Chapter 241

Chapter 241: The Invisible Magical Weapon

A magical weapon could indeed take various forms, but it fundamentally required a tangible existence. The idea of a completely transparent or invisible magical weapon was impossible. Yet Lou Yun thoroughly scanned Helian Kuang from head to toe, seeing no trace of any magical weapon upon him — and this was while Helian Kuang was still in his Spirit Transformation state!

This implied another possibility: Helian Kuang’s magical weapon remained concealed within his body, not yet summoned.

The nine clans possessed innate energy barriers within their bodies. Outsiders, no matter how powerful their spiritual senses, could scarcely peer inside them. Lou Yun naturally couldn’t manage it either at the moment.

It was then that Helian Kuang finally struck. However, to Lou Yun’s surprise, the man was still raising his Ice Skin Sword.

Was he going to attack using a common weapon while still in Spirit Transformation?

Lou Yun had never encountered such a situation and truly couldn’t comprehend it. But since Helian Kuang clearly knew Lou Yun’s Celestial Fire was the bane of Ice Skin Sword and still insisted on using it, Helian Kuang had only himself to blame!

Lou Yun leveled his Dream Emperor Sword. This time, he made no attempt to conceal or hold back. Flames erupted directly from the blade, fixed unwaveringly on Helian Kuang. This was also Lou Yun’s final warning to him.

Helian Kuang, however, seemed utterly oblivious. He raised Ice Skin Sword high overhead, a beam of light gleaming along its blade.

Staring at Ice Skin Sword, Lou Yun suddenly felt something was off. The blade had returned to its smooth, mirror-like finish — the black scorch marks left by the Fusang Fire after two successive burns were completely gone!

How was that possible?

Ice Skin Sword was a common weapon, not magical. If a magical weapon was stained, channeling spiritual energy could instantly cleanse the filth, but a common weapon required complete re-forging in a furnace to heal damage incurred under normal circumstances. It could not spontaneously erase wounds like this.

Lou Yun looked more closely. The Ice Skin Sword in Helian Kuang’s grasp was different from before. The blade seemed several centimeters longer, and narrower; the edge itself was now thin as a strand of hair.

Before Lou Yun could puzzle this out, Chang Xiang’s urgent warning sliced through his thoughts: “Careful! Dodge!”

Chang Xiang’s voice rang out just as Helian Kuang brought Ice Skin Sword slashing viciously down!

High-level Rank Technique — Frozen Spiral’s Frozen Blast!

BOOM!

A deafening explosion. Lou Yun’s vision blurred. A massive shadow abruptly materialized before him, crashing towards him. Shocked, he desperately threw himself backward — but he was half a beat too slow. A violent force slammed into him. Excruciating pain exploded in his chest, and an intense cold instantly engulfed his body. Thunderstorm Fire and Fusang Fire surged simultaneously, instantly driving back the frigid invasion. Yet, in that moment, his clothes shredded to fragments, scattering into the air.

Lou Yun had pushed his movement technique to the extreme in that sliver of time. As a result, he hadn’t taken the full brunt of the phantom blow, only its glancing edge. Still, even this left him slightly injured. He retreated far back, staring at Helian Kuang with undisguised shock.

‘What kind of technique was that? Clearly ice-based again. And it couldn’t possibly have come from his common weapon, Ice Skin Sword. No common weapon could unleash that kind of power. It must be his magical weapon, powered by Spirit Transformation. But where is it? Why haven’t I seen it?!’ Lou Yun’s mind raced.

“Stop looking. His magical weapon appeared long ago!” Chang Xiang’s voice spoke again, this time laced with an unusual gravity.

“Where?” Lou Yun asked, frustration bubbling up. He’d even gotten half his clothes blasted off, yet he still hadn’t found his opponent’s magical weapon! This was utterly humiliating!

“I told you,” Chang Xiang said, “the true path of cultivation lies in practicing both magical and ordinary skills. Its highest pinnacle is ‘Spirit and Common as One’. Remember?”

Lou Yun nodded quickly. “Brother Chang, this isn’t the time for lectures! Just tell me where his magical—”

He abruptly stopped speaking. Silence stretched for a few seconds before his own voice, hushed with dawning realization, finished the thought: “Spirit and Common as One… Could it be… his magical weapon and common weapon have merged together?”

“Exactly. But it’s not quite that they are merged. It’s more accurate to say they are in the process of fusion. Helian Kuang’s level is likely roughly Earth-level, which ordinarily shouldn’t allow for merging weapons. But perhaps because of his obsession with swords, he started attempting it long ago. One must admit, though not fully successful yet, he qualifies as a genius.”

Chang Xiang paused. “Frankly, I can’t tell if he’s hiding the magical weapon within his common one, or vice-versa. But what he’s holding now is definitely no longer the earlier Ice Skin Sword, nor is it purely a magical weapon. Bottom line: as you are right now, you are not his match!”

‘Not his match?’

The thought barely formed when Helian Kuang opposite him raised his weapon again. This time, it wasn’t pointed skyward. He gripped the hilt with both hands, holding the sword sideways, its tip directed at Lou Yun. “Well done, Lou Yun,” Helian Kuang said, a chilling cadence to his words. “Your speed is impressive. You narrowly escaped my Frozen Blast just now. Now, try this one!”

