The Unparalleled Sword Emperor Chapter 2705 - 2680: The Second Blade, Seeking Immortality

Yesterday evening, Madam Yang informed Lin Bai that a confrontation with the Blade Emperor was set for three days hence. Lin Bai neither refused nor made any inquiries regarding the Blade Emperor’s capabilities.

Regarding the wagers placed within the underground gambling dens, Lin Bai remained utterly unconcerned.

However, Madam Yang found herself unable to adopt the same nonchalant attitude.

The four dashing gentlemen accompanying Madam Yang spoke in hushed tones, “Madam, tomorrow marks the day of the martial arts tournament. Yet, the betting odds for Sword Demon versus Blade Emperor in the casino are merely 1 to 2!”

“Even if we were to stake all our fortunes on Sword Demon, our earnings would be minimal, and the risk would be substantial!”

Madam Yang’s expression turned serious as she stated, “The odds are exceedingly low, offering little prospect for significant profit. I had not anticipated that even the presence of the Blade Emperor would fail to elevate these odds!”

“It appears the renown of Sword Demon is simply too dominant at this juncture!”

She commented with an impassive demeanor. She was acutely aware that this situation stemmed from Sword Demon’s unbroken string of victories over the preceding fortnight, causing apprehension among the combatants in the fighting arena.

They hesitated to commit their bets lightly, fearing potential ruin from an incorrect selection!

“Then, Madam, how should we proceed with our wagers now?” the four handsome men inquired with clear curiosity.

Madam Yang instructed in a low voice, “Disregard the other matters for the moment; let us focus on this particular bout first. We shall continue to bet on Sword Demon to emerge victorious!”

“Wait until midnight; if the odds have still not improved, then place the bet!”

“Ten million merits, on Sword Demon’s victory!”

“Additionally, establish contact with the patriarch of the Li Family who presides over the fighting arena; I intend to place a wager of ten million merits with him from an external source!”

Madam Yang decreed in a soft tone.

“Understood, Madam!”

Upon hearing this, the four handsome men departed without delay to execute Madam Yang’s directives.

After their departure, Madam Yang remained standing within the ornate pavilion, murmuring to herself, “It seems that for the ultimate martial arts competition, if I wish to leverage Sword Demon for substantial gains, an unconventional strategy will be imperative!”

A chilling smile graced Madam Yang’s crimson lips, betraying the glint of a successfully conceived plan.

...

The subsequent day, with the first light of dawn, Lin Bai departed from the Tang Family residence, making his way towards the fighting arena.

Within the shadowed confines of the fighting arena, having adopted the persona of Sword Demon, Lin Bai entered the private chamber and found Madam Yang accompanied by the four remarkably handsome men.

These four gentlemen, akin to Madam Yang’s personal retinue, remained in constant proximity to her.

Yet, Lin Bai refrained from inquiring about their origins.

“Have the bets been placed?”

Lin Bai inquired, displaying a hint of curiosity.

Madam Yang responded with a smile, “Your recent surge in popularity is undeniable. Even facing the Blade Emperor, your odds remain at a mere 1 to 2; it’s disappointingly low!”

“I have committed ten million merits on your behalf, and further secured an external wager of ten million merits with the martial artists from the Li Family!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Bai calmly remarked, “Indeed, it is regrettably insufficient. Even should I secure victory, the merit you stand to gain from this engagement will be minimal.”

Madam Yang let out a soft chuckle, “It appears the adversaries I selected for you were not sufficiently formidable. This has led the martial artists to perceive you as evenly matched, thus making them hesitant to place substantial bets!”

Lin Bai offered a smile but remained silent.

At this juncture, the referee, Ning Zheng, issued the summons for Sword Demon and the Blade Emperor to make their entrance into the arena.

“I am heading in,” Lin Bai announced, turning to proceed into the martial arts competition arena.

As he entered the arena, Lin Bai observed a disheveled elderly man, adorned with silver hair and a wispy beard, emerging from the stone passage opposite. He carried a potent scent of alcohol, his eyes clouded, presenting the unmistakable appearance of a gluttonous drunkard!

