System's Super Sect Chapter 994 928: Wen Ping Makes His Move (5,000 Words)

The Holy Light Barrier was nearing its demise, and the Sword Demon's blade work escalated in speed. Beyond the swirling Sword Intent that filled the sky, both the Black Saber and the Sword Demon vanished from sight.

This marked a significant advancement.

Previously, even the Sword Demon was incapable of unleashing strikes with such blinding velocity.

Yet, the Sword Demon himself remained oblivious to this enhancement, his sole focus directed towards inflicting more grievous harm upon the Celestial Traveler within the dwindling moments.

With each passing second, the Sword Demon's assault intensified, leaving ever more wounds upon the Celestial Traveler.

Deprived of his Vein Technique, the Celestial Traveler could only react with desperate agility. It was in this desperate state that clarity finally dawned upon him.

In his earlier fury, he had allowed blind rage to dictate his actions, leading him to confront the Sword Demon head-on without reservation.

However, as his injuries mounted, a stark realization began to surface.

This current course of action could not persist.

He absolutely could not permit himself to be bested by someone from the Earth Unrestricted Upper Realm.

To do so would render all the reputation he had painstakingly built over the years into mere ephemeral dust.

Retreat?

That option was entirely out of the question.

Such an action would irrevocably tarnish his honor.

The only viable recourse now was to summon reinforcements and eliminate every witness present, thereby ensuring that the humiliation of this day would never see the light of day.

To elaborate on this point:

The very reason the Celestial Traveler clung so fiercely to his so-called honor was precisely what hindered him from matching the Sword Demon.

Even if the Sword Demon were to be defeated today.

In the time to come, surpassing the Celestial Traveler would be an effortless feat for the Sword Demon.

This was because their fundamental motivations diverged entirely.

The Celestial Traveler was preoccupied with honor, whereas the Sword Demon's sole concern lay with his sword, and the relentless pursuit of greater strength.

Just as the Celestial Traveler readied himself to implore for aid, he abruptly detected a sudden surge in the momentum of the Sword Demon's blade.

This abrupt shift caught the Celestial Traveler completely off guard.

A certain form of restraint appeared to be loosening, and this sensation felt overwhelmingly familiar to the Celestial Traveler.

Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted!

He was advancing towards the threshold of Half-Step Celestial Void.

At one point in his cultivation, he too had attained this very same subtle state.

"You shall perish by my hand!"

A wave of panic washed over the Celestial Traveler. He dreaded the moment the Sword Demon would take that decisive step, rendering himself even more formidable.

Formidable enough to end his life.

Under no circumstances could the Celestial Traveler allow himself to become a mere stepping stone for another.

The Celestial Traveler retrieved an object from his Storage Ring – a dark crimson crystal, which he then proceeded to crush in his grip.

A tendril of dark crimson Qi shot upwards, piercing the heavens, leaving no time for anyone to even react.

"In a short while, I will ensure there is no place left for you to be buried!"

Having dispatched his request for reinforcements, the Celestial Traveler turned his thoughts to devising a strategy to stall for time and impede the Sword Demon's breakthrough momentum.

If he could only hold out for another fifteen minutes, reinforcements from the Hidden Sky Pavilion would arrive, and the Sword Demon would undoubtedly meet his demise!

At this precise moment, the Sword Demon remained silent, lost in a world beyond sound, with a single, unwavering thought consuming his mind.

Attack!

However, it was at this juncture that changes occurring within his own body compelled the Sword Demon to break free from his profound state of immersion.

This was due to the drastic transformation he felt within his Spiritual Power.

With every swing of his blade, his Spiritual Power grew demonstrably stronger.

The continuous act of wielding his sword caused his Spiritual Power to ascend unceasingly.

His Spiritual Power, initially residing in the First Stage, now felt on the verge of breaching into a new Realm.

As the Sect Leader had foretold, this would signify the Second Stage!

A surge of elation coursed through the Sword Demon. He then joyfully discovered his sword moving with ever-increasing speed and power, filling him with an unshakeable sense of confidence.

However, the 500 breaths allotted to the Holy Light Barrier had now concluded, and it began to recede, its light now concentrating solely on the Sword Demon, mending his wounds.

Unbeknownst to him, the Celestial Traveler was still engrossed in their close-quarters engagement.

This state of affairs brought immense delight to the Sword Demon. "Allow me to break through!"

The Sword Demon continued his frenzied swordplay.

His objective was to ascend into the Second Stage of Spiritual Power!

The Celestial Traveler, now acutely aware of the Sword Demon's intention, his face contorted with dark fury, roared repeatedly, "You dare to dream that you can use me as your whetstone to reach Half-Step Celestial Void? Perish! Perish by my hand!"

Bang!

Bang!

The aerial battle escalated with increasing ferocity.

It was advancing into another climactic phase.

The Celestial Traveler understood with absolute certainty that to prevent the Sword Demon from achieving Half-Step Celestial Void, only one method existed.

He must refrain from imposing any form of pressure upon the Sword Demon.

Because pressure would only serve to fortify the Sword Demon's resolve, thereby facilitating his advancement to Half-Step Celestial Void.

Consequently, the Celestial Traveler resolved to endure the onslaught of attacks.

Without any external pressure, the Sword Demon found himself potent enough to shatter the barrier impeding his Half-Step Celestial Void breakthrough.

Thus, the Celestial Traveler elected to absorb the Sword Qi, born from the Sword Demon's Sword Intent, even as his own injuries continued to mount.

Yet, at this precise juncture, the Sword Demon felt absolutely nothing.

Just a singular, unwavering conviction.

Strike!

His Spiritual Power had decisively reached a critical threshold.

The next slice would undoubtedly herald a breakthrough!

As another strike was unleashed, a resounding bang seemed to echo within his very mind.

The formidable barrier of the First Stage of Spiritual Power was shattered.

The Sword Demon perceived his Spiritual Power instantly ascend to a novel stage, his perceptive range expanding in a mere instant.

Twenty miles!

Thirty miles!

Within this newly achieved circumference, the subtlest of movements felt as though they were laid bare before his very eyes.

"Could this be the Second Stage?"

A wave of delight washed over the Sword Demon.

The Celestial Traveler, however, was utterly astounded!

He sensed the Sword Demon's sudden surge in aura. While this sensation differed from his own advancement to the Half-Step Celestial Void, he had not anticipated the Sword Demon achieving a breakthrough of any kind.

Damn it all!

He had been far too lenient.

And still, the Sword Demon had managed to utilize him as a whetstone, achieving a breakthrough to the Half-Step Celestial Void.

"To think I've become a mere whetstone; Sword Demon, you have truly crossed a line!" Infuriated, the Celestial Traveler instinctively unleashed his 'Fire Dance'.

Bang—

His Meridian Gates reverberated in perfect unison.

Only then did the Celestial Traveler grasp that he was once again capable of unleashing his Vein Technique.

In the subsequent instant, a look of sheer desperation contorted the Celestial Traveler's features.

Sword Demon!

I shall dispatch you straight to the deepest pits of Hell!

Fire Dance - Pingyang Realm!

This potent Secret Technique owed its existence to an Upper Grade Earth Level School Vein Skill.