Sword of Immortal Annihilation

The Duel Arranged

The black-haired youth stood with sword in hand, his expression cold and determined, his face resolute.

The three-foot-long blade in his hand shimmered with a cold, silvery light.

Hearing his response, Yunhua True Person standing opposite him immediately showed a look of surprise. He hadn't expected him to actually agree.

**Before the Jade Purity Hall, far from the Tai Chi Plaza**

A flash of astonishment also passed through Immortal Lord Yueci's eyes, followed by a frown as he reprimanded, "*This is absurd!*"

He looked at Chu Ran and Yunhua ahead, his expression rather unpleasant.

*Yunhua having an obsessive fit is one thing, but why is this youth following suit in foolishness!* How dare he, with his mere Qi Refinement cultivation, engage in a match with a Golden Core cultivator? Even if Yunhua suppressed his cultivation, he was still far superior!

*This youth is either too arrogant or too foolish.* Judging by his previous behavior, it must be the former.

Immortal Lord Yueci's gaze at Chu Ran carried a touch of displeasure. Although this youth's talent was extraordinary and his courage commendable, he was perhaps too self-righteous and looked down on everyone.

*Excessive pride is simply stupidity!*

Immortal Lord Yueci was inherently steady and prudent in his actions, disliking risks. In his eyes, Chu Ran's act of challenging a stronger opponent was reckless and foolish.

In contrast, Immortal Lord Changhe, sitting silently beside him, stared at Chu Ran ahead, brilliant lights flickering in his eyes.

As if seeing a precious treasure or fine jade, a look of fondness appeared on his face.

Chu Ran had readily accepted Yunhua True Person's challenge. But now that the moment had come, Yunhua True Person was the one who hesitated.

He raised his head, his gaze falling on the black-haired youth before him.

He saw his dark robe was mostly damaged, the hem of the lower half torn off, the trouser legs also gone, revealing two sections of jade-white calves. His hair bun was also undone, the hairpin that had tied it lost at some point. Jet-black, smooth hair cascaded down to his waist, making his fair cheeks appear even more delicate.

The youth's face was no larger than his palm, beautifully elegant, with exquisitely refined features. His pale lips were tinged with a faint pink, like peach blossoms about to fall from a branch in late spring. Carrying the dazzling vitality of spring, yet also a bone-piercing coldness.

For a moment, Yunhua True Person was almost captivated by the beauty of the youth before him. But meeting his cold gaze jolted him awake, like falling into a spring lake covered with thin ice—a chill shot up from the depths of his heart.

Immediately, a sense of shame flashed through his mind. *How could I look at him with such weak, profane thoughts?*

*This youth is not a woman.*

*He is extraordinarily courageous. Though young, he is a true man!*

Ashamed of his momentary lapse, Yunhua True Person adopted an even more proper attitude towards Chu Ran.

He raised his eyes, looked at him, his expression stern, and said in a heavy voice, "Have you decided? Though I will suppress my cultivation, fighting you at the same level, my realm is still far above yours. This is not a fair match."

Hearing this, Chu Ran's impression of him improved a bit more.

*This seems like an honest, straightforward person, laying everything out openly—neither forcing others into difficulty nor trying to take advantage.* Worthy of being a Golden Core True Person of my Shangqing Sect. A sense of pride spontaneously arose in Chu Ran's heart.

Although any sect had many disciples, good and bad mixed, inevitably with some black sheep, overall, the Shangqing Sect's discipline was clear and strict. Disciples mostly restrained themselves, behaved properly; the majority were upright individuals.

↑ *This sense of sect honor... Who would have thought Chu Ran held such fervent respect and love for the Shangqing Sect?*

"No need." Chu Ran looked up at Yunhua True Person, his tone light and casual. "It's merely an exchange of sword techniques. Fairness or unfairness is irrelevant."

Hearing this, Yunhua True Person's mind was instantly enlightened, as if clouds had parted to reveal the blue sky.

*Right, this is just a sword technique exchange. He merely wanted to test this youth's sword skills, assess him, and then perhaps conveniently accept a disciple on behalf of his master...*

*That's all. Simple.*

Yunhua True Person inwardly sighed in relief. The heavy sense of guilt and shame for bullying the weak that had weighed on his heart since earlier instantly dissipated.

Seeing his relieved expression from afar, the corner of Immortal Lord Yueci's mouth twitched. He was speechless.

*So you knew it was improper and felt guilty?*

*Knowing that, you still bully a child!*

**Vast Plaza, Jade-White and Boundless.**

**Tai Chi and the Two Forms, Yin, Yang, and the Four Symbols.**

With a few light, casual words, Chu Ran defined this confrontation as an exchange, dispelling the guilt in Yunhua Daoist's heart.

Freed from this burden, Yunhua Daoist immediately swept away the hesitation on his face. His handsome features turned stern and solemn.

He drew the long sword from his hand. Sword light flashed, bright as light, like the sun in the sky.

A powerful sword aura instantly rushed towards Chu Ran.

A somewhat solemn look appeared on his face. This sword aura was pure and strong, vast and boundless. *It seems this Senior Brother from Zixia Peak has considerable achievements on the sword path, even though he's a Daoist cultivator...*

Chu Ran just couldn't understand. *Why would a disciple of the Mystic Gate, practicing orthodox Daoist heart techniques, forsake perfectly good spells to study the sword path instead? Must have a screw loose!*

Daoist cultivators practiced Daoist heart techniques, cultivated their Primordial Spirit, clarified their Dao Heart, perceived their True Self.

Sword cultivators used the sword to carry the Dao, cultivated sword aura, refined their Sword Heart, and achieved the Sword Path.

They were completely two different paths. The difference might not be obvious in the early stages, but the divergence grew larger later on.