As his last syllable fell, his hands abruptly separated — and the sword in his grasp split simultaneously into two identical blades!

One blade now rested in each of Helian Kuang’s hands. They were perfect mirrors of one another, sharing identical shapes and exact widths. Neither blade bore any trace of the Fusang Fire’s previous scorch marks.

Lou Yun was dumbfounded. If Helian Kuang’s spirit and common weapons had fused, how could they still split apart? And even if they could split, shouldn’t it resolve into one magical weapon and one common weapon? Yet staring at the two swords in Helian Kuang’s hands, Lou Yun couldn’t distinguish which was magical and which was common!

“Don’t bother guessing,” Chang Xiang interjected. “If they’ve already fused as spirit and common, then even separating into two blades, each would still be a fusion of both. I suspect this is the manifestation of Helian Kuang’s magical weapon after Spirit Transformation! Draw Xiang Tian Sword!”

“Right!” Without further questions or hesitation this time, Lou Yun obeyed Chang Xiang. A glint of determined fire flashed in his eyes. He swiftly drew Xiang Tian Sword and, in the same fluid motion, retracted Dream Emperor Sword back into his body.

Seeing Lou Yun discard his magical weapon and switch to a common one, Helian Kuang’s eyes widened slightly in perplexity. But his gaze lingered on Xiang Tian Sword, recognition sparking with surprise!

Helian Kuang was indeed obsessed with swords. Though not a skilled weapon maker himself, he had diligently studied common weapons. He instantly recognized Xiang Tian Sword as a masterpiece – its bizarre shape yet deceptively simplistic design, the whole blade seeming forged by nature itself, untouched by external force.

A predatory grin stretched across Helian Kuang’s face. “Lou Yun!” he roared with laughter. “Final move! I shall end you!”

“Bring it on!” Lou Yun shot back with a fierce grin of his own. Every ounce of his spiritual energy surged and coalesced throughout his body, priming him for Helian Kuang’s culminating assault.

Helian Kuang’s smile vanished instantly. Both swords in his hands whipped through the air. Sword energy crackled. Sword winds whistled. As the blades flashed, radiant light blazed across them, and in their wake, intricate, glyph-like patterns materialized in the air.

Kun-level weapon technique — Dragon and Phoenix Double Kill!

Helian Kuang’s earlier sword motions weren’t mere flourish for show; they had been weaving heavenly and earthly marks. Utilizing a Kun-level weapon technique involved channeling the heavens and earth’s energy; seals were necessary. Only his method was uniquely unconventional — using swords instead of fingers!

Crystal clear dragon roars and phoenix cries resonated from the dual swords. As Helian Kuang unleashed his move, a gleaming silver dragon and a radiant silver phoenix manifested tangibly from the sword paths, coiling together as they hurtled towards Lou Yun.

Standing at a distance, Lou Yun faced the dragon and phoenix approaching with unnerving, tranquil grace. His body felt frozen, incapable of movement. He understood: the Kun-level technique’s inherent heaven-and-earth energy locked firmly onto his position. Escape was impossible. His sole option was to confront it head-on!

Resigned to meet the onslaught, Lou Yun poured every shred of his spiritual energy directly into Xiang Tian Sword, diverting all his gathered might.

The sheer quantity of Lou Yun’s spiritual energy was staggering. A silver radiance slowly ignited around Xiang Tian Sword. The blade trembled slightly, issuing its own resonant hum!

The sword’s hum intertwined with the dragon’s roar and phoenix’s cry, weaving a layered chorus of impending violence!

The hearts of every onlooker practically leaped into their throats. Winning or losing mattered little now. The true spectacle lay in witnessing the formidable confrontation at full strength — Helian Kuang versus Lou Yun!

As the dragon and phoenix drew perilously close, Xiang Tian Sword gradually stilled. Yet its hum only grew louder, sharper, a piercing cry soaring with absolute defiance – a soldier raising his spear, ready for a desperate, final charge.

But at that instant – the precipice of collision – a frantic voice pierced the tense air from far away:

“HALT! I owe Lou Yun my life! NO ONE kills him!”

The words struck the ears of every person present. Dull shock registered across faces, deepest astonishment etched on Lou Yun and Helian Kuang themselves!

Locked in their world-shattering collision, neither could even glance towards the source of the voice. Every shred of focus clung to maintaining their stance, their killing intent poised to detonate.

Finally, the dragon and phoenix reached Lou Yun. Sucking in a deep, anchoring breath, Lou Yun slowly, deliberately, thrust Xiang Tian Sword forward.

Yet—

Suddenly—

A figure streaked through the air, materializing with impossible speed directly between the two combatants!

Blocking both!

Before this reckless figure billowed the fury of a silver dragon and phoenix! Behind them thrust Lou Yun’s Xiang Tian Sword!

Neither Lou Yun nor Helian Kuang had remotely fathomed this. At this pivotal moment, in the heart of their unleashed final blows, someone dared fling themselves between them!

It was utter, suicidal madness!