A Showdown? Lu Xueqi Versus Tian Ling'er!

Below the dueling platform.

A young man in blue robes cradled the King's Sword in his arms.

He walked down with an utterly indifferent expression.

The surrounding Qingyun disciples, who had been watching, parted to clear a path in unison, staring blankly at the youth before them, clearly still reeling from that one sword strike just moments ago...

At that moment.

A flamboyant young man in white robes was the first to snap out of it.

A folding fan in hand, he eagerly shoved through the crowd and sidled up to Wang Quan Yan in two or three quick steps, saying:

"Senior Brother Wang Quan?"

"I am Zeng Shushu of Wind Return Peak!"

"That sword strike of yours just now was utterly magnificent—may I ask which sword art of our Qingyun Sect it belongs to?"

Hearing this.

Wang Quan Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

He looked at Zeng Shushu, who had squeezed up beside him, and was somewhat surprised by this fellow's arrival.

"It's not a sword art of the Qingyun Sect."

Wang Quan Yan shook his head.

Zeng Shushu looked intrigued: "Then what sword art did Senior Brother Wang Quan use? Could it be some sword art from a Rogue Cultivator in the cultivation world, which you inherited by chance!?"

"That shouldn't be."

"A sword art with such formidable power—if it belonged to a Rogue Cultivator in the cultivation world, it shouldn't be so utterly unknown..."

Zeng Shushu had read widely.

He had even studied works like the Spring and Autumn Annals, and was familiar with all sorts of extraordinary individuals and powerful techniques.

If Wang Quan Yan wasn't using a Qingyun Sect sword art.

But one from an outside Rogue Cultivator.

Then he couldn't possibly fail to recognize it...

Wang Quan Yan raised an eyebrow again. He turned his head to look at Zeng Shushu and said calmly: "Is it possible that I didn't use any sword art at all? A mere waste at the Sixth Layer of Jade Purity isn't worth me employing a technique..."

"That sword strike was just a casual swing of mine."

At these words.

Zeng Shushu's eyes went wide.

A casual swing?

Defeating an enemy at the Sixth Layer of Jade Purity!

This...

It was simply terrifying to such a degree!

Wang Quan Yan swore he wasn't trying to show off—he was merely stating a simple fact.

"Shua!"

Just then.

Wang Quan Yan's steps faltered.

He sensed a gaze fixed on him.

With that thought.

Wang Quan Yan turned his head without hesitation.

There, from the direction of Dragon Head Peak, Qi Hao stared at him with a dark expression, a fierce hostility flickering deep in his eyes.

"Heh—"

Wang Quan Yan let out a disdainful laugh.

He immediately averted his gaze, not even bothering to acknowledge that old relic Qi Hao...

Zeng Shushu stood by.

He had clearly witnessed the exchange of looks between Wang Quan Yan and Qi Hao, and his mind drifted to the gossip he'd overheard yesterday at the entrance of Jade Purity Hall...

Thinking of this.

A glint of gossipy curiosity flashed in Zeng Shushu's eyes.

But he had the good sense not to ask outright. Instead, he leaned in close to Wang Quan Yan and said in a sly, hushed tone:

"Senior Brother Wang Quan."

"I happen to have a copy of the Heavenly Earth Marvelous Book here. Would you be interested in flipping through a page or two?"

Wang Quan Yan felt a flicker of interest.

A marvelous book?

Speaking of that, his mind went to the most mysterious thing in the Jade Dynasty world—the Five Volumes of Heavenly Tome. But there was no way Zeng Shushu had any of those on him...

Wang Quan Yan thought back for a moment.

He recalled what kind of character Zeng Shushu was in the original story, and immediately understood what kind of "marvelous book" he was talking about.

Probably something along the lines of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Wang Quan Yan's expression turned serious.

Perfect timing.

He was just missing a "Lu Xueqi instruction manual."

"Junior Brother Zeng."

