Boom—
That was the fourth Blade Light already. Vast and dazzling, its pressure shook the entire Academy.
Too many people had gathered there. By the time Ye Qiu and Wu Xiaokai arrived, the way ahead was packed solid.
Ye Qiu's eyes darted. He immediately fell in behind the Grand Law Enforcer and marched forward like a fox borrowing a tiger's might.
Wu Xiaokai followed beside him. "Make way! The Grand Law Enforcer is here!"
That sped them along, and they soon reached a valley with Broken Cliff ahead.
A saber was embedded in Broken Cliff, only its black hilt exposed.
A girl in a White Skirt gripped the Blade Hilt with one hand and yanked hard. Blade Qi surged, and a Blade Light shot into the Firmament.
The fifth!
"Holy shit, five!" someone shouted. He was an old man, his eyes bulging round.
The saber was no ordinary weapon. Most people would be injured by its Blade Qi just touching it, or even approaching it.
Those with some skill could draw one or two Blade Lights, and that alone was worth bragging about.
The truly formidable could draw three or four, enough to take pride in.
But Lu Li had drawn five!
Though she had yet to pull the saber free, five Blade Lights streaking across the sky was already an astonishing feat.
"Rise!"
As everyone stared in shock, Lu Li shouted. Her White Skirt billowed, her long hair flew, and Sword Qi surged around her.
At her cry, a sixth Blade Light soared up after the fifth. Thunder boomed, and even the Firmament trembled.
The crowd shuddered, their gazes turning grave. Blood had appeared on Lu Li's White Skirt.
"Girl, get down from there!" The Grand Law Enforcer squeezed to the front and roared, his face taut with worry.
Nothing could happen to this girl!
The future of Nanzhou Academy depended on her, and her own identity was fearsome besides.
Lu Li seemed not to hear him. More blood stained her White Skirt, yet she kept a death grip on the Blade Hilt.
"Again!"
The seventh!
"Again!"
The eighth!
Everyone stood dumbstruck, shaken to the core.
Eight!
Since ancient times, that counted as a miracle!
But...
Pfft—
As the eighth Blade Light appeared, Lu Li spat blood. Scarlet spots dotted her White Skirt.
The terrifying Blade Qi hurled her back. She landed on the ground, trembling violently.
Blargh—
Lu Li vomited a pool of blood.
"Even Senior Sister Lu Li couldn't do it!"
"That saber's too damn strange!"
"But Senior Sister Lu Li drew eight whole Blade Lights! That's terrifying. Even the elders couldn't do it!"
"Exactly!"
"I'd give up a hundred years of my life to marry a woman like her!"
Amid the chatter, the Grand Law Enforcer and the others hurried over and examined Lu Li closely.
Lu Li waved them off, then looked back at the saber on Broken Cliff, determination in her eyes.
"Don't go again. You're already hurt. If you go back..." the Grand Law Enforcer said anxiously.
Lu Li paid him no heed. She steadied her breathing and prepared to rise again.
Then a hand caught her. "Don't go."
Lu Li stopped and turned. Blood had dyed her lips bright red, but her eyes shone fiercely.
Ye Qiu said, "It's not worth it!"
That saber was terrifying. Even from below the cliff, he could feel its crushing pressure.
Even Brother Snake had praised the saber!
Lu Li stared at Ye Qiu. "Can you stop visiting brothels from now on?"
The Grand Law Enforcer and the others all looked at Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu: "..."
Couldn't you say that a little quieter?
He drew a deep breath. "I get it! Let's—"
Before he could finish, a gentle force pushed him away.
Before Ye Qiu could react, Lu Li leaped up again and charged straight for the saber.
As she neared the Blade Hilt, Lu Li drew the Azure Sword. Dazzling Sword Light from its blade enveloped her completely.
In that moment, Lu Li seemed to merge with the sword. No—she and the sword had become one!
Having comprehended sword intent and attained sword heart clarity, Lu Li became one with her sword, hanging beneath the cliff like a blazing sun.
She advanced again. The Blade Hilt began to tremble, shaking harder as Lu Li approached until the entire Saber Cliff shook with it.
With that trembling came a terrifying pressure several times greater than before, suddenly descending over them all.
Everyone shuddered. Wu Xiaokai's eyes widened, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
The Grand Law Enforcer and the others looked grim. Even they felt its domineering force.
The saber had been provoked!
Sure enough, as that immense pressure bore down, an even greater Blade Light formed.
This time, the Blade Light did not even soar into the Firmament. Instead, it slashed straight down at Lu Li!
One stroke shook Heaven and Earth!
"Fall back!" the Grand Law Enforcer and the others roared. The Blade Light was too fierce, brimming with murderous intent.
But Lu Li, one with her sword, did not retreat. She became a streak of Sword Light and slashed back!
Saber and sword collided. The shockwave sent wave after wave rolling through the void. Rumble, rumble! It thundered like a thousand troops and ten thousand horses charging!
Amid that charge, Lu Li's hair whipped wildly. She rocked like a little boat tossed on the waves.
Each time she rocked, blood burst around her. The Sword Light surrounding Lu Li dimmed.
But it was not over!
The immense Blade Light shattered the Sword Light completely, then pressed down, drawing still more blood from Lu Li!
"Fall back!" The Grand Law Enforcer and the others broke into a sweat, but none dared approach.
A strange domain surrounded the saber. The stronger one's Cultivation Level, the fiercer its Blade Light became.
If they approached, they would be no help. They would only bring disaster!
Boom—
The void shook. Lu Li's Sword Light faded until, to the onlookers, it seemed to go out entirely.
Every heart lurched into the throat. Some shook their heads, some sighed, and some had already given up hope.
Others sneered, even hoped for this. Some admired Lu Li's brilliance, some respected it, and naturally, some envied or even hated her!
As long as she stood on the stage, her radiance eclipsed too many others.
As long as she stood on the stage, how could those beneath her ever rise?
"Damn it!" Below, Ye Qiu was watching too. At the sight of her, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Then he stamped hard against the ground.
Boom—
The ground split as he shot upward, driving his Qi and Blood and Cultivation Level together.
His Cultivation Level formed armor around his entire body, while his Qi and Blood coursed beneath it like a hardened inner layer.
Two layers of defense!
Thus prepared, he hurtled toward Lu Li. Before he even reached her, he threw a savage punch.
Boom—
A massive burst of light from his fist blasted toward the Blade Light.
Sensing the presence behind her, pale-faced Lu Li suddenly broke into a radiant smile...
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