A Challenge Match

At that moment, Xiang Tian's aura steadily climbed as well.

This lightning tribulation had scared the piss out of quite a few people.

Many students in the Deity Transformation Realm were even more uncertain. Was this a Spirit Transformation lightning tribulation? It had not looked like this when they crossed their tribulations. Only a small number stared at the sky in disbelief.

Lightning tribulations were indeed something every cultivator had to endure. Most were ordinary blue lightning; those with slightly greater talent faced red lightning, while purple lightning was already the peak. Yet now, legendary black lightning had appeared?

Qiu Changfeng was practically dumbfounded. He was ready to risk his old life to block this lightning tribulation. No matter what, he could not let the little master be harmed.

"Don't make a move!"

Seeing Qiu Changfeng appear again, Xiang Tian sent him a voice transmission.

It was only a lightning tribulation. Xiang Tian truly did not take it to heart.

Rumble rumble.

The black clouds churned more violently, and the thunderous roars made countless people tremble in fear. Wasn't this commotion a little too huge?

A thick bolt of black lightning descended from the sky, striking straight toward Xiang Tian's head. The sight made everyone's scalps go numb.

If that thing landed on their heads, wouldn't they be reduced to ashes?

What left them even more speechless was that Xiang Tian did not move in the slightest. He simply stood there and allowed the heavenly lightning to descend.

Boom!

At that very instant, another clap of thunder rang out from the horizon.

At first, their jaws had dropped. Now, they were utterly stupefied.

This... this was divine!

Another bolt of heavenly lightning descended, directly blasting apart the black lightning that had been about to strike Xiang Tian!

Amazing... utterly amazing!

Qiu Changfeng nearly could not stop himself from giving Xiang Tian a thumbs-up.

Even the lightning tribulation did not dare strike the little master. This could not merely be called unimaginable—it was simply unheard of!

Beyond the roiling black clouds, high above the nine heavens where no one could see, stood a winged creature with a monkey-like face and a thunder god's beak, half human and half bird. Holding a hammer and chisel, he too wore a dazed expression.

Where had my lightning gone?

"Damn it, it was you brat who sent down the lightning tribulation?"

Suddenly, a Thunder Spirit slightly more robust and similar in appearance appeared beside him. He grabbed his collar and gave him several hard blows to the head with his hammer.

"Open your damned eyes and look clearly! The one standing below is the biological younger brother of those two ancestral grandmothers. Are your eyes growing on a dog's backside?"

The man roared. Still not satisfied, he hammered him several more times, beating the little Thunder Spirit until he was disoriented, seeing stars.

The burly Thunder Spirit flung the blind fool away in one motion, turning him into a shooting star that vanished beyond the horizon.

Looking down at so many people, how... how was he supposed to wrap this up?

Forget it, forget it. I'll shamelessly do it just this once.

On the ground, Xiang Tian looked up at the sky. The inexplicable smile at the corner of his lips made the Thunder Spirit tremble in terror, and he hurriedly cast a spell.

In the sky, the black clouds continued to churn, their momentum still vast and imposing. However, the clouds merely rolled and stirred together within themselves.

Though the thunder continued without end, not a single bolt fell.

Before long, the black clouds suddenly dispersed, and the sky became clear once more. Xiang Tian's aura began to rise, and a majestic Dharma Idol appeared behind him!

He had broken through to the Deity Transformation Realm! Countless people were shocked.

At the same time, the Sword Comprehension Stone shattered, leaving behind not a trace of Sword Intent.

Everyone was dumbfounded. He... he had broken through just like that?

Wasn't this lightning tribulation going too far? It had merely come out to make an appearance? Why hadn't it just made an appearance when it struck them?

Forget them—even Qiu Changfeng and the teachers were somewhat envious and jealous. This... this was truly infuriating!

Xiang Tian withdrew his Dharma Idol. An unmatched Sword Intent began to radiate from his body, and the phantom of a long sword shot straight into the clouds. The sharpness it emitted made everyone unable to keep their eyes open; they only felt as if a keen sword hung over their necks, capable of taking their heads at any moment.

Such might was truly terrifying!

Was this the Sword Intent inherited after refining the Sword Comprehension Stone?

