Chapter 20: Xue Qinghe’s Sarcasm, Zhu Zhuqing Hears News of Li Zhexian

The sword light unleashed by Li Zhexian seemed to belong to no mortal realm.

Above the Soul Arena, the dome suddenly shimmered with starlight, as if stars themselves were being swayed by the movement of his blade. This blue-violet sword light was adorned with specks of starlight like fireflies. It was radiant and magnificent, yet it radiated a terrifying murderous intent.

Even before the sword light reached the arena floor, the chill had already permeated the space. Some spectators swallowed hard, unable to utter a sound; others felt their legs go weak, nearly collapsing on the spot. Even though the attack was not directed at them, they could still feel the overflow of sharp energy, the tremors it stirred upon their very skin. It felt as if thousands of needles were piercing into their marrow.

Yu Tianheng, facing this strike directly, felt his very soul tremble. His hair stood on end, and in his pupils, which had shrunk to the size of pinpricks, the sword light that shattered the air was reflected. His prideful thunderous power, beneath this stroke of light, seemed as fragile as paper.

*Screech—!*

The thunder was rent asunder, and the dragon scales shattered piece by piece. The sword light had not yet touched Yu Tianheng, but the skin on his chest already burned with intense pain. The scent of death enveloped him. Yu Tianheng could almost hear the frantic, explosive beating of his own heart. He let out a beast-like roar, and all his soul power surged toward his arms like a bursting dam. A barrier of flickering thunder-arcs manifested before him.

Under the gazes of the shocked crowd, the sword light descended upon the barrier. The sound of shattering glass pierced their ears. Yu Tianheng, face deathly pale, watched as spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly across his defense.

*Boom—!*

The barrier shattered instantly. Yu Tianheng was blasted off the stage. Before he even hit the ground, a sliver of starlight sword light pierced through his shoulder and ribs, pinning him to a wall dozens of meters away.

"Hhh..."

Yu Tianheng let his head hang, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. With his soul power exhausted and suffering from two lethal wounds to his shoulder, ribs, and chest, he was now on the verge of death.

The massive Soul Arena fell into a dead silence. Beneath the stage, the faces of the audience were frozen like stone carvings. Many spectators had their mouths agape, yet they could not produce a single sound.

One strike! Truly, just one strike! With a single move, he had defeated Yu Tianheng, the thirty-ninth-level Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!

...

"Is this a sword technique created by Li Zhexian himself?!"

The tones of Pufferfish Douluo and Serpent Spear Douluo could not hide their shock. They looked at the white-clothed youth still standing alone on the stage, as if seeing a future peak master of the sword path rising before their eyes. This was no exaggeration; even Chen Xin, known as the number one offensive Douluo in the world, did not possess such brilliance in his youth.

"What a formidable sword strike..." A strange light flickered in Xue Qinghe's eyes. Even he felt that the sharpness of this blow would be difficult to parry. He turned and walked away quickly. Seeing Xue Qinghe's urgency, Pufferfish and Serpent Spear followed helplessly.

...

"Boss!"

Yu Feng and Oslo rushed out of the second-floor private room, with the Stone brothers following in a panic. Dugu Yan kept her bewitching green eyes fixed on Li Zhexian for a moment, then pulled the still-staring Ye Lingling along as she followed.

...

The crowd below surged like a wheat field flattened by a hurricane. Spectators stretched their necks, screaming the name "Sword-Wine" at the top of their lungs. It was utter madness. The arena authorities were forced to send dozens of soul masters to maintain order.

Li Zhexian remained indifferent. He waved his hand, and the sword light pinning Yu Tianheng dissipated into starlight. Yu Tianheng fell limply and was caught by two youths who looked like black towers. Li Zhexian saw four youths surrounding Yu Tianheng. A girl dressed in black, her face hidden by a black veil and long blue hair cascading to her waist, held a miraculous flower in her palm, channeling healing energy to him.

*So those must be the other members of the Royal Academy team,* Li Zhexian thought.

Another girl, tall with short, shoulder-length purple hair and eyes glowing with a verdant light, looked him up and down. Her red lips curled as she said, "Sword-Wine, do you dare to take off your mask?"

