*Chapter 59: The Twisted Path*

*Chapter 59: The Twisted Path*

The moment Lu Jing moved, his sword hummed with the power of his own peak level human grade technique. The spectators, who had been holding their breath in anticipation, could barely keep up with the speed of his movements. To them, it appeared as though Lu Jing had vanished with his movement technique, only to reappear in front of Jian Mei in the blink of an eye.

Aura of the sword permeated his entire being as if he was sword, somewhat enhancing his movement technique as well.

As the those who practice weapon concepts move ahead on this path, they begin to resemble the weapon itself gaining it's advantages and disadvantages.

Jian Mei, caught in the midst of her Dragon’s Descent, was stunned. The overwhelming power of her Earth grade technique, which had been unstoppable in her previous battles, suddenly felt as if it was being funneled into an abyss. The twisted string that connected Lu Jing’s sword to the mouth of the flood dragon guided his every motion, each step taken with surgical precision.

As the phantom flood dragon lunged at Lu Jing with its gaping jaws, Lu Jing’s sword glowed with a brilliant light, infused with the essence of his sword concept at the intermediate level. The twisted string pulsed, and with a fluid, almost effortless motion, Lu Jing sliced through the flood dragon’s phantom form. His sword cut along the twisted path, severing the flow of Jian Mei’s Qi, unraveling the power behind her technique like a thread pulled from a tightly woven tapestry.

A shockwave erupted from the clash, but this time, it was not the explosive power of two techniques colliding; it was the force of Jian Mei’s technique being undone. The flood dragon dissipated into a shower of blue sparks, the manifestation of her Qi scattering like dust in the wind.

Jian Mei’s eyes widened in disbelief as she felt the feedback from her shattered technique. Pain lanced through her, not physical, but the sharp sting of failure and the realization that her ultimate move had been so easily dismantled. She stumbled back, her grip on her sword faltering as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

Lu Jing, having completed his strike, stood before her, his sword gleaming with the aftermath of the technique. He had not only deflected her attack but had also turned the flow of the battle entirely in his favor. His expression was calm, yet there was a newfound intensity in his gaze, a reflection of the growth he had just experienced.

For a moment, the arena was silent, the spectators too stunned to react. The scene before them was unimaginable—Jian Mei, the prodigy who had mastered an Earth grade technique in the Qi Manifestation realm, was standing defeated, her strongest move effortlessly countered by someone they had underestimated.

Jian Mei’s breath came in shallow gasps as she fought to steady herself. Her mind raced, replaying the moment over and over, searching for an explanation, but there was none. Lu Jing had achieved something impossible in that split second—a leap in mastery that defied logic and reason.

“How…” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. “How did you…?”

Lu Jing slowly lowered his sword, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “Jian Mei, you’re incredibly strong,” he said, his voice calm and respectful. “But this battle was never about raw power or techniques alone. It was about understanding—understanding yourself, your opponent, and the path you walk as a cultivator.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. “In that moment, I saw the path that I had to take, the path that would allow me to reach you. It wasn’t about being stronger or faster; it was about finding the most efficient way, the way that would bring me to victory with the least resistance.”

Jian Mei’s eyes narrowed, her pride warring with the admiration she felt for him. She had never encountered an opponent like Lu Jing before, someone who could analyze a battle with such clarity, someone who could adapt and grow in the midst of a life-and-death duel.

But she couldn’t bring herself to admit defeat, not yet. There was still fight left in her, a burning desire to prove herself. She gripped her sword tighter, ignoring the exhaustion weighing down her limbs.

Lu Jing noticed the determination in her eyes, the refusal to surrender despite the odds. He sighed inwardly, respecting her resolve but knowing that continuing would only lead to unnecessary harm.

“Jian Mei,” he said gently, “there’s no need to push yourself further. You’ve already proven your strength. Let this battle end here.”

But Jian Mei shook her head, her voice firm. “No. Not yet. I won’t accept it. I won’t accept that I was outmatched so easily. I’ve trained too hard, fought too many battles to be defeated like this.”

Lu Jing’s expression turned serious, understanding the fire that drove her. He nodded, raising his sword once more. “Very well, then. If that’s your decision, I’ll honor it. But know this—I won’t hold back.”

The air between them grew tense once more, the remnants of their previous clash still lingering in the atmosphere. Jian Mei gathered the last of her Qi, her aura flaring to life one final time. Lu Jing, his sword concept now fully stabilized at the intermediate level, readied himself for the next exchange.

The spectators leaned forward, their hearts pounding as they prepared to witness the climax of this incredible duel.

Jian Mei moved first, her sword slicing through the air with renewed vigor. She unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one faster and more precise than the last, pushing herself beyond her limits. But this time, Lu Jing was ready for her. His sword moved with the fluidity of water, deflecting her attacks with effortless grace. The twisted path guided his every motion, allowing him to counter with perfect timing, exploiting the smallest gaps in her defense.

The arena echoed with the sound of their swords clashing, a symphony of steel and determination. Jian Mei’s attacks grew more desperate, her movements more erratic as she tried to find an opening, but Lu Jing was relentless, his defense unbreakable.

Finally, with a decisive strike, Lu Jing disarmed her, his sword sweeping her blade out of her hand. The force of the blow sent her stumbling back, her Qi depleted, her body on the brink of collapse.

She fell to one knee, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to stay conscious. The realization of her defeat weighed heavily on her, crushing her spirit. But even in that moment of despair, she couldn’t help but admire the strength and skill of the one who had bested her.

Lu Jing stepped forward, extending a hand to help her up. “It was an honor to face you, Jian Mei,” he said sincerely. “You’ve taught me a great deal in this battle. I hope we can fight again someday.”

Jian Mei looked up at him, her pride warring with the respect she felt for her opponent. Slowly, she reached out and took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. “You’ve earned my respect, Lu Jing,” she admitted, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. “But next time, I won’t let you win so easily.”

Lu Jing smiled, nodding in agreement. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

As the spectators erupted into applause, the tension in the arena finally began to dissipate. The duel was over, but the impact of their battle would be felt for a long time to come. Both Jian Mei and Lu Jing had grown from this experience, their paths forever intertwined by the clash of their blades.

"Damn who is this bastard, he is so strong, which sect does he belong to? Why have I never heard of him?" Many people started to clamor about the new genius that popped out of nowhere.

Some people from Heavenly sword sect and spirit sword mountain who recognized him had grim looks.

"Looks like Heavenly Dao sect gained another genius, it's truly worthy of being the overlord of the continent." Leading disciple of the heavenly sword sect said with an unhappy look.

"Whoever goes up against this guy, try to tire him, if I meet him later on I will see if I can kill him here since that group hasn't officially joined Heaven dao Sect yet aside from that Beauty. I have already investigated them so don't need to worry when you go up, no need to show them mercy their backing is weak."

In the following battles, the clashes were not as intense and battles kept on going .

[For the 16th battle of 1st round - Wang Mie vs ....]