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Facing the enormous fire dragon before him, Xu Lang's pupils suddenly contracted. He was not frightened; instead, he immediately twisted at the waist, gripped his sword with both hands, and spun through the air. Violent Sword Qi streaked out incessantly, swiftly severing the Mysterious Sun Fire Dragon.

Strands of Sword Qi rained down recklessly. Fang Wang swung the Celestial Palace Halberd to block them, and the platform was bombarded by Sword Qi. Even the formation light screen at the edge of the Martial Competition Platform rippled again and again.

"What an immense amount of Spiritual Energy!"

"Senior Brother Xu Lang is so strong! His Sword Qi is broad and sweeping, its edge completely exposed!"

"Fang Wang is strong too. He's not inferior in the slightest."

"He's only been in the sect for three years, yet Fang Wang has already become this strong?"

"Even if Fang Wang loses this battle, he has proven that his potential does not fall short of Lu Yuanjun's!"

Disciples from every peak throughout the city discussed the battle, giving Fang Wang and Xu Lang exceedingly high praise. The Fang Manor disciples held their breath in concentration, even more nervous than Fang Wang himself.

Fang Hanyu stood before the window, looking up at the Golden Mirror in the sky. Watching Fang Wang being suppressed by Sword Qi within it, his expression remained calm. He muttered to himself, "How much longer are you going to test him?"

In his heart, Fang Wang was invincible.

It was as if Fang Wang had heard Fang Hanyu's words. He suddenly leaped backward, escaping the range of Xu Lang's Sword Qi assault.

Before he had even landed, Fang Wang raised the Celestial Palace Halberd high. His left hand rapidly formed seals as Spiritual Energy surged along his right arm into the halberd. Rolling Thunder Cloud condensed out of thin air above the Martial Competition Platform, swiftly blanketing the entire platform.

At that moment, all the elders surrounding the Martial Competition Platform were moved. True Person Greedy Sleep, seated atop the platform, widened his eyes and muttered, "No way... How is that possible..."

The peak masters of every vein sat upright. Elders and disciples from every vein all looked toward the Thunder Cloud above the Martial Competition Platform.

Xu Lang swiftly landed from midair. Holding a sword in each hand, he looked up with his swordlike brows tightly furrowed and slowly uttered five words: "Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique!"

Every disciple in the city could hear the thunder. The oppressive sound was unbearable. Before this, disciples had used spells with grand displays, but none had caused a commotion comparable to the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique.

Guang Qiuxian, Yang Yuanzi, Lu Yuanjun, and Zhou Xue remained unmoved. Yet even Zhou Xingshi, Gu Li, and Fang Hanyu, who knew White Clad Startling Swan's true identity, could not help being shaken.

In their minds, Fang Wang was an expert proficient in swordsmanship. This was their first time seeing him use the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique.

Three years after entering the sect, he had mastered all thirty-six moves of the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art, and had even mastered such a powerful lightning spell?

They had previously heard that White Clad Startling Swan had used the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique, but only when facing it for real did they understand how terrifying this technique was.

Fang Wang held the Celestial Palace Halberd aloft as Thunder Cloud rolled above him and lightning intertwined. Terrifying pressure gathered, ready to erupt at any moment. At this instant, he resembled a deity wielding the power of heaven and earth, his long hair fluttering in the wind.

Xu Lang sensed that something was wrong and immediately charged at Fang Wang.

He first threw out the bamboo sword in his hand. The bamboo sword became a streak of cold light and shot toward Fang Wang, aimed directly at his head.

So fast!

True Person Greedy Sleep nearly intervened, but he ultimately held himself back.

Fang Wang used Shadowless Steps to evade. Xu Lang followed close behind, killing his way before Fang Wang. He held his Life-Bound Dharma Sword in a reverse grip with his left hand, and its invisible blade slashed toward Fang Wang's neck.

In an instant, Fang Wang swung the Celestial Palace Halberd downward.

Clang—

The two Life-Bound Treasure Spirits collided. Xu Lang only felt a dragon's roar explode beside his ears, causing his mind to go blank for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, Fang Wang had already soared into the sky.

With rolling thunder above his head, Fang Wang looked coldly down at Xu Lang before bringing down his halberd.

The Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique erupted!

Dozens of lightning bolts crashed down at once. Though they varied in size, they were enough to cover the entire Martial Competition Platform.

Facing lightning might that seemed capable of destroying the world, Xu Lang released his swords and formed seals with both hands. The bamboo sword and invisible sword circled around him at high speed as Sword Qi spilled from his body.

A bolt of lightning struck toward him, only to be scattered by two crisscrossing streams of Sword Qi, leaving him unharmed.

The two crossing currents of Sword Qi circled Xu Lang and rapidly expanded, condensing into a formation. A Sword Qi storm rose from the ground, equally astonishing in might, yet he was quickly swallowed by bolt after bolt of lightning.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

The Martial Competition Platform shook violently, and even the formation light screen along its edge trembled. The entire city fell silent, every disciple staring fixedly at the scene within the Golden Mirror.

True Person Greedy Sleep held a Golden Mirror to ward off the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique's spillover. His gaze remained locked on the spot where Xu Lang had stood. Even amid the dazzling lightning, he did not blink once.

When Xu Lang's figure had been absent for more than three breaths, True Person Greedy Sleep could no longer restrain himself and immediately threw out the Golden Mirror in his hand.

