A sharp gleam flashed in Li Yunjing's eyes. He left the money for his tea, quietly slipped into the crowd, and followed at a discreet distance.
The Sword Trial Platform in the western part of the city was an enormous circular plaza built from massive black stones, surrounded by powerful protective formations.
Quite a few cultivators had already gathered around the plaza to watch. At its center, a tall, powerfully built, dark-skinned Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator carrying an enormous shield on his back nervously watched Sky Patrol Envoy Zhao step onto the platform.
Sky Patrol Envoy Zhao did not even draw his blade. He merely held two fingers together like a blade and casually slashed!
Rip!
An incomparably concentrated silver blade gleam tore through the air, carrying the domineering intent of cleaving stars, and struck toward the shield-bearing cultivator in an instant!
The cultivator roared and poured every last scrap of his magical power into the shield. Thick, earthen-yellow light rose from its surface, forming an enormous phantom shield of light!
Boom!
The silver gleam struck the light shield with a thunderous crash!
The light shield shook violently. It held for only a single breath before shattering!
The cultivator and his shield were sent flying backward, slamming into the protective light barrier. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and a deep blade mark remained on the shield, its spiritual glow dimmed.
"Not worth a single blow! Next!"
Sky Patrol Envoy Zhao withdrew his fingers without even looking at the defeated cultivator, his voice cold and hard.
"Hiss-"
A wave of sharp inhalations swept through the crowd below.
Everyone present had witnessed the shield-bearing cultivator's defensive strength, yet he had failed to withstand even a casual stroke of two fingers!
Two more Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivators, confident in their strength,