*For a Daoist cultivator not to cultivate the heart, perceive his nature, and comprehend his True Self, but instead practice the sword path... something's wrong!*

But... *for a Daoist cultivator to cultivate such pure, powerful sword aura is also extraordinary.*

Chu Ran looked at Yunhua True Person standing before him with sword in hand, a solemn expression on his face, and felt a touch of respect. *It seems he has put in serious effort on his sword path; otherwise, he wouldn't have such pure sword aura.*

But... *he still didn't understand why he chose to practice the sword path!*

Yunhua remained completely unaware of his inner turmoil and mental collapse. Pointing his sword at Chu Ran, his brows cold, he said solemnly, "My sword is named 'Daybreaker.' When Daybreaker hangs in the sky, it drives away evil spirits and demons, exterminates heretics and wicked ways."

Hearing this, Chu Ran also pushed aside his random thoughts, adopting an equally solemn expression. His voice clear and crisp, he replied, "My sword is named 'Seal Thunder'... um, it can seal thunder."

*Damn it!*

Chu Ran inwardly cursed. *Why did no one tell him that before a fight, you also had to show off and introduce your sword!*

*Ancient people really knew how to play!*

"..." Immortal Lord Yueci watching from afar.

"..." Immortal Lord Changhe.

"..." The disciples behind them all had distorted faces.

↑ Their inner thoughts: four words—*damn it, two idiots!*

*It's six—idiots!*

**Biyou Palace**

The Shangqing Heavenly Venerable, with a cinnabar sword mark between his brows and clad in profound black robes, watched the youth in the Void Mirror. Hearing the youth's clear, melodious voice, he couldn't help but let out a "*pfft*" laugh.

His exquisitely handsome face instantly bloomed like a peony—magnificent, peerlessly beautiful, extraordinarily dazzling.

He raised his eyes. His deep eyes, like a starry night sky, sparkled with amusement, his lips also curving as he watched the youth in the mirror.

His heart was filled with delight, like a jade bowl filled to the brim, overflowing drop by drop.

A Dao Heart that had been dormant and indifferent for many years suddenly throbbed with vivid life.

*Desire, thus was born.*

Hearing Chu Ran's introduction of his life-bound sword, even someone as composed and dignified as Yunhua Daoist had a momentary look of bewilderment flash across his face.

Then, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

He didn't start the fight either, just stood there... motionless.

"..." Chu Ran.

*Huh?*

*What's he doing?*

*Could it be there's another procedure not followed?*

# *The "Ancient People Really Know How to Play" Series*

*Even fighting is so troublesome!*

To be honest, Chu Ran was quite interested in how cultivators from ten thousand years ago fought... *ahem*, engaged in duels and exchanges.

Cultivators from his time, ten thousand years later, fought rather monotonously. It was just you saying something harsh, me saying something back. Before the fight, a war of words. See whose tongue was sharper, strive for "a gentleman uses his words, not his hands," trying to anger the opponent to death verbally and win without fighting!

Having never fought with a cultivator from ten thousand years ago, Chu Ran stood there full of curiosity, watching Yunhua True Person, wondering what else he had in store.

↑ Thus, in the eyes of the watching Immortal Lords Yueci, Changhe, and others from afar, these two just stood there motionless, staring at each other.

The group was instantly dumbfounded. *Damn!*

*Are you going to fight or not!*

*Even watching a fight is exhausting.*

After a long moment.

Yunhua True Person said to Chu Ran with a serious expression, "'Seal Thunder Sword'—it seals the Nine Heavens' divine thunder, shatters all laws and tribulations!"

Then he asked Chu Ran, "*What do you think?*"

"..." Immortal Lord Yueci.

"..." Immortal Lord Changhe.

"..." The disciples behind them.

*I... I curse your ancestors, Yunhua!*

*You spent all this time just thinking about that!*

A group of immortals and their disciples instantly felt like killing someone, their faces collectively turning green.

In contrast, Chu Ran wore an earnest expression, lowering his head in thought.

Then he looked up, clapped his hands, and laughed, saying to Yunhua True Person, "*Excellent! Cultured and insightful.*"

Receiving approval, Yunhua True Person immediately showed a smile, thoroughly pleased.

Being happy made him speak more casually.

Yunhua True Person, with a smile on his face, said to Chu Ran in a light, cheerful tone, "*From now on, you should use this.*"

Chu Ran nodded upon hearing this and said, "*Mhm, okay.*"

Then, he said gratefully to Yunhua True Person, "*Thank you. I've troubled you to put in the effort.*"

Yunhua True Person waved his hand at him, looking unconcerned as he said, "*It was just a trivial effort. No need to be polite.*"

"*How did you come up with it?*" Chu Ran asked with great interest, engaging in conversation. "*Did you also name your 'Daybreaker' sword?*"

"*Indeed...*" Mentioning his own sword, Yunhua True Person's face became enthusiastic. He began introducing the origin of his sword to Chu Ran, the origin of the sword's name, the origin of the sword's introduction...

And then—

The two launched into an enthusiastic, in-depth discussion.

"..." Immortal Lord Yueci watching this scene from afar.

"..." Immortal Lord Changhe.

"..." And their disciples.

*Holy crap!?*

*What the hell kind of divine development is this?*

*What about the promised fight?*

*Are you guys going to fight or not, damn it!*

**Biyou Palace**

The Shangqing Heavenly Venerable watched the youth in the mirror enthusiastically exchanging and discussing sword-naming experiences with Yunhua True Person, the smile on his lips stiffening.

At this moment, the Heavenly Venerable's heart was practically collapsing.

*This is the youth I set my sights on...*

*This damn youth I set my sights on.*

↑ The Heavenly Venerable felt he needed to calm down a bit.