Heavenly Water vs. Spirit Hall Team, Li Qinglian is More Than a Sword Cultivator

"Li Qinglian!"

Ning Rongrong murmured the name.

Even if her father had not reminded her, she could not possibly forget that name now.

"Daddy. I want to go out and train."

Ning Rongrong spoke softly.

She knew that if she continued staying in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she would fall behind.

Li Qinglian, Shui Bing'er, and Huo Wu were all very young.

In the future, they could still continue to participate in the next Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. That was the key point!

They were already this invincible now. In another five years, just how terrifying would they become?

Especially Li Qinglian—he could even participate in two more Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournaments!

"I agree. But you still need to study in the sect for two more years. Right now, you're still too young."

Ning Fengzhi froze slightly, lowering his head to look at his daughter's rare pair of eyes that held not the slightest hint of spoiled delicacy, and fell silent for a few breaths.

He knew what Rongrong was thinking.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was indeed the number one auxiliary sect under heaven, but flowers raised in a greenhouse could not withstand true wind and rain in the end.

Li Qinglian, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu... these people who were only a few years older than her, or even the same age, had already stood on the stage of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament and carved out their own world. And what about her?

If she did not go out soon, she would truly fall behind.

"What a pity. Blazing Fire Academy and Tianshui Academy only recruit students with martial souls of their own element. Otherwise, if Rongrong went in, she would be able to interact more with Li Qinglian."

Ning Fengzhi felt somewhat disappointed.

Even he, Ning Fengzhi, could not force someone into this kind of specialized advanced soul master academy.

"There's no suspense left in this match. Tianshui Team's next match is against Spirit Hall Academy."

"I wonder if Li Qinglian can win."

Ning Rongrong clenched her fists.

She hoped Li Qinglian could continue creating miracles.

After Dai Tianyao was defeated, the entire Star Luo Team completely sank into decline.

Very soon, the Star Luo Empire admitted defeat.

"Little brother Qinglian! We won! We won!"

"That sword strike of yours was way too cool! I saw it perfectly—the Nether White Tiger was split from head to tail by your sword!"

"Oh my god, I feel like I'm dreaming..."

All the members of Tianshui Team crowded around him.

They surrounded Li Qinglian at the center.

They admired Li Qinglian from the bottom of their hearts.

If not for Li Qinglian, even with Shui Bing'er's sudden rise in this tournament, they would at most have entered the top four.

But now, having defeated Star Luo Academy, Tianshui Academy was at least in the top three.

Moreover, barring any surprises, they could actually secure second place at minimum.

If they performed well in the finals, they might even be able to win the championship!

If they succeeded in taking that step, then they would be the first team in a thousand years to defeat Spirit Hall Academy!

For this group of young girls, that was far too exhilarating.

Praise came surging over in a babble like a tide, but Li Qinglian did not respond immediately.

He stood where he was, sword lowered, his face as pale as paper. Though his breathing had already evened out, the lingering exhaustion between his brows could not be hidden no matter what.

Activating Sword Intent consumed far more essence, energy, and spirit than ordinary soul power output.

That sword strike had gathered all the essence, energy, spirit, intent, and soul in his entire body into a single line, focusing on ultimate compression and eruption. It was ten times more exhausting than a grueling battle that lasted ten minutes.

Right now, every inch of his muscles ached, his fingertips were slightly numb, and even the hand holding his sword could barely muster strength.

Shui Bing'er squeezed through the crowd and walked quite naturally to Li Qinglian's side. She raised a hand and gently wrapped it around his shoulder, drawing him a little closer to herself.

"Lean on me for a while."

"Okay."

Li Qinglian turned his head to glance at her and did not refuse. His body tilted slightly, resting most of his weight on Shui Bing'er's shoulder. The young girl's shoulder was not broad or sturdy, but it carried a clear, refreshing aura that made him feel at ease.

Seeing this, Shui Xian'er smiled and waved her hand, signaling for the others to spread out a little and give the two of them some space.

"All right, all right, stop crowding around. Let little brother Qinglian catch his breath."

The members of Tianshui Team passed through the passageway between the spectator stands, where cheers were boiling over, and headed toward the rest area.

