Dragon Boat Secret Realm 18: Sword Qi

Though Manqing Sword’s hunger was ill-timed, it had followed Su Qing through blood and battle. What was wrong with wanting a snack?

But there was a problem. To ensure its peak condition, she’d fed it spirit sea ore yesterday—how was it hungry again so soon?

A bad premonition stirred in Su Qing’s heart.

*It couldn’t be bored of its food already, could it?*

Li Jian’s relentless attacks left no time to dwell. Su Qing swung Manqing Sword, knocking his Array-Breaking Sword aside. After three moves, neither gained the upper hand, and both stepped back, seeking an opening.

The brief clash gave each insight into the other’s strength.

Su Qing noted Li Jian’s watertight defense—an experienced fighter.

Li Jian, too, was impressed. This woman’s strength matched rumors, far surpassing early Qi Refining. She fought him evenly, trading blows.

Su Qing attacked next, muscles bulging, legs powering forward. With a light step, Manqing Sword whipped through the air, a dark shadow stabbing at Li Jian’s throat.

Unruffled, Li Jian bent his knees, slipping under the heavy blade. Gripping his sword with both hands, he pushed upward, forcing it back. Su Qing faltered, retreating half a step.

Seizing the moment, Li Jian thrust his Array-Breaking Sword at her waist, fire qi surging, coating the blade.

Spectators tensed, hearts sinking. A hit could burn skin and rupture organs. Tang Yu shouted, “Watch out! Dodge!”

Chen Minjing was nervous but calmed seeing Jiang Xiaocao’s greater anxiety. “It’s fine. Trust her.”

Jiang Xiaocao, ready to cast a spell, restrained himself, watching intently.

Su Qing didn’t overthink. She released Manqing Sword, sidestepping nimbly to evade. Li Jian, unfazed by the miss, pressed forward.

Red Sun Sect cheered; Sword Sect held their breath. A fourth-layer against a seventh-layer—they hadn’t expected Su Qing to win, just to avoid humiliation.

An early defeat would be too shameful.

Amid the crowd’s tension, Su Qing locked eyes with Li Jian, anticipating his next move. She reached out, calling, “Sword, come!”

Manqing Sword, bonded to her, rose instantly, leveling parallel to the ground, thrusting at Li Jian’s back.

The move surprised all. Though first-tier spirit weapons could respond to their master, such synergy was rare. Li Jian abandoned his attack to dodge. In two breaths, Manqing Sword’s hilt was back in Su Qing’s hand.

She gripped it, charging again.

Now advantaged, Su Qing attacked while Li Jian defended. Her main weakness was her lesser spiritual energy—prolonged fights favored him.

Quick resolution was key. Su Qing activated the sword’s array. With a *bang*, white qi surged, the first purple qi bursting forth, propelling Manqing Sword toward Li Jian.

The strike’s force was immense. Unable to dodge, Li Jian blocked, knees bending, veins bulging. His heels sank into the ground, a strained grunt escaping him.

Fear flashed in his eyes. Heavy swords were slow, but this strike was both heavy and fast, nearly overwhelming him.

Had he failed to block, defeat by a fourth-layer would be unthinkable for a seventh-layer like him.

Gritting his teeth, eyes bloodshot, he pushed back, slowly lifting his sword against hers.

Su Qing raised an eyebrow, impressed. His sword was tough—most weapons would’ve shattered under Manqing Sword’s weight and momentum.

The strike failed, so she swung again, unleashing the second purple qi. The swords clashed with a dull metallic *thud*, the force driving Li Jian to his knees, blood seeping from his orifices, sliding back two steps before stabilizing.

“What formidable strength,” Xie Ying praised. “A heavy sword without edge—great skill in simplicity!”

Ling Xiaorui’s hands itched. “I’m tempted to switch to heavy swords—so cool!”

Li Jian, head lowered in defense, caught Su Qing’s eyes—dark as a vortex’s depths, eerily calm.

He growled, “Again!”

An uncommon request, but Su Qing obliged. Instead of the third purple qi, she mimicked his earlier move, channeling gold qi from her dantian onto the sword.

Manqing Sword buzzed joyfully, as if delighted. Gold qi, the sharpest of the five elements, amplified the blade’s aura, making it even more imposing.

