Volume 5 Chapter 103
by Need_More_SleepVolume 5 + Chapter 103: Graduation
Yue Liu’s swordsmanship had been taught by the fox clan’s great swordmaster, Bai Yang, in terms of status, the two were master and disciple.
In the past, Bai Yang had gone to investigate unrest within Fox Hill and vanished without a trace. When he reappeared, he had already been controlled by the White Night Cult, reduced to a pawn in their hands.
“Master!”
Yue Liu could clearly see that within Bai Yang’s pupils, there were peach blossom imprints.
This was the mark of an illusion cast by Bai Lian through the Fox God’s Eyes, a sign of control.
Previously, Bai Lian’s realm had been higher than Yue Liu’s, and with the complete awakening of the Fox God’s Eyes, Yue Liu had been utterly powerless to counter it.
But now, Yue Liu had awakened the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Fox God and possessed the fully realized Fox God’s Eyes, she could now deal with such a situation.
“Master, you are currently under the illusion cast by Bai Lian using the Fox God’s Eyes, serving the White Night Cult. I have obtained the Fox God’s power, I can dispel your illusion and restore your clarity.”
Yue Liu gazed into Bai Yang’s eyes and activated the Fox God’s Eyes.
“Dispel, illusion!”
“…”
“This should have worked, ”
Before Yue Liu could finish speaking, a flash of white light cut through the air, and a lock of her pink hair drifted down.
This was…
Bai Yang had drawn his weapon.
“That’s not right!”
Yue Liu took a step back, her face filled with disbelief.
The illusion on Bai Yang should have been removable, so why had he not awakened, and instead launched an attack against her?
“Draw your weapon, Yue Liu,” Bai Yang said coldly.
“…!”
Yue Liu looked at her master, shock written across her face.
Gradually, she realized something.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t dispel the illusion, Bai Yang was resisting its removal.
“Master, why?” Yue Liu voiced the question in her heart. “Why are you resisting me?”
“Yue Liu, you are the disciple I am most proud of. Long ago, I believed that one day you would graduate and inherit the title of swordmaster. I have often wondered how I should test you on that day…”
Bai Yang’s blade reflected the pink light of Yue Liu’s eyes.
“But I also came to realize something, I value you too much. Because of that, I could never bring myself to be truly ruthless with you, nor could I display my full strength. My soft heart prevented me from using many techniques upon you. For a swordmaster, that is a sorrowful limitation.”
Yue Liu understood this.
Her master, Bai Yang, was a trusted subordinate directly under her father, often carrying out extremely dangerous missions…
Such as assassination.
He had honed himself through slaughter, mastering numerous forbidden techniques designed to take lives.
Only in battles of life and death, where he devoted himself completely, could Bai Yang unleash his full strength.
Yet because of his identity and position, he could never use such techniques against Yue Liu.
Thus, in their final trial of graduation, he could only fight with incomplete swordsmanship.
“Yue Liu, you have already grown immensely strong. I have nothing left to teach you. Therefore, I do not wish to hold back, I want to fight you with everything I have.”
Bai Yang’s gaze was cold, utterly different from before.
“Only in this state can I cast aside all restraints and test you with the sword I have honed over a lifetime, this is your final lesson.”
“So this is what you intended, Master…”
Yue Liu closed her eyes.
For a brief moment, she recalled the past.
On the very first day she became his disciple, she had boldly declared that one day she would completely surpass her master and become the fox clan’s great swordmaster.
Perhaps today was the day to fulfill those words.
She had also heard that in many ancient schools of swordsmanship, a disciple must kill their master in order to graduate.
Perhaps such tales were not merely legends, but truths that once existed.
“Master, I have felt your resolve. I understand your fighting spirit. Then let me challenge you, for the title of swordmaster!”
Yue Liu summoned Sakura Moon and grasped it firmly in her hand.
Bai Yang released his killing intent completely, surging like a tidal wave that engulfed Yue Liu.
