"Junior Brother, you used the Solar True Essence to cultivate and still didn't break through?"
Zhou Zhirou asked in disbelief.
One had to know that this Solar True Essence was an ancestral treasure of the Zhou Family. She had originally expected that after refining it, Lu Changsheng would at least step into the Divine Palace Realm.
Thus, a trace of disappointment unconsciously appeared on her face.
"Senior Sister, sometimes a breakthrough in cultivation does not necessarily mean anything. Not breaking through may instead be more beneficial."
Lu Changsheng smiled faintly.
After cultivating for three days, although Lu Changsheng had not broken through in cultivation, his entire being seemed to have undergone a transformation from the inside out. Even his aura had changed.
This change naturally came from refining the Solar True Essence!
Logically speaking, with a treasure such as the Solar True Essence, Lu Changsheng's cultivation should have advanced.
Yet in truth, Lu Changsheng had deliberately suppressed his breakthrough during cultivation. Naturally, he had his own reasons for doing so.
"Little Friend Lu is right. A breakthrough in cultivation does not represent everything. However, Little Friend Lu's strength is far greater than it was three days ago."
Zhou Qingtian applauded.
At this moment, even he, a powerhouse at the fifth level of the Divine Palace Realm, could vaguely sense a trace of danger from Lu Changsheng.
Thus, he concluded that although Lu Changsheng had not broken through after refining the Nine Yang True Essence, his strength had risen by at least several levels!
"Hmph! With Little Friend Lu fighting for our Zhou Family this time, we will surely shatter the Qin Family's sweet dream. They probably think our Zhou Family has no power to fight back. But who will live and who will die in this duel is not yet certain!"
The First Elder sneered.
"That's right. Though Qin Lie of the Qin Family is a heaven-favored genius, our Zhou Family is not without a chance of victory!"
The other elders echoed one after another.
They were clearly full of confidence in this duel. Especially after refining the Nine Yang True Essence, Lu Changsheng now gave off an even more unfathomable feeling.
One had to know that Lu Changsheng had previously, at the eighth level of the Core Condensation Realm, forcefully defeated Chen Ziyu, who possessed Half-step Divine Palace Realm strength. Now that he had refined the Nine Yang True Essence, his strength had risen by at least several levels.
"Patriarch Zhou, since that is the case, what are we waiting for? Isn't today the day of the duel between the two families?"
Lu Changsheng smiled faintly.
"Little Friend Lu, please! We have long prepared a carriage for you!"
Zhou Qingtian said with a smile.
With that, Lu Changsheng and the others boarded the carriage and departed from the Zhou Family.
Tianyang Plaza.
This was the largest martial arena in all of Tianyang City. Paved with bluestone and spanning a thousand zhang in every direction, it could accommodate tens of thousands of people.
At this moment, the area around the plaza was already packed with people, and the roar of voices surged like boiling waves.
Large and small factions from Tianyang City and its surroundings, along with countless independent cultivators, had all gathered here.
For everyone knew that today's battle would determine the future landscape of Tianyang City—the final showdown between the Zhou Family and the Qin Family!
At the center of the plaza stood a massive battle platform ten zhang high, inscribed with powerful defensive formations and exuding an icy, unyielding aura.
Today, this battle platform would be the place where the two great families fought their decisive battle!
"The Qin Family is here!"
A sudden stir swept through the crowd. From the eastern side of the plaza, a group of people strode over with the gait of dragons and tigers.
The man at the head was none other than Qin Tianba, the Qin Family Patriarch. He was broad and powerfully built, with a sinister face, while fierce spiritual energy fluctuations radiated from his body. At his right walked a young man in crimson combat attire.
The young man appeared to be just over twenty. His face was cold and sinister, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and his steps steady. Faint crimson halos of spiritual energy flowed around him, as though he were a volcano brimming with power.
Merely standing there, he naturally exuded a powerful pressure far beyond the Core Condensation Realm, instantly making the nearby martial artists struggle even to breathe.
This man was Qin Lie!
