The results of the final four were soon decided. As expected, Qi Hao, Lu Xueqi, and Zhang Xiaofan each claimed a spot, while the last place went to Su Changqing, who had defeated his opponent with a single sword strike.
Rumors about Su Changqing had now spread throughout the Qingyun Sect.
Everyone had realized that Su Changqing was no mere useless cultivator at the Foundation Establishment First Realm, but a true top-tier expert capable of fighting across realms.
However, Su Changqing had no interest in joining that discussion. To claim first place and obtain the Sky Covering Method as his reward, he seized every moment to cultivate. Yet his Cultivation Level seemed welded firmly at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Realm. Even after half a day, there was not the slightest sign of a breakthrough.
When the day of the final four arrived, Su Changqing opened his eyes from meditation and let out a helpless sigh. "It seems cultivation alone will not be enough for me to break through. Now, I can only see whether I can achieve a breakthrough through battle."
When Su Changqing arrived at the arena, he inevitably found himself facing his senior sister Lu Xueqi. On the other side of the arena, Qi Hao was fighting Zhang Xiaofan.
By now, Su Changqing and Zhang Xiaofan had become known within the Qingyun Sect as the Hidden Cloud Twins. Neither had been favored at first, yet both had forcibly shattered everyone's preconceived notions through their own strength.
"Both are prodigies of Little Bamboo Peak. I wonder who will win."
"I think Lu Xueqi should have a slight advantage. She has the immortal sword Tian Ya to aid her. For a sword cultivator, having a good sword at their side can increase their strength severalfold, let alone the immortal sword Tian Ya."
"The victor has yet to be decided. Su Changqing's Gale Sword Technique is no joke either."
"Ah! What is truly puzzling is that Little Bamboo Peak has taken two of the four spots. Now that they are facing each other, no matter who wins, Little Bamboo Peak is guaranteed second place. It truly puts the peaks of us male disciples to shame!"
Amid the discussions, Su Changqing stepped onto the arena.
"Junior Brother, may I see your true strength today?"
Lu Xueqi asked Su Changqing with a faint smile.
As his senior sister, she sincerely admired and rejoiced over her junior brother's achievements. She hoped even more that Su Changqing would continue walking this path.
"Senior Sister, as you wish."
Su Changqing answered Lu Xueqi with an equally calm smile.
The two had exchanged moves and practiced swordsmanship night after night before this, and they had already developed considerable tacit understanding. After sharing a knowing smile, Lu Xueqi summoned Tian Ya, while Su Changqing took out Azure Edge for the first time.
After exchanging one final glance, both figures vanished in an instant. They each launched forward with lightning-fast footwork, rushing to meet one another. Lu Xueqi made the first move with an overwhelming momentum.
A moment later, before the astonished eyes of the crowd,
Su Changqing merely raised his sword slightly and easily blocked the attack. Then, with a backhand slash, he forced Lu Xueqi to retreat again and again. As he charged after her, the two began exchanging move after move using sword techniques alone.
After only several exchanges, they separated once more. Both had learned from the same school, and in a contest of swordsmanship, neither could gain the upper hand.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Tian Ya and Azure Edge seemed to share an unspoken understanding as they left their sheaths at the same time. One blue radiance and one azure radiance lit up respectively.
"Look! Tian Ya has left its sheath! The legendary Tian Ya, which has existed for a thousand years, has been drawn for the first time!"
"What sword is Su Changqing holding? Why does it feel no weaker than Tian Ya? Could another immortal sword have emerged into the world?"
"One blue and one azure—those two immortal swords suit each other so perfectly, as though they were made for the two of them."
As Tian Ya and Azure Edge were drawn, the discussions below the stage grew even fiercer.
Both knew that from this moment onward, they had to become serious. Going all out was the greatest respect they could show each other.
Lu Xueqi's smile faded, replaced by her usual frosty expression. Without further hesitation, blue light flashed in her hand as Tian Ya slashed decisively and mercilessly toward Su Changqing from midair.
A fierce wind howled toward him, and its chilling pressure bore down upon him.
"Senior Sister, now this is more like you!"
With a smile at the corner of his lips, Su Changqing focused completely on the battle. Azure Edge flickered with azure light in his hand. Rather than retreating, he advanced to meet her. The two immortal swords touched in midair, then sprang apart at once.
With a thunderous boom, Lu Xueqi and Su Changqing, standing behind their sword qi, were both violently shaken. Neither had held anything back, and the tremendous impact left both of them struggling.
In the air, blue radiance flashed while azure light blazed. Two streams of sword qi raced and crisscrossed. The arena, built from hard boulders, was torn apart by the sword qi as easily as scraps of paper. Explosions rang out like thunder from the Ninth Heaven, leaving the surrounding disciples' ears ringing. Sword qi occasionally shot toward them as well, but fortunately, the elders had deployed barriers to block it.
Nearly a thousand Qingyun Sect disciples watching from the sidelines were utterly stunned. Since the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament had begun, there had never been a battle as intense as this one.
They had assumed that since both were disciples of Little Bamboo Peak, each would yield a little to the other. Yet after only a few exchanges, they had created such a commotion.
Just when everyone thought this was the limit of their abilities,
Lu Xueqi steadied herself in midair and formed a hand seal. Divine light immediately burst from her entire body. While suspended in the air, she stepped out a seven-star formation, flashing through seven positions in succession. Tian Ya suddenly pointed straight at the sky, and all color drained from her face.
"Dark skies of the Ninth Heaven, gather the falling thunder! Sacred brilliance and heavenly might, heed my summons and descend upon this sword!"
In an instant, the blue sky, where the blazing sun had hung overhead, darkened. Several thick clouds gathered across the heavens, lightning continuously flashing within them as it raced through the world. A chilling aura of slaughter settled upon every heart.
Su Changqing's gaze also turned solemn. Before this, he had treated the tournament with a playful mindset, but he had forgotten that his opponent today was Lu Xueqi.
She was no ordinary disciple. She was a woman destined to become a female sword immortal whose brilliance would astonish the world. Her strength was absolutely not something to be underestimated.
At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded.
Was this really a match?
In any other setting, this would have looked like a life-or-death duel between sworn enemies!
"The Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique!"
Dao Xuan Zhenren slowly withdrew his gaze and stared at the arena with a grave expression. His heart was deeply shaken. So many talented individuals had appeared in a single Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament.
"Alas!"
Shuiyue sighed helplessly. Both were disciples she cherished dearly, yet she had never expected them to fight here, nor for their battle to become so intense.
The other Peak Lords were not feeling much better. It was clear that both Lu Xueqi and Su Changqing were peerless geniuses, yet both belonged to Shuiyue's Little Bamboo Peak.
Lu Xueqi was understandable. As a woman, she naturally ought to have entered Little Bamboo Peak. But Su Changqing, this hidden genius, had been the "useless cultivator" they had all disdained that day. It would not be wrong to say they had handed him over to Shuiyue on a silver platter.
And now, that very "useless cultivator" had given them their greatest shock.
All that remained was to see how Su Changqing would receive this move!
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