Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 343: You Aren’t Weak, It’s Just That I’m Stronger (2)

Though it seemed slow, the clash erupted the moment Wu Yuan and Fei Lang exchanged words.

Boom! With a wave of Fei Lang’s hand, a flurry of blazing red lights soared through the air. They were all array flags. In an instant, dozens of array flags landed, forming a vast web spanning dozens of li, engulfing the entire area in a fiery blaze.

Infernos raged, turning their surroundings into a realm of fire.

Array cultivator? Wu Yuan's eyes widened with surprise. This was his first battle with a Golden Core array cultivator.

"Kill!" Fei Lang's figure was engulfed in swirling flames. With a single gesture, the array ignited, and countless fiery tendrils converged to form a massive fiery roc.

The fiery roc let out a deafening cry. Then, it hurtled toward Wu Yuan at alarming speed.

His reaction speed is so slow, allowing me to set up the array without any hindrance? You've already lost. Fei Lang taunted Wu Yuan inwardly, believing that victory was already in the bag.

The best way to deal with an array cultivator was to seize the moment the array was being assembled to unleash an all-out attack, securing victory in one swift strike. After all, an array harnessed heaven and earth’s power, which often exceeded the power one could unleash with mana alone.

I've given you enough face, granting you the opportunity to display your abilities. Wu Yuan calmly observed the fiery roc's advance. After all, if your strength is lacking, my own talent won’t shine as brightly by comparison.

As the fiery roc approached, Wu Yuan’s nine lifebound flying swords surrounded him, each enveloped in earthy-yellow qi streams.

The fiery roc flapped its wings and sped up.

Assemble! With a mental command, Wu Yuan supported the nine lifebound swords with his soul, channeling his mana into them.

Within a radius of more than ten li, vast earthy-yellow qi streams manifested and swirled around the swords, merging with them to form formidable sword qi.

Boom! There was a resounding clash as Wu Yuan's Sword Domain collided with the fiery roc, the two forces meeting like a blazing meteorite striking the ground.

The swords unleashed a barrage of strikes, stripping away the fiery roc's flames with each slash. The roc only advanced five li before it was completely wiped out by the Sword Domain.

If failed to breach Wu Yuan's defenses, let alone force him to yield.

What? Surrounded by flickering flames, Fei Lang stared incredulously at Wu Yuan, unable to comprehend the outcome.

The Swirling Water World fell silent. One side was engulfed in flames, while the other side was filled with unstoppable sword qi, a combination of a Domain and lifebound flying swords.

Neither side made another move.

Within the hall, a profound silence fell. The Void Refiner cultivators were stunned as they watched the result of the exchange. The accompanying disciples stood dumbfounded by what they just witnessed. Even Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng, who had foreseen the outcome, found himself taken aback. Wu Yuan seemed to be even stronger than he had imagined.

The disparity in power was glaringly evident. The fiery roc, Fei Lang's full eruption of power after setting up the array in a fit of anger, had the speed and attack power of a late-stage Spiritual Body cultivator. Yet, it failed to penetrate even half of Wu Yuan's Sword Domain.

How absurd was that? One had to remember that Wu Yuan was a sword cultivator, whose forte lay in attacking!

Though his mana might have been lacking, his impregnable defense attested to his overall strength.

Once Wu Yuan unleashed his own offensive, there would be no stopping him.

"Is it True Intent?"

"Those who contemplate the Earth Dao have strong defensive capabilities, but this level of defense is just absurd." The Void Refiner cultivators exchanged glances.

Little did they know that this was the result of the fusion between Wu Yuan's soul and his lifebound flying swords.

In terms of Domain and mana, Wu Yuan had reached a level of strength beyond what he had shown in the one-star tower, and his soul was now able to unleash its full power.

"Haha! Brother Fei Lang, I have withstood your strongest attack. Now brace yourself for my attack as well!" Wu Yuan's voice boomed, resonating throughout the world. "If you can withstand this strike, I shall concede defeat."