"May I borrow a word?"

Wang Quan Yan said with a straight face.

Hearing this.

Zeng Shushu was momentarily stunned.

Borrow a word? Sure, the "marvelous book" in his hands did need to be kept discreet, but there was no one else around here anyway.

Zeng Shushu instinctively glanced around.

After confirming there was no one nearby, he scratched his head and looked at Wang Quan Yan. "Senior Brother, there's no one here. Why do we need to borrow a word..."

Suddenly, Zeng Shushu froze.

Borrow a word?

Borrow a volume!

Sss—

Zeng Shushu's face filled with awe. "Senior Brother, are you saying... borrow a volume?"

"The child can be taught."

Wang Quan Yan nodded with a smile.

At that moment.

A grin spread across Zeng Shushu's face.

It was the smile of someone who had found a kindred spirit.

So Senior Brother Wang Quan was just like him—someone who read the Spring and Autumn Annals!

Thinking this.

Zeng Shushu slyly pulled a small, coverless booklet from his robes.

"Senior Brother Wang Quan."

"Here, take this one first. I've already gotten bored of it..."

Hearing this.

Wang Quan Yan took it without any hesitation.

He flipped through a page casually, then immediately tucked it away.

"Junior Brother Zeng."

"Thank you. I consider you a friend now."

Wang Quan Yan patted Zeng Shushu on the shoulder.

This guy was something else. As the son of the Wind Return Peak Chief, with no lack of talent himself, he was bound to be the next Wind Return Peak Leader—worth befriending...

After that.

The two chatted a bit more.

Then each went their separate ways.

Today's Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament had concluded; the remaining matches would be held tomorrow.

Wang Quan Yan didn't return to the Grand Bamboo Peak group's courtyard. Instead, he went alone to the Ancestor's Hall behind Tongtian Peak, shared some wine with Wan Jianyi, and told him about the day's events...

Wan Jianyi raised an eyebrow.

When he heard that Lu Xueqi had also broken a Dragon Head Peak disciple's natal sword, a hearty grin spread across his face.

"Not bad, not bad."

"Looks like that little girl has some interest in you too."

"In that case, I suppose I don't need to teach you how to chase after girls..."

Wang Quan Yan shot a contemptuous glance at Wan Jianyi.

Teaching me how to pick up girls?

As if!

The next morning, at dawn.

On the square outside Jade Purity Hall.

Many Qingyun Disciples gathered.

Today was the Top 32 to Top 16 round of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament.

Quite a few disciples were discussing who would be the favorite to win this tournament. Some said Qi Hao—after all, he had placed second in the last tournament, and sixty years had passed since then, so his cultivation must have advanced further...

Others thought it was Wang Quan Yan.

After all, the scene of him defeating his opponent with a single sword yesterday had been utterly shocking.

Of course.

Wang Quan Yan's supporters were still relatively few.

After all, three months ago he had only been a waste at the Third Layer of Jade Purity. No one believed he could compare with Qi Hao, who had cultivated for nearly a hundred years.

Many were also supporting Lu Xueqi.

These people had a very correct worldview—their main principle was that "good looks" equaled justice!

"Clang—"

As the peak masters appeared on the high platform.

The elder of Tongtian Peak struck the bronze bell on the arena.

"This match."

"Small Bamboo Peak's Lu Xueqi versus Grand Bamboo Peak's Tian Ling'er!"

As these words were spoken.

Wang Quan Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

He instinctively looked at the aloof maiden standing beside Shui Yue, then glanced at Tian Ling'er not far from him.

The two women locked eyes.

A faint tension of rivalry emerged.

Lu Xueqi no longer held any goodwill toward Tian Ling'er. Not only that, she even felt some dislike for her.

Likewise.

Tian Ling'er also detested Lu Xueqi.

Two nights ago, she had been scolded to her face by Lu Xueqi. Today, she was determined to wash away that shame!

PS: Please keep reading!!!