In Jian Qingchen’s originally calm eyes, a trace of vigilance emerged; his gaze instantly turned razor sharp, like a lion awakening from deep slumber.

"Hahaha, that’s it, I like that look in your eyes!" Ximen Huxiao laughed loudly. His arm shook, driving out that sharp Sword Qi. "Draw your sword, or you won’t be able to take my next move!"

Jian Qingchen gently stroked his Sword Sheath and said lightly, "Once my sword leaves the sheath, the opponent dies. Are you really prepared for that?"

Ximen Huxiao snickered, "Jian Qingchen, if you’ve got the guts, then kill me! If you can’t kill me... then I’m going to smash you to pieces!"

As his words fell, Ximen Huxiao’s figure flickered again, charging straight at Jian Qingchen.

"Binding Spirit Technique, first layer, release!" Ximen Huxiao let out a low roar. A golden light surfaced within his body, transforming into a gigantic shackle that, at his shout, exploded. Ximen Huxiao’s aura instantly surged, far stronger than before, more than just a single level higher.

"Binding Spirit Technique, it’s actually the Binding Spirit Technique!" Among the surrounding experts watching, someone cried out, "Has someone really cultivated that kind of Cultivation Technique? This is just too... shocking!"

Binding Spirit Technique? Ling Feng frowned slightly. He had heard of the Binding Spirit Technique before. It was said that the Binding Spirit Technique used Spirit Beasts as a guide, absorbing a Spirit Beast’s essence, devouring its bloodline, nurturing the Spirit Beast’s Soul, and sealing the Spirit Beast’s Soul within one’s own body.

The creator of this Cultivation Technique firmly believed that any Spirit Beast had the potential for Deification! So his goal was to use his own body to nurture a Spirit Beast’s Soul comparable to the Divine Spirits!

However, this approach was somewhat similar to raising a Gu King. The difference was that to nurture a Spirit Beast’s Soul, countless Spirit Beasts were needed as sacrifices! Yet ever since this Cultivation Technique was created, no one had truly reached the realm its founder sought, so it was gradually abandoned by the world!

But unexpectedly, Ximen Huxiao had actually cultivated the Binding Spirit Technique, and from the looks of it, he’d already succeeded? Just how many Spirit Beasts must he have slaughtered and devoured to pull this off!

Roar! The golden shackle within Ximen Huxiao’s body exploded, turning into a golden phantom that crouched behind him, accompanied by a dragon’s roar and a tiger’s howl.

Jian Qingchen’s eyes narrowed. The current Ximen Huxiao gave him an extremely dangerous feeling. He felt like he was facing not a man, but a ferocious beast from primordial times.

"Jian Qingchen, draw your sword, or I’ll tear you apart bit by bit!" Ximen Huxiao threw his head back and howled. His figure abruptly vanished from where he’d been standing.

"Where’d he go? Is his speed so fast that I can’t see him?"

"I can’t see Ximen Huxiao either. This is freakish. I’m at the Pinnacle of the Azure Sky Realm—if he were fighting me... wouldn’t I be insta-killed? Too terrifying. Is the Binding Spirit Technique really this strong?"

"Ximen Huxiao’s Binding Spirit Technique has probably been cultivated to the extreme, hasn’t it?"

...

Ling Feng’s expression also grew serious. Ximen Huxiao really had given him a huge surprise! However, Ximen Huxiao’s movements could not escape Ling Feng’s eyes. Ling Feng could clearly see every path Ximen Huxiao’s body took.

"Before, Ximen Huxiao was stepping on spatial nodes; now he’s actually treading along the trajectory of the wind!" Ling Feng muttered to himself. "It’s just that the Spirit Beast’s Soul behind him is too powerful. Still, I’m very curious to see how Jian Qingchen will respond."

Jian Qingchen’s face was somewhat grim. He felt killing intent coming from all directions. Even though he couldn’t see Ximen Huxiao’s figure, he could still sense Ximen Huxiao’s presence.

Clang... A crisp sound rang from within Jian Qingchen’s Sword Sheath, and ripples spread out from him as the center, sweeping toward all directions.

"Sword Ripple!" Jian Qingchen gave a low shout. "No matter where you hide, you can’t evade the probing of my Sword Ripple!"

Wave after wave of Sword Ripple spread throughout the entire space. Jian Qingchen’s eyes lit up. "Found you!"

To Jian Qingchen, the sword was a part of his own body. Through the probing of the Sword Ripple, he could easily lock onto Ximen Huxiao’s position.

"I was waiting for that!" Ximen Huxiao sneered. "Mystic Yellow Silent Wind Slash!"

In an instant, dozens of Wind Blades appeared all around Jian Qingchen, each Wind Blade carrying a deathly stillness. Wherever the Wind Blades passed, even the Sword Ripple was devoured.

Jian Qingchen now had nowhere left to retreat! He knew this was the sure-kill trap Ximen Huxiao had laid for him.

But Jian Qingchen didn’t take this death trap to heart. He sighed softly. "Since you want me to draw my sword, then... I’ll grant your wish."

A brilliant radiance burst forth. The entire Practice Field was instantly drowned in white light, and the surrounding experts watching were blinded for a moment by this sudden flash.

Crack, crack—the originally sturdy Protective Barrier around the Practice Field began to show fissure after fissure.

"Quick, reinforce the Protective Barrier!" The experts responsible for maintaining it shouted in panic. Dozens of Pinnacle Azure Sky Realm experts struck out at once, and only when the Protective Barrier was on the verge of collapse did they finally manage to stabilize it.

Even so, the Sword Intent that shot out through those cracks still injured quite a few people around the arena.

When the light within the Practice Field finally faded, Jian Qingchen was still standing where he’d been, holding his sword, while Ximen Huxiao was also still on his feet, the two standing back-to-back.

"What a terrifying Sword Technique!" Ximen Huxiao turned around. The golden phantom behind him appeared in front of him, let out a miserable scream, and then, with a bang, turned into golden light and dissipated in midair.

Thud. Ximen Huxiao collapsed to the ground. Countless Sword Scars had appeared all over his body, and in an instant, he was drenched in blood!

"You’re not bad either, to have managed to survive my move," Jian Qingchen said calmly.

"But I still lost!" Ximen Huxiao coughed blood as he spoke. "Jian Qingchen, you won, but... I discovered your weakness. Next time, I’ll beat you!"

Jian Qingchen gave Ximen Huxiao a faint look. "I’ll be waiting."

At this moment, the Protective Barrier of the Practice Field opened, and the experts of the Ximen Family rushed in to treat Ximen Huxiao.

"Family Head, I’ve disappointed you!" As he was being carried away, Ximen Huxiao looked at Ximen Tian, who stood off to the side, shame written on his face.

Ximen Tian sighed. "There’s no need for that. I know you did your best. We simply didn’t anticipate Jian Qingchen would be this strong."

"Family Head, Jian Qingchen may be powerful, but I’ve found his greatest weakness!" Ximen Huxiao’s voice was tinged with feebleness.

"What weakness?" A light flashed in Ximen Tian’s eyes.