The last external talent Hou Niao encountered was Iron Crown Daoist from the Anchor Chain.

This person's mana cultivation was even deeper than Hou Niao's, perhaps not inferior to even the weakest among the twelve Masters of the Sword Sect, such as Old Wu?

The Anchor Chain could barely count as the Upper Realm, and the cultivators emerging from there were indeed extraordinary, far stronger than those Golden Core cultivators Hou Niao had encountered on Hell Star.

He could already guess that this person's background was extraordinary, probably not a true offender, but rather a special envoy with a noble mission; under normal circumstances, if the Sword Sect accepted such a person, it might lead to great trouble, but now he's not the person he once was, his perspective has expanded beyond just the Jinxiu Continent and the Anchor Chain Star System.

He had a premonition that the enemies he would face in the future might belong to another level of unknown, and in front of such opponents, whether they were from Jinxiu or the Anchor Chain did not matter much anymore.

Moreover, there is something that cannot be faked, and that is the love for swords, which cannot deceive people, nor can it deceive flying swords!

He was willing to take a gamble, to bet that this person was a true sword cultivator, to bet that this person would eventually stand with the Dushan Sword Lineage, but before that, he needed to let him feel the deterrent power.

Iron Crown Daoist also had the same thought; he was a very proud person. He respected the Qingkong Sword Vein, but that didn't mean he truly respected the current Dushan Sword Lineage.

Over these five years of cold observation, he actually did not see many people with real strength, but being new, it wasn't wise to rashly make enemies, especially since he had accepted a sword embryo from the Dushan Sword Lineage.

He was a person with clear distinctions; now, finally seeing the so-called number one in the Sword Sect, he planned to prove himself.

"Sect Hierarch, I want a fair duel with you!"

Hou Niao remained expressionless, "Very well, I also want to see the Anchor Chain's swordsmanship, without holding back; it's the rule of sword cultivators."

Iron Crown Daoist agreed gladly; what he hated most was soft-heartedness from others, which he didn't require; victory is victory, defeat is defeat, there's no room for petty excuses in life-and-death battles.

Seeing Hou Niao standing still, understanding he valued his identity, unwilling to strike first, he hesitated not a moment, shrugged his shoulders, and shot out a flying sword, with mighty momentum, Dao Realm filled, the sword's array engraved, flashing with indescribable mystical light, striking awe into the heart.

It was the first time Hou Niao witnessed such swordsmanship, though unfamiliar, he had heard from Senior Sister Yue Duo that there seemed to be such a method in the Qingkong Sword Vein, known as Outer Sword Skill, complementing the Inner Sword Skill.

Astonished he may have been, but he would not give this person any chance because this person believed in might as right, as long as you are stronger, he will submit to you.

The Purple Mansion moved, a flying sword soared out, intercepting in mid-air; such Outer Sword Skill had numerous drawbacks, fear of losing, fear of polluting, fear of traps, and limited sword light division, but it had one very prominent advantage, which was the weight of sword momentum, far surpassing the Divided Sword Light.

Hou Niao just sent out a flying sword, and Iron Crown's outer sword already divided into nine rays of sword light, the limit of his Outer Sword Skill, while another flying sword darted out from his shoulder.

Hou Niao acted as though he didn't see, each of the opponent's rays of Sword Qi was intercepted by his three rays of Sword Qi, precisely, each strike focusing on the same spot, causing it to fall immediately, even cutting off its connection with Iron Crown's divine sense.

Then followed Iron Crown's second outer sword, third one... right up to the ninth.

Iron Crown Daoist's sword deployment was extremely swift; all nine outer swords shot out within a breath, each sword dividing into nine sword light shadows, totaling eighty-one, combined with the distance of less than a hundred feet between him and Hou Niao, such sword deployment, no one throughout the Dushan Sword Lineage, not even among the twelve Masters, could entirely intercept.

Because the distance was too short, so-called flying sword cultivators didn't have enough space to complete sword light division; that's the difference between Outer Sword Skill and Inner Sword Skill.

Inner Sword Skill required distance and time to divide, while Outer Sword Skill used array on the sword to fly, thus dividing quickly, but not many.

Not to mention whether his flying sword could harm the opponent, just with this sword skill, he believed no one in Dushan could withstand it, they would only retreat!

Iron Crown Daoist was indeed a man with resolve, possessing such sword technique and yet holding back for five years without action, that was quite steadfastness.

But the first time he took action, he hit a snag, sending out a total of eighty-one rays of sword light, thinking the opponent could not possibly divide equivalent sword light at such a short distance, but did not expect Hou Niao to directly divide into two hundred forty-three rays, three rays to one of his.

One for interception, one for slashing, one for severing the divine sense connection.

The result was now evident, the battle began and within a breath, all nine of his outer swords were lying in the snow between them, an army without combatant.

Incredible skill!

Indeed, this Chief Hou was the only person in Dushan to have received a true inheritance from Qingkong.

Iron Crown was not discouraged, nor did he retrieve his swords, he lunged forward, drawing a longsword with a sweeping motion; in the Anchor Chain Star System, his Iron Crown's close combat sword technique was renowned, throughout the star system, there were less than a handful in the same realm who could withstand his close-quarter attack.

He knew this Chief Hou would definitely not evade, nor use the flying sword to attack him again; although he knew he had lost, but still wanted to regain some face in close combat, even losing, enduring dozens of exchanges was within his capacity.

Closing in swiftly, the opponent indeed did not use the flying sword, nor did he evade.

Instead, a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, drew the sword with a backhand strike!

This was the most dangerous state in close combat, neither side evading, not yielding, what mattered was who blinked before dying!

Whoever blinks first loses their judgment and is defeated!

Iron Crown Daoist didn't expect a Sect Hierarch, of such noble status, to be so crazy with swordplay, by now there was no way out, only to widen his eyes, placing life and death aside, regardless of whether the opponent was a Sect Hierarch or a mere cultivator, the blade only seeks to target the opponent's forehead!

He indeed didn't blink, but while his eyes didn't blink, his heart did.

Their paths crossed, without even the sound of blades clashing, Iron Crown Daoist could feel his longsword narrowly missing the opponent's forehead but seemed unharmed himself?

Hou Niao stood turned away, this sword was interesting, quite good, but not enough!

"Excellent swordsmanship, an outer sword inheritance, indeed deserving of its reputation."

Just as Iron Crown was about to speak, he only felt a slight coolness atop his head, carrying his symbolic iron crown, representing his identity, now what?

Running a hand over it, he found an incredibly precise sword mark splitting his iron crown in two, clean and neat, yet not harming his scalp at all.

Startled, he knelt on one knee, "Iron Crown of the Anchor Chain, willing to serve the Sect Hierarch as master! This was my last time using the Outer Sword; from now on, Iron Crown will switch to studying the Inner Sword, following the Sect Hierarch."

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