He wore no mask, allowing Lin Bai an unobstructed view of his countenance.

Had it not been for the man’s recognized status as the Blade Emperor within the fighting arena, observers might have easily mistaken him for a mere vagrant.

He ambled into the arena, clearly intoxicated, and addressed Lin Bai with a smile, “Sword Demon, your name has become an irritating presence to my ears these past few days!”

Lin Bai responded with a subtle smile, “A minor reputation, I beg your pardon for any disturbance, Senior!”

The Blade Emperor offered a slight smile, commenting, “Neither humble nor arrogant; quite intriguing!”

“Lad Ning Zheng, you may commence the proceedings now.”

The Blade Emperor added with a faint smile.

Referee Ning Zheng mustered a strained smile, ascended into the air, and declared, “Let the duel commence!”

Within the arena, only Lin Bai and the Blade Emperor remained.

The atmosphere instantly became charged with palpable tension.

It was as if myriad sword intents and blade intents were engaged in a silent confrontation across the arena.

The Blade Emperor, still in his drunken state, regarded Lin Bai and chuckled, “Sword Demon, though I dedicate myself to the way of the sword in this lifetime, I have only truly mastered three distinct sword techniques!”

“Should you withstand my initial three strikes unscathed, I shall concede defeat!”

Lin Bai let out a soft chuckle, remarking, "I've heard tales of your might, Senior. They say after three strikes, even gods and ghosts perish. Heh, allow this junior to experience your legendary three strikes, Senior!"

With a face etched with apparent drunkenness, the Blade Emperor held a gourdBottle in one hand, while from his storage bag, he retrieved a common steel sword.

This particular steel sword was not even a supreme martial spiritual artifact; it was merely an exceptionally ordinary steel sword!

"Junior, here I come!" As the Blade Emperor gripped the steel sword, his aura suddenly intensified, akin to the immense power of heaven and earth bearing down on Lin Bai, imbued with a terrifyingly supreme and domineering essence within this sword intent.

The Blade Emperor moved in a flash, the steel sword streaking forward, unleashing an unprecedented storm that instantly caused the very colors of the heavens and earth to shift.

Rumble—

The firmament shook with violent tremors.

Even before this strike from the Blade Emperor landed, it caused the heavens themselves to tremble!

Beneath the formidable sword intent, the very ground of the fighting arena seemed incapable of enduring such might, fracturing layer by layer and continuously collapsing inward.

"The first strike, Nation Extermination!"

The Blade Emperor raised his long sword as the sky above mutated; a single strike descended with the thunderous force of a cataclysm, a potent power unleashed as if it were tearing apart the very sky.

Lin Bai gazed upwards, observing the transformations unfolding in the skies above the clouds, where a horizontal sword shadow materialized, bisecting the heavens, cleaving the void, shattering the earth, and slashing directly towards him!

"Body-protecting Thunder!"

The Black Water Divine Thunder residing within him surged to life, and a shield of protective thunder enveloped Lin Bai!

Upon impact, the sword collided with the protective thunder in a resounding clang, shattering it instantly, and Lin Bai was propelled backward for a thousand meters.

After skidding to a halt a thousand meters away, Lin Bai coughed up blood, his appearance disheveled, his eyes wide with an unspeakable shock as he looked up at the figure of the Blade Emperor.

It was evident that Lin Bai was utterly astonished by the sheer power exhibited in the Blade Emperor’s strike.

"You are the first individual to withstand one of my strikes and remain standing!"

"It appears you may very well be the sole person capable of taking all three of my strikes head-on."

"The second strike, Seeking Immortality!"

Following the exertion of the first strike, the Blade Emperor wasted no time, raising his steel sword once more and unleashing another slash towards Lin Bai.

Two consecutive strikes descended, and their terrifying power sent ripples through the void.

The pervasive sword presence continuously permeated the fighting arena, imposing a suffocating sensation upon the surrounding warriors.

This was the Blade Emperor’s second strike, given the formidable name... Seeking Immortality!