Clash

Lin Xuan's words caused an uproar, and everyone looked at him with contempt.

"Daring to fight one of the Four Outer Sect Elites? You're simply courting death!"

"Exactly! You want to defeat Senior Brother Jiang? Take a good look at yourself first!"

"You flew by stepping on a rock and now think you're an immortal? Did a donkey kick you in the head?"

Everyone mocked Lin Xuan. Duan Fei, one of the Four Elites, gave a disdainful smile, while Jiang Yulong threw back his head and laughed loudly.

"Kid, I don't know why you managed to come out of the Demon Pit, but thinking that alone lets you defeat me is a joke! Kneel and apologize now, and perhaps I'll spare your life."

Lin Xuan drew the Red Flame Greatsword from his back. He had now completely mastered its weight. The dark-red blade slowly moved, flashing with an eerie light beneath the sun.

"Haha! You're killing me! Did you come out here to make a fool of yourself? You actually brought a rusty sword!"

"We know you're poor, but you didn't have to bring such a broken sword, did you? And you think this can challenge Senior Brother Jiang?"

The corner of Lin Xuan's mouth lifted slightly. He ignored their words; to him, action was the best weapon for slapping faces. His arm moved, and the Red Flame Greatsword became a streak of crimson as it slashed toward Jiang Yulong.

"Tch, he isn't even using spiritual energy. Is he brain-dead?"

"Senior Brother Jiang, kill him!"

Lin Xuan truly was not using spiritual energy, relying instead on pure physical strength. He had already cultivated the Golden Jade Body Tempering Art to major completion. Not only was his body incomparably tough, but his strength had reached a terrifying level as well.

Seeing no spiritual-energy fluctuations around Lin Xuan, Jiang Yulong's eyes filled with disdain. He stood there casually, without even using spiritual energy to protect himself.

But in the next instant, his pupils suddenly constricted, and he retreated rapidly. A flash of red light streaked through the air as the Red Flame Greatsword arrived above his head in an instant, its violent force whipping up countless gusts of wind.

When the sword struck, wind and clouds stirred!

The surrounding disciples were forced back three steps by the gale. Those with weaker cultivation had already begun circulating spiritual energy to protect themselves. All of them stared at Lin Xuan in horror, unable to imagine that such tremendous power could come from a slender youth!

After the strike, Lin Xuan flicked his sword upward with his backhand.

At an inconceivable angle, the Red Flame Greatsword slashed at Jiang Yulong once more.

"You're courting death!" Having lost the initiative, Jiang Yulong staggered back a step before drawing his sword in fury. In an instant, violet flames coiled around the blade, and the temperature in the air abruptly soared, as though it would roast people alive.

Boom!

Jiang Yulong's longsword, burning with violet flames, collided with Lin Xuan's Red Flame Greatsword. A visible ring of energy rippled outward, leaving many disciples pale and swaying unsteadily.

The two forces were evenly matched and rebounded from one another, throwing up a shower of sparks in midair.

"How is that possible? He actually blocked Senior Brother Jiang's strike?"

"Am I seeing things?" Quite a few people began rubbing their eyes fiercely.

"Impossible! Senior Brother Jiang must not have used his full strength. Once he gets serious, this brat is dead for sure!"

"Damn it! How did this guy's strength improve so quickly?" Jiang Yulong frowned deeply. I must get rid of him, or he'll become a grave threat!

With that thought, he swung his longsword, and a peculiar momentum gradually began to form around him.

"Sword intent!" Lin Xuan's gaze deepened, and a flash of excitement passed through his eyes. "I'll use you to test the power of my new sword technique!"

Lin Xuan held his sword in one hand and charged forward. His expression was calm, a confident smile hanging on his lips. A momentum also formed around him, like a peerless divine sword—sharp and unmatched.

The two forces stood on the verge of collision when a voice came from afar, transforming into thunder.

"Stop!"

The voice contained immense power, yet Lin Xuan and Jiang Yulong seemed not to hear it, still swinging their swords with all their strength.

Whoosh!

A flying knife tore through the void from afar, like a bolt of lightning, dazzling and brilliant.

Clang!

The radiant flying knife struck the two longswords, producing a burst of white light and forcibly separating them. Lin Xuan felt as if a great mountain had crashed down upon him; the force nearly made him lose his grip on the greatsword.

What terrifying power. Who is this person? Lin Xuan was shocked.

Just then, a figure drifted down. He was a handsome young man. Curling his five fingers and drawing them back, he pulled the small flying knife into his hand.

When Lin Xuan saw the young man's palm, he froze slightly, unable to help but let out a word of praise.

The young man's hand was exceptionally fair, his fingers long and slender, like jade-green scallions. Lin Xuan even felt that such beautiful hands should not have belonged to a man.

"Brother!" A clear voice rang out, followed by a fiery-red figure rushing into everyone's sight.

"It's actually Tang Yi!" After seeing Tang Yu, Lin Xuan naturally understood the young man's identity: Tang Yi, one of the top experts of the Inner Sect!

"As expected of an Inner Sect expert. His strength is truly unfathomable." For the first time, Lin Xuan had a clear understanding of Inner Sect disciples.

Tang Yi affectionately rubbed Tang Yu's head, then walked over with a stern expression.

"As disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect, you must remember at all times not to disgrace those three words!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. Lin Xuan will remember it."

Seeing Lin Xuan behave so respectfully, Tang Yi's expression softened somewhat. He then turned to Jiang Yulong.

Jiang Yulong gritted his teeth, his expression changing several times before he finally cupped his fist and said, "I will remember Senior Brother's words."

Then he stared at Lin Xuan with an unfriendly expression. "At the Inner Sect Selection Tournament one month from now, I'll break every bone in your body before everyone!"

Everyone was shocked. Jiang Yulong was issuing a challenge—the genius among the Four Outer Sect Elites had issued a challenge!

"I look forward to it." Lin Xuan's expression remained calm, as though he were agreeing to something utterly insignificant.

"Heavens! Lin Xuan actually accepted! Is he crazy?" The Profound Heaven Sect disciples wore expressions of horror. This matter would likely sweep through the entire Outer Sect.

"Let's go!" Jiang Yulong sneered, then led the members of the Divine Might Corps away in an imposing procession.

Lin Xuan finally returned to his little cabin. Everything that had happened these past few days felt like a dream to him, bizarre beyond belief.

After resting well, Lin Xuan threw himself back into intense cultivation. He was gradually transforming now; both his body and his heart were growing rapidly.

Thinking of the tournament one month away, a ripple stirred in Lin Xuan's heart.

The Inner Sect Selection Tournament could be called the event Outer Sect disciples cared about most. It determined whether an Outer Sect disciple could enter the Inner Sect. Moreover, one's ranking in the selection tournament corresponded to the importance one would receive after entering the Inner Sect. The higher the rank, the more attention one would draw from the Inner Sect's higher-ups, and the more willing the sect would be to nurture such a genius.

"I will take first place!" Lin Xuan said firmly.

In the past, he had been a useless good-for-nothing unable to cultivate, suffering every humiliation. Now that he could cultivate, he naturally had to stand at the pinnacle of the martial path. He wanted to gain immense strength, and he wanted to return to his Lineage in the bearing of a powerful expert!