Reaching the Top of the Outer Sect!

Zhang Su's sword was too fast.

Moreover, it hid within the void. One could see Zhang Su draw his sword, yet not the trajectory of the Lengshuang Sword.

That was what made it truly terrifying.

Silent and soundless.

By the time one noticed it, it was already too late.

Especially since Zhang Su was driving it with more than nine hundred strands of Blood Qi, making it even faster and more powerful.

However, Lu Tianqing had remained fully focused from beginning to end.

His gaze was razor-sharp.

He seemed capable of catching Zhang Su's sword.

Boom.

Lu Tianqing moved.

He did not dodge.

Instead, he threw a punch.

This punch was just as fast.

Fist shadows nearly filled the sky.

Moreover, the pressure brought by nine hundred and ninety-nine strands of Blood Qi was overwhelming.

The terrifying force of the punch directly suppressed Zhang Su's Light Shadow Killing Sword.

"Hm?"

Zhang Su's pupils contracted.

Lu Tianqing's fist was powerful!

Moreover, it carried that air of being the sole sovereign above and below the heavens.

"This is... the Overlord Fist?"

Zhang Su recognized it.

This was also a peerless fist technique.

Furthermore, it was an exceptionally special fist technique.

It was said that it could cultivate a kind of "Overbearing Fist Momentum." Relying on this "Overbearing Fist Momentum," one could unleash incredibly terrifying power.

The stronger the personality of someone cultivating this fist technique, the stronger the technique's might.

Even among peerless martial techniques, this fist technique was considered immensely powerful.

Although Zhang Su's Light Shadow Killing Sword was also formidable,

it relied on the environment and speed.

Compared to the Overlord Fist, it still fell half a notch short.

What was more, Zhang Su possessed fewer strands of Blood Qi than Lu Tianqing.

Thus, after only one move, Zhang Su had fallen into a disadvantage.

At the same time, Lu Tianqing seized the opportunity, his fists pouring down upon Zhang Su like a violent storm.

Moreover, Lu Tianqing was using more than just the Overlord Fist. He seemed to possess other peerless martial techniques as well.

Top-tier martial techniques emerged one after another.

He pressed Zhang Su so hard that Zhang Su had no chance even to catch his breath.

At this moment, Zhang Su finally understood why so many people called Lu Tianqing a "freak."

He truly was a freak.

For an ordinary person, cultivating even one peerless martial technique was already harder than scaling the heavens.

But what about Lu Tianqing?

He wielded peerless martial techniques as casually as raising a hand.

Top-tier martial techniques were even more commonplace to him.

He was crazier than Bai Junze, the "madman."

One move, two moves, three moves... nearly every move was a head-on collision!

Even though Zhang Su had perfected the Light Shadow Killing Sword and possessed more than nine hundred strands of Blood Qi, he still found himself struggling more and more.

Yet Lu Tianqing's momentum was visibly growing stronger.

He seemed truly about to undergo Ultimate Ascension and condense his thousandth strand of Blood Qi!

He was practically unstoppable!

However, beneath this immense pressure, a subtle change was beginning to emerge within Zhang Su as well.

The various sword techniques he wielded had almost become instinctive.

The Triple Wave Sword Technique, the Light Shadow Killing Sword, the Nine Shadows Sword Technique, and so on.

Zhang Su could use them all with effortless ease.

Not only sword techniques, but movement techniques and footwork as well.

Whether ordinary martial techniques, superior martial techniques, or peerless martial techniques.

What was Zhang Su's advantage?

It was, in truth, the sheer number of martial techniques he had cultivated!

Who had cultivated more martial techniques than him?

And every single martial technique had reached the Perfected Realm.

Previously, Zhang Su had used his martial techniques separately.

Either he used the Light Shadow Killing Sword.

Or he used Triple Wave.

Or he used the Nine Shadows Sword Technique.

Though he had perfected so many sword techniques, he had been unable to fuse them completely into one, unable to truly turn them into his own instinct.

Fortunately, every one of Zhang Su's martial techniques had a Compatibility Rate above ninety percent.

Some martial techniques even had a Compatibility Rate of one hundred percent.

Thus, under Lu Tianqing's immense pressure, all of Zhang Su's martial techniques became instinct and melded entirely into his body.

Every gesture and movement was seamless and natural, no longer constrained by any one sword technique.

Even a single sword strike contained several sword techniques.

The more Zhang Su fought, the braver he became, and the more exhilarated he felt.

In an instant, enlightenment struck him, and he came to a realization.

So the Compatibility Rate was far more than simply perfecting a martial technique.

Previously, Zhang Su had never encountered an opponent powerful enough, nor had he endured immense pressure. Naturally, he had never considered integrating all sorts of martial techniques into his body's instincts.

But after this battle with Lu Tianqing, Zhang Su's various martial techniques had instead all fused into his bodily instincts beneath Lu Tianqing's oppression, causing his strength to soar!

"How could this be..."

The longer Lu Tianqing fought, the more alarmed he became.