The Golden Mirror burst with golden light, dispersing the lightning along its path as it swiftly reached the center of the Martial Competition Platform. The powerful radiance it released held back the lightning filling the sky.

Seeing this, Fang Wang cut off his Spiritual Energy and stopped sustaining the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique.

The thunder in the sky vanished, though the dark clouds could not fully disperse for a while. Everyone's gaze turned beneath the Golden Mirror.

As the lightning faded, Xu Lang's figure emerged. He was kneeling on one knee, gasping for breath. His robes were torn, his hair disheveled, and his body covered in wounds. Speckled bloodstains covered the ground. The two swords circling him slowed, then fell to the ground with two clatters.

Xu Lang struggled to lift his head, but before he could find Fang Wang, he collapsed and lost consciousness.

This sight made Fang Wang secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Xu Lang truly was powerful. It would have been difficult to defeat him with True Mysterious Sun Fire alone, which was why Fang Wang had used the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique. It was a High-grade spell of the Taiyuan Sect, not as difficult to learn as the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art, so it would not expose White Clad Startling Swan's identity.

To defeat Xu Lang decisively, Fang Wang had not held back at all when using the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique.

Too bad I can't challenge Lu Yuanjun at my peak condition.

Fang Wang put on an unruffled front, but inwardly he sighed. Dealing with Xu Lang had consumed a great deal of Spiritual Energy.

True Person Greedy Sleep immediately announced, "Fang Wang of the Third Vein wins!"

An elder swiftly went onto the platform to inspect Xu Lang's injuries.

Disciples from every vein looked at Fang Wang in fear, and the entire city likewise fell silent.

"Could that have been the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique?" a male disciple of the First Vein asked in a trembling voice.

The Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique was the Taiyuan Sect's strongest lightning spell. Although the Taiyuan Sect did not specialize in lightning spells, the technique's reputation was far from small. It was renowned even throughout Great Qi's immortal cultivation world.

After Zhou Xue and Lu Yuanjun's introductions, the First Vein disciples in the pavilion all knew Fang Wang's background.

Three years after entering the sect, despite his cultivation rising so rapidly, he had still managed to master the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique...

Such talent...

Could Lu Yuanjun from back then truly compare?

After a brief silence, tremendous cheers and cries of astonishment erupted throughout the city.

Fang Wang turned toward the First Vein, just about to search for Lu Yuanjun, when Yang Yuanzi's voice rang out: "Change fighters!"

At these words, the First Vein disciple who had been about to take the stage immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Even Xu Lang, who was second only to Lu Yuanjun, had suffered such a crushing defeat. They did not dare go up.

By this point in the Nine Meridians Martial Competition, Fang Wang had struck the most ruthlessly. Every one of his opponents had suffered heavy injuries.

Amid the cheers of the entire city, Fang Wang flew toward the Third Vein pavilion, where he was greeted by the surrounding disciples.

"Junior Brother Fang, you've already surpassed me!" Li Yu said excitedly, seemingly not worried at all that Fang Wang would replace him as Senior Disciple.

The other disciples likewise praised Fang Wang's strength. Zhou Bo was the most exaggerated of them all, looking as though he were about to kneel and worship Fang Wang.

Lu Yuanjun stood within the pavilion, gazing at Fang Wang from afar. He smiled softly and said, "It seems I still underestimated Junior Brother Fang's strength."

Disciples from every vein marveled at Fang Wang's power. He had such strength after only three years in the sect; even Lu Yuanjun back then had not been so outrageous.

Together with Zhou Xue, Ye Xiang, and Gu Li, who had previously begun to show their brilliance, all the disciples could sense that the Taiyuan Sect was about to soar into the heavens.

Earth Origin Treasure Spirits had once been a rarity seen perhaps once in a century, yet four had now appeared in succession within the Taiyuan Sect. Heaven truly favored the Taiyuan Sect.

Because of their immense strength, Fang Wang and Zhou Xue were also believed to be Earth Origin Treasure Spirits.

"Fang Wang, rest well from now on. You won't need to take the stage again. With your record, you have already earned promotion to one of the final nine seats."

Yang Yuanzi's voice came over. His tone was calm, as though Fang Wang's performance had not shocked him at all. Yet upon closer inspection, one could see that he was gripping the armrest of his chair tightly.

Within the Main Peak pavilion.

Seated beside Guang Qiuxian was Vice Sect Master Chen Anshi. He looked to be a little over fifty, his frame somewhat lean, but compared to the kindly Guang Qiuxian, he carried greater authority. A sense of pressure showed between his brows.

"Senior Brother, this boy is so formidable. Could he be the person who hid in Shiyuan Hall that day?" Chen Anshi glanced at Guang Qiuxian, his eyes sharp as he slowly asked.

Guang Qiuxian smiled without answering. Though he appeared composed, his heart was filled with emotion.

Is this a Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit?

Such strength in merely three years...

Fang Wang had no idea what the Sect Master, Vice Sect Master, and elders were thinking. Once he learned that he could advance to one of the final nine seats, he began imagining his second Life-Bound Treasure Spirit!

After entering the Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven and gathering heavenly materials and earthly treasures, he would certainly break through to the Spirit Pill Realm. By then, he should be able to condense a second Life-Bound Treasure Spirit.

His first Life-Bound Treasure Spirit was a halberd. What should the second be?

He needed to think it over carefully. Perhaps Heavenly Palace would not interfere with his second Spirit Molding.