Chapter 2232: Live as Oneself

"Strange!"

Instead of answering Zhang Xuan's question, the little yellow chick frowned, his eyes showing disbelief.

"What's strange?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

"Since this is a life-and-death duel, both should go all out, fighting to the death. But why..." The little yellow chick seemed unable to believe it. "Are they both holding back?"

"Maybe they're just testing each other's skills... waiting for an opportunity!" Zhang Xuan said.

In any contest, it was always like this: first probe each other's strength, and once you've figured out your opponent's capabilities, use your strongest move to kill in one blow.

Although he didn't want to see the two harm each other, this involved the struggle for the Heavenly Mandate, and the duel had already begun; there was no way to stop it.

The ground continued to shake, cracks appearing everywhere. Mountain peaks turned to powder under the force of the impact, drifting in the air.

Fortunately, this wasn't in the God Realm; otherwise, such tremors would have caused a huge city like the Netherworld Imperial City to sink instantly, with countless gods unable to escape.

"Can your strength stop their fight?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

"I can't..." The little yellow chick shook his head. "After my rebirth, although my strength has improved somewhat, compared to those two, I'm still far behind! Both Lingxi Divine Sovereign and Tianzong Great Emperor are true pinnacle existences in the God Realm, not comparable to other sovereigns..."

Zhang Xuan sighed.

Though deep down he had already known this outcome, he still hoped for a miracle. Now it seemed miracles weren't so easy to come by.

Not to mention that the yellow chick's strength was inferior to theirs; even if it were comparable, what then?

The battle between the two could not be stopped. Rushing in would only invite disaster.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Sword beams streaked across the sky. Luo Ruoxin in the air had drawn her weapon.

Her swordsmanship was graceful and magnificent, exuding a familiar flavor. Zhang Xuan frowned as he watched.

It bore some resemblance to the young man's from the Sword Hut, but appeared freer, more unrestrained, full of spirit and elegance.

He turned to look at the old man, who seemed not to notice, his expression unchanged.

"It seems Luo Ruoxin also received guidance from that person in the Sword Hut..."

A thought struck him.

He had no clear concept of the Sword Hut master's exact strength due to his own low cultivation, but he knew that at the same level, he was far from being a match. Just this alone showed that the master was no weaker than Luo Ruoxin or Kong Shi.

Luo Ruoxin had learned his swordsmanship and infused it with her own soul, giving rise to her current techniques.

He observed carefully.

Luo Ruoxin's sword style carried a sense of protection, yet also a longing for freedom.

But something seemed to bind her, preventing her from unleashing her heart.

"If she were completely free... perhaps it would be even more brilliant..." A thought stirred within him.

In terms of cultivation, his strength was nothing compared to the two combatants, but his insight into swordsmanship and his discerning eye were no less than theirs.

Having comprehended a sword technique that transcended the Heavenly Dao was proof enough.

In Luo Ruoxin's swordsmanship, protection accounted for nearly ninety percent, leaving no flaw. Yet deep down, she yearned for freedom. The contradiction between the two, though suppressed to a very small degree, could easily expand in a battle between equals and ultimately become a fatal trigger.

He could see it, and Kong Shi surely could too.

Nervous, he looked at the teacher of all ages and saw that he too had drawn his weapon.

It was a staff.

The staff was long, the blade short. With a light press, space shattered into black holes.

Kong Shi had seen the flaws and gaps in the girl's sword technique. Staff after staff fell like a torrential downpour, impossible to block or defend against.

"What a formidable staff technique..." Zhang Xuan was stunned.

As the teacher of all ages, though Kong Shi was exceptionally powerful in martial arts, later generations appreciated more his understanding of cultivation and the master system. Thus, in the minds of all juniors, he was very refined.

Zhang Xuan had thought that even in battle, he would be graceful. Seeing this, he realized he had been overthinking...

The staff whistled through the air, each strike seeming to contain a world, irresistible...

It was pure brute force.

Completely different from his impression.

"That's right. How could mere refinement... have wiped out the Heterodox race?"

Recalling Kong Shi's many deeds along the way, Zhang Xuan gradually understood.

This wasn't brutality; it was power derived for the sake of all beings, for equality, for everyone to become a dragon.

On the Master Teacher Continent, for the strength of humanity, he had ventured alone into the Heterodox race, causing chaos, killing countless opponents... In the Upper Realm, he had established the Divine Communication Hall, eliminating countless experts and advancing civilization by a large margin...

From any perspective, Kong Shi was formidable.

But he was also selfless.

Teaching according to aptitude, educating without discrimination...

He was like a bundle of contradictions.

Fierce when necessary, gentle as spring breeze when merciful, making people want to bow down and become his disciples on the spot.

Clearly, his staff technique matched this state of mind. It seemed like a torrential downpour, yet it carried an aura of compassion. Often, when a fatal blow was about to land, he would alter it.

"This is also a flaw..."

He shook his head.

Luo Ruoxin yearned for freedom; Kong Shi was compassionate. They were not mortal enemies and couldn't bring themselves to kill ruthlessly...

In essence, these were major taboos in a life-and-death duel.

But this feeling was ingrained in their bones; changing it now would be even more dangerous.

"What about me?"

Seeing the crux of their techniques, Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought.

The 'Heaven's Affection' he had comprehended was full of tender feelings. Previously, it was filled with reluctance and unwillingness toward Luo Ruoxin, making his swordplay delicate and rich with emotion.

However, under the guidance of the Sword Hut master, his mindset had changed.

Valuing emotions was right, but family required not only affection but also protection!

Just like a man who is only an obedient good husband and good father but cannot earn money to support the family—he cannot make the family harmonious and lasting.

"Although this is a struggle for the Heavenly Mandate, if my strength had reached the Sovereign realm at this moment, I would have the qualification to find a way to solve the current problem, instead of watching helplessly as one of them must die..."

"If I had the power to protect the God Realm, they wouldn't have to do this..."

Thoughts swirled in his mind.

Witnessing them fight to the death was also a great torment for him.

But lacking strength, he could not stop it; he could only watch helplessly...

He wanted to protect, but couldn't.

"I am not suited for protection..."

At this moment, he finally understood that the Sword Hut master's swordsmanship was not applicable to him.

Having been reborn once, he did not like his fate being controlled by others.

From the Master Teacher Continent all the way here, he had never backed down from anything, protecting those he wanted to protect from harm... But he had never thought of protecting the world.

His heart was not about protection, but about... living as himself.