Lu Ye's heart raced, but a cold light gradually appeared in his eyes. Although Zhou Cheng was injured, he was still a cultivator with rich combat experience. Against such an enemy, Lu Ye could not afford to be careless. Especially Zhou Cheng’s long sword, which radiated a strong threat, made Lu Ye’s heart tighten.

"If that's the case, let's see how my Sharpness fares," Lu Ye silently made up his mind, concentrating his energy and quickly channeling spirit power into the long sword in his hand.

As expected, a complex and mysterious spirit rune appeared on the blade in an instant— it was the "Sharpness" spirit rune, which he had previously obtained from the Celestial Tree. This rune sharpened the sword’s edge, making it seem as though it could cut through anything in its path.

Zhou Cheng’s expression shifted slightly when he saw Lu Ye’s reaction. He clearly hadn't expected this low-level cultivator to dare to confront him head-on. With a low growl, he swung his sword even more forcefully, a surge of intense black spirit power flowing through the blade, resembling a giant black dragon charging forward.

Lu Ye’s heart skipped a beat. Although his spirit power was still limited, the "Sharpness" rune had completely transformed his swordsmanship. Facing Zhou Cheng’s attack, Lu Ye didn’t hesitate. With a light, agile twist of his body, he sidestepped, and the black sword light barely missed, almost slicing through his sleeve.

"Not bad, quick reflexes," Zhou Cheng sneered, clearly underestimating Lu Ye's strength.

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At that moment, Lu Ye found the opening he needed and struck back! His sword, empowered by the "Sharpness" rune, crashed down like a thunderbolt, carrying an irresistible sharpness as it slashed toward Zhou Cheng's chest.

Zhou Cheng's face changed drastically when he sensed the danger of the strike. He hurriedly countered, raising his long sword to block. The blades collided with a resounding crash, forcing both men to stagger backward a few steps. Zhou Cheng’s face turned even more unpleasant, feeling the pressure on his sword as it met Lu Ye’s blade.

"Impossible!" Zhou Cheng was stunned, unable to believe that a low-level cultivator’s swordsmanship could be so sharp.

However, Zhou Cheng was not without recourse. Seeing that Lu Ye had not pressed the attack, he quickly stabilized himself, raising his sword and charging once again. This time, he didn’t focus solely on brute strength; instead, he cleverly gathered spirit power at the tip of his sword, forming a black sword qi that shot toward Lu Ye with blinding speed, like a lightning bolt.

A blur appeared before Lu Ye’s eyes. He suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of pressure, his heart tightening. The sword qi was coming fast and viciously—if it hit, it would either kill or seriously wound him. Seeing Zhou Cheng’s exquisite swordplay and battle skills, Lu Ye’s heart raced, and the rhythm of the fight suddenly escalated.

But this was exactly the opportunity Lu Ye had been waiting for. With a low shout, he cried out: "Sharpness, break through!"

His eyes shut tightly as his spirit power surged violently, quickly focusing on the sword’s blade. With a deep breath, Lu Ye's sword blazed with a blinding silver light. The full power of the "Sharpness" rune erupted, and the blade cleaved through the black sword qi in the air.

With a deafening crash, the sword qi shattered into countless shards of spirit power, while Lu Ye’s sword, unhesitating, continued its course toward Zhou Cheng.