Dharma Combat Test

"Anyway, there's no need for you to understand its essence right now. Just focus on cultivating step by step."

Got it, got it. That was the sort of thing only big shots needed to understand.

"Mm, I understand."

"Did you report your cultivation realm to the school today?"

"I did."

Zhang Yunlu repeated what she had learned from Yu Ming.

The Foundation Establishment methods taught to the students didn't mention the Creation Dao Foundation. That was just as Xu Xing had expected. But this "rare spiritual treasure used for one-time Foundation Establishment" sounded very interesting.

Rare treasures of heaven and earth were essential for forging a Heaven-Forged Dao Foundation. They were hard to come by, yet cultivators in this day and age were so capable that they could even mass-produce them.

Even if they weren't as effective as genuine treasures of heaven and earth, that was still quite an achievement.

"I'll go find a copy of the Basic Refining Method and take a look."

Xu Xing was naturally interested in a method created by Saint Emperor Abyss, but he didn't ask Zhang Yunlu for it directly. Since the school hadn't made it public, it was likely that students who received the Basic Refining Method were subject to certain restrictions, such as a ban on passing it on.

It might be a small matter for him, but Zhang Yunlu was different.

He raised a hand and pointed. Just like when he had imparted the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique last time, a glimmer of light entered Zhang Yunlu's brow.

"Your total spiritual power is only average. I'll pass on the Nine Qi Harvesting and Refining Method to you. As for which of the two methods suits you better, you can decide for yourself after trying them."

Thanks to her previous experience, she was dazed for a much shorter time. She closed her eyes and carefully read through the method once, then rose to her feet and bowed solemnly.

"Thank you, Senior."

She understood perfectly well that the two of them were merely passing acquaintances.

Xu Xing's cultivation realm was incredibly high. He was a tremendously powerful big shot, but who said big shots were obligated to help minor cultivators?

To take all this for granted would be utterly ungrateful.

His realm was so far beyond hers that she couldn't repay him for now, but she could at least thank him.

"You're welcome."

These Zhang siblings really did share the same temperament. When Zhang Xiu had left the previous night, he had also thanked Xu Xing very solemnly.

Over the long years, Xu Xing had helped many people.

At first, most of them had been grateful. But as time passed, they gradually took his help for granted, until they even started thinking they were entitled to it. In the end, they demanded more and more, and when he refused, they grew resentful.

Yet some people could stay true to themselves from beginning to end. They knew when to advance and when to retreat, and understood right from wrong.

That was why, even now, he still liked to give younger cultivators opportunities.

As for how the Zhang siblings would turn out in the end?

Xu Xing wouldn't try to find out, but he hoped they'd be like the latter.

Before she left, Zhang Yunlu asked one final question.

"After last night's trial, I've felt a little strange. I feel reassured when I'm holding a sword, and when I look at other people, I keep instinctively sizing up their vital points."

Xu Xing's answer was:

"You'll be fine after you've had some time to adjust."

Zhang Yunlu's state was one every sword cultivator went through.

Sword cultivators excelled at slaughter. Every kind of sword cultivator needed to temper their blade with combat and blood!

Now that Zhang Yunlu was in this state, would tomorrow's Dharma Combat Test be a fierce, evenly matched fight—or a one-sided slaughter from beginning to end?

After returning home that afternoon, Zhang Yunlu dug out the book she used to love most, intending to relax for a while.

But even after she'd read several pages, she still couldn't calm down. Her mind was filled with the sword moves from the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.

A few minutes later, she closed the book, grabbed her sword, and ran up to the rooftop.

As it happened, a young couple was already there. Both of them froze when they saw Zhang Yunlu.

Zhang Yunlu was taken aback too.

The main issue was that she recognized them. They went to the same school as her.

They weren't in the same class, but their classrooms were next to each other, so they ran into each other from time to time.

This was incredibly awkward.

"...Sorry to interrupt."

After leaving them with those words, Zhang Yunlu quickly turned around and hurried downstairs, leaving the two of them staring at each other.

"Was that... Zhang Yunlu?" The boy had volunteered at a school competition before, so he remembered her. "She even brought a sword. Don't tell me she came up here to practice?"

"Putting on a show." The girl sounded annoyed. "She never works hard, and now that the Dharma Combat Test is almost here, she suddenly decides to study."

"Come on, she didn't know anyone was here when she came up."

"Why not?" The girl's voice rose. "I heard a lot of people in her class can't stand her. They're planning to teach her a lesson during tomorrow's test!"

Really?

The boy was curious, but when he saw that his girlfriend seemed upset, he forgot about asking and immediately started placating her.

Only after she had calmed down a little did he start fishing for details.

After hearing a heavily embellished account, the boy finally confirmed that something like that really was going on—and that a teacher had even given the students the go-ahead.

She'd managed to offend a teacher too. Tomorrow's Dharma Combat Test looked like it would be quite a show.

The girl eventually noticed something was off and complained, "Why do you keep asking about her? Is it because..."

Before she could blow up, the boy quickly cut her off.

"I'm just curious whether she'll win tomorrow."

"Her? Hah!" The girl scoffed. "Her senior Fang Lin has fought on the Starry Sky Battlefield. How could she possibly compete with him?"

"Right, right. How could he compare to Fang Lin..." The boy laughed along, but inwardly, he was thinking:

Hmm... She's got a bit of a temper. Maybe I should find someone else.

Early the next morning, the school was bustling with activity.

Streams of powerful auras swept in from all over the city. They were all cultivators coming to watch the Dharma Combat Test.

Third High School was the best school in Mystic Sword City, and its principal was the most powerful cultivator in the city, as well as the one closest to the Void Return Realm.

So plenty of people had come to show their support, including many of the city's well-known and powerful cultivators.

Li Fengping was among them. As an inner disciple of the Sword Sect, he had been personally invited by the principal to serve as one of the judges for the day's Dharma Combat Test.

But the injuries on his face hadn't healed yet, so it was still wrapped in bandages. Everyone assumed he was cultivating some special divine ability, so no one asked about it.

A massive arena floated above the sports field. The stands were filled with younger students and the families of some senior-year students.

Zhang Yunlu sat in the classroom, gazing outside through the window. From where she was, she could see the entire arena.

Banners snapped all around it. The blue-gray bricks bore dark stains that looked like dried blood.

Was she going to fight someone to the death on that arena?

The memory of her battle against the sword cultivator's phantom in last night's trial came to mind. After dying dozens more times, she had become capable of easily defeating a ninth-level Qi Refining sword cultivator who had mastered the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.

Would there be anyone stronger at school?

Her hand tightened slightly around the sword's scabbard, and a flicker of anticipation rose in her heart.

Fang Chi, standing at the front of the classroom, noticed her expression.

Hmph!

Now she knew to be nervous.

He sneered inwardly, then looked toward the other side of the room. There stood a tall young man, spiritual light flickering in his eyes. He was just one step away from Foundation Establishment!

That was Fang Lin!

He was the most powerful student in the class—and the only one who had ever fought on the Starry Sky Battlefield!

Fang Lin didn't take Zhang Yunlu seriously at all.

He knew she had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, but he still couldn't care less.

Cultivators who grew up in school were like sheep raised in a greenhouse: naïve and fragile, liable to fall apart under the slightest pressure.

If Fang Chi weren't his uncle, he wouldn't even bother taking this seriously.

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