Chapter Thirty-Four: Becoming the Sword to Command the Netherworld

After a moment of contemplation, the so-called Bai Mu began to speak again.

"Xuan Yuan, we’re both sensible men, so let’s not waste time beating around the bush. If you have the courage, let you and me wager on a duel—let martial skill decide the outcome. What do you say?"

"Let martial skill decide the outcome?"

Xuan Yuan couldn’t help but let the corner of his mouth curl up, a helpless smile on his face. "You mean we fight again?"

"Precisely. If your final strike manages to defeat me—"

"Oh no!"

At this point, Bai Mu hurriedly waved his hand, his tone laced with disdain. "You don’t need to defeat me. If you can force me to retreat by half a step, you win the wager. How does that sound?"

"And if I happen to win, what benefit is there for me?" Xuan Yuan’s gaze was shrewd and unwavering, as though he had seen through Bai Mu’s intentions from the start.

Under Xuan Yuan’s intense scrutiny, Bai Mu remained calm, smiling with ease. "If you win, not only will I let you go as promised, I’ll personally give you elixirs to heal your wounds."

"But if I lose—"

"Then I must serve you as a slave all my life, obey your commands. Isn’t that right?" Xuan Yuan asked bluntly.

"Quite right, quite right..." Bai Mu was momentarily taken aback, then spoke with admiration. "Truly worthy of the famed Sword Immortal Xuan Yuan! The old are always shrewder, and you saw through my Netherworld—"

He suddenly stopped, embarrassment flooding his face, clearly realizing he had let something slip.

"Heh." Xuan Yuan let out a weak, cold laugh, looking at Bai Mu with pointed meaning. "No need to conceal it any longer. From the moment you appeared, I knew you were a fraud. Since we've agreed to this wager, would you accept an additional condition?"

"What condition? Speak freely!"

Having his impostor identity exposed, the fake Bai Mu looked somewhat uneasy, but his habitual composure kept him from losing his temper. He answered, feigning calm.

"Simple!" Xuan Yuan braced himself against the peach tree behind him, struggling to stand upright. Without hesitation, he said, "No matter who wins or loses, you must reveal your true face to me. Otherwise, I would rather die than fight you!"

The fake Bai Mu immediately sank into deep thought, his mind clearly warring within. After a dozen seconds or so, he finally responded with an overly magnanimous voice, "Agreed. After the duel, you will be my servant, and my identity will no longer need concealment. Are you ready?"

"No problem!" Xuan Yuan managed a faint smile, slowly gathering all his remaining strength into the center of his palms. Then he began to chant:

"Secret of the Black Armor, soul of true spirit—I, in flesh, become the great sword. Strike above at the immortals, slay below the demons and fiends. Go!"

As soon as the incantation ended, Xuan Yuan, who had just been unsteady on his feet, straightened his waist, raised both hands sharply above his head, and kicked forcefully at the peach tree behind him. His entire body shot forward like an arrow loosed from the bow, heading straight for the impostor eight meters ahead.

From the moment he began the incantation to his attack, only a few seconds had passed. His movements were fluid as water. As he surged forward, his body in midair suddenly burst forth with golden light, and, astonishingly, transformed at visible speed into a massive red greatsword!

The sword’s blade shimmered with crimson light, like fresh blood, radiant and bizarre beneath the sun.

No one expected Xuan Yuan to possess such a move—turning his own body into a sword—truly worthy of the title Sword Immortal!

Yet Bai Mu, the impostor, was no easy prey. From the moment he accepted the duel, he had clearly felt confident.

So as Xuan Yuan began chanting, Bai Mu did not hesitate. He formed a sword seal with his hand, pointed diagonally to the ancient jade at his waist, and muttered:

"Spirit Jade, soul of ages—defend me, aid my barrier!"

As the impostor finished chanting, the translucent jade at his waist suddenly burst forth with a white radiance. The light enveloped him, forming a dazzling barrier.

Had Xiujie or Wushang been present, they would have been shocked. The barrier Bai Mu conjured was identical to the one Wind Child Jin had manifested the previous night—the jade at his waist was exactly the same!

But today, Bai Mu’s barrier was at least ten times more potent than Wind Child Jin’s yesterday—perhaps even more so!

If Wind Child Jin’s barrier had been airtight in defense, then Bai Mu’s today was a textbook example of divine-level mastery.

Once the barrier fully enveloped him, Bai Mu gave his feather fan a light wave, positioning it neatly across his chest for defense.

As preparations finished, the red greatsword that Xuan Yuan had become streaked toward the barrier at lightning speed, its arrival accompanied by a crisp whistle as it struck the shield with force.

Bang—

A series of thunderous explosions erupted where sword tip and barrier met, louder than any tsunami or the collapse of heaven and earth.

Xuan Yuan’s ultimate move, unleashed in his dying struggle, was powerful beyond measure. Especially when faced with mortal peril, the potential summoned from within was several times greater than usual.

Despite the vast disparity in cultivation between the two, as the sword tip pierced the barrier, it pressed inward by over three inches before the shield’s power finally halted its advance.

From the continual trembling of the blade, it was clear Xuan Yuan still had strength left—now it was a matter of who could hold out until the end.

Hmph!

Bai Mu glanced contemptuously at the crimson blade hovering before his chest, muttering, "Xuan Yuan truly has skill—this move surpasses even the pinnacle of second-rate sword immortals. If I could claim him, he’d make an outstanding hound!"

With that, Bai Mu’s expression turned solemn. He unfurled his feather fan and swept it toward the red greatsword.

Ancient energy surged from the fan as it moved, a chilling gust rushing toward the sword with overwhelming force.

At this moment, the sword tip was less than two inches from Bai Mu’s chest. Another inch forward, and it would pierce through him—exterminating this murderous fiend.

Yet, the vast gulf in strength ultimately denied Xuan Yuan the chance to rid the world of evil.