A flash of sword light burst forth, his blade, drawn at lightning speed, transformed into a crescent of deadly steel, cutting toward Yue Liu’s heart with lethal precision.
“Secret Sword Art, Crescent Slash!”
Yue Liu’s eyes widened as she entered a state of absolute focus. Her mind and blade became one, without unnecessary thought, she raised her sword and blocked the first strike.
Clang!
Their gazes met, and no more words were needed. At this point, only pure swordsmanship remained.
Bai Yang launched a relentless storm of attacks, wave after wave without pause.
Each strike was a different technique, giving Yue Liu not even a moment to breathe.
The slightest opening would be seized, and it would mean death.
The chaotic flashes of blades formed a domain of death, none of the fox clan dared approach. Even coming close would cost them their lives, this was a battle beyond interference.
Yue Liu did not use any other abilities, she responded solely with swordsmanship.
All could only watch from afar, witnessing this legendary duel to the death.
“Secret Sword Art, Rising Dragon!”
Bai Yang stepped forward, unleashing an upward slash. The sword energy surged like a soaring dragon, forming a violent wave that locked onto Yue Liu, followed by a lethal gleam.
“Nine-Tailed Fox Flash!”
Yue Liu swung Sakura Moon as if striking from eight directions at once, covering her entire front with flawless offense.
The first eight strikes shattered the Rising Dragon’s energy wave, the ninth became a flash that tore through its killing light.
Normally, after using Rising Dragon, Bai Yang would expose an opening. Such a sequence of attacks consumed immense stamina, it should have pushed him to his limit, allowing Yue Liu, who had been defending, to seize the chance.
But unexpectedly, his sword did not stop.
Crescent, Flowing Clouds, Tempest, Severing Void, Falling Heaven, Pulse, Star Cleave, Rising Dragon…
He chained together all his previous techniques. The earlier assault had been building momentum like rising waves, everything led to this final strike,
“Ultimate Sword Art, Final Form: Dragon’s Finishing Touch!”
Bai Yang charged at Yue Liu. The nine techniques he had unleashed seemed to manifest at once, their power layered together into the strongest strike of his life, the very proof of his title as the fox clan’s greatest swordmaster.
After this strike, he would be utterly spent and unable to fight. No matter what, the outcome would be decided.
No swordsman in the fox clan, not even himself, could withstand this technique.
“…”
Yue Liu felt the terrifying power of her master’s attack.
But she had already resolved herself.
After executing Nine-Tailed Fox Flash, she had sheathed Sakura Moon, so that she, too, could unleash her ultimate technique.
“Ultimate Sword Art, Thousand Sakura Cataclysm Slash!”
She drew her blade in an unparalleled iaijutsu. At the instant Sakura Moon left its sheath, countless strands of sword light wove across heaven and earth, filling every corner of space, erasing even the ground beneath their feet.
Bai Yang moved swiftly, but Yue Liu’s blade was faster.
A thousand overlapping slashes formed a web that cut through space itself. With a sound like shattering glass, Bai Yang’s Dragon’s Finishing Touch was destroyed.
Yue Liu’s final strike landed with perfect precision upon Bai Yang, sending the great swordmaster flying before he crashed heavily to the ground, the victor was decided.
“Cough…!”
Lying on the ground, Bai Yang was surprised to find himself still alive, unable to move, but not dead.
In such a duel to the death, total defeat should have meant certain death.
“Master, the battle is over.” Yue Liu sheathed the Sakura Moon.
“…”
Bai Yang lowered his head and looked at the wound where he had been struck, momentarily stunned.
Only then did he realize Yue Liu’s final blow had been delivered with the back of the blade.
He felt a sense of release.
He had been completely defeated, surpassed by Yue Liu.
Yue Liu once again used the Fox God’s Eyes to dispel the illusion controlling Bai Yang.
This time, he did not resist.
“Congratulations, Yue Liu. You have surpassed me and become the fox clan’s new great swordmaster.”
Bai Yang revealed a smile of relief and deep satisfaction.
“You have… perfectly graduated from your master’s final lesson.”
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