Looking at this bewitching girl, Li Zhexian matched her to a name in his memory. He ignored her entirely and turned to leave. *You ask me to take it off, and I just do? Wouldn't that make this cold swordsman lose face?*

Dugu Yan was stunned for a moment. Then, the smile on her lips grew even brighter. Her bewitching face became charmingly alluring, yet it radiated danger like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

Li Zhexian reached the backstage and bumped into the hastily arriving Xue Qinghe.

"Are you alright?"

"I saw the other members of the Royal Academy team go down there."

"I'm fine."

Li Zhexian familiarly draped an arm around Xue Qinghe's neck. Pufferfish and Serpent Spear winced visibly at the gesture.

...

For a time, Li Zhexian’s days were carefree—practicing swordsmanship, fighting in the arena, and dining with Xue Qinghe. One day, the two were fishing by the lotus lake.

"The fame of 'Sword-Wine' is too great," Xue Qinghe said, looking at the calm water with a smile. "Many powerful figures and great clans are looking for you. I know you don't like such things, so I've kept your identity hidden."

Li Zhexian lay on his back beside Xue Qinghe, legs crossed, lazily replying, "The one who knows me best is Qinghe."

"By the way..." Xue Qinghe turned his head to look at Li Zhexian, his tone carrying a hint of oddity. "Dugu Bo’s granddaughter, Dugu Yan, is investigating 'Sword-Wine,' and the Nine-Heart Begonia clan is also secretly asking about you. Li Zhexian, I couldn't tell—when did you provoke them?"

*Swish—*

A fish took the bait. In normal circumstances, Xue Qinghe would have happily shown off to Li Zhexian, but today, for some reason, even the sight of the hooked fish felt unpleasant.

Li Zhexian sat up and asked in confusion, "Dugu Yan? The Nine-Heart Begonia clan? Why are they asking about me? I'm not even familiar with them."

"Who knows," Xue Qinghe said indifferently. "The Dugu family and the Nine-Heart Begonia clan hold unusual status in the Heaven Dou Empire. Even I find it difficult to hinder their actions. You'd better pray for yourself; they'll find you sooner or later."

Li Zhexian frowned. "Then what are they doing now?"

Xue Qinghe pursed his lips, unhooked the fish, and threw it into the bucket with a heavy thud, splashing water all over Li Zhexian. "Can't wait, can you? The Royal Academy team has gone to the Soto City Grand Soul Arena. Just you wait."

Hearing this, Li Zhexian's eyes flickered. *Soto City Grand Soul Arena?* At this point in the timeline, the Royal Academy team and the Shrek Seven indeed had a confrontation. *I wonder how Sister Zhuqing is doing.*

...

At this moment, in the Soto City Grand Soul Arena, a fierce seven-on-seven group battle had just concluded. The Shrek Seven had defeated the Royal Academy team from the Imperial City.

"Is that all the strength the Imperial City Grand Soul Arena has to offer?" Ma Hongjun stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the seven members of the Royal Academy team, staring particularly at the withered Yu Tianheng. "I heard you were a genius who set the record for the fastest promotion to a silver badge? You look pretty average to me."

Yu Tianheng was helped up by the Stone brothers, and Yu Feng clenched his fists, gritting his teeth: "Don't get cocky. If our captain hadn't been suffering from an unhealed injury, you would have lost without a doubt."

Tang San said coldly, "Whatever excuses you make, the fact remains that you lost. If we did it again, you would still be the losers."

Dai Mubai glanced at Zhuqing, who stood on the edge, silently drinking. He stepped forward and said to Yu Tianheng, "Even in a one-on-one, my Evil-Eyed White Tiger would surely defeat you."

Yu Tianheng clutched his chest, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun. "It is a fact that you won. I won't make any excuses. But... you are quite behind on the news. I am no longer the soul master who reached the silver badge the fastest in the Imperial City Grand Soul Arena. Before fighting you, I lost to 'Sword-Wine' of the Imperial City. He only used one strike. If you think yourselves so powerful, go and challenge him."

The gazes of Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others froze. And Zhuqing, who was tilting her head to drink, stopped mid-motion, her heart beating uncontrollably faster.

*Imperial City? Sword-Wine? Is it... Li Zhexian?*