Su Qing felt a spark of insight, sensing this would be a pivotal strike. Her body moved first, sheathing the sword upright, then slashing sideways as she passed Li Jian. Her arm followed through, muscles taut, waist twisting, drawing a wide arc.

This was an incomplete 360-degree horizontal slash, with shorter charge but decent power, ideal for close combat. As the move formed, her sword resonated with her heart, emitting a small gust that cut Li Jian’s hair.

*Was that a hint of sword qi?*

Li Jian didn’t retreat. Facing her slash, he gripped his sword with both hands, blocking. Gold and fire qi clashed, sparking brilliant flames.

He activated his sword’s array, shouting, “Break Sword!”

Spiritual light flowed into the blade’s edge, sharp gold qi surging toward Manqing Sword—

If it pierced, her sword would break, shifting the fight in his favor.

But, to Li Jian’s shock, the gold qi vanished into Manqing Sword like a fish in the sea. No cracks appeared; instead, the blade gleamed brighter.

Was it his imagination, or did his Array-Breaking Sword dim?

Something was off. Bonded to his sword, he sensed its distress. Experience prompted him to slide his blade off, sparks flying.

Once separated, the bad feeling faded. Perhaps he’d imagined it—his sword felt lighter, but it was intact, no cracks.

Su Qing withdrew Manqing Sword, standing aside, expression calm but eyebrows drooping, betraying faint guilt.

She gripped the hilt, silently warning: *Behave.*

Manqing Sword stood silently, as if obedient—though if it had a mouth, it might’ve argued. Its true message to Su Qing: *Tasty. More.*

Li Jian never expected a fourth-layer to be so tough. He gained no advantage in swordplay, constantly suppressed.

Fortunately, his spiritual energy was deeper. If swordplay failed, he’d use spells. As a seasoned rogue cultivator, he had plenty of tricks.

After the exchange, Su Qing’s dantian was barely drained—one-tenth at most. Two of three purple qi were used, but she had reserves.

Li Jian, however, stopped sword fighting. Retreating, he pressed his palm to the ground, casting Earth Movement. Spiritual energy poured out, raising a sturdy earth shield between them.

*Bad sign—he’s charging something!*
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Su Qing struck the shield, aiming to shatter it, but Li Jian was faster. The shield burst from within, unleashing a coiling, python-thick bolt of blue-purple lightning.

“Thunder Array Artifact?!” an Artifact Sect disciple exclaimed. “A second-tier mid-grade artifact—he’s bullying her!”

They turned to Body Sect. “Did you guys pool for any good treasures for her?”

“Exactly,” Talisman Sect added. “He’s unfair, so we don’t have to be. A few hundred talismans could wear him out!”

“Or an array,” Array Sect boasted. “A mid-tier array could trap him!”

Body Sect sweated. “Uh… we refine our bodies with everything we’ve got. Anything not for refining was sold for spirit stones to refine more. We’ve got nothing fancy.”

It wasn’t their fault—Body Sect’s greatest asset was their physique. If Su Qing could summon them into the arena for a group fight, they’d jump in. Why did it sound like they were disloyal?

Body Sect glared. “What about you guys? Gave her nothing?”

Others looked away, some muttering honestly, “She wasn’t likable before. Sect fights are one thing, but following her? Why should we listen to Body Sect?”

Body Sect scoffed. “Petty thoughts!”

Past was past. Su Qing’s stand, holding her own, shifted perceptions in this strength-driven world.

While the crowd fretted, Su Qing’s eyes lit up.

*Lightning? Perfect!*

It was a chance to test her body refining. Eating Nine Heavens Spirit Grass daily had transformed her. Her meridians and roots strengthened, her organs toughened—she’d refined internally.

Since inheriting the wild boar’s legacy, its death from internal refining failure had spurred her to balance inner and outer strength.

Instead of dodging, she charged, sword raised.

She wasn’t reckless. If the lightning was too much, her fourth-tier robe could shield her.

Li Jian was stunned—she was speeding up!

What was her plan? Did she have a trump card?

Years as a rogue cultivator taught him to talk tough without over-provoking. Losing after trash-talking meant worse beatings. He’d mastered measured taunts.

“This is second-tier lightning—none below Foundation Establishment can withstand it. Yield now, or don’t blame me when you’re charred!” he said, lowering his voice. “Losing now isn’t shameful. Stop here to avoid injury—cultivation’s what matters. You know plenty dislike you. I’m just paid to fight.”

