Chapter 169: Third Trial (15)

Chapter 169: Third Trial (15)

The circle that the black silhouette draws does not remain in existence for long enough to draw accurate and precise conclusions about it, but the changes in the environment persist. It is the same as Lan Xiaohuis sword domain. The stillness and unnatural quietness of the environment are evidence of such, but it is magnitudes more advanced than my owners domain.

Perhaps it is a direct development of the [Empty Moon Prana] method an extremely potent synergy, of sorts that allows either the method or the domain to be expressed in such a dazzling, ominous manner.

The two silhouettes remain still. Perhaps it is also because they are shrouded in a black and white mist, respectively, but they are unreadable to me. They neither seem defensive nor offensive in their posture and if it were not for the sword energy that the black silhouette deployed, it would be natural to assume that they were not even aware of the coming battle.

I sense no arrogance in them; nor joy, nor battle lust.

Is this the [Empty Moon Prana]?

Lan Xiaohui misinterprets this stillness as an invitation to approach, but she still does so carefully. Slowly, my owner reaches out to grasp my hilt and snatch my hovering form into her grip, and then she puts one foot in front of the other.

Slowly, very slowly, she approaches the two silhouettes. She does not even blink, instead, watching her opponent carefully, convincing herself that she can react to anything the black silhouette may do from this distance.

Perhaps, she even thinks that if she approaches within twenty steps, and makes the first move, with her most powerful ability, her opponent might be the one incapable of reacting in time.

My owner does not recognize the danger that the black silhouette poses. Even without any tells in the figures mannerisms, that sword energy should be more than enough evidence for Lan Xiaohui to understand that this opponent is the most terrifying creature she has crossed paths with yet. Perhaps even more dangerous than Lady Yue.

Lady Yues cultivation is extraordinarily deep and advanced, but the energy I observed from Lan Xiaohuis mentor has never had this degree of sharpness. And this black silhouette was in the same early stage Core Formation realm as Lan Xiaohui.

Perhaps Lan Xiaohuis misunderstanding comes from the fact that she has never crossed paths with someone who has murdered many people more than even Yu Shun. At least, not like this. Yu Shuns killing intent may feel revolting, ugly, and oppressive, but this black silhouettes killing intent feels casual, pure, and boundless.

Unrestrained violence; hatred with no heart; wrath with no emotion. In stillness, Lan Xiaohui is art; in motion, she is death.

This is what I thought of Lan Xiaohui as she dominated the second trial Pagoda.

I felt it clearly, and so did my owner; the moment before the pulse scattered my energy, a blast of incredibly sharp, intense, and invisible sword intent passed through us unraveling the laws and formulas of Lan Xiaohuis technique.

What absurd technique and prowess!

Lan Xiaohui barely has a moment to witness what happens let alone process it when the black silhouettes sword carves through her flesh, diagonally upwards and to the left, separating my owners body into two halves.

From the emerging split as the two halves separate, it is not blood that shoots into the air, but countless black and red flower petals the Autumn-Severing Petals technique!

As if that wasnt enough, the black silhouette swings again, this time from the left side, its sword traveling diagonally and to the up, dicing Lan Xiaohuis body into quarters with another explosive bloom of flower petals.

Before Lan Xiaohuis pieces can even touch the ground, the flower petals release their energy and annihilate her body completely. Not even dust remains.

At this exact moment, a white line appears before the white silhouette the hallmark of the [Eternal Moment Swordsmanship] method and a very alarmed and furious Wu Yulan appears before the white silhouette, swinging her cyan sword along the line of certain death.

The white silhouette slightly raises its left hand, holding the sheathed cyan sword, and places the pommel into the path of Wu Yulans cut.

A loud ring echoes through the world, followed by a crack as a black, jagged line appears in the middle of Wu Yulans sword.

The impact is so powerful that the recoil alone nearly sends Wu Yulan flying back, a trajectory she would follow to its completion if it were not for the white silhouette suddenly drawing its own sword, and casually impaling it through Wu Yulans chest, arresting her flight.

Wu Yulans sword drops to the floor, her eyes wide as she stares at the sword that is disappearing into her chest and how casually the white silhouette is supporting her entire weight with just one arm.

What? Wu Yulan manages to squeeze out but never manages to finish her question.

Wu Yulans body, before it even hits the ground, scatters into countless snowflakes of sword energy.

[ THIRD LAYER: ATTAINMENT PHASE END. ]