Only after their backs vanished into the entrance did the entire arena seem to jolt back to its senses, erupting into a wave of sound even more deafening than before.

"Li Qinglian—!"

"Li Qinglian!!!"

"Ten years old! My god!!!"

"A monster! This is a true monster-level genius! A prodigy that appears once in a thousand years!"

"Tianshui Team! Tianshui Team!"

Countless names wove together.

But the loudest, densest, and most frenzied were still those three words.

Li Qinglian!

After lying low for so many years, this sword had finally revealed its edge to the world.

"Grandpa, did you see that? Did you see it? One sword! Another single sword!"

"Ahhhhhhh! He's really so handsome!"

In the stands, Dugu Yan had already sprung to her feet. Ignoring the strange looks from the people around her, she tugged at Dugu Bo's sleeve and shouted at the top of her lungs.

Dugu Bo sat expressionlessly in his seat, arms crossed, lips pressed tight without a word.

Yet in those narrow snake-like pupils of his, there was clearly a light he could not suppress.

"Ah. That girl Yanyan really has fallen for him."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Wuhun City Arena was packed with people. Even the suspended viewing platforms at the very top of the dome were filled with spectators who had rushed over from the major sects.

The afterheat of the semifinals had yet to fade when news of the final had already brought the entire city to boiling point.

Tianshui Team versus Spirit Hall Team.

One was a dark horse that had appeared out of nowhere; the other was an overlord that had occupied the peak for decades.

Two incense sticks before the match, the atmosphere in Spirit Hall Team's rest area was solemn and orderly.

Captain Ao Tian sat in the center, arms folded across his chest, his gray pupils as calm as two deep pools.

He was the absolute core of Spirit Hall Academy's team this year, a fifty-first-rank Soul King. His martial soul was the rare Destruction Spear, sharp and fierce in attack.

Beside him, Xie Yue was lowering his head and wiping his Moon Blade, his face cold as he said nothing. Hu Liena leaned against the wall, her fox-like eyes slightly narrowed, no one knew what she was thinking.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan stood before them, a thin stack of tactical notes pinched between his fingers, his gaze sweeping over the young faces before him.

"You all watched the match three days ago."

"Tell me, against Li Qinglian, how confident are you?"

"Ten out of ten. We cannot lose."

Captain Ao Tian said seriously.

"Li Qinglian's main combat style is swordsmanship. The greatest threat among his abilities is the sword intent he has comprehended. According to calculations, when Green Lotus Sword Intent erupts at full strength, it can at most threaten Soul King-level defenses. But precisely because of that, he cannot maintain high-intensity output for long. In one match, he can swing his sword at full power three to four times at most, or else his energy will be exhausted."

"All of us have been issued specially made Black Steel Protective Armor. It can reduce the penetrating damage of sword-type attacks by forty to fifty percent."

"Second, we adjusted the team's formation. Once Li Qinglian charges forward with his sword, another defense-type Soul Master and I will immediately establish multiple rock-wall barriers."

After Chrysanthemum Douluo finished listening, he slowly nodded.

The meticulousness with which these young people handled things satisfied him greatly.

"Li Qinglian is very strong. I admit that his sword intent has indeed reached the point where it can threaten a Soul King."

"I admire him very much. But our Spirit Hall Team is invincible."

"Although Dai Tianyao and Zhu Zhuyue used a Martial Soul Fusion Skill and possessed Soul King-level combat strength, they were not true Soul Kings. Li Qinglian seized the flaw in the martial soul fusion and split their fusion apart with one sword, causing the two of them not only to fail to display much strength, but to suffer a backlash instead."

"But I am a genuine Soul King!"

Ao Tian slowly stood up.

He was nearly one meter ninety tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back. The instant he rose, he gave off a steady, oppressive presence.

Spirit Hall Team had a Soul King!

This was Spirit Hall's confidence!

"They're all wearing armor? It does affect my sword, that's true."

"But I, Li Qinglian, am not only a Sword Cultivator."

When Ao Tian's words reached Li Qinglian's ears, Li Qinglian smiled.

His and Shui Bing'er's greatest trump card was their Martial Soul Fusion Skill!

Spirit Hall Team had not defended against ice and fire attributes. Instead, they had worn armor that reduced penetration. That left the upcoming match without any suspense.