Chapter 581: Nine Sun Sword

The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor smiled and said, "Today is the last match of this tournament. Both the individual and the doubles competitions have shown the talents and strengths of the younger generation. Especially in this first edition of the doubles competition—we've seen the mutual understanding and cooperation between the young contestants. To honor this sentiment, I will personally referee today's championship match. Please, both teams, step onto the stage."

So the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is really personally refereeing....

Hearing his words, Tang San couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. In front of this person, especially during the battle, he was afraid he couldn't hide his abilities well enough!

But there was nothing he could do. He was here, so no matter what, he had to face things head-on.

Mei Gongzi and Tang San left the waiting area and quickly stepped onto the competition stage, with their opponents also stepping onto the stage.

Standing opposite Tang San and Mei Gongzi was a strong team; they hadn’t had any byes or weak opponents, and they’d fought their way to this final stage. It was an extremely uncommon combination of a demon and a nymph.

Tang San and Mei Gongzi had previously encountered the Perching Phoenix Duo, but this pair was different, a rather peculiar combination. On the demon side was a tall, slender male who looked sharp and upright, his gaze fixed on Mei Gongzi. Beside him stood a female in a red dress, looking somewhat plain but very serious and focused. She stood half a step behind the man, clearly showing that the demon male was the leader of this team.

Tang San and Mei Gongzi already knew what team this was. The male belonged to the Red-Crowned Crane lineage, a direct disciple of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. The Red-Crowned Cranes hadn't even participated in the individual competition; a few were in the doubles competition, and this one had managed to reach the finals. His partner, the female contestant from the nymph side, hailed from the Scorching Sunflower clan. She was the only female participant from her clan in this entire competition.

Tang San and Mei Gongzi had faced more than one Scorching Sunflower before, and they’d concluded that these nymphs were indeed extremely powerful. Even Tang San had a tough time dealing with the one he met in the individual competition.

Their opponents in the final match of the doubles competition were indeed a unique pair. Regarding their particularities, Tang San and Mei Gongzi had also gathered some information.

The Scorching Sunflower played a support role, while the Red-Crowned Crane was the main attacker, using her power to increase the power of his sword.

On the surface, this combination seemed strong but not the strongest, appearing weaker than the Dragon-Phoenix Pair or the Perching Phoenix Duo. But with that said... how could there possibly be weaklings in this competition, much less at this level?

As both sides appeared on stage, facing each other, a palpable tension filled the air.

The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's gaze swept over both sides. "Contestants, be ready. If the outcome is decided, I may end the match and declare a victor before anyone gets gravely injured."

How will you know that for sure? By manipulating luck?

Tang San had some doubts in his heart, but in any case, this figure was the foremost in the Ancestral Court. He surely knew what he was doing. Tang San suppressed his aura, trying to make himself less noticeable.

Seeing that both sides indicated they were ready, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor signaled the start of the match. "Begin!"

Tang San's figure flickered, and he once again positioned himself behind Mei Gongzi to support her, while she took the main attack role.

This was their best way to cooperate, and it also concealed Tang San's abilities most effectively.

The gentle energy of the Peacock Transformation flowed into Mei Gongzi's body, causing her to radiate with a silver light; her peacock blue hair fluttered lightly, filling Tang San's nose with her faint fragrance.

On the other side, the Scorching Sunflower girl swayed like a willow in the wind, and vines grew out from her body. Then her humanoid figure vanished as her entire body transformed into vines; they wrapped around the Red-Crowned Crane, forming a layer of crimson vine armor.

The Red-Crowned Crane pointed into the void, and a long sword appeared in its hand. The swords of the Red-Crowned Crane Demons were a transformation of their own long beaks. They were nurtured from a young age, growing stronger as the Red-Crowned Cranes’ own power increased.

Among them, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor's sword reigned supreme—a divine weapon forged from a Demon Emperor’s beak.

At this moment, when the Red-Crowned Crane shook his long sword, nine red light clusters, each resembling a small sun, appeared on the blade, emitting a blazing radiance. Coupled with the crane demon’s armor, they caused massive heat waves to radiate from his entire body.

Nine Suns Sword!

The incredibly sharp sword aura, accompanied by intense heat, made the crane demon appear as if he were burning. With a sharp bird cry, a pair of wings unfolded behind him

Though separated from their opponents by hundreds of meters, he did not move a single step. Instead, he simply thrust his sword into the void.

This seemingly simple sword strike appeared to pierce through space, and the extremely sharp sword intent arrived in front of Mei Gongzi in an instant.

So fast!

Mei Gongzi hadn't even deployed her spatial power before the opponent's sword intent arrived.

It wasn't sword aura, but pure sword intent—a spiritual attack.

Mei Gongzi's eyes shone brightly, and the Celestial Plume in her hand quivered. The space in front of her instantly became layered and ethereal, constantly shifting.

As the sword intent approached her, the light around her seemed to be swallowed, giving the impression that space was collapsing.

The surging sword intent then shot skyward—Star Shift.

With Tang San's assistance and her recent insights into Star Shift, Mei Gongzi was now able to use it more or less freely. And as it turned out, this signature divine technique of the Peacock Demon clan clearly wasn't just for countering physical attacks but could neutralize

all

forms of attack.

The sharp sword intent was redirected into the sky, like a twisted pillar of light that shot straight into the clouds. This impressive visual effect showcased the intensity of the sword intent.

Tang San stood right behind Mei Gongzi, feeling the changes in the sword intent, and couldn't help but be slightly moved.

The Scorching Sword Pair, as they were nicknamed, was not merely the Scorching Sunflower's heat to imbue the Red-Crowned Crane’s sword. These two had clearly been together for more than just a day or two; they had likely been together since the beginning of their cultivation.

The strength of that sword intent surpassed the god level. It gave off a feeling of being one with nature—one with the heavens. It was an incredible level of attainment for a swordsman.

With this result in mind, it was clear that the heat of the Scorching Sunflower did not merely serve to amplify the power of the Red-Crowned Crane’s sword in battle, but also to temper the sword. After who knew how many years of tempering, the sword formed from the crane demon’s long beak had been refined to the level of a divine weapon.

Furthermore, the tempering did not only refine the sword itself but also the spiritual power of the Sword Saint Demon Emperor's successor, and that was what allowed him to possess such incredible sword intent.

This opponent was more difficult to deal with than expected. No wonder they could defeat so many powerful opponents!

Just as the initial contact was made, the nine light clusters on the Nine Suns Sword shone brilliantly. The Red-Crowned Crane tapped the ground with his toes, his wings suddenly flapped, and in the next moment, he shot toward Mei Gongzi and Tang San like a bolt of lightning.

Wherever he passed, the air distorted intensely, and the scorching heat made the surrounding space extremely unstable.

At that moment, Tang San's voice echoed in Mei Gongzi's mind.

—Clash with him head-on.

Without hesitation, Mei Gongzi engaged into the Celestial Dance, the Celestial Plume in her hand glinting silver as she faced the attack.

The sharp sword aura flashed and vanished, arriving directly in front of Mei Gongzi.

Mei Gongzi's delicate body slightly shifted, and the edge of the Celestial Plume made contact with the tip of the opponent's sword.

With a crisp "ding," Mei Gongzi felt a surge of scorching airflow carrying a sharp sword intent into her body. Meanwhile, the Red-Crowned Crane felt the layered spatial fluctuations attacking him, poised to tear him apart.