Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Chapter 325: Chapter 21: The Severe Beating
 

The group arrived at the final battle hall.

The appearance and furnishings of this hall, with a life-size bronze mirror standing in the center, were no different from the previous four halls.

But everyone felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy, because a Demon King was about to emerge.

After a moment, they finally saw Yan Yu’s clone step out slowly from within the bronze mirror.

The girls’ expressions immediately tensed up; unlike before, this clone wasn’t dressed in the classically ornate attire but in plain clothes, holding a Huangting Heavy Sword, as if he were a swordsman straight out of a novel, the kind with little fame in the martial world.

“You’ve come,” the swordsman said.

“I have,” Yan Yu answered.

“You shouldn’t have come,” the swordsman added.

“Why?” Yan Yu questioned.

“Once you’re here, you can’t pretend to be deaf and dumb,” the swordsman stated.

“Then I won’t pretend,” Yan Yu replied.@@novelbin@@

The swordsman’s gaze swept over the crowd, then he suddenly said:

“Do you all like me?”

The simple six words made everyone struggle to keep their composure, especially since their clones had already expressed their feelings earlier, it felt somewhat hollow to deny it—only Lin Ning muttered softly, “Certainly not.”

“There are too many people,” the swordsman continued.

“So what?” Yan Yu was noncommittal.

“I will only be with the strongest woman,” the swordsman coldly stated, “The rest are unworthy!”

Everyone was speechless.

Although it sounded outrageous at first, upon reflection, it indeed seemed like something their captain could say.

“If that’s the case,” the swordsman spoke again, “I shall try out your strength and eliminate a batch for you in advance.”

“That’s unnecessary,” Yan Yu said, “You don’t need to intervene.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” the swordsman insisted, “Heart tempering requires it; it’s a necessary step.”

“How do you plan to test us then?” Yan Yu inquired.

The girls all looked at Yan Yu in shock: Come on, captain! This is in the Mysterious Realm! What’s with the casual chatter with your clone? And you’re letting him test our strength? What if there really are casualties… Wait, this is a trial-type realm, so it seems no one dies…

But that’s not the point! There should be clarity between friend and foe, whose side are you really on?!

“One by one,” the swordsman said, “Those who can’t withstand me have no right to be with me.”

“Sounds somewhat reasonable,” Yan Yu suddenly changed his tone, “But what gives you the right to overstep your bounds? Their captain is me, not you.”

“The right is earned through combat,” the swordsman declared.

“Then let’s fight,” Yan Yu nodded.

Suddenly, the sword light crisscrossed and the two were already locked in combat. As the sword light clashed, sparks flew, and soon after, their figures emerged from the momentum, exchanging kicks and punches like a violent storm. The swordsman seized the opening in Yan Yu’s defense after his attack, rushing in with a shoulder strike aimed at his chin, which Yan Yu blocked with crossed hands. Yan Yu then grasped the swordsman’s shoulder blade with his left hand, while his right hand slid down, attempting to disable his arm. However, the swordsman shook his arm and broke free from the hold.

Amidst their fistfight, two streams of sword light were also engaged in a battle of their own, each maintaining dual fronts as if it were as simple as eating and drinking. Suddenly, Yan Yu’s Huang Tingjian sword found an opening and slashed towards the swordsman’s face. The opponent urgently retreated his sword light to block in front, but, caught off guard, he could only brace for the impact. As a result, he was sent flying with his sword.

As his figure flew backward, the swordsman tapped his feet in midair lightning-fast, executing the Cloud Dividing Eight Trigrams Step, abruptly accelerating towards the young women at the edge of the arena.

Lin Ning hurriedly performed Sword Control, slashing with her sword, initiating with the technique “White Rainbow Piercing the Sun,” drawing a fierce arc with the green sword light.

Fighting the other people’s replicates, there was no need for fancy sword techniques, as even a “bastard’s fist” could fell the master. But Yan Yu was a master of swordsmanship, and his replicate would not be weaker in this regard. Being careless would only make one an easy target.

