Baxia Divine Soul; Lotus Peak True Disciple

"Shi Yan... you've already made remarkable progress by being able to withstand this sword strike. Don't lose your composure."

Faced with Shi Yan's insistence on fighting, Elder Liu gently tried to dissuade him, as if he were advising a prodigal son to turn back.

Elder Liu! I haven't really lost yet! Let me continue!

Upon hearing this, Elder Liu sighed helplessly again and glanced at You Su. Sensing the gaze, You Su knew that Elder Liu was asking for his opinion.

This Shi Yan looks honest, but it's like a stubborn leech, never taking the initiative to make a move, just constantly pestering You Su as if asking for a beating.

At this moment You Su couldn't help but feel Resentment Qi, wondering which important figure had sent the other party to deliberately annoy him. He absolutely refused to believe that someone who could withstand his sword intent head-on could only be an Outer Disciple.

He stepped forward, sword in hand, his expression somewhat unfriendly, and asked in a deep voice:

"Who exactly sent you?"

"Elder Liu, is he talking to me?" Shi Yan, scratching his head blankly.

Elder Liu glanced at him and explained in a low voice:

"You Su, no one sent him. Keep fighting. He won't admit defeat until he's beaten to a pulp. I'll explain everything to you in detail after we're done."

You Su was taken aback, realizing that he had misunderstood. He then composed himself and faced his opponent squarely.

Elder Liu nodded slightly and withdrew from the arena, while the two inside remained tense and ready to fight. Shi Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, still eager to try.

It would be difficult for You Su to gather sword intent again in a short time unless he used the Sword Nurturing Art to release the divine intent he had accumulated over the past few days. You Su sensed that Shi Yan's steps were a little unsteady, so he decided to hold back. He could defeat this stubborn strong man with just the Thirty-Six Forms of the Mandarin Sword.

Several more sword lights flashed by, and although Shi Yan still managed to block them all, he was far less adept than before.

You Su could tell that he was at his last gasp.

But You Su really couldn't understand what was keeping this person going through an ordinary competition, making him want to fight to the point of exhaustion?

The Shi Yan, which fell and rose again from the sword, reminded You Su of himself in Chuyun City, where he persevered despite facing an invincible enemy.

If he had given up so easily just because his opponent was True Man Ling, Sect Master Qi, or City Lord Liu, how could he have possibly won that sliver of a chance to survive?

It's not his privilege to refuse to give up in the face of a powerful enemy; there are others in this world who will persevere for the sake of their beliefs.

Thinking of this, You Su also felt respect for this opponent, and a sense of mutual appreciation welled up in his heart.

Even so, he absolutely cannot let this victory slip away.

Snow Mud Swan's Footprints.

Auspicious Light Feather Fragment.

The Crane's Cry in Huating.

These three moves are not the most powerful among the Mandarin Sword, but when combined, they form a methodical and difficult-to-defend stance.

The sword wind howled, Shi Yan was gradually showing signs of weakness. Even though it was just a friendly match, no one called for it to stop despite him being injured in several places.

Many in the audience recognized Shi Yan, this oddball who had repeatedly challenged the True Disciples for years, only to be defeated each time. The True Disciples he challenged despised him, and the Outer Disciples he represented looked down on him even more. Initially, some praised his courage to defy authority, but in the eyes of others, Shi Yan, who had repeatedly failed, was now just a shameful joke who didn't know his place.

Elder Liu was the same. As he was in charge of matters concerning the True Disciples, he naturally knew Shi Yan quite well. However, unlike the others, he did not look down on Shi Yan more and more. On the contrary, he admired him more and more in his heart.

In every challenge, Shi Yan remained as persistent and unwilling to admit defeat as he was today. Even when the enraged True Disciples used him as a punching bag, he endured it all, only to be left with injuries and ridicule. He would then retreat to a corner to heal his wounds and wait for the next True Disciple to appear.

However, few people noticed that this "punching bag" was getting harder and harder. It was as if every blow he had taken had been absorbed into his own strength! His keen insight into others' moves did not stem from instinct, but from the sheer number of blows he had endured!

Judging solely from Shi Yan's defensive skills, he has already surpassed the level of a typical True Disciple. The reason why no elder has been willing to promote him to a True Disciple for so long, besides the fact that all his talents are focused on defense, is also for another reason that is inconvenient to mention...

Elder Liu sighed silently, looking at the Shi Yan that had fallen to the edge, and couldn't help but call for the competition to stop. But in a flash, his old eyes flashed, and he keenly sensed something was amiss!

