Chapter 654: You're an Insult to the Sword in Your Hand

"Get off!"

Swish!

At that moment, a streak of purple lightning shot up into the sky. It was Li Bufan, who could no longer restrain himself. He flew into the air and kicked Mu Liufeng off the stage.

"You!"

Mu Liufeng landed on the ground, staring at Li Bufan while clenching his fists tightly.

"Mu Liufeng, you are the opponent I, Li Bufan, have acknowledged! Keep your cultivation intact. I don't want to face a weakling in the Five Courts' Sword Team Grand Competition."

Li Bufan stood proudly, his voice cold. "Go heal yourself."

Mu Liufeng took a deep breath, gritting his teeth as he thanked Li Bufan before unwillingly disappearing into the crowd.

Known as the "Unbeatable Legend," he had finally lost. Although it wasn't because he was weaker, a defeat was still a defeat.

"This guy, he's such a show-off! His act is blinding!"

Ye Nanfeng coughed lightly, looking at Li Bufan's back. He was unable to resist a wave of admiration.

Gu Tengfeng glanced back at him, snorting, "If you had his strength, you could show off too!"

"

Hmph,

forget it. If even someone like Mu Liufeng lost, I'm not going up just to be humiliated."

Ye Nanfeng knew his limits and pursed his lips. "But can Li Bufan defeat Li Xue? I doubt his strength is any better than Mu Liufeng's."

"Mu Liufeng lost because he was careless and fell into Li Xue's Element-Devouring Blood Array. If Bufan is careful, defeating him will be easy."

Ling Feng calmly analyzed the situation.

On the high platform, the emperor of Tianbai had nearly lost hope when Mu Liufeng was outwitted by Li Xue and had no way to counter. However, upon seeing Li Bufan step up, a glimmer of hope returned to him.

The "Little Sword God" Li Bufan was no stranger to the emperor of Tianbai. After all, Li Bufan was the young master of the Grand Commandant, a figure of considerable status, and had been renowned as a genius since childhood.

But with even Mu Liufeng defeated, could Li Bufan really turn the tide?

"Has that boy finally decided to act?"

In the Grand Commandant's seating area, Li Bufan's older brother, Li Buju, smiled faintly. He was the only one who truly understood the pain Li Bufan endured while training under the thunder swamp.

Only Li Buju knew the hardships Li Bufan had to face daily to reach his current level of cultivation.

A true genius was not only defined by talent but by an unyielding spirit that pushed them step by step to the peak of martial arts.

"Bufan has been working hard lately," the Grand Commandant Li said, glancing at Li Buju with a serious tone.

"That's because he found a lifelong rival, who also became his lifelong buddy."

"Really?" Grand Commandant Li's eyes sparkled as he murmured, "Bufan has finally made a friend?"

Li Buju turned to look at Grand Commandant Li, grinning. "Grandfather, you've just never noticed. Bufan has always longed for friends."

"And you dare to laugh!"

Grand Commandant Li shot Li Buju a glare. "As Bufan's older brother, you need to work harder too. His strength has far surpassed yours! In a few days, you should go train under the thunder swamp as well!"

"

Ah!

" Li Buju looked utterly dejected.

What have I done to deserve this?

Grand Commandant Li squinted, his gaze drifting to the spot where Li Bufan had stood earlier. Looking at the faces of the companions gazing up at the stage, he sighed inwardly.

Buddy, huh...

The higher one climbs, the fewer people remain who truly understands you, let alone stay being buddies.

The higher the peak, the colder it gets!

...

"And who are you?"

On the stage, Li Xue's eyes flashed with anger. He had just caught a prey and was ready to feast, but this young man had ruined it.

How frustrating! So very frustrating!

"A swordsman like you who can't fight honorably... Does winning with such underhanded tactics amuse you?"

Li Bufan stood on the platform, hands behind his back. To him, a shameless person like Li Xue wasn't even worthy of being an opponent.

"Underhanded?" Li Xue let out a sinister laugh. "Any method that leads to victory is fair. Only the victor has the right to speak, don't you think?"

Li Bufan slowly drew his sword, pointing it diagonally at Li Xue, his voice cold. "Someone like you is unworthy of wielding a sword. If you lose this battle, you will never be allowed to hold a sword again! A disgrace like you only insults the sword in your hand."

Li Bufan's words immediately resonated with the young talents of the Tianbai Empire. One by one, they raised their arms and cheered.

"Little Sword God! Little Sword God!"

"Defeat him! Defeat this shameless villain!"

"This disgrace insults the sword!"

"Well said! I didn't expect that guy, who usually stays silent, to speak so righteously at such a crucial moment!"

Even Ye Nanfeng was stirred, shouting with excitement. Deep down, he shared the same pride as Li Bufan. Although his confidence had been crushed many times, his passion for the sword had never wavered.

Ling Feng chuckled softly. That's just who Li Bufan was: cold on the outside, but passionate within. He was unwavering in his devotion to the things he loved.

Seeing the crowd's enthusiasm, Li Xue clenched his fists while glaring at Li Bufan. "

Hmph!

Beat me first before you talk!"

Li Xue extended his tongue, licking the eerie, blood-red long sword in his hand. "If you don't want to die, get off the stage now! Otherwise, with that arrogant speech of yours, even if I kill you in this battle, it'll be your own fault!"

Li Bufan slowly raised his sword to eye level, speaking calmly. "This sword is called Rampant Thunder."

"I don't care about your broken sword!" Li Xue scoffed, shaking his blood-red long sword. "This time, I won't hold back!"

"Go ahead and use your Element-Devouring Blood Array. Let's end this quickly!"

Li Bufan's Rampant Thunder Sword gleamed, yet he remained motionless, waiting for Li Xue to unleash his fearsome Element-Devouring Blood Array!

Li Xue wasn't foolish enough to underestimate Li Bufan's arrogance. Careful as a fox, he sneered. "Very well. You brought this upon yourself!"

"Die!"

Li Xue's blood-red long sword gleamed with sinister energy as his left hand formed a strange seal over his chest. His figure blurred as shadowy figures filled the stage and blood-red light swirled to form an array.

"Element-Devouring Blood Array, activate!" With a thunderous shout, Li Xue's array began to shrink, its terrifying devouring power descending upon Li Bufan.

Li Bufan's face remained expressionless as he stood arrogantly on the spot. For dozens of breaths, even as Li Xue activated the array, he didn't move an inch, his calm demeanor unnerving Li Xue.

"

Hehe,

playing tricks! Once you're in my Element-Devouring Blood Array, I'll make you regret it!"

Li Xue forced himself to stay calm as he intensified the devouring power of the array, channeling the evil runes on his blood sword.

Trapped inside the blood array, Li Bufan showed no fear. Instead, he coldly remarked, "Since you like devouring so much, I'll let you have your fill."

With that, Li Bufan completely abandoned his defense, activating the

Wind and Thunder Transformation

technique and unleashed all his true qi, letting the Element-Devouring Blood Array absorb it freely.