First level of the Divine Palace Realm!
Just as expected, this genius—second only to Qin Wentian and groomed by the Qin Family as their successor—had indeed entered the ranks of the Divine Palace Realm!
The Qin Family's party arrived with an overwhelming momentum, bearing the arrogance of certain victory. With heads high and chests out, they marched onto the elevated platform on the southern side of the plaza and looked down upon the entire venue.
"The Zhou Family has arrived as well!"
From the west, the Zhou Family's party entered under Zhou Qingtian's lead. Compared to the Qin Family's flamboyance, the Zhou Family members wore solemn expressions, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
However, when everyone's eyes fell upon the Green-robed Youth beside Zhou Qingtian, the atmosphere became somewhat subtle. Curiosity, doubt, anticipation... all kinds of gazes intertwined.
Lu Changsheng's expression was calm and his steps unhurried, as though the crowd roaring like mountains and seas around him, along with the Qin Family's oppressive momentum, had nothing to do with him.
His gaze swept over the battle platform before finally settling upon the glaring crimson figure on the platform opposite—Qin Lie.
The two sides faced each other from afar atop their platforms. It seemed as though sparks were bursting through the air, and the invisible pressure quieted the clamorous plaza by several degrees.
"Hmph!"
Qin Tianba broke the silence first. His booming voice carried undisguised ridicule as it spread throughout the venue.
"Zhou Qingtian, is this the final support your Zhou Family has? A wet-behind-the-ears brat? And you call him a fine son-in-law? Desperate illness makes one clutch at any medicine—how utterly laughable!"
Zhou Qingtian's face darkened. Before he could speak, Qin Lie's cold, contempt-filled voice rang out. His blade-like gaze fixed on Lu Changsheng, filled with mockery.
"Is the Zhou Family out of people? You actually sent a mere eighth-level Core Condensation Realm piece of trash up to die?"
A cruel curve rose at Qin Lie's lips. Then his gaze shifted to Zhou Zhirou, and his voice clearly drowned out every other sound in the plaza.
"Zhou Zhirou, you certainly have unique taste. You found yourself such a pretty but useless embroidered pillow. Later, before the entire city, I will break every inch of his bones and let you see properly how the man you chose will wag his tail and beg for mercy like a dead dog before me, Qin Lie!"
Qin Lie's gaze was full of disdain. A mere eighth-level Core Condensation Realm cultivator was no different from an ant before him. With a wave of his hand, he could easily crush him to death!
The entire venue erupted in uproar!
"Too arrogant!"
"But the Divine Palace Realm against the eighth level of the Core Condensation Realm... the gap in strength really is like a heavenly chasm..."
"I thought the Zhou Family's son-in-law was some formidable figure. Who would have thought he was this sort of goods? It seems the Zhou Family is in danger in this duel..."
Countless martial artists discussed among themselves.
The Zhou Family members' faces turned livid. Zhou Zhirou's delicate body trembled with rage, while fury burned in her beautiful eyes.
Countless gazes instantly focused on Lu Changsheng, wanting to see how he would respond to such naked humiliation.
Lu Changsheng slowly raised his head, calmly meeting Qin Lie's gaze that brimmed with killing intent and mockery.
There was not the slightest sign of anger on his face. Instead, he lightly curled his lips, revealing an exceedingly faint arc that seemed to contain endless chill.
"Don't speak too soon..."
He spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it possessed a peculiar penetrating force that clearly entered everyone's ears.
"Otherwise, when the one getting slapped in the face is yourself, I fear the one wagging his tail and begging for mercy will be you."
After speaking, Lu Changsheng no longer looked at Qin Lie's face, which had instantly darkened to the extreme. He took one step forward, and his figure became a blurred green shadow, appearing at the center of the massive battle platform as though he had teleported.
His green robes were dignified, his hands clasped behind his back!
His calm gaze swiftly swept across the entire venue before settling on Qin Lie once more. He spoke indifferently.
"Qin Lie of the Qin Family, get up here and die!"
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