Sabers and Swords!

Initiation Stele, Combat Space.

On a square platform ten kilometers long on each side, Li Qingshan stood with his saber, looking at the figure gradually solidifying opposite him.

A black-haired youth, empty-handed, with a slightly frivolous expression.

Aside from the hair, just looking at his face, he was even older than the current Ye Yukong.

Since appearing, the youth had not made any movements.

As the defending side, it would only activate its attack mode when an opponent entered a certain range.

"Dean Ye?"

Li Qingshan observed intently, not rushing to attack as he had before.

The Initiation Stele recorded the top 100 strongest students of Ziying Academy in the past 5,000 years.

This year's freshmen were able to rush into the bottom ranks because of the academy's strategy, with many people giving up Breaking Limits early.

Apart from them, the 50th place and beyond were basically Breaking Limits martial artists, even including those at the fourth level of Breaking Limits.

The 49th-ranked Zhou Yunze was a dividing line, with standard early Rainbow Transformation Realm strength.

From 49th to 6th place, there were no more Breaking Limits martial artists, as ordinary Breaking Limits required at least the 5th level to match Rainbow Transformation.

Li Qingshan had fought his way up, and everyone had broken through to the Blood Solidification Realm at the third level, capable of matching ordinary Rainbow Transformation.

The specific difference in strength depended on the quality of the guiding method for Limit Realm cultivation, as well as the level of martial skills.

Cheng Wenchang being able to reach 30th place was actually already very strong.

After all, the Initiation Stele was open to freshmen for half a year, and the data collected by the combat space was basically from the last few days of the year.

However, in general, everyone's combat power was a little lower than that female ape from before.

For Li Qingshan after his breakthrough, it was a piece of cake!

Of course, Ziying Academy had been established for a full 5,000 years.

Feng Boyong had only comprehended the fifth level of "Starry Sky Beckons" and achieved Limit Realm perfection in the last millennium.

Before him, there were three other seniors who had also achieved Limit Realm perfection and embarked on the path of Breaking Limits.

All were at the third level of Breaking Limits, ranked third, fourth, and fifth, with strength almost equivalent to Li Qingshan before his breakthrough!

And now, it was one thing for Feng Boyong, who had become a legend, to reach the top.

But Ye Yukong, who always looked so calm and collected, was actually able to suppress those three seniors during his freshman year?

Li Qingshan carefully looked at the black-haired youth's open hands, not finding any weapons.

"Dean Ye, then let me learn from your methods!"

Zheng!

Drawing his saber, he unsheathed it.

Purple lightning swept out, and his figure rushed forward like lightning.

The black-haired youth's eyes narrowed, and countless silver lights suddenly scattered from his palms, blocking the path.

Ding ding ding!

Saber shadows densely covered the area, instantly sweeping away all the silver light.

One by one, alloy beads rolled to the ground, but more silver light came from all directions.

"Hidden weapons?"

Li Qingshan waved his long saber, his eyes showing doubt.

What he doubted was not that Ye Yukong was using hidden weapons, but his realm.

Blood Solidification!

Only the Blood Solidification Realm, of course, posed no pressure to him now, but Ye Yukong's strength definitely exceeded those three seniors from before!

A Blood Solidification Realm breakthrough at the fourth level of Breaking Limits!

"Rainbow Transformation at the fifth level, already at the fourth level, but chose to give up?"

Below the Initiation Stele, everyone looked up, their eyes fixed on the top of the list.

"Third place, Li Qingshan must be fighting Dean Ye!"

"He climbed the ranks so quickly before, Li Qingshan should be able to win, right?"

"Not necessarily, don't forget, that's Dean Ye!"

Discussions continued, but no one noticed that one of the protagonists they were talking about had unknowingly stood under the stele.

The silver-haired youth rubbed an iron ball, looking calm and collected.

"Teacher, can Li Qingshan beat you?" Lu Qing asked, tilting her head.

"He couldn't before entering the academy, but now it should be easy," Ye Yukong said with a faint smile.

"True Dragon Chosen are naturally gifted in their understanding of Blood Essence, and their Breaking Limits speed far surpasses that of ordinary people."

"Breaking Limits?" Lu Qing murmured, glancing around.

She noticed that everyone was ignoring them, or rather, actively "overlooking" them.

This was Ye Yukong's doing.

Lu Qing considered for a moment, then couldn't help but ask:

"Teacher, you had already Broken Limits four times back then, why did you give up?"

"I wasn't at the Limit Realm's pinnacle. One more turn or one less doesn't make much difference."

