Chapter 448: Wait and See
"Strike!"
Gu Muyun made her move. She tossed the Profound Ice Giant Sword into the air, and the fairy-like figure behind her indifferently reached out a pristine, jade-white hand to catch it.
Then, the Nine Heavens Fairy, exuding a holy and ethereal aura, flipped upside down and dove. As she descended, the winds howled and the clouds churned, the very sky seeming to roil in her wake.
All the icicles falling from the sky began to float, slowly gathering around the Nine Heavens Fairy and spinning into an ice storm that blotted out the heavens as it swept downward.
Faced with such a monumental attack, Du Qingshu and Shi Ba, who were watching from a distance on the ground, felt as if a colossal mountain was pressing down on them before the blow even landed. A chill that pierced their marrow and seemed capable of freezing their very souls washed over them.
The two of them froze for a moment before scrambling back a great distance. Only after they were outside Gu Muyun's attack range could they finally catch their breath, gasping for air.
High above, the sect disciples watching from the floating rocks also stared with wide eyes.
"Th-this is Divine Power!"
"Gu Muyun actually comprehended Divine Power—something only those in the Refining Dust Realm should be able to master—while only at the Earth Profound Realm!"
"H-has anyone in our Cyan Nether Sword Sect ever done this before?"
"Fairy Muyun truly is the Sword Sect's genius of the century!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
Even the Yingzhou Elder couldn't help but reveal a proud expression.
But on the ground, Jun Wushuang's face was impassive, betraying no emotion as he faced Gu Muyun's Divine Technique.
He made his move, a cool smile touching his lips. "A little interesting."
Then, Jun Wushuang swiped a hand across his waist, and a deep, blackish-red Treasure Sword suddenly appeared in his grasp.
Jun Wushuang had finally drawn his Lifebound Magical Artifact, the Divine Sun Sword.
And that was just the beginning.
Jun Wushuang raised the Divine Sun Sword and swung it through the air, creating a series of flourishes before abruptly tossing it skyward in a spin.
"Divine Sun Flame, Great Sun Overhead!"
Jun Wushuang suddenly thrust out a palm, striking the Divine Sun Sword.
WHOOSH! The Divine Sun Sword shot out like a streak of light. Its brilliance intensified as a surging, scorching power erupted from it. Tendrils of red-hot heatwaves billowed from the blade, and the extreme temperature began to distort the surrounding space.
Instantly.
VMMMM!
A fiery red sun swelled into existence with the Divine Sun Sword at its core. A Great Sun slowly rose from the desolate sands, creating the illusion of two suns hanging in the sky.
PFFFT!
From this newly risen, fiery Great Sun, tendrils of flame continuously shot out, resembling solar prominences.
Suddenly.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
...
A series of explosive reports echoed.
The sky-filling icicles struck the Great Sun like a rain of swords, only to instantly melt and evaporate into wisps of steam, vanishing completely.
BOOM!
The Profound Ice Giant Sword slammed into it and also began to melt, devoured bit by bit by the Great Sun.
As for the Nine Heavens Fairy, her radiance had already dimmed before she even got close to the Great Sun.
Then, with a SWISH, she plunged into the Great Sun, never to be heard from again. She was completely swallowed by it, not even making a ripple.
But the Great Sun Overhead showed no signs of stopping; it just kept growing larger.
Jun Wushuang pointed a finger upward, and the Great Sun Overhead suddenly shot out, hurtling toward Gu Muyun.
BANG!
Sparks flew and brilliant light flared as the entire sky seemed to explode.
"Argh!"
A woman's wretched scream followed. Gu Muyun's massive Golden Body Dharma Aspect shattered, and a moment later, a small figure was sent flying backward like an arrow.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
She smashed through several sand dunes in a row, carving a trench dozens of zhang long across the ground.
THUD!
Gu Muyun finally came to a stop, having slammed into the ground so hard she was half-buried.
*Hiss!*
The spectating disciples in the sky couldn't help but gasp, their eyes wide with shock.
"*Hiss*! I-is this Jun Wushuang's true power?"
"One move! Jun Wushuang defeated Gu Muyun in a single move!"
"Jun Wushuang's strength is terrifying, isn't it?"
"The key is, it doesn't even look like he used his full strength!"
"Looks like the position of Pengze Immortal Island's Island Master belongs to Jun Wushuang and no one else!"
The crowd was in an uproar once more.
"Hehehehe!"
Watching from the Martial Arts Arena in Pengze Hall, the Fusang Elder couldn't help but laugh, a grin splitting his face. "Hehehehe, it looks like I've won this time. The position of Pengze Immortal Island's Island Master can only belong to my Wushuang."
Meanwhile, the nearby Yingzhou Elder, Elder Tan Yuan, and Elder Pengze all wore ugly expressions as they looked at the miserable state of their own disciples.
Grand Elder Wang Guyuan's expression was calm. He frowned slightly as he looked down at Gu Muyun, who had been smashed deep into a crater below the clouds, but he said nothing.
"Hehehehe, with all the disciples of the younger generation gathered here, it's certainly a lively event today!"
Suddenly, a deep voice rang out.
Grand Elder Wang Guyuan looked up to see a tall, stern-faced middle-aged man slowly walking out.
Grand Elder Wang Guyuan immediately started to laugh. "Hehehehe, Vice Island Master Han, Fusang Island is a busy place. What brings you here to watch the battles today?"
The stern-faced middle-aged man smiled slightly. "Hehehehe," he said calmly, "this competition is of great importance, as it concerns the position of an Immortal Island's Island Master. Naturally, I had to come take a look. Besides, my Fusang Island Master's most beloved disciple, Jun Wushuang, is also a participant."
As he spoke, Vice Island Master Han gave Grand Elder Wang Guyuan a meaningful look. "Hehehehe, Grand Elder Gu, what fine spirits you're in. I hear you've made a wager this time, even staking your own Lifebound Magical Artifact?"
Grand Elder Wang Guyuan smiled faintly. "Indeed!"
A corner of Vice Island Master Han's mouth suddenly lifted. "Hehehehe, good, very good. In that case, I'll add a little something to the prize pool. How could we let our Grand Elder Gu take a loss? I'll also stake my Lifebound Magical Artifact—on Jun Wushuang's victory!"
With that, Vice Island Master Han flicked his sleeve, and a sharp, profound, silver-white longsword appeared in his hand. It shimmered with an iridescent light and gleamed with a golden radiance, clearly an extraordinary treasure at a single glance.
At this, Grand Elder Wang Guyuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Vice Island Master Han glanced down below the clouds and, his mood soaring, began to laugh heartily. "Hehehehe, it seems the outcome is set. Our Jun Wushuang is guaranteed to win. Hehehehe, Grand Elder Gu, it's not too late for you to back out, you know?"
But Grand Elder Wang Guyuan just shook his head. "Until the very end, nothing is certain!"
Vice Island Master Han seemed a little surprised, then gave the scene below the clouds another meaningful look. "Fine, fine, fine. Then let's wait and see."