Inside the arena, Shi Yan's legs were embedded in the shattered stone surface, his arms were raised high and crossed, and a wall of Mystic Qi was stubbornly resisting You Su's sure-fire sword strike, but it was on the verge of collapse.

Behind Shi Yan, the six-pointed star array that had helped him withstand the sword intent of Xia Su Mosong reappeared! The difference was that this time, the direction of the six-pointed star array's operation was reversed!

Elder Liu didn't recognize the Cultivation Method, but he understood what Shi Yan was trying to do.

He could clearly see it when it first appeared; it was the Magic Array that neutralized most of the sword's power for Shi Yan. Now, the Magic Array reversed, and a vast and complex Mystic Qi surged from the Magic Array into Shi Yan's limbs and bones, causing every blood vessel and every muscle in his body to swell to the point of explosion!

What fills his savage body is not only You Su's sword intent, but also every blow he has ever endured!

Shi Yan is like a ball that has bounced back from rock bottom, or a volcano that has been building up strength for a long time. This sturdy young man, who seemed destined to always be beaten, has finally shown his fangs today! And the way he bites at his opponent is to repay all the pain he has suffered!

The wall that blocked the sword shattered with a deafening roar, and the shadow of a colossal ancient divine Divine Beast emerged behind Shi Yan, radiating a sacred golden light!

This was a strike that had been brewing for seven years; it was the Baxia soul that this foolish boy had somehow obtained!

This golden divine turtle with sharp fangs, the legendary sixth son of the dragon, opened its blood-red maw at You Su! You Su was like a lone willow in the wind in front of this silhouette of Baxia; this was definitely not a move that a young man in the Spirit Platform Realm could withstand!

Even the Third Elder, high above the clouds, paled. What she had expected to be an ordinary battle had taken an unexpected turn. Having stood atop the mountain for over a hundred years, she was now astonished to realize just how terrifying the young people of today were.

The Fifth Elder, who was watching the battle from the side, had a crimson rainbow light flowing around his flying sword, and his expression showed a hint of regret.

Elder Liu had already rushed halfway into the arena, determined to stop the fight, but someone in the arena was even faster than him! It was none other than Wangshu Fairy, who had drawn her sword!

Wangshu Fairy stared intently at You Su with her blue eyes, her sword gleaming like moonlight. She would not allow her junior brother to suffer even the slightest harm.

A sudden, loud shout echoed through the heavens and earth, halting the actions of Wangshu Fairy and Elder Liu, and also calming the minds of everyone present.

"Don't come!"

You Su, with some unknown divine power, leaped to a height that no one dared to imagine.

In the storm, his black robe was filled with air currents, and he held the Ink Pine Sword high above his head, the sound of the sword whistling like ten thousand bells ringing in unison!

"The sound of swords is one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. Although they are man-made iron weapons, they evoke true celestial music."

An old woman in the crowd squinted, savoring the stirring sound of the sword, and said this to her disciple.

She is Elder Zhai of the Xuanxiao Sect, Cultivating the Dao Through Music, and is also the most senior junior elder in the sect.

The naive girl imitated her master, closing her eyes to sense the voice, but she couldn't help but steal glances at the god-like boy hovering in mid-air.

Not everyone could enjoy it like Elder Zhai; the disciples in the front row all covered their ears, finding it unbearable.

You Su, however, was in a state of spiritual tranquility, enjoying the peace and quiet of the world.

The flesh-and-blood vibration caused by the Tai Sui flesh reappeared, far more intense than the night he killed True Man Ling. It felt to You Su as if countless hearts existed within his body, beating together until the moment all heartbeats reached a unified frequency.

And that moment has arrived.

A flash of ink appeared, as if a great writer had left a bold and colorful stroke on the white clouds.

The enormous shadow of the Divine Beast remained poised to devour everything, but a large hole appeared in its forehead, which was covered in golden scales. From there, the shape shattered inch by inch until it vanished without a trace.

The spectators were breathless; the brilliance of this battle, on this arena where non -True Disciples were to perform, was absolutely unparalleled in history.

This burly countryman, who was ridiculed by the entire sect for his daily self-torture and whom no one wanted to associate with, actually possessed Divine Beast inheritance comparable to Innate Dao Body.

No one wants to miss a legendary story of a commoner rising to the top. Just when everyone was feeling slapped in the face by Shi Yan's hidden talent, You Su used his sword to tell the world why he could become the second True Disciple of Lotus Peak, while others could not. This also made all those who had thought themselves extraordinary but were rejected by Lotus Peak feel ashamed.

