As he finished speaking, Han Xuanji did not draw his sword but looked at Li Changkong.
His gaze held a hint of displeasure.
Sword Without Dust was his friend, after all, and he knew that Li Changkong was not brought here by Sword Without Dust, but had long harbored the intention and was merely seizing this opportunity.
"I will suppress my cultivation and compete with you in the Dao of the Sword," Li Changkong said proudly.
He was not the kind of person who would bully the weak.
Hearing Li Changkong's words, Han Xuanji smiled faintly.
"No need."
Han Xuanji's smile seemed to Li Changkong like a provocation.
However, in that instant,
the pride and ease on Li Changkong's face solidified.
In his perception, the Aura of Han Xuanji before him was completely different from before.
It carried an ancient, vast quality, imbued with supreme majesty, as if he stood at the Origin of the Dao of the Sword, a monarch governing its rise and fall.
An indescribably terrifying pressure, like an invisible tide, instantly engulfed him.
This was not an impact of power, but an absolute suppression originating from the Origin of the Dao of the Sword!
The Sword Intent flowing around him suddenly froze, as if petrified.
His "Exquisite Sword Heart" trembled wildly at this moment, conveying not Battle Intent, but reverence and… fear from the depths of his Soul!
It was as if a subject had met their emperor, a Mortal facing a deity!
"This… what kind of method is this?" Li Changkong cried out in horror inwardly.
He wanted to struggle, wanted to draw his sword, but found that his body simply wouldn't obey.
Even moving a single finger became incredibly difficult.
Han Xuanji stared at him, saying word for word:
"To compete with me? Are you sure you still want to continue?"
These words were like a heavy hammer striking Li Changkong's heart; his body trembled slightly, and cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
From Sword Without Dust's perspective, he only saw Han Xuanji say a few words, and then the arrogant and overbearing Li Changkong seemed to be under a Body-Fixing Spell, standing stiffly in place, his face drained of color, his pupils contracting violently, filled with unbelievable shock and horror, his forehead instantly covered in fine cold sweat, as if he was enduring some unimaginable immense pressure.
Although he did not feel the oppressive force from Han Xuanji, he knew that Han Xuanji had used some method that made Li Changkong unable to retaliate, or rather,
completely unable to retaliate.
Han Xuanji's face was cold, his gaze seemingly capable of freezing everything, falling upon Li Changkong as if pressing down with billions of tons of weight.
At this moment, Li Changkong's Aura was completely suppressed by Han Xuanji, even to the point of wanting to kneel.
He saw many strange phenomena in Han Xuanji's eyes.
He saw stars being born and annihilated at the tip of a sword.
He saw the Reincarnation of all things flowing within the Sword Intent.
He saw countless ancient Sword Cultivator phantoms bowing in worship to the Origin of the Dao of the Sword.
"How could this be…" Li Changkong was filled with disbelief.
The Aura flowing from Han Xuanji did not at all resemble a young Sword Cultivator; it was more like a monarch of the Dao of the Sword, someone who had already founded a sect in the Dao of the Sword, just like… just like his Master, a Taiyi Golden Immortal Sword Cultivator.
Even the slight pressure his Master leaked was not as terrifying as this.
Is this what a true Supreme Prodigy is?
Although Li Changkong swept through his generation of Sword Cultivators without rival, his name was actually not seen on the immortal dao prodigy ranking list, which was why he wanted to make a name for himself and challenge various Geniuses.
He wanted to gain recognition and be listed on the immortal dao prodigy ranking list.
"Tell me now, do you still want to continue?" Han Xuanji stared at him, speaking softly.
His tone was gentle, but it made Li Changkong feel an extreme sense of suffocation.
He wanted to speak, but lacked the resolve, yet bowing his head was even more unbearable than death.
Damn it!
Why, why was a Disciple of the Dan Meridian so strong?
For a moment, the atmosphere became tense.
Han Xuanji naturally would not kill him, but he definitely had to teach him a lesson.
Sword Without Dust, on the other hand, was shocked, looking at Han Xuanji's back with a complex expression, a mix of pleasant surprise and disappointment, and even some shame.
"Since you're not speaking, I'll take it that you've given up. This time…"
Han Xuanji glanced at Li Changkong, then at Sword Without Dust, and said faintly,
"Let's call it a draw."
Han Xuanji suddenly retracted his Aura; the vast phenomena and terrifying pressure receded like a tide, instantly disappearing without a trace.
He stood calmly in place, as if nothing had happened.
Li Changkong, however, looked as if he had just been pulled from water, soaked in cold sweat, his face ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably.
He gasped for air, his eyes vacant.
After several breaths, his pupils refocused, and he slowly looked at the calm-faced Han Xuanji before him.
In his eyes, there was no longer any arrogance or disdain, only endless shock, and… a gradually rising, ineffable reverence.
This was a true Prodigy of the Dao of the Sword; it was truly a pity that this person was not a Disciple of his Sword Lineage!
Li Changkong thought very clearly; he did not envy Han Xuanji's talent, but only regretted and was ashamed of his own rudeness.
"Plop!"
To Sword Without Dust's astonished gaze, Li Changkong suddenly knelt on both knees, sincerely apologizing to Han Xuanji:
"Li Changkong… was blind and offended Your Excellency!"
His voice trembled.
He finally understood why his Master valued this Dan Meridian Disciple so highly, even bestowing upon him the "Supreme Heaven Sword Dao."
Perhaps it was… the discovery of a true Prodigy of the Dao of the Sword.
He himself was so arrogant as to want to "seek guidance" from such an existence; it was simply a firefly trying to contend with the bright moon.
Ridiculous! Pathetic!
Han Xuanji looked at Li Changkong, who was kneeling on the ground and too agitated to control himself, and shook his head slightly.
The effect of this "Sword Dao Leader" title seemed a bit too good.
Of course, this was also because his Realm in the Dao of the Sword far surpassed the other party's, and Li Changkong was relatively simple-minded, essentially just a spoiled young man.
Han Xuanji spoke faintly, his voice still gentle:
"The Dao of the Sword is not a technique for vying for superiority. If one is impetuous, no matter how sharp their Sword Intent, it is like a rootless tree, or a waterless duckweed."
"Get up, I don't blame you."
Li Changkong, however, refused to get up and instead turned to Sword Without Dust, saying:
"Brother, I was truly ignorant."
At this moment, he seemed to understand Sword Without Dust, realizing why he was so protective of Han Xuanji; he was clearly afraid that he would offend the other party.
Han Xuanji, helpless, released an invisible Immortal Qi to lift him up.
If others saw this, it would look as if he was bullying someone.
He still preferred the arrogant and unruly appearance the other party had at first.
"Get up. The path of the Dao of the Sword is long and arduous. I hope you guard your Sword Heart, remain neither proud nor impetuous, and only then can you hope to glimpse the true Dao."
Upon hearing this, Li Changkong respectfully stood up, hands by his side, looking even more obedient than he did in front of his Master, Immortal Lord Yuheng.
Sword Without Dust, standing by, was already dumbfounded.
What exactly was going on?
From his perspective, he only saw Han Xuanji raise a hand, nod, and then the overbearing Li Changkong knelt?
And apologized to him?
This… what exactly was the situation?
He had heard that Li Changkong was not a good person, often offending others, and if it weren't for his extraordinary background, he would have been dealt with long ago.