Chapter 60: Unshaken

Although she wanted to give Xiao Zhu a beating, at this crucial moment, Qingxi was still overjoyed to hear good news.

"What’s going on now? Why isn’t he moving again?"

Everyone had seen Qingxi form a sword with his fingers, seemingly about to strike, but suddenly he staggered and stood there, unmoving and clueless.

What kind of maneuver was this?

All the onlookers were utterly baffled.

Mu Yue, however, was patient. She took a red grape from her storage space, gently peeled its skin, and placed the juicy flesh into her mouth.

"Ah, eat first, eat first. Looks like we’ll be waiting a long while again." Some spectators shook their heads, declaring this was the most boring duel in history, and began feasting anew.

On the rooftop, Qiu Yingying and Hong Jiu exchanged glances, neither able to guess what Qingxi intended.

Could it be that he realized he couldn’t break through the defense, and so was planning to advance his cultivation first?

If Qingxi reached the early innate stage, even with Mu Yue’s formidable defenses, he could still break through by virtue of his superior realm.

But breaking into the innate stage was no easy feat.

While everyone speculated about Qingxi’s intentions, he, as the decision-maker, was deeply communicating with Xiao Zhu.

"If I don’t ask, you won’t tell me I can use the essence of the five elements to learn absolute arts?"

Qingxi clenched his fists, wanting to condense the five elements’ essence into Xiao Zhu’s form and beat it senseless—whether dragging, lying, or chasing after it—he just wanted to pummel it!

Xiao Zhu replied haughtily, "Wake up! Host, you nearly drained the five elements’ essence to advance your spiritual root. Where would you find extra essence to aid in learning absolute arts?"

"So you’re saying learning absolute arts actually requires a lot of five elements’ essence?" Qingxi sensed another impending trap.

Xiao Zhu quickly explained, "Not much at all, far less than what’s used for deduction."

"How much, exactly?"

Qingxi braced himself for heartbreak and opened the panel for the five elements’ essence.

[Currently stored five elements’ essence: Metal (2152/10000) strands, Wood (302/10000) strands, Water (545/10000) strands, Fire (1234/10000) strands, Earth (367/10000) strands]

At present, the Metal and Fire essences were most abundant. The Fire essence was almost entirely absorbed and transformed on Volcano Island, while the Metal essence was largely gained from devouring the spiritual weapons of disciples from the Crimson Flame Sect and Bliss Sect.

The rest came as a bonus when absorbing spiritual weapons.

Though the total exceeded four thousand, the thought of another round of system extortion made him want to cover his face and weep.

"Don’t panic, host. To fully master the black iron-class absolute art ‘Skyborne Sword Qi,’ you need only fifty strands from each element, totaling two hundred fifty strands."

Upon hearing the modest amount, Qingxi, feeling temporarily wealthy, said inwardly, "Approved."

"Ding! Spent 250 strands of five elements’ essence. Specified enlightenment function activated. Target: learning black iron-class absolute art ‘Skyborne Sword Qi,’ completion from 0%...100%!"

"Congratulations, host. You have fully mastered the black iron-class absolute art ‘Skyborne Sword Qi.’"

As Xiao Zhu’s voice sounded in his mind, Qingxi felt a cool rush surge through his body, instantly and completely mastering ‘Skyborne Sword Qi.’

Bright light shot from his eyes. He suddenly formed a sword with his fingers and, with a loud shout, unleashed a sword qi resembling a cicada’s wing.

"Finally, it’s here!"

Mu Yue, who had nearly dozed off waiting, suddenly smiled. With a wave of her jade hand, nine petals overlapped swiftly to block the sword qi.

In that instant, she felt as if struck by a raging bull, her body trembling uncontrollably before regaining balance.

Her gaze fell on the first sword qi petal, where she discovered a dense web of cracks, yet it still stood firm and had not shattered.

However, it was already at its limit.

"To unleash sword qi barehanded—what remarkable talent in swordsmanship, and impressive combat power," Mu Yue’s face showed a trace of solemnity.

The crowd below was nearly stunned.

Though the attack didn’t shatter Mu Yue’s sword qi petal, being able to crack the first petal was testament to its strength.

"So powerful!"

In the Bliss Sect’s camp, Hua Rui and Ru Hong exchanged grave looks.

Within the Spirit Origin Sect, Wan Hu watched Qingxi, exhaling slowly, "What a formidable rival! But the stronger he is, the more interesting!"

Li Xingyao’s face was ashen.

He had thought his defeat was due to a lack of spiritual weapon, but now, witnessing Qingxi’s astonishing might, Li Xingyao realized he truly wasn’t Qingxi’s equal.

Wang Shuiling’s bright eyes revealed a hint of surprise; even she could sense the sharpness of that strike.

Had Mu Yue not cultivated Thousand Blossom Blade to the third level, the first sword qi petal would certainly have been pierced.

"This is most likely a sword qi-type absolute art. Otherwise, he couldn’t unleash sword qi barehanded," Wang Shuiling murmured, gazing meaningfully at Qingxi, "I’ve heard Ouyang Changfeng earned a swordsmanship absolute art for his contributions to the Spirit Origin Sect. Could this be that very art?"

Compared to everyone else’s astonishment, Qingxi was wide-eyed and dissatisfied: "I couldn’t even break a single sword qi petal? That’s pathetic!"

His urge to thrash the system grew stronger.

Two hundred fifty strands of five elements’ essence!

And still, he couldn’t break through Mu Yue’s defense. He felt his intelligence was as moving as the amount of essence he’d spent.

Hearing his complaints, the crowd was speechless.

Mu Yue was using the bronze-class absolute art ‘Thousand Blossom Blade,’ famed as the strongest offensive and defensive art in the eastern region of Yunchuan Prefecture, and among the top ten of its kind in the entire prefecture.

For Qingxi to crack it barehanded was already impressive.

Yet he had the nerve to complain, making him infuriating beyond measure.

The crowd felt like tossing him into the Xisha River.

"That move was powerful, but it’s still a bit lacking. Next, you have nine more chances," Mu Yue said, waving her slender hand. Her internal energy replenished, and the cracked petal swiftly healed.

"Very well, be careful for what’s next," Qingxi drew a superior spiritual sword and, leveraging its power, unleashed a full-force strike—a sword-shaped aura, thin as a cicada’s wing and only three inches long, without a hilt.

Mu Yue waved both hands, and the nine sword qi petals overlapped swiftly. With a clang, the first petal was shattered by the sword qi.

The sword qi pressed onward, clashing with the second petal—both collapsed, and the shockwave cracked the third petal.

Qingxi looked at the remaining petals and realized his current strength still couldn’t fully break through.

"That strike was quite powerful," Mu Yue praised.

Though she had blocked the attack, it was only because ‘Thousand Blossom Blade’ had enough petals. Had there been only one, she would have lost.

Judging by the power of that single strike, Qingxi’s peak combat strength was already approaching hers.

Thus, Mu Yue gave her praise.

"Hmph! He’s just using the amplification of a spiritual weapon—hardly true skill!" The Crimson Flame Sect disciples jeered. Qingxi was using a superior spiritual sword stolen from their sect, which naturally irked them.

The Crimson Flame Sect disciples felt the indignation of having made wedding clothes for others.

Especially Li Xingyao, who kept staring at the sword, grinding his teeth.

If looks could kill, Qingxi would have met the King of Hell ten thousand times over.