As Su Qing closed within a meter, her clothes brushing the lightning, singeing, his temples twitched. After their swordplay, he no longer underestimated her. She must have a plan. He sent a secret transmission: “How about I split Red Sun’s payment? Don’t try too hard—just do enough.”

Before he finished, Su Qing and her sword plunged into the lightning. Bolts coiled like dragons, slashing like blades. Silver snakes danced, air thick with burnt scent.

Spectators winced, feeling the pain. *That’s gotta hurt. She’s brave.*

Some shouted, “Enough! Stop!”

But amid the chaos, Su Qing’s calm eyes gleamed with lightning’s reflection, showing no fear—only a hint of joy.

Li Jian wasn’t lying—the lightning was potent, stronger than her first three heavenly tribulations. It stung like blades, but she wasn’t the old Su Qing. Tribulation lightning tempered her, Fierce Erosion Grass solidified her base, and Nine Heavens Spirit Grass gave her a near-Foundation Establishment physique.

The lightning couldn’t kill her. She could take it.

And if she could, someone else would.

Raising Manqing Sword, she let lightning coil around it. Eyes narrowed, she aimed at Li Jian’s eyes. The final purple qi erupted, its recoil stirring a storm of air. In a flash, she pierced the lightning array, appearing before Li Jian, swinging hard.

Her breath slowed, focus narrowing to a single point.

Heart calm, qi sunk to her dantian, time stretched—

She swung, lightning coalescing like a beast unleashed, charging Li Jian. Her dantian’s qi followed, fueling a massive storm.

*Sword qi formed.*

The strike drained ninety percent of her qi. If Li Jian could still fight, she’d lose. No hesitation—she followed up, thrusting her sword into the ground by his neck as the lightning and storm flung him back.

Dust rose and settled. The crowd held its breath. Did it work?

Su Qing pressed the hilt, standing. Beneath her, Li Jian lay charred, unconscious, a blackened heap. He was right—no one below Foundation Establishment could withstand second-tier lightning. His seventh-layer qi couldn’t either, especially with true sword qi following.

Medicine King Valley’s disciple rushed forward, stuffing a vitality pill in his mouth. After stabilizing him, she turned to Su Qing, wincing at her charred skin and raw flesh. “You okay?”

Su Qing’s face was unreadable, but her eyes shone. “I’m great. I won.”

Her dantian ached, muscles cramped, body covered in wounds—but she won, controlled the situation, protected herself, and even refined her body.

*What a win!*

Facing Red Sun Sect, Manqing Sword planted before her was a powerful deterrent. “See that? I won this debate. From now on, you follow my way.”

After a brief silence, Sword Sect erupted in thunderous cheers.

“Red Sun, hear that? We won!”

“Scared me to death—she actually won! So strong. No wonder she’s Body Sect—her foundation’s unreal. I’d be dead from one swing, never mind the lightning.”

“Someone really crossed three layers? I thought that was just storybook nonsense.”

“Think I should switch to heavy swords? Can I be that cool?”

Red Sun’s alliance soured. One snapped, “Fine, we’ll cut ties with Sword Sect. You can’t control us then!”

Sword Sect rolled up sleeves, cursing. “You set the rules, we win, and now you’re dodging? Want a beating?”

Su Qing figured, at this point, with Red Sun so stubborn, a fight might settle it. But she worried about losing control. As she pondered, tiny ice crystals fell, soothing her burnt skin.

*Snow? In this weather?*

Before she could dwell, a black-robed, sword-bearing woman approached, aura icy, frost trailing her steps, breath misting.

“Tian Ning?” Su Qing exclaimed. “When did you get here?”

“Just now,” Tian Ning said, tone cold. “I heard someone bullied you. Who?”

Her icy aura, fueled by ice qi, was unbearable even for cultivators. Su Qing, wielding her yang-heavy sword, was unfazed.

Arriving amid chaos, Tian Ning learned Red Sun had tricked Sword Sect into a rigged duel to bully Su Qing.

Her late Foundation Establishment aura silenced the crowd. Red Sun trembled, wishing to sink into the ground.

*Where’d this late Foundation Establishment cultivator come from?*

“Someone did bully me,” Su Qing said, pointing at Red Sun. “Them!”

“No, not me! I didn’t do anything that outrageous!” Red Sun protested inwardly. *You beat a seventh-layer—who’d dare bully you now?*