Ye Yukong spoke calmly, seemingly unconcerned.

But Lu Qing hesitated, Not much difference? How could that be!

Breaking Limits four times was just one step away from Rainbow Transformation after five turns.

Even if it wasn't Breaking Limits at the Limit Realm's pinnacle, the accumulation of foundation would be vastly different!

Moreover, after Breaking Limits four times, one would only be at the Blood Solidification Realm, and would still have to spend time regaining control over their Blood Essence to break through to Rainbow Transformation.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a loss!

Ye Yukong seemed to see through his student's thoughts, and shook his head with a smile.

"Little girl, don't think about business all day long. Whether you make a profit or a loss, you have to survive first!"

Lu Qing's expression tightened as she recalled some legends she had heard before.

Ye Yukong had broken through during a Star Realm mission.

However, Ye Yukong never talked much about that Star Realm trip, and she didn't dare to ask further.

Just then, at the top of the stone stele, the rankings changed.

Initiation Stele second, Li Qingshan.

"He won, Li Qingshan really won!"

"He's about to challenge 'Senior Boyong'! 'Senior Boyong' has dominated the rankings for a whole millennium!"

"I hope Li Qingshan can win! If he does, our academy can be considered to have opened a new chapter."

"Whether he wins or not, Li Qingshan will definitely be able to see 'Senior Boyong'."

"That's right! Unlike some people who brag all day long. They've fallen outside the top 30, and they still want to see 'Senior Boyong'?"

"Yes, yes, yes, everyone take a screenshot of the ranking, let's bump the post again."

The discussions gradually turned into mockery, and Cheng Wenchang's face turned red and green as he silently retreated to the back of the Crimson Yellow Star team.

Lu Qing also looked relieved, and looked towards the top of the stone stele, saying:

"Teacher, what do you think of Li Qingshan…"

"He can win." Ye Yukong's tone was firm.

"Ah?" Lu Qing was stunned, and asked in confusion:

"Senior Boyong rushed to the top of the rankings at the end of the year; is Li Qingshan really stronger than he was back then?"

Ye Yukong glanced at his student and shook his head calmly.

"You're mistaken, Li Qingshan is just stronger than Feng Boyong in the combat space."

Initiation Stele, combat space.

The illusion solidified, and a figure appeared opposite him.

"Senior Boyong?" Li Qingshan curiously observed, The young man's face was ordinary, a purely average face.

The only strange thing was that he had a weapon hanging on each side of his waist.

A saber and a sword.

"Dual-wielding weapons?"

Li Qingshan smiled slightly and rushed out with his saber.

Whoosh!

A gale rose, the saber shadows condensed into clouds, and purple lightning weaved and crackled.

By the time he got close, the figure was already enveloped in pillars of wind and lightning.

Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Saber!

Clang!

Feng Boyong drew his saber, and purple lightning spread across the blade.

Whoosh!

A gale instantly swirled around him, lightning snakes coiling as if alive.

A tornado of wind and thunder rose from the ground.

Blade against blade!

Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Saber against Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Saber!

"Hahaha, well done!"

Li Qingshan roared with laughter as the two wind pillars collided in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, one of the wind pillars was on the verge of collapse.

Li Qingshan's expression flickered as he looked at Feng Boyong, who was flying backward.

In that brief moment, their sabers had clashed hundreds of times.

Feng Boyong was indeed at the Limit Realm Completion Breaking Limits, but only at the third revolution.

One at the fourth revolution, the other at the third—this was an absolute difference in speed and power!

Just as Li Qingshan was about to press his advantage, Whoosh!

Feng Boyong brandished his saber, and another tornado pillar rose from the ground.

But this time, it wasn't just wind and thunder!

Flames and frost intertwined, spinning with the wind.

Under extreme cold and heat, the eye of the storm rapidly expanded, transforming into a thunderous tempest.

"Three Rank A saber techniques, and all of them mastered!"

Li Qingshan's eyes narrowed, and he gripped his saber tightly in his right hand.

"In that case, Senior Boyong, don't blame me for using my realm to suppress you."

As his voice faded, A sonic boom erupted as he instantly broke the sound barrier, charging toward the center of the storm, striking straight at the heart!

The hundred-meter Initiation Stele stood silently.

Below, countless faces looked up, gazing in anticipation.

Hope, trepidation, excitement—a myriad of expressions.

The only thing they had in common was that all eyes were fixed on the top of the stele.

Suddenly, the screen flickered, and a name quietly reached the top.

First on the Initiation Stele, Li Qingshan!