Xu Ying sighed with admiration.

At his words, everyone fell silent.

A Sword Dao Grandmaster!

In the entire Saint Martial Dynasty, those were beings who stood at the very pinnacle!

The way everyone looked at Jiang Ziyou changed...

Yun Haoran nodded to himself. ’No wonder Senior Brother Lan has taken an interest in her.’ He then glanced at the frosty Bai Ling beside him and said coolly, "Junior Sister Bai, it looks like your Floating Snow Sword Technique is about to lose to me!"

"Hmph, the fight has just begun. It’s too early to say who will win or lose!" Bai Ling said calmly.

Yun Haoran snorted coldly. "Then we’ll just have to wait and see!"

...

「Atop the altar.」

Having blocked the Flowing Light Technique with ease, Jiang Ziyou sneered haughtily. "I have to admit, Jiang Chen, you are strong," she taunted. "To think you’ve cultivated the Aurora Sword Technique to such a degree. But it’s a pity. No matter how powerful your Sword Technique is, you’ll never break my Sword Shadow Shield. In this battle, I am already invincible."

"Invincible? Hahaha, even a lofty Martial Arts Venerable wouldn’t dare claim to be invincible. Who do you think you are to make such a claim?"

Jiang Chen smiled coldly, his voice suddenly dropping. He raised a sharp, sword-like eyebrow. "Your Sword Shadow Shield is indeed a top-tier defensive technique among Yellow-Tier Martial Skills. But unfortunately for you, its fatal flaw is just as obvious. Jiang Ziyou, open your eyes and watch closely as I shatter the Sword Shadow Shield you take so much pride in!"

A fatal flaw?

All the experts around the altar froze, bewildered. The Sword Shadow Shield was known as the ultimate defense among Yellow-Tier Martial Skills. Even to top-tier powerhouses from Yandu City’s martial hierarchy like Sima Tao, it appeared flawless.

And yet, Jiang Chen claimed it had a fatal flaw?

What exactly was this fatal flaw?

Everyone’s attention snapped back to the two fighters on the altar, unwilling to miss a single detail.

"Of all the skills in the world, nothing is indestructible. Only speed is absolute!"

Jiang Chen suddenly dashed forward, his sword thrusting out with incredible speed. Its sharp tip pierced the air, sending out concentric waves of Sword Qi.

The waves of Sword Qi clung to the blade, creating a deafening shriek as it tore through the air like a thunderclap, but it couldn’t drown out Jiang Chen’s voice. "The Sword Shadow Shield’s defense is astounding; it can block the vast majority of attacks. But it has one fatal flaw—speed!"

Speed!

That one word made Jiang Ziyou’s expression change drastically.

In her eyes, Jiang Chen’s figure suddenly blurred.

Of course...

It wasn’t that Jiang Chen had vanished into thin air. His speed had simply become so great that he was leaving afterimages in his wake.

RUMBLE—

Sword light danced wildly through the air. The waves of Sword Qi enveloping the longsword clashed with the air, creating a deep rumble. This strike was not just as fast as lightning; it carried the roar of a thunderbolt to disrupt the opponent’s mind.

"Sword Shadow Shield, block it! Block it!" Jiang Ziyou shrieked, her face twisting in a ferocious snarl.

Sword shadows appeared from nowhere, fanning out like a peacock’s tail to form the shield before her.

But Jiang Ziyou quickly discovered that her indestructible Sword Shadow Shield had only blocked a single wisp of Sword Qi. The rest of the attack had already passed through the shield and was right in front of her.

"No..."

Jiang Ziyou’s face fell. She instinctively raised her sword to parry. After two sharp CLANGS, her wrist went numb from the immense force that traveled up her blade. The longsword was torn from her grasp. It spun several times in the air before landing below the altar, its blade plunging deep into the soil.

The exposed hilt quivered, emitting a low hum.

In that moment, the massive crowd of spectators fell utterly silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

One was the heaven-blessed maiden, once praised by all!

The other was the trash, the waste, despised by everyone!

But in this moment...

The roles of the two had been completely reversed. Before Jiang Chen, the heaven-blessed maiden, Jiang Ziyou, couldn’t even withstand a single blow.

Whether it was combat power, Sword Dao talent, or Martial Skill comprehension...

Jiang Chen had mercilessly crushed Jiang Ziyou in every aspect.

Before Jiang Chen, the talent and Sword Skills that Jiang Ziyou was so proud of were no different from trash!

SWISH—

A cold gust of wind made Jiang Ziyou freeze. She looked up, a dazed expression flickering in her eyes, and heard the voice of the boy she had once scorned. He now stood over her, sword in hand, looking down as he spoke calmly...

"You have lost."