He could see the changes in Zhang Su.

None of the martial techniques were deliberately performed, yet they had become as instinctive as eating and drinking.

This was a realm he had dreamed of attaining.

But this was wrong.

Who exactly was pursuing Ultimate Ascension?

It was him, not Zhang Su!

Lu Tianqing had also cultivated quite a few martial techniques, including three peerless martial techniques.

In terms of the number of peerless martial techniques, he had cultivated more than Zhang Su.

However, peerless martial techniques were not simply better in greater numbers.

He could not, like Zhang Su, integrate martial techniques into his body's instincts.

The transitions between martial techniques were rather stiff.

When martial artists fought, circumstances changed in the blink of an eye.

Such a tiny difference often determined victory and defeat.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Zhang Su thrust his sword, and nine sword shadows materialized in the void.

At the same time, something like surging waves seemed to sweep forward with vast, mighty force.

This sword contained far too many sword techniques.

It was endlessly transforming, yet all of it had fused into this one strike.

Facing this sword, Lu Tianqing's Blood Qi churned violently throughout his body.

He also knew that it was time to risk everything.

Fury of the Overlord!

Lu Tianqing threw a punch.

His Dominating Momentum surged to its peak.

It seemed that any power, any person, would be blown apart by this punch.

This was also Lu Tianqing's punch of Ultimate Ascension.

It was the strongest punch he had ever thrown in his life!

Du Tian, Zhao Feng, and Chu Dachuan, who were watching from the side, could not even see the specifics of their exchange at this moment.

Yet they could sense that both men had unleashed their strongest attacks.

Their hearts immediately tightened.

Who would win, and who would lose?

Whoosh...

A breeze swept past.

The surroundings became incomparably quiet.

Lu Tianqing's fist was only inches from Zhang Su's face.

He stopped.

Lu Tianqing lowered his head.

At his throat, the tip of the Lengshuang Sword had already pierced his skin, a trace of blood seeping from its point.

It seemed that if it went one inch deeper, he would die!

"I lost..."

Lu Tianqing spoke slowly.

His expression was somewhat complicated.

In this battle, he truly had undergone Ultimate Ascension.

The fight had also been utterly exhilarating.

Unfortunately, he still had not managed to take that step.

Not everyone who staked everything could succeed.

Most people ended in failure.

Lu Tianqing was no exception.

Clack.

Zhang Su sheathed his sword.

"An inch longer, an inch stronger. I merely had the advantage of a weapon."

Zhang Su spoke calmly.

That was also the truth.

Lu Tianqing was powerful.

But Lu Tianqing had not used a weapon.

No matter how powerful a fist technique was, it still held no advantage against a weapon.

"You have already integrated martial techniques into your body and turned them into instinct. I... am inferior to you! However, this was my final battle in the Blood Qi Realm. I will wait for you in the Inner Sect..."

Lu Tianqing turned and left.

He departed with great ease.

"Three hundred Blood Replenishing Pills will be delivered soon..."

Lu Tianqing's voice drifted into Zhang Su's ears on the wind.

This "freak," the number one of the Outer Sect, had lost his final battle in the Blood Qi Realm, yet he had not lost that martial heart.

After this, there would most likely no longer be a Lu Tianqing known as the "number one of the Outer Sect."

There would only be Lu Tianqing, an "Inner Sect disciple"!

Outer Sect, Martial Arts Arena.

Many Outer Sect disciples were sparring within the Martial Arts Arena.

Or exchanging insights into cultivating martial techniques.

Within the Martial Arts Arena, there was a designated area displaying the ranking of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.

The ranking recorded the names of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.

The ranking of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples changed once a month.

Today was once again the day the ranking would be replaced.

In truth, the names on the ranking of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples did not change very often.

Most of the time, they were the same fixed ten names.

However, the names of the top ten disciples had undergone some changes recently.

The reason was simple: Zhang Su had defeated and killed Luo Feng and Bai Junze in succession. With two members suddenly gone from the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples, two replacements naturally had to be added.

One was Zhang Su.

The other was far luckier, having lain his way into the ranks of the Top Ten Disciples and picked up an enormous bargain for nothing.

"The rankings have changed..."

"The Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples ranking should remain unchanged this time."

"That's right. I haven't heard of anyone challenging the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples. It should be the same as last time..."

A number of disciples gathered around the rankings, discussing them in low voices.

Very soon, the "rankings" were replaced.

"Hm? Wait, the names on the rankings have changed..."

"How did Zhang Su become number one in the Outer Sect?"

"Zhang Su... he's already risen to the top of the Outer Sect?"

Many disciples were dumbfounded.

The original number one of the Outer Sect had been Lu Tianqing.

The living legend of the Outer Sect!

A true freakishly gifted genius!

Ever since entering the Guiyuan Sect, he had never suffered a single defeat!

How had Zhang Su managed to overpower Lu Tianqing and claim first place?

"Something's wrong! Senior Brother Lu Tianqing... why has even his name disappeared?"

Someone immediately noticed the anomaly.