Jade Dynasty: I am the master of the Burning Sword, my swordsmanship is unparalleled.

Chapter 40 Divine Sword Controlling Thunder, Mighty Heavenly Power

As the world fell silent and the raging wind subsided, all the disciples below the stage immediately looked up at the platform. But the next moment, everyone was stunned.

On the arena, Zhang Xiaofan still stood at the edge, holding the Mo Xue sword, while Lu Xueqi rode the clouds in the heavens. It was as if the battle that had shocked everyone had never happened, and everything seemed like an illusion.

Just as everyone looked on with doubt, Lu Xueqi, high above the heavens, reflected Zhang Xiaofan's figure in her clear yet burning eyes. Her red lips were slightly pursed, and the corners of her mouth were gently pressed down. Then, her clear and cold voice seemed to drift from the depths of the heavens.

“Junior Brother Zhang’s Taoist skills are profound, and I, Lu Xueqi, am ashamed to admit my inferiority. However, I have a sword technique that I would like to ask Junior Brother for guidance!”

As soon as Lu Xueqi said this, an uproar broke out all around. Countless disciples looked at each other in disbelief. Had Lu Xueqi lost that sword strike?

However, a wave of confusion followed, overwhelming the disciples, who clearly did not understand the true meaning behind Lu Xueqi's words.

Upon hearing this, Master Shuiyue abruptly stood up, his expression changing drastically. He tried to speak to stop her, but it was too late.

The moment the words left her mouth, Lu Xueqi activated her magic. Instantly, the once quiet Tongtian Peak was filled with a fierce wind, and countless clouds surged in from all directions, turning the area into a dense cloud cover in the blink of an eye.

The wind suddenly stopped, and the world fell silent once more, yet a tremendous pressure weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. Only the woman high above the heavens stood there, her feet treading the Seven Stars, her hands forming a sword incantation.

Tian Buyi looked at the aloof woman standing with her sword under the dark clouds, and his expression turned grim. He turned to Master Shuiyue beside him and said coldly.

"What a fine student you've taught!"

It's no wonder Tian Buyi was so furious. With their strength, they naturally saw that Zhang Xiaofan had held back at the last moment, withdrawing his last bit of power, which is why Lu Xueqi wasn't injured, only that her magic power was greatly depleted.

Master Shuiyue remained silent, but a look of worry and regret flashed in her eyes. She had never expected that her disciple would insist on competing for the championship. If she had known this would happen, she should not have let her go all out to compete with Dragon Head Peak for the championship.

"The Divine Sword and Thunder Control Technique!"

Dao Xuan Zhenren was also greatly shocked. He did not expect that the younger generation of Qingyun Sect would have such an outstanding talent who could master one of the four great true techniques, the Divine Sword Thunder Control True Technique, at such a young age and with such strength.

Beneath the dark clouds, Lu Xueqi, dressed in blue, was pale-faced, and her hand holding the sword trembled uncontrollably.

But Lu Xueqi still forced herself to take a deep breath and softly chanted a spell.

“The Nine Heavens Mysterious Temple turned into divine thunder.

The brilliant power of heaven, lead it with the sword! "

Above the sky, dark clouds surged and churned, occasionally flashing with lightning, creating an atmosphere of grim solemnity between heaven and earth.

Lu Xueqi's magical power was far inferior to that of someone who cultivated both Buddhism and Taoism. In addition, Zhang Xiaofan, with his strong physique and wide, resilient meridians, had almost exhausted his magical power during the fierce battle just now.

Now, having forcibly used the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique, a wondrous and unparalleled technique, his face was as white as paper, and his body was swaying precariously.

The Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique is a wondrous art among Taoist immortal techniques, capable of reaching the heavens and the earth. It allows a mortal to draw upon the immense power of heaven and earth, and the pressure involved is extraordinary.

The Tianya Sword is a divine weapon from the Nine Heavens, an unparalleled divine object that is best suited for performing such extraordinary techniques. However, Lu Xueqi's cultivation was insufficient, and she had only wielded the Tianya Sword for a short time. In addition, she now had very little magical power left, making it difficult for her to control the divine sword in her hand.

At this moment, Lu Xueqi, who was in the dark clouds, felt herself swaying and uncertain, as if a gust of wind would tear her apart at any moment.

As she swayed, Lu Xueqi couldn't help but recall the instructions her master, Master Shuiyue, had given her when she passed on this extraordinary technique:
"This true technique is extremely powerful, with the great power of heaven and earth supporting the body. Therefore, the backlash is overwhelming and should not be used unless it is a matter of life and death."

At this moment, Lu Xueqi was no longer able to control the Tianya Sword and could only wait for the power of the heavenly thunder to erupt.

Below, Master Shuiyue and the others also sensed Lu Xueqi's dangerous situation, but they were helpless and could only watch as she used the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique, which was protected by the power of heaven and earth.

"Boom!!"

Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the overwhelming power of the heavens pressed down on Zhang Xiaofan.

Slowly raising his head, Zhang Xiaofan looked at the slender figure struggling to stay upright beneath the dark clouds. Deeply buried memories surfaced before his eyes, one after another.

"Prince Changqin offended the heavens and was banished to the mortal realm, forever stripped of his celestial status. After descending to the mortal world, he has few relatives and lovers, and his fate in every reincarnation is one of loneliness!"

