Chapter 256 – The Startling Swan Banquet at Qian Court Peak (Ten)

Clang… Clatter-clang!

Following the metallic clashes, the intense scene was enough to make one’s courage shatter.

The sounds rose and fell like flashing blades and shadows clinging close; their lingering echoes carried the unresolved tensions of the martial world, waiting to strike.

Shang Bai, gripping his sword with one hand, abruptly leaped to the fourth floor.

His speed was like a fleeting goose leaving no trace, landing without a sound.

Ye Kuang closed in immediately, his five fingers splayed like the sharpest divine weapons, seemingly capable of destroying anything in their path.

At that moment, even a block of solid gold would have shattered upon impact.

But unexpectedly, a beam of sunlight refracted sharply from ahead, forcing him to narrow his eyes and revealing a momentary flaw!

As a seasoned expert in Dao Inquiry, how could Shang Bai let such an opportunity slip?

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

Instantly, the sword’s edge trembled continuously, filling the air with an aura of deadly intent.

It was Shang Bai turning and thrusting his sword straight forward!

“Despicable!” Ye Kuang couldn’t help but feel a chill run through his body, his hairs standing on end.

If he chose to retreat now, the outcome would be predictable.

In this critical moment, he pricked up his ears, his lobes twitching—his ability to discern positions through sound was unparalleled.

With a light flick of his finger, roars of tigers and dragons echoed by his ear.

Seeing his sword thrust fail, Shang Bai’s eyes turned inexplicably fierce. He swiftly switched his sword to his other hand and simultaneously slammed down a palm strike.

Only then did Ye Kuang widen his eyes in fury, forming a fist with his left hand and launching a Cannon Blast upward.

Whoosh—boom!

Both fist and palm were charged with immense force, meeting with a thunderous explosion mid-air.

Instantly, Ye Kuang was forced back by the impact, the ground cracking layer by layer under the surge of Vigorous Qi from his feet.

The entire Banquet Hall trembled and shook as if caught in a storm.

Meanwhile, Shang Bai used the force of the clash to leap upward, not only breaking through the dome but vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Only his words lingered in the hall: “If you have the skill, come up and fight!”

Hearing this, Ye Kuang burst into wild laughter: “Since you’re so eager for defeat, how could I not oblige?”

With that, he too shot upward.

Boom!

As the dome shattered open once more, the resounding noise drew countless gazes.

“Look, it’s that madman! You can’t judge by appearances—how is he still alive?”

“What is Senior Brother Shang Bai doing? Does he intend to continue the fight?”

“What do you women know? This is a battle between men—defying fate to determine victory, embodying our generation’s bold spirit and valor!”

“What did you just call us? Believe me, my sisters and I can make you surrender with just our spit!”

“Stop bickering! They’ve already started fighting again…”

Ye Kuang swept his arm like a claw, stirring up endless gales and waves, from which roars of dragons and tigers could be heard.

As he charged forward, several “wind dragons” seemed to roar forth from his flanks.

Shang Bai: “Petty tricks!”

Speaking, Shang Bai gripped his sword, exuding an aura ready to challenge the world.

With just a single swing!The once unstoppable wind dragon was instantly split in two, then transformed into countless small whirlwinds that shot upward, scattering in all directions.

Ye Kuang stepped forward, his claws resembling five-fingered divine hooks, appearing indestructible.

His speed arrived as silently as lightning.

Seeing this, the sword in Shang Bai’s hand seemed to gain sentience, swirling around in response to his opponent’s limb movements.

Screech! Screech!

Though the sword tip repeatedly scraped against the ten sharp claws, sending sparks flying everywhere, it couldn’t truly break through the other’s defense.

When Ye Kuang suddenly struck out with a palm, the raging True Qi sent the sword blade soaring upward, creating continuous waves of resonant humming.

Unexpectedly, the sword blade only hovered midair briefly before circling back to settle in Shang Bai’s palm.

Shang Bai then tapped the sword with his toe, transforming its edge into an arrow-like meteor tracing a perfect, lethal arc.

Witnessing this, Ye Kuang grew solemn and without hesitation, his palms suddenly drew a circular pattern as he brought his arms together in a defensive posture, clamping them firmly around the sword blade.

Hummm!

The crowd watched as the sword tip froze mere inches from Ye Kuang, seemingly immobilized, causing everyone to pale with shock.

“No wonder I was no match for that guy. How did he cultivate? He’s strong as a monster!”

“Exactly! Earlier I didn’t even see how he moved before being sent flying by his palm.”

“But I still believe Senior Brother Shang Bai will win. That’s the Dao Inquiry Realm after all. Even if that guy can fight evenly with our senior brother, he can’t bridge the gap between them and the Dao Inquiry.”

Despite their astonishment, none believed Ye Kuang could defeat a Dao Inquiry Realm expert.

Though the sword tip appeared only inches away, the actual distance might as well have been thousands of miles!

Shang Bai naturally understood this principle well, causing his expression to shift repeatedly.

His right-hand sword felt trapped in quicksand – unable to advance or retreat.

Realizing this, Shang Bai gathered True Qi in his left palm and struck the sword hilt with tremendous force.

Hummm!

The three-foot blade suddenly gained renewed power, divinely assisted, trembling violently as it began spinning spontaneously without any wind.

Seeing this, Ye Kuang’s eyes blazed with intensity!

“Heh haha… Break!”

Instantly, electric sparks ravaged the sword blade as if enduring unimaginable energy torture, suddenly trembling violently.

Boom!

Before everyone’s eyes, the sword suddenly emitted a dazzling golden light and exploded violently!

The intense air currents surged wildly like numerous wind dragons running amok, comparable to the energy released by a grenade.

In that moment, Shang Bai was caught off guard, struck by the explosive shockwave. He vomited blood as he was sent flying backward, landing dozens of yards away.

“Senior Brother Shang Bai!”

“How could this be! That was a divine weapon forged from refined iron! How could it be so fragile!”

“Has that guy’s cultivation reached Transcendence?”

“Shang Bai actually lost a move…” Senior Brother Xiao murmured to himself.