The replicate also stopped his footwork and leaped into the air with Sword Control, countering with the technique “Pine Welcoming Guests.”

The overarching principles of the Kunlun Imperial Sword Technique mentioned that “Phoenix Greeting” was more about defensive counterattacks, with a focus on the counter; while “Pine Welcoming Guests” was relatively more defensive… Flashes of related knowledge went through Lin Ning’s mind, and she immediately decided to intensify her offensive, unleashing “Eagle Soaring the Skies!”

In the instant the sword lights met, Lin Ning had already switched to “Eagle Soaring the Skies,” her sword light descending like a full moon.

The swordsman’s sword light suddenly retreated, dodging the first strike with precision.

It wasn’t over yet! Lin Ning roared inwardly, her sword techniques swiftly chaining together. The second strike!

The angle of the chopping Green Bamboo Sword light subtly shifted, changing direction to cut again, ascending sharply like a dragon emerging from the sea.

The swordsman’s sword light once again slanted sideways, floating like an autumn leaf blown by the wind, seemingly light and unable to find solid ground but just managing to evade the uppercut’s edge.

I refuse to believe this! Lin Ning continued to vary her sword techniques, switching to a horizontal slash for the third strike, her Sword Qi seeming to tear open space itself.

The swordsman’s sword light continued to move backward, dodging the simple and crude horizontal slash. Lin Ning was about to form the fourth strike, but having exhausted the angles for the sword light to cut in, she had no choice but to pull back in haste. Then she saw the swordsman’s sword light launch a move “Fierce Tiger Turning its Head,” perfectly timed onto her retreat, striking her defenseless Green Bamboo Sword light and forcing it back.

The force of the Huangting Heavy Sword was already immense, and this blow was nearly lethal for Lin Ning. Hardly five or six meters out, her Sword Control state was forcibly dispelled, and next, her body slammed onto the ground, rolling several times, with who knows how many ribs broken.

She struggled to stand up and, using Cloud Dividing Eight Trigrams Step, hastily retreated. The swordsman also cancelled his Sword Control state and accelerated with the same step to pursue, saying,

“Is this how you use ‘Eagle Soaring the Skies’? Your moves are too rigid, your changes too stiff, your attacks uncontrolled and your withdraws undefended. With such trashy swordsmanship, you still dare to have a crush on me? If you don’t have the guts, better drink more water so as not to embarrass yourself.”

Lin Ning’s body shook with fury. Other replicates would beat up their originals as soon as they appeared, so why did the captain’s replicate come out and start beating on me instead?

The series of sword exchanges that had just transpired occurred in the blink of an eye. The girls only saw the flashing sword lights clashing, and then Lin Ning was sent flying, without even knowing how she was defeated.

Xie Ruoxi had already formed a lightning orb in her hand, wanting to shoot but unable to aim accurately—both the swordsman’s sword light and Lin Ning’s steps were too swift. Though her lightning was fast, it seemed too easy to miss compared to the others.

“Shall we make our move?” Zhao Yuanzhen asked telepathically.

“Wait,” Chen Lingyun responded succinctly.

Against an opponent of this level, it was a waste of True Yuan to act rashly. It was more daunting to keep the attack at bay as a threat, forcing the opponent to stay on edge.

Lin Ning didn’t get far before Yan Yu activated Cloud Dividing Eight Trigrams Step, cutting across her path and intercepting the swordsman mid-way, saying,

“Though her swordsmanship is indeed poor, your words are too hurtful.”

“I only speak what’s already on your mind,” the swordsman retorted, “Isn’t it your own thoughts that are too hurtful?”

“Can’t you watch your tone and choice of words?” Yan Yu shaped his sword techniques, unleashing fierce attacks on the replicate.

“I can’t,” replied the swordsman, “because I am your replicate.”

“That’s also true,” Yan Yu nodded in agreement.