"You are too audacious." Fei Lang had initially considered conceding the match. He was not the kind of person who stuck to his guns no matter what. Recognizing the vast difference in their strengths, he didn’t mind admitting his loss.

However, upon hearing Wu Yuan's taunt, his rage was rekindled.

Just one strike?

Though I may be weaker than you, there’s no way I can’t endure a single strike. Fei Lang clenched his jaw, fixing Wu Yuan with a fierce glare.

Whoosh~ Another array was formed, engulfing his surroundings in flames. As an array cultivator, he could effortlessly deploy multiple arrays simultaneously.

"Just one strike?"

"This Li Xia seems a little too arrogant.” The observing Void Refiner cultivators instinctively furrowed their brows.

Arrogance wasn’t a trait appreciated among disciples.

Then, Wu Yuan finally made his move.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! In an instant, another 720 flying swords materialized within his Sword Domain, merging with the earthy-yellow qi streams. Each one was a fifth-grade spirit flying sword.

These were treasures Wu Yuan had acquired at the Redmoon Immortal Tower in Fengchuan City. Coupled with the initial nine flying swords, they totaled 729.

Fourth-grade spirit weapons? A single one costs 1000 catties of ethercrystal. Constructing a Thousand Swords Array would require more than 700,000 catties of ethercrystal. Wu Yuan mused inwardly.

However, a fifth-grade spirit flying sword only costs 100 catties of ether crystal. 720 swords only amount to 72,000 catties of ethercrystal.

Though they were fifth-grade weapons, their collective strength was now augmented by the nine lifebound flying swords that formed the core of the array. Furthermore, Wu Yuan’s Domain and mana were enhanced, rendering this Thousand Swords Array even more formidable than before in the one-star tower!

This? Fei Lang's pupils constricted in disbelief. The shock he felt was indescribable. He can control so many flying swords?

There was no time for further contemplation.

Sword Array. With a mental command from Wu Yuan, the multitude of flying swords encircling him and blotting out the sky swiftly converged to form a colossal sword array, rapidly compacting in size. Eventually, a divine sword was formed, slicing through the air with a razor-thin edge akin to a long needle, encased in earthy-yellow qi streams.

Though likened to a needle, the widest part of its cross-section was nearly a meter, and its length was over a staggering 100 meters.

The third level of the Dark Earth Sword Array, 'The Sword Within Reach.'

Go! Wu Yuan pointed forward, and the divine sword soared forth, engulfing the entire microcosm in sweeping sword qi.

Boom! With startling speed, the divine sword collided with the multiple flame arrays.

Block it. Though feeling his heart shudder under the impact of Wu Yuan's sword array, Fei Lang resolutely exerted his full effort to maintain control over his arrays. The flames surged, endeavoring to obstruct the earthy-yellow divine sword.

However, the divine sword cleaved through the layers of flames with unstoppable force, the sharpness of the sword's edge triggering explosions that dispersed the flames in an instant.

In moments, the divine sword closed in on Fei Lang, its formidable sword intent and sheer power causing him to tremble instinctively.

The disparity was overwhelming, he had no time to evade the attack.

Boom! The earthy-yellow divine sword effortlessly breached the final defense of the array and hit Fei Lang's body.

Hum~ Accompanied by a flicker of purple light, Fei Lang vanished instantaneously.

Boom! The earthy-yellow divine sword continued its trajectory into the distant mist, its power waning as if mired in a swamp.

Where did he go? Wu Yuan was surprised.

In the next moment, Wu Yuan, his imposing sword array, and the array flags left behind by Fei Lang all vanished, reappearing in the hall.

Everyone in the hall looked at Wu Yuan with stunned expressions, struggling to comprehend that such a devastating assault had been unleashed by a first-grade Golden Core cultivator.

"I have been defeated," Fei Lang's voice held a tinge of bitterness.

From the instant Wu Yuan intercepted his fire roc, Fei Lang knew defeat was imminent. Yet, he didn’t expect to lose this miserably, unable to withstand even a single strike.

"Brother Fei Lang, it is not that you’re weak. It’s just that I’m stronger," Wu Yuan remarked casually.