Chapter 361: 99th Level Sword Douluo vs 99th Level Peak Qiandao Liu!
As the matches progressed, the top sixteen were mostly unchanged, with the same people advancing without much surprise.
However, when the competition reached the round to enter the top eight, Sword Douluo finally faced Qiandao Liu!
"Oh? Sword Douluo is facing Qiandao Liu, looks like Sword Douluo will be eliminated in the top sixteen for the first time!" Ye Wen said with interest, watching as Qiandao Liu and Sword Douluo stood in the arena ready for battle.
In previous tournaments, Sword Douluo had always reached the finals, only to lose to Golden Crocodile Douluo due to the depletion of Martial Soul Hall's forces. This time, facing the strongest participant in the trials, Qiandao Liu, defeat was certain.
"Qiandao Liu, we've finally met. This day, my Sword Dao Chenxin has waited a long time for," Sword Douluo said with great seriousness, his expression stern and imposing as he gazed at Qiandao Liu.
"From your aura, are you seeking revenge for your father, Chen Jianjun, today?" Qiandao Liu asked faintly.
Years ago, Sword Douluo's father, Chen Jianjun, was a top-tier sword master and an immensely powerful Title Douluo with talent and strength to match. He had even reached the 97th-level peak.
At that time, after many years of seclusion, Chen Jianjun broke through to the 97th level and informed Sword Douluo that he was going to challenge a 99th-level Title Douluo for a duel.
Eventually, Chen Jianjun returned heavily injured and died shortly afterward due to the severity of his injuries.
Therefore, Sword Douluo's father had essentially died at the hands of that 99th-level Title Douluo.
In that era, there were only three 99th-level Title Douluos on the continent: Poseidon from Sea God Island, Tang Chen from Haotian Sect, and the grand elder of Martial Soul Hall, Qiandao Liu.
Sword Douluo had known for a long time that his father had died at the hands of Qiandao Liu.
This was because, aside from Sword Douluo's father being a top sword master, there was another top sword master on the continent—Qiandao Liu!
Yes, Qiandao Liu was not only a peak 99th-level Title Douluo but also a Grand Elder of Martial Soul Hall, with an incredibly powerful divine weapon, the Six-Winged Angel.
He was also a top-tier sword master!
Only someone on the level of a sword master would be worthy of challenging Sword Douluo's father, who was willing to risk his life in such a duel.
Sword Douluo's father wanted to defeat Qiandao Liu and reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship on the continent, to become the world's number one sword master.
Unfortunately, due to the gap in soul power, he was ultimately defeated by Qiandao Liu.
This was the regret of Sword Douluo's father's life. He wanted to be the strongest in swordsmanship, a goal that Sword Douluo inherited from his father.
"No, after my father fought you, he died not long after. You are my father's murderer."
"But my father always told me not to seek revenge! Not to seek revenge. I understand now that that fight was his pursuit of the pinnacle of swordsmanship. It was his choice, and I won't blame you for it." Sword Douluo shook his head.
In the past, Sword Douluo did harbor resentment toward Qiandao Liu, but as he matured, he understood that there was no hatred between Qiandao Liu and his father. It was simply a battle for the pursuit of swordsmanship's pinnacle.
Moreover, it was his father who challenged another, and in the end, his father was gravely injured and died. There was no one else to blame.
For Sword Douluo, who was obsessed with swordsmanship, he knew that if he had the ability, he too would challenge the top sword masters. If he lost or died in battle, he would think of it as a normal outcome, not expecting his descendants to take revenge.
Sword Douluo's battle intent ignited: "But I will carry my father's swordsmanship ideals and my own ideals of pursuing the pinnacle of swordsmanship to challenge you!!"
"Qiandao Liu, you have been in seclusion for too long. Now, the younger generation believes that I, Sword Dao Chenxin, am the number one sword master of the continent. But how could they know that the true number one sword master is actually you, Qiandao Liu!"
"Today, I, Sword Dao Chenxin, will give my all to defeat you and rise to the true pinnacle of swordsmanship!" Sword Douluo's battle intent grew stronger, reaching an unprecedented level.
At this moment, the terrifying Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul appeared behind him, and the soul rings under his feet lit up, one by one: purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, black, red, two purple, six black, one red.
"Seven Kill Sword Intent!!!"
Whoosh!
Terrifying sword intent began to swirl around Sword Douluo, the sword energy sharp and ruthless.
Qiandao Liu sensed Sword Douluo's sword intent and was slightly surprised: "Your father, Chen Jianjun, was the only person who could match me in swordsmanship. He was my lifelong rival and a respected opponent in swordsmanship."
"I thought that after your father's death, I would never encounter another opponent who could match me in swordsmanship. But I never expected your talent in swordsmanship to be no less than your father's."
"Come, boy. Let me feel once again the long-lost Seven Kill Sword Intent." On this continent, there were very few who could be called "boy" by Qiandao Liu.
As he spoke, Qiandao Liu also released his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, and his soul rings lit up: black, black, black, black, black, black, black, red, red, seven black, six red.
"Angel Sword Intent!!!"
Qiandao Liu also released his sword intent, a domineering, fierce, and burning sword energy.
Since this was a battle between swordsmanship experts, Qiandao Liu unleashing his sword intent and directly clashing with Sword Douluo's was a mark of respect.
Feeling Qiandao Liu's sword intent, Sword Douluo's expression hardened, and his heart was shaken. He urgently asked, "You... Have you reached the realm of unity between man and sword in your swordsmanship?"
Swordsmanship and sword intent had their own levels and strengths.
Although not many on Douluo Continent practiced swordsmanship, there was still a ranking system, with those pursuing swordsmanship dividing sword intent into six realms: beginner sword intent, intermediate sword intent, advanced sword intent, peak sword intent, the most powerful sword intent, and the ultimate realm of unity between man and sword.
Currently, Qiandao Liu was at the peak of the man-sword unity, while Sword Douluo was at the pinnacle of sword intent but had been stuck there for decades, unable to make further progress.
"Yes, the pinnacle of swordsmanship, man-sword unity," Qiandao Liu said, his body slowly floating. The Six-Winged Angel shone with divine light, exuding a powerful and sacred aura.
"Man-sword unity..." Sword Douluo's eyes flashed with apprehension, mixed with complex hostility and reverence. He sighed, "When my father lost to you, it seems it wasn't in vain."
Sword Douluo's father had been pursuing the pinnacle of swordsmanship, aiming to become the strongest sword master, but with his 97th-level soul power, he was still no match for Qiandao Liu, who was at 99th-level.
(END CHAPTER)
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