Emily Clark finished speaking, and the sword in her hand thrust straight out. Though the sword moved through empty air, it displayed an unbroken, continuous momentum, as if countless variations were hidden behind a single strike. No matter how an opponent tried to respond, they would inevitably fall into her next move.

　　However...

　　Liam Carter stepped forward, thrusting his sword with his right hand.

　　This thrust had no technique to speak of—it was the simplest, most ordinary stab.

　　Aside from the angle being a bit off, it could practically serve as a textbook example of a basic sword thrust.

　　Not to mention Liam Carter's swordsmanship.

　　When Liam Carter counterattacked, stepping forward and thrusting with an utterly average speed and strength, Matthew Hill, Sophia, and Michael Wright, who had all reached the stage of tempering true qi, as well as Emily Clark who was currently dueling him, all frowned at the same time.

　　"This speed..."

　　"Could it be that he hasn't even cultivated true qi yet?"

　　Once true qi is formed, it significantly enhances the body. If true qi is channeled to certain parts, it can increase sword speed, attack power, resistance to blows, and quicken footwork and movement. Therefore, whether someone has true qi, or is circulating it, is something those who have achieved it can sense at a glance.

　　"Bang!"

　　The swords of Liam Carter and Emily Clark instantly clashed.

　　As their strength collided, the force of the rebound traveled along Liam Carter's sword, spreading out and causing his body to pause unnaturally.

　　Seeing this, Emily Clark could already confirm that Liam Carter truly had not yet cultivated true qi.

　　In other words, in terms of cultivation, he was a notch below Matthew Hill.

　　Sigh...

　　He never did receive guidance from a renowned master.

　　Emily Clark felt a pang of regret.

　　"Haha, I thought he was some expert, but it turns out he's just a third-rate swordsman still at the stage of storing inner power. With such meager cultivation, I really don't know where you got the nerve to shamelessly challenge Miss Clark."

　　Matthew Hill, thinking he had seen through Liam Carter's background, laughed loudly and criticized him.

　　Liam Carter remained unmoved.

　　The difference between true qi and inner qi meant that Liam Carter nearly lost his balance at the start of the clash. However, the pause in his movement did not affect his swordsmanship in the slightest. Instead, he used the momentary pause to change the angle of his thrust, stabbing out once more.

　　Again, it was an ordinary thrust.

　　But this thrust completely blocked the counterattack Emily Clark had been preparing, forcing her to intercept Liam Carter's sword once again.

　　"Bang!"

　　There was no suspense at all.

　　Emily Clark's sword easily intercepted Liam Carter's exceedingly simple thrust in midair.

　　After blocking this sword, Emily Clark was about to counterattack and secure victory. However, Liam Carter's attacks forced Emily Clark to respond, and even if his attack was interrupted, he could immediately incorporate the force of the interruption into his swordplay, using force against force, transforming it into a new attack. This allowed him to always be a step ahead of Emily Clark, forcing her to passively react to his sword technique.

　　"Hmm!"

　　After three exchanges, Emily Clark vaguely sensed something was off.

　　After ten moves, she found herself still passively responding to Liam Carter's attacks. This finally made her take things seriously: "This sword technique... striking later but arriving first? Interesting..."

　　"Buzz buzz!"

　　Emily Clark's swordsmanship changed, no longer focusing on the entangling silk sword technique that disrupted others' sword momentum, but instead...

　　"Thunderclap!"

　　With a low cry from Emily Clark, her aura changed dramatically. The sword she thrust out became extremely aggressive, not only as forceful as thunder but also as fast as lightning. Those swordsmen who had not yet cultivated true qi only saw a flash of sword light before their eyes... the chilling sword radiance filled their vision!

　　"If Miss Clark uses the entangling silk sword technique, he might still have a chance, since that technique adapts to others' swordplay and is often used to restrain, tangle, and maneuver, making it less aggressive than other sword techniques. But the Thunderclap Sword... is one of the most offensive sword techniques at the true qi stage of the Kunlun Sect. When the Thunderclap Sword is unleashed, it usually means the outcome is decided."

　　"It's over."

　　Sophia and Michael Wright almost simultaneously pronounced Liam Carter's defeat.

　　After saying "it's over," Sophia even curled his lip: "This kid talks tough and has a good eye. I thought he might surprise me and teach that proud little girl a lesson... I didn't expect he was just a fancy pillow—looks good but useless..."

　　"Bang!"

　　Before he finished speaking, the sound of swords clashing echoed clearly through the air.

　　In everyone's eyes, the sword that should have decided the match was actually blocked by Liam Carter at the critical moment.

　　Not only blocked.

　　After blocking this thunderous, lightning-fast strike, his right hand, which seemed to be trembling from the shock, instead perfectly used that tremor, vibrating his own sword along Emily Clark's blade and thrusting straight out. If Emily Clark tried to execute a new variation of the Thunderclap Sword, her entire right hand would be severed at the wrist by Liam Carter's sword...

　　"That's strange!"

　　The sudden turn of events left Sophia and Michael Wright stunned.

　　"How could this be..."