The battle concluded with Chen Tian and Kuang Ba fighting to a draw, both advancing.
On Earth, a pigeon emerged from a vortex above China. Glancing at its watch, the pigeon hurried towards the fortress. Inside, Shu Zi's body was dissolving into light; time was running out. Chen Tian looked at the frozen Shu Zi, hoping the pigeon would find the necessary items quickly.
The pigeon burst into the room, exclaiming, "Chen Tian, I've found those items! Quickly, save Shu Zi!"
Extending its palm, four or five peculiar objects materialized above the room. They seemed to eman from a single source, and these were precisely the items they needed. Chen Tian's clone showed surprise; finding these legendary items in such a short time was astonishing.
Chen Tian nodded, "You rest now. You look exhausted from your journey and need recovery. Don't worry, I will awaken Shu Zi."
Upon hearing this, the pigeon fainted. Traveling across countless universes was no easy feat; it was clear the pigeon had pushed itself to its limit, barely making it back in time.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Tian's clone began to act. The Pure Heaven Lock reacted in Chen Tian's hand, driven by Heavenly Dao power. Only he could utilize these items, as they required Heavenly Dao power to activate. As the Heavenly Dao's spokesperson, his clone shared all energies with the main body, including Heavenly Dao power. Coupled with the World Tree's continuous supply of Heavenly Dao power, the clone had enough to awaken Shu Zi.
Thus, the healing began. The entire fortress was enveloped in light, and the Evil Spirit race's assault ceased for a considerable period. Chen Tian knew this was the calm before the storm. Months remained until the final battle, and he suspected the Evil Spirit race was brewing something significant.
"Arena Three, Thirteen advances," a voice declared.
Standing on the arena, Chen Tian remained still, effortlessly securing another victory. The swordsman tournament had now reached the top hundred contenders. After three days, only a hundred remained. Chen Tian's opponent was no match for him, and thus, the "Immovable Swordsman" gained more renown.
Chen Tian's number was thirteen. The announcer boomed, "Next, it's a duel between contestant Thirteen and contestant Ten. Let us eagerly anticipate their clash."
A young woman clad in armor stood on the arena; she was Chen Tian's opponent. Chen Tian recognized her as the girl who had helped him in the snowy mountain cave previously. He leaped onto the stage.
The girl spoke, "I don't know your name, just call me Xue Er."
"Chen Tian."
"I hope this fight will be satisfying. I've wanted to fight you for a long time."
Xue Er's face was filled with anticipation. Chen Tian remained expressionless, unperturbed. This girl, he mused, had the potential for the top five, but she had unfortunately met him, and would stop here.
Xue Er drew her long sword. The sound of the blade unsheathing echoed. It was a cyan longsword. With nimble footwork, she appeared before him in an instant, hands spread to grip the sword. She said indifferently, "Your speed is adequate, but your strength is lacking. For others, this would be overwhelming, but against me, your skill is insufficient."
Chen Tian commented, and Xue Er's expression shifted. She immediately recognized the flaw in her swordsmanship. This young man was undoubtedly an opponent to be taken seriously. Xue Er lifted her left leg, tilting her head back. The kick missed its mark. Chen Tian's left leg followed, and their legs crossed, creating a wave of energy.
The girl retreated several steps, plunging her sword into the ground to avoid being thrown off the stage. A single move revealed the young man's true strength.
This maneuver stunned the surrounding players. Most of them had been rooting for the girl. She was a titled swordsman, yet what had just happened felt like a dream. Chen Tian stood on the arena, unmoving.
It was as if the title "Immovable Swordsman" held true – could even a goddess not make him budge an inch?
"How terrifying is this guy?"
"Goddess, I believe in you!"
"Go, Goddess!"
Cheers and shouts of support erupted from the audience. Xue Er looked at Chen Tian, gathering power in her sword. Flames coalesced on the blade, and her movements became ghost-like, completely different from her previous style. In Chen Tian's eyes, her speed was comparable to that of a normal cultivator. She was at least decent, and there were still some talented players in this swordsman tournament.
If there were more players like her, the entire world could be saved. Chen Tian didn't hold out hope for everyone, just a few.
"Be careful, I'm going to use my full strength."
"Come, let me see your true power."
Chen Tian was indifferent to the girl's words. If she could make him take a single step back, he would consider her the winner of this match.
A sword qi barrier materialized around him. Xue Er attacked, flames entwining her longsword. The reason for the young man's title was his immense power and his terrifying flames. Upon closer inspection, these flames were of the same level as the divine fire Chen Tian had obtained before.
With the divine fire empowering her sword, she thrust it forward. This attack would instantly kill any other player. However, before it could reach Chen Tian, it was blocked, as if by an invisible wall. Xue Er realized it was a sword qi barrier.
But could a single person's sword qi barrier be this powerful? Impossible. One person couldn't possess such a formidable barrier.
As an experienced player, she couldn't achieve this. She had played for two years to reach her current level, and this was a newcomer whose understanding of sword qi surpassed hers.
Her heart was shaken, but her mental state remained stable, unaffected. Others might have crumbled by now.
An experienced player being inferior to a novice – who wouldn't break down?
Her longsword was blocked by the barrier, and the flame-infused blade radiated heat. A crack appeared in the air, indicating her attack was having some effect.
Chen Tian nodded with satisfaction, remarking, "Your strength is great, but your mastery over it is insufficient."
He could clearly perceive that at least fifty percent of the girl's sword's power was lost. This fifty percent reduction in power was significant. It made sense; for ordinary humans, mastering power required time and refinement. Moreover, cultivators nowadays didn't emphasize the training of power control.
The cracks in the barrier spread. Xue Er saw hope. With a crisp sound, the barrier shattered, and her sword lunged forward, aiming for Chen Tian's abdomen. Standing still, his figure flickered. He activated his ultimate evasion, deftly dodging the thrust. Xue Er and Chen Tian brushed past each other.
The girl was still processing what had just happened. That sword attack had been dodged, and the method of evasion was unlike anything she had ever seen.
Her blood surged. It had been a long time since she had encountered an opponent of this caliber. Her strength and aura grew continuously, as if her emotions were directly influencing her combat power.
Chen Tian's eyes narrowed. In this situation, could it be...
"However, it still needs observation. But it's likely that physique."
He murmured, forming his own hypothesis about the girl's change. If it was indeed what he suspected, he wouldn't mind helping her. Though that person's legacy no longer existed, Chen Tian knew it well.
Once Chen Tian's right-hand man, he was intimately familiar with his legacy. Every move and stance was clearly imprinted in his memory.