The incessant thunder was so vast and majestic, so cold and ruthless, like a figure that once sat high on a divine throne, deciding fate with a single glance and life and death with a single word.

After that, Longyuan was destroyed, Penglai was ruined, and Wumeng Linggu was ravaged. All those associated with Prince Changqin were rejected by the Mandate of Heaven.

"Boom!"

The deafening thunder sounded like the roar of countless souls, like the endless wailing of struggling spirits.

Zhang Xiaofan slowly raised his eyes, gazing at the lonely, helpless figure beneath the rolling thunder, his gaze momentarily wavering. "Boom!"

Another clap of thunder sounded, and Zhang Xiaofan's eyes widened as he looked at the woman whose face was as white as paper, yet who still gripped her long sword tightly with a stubborn expression.

The next moment, a crimson light pierced the sky, and in a flash, Zhang Xiaofan had vanished.

"Rebel!"

Tian Buyi, who was sitting below the stage, suddenly stood up and cursed loudly. Even Dao Xuan Zhenren lost his composure and stood up from his chair, staring in shock at the crimson light under the dark clouds.

Suddenly, a figure barged into the spot where Lu Xueqi had been standing, a place imbued with the might of heaven and earth.

"boom!"

Just as Zhang Xiaofan appeared in front of Lu Xueqi, before he could make a move, a bolt of lightning struck him directly on the back.

"Humph!"

The terrifying divine power emanating from the Burning Sword caused Zhang Xiaofan to groan, and blood immediately spilled from his mouth.

Fortunately, Zhang Xiaofan had been tempering his body every night for the past five years with the power of the blood and qi in the Blood Devouring Bead, making his physical body extremely strong. Furthermore, because he was the spirit of the Burning Sword, he could have the Burning Sword share the power of the heavenly lightning, which was why he was able to withstand it.

Lu Xueqi stared in astonishment at the man who had forcefully broken in despite the power of the heavenly lightning, and for a moment she didn't know how to react.

Zhang Xiaofan didn't have time to pay much attention. He reached out with his left hand and grabbed Lu Xueqi, who was already swaying and only holding on by her will. He then took the Tianya Divine Sword from Lu Xueqi's hand with his right hand.

The moment Zhang Xiaofan got his hands on the divine sword, his expression changed. An even greater power of heaven and earth descended upon him. This was not only the power of heaven and earth triggered by the Divine Sword's Thunder Control Technique, but also the backlash caused by Zhang Xiaofan's forced change of the technique after seizing the sword.

The immense power of the heavens caused Zhang Xiaofan's arm to crack open almost the instant he obtained the Tianya Sword, and blood soaked through his clothes in the blink of an eye.

Then, Zhang Xiaofan seemed oblivious, simply gazing quietly at the thick black clouds in the sky, as if something was hidden deep within those clouds.

Before Lu Xueqi could react, the Tianya Sword was snatched away, and the pressure around her dissipated by more than half. Turning her head slightly, Lu Xueqi looked at those eyes that seemed to have experienced the vicissitudes of life, yet still sharp and piercing. She couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart and said softly.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you should go now."

Lu Xueqi already understood the current crisis. She had summoned the power of heavenly lightning, and it was a mistake she had made. She would not run away from it, and she did not want to implicate Zhang Xiaofan.

Zhang Xiaofan did not answer immediately, but looked down at Lu Xueqi, whose face was pale and looked somewhat weak, and suddenly chuckled.

"Senior Sister Lu, are you afraid of dying?"

Lu Xueqi stared intently at those eyes, which held a calm yet slightly crazed quality. She was mesmerized. When she came to her senses, she gently shook her head and responded softly.

"If our souls can reunite in the netherworld, I am willing to pay with my life!"

Zhang Xiaofan smiled lightly upon hearing this and remained silent, but Lu Xueqi saw a determined, unyielding, and arrogant expression in his eyes.

"Boom!"

A bolt of heavenly lightning suddenly descended. Zhang Xiaofan's eyes narrowed, and he raised Tianya in his right hand, holding it in front of him to meet the power of heaven and earth head-on.

A vast and mighty force surged into Zhang Xiaofan's body in an instant, and the energy of heaven and earth completely sealed off Zhang Xiaofan, who was trying to challenge the power of heaven and earth.

However, this was the moment Zhang Xiaofan had been waiting for. The instant the power of the heavenly thunder sealed off his aura, he almost instantly withdrew his left hand, which was holding Lu Xueqi. Using the last bit of strength he could muster, he struck Lu Xueqi with his palm, directly knocking her out of the space sealed off by the power of heaven and earth.

With a single palm strike, Lu Xueqi's figure plummeted from the sky. She was immediately startled, and as she watched the figure receding further and further away, a sense of fear rose in her eyes.

"boom!!"

The next moment, another bolt of lightning struck, quickly engulfing the proud and unyielding figure beneath the dark clouds, making Lu Xueqi's face turn even paler.

Master Shuiyue, who was below the stage, was the first to react. He made a hand seal, rose into the air, caught Lu Xueqi, and brought her back to the stage.

However, the other chiefs ignored him, all staring anxiously at the position below the sky until the sky-blue sword light reappeared, at which point they visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as you withstand the first strike of heavenly lightning, there shouldn't be any major problems, and you'll most likely be able to survive this divine punishment.

(End of this chapter)