At that moment, nearly everyone froze.
Huang Hui, the brothers Zhou Wen and Zhou Wu, Zhang Feng, Wang Chao, Chen Zheng, and the others were especially dumbfounded.
They all knew that Lu Yuan had not only broken through to the Hidden Energy Realm several days ago, but had also used a special hidden weapon to kill the Third Stronghold Master of Black Cloud Stronghold, who was in the Transformation Realm. But none of them had imagined that, in just a few short days, Lu Yuan would break through to the Transformation Realm as well.
Could it be that Lu Yuan was not only a first-rate genius with exceptional natural endowments, but that his talent even surpassed Cao Yang's?
But even so, Lu Yuan had entered the Transformation Realm several days after Cao Yang. How could he have defeated Cao Yang so effortlessly?
Cao Yang had managed to withstand nearly ten moves under Chu Jun's sword, yet he couldn't even last one move against Lu Yuan's saber. It was truly baffling!
"The young are to be feared!"
Huang Hui came to his senses and looked at Lu Yuan with a complicated expression.
It was as if he'd watched the old ox at home, usually content to keep its head down and plow the fields, suddenly speak human words—and then sit cross-legged to meditate and cultivate.
He could almost be certain that, like Chu Jun, Lu Yuan had opened the dantian within his body. His strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Transformation Realm martial artist, making him a Quasi-Ranked martial artist.
Was this the effect of precious medicines?
Even so, the fact that a single Century-Old Blood Ginseng had been enough to help Lu Yuan break through to the Transformation Realm in just a few days proved that his natural endowments were no weaker than those of a first-rate genius like Cao Yang.
"Master Huang, A-Wu and I will take Cao Yang to get treated. I'll leave the rest to you."
After giving Lu Yuan a long look, Zhou Wen turned to Huang Hui.
Without waiting for Huang Hui to reply, he and Zhou Wu hurried off, carrying Cao Yang, who was hovering between life and death.
"Brother Lu Yuan, don't worry. Cao Yang was the one who struck first, so you're not at fault. Just focus on your cultivation and prepare for the Martial Examination!"
Before leaving, Zhou Wu also turned and said this to Lu Yuan.
"Lu Yuan, you really don't need to worry too much. You're a Quasi-Ranked martial artist now, and your potential is greater than Cao Yang's. The Zhou Family certainly won't abandon you. If anything, they'll only increase their support for you!"
After the brothers Zhou Wen and Zhou Wu left, Huang Hui smiled at Lu Yuan and spoke.
"I understand."
Lu Yuan nodded and smiled.
Now that he'd shown his hand, he feared no consequences.
Besides, unless Zhou Wen and Zhou Wu were fools, they wouldn't choose to abandon him for Cao Yang.
Even if the Zhou Family did decide to cast him aside, it wouldn't have much of an effect on him now.
What's more, that last slash had pierced Cao Yang's heart meridian. Unless something unexpected happened, there was no saving him.
"He's not only reached the Transformation Realm, but opened the dantian within his body too? He's a Quasi-Ranked martial artist?"
Wang Chao, Chen Zheng, and the others still looked at Lu Yuan as if he were a monster.
Even after the New Year, Lu Yuan couldn't be more than seventeen. How had he not only reached the Transformation Realm, but also come so close to becoming a Ranked martial artist? Had he done it with nothing but a single Century-Old Blood Ginseng?
"Qu... Quasi-Ranked! Brother Lu Yuan is actually Quasi-Ranked!"
Zhang Feng stared fixedly at Lu Yuan as if he were seeing him for the first time.
He'd thought that after finally breaking through to the Hidden Energy Realm, he'd managed to catch up with Lu Yuan. Who could have imagined that Lu Yuan had already reached the Transformation Realm, opened the dantian within his body, and was on the verge of becoming a Ranked martial artist?
The sparring and exchanges continued. Besides Chu Jun of Blazing Sun Martial Hall, Xu Lin of Sanhe Martial Hall and Xu Qing, who was supported by the Zhao Family, were among several other first-rate geniuses who made their mark.
Even Zhang Feng, Wang Chao, and Chen Zheng went up to exchange moves with the young geniuses supported by the other families.
Lu Yuan alone stood quietly where he was the entire time, ignored by everyone.
Perhaps his slash from earlier had intimidated them all.
After all, if he could be that ruthless to one of his own, he'd be even less restrained against them.
Even Chu Jun and Xu Lin, who had also opened their dantians and could be considered Quasi-Ranked martial artists, had no intention of sparring with him.
Perhaps they wanted to wait until the Martial Examination to truly measure themselves against him.
Lu Yuan was happy to be left in peace. Once the Gathering of Heroes ended, he left with Huang Hui and the others.
The atmosphere in the rear courtyard of Guangchun Hall seemed to have grown rather strange.
Almost everyone made a point of keeping their distance from Lu Yuan. Even Zhang Feng, who was usually a chatterbox, rarely went over to talk to him.
After all, Lu Yuan was now not only a true master of the Transformation Realm, but a Quasi-Ranked martial artist even stronger than Master Huang.
On top of that, the slash he'd dealt Cao Yang had been so ruthless and decisive that everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of awe toward him.
"He was hiding his strength way too well. Usually he never made a sound and seemed like such an honest fellow. Who would've thought he'd quietly broken into the Transformation Realm and opened his dantian too, becoming a Quasi-Ranked powerhouse!"
"That guy's ruthless. Either he keeps a low profile, or he suddenly strikes with one slash and kills Cao Yang. Best not to cross him!"
"I think he's great. He's not only incredibly handsome, but his strength is downright monstrous. If I had a younger sister, I'd make him my brother-in-law in a heartbeat!"
"What's the harm in not having a younger sister? If he'd have me, I'd gladly take another stepfather."
"If he doesn't mind, I could even take him as my sworn father!"
As the crowd whispered among themselves, Lu Yuan collected his usual supplies and left.
Whether he was cultivating the Skin Refining Chapter of the Five Elements Vajra Body or practicing the Blazing Sun Sword Technique, neither was suited to being done in public.
Besides, it was difficult to cultivate in peace when everyone kept talking about him and looking at him strangely.
Just as Huang Hui had said, the Zhou Family hadn't abandoned Lu Yuan for Cao Yang. Instead, they'd increased their support for him.
In addition to the meat and medicinal soups he needed each day, he could now also collect a Rejuvenation Pill and a Blood-Qi Pill every five days.
Pills like the Rejuvenation Pill and Blood-Qi Pill were not only more precious than ordinary medicinal soups like Essence-Replenishing Soup and Qi-Replenishing Soup, but also worked faster.
The effects of a single Rejuvenation Pill or Blood-Qi Pill could last at least five days.
In other words, after taking one, he could recover quickly for the next five days.
So, aside from precious medicines like the Century-Old Blood Ginseng, the Zhou Family was practically providing Lu Yuan with unlimited support. They were already spending nearly a thousand taels of silver on him each month.
Just like that, time flowed quietly by.
More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
[Blazing Sun Sword Technique perfected (Limit Break: 1%)]
Finally, after Lu Yuan practiced the Blazing Sun Sword Technique one more time, he reached its ultimate level.
Aside from the changes to the Ancient Scroll, his own grasp and understanding of the sword technique had also nearly reached its peak.
"Whoosh!"
Lu Yuan stepped into the courtyard and swung his sword. A three-inch streak of radiant energy burst from its tip.
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