When the smoke and dust cleared, the arena was shattered beyond recognition, reduced to a pile of broken stones.

The Shi Yan was covered with rubble, and its eyes were vacant.

He has given his all in this battle, enduring seven years of hardship; today is a battle he is determined to win.

He had his reasons for becoming True Disciple. Since no elder took the initiative to recruit him, he fought on his own. As long as he could defeat True Disciple, he felt that he would definitely have a chance to be noticed by the elders.

But he can't win. That's okay. He can endure it, until he feels he can win, and then he turns the tide and wins.

But his seven years of hard work vanished under the young man's sword.

He is already twenty-four years old. Once he turns twenty-five, it will be very difficult for him to become True Disciple, because his Root Bone is already set. If he was not favored before, he will be even less likely to be in the future.

Having unleashed all his pent-up emotions today, he no longer has the chance. With only a year left, once others learn of his special Cultivation Method, they will certainly no longer attack him indiscriminately. Lacking any offensive skills, he can no longer muster such an unexpected counterattack.

Having left his hometown seven years ago to come to this land of hope, the sacred mountain, he now realizes that this place does not belong to him at all.

Disappointment and frustration only lasted a moment in Shi Yan's heart before that silhouette in his memory surfaced.

Since there are compelling reasons to persist in becoming True Disciple, giving up before utter despair is cowardly. He's lost so many times already, what's one more defeat? Even if it's only for a year, it doesn't necessarily mean there's no chance.

With renewed resolve, Shi Yan's eyes snapped back to reality. He tried to clench his fists, but his injuries prevented him from doing so. He couldn't even manage to push aside the rubble and crawl out. He had originally planned to do what he always did: struggle to his feet and slink away. Now, he could only lie there and recover. The more troublesome part was that he probably couldn't escape the watchful eyes of those people.

Even with his unwavering conviction, he couldn't help but sigh.

Just then, the heavy burden on his body eased, and a large amount of light shone in, so dazzling that he squinted. Already feeling a little dizzy, he couldn't see who had moved the stones for him.

It must be Elder Liu... Over the years, that cold-faced but warm-hearted Elder Liu has indeed secretly helped me a lot, but unfortunately, I haven't listened to his advice.

He adjusted to the flood of light and made out the appearance of the person in front of him—his black robe was torn in many places, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered with dust, which added to his already handsome appearance a resolute air.

The person who cleared the stones for him and extended a helping hand turned out to be his current rival— You Su.

Shi Yan was somewhat taken aback. In the past, every time he challenged True Disciple would beat him up and then ignore him. Those with good temperaments would simply walk past him indifferently, while those with bad temperaments might leave behind a few insults that only he could hear.

He had no complaints. After all, these True Disciples were originally full of vigor, but they were challenged by an Outer Disciple like him, which inevitably made them feel humiliated. Even some well-mannered people were probably annoyed by his persistent and relentless fighting style.

You Su was the first True Disciple to take the initiative to show him goodwill.

But he himself had made a once proud and self-satisfied disciple of Lotus Peak True Disciple so disheveled; wasn't he angry?

If you can't get up, grab my hand.

You Su wiped the blood from her lips with her left hand, while her right hand remained outstretched.

The sun was right behind You Su, and its light shone through his body onto the Shi Yan lying in the pit.

Shi Yan grinned, revealing a set of large, white teeth covered in ash, and with all his might, he raised his hand and placed it on top.

Elder Liu floated to one side, his gaze towards You Su filled with undisguised admiration.

As the two main characters rose from the ruins, sparse applause rang out from the crowd, which then grew louder and louder until it was deafening. Both of them deserved the applause.

Shi Yan seemed somewhat embarrassed and at a loss for what to do. In contrast, You Su was like a seasoned old man, and he also gave Shi Yan a warm smile.

Shi Yan scratched his head and said to You Su:

"Thanks."

You Su laughed it off and genuinely praised, "You're really amazing; you shouldn't be an Outer Disciple."

Shi Yan was slightly taken aback, then replied cheerfully, "You're even better!"

Elder Liu, though withered, smiled and stood between the two, suddenly puffing out his chest and loudly proclaiming:

"In this exchange, You Su wins! Shi Yan's objection is invalid!"

"Elder Liu! Don't jump to conclusions..."

Among the audience, a female fairy in a golden crown and celestial robes slowly floated into the air, smiling as she looked at the group of people in the ruins.

There will be more later.