Chapter 233 - Heaven-Defying Shadowless Step

Every one of Lin Xuan’s deeds, if taken out, could astonish a crowd.

And when these deeds were concentrated on one person, it was even more shocking!

Elder Song’s eyes lit up once again, for he had personally witnessed Lin Xuan achieve the title of Second Grade Rune Master, and his heart was filled with hope for Lin Xuan.

The competition proceeded swiftly, and during it, disciples from Ten Thousand Treasure Tower such as Liu Qing and Ding Zhe were defeated.

Liu Qing was defeated by a single look from Zi Ye, and Ding Zhe by the Spiritual Girl from Rain Country.

For a time, the momentum of Xia Country plummeted to a low ebb.

At this moment, the voice of the referee resonated once again on Arena One.

“Next matchup, Lin Xuan versus Shadowless!”

Shadowless, the black robed youth, was considered as terrifying a martial artist as Zi Ye!

Whoosh!

Disciples not involved in the match all rushed towards Arena One, crowding the area tightly.

Most of them were disciples from Xia Country and Ying Country, for this battle would determine whether Xia Country could rise again.

If Lin Xuan couldn’t even beat the black robed man, then there was no way he could defeat Zi Ye!

It would also mean Xia Country was doomed to be completely wiped out in this competition.

For a time, Weiwei, Shanshan, Liu Qing, and the others all watched with nervous anticipation.

In the stands, Elder Song and Elder Gu also took a deep breath and watched intently.

The black robed youth stood on the stage, emanating a terrifying presence like a phantom.

“Kid, your luck has run out facing me,” the voice of the black robed youth was somewhat hoarse.

“Xia Country is destined to miss out on the Engraving Tower!”

“Less nonsense!” Lin Xuan frowned, sensing some black runes quietly forming beneath his feet.

Boom!

The Copper Thunder Pattern surged brightly, and Lin Xuan was enveloped in thunder and lightning as if the Thunder God had descended, majestic and extraordinary.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Black mist crept over Lin Xuan’s body like leeches clinging to bone.

At the same time, the black robed youth’s fingers glittered with dark light, and a dangerous aura spread out.

Sizzle!

A streak of black gleam shot from his fingertips, striking at Lin Xuan like black lightning.

“Disperse!”

Lin Xuan’s body shook, the Thunder Pattern flashed on him, dispersing the black mist entangling him.

At the same time, his footsteps shifted, and his figure vanished.

Whoosh!

When he reappeared, he was already behind the black robed youth.

“So fast!”

The surrounding martial artists exclaimed; they hadn’t seen Lin Xuan’s movements clearly.

Their exclamations were justified, for none of the black robed youth’s opponents had ever evaded that black finger gleam, not even other Second Grade Rune Masters.

Yet now, Lin Xuan had effortlessly dodged it.

The black robed youth sneered, his robe fluttered, and his figure disappeared.

“What?”

Everyone was stunned, then used their Soul Power to search, soon their faces revealing a look of shock.

“Nothing!”

They couldn’t sense the black robed youth’s presence at all.

Lin Xuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he sent out his Soul Power, carefully sensing.

Moments later, he furrowed his brow.

Like the others, he hadn’t sensed it either.

“Hehe, that kid is definitely a goner!”

“Daring to flaunt speed in front of Shadowless, does he really think the name ‘Shadowless’ is for nothing?”

The disciples of Shadow Hall sneered repeatedly, their words full of ridicule.

The name “Shadowless” was enough to explain the black robed youth’s speed.

The disciples from Xia Country were shocked; they had thought the black robed youth’s strength was in Soul Power, but it turned out to be speed.

“With such speed, how can the opponent even find him, let alone attack?”

“Don’t lose heart,” Weiwei said gravely.

“Lin Xuan’s defense is formidable.

The Shadowless may not necessarily be able to break through.”

The disciples from Xia Country were momentarily stunned, then overjoyed.

Indeed, Lin Xuan’s strong defense was witnessed by all, even Seventh Layer Heaven Martial Artists from Spirit Sea had been unable to break through it.

Just as everyone was filled with hope, a sharp black gleam emerged from thin air.

Its appearance was so abrupt, without even the slightest hint of a warning.

Swoosh!

The black gleam, shaped like a half-moon, seemed to split the void in two, chopping down with force.

Clang!

Lin Xuan threw a punch and hit the crescent-shaped black gleam, producing a shower of sparks.

Hiss!

Crack!

Thunder Light flashed suddenly, rumbling without end.

Lin Xuan shattered the crescent-shaped black gleam, but his arm also went numb.

This was the first time he felt numbness after having mastered the Copper Thunder Pattern.

After dispersing the half-moon black gleam with one strike, Lin Xuan spread his Soul Power, searching for the figure of the Black Robed youth.

However, just as he caught a faint trace of the presence, it vanished again.

A few breaths later, another fierce surge of energy slashed through the void, coming from behind him.

This time, it was a black scythe with a razor-sharp edge that emitted a chilling gleam, making one’s soul tremble with dread.

Puchi!

The scythe slashed across Lin Xuan’s body, leaving a half-foot long cut.

Some of the Copper Thunder Pattern was sliced open; although it didn’t injure Lin Xuan, the impact it caused was shocking.

Down below, the disciples from Ying Country boiled over, continuously shouting and cheering.

While the disciples from Xia Country looked on with worry; they had initially thought that the Black Robed youth could not harm Lin Xuan.

Now it seemed, they were too naive.

A black scythe was enough to cut through Lin Xuan’s defense.

Lin Xuan, too, was shocked.

He twisted his body and quickly dodged the sharp edge.

“Actually able to slice through the Copper Thunder Pattern!” His expression turned gloomy.

He was very clear about the toughness of the Copper Thunder Pattern.

Although his Copper Thunder Pattern had only achieved Small Success, generally, Seventh Layer Martial Artists from Spirit Sea were utterly unable to break his defense.

“It must be that black scythe!” Lin Xuan didn’t believe the Black Robed Man could break his defense, since the first attack hadn’t hurt him at all.

“What kind of weapon can actually slice through the Copper Thunder Pattern at Small Success stage?”

“Could it be a Xuan-grade top-quality treasure?”

Surprise flooded his mind as he became completely alert.

This was a formidable opponent, whose movement technique was bizarre to the extreme.

In the following moments, Lin Xuan was forced into a defensive position, narrowly avoiding injury several times.

However, he also noticed something.

This attack was very similar to my Melt Wind Style, but much more sophisticated than my own.

The principle should be the same; he merged himself into the wind.

With this realization, a light flashed in Lin Xuan’s eyes as he flipped his palm, and the Autumn Trace Sword appeared in his hand.

A weapon?

Lin Xuan actually took out a weapon!

The nearby disciples were astonished; they had never seen Lin Xuan wield a weapon before.

“A longsword, could he be a Sword Cultivator?”

Even some of the disciples from Xia Country were stunned, many turning their eyes to Weiwei.

“Yes, Lin Xuan is indeed a Sword Cultivator,” Weiwei nodded.

“Lin Xuan, Lin Xuan, could he be the one ranked twentieth on the Hidden Dragon List?” someone exclaimed.

Immediately, a wave of shock ran through the crowd.

An incredible Sword Cultivator was also a Second Grade Rune Master; such news was undoubtedly explosive.

“Hmph, thinks he can resist the Shadowless with a longsword?

Too naive!”

“Exactly, as expected from a backward country!” the disciples from Shadow Hall sneered.

They knew very well the strength of the Shadowless—he was a genius who had comprehended a hint of the Wind Realm!

Although it was only a hint, it was not something Lin Xuan could handle.