Qiu Changfeng and the others were so excited they nearly cried. The Immortal King's supreme treasure had finally remained behind. Though Xiang Tian had absorbed it, that was still far better than letting Sinan Yao absorb it.

Of everyone present, the one whose emotions fluctuated the most was naturally Sinan Yao.

I've already comprehended one-tenth of it. Give me some time, and I'll surely refine all of the Sword Intent. Where did this guy come from? He snatched my cake away, swallowed it in one bite right in front of me, and did not even leave me a crumb!

Sinan Yao was on the verge of collapse.

"Ahem!"

Suddenly, Qiu Changfeng spoke, drawing everyone's attention.

With the air of an old sage, he walked to the center of the square.

"Students, the reason our Immortal Academy placed the Sword Comprehension Stone here for everyone to comprehend was so that one day, a student might understand the Immortal King's Sword Intent. Though the chance was slim, our academy upholds the principle of absolute fairness and has granted every student the greatest possible freedom."

"And now, at last, a student has shattered the Sword Qi of the Sword Comprehension Stone and successfully refined it. This is not merely the result of the academy's efforts, but also the result of the student's hard work!"

His words were impassioned, yet why did everyone below, Xiang Tian included, find them so awkward?

This... this was simply forcibly whitewashing the matter!

That was the true thought in most people's hearts.

Some had already noticed that something was wrong with Sinan Yao.

Naturally, the teachers had noticed as well, but they all pretended not to see it.

"I do not agree with that!"

In the end, Sinan Yao could no longer swallow this grievance. The moment he spoke, all eyes turned toward him.

Qiu Changfeng looked at him. "Student Sinan Yao, what objections do you have?"

Sinan Yao pointed at Xiang Tian. "The Sword Comprehension Stone was meant for all students to comprehend, yet this guy broke the rules and swallowed the Sword Comprehension Stone all by himself. Is such behavior not shameless enough?"

Swallowed the Sword Comprehension Stone all by himself?

Xiang Tian smiled.

Without waiting for Qiu Changfeng to speak, he said first, "If I remember correctly, Immortal Academy has always upheld the saying that the capable obtain it. Besides, ever since the Sword Comprehension Stone was opened, its purpose was to encourage students to comprehend and refine it. It is only that you lacked the ability to take it. Or perhaps, were you confident that you could break that Sword Qi and refine it directly? If so, I believe you would have refined it long ago instead of pitifully absorbing such a tiny sliver of Sword Intent over there."

After speaking, Xiang Tian feigned sudden realization. "Oh, sorry. I forgot that among everyone here, you seem to have comprehended the most Sword Intent. Ah, truly sorry—I forgot to save you a bite."

That was cruel—cruel to the very bone!

Everyone admired Xiang Tian's words. They were simply incredible!

Sure enough, Sinan Yao's expression became a spectacle. His originally handsome features now looked positively ferocious with rage.

Quite a few people also wore expressions of sudden realization.

Sinan Yao was furious. Xiang Tian had definitely done it on purpose, but he refused to be outdone. He said to Xiang Tian, "Since the capable obtain it, I now challenge you. Are you willing to fight me? That Sword Intent must have merely been hidden by some trick of yours. If you lose, hand over the Sword Intent. How about it?"

"Sinan Yao, since when could people fight whenever they pleased at the academy? If personal grudges between students are to be settled by force, they must be reported to the academy. Only after a half-month cooling-off period and a second confirmation can the match proceed."

This time, Qiu Changfeng spoke before Xiang Tian could. His words made Sinan Yao's face turn completely black. Damn it, after half a month, the Sword Intent would already be refined. What the hell would he still be fighting for?

However, Qiu Changfeng's intention to shield Xiang Tian was far too obvious. Sinan Yao had no choice but to look at Xiang Tian. "Will you dare accept the challenge half a month from now?"

Xiang Tian shrugged. "Why wouldn't I dare?"

Sinan Yao nodded and left the training ground without looking back.

The entire academy erupted. Sinan Yao was finally going to make a move again. Every time he fought, he brought people incomparable shock. It was difficult to imagine the sight of technology and techniques being unleashed together; the spectacle would surely make people forget themselves entirely.

Everyone began looking forward to it. Xiang Tian had become quite famous these past few days. When these two clashed, which one would prove stronger?