2284 2284. Efficiency

The various major battles had resumed after the surprise caused by Noah's technique waned. Even King Elbas and Divine Architect had started to tease themselves relatively seriously.

Most of those experts had taken their time to inspect the power expressed by Noah's isolated battlefield. After all, his technique had created a blind spot in everyone's senses. That was far from a usual event.

Still, two experts had resumed their fight before everyone else. Sword Saint and the old man had gone back to their powerful exchanges right after confirming that Noah had grown stronger again.

The privileged cultivator was on the defensive. Sword Saint wasn't giving him the time to launch attacks due to his relentless offensive, but that didn't bring the advantage in his favor.

The old man seemed to have no problem dealing with the countless powerful attacks flying in his direction. He dodged and deflected everything effortlessly, without summoning any unique technique or energy.

The privileged cultivator was suffering injuries, but they were superficial, at least for him. He let Sword Saint cut his chest, arms, legs, and face as long as the damage didn't reach his world.

Sword Saint was a true maniac. His devotion wasn't something that his companions could match. It was so deep that he had allowed the sword path to turn him into its avatar. However, that didn't make him clueless about other powers.

Sword Saint's fighting experience was immense. He had spent a vast part of his life challenging powerful experts to hone his techniques and understanding of his path. He was on par with Noah and Divine Demon in that field, so it didn't take him long to understand his opponent's ability.

Nevertheless, that understanding didn't grant Sword Saint the chance to exploit eventual flaws. The old man didn't have any. His ability was beyond mistakes. He was simply perfect.

Every leader on Heaven and Earth's side had given up on containing the landmass, so Sword Saint and the old man fought all across the higher plane. Sword Saint chased his opponent without taking breaks, but his offensive wasn't leading anywhere.

Sword Saint launched a barrage of silver slashes that fused to create a sharp river during their flight. The privileged cultivator was running away from Sword Saint's optimal range, but the arrival of the attack forced him to stop.

The silver river crashed on the privileged cultivator, but its structure shattered a few seconds after the impact. The attack transformed into countless shards that flew aimlessly through the void.

The rain of shards hurt the privileged cultivator, but his innate defenses limited those injuries to his skin. Part of the silver energy tried to stab him deeply, but the power coming out of his world fended it off.

Stopping such a massive attack without any unique method was theoretically impossible. Sword Saint had reached the solid stage. He had become so strong that even King Elbas would struggle to defend against his offensive.

<br/>However, the privileged cultivator had shattered that attack effortlessly. He had destabilized the very structure of the silver river to turn it into smaller chunks of energy that were easier to handle.

The privileged cultivator didn't show only experience with that approach. His defense was incredibly precise and efficient. He could fend off powerful attacks by exploiting their innate flaws, and he moved to achieve that.

Sword Saint followed with a sprint that brought him right before the old man. The expert swung his arm to launch a cross-shaped slash aimed at the privileged cultivator's chest, but the latter instantly teleported away.

Sword Saint was ready for that evasive maneuver. The old man had already used it multiple times during the previous exchanges. He could perform an instantaneous short-distance teleport to avoid the bigger attacks, but that behavior had made him predictable.

The old man reappeared above Sword Saint only to find himself surrounded by a series of sword-shaped masses of energy that rotated to point at him.

The attacks shot forward and threatened to pierce their way toward the depths of the privileged cultivator's world, but the latter released a shockwave right before the impact.

The silver swords suffered greatly as the shockwave passed through them. Their structure wavered and put them in a position where they couldn't express their real power.

The old man used that change to tap on each silver sword gently. The gesture made those attacks crumble, and their energy quickly vanished into the void.

Sword Saint didn't immediately charge forward again. He had seen enough of those exchanges to know that another offensive wouldn't work. He needed a different tactic, but he didn't want to come up with ploys. They went against his existence.

"Efficiency," Sword Saint exclaimed as he watched the shallow injuries on the old man's figure closing up.

"Not quite," The old man responded. "Though I guess it's close to the truth."

"Your world allows you to perform incredible acts with little to no consumption of energy," Sword Saint continued. "You are like Xavier, but you don't need his tools."

"I'm not worthy of such praises," The old man humbly announced. "Xavier Elbas is an unparalleled inscription master. Even Heaven and Earth acknowledged him."

"Is this a façade?" Sword Saint asked.

"What do you mean?" The privileged cultivator questioned.

"Your humble behavior," Sword Saint explained. "Are you using it to make me lower my guard?"

"That wouldn't work against you," The old man chuckled. "You are going all-out. You all are. I suspect nothing could make you hold back."

"How is someone as strong as you so humble then?" Sword Saint asked.

"I'm not that strong," The old man replied. "Heaven and Earth wield true strength. Everyone else is weak compared to them."

"Your devotion is commendable," Sword Saint praised.

"It's not devotion," The privileged cultivator stated. "I'm simply sticking to my role."

"I take it back," Sword Saint snorted. "A cultivator who doesn't recognize his own worth is pitiful."

"My own worth," The old man sighed. "Pride and similar feelings are hindrances on the path to power."

"My entire organization proves the exact opposite," Sword Saint declared.

"Wrong," The old man corrected. "It will prove that if you defeat the sky, which can't happen. You lack the power to do it."

Sword Saint didn't want to argue over that pointless topic. Only facts could prove one side right, and Heaven and Earth had yet to show their true power. The battlefield would reach that point soon, but now he had other things to handle.

"Aren't you the leader of your army?" Sword Saint wondered. "The other experts don't seem suitable for that role."

"Heaven and Earth are our leaders," The old man uttered. "Everyone else is an asset. I merely happen to be the most restrained and cool-headed of the bunch."

"Because you are pitiful," Sword Saint mocked.

"Efficiency," The old man repeated. "You really got close to it. I guess it did start as something similar, but entire eras have passed. It's hard to remember right now."

"What kind of power needs you to throw away pride and similar feelings?" Sword Saint wondered. "No ability is worth that."

"It's not about the payoff," The privileged cultivator exclaimed. "Perfection already is a good reward."