Mu Ziqing

The Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus had been practiced before by outer hall geniuses who had mastered Sword Force!

But the vast majority had given up because it was too difficult to master, turning to other martial techniques instead.

Even among the many gifted disciples who had mastered Sword Force, none had managed to learn the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus! Its difficulty was plain to see.

Mu Ziqing had likewise trained tirelessly in the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus.

She had already mastered the first seven swords and stood just one step from complete mastery.

Yet the last two swords had always eluded her.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...

Suddenly, Qin Hao's fingers became swords, shooting out faint streams of Sword Qi.

Those streams of Sword Qi looked like lotus blossoms!

But the resemblance was only slight. They were still far from fully formed lotuses.

Puff! Puff! Puff!...

The streams of Sword Qi struck the air. Ripples spread through the space before him, stopping every attack.

This was a formation set up by the Martial Arts Hall, capable of withstanding any disciple's attack.

Gifted disciples had gained sudden enlightenment while selecting techniques in the Martial Arts Hall before, unleashing powerful attacks on the spot. To prevent damage to the hall, the Myriad Phenomena Hall had installed numerous formations.

"What? He has begun to grasp the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus?" Mu Ziqing's lips parted slightly.

Producing lotus-shaped Sword Qi already counted as taking the first step in the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus!

Even Mu Ziqing, a renowned genius of the inner hall, had taken a full three days to reach that point!

Qin Hao had done it in mere moments.

Grandfather said that although the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus is classified as high-grade Yellow Tier, it's no different from a Mystic Tier martial technique.

That's why it's so hard to cultivate and even harder to grasp its artistic conception. It was classified as high-grade Yellow Tier for that reason, but once mastered, it would be a tremendous help in understanding the artistic conception of martial techniques. Grandfather told me to train diligently in the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus, grasp Sword Intent, and lay a solid foundation for my future path of the sword!

Mu Ziqing was stunned and could not contain her curiosity. This fellow is a monster! In such a short time, he produced a lotus and took the first step toward mastery!

I wonder what his name is?

Mu Ziqing blinked her large eyes, her curiosity growing.

When had such a monstrous genius joined the outer hall?

"Junior Sister Ziqing! What a coincidence, you're here too?"

An excited voice suddenly rang out.

An elegantly dressed young man spotted her, his eyes lighting up as he strode over.

"Bu Yunfeng, you... You're like a ghost that won't leave me alone!"

Mu Ziqing turned. Her fine brows immediately drew together, and impatience showed on her face.

"How can you say that, Junior Sister Ziqing? Since we met here, it must be fate, don't you think?"

Bu Yunfeng showed no embarrassment. He laughed heartily, brimming with warmth.

"Hmph!"

Mu Ziqing gave a soft snort and ignored him, looking instead toward where Qin Hao had stood on the first floor.

Below the stairs, the spot where Qin Hao had stood was empty.

"Where did he go?" Mu Ziqing froze.

"Are you looking for something, Junior Sister Ziqing? Need my help?"

Bu Yunfeng followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at the first floor.

The first floor held only Yellow Tier cultivation methods and martial techniques.

Inner hall disciples had long since outgrown them!

"No!" Mu Ziqing shot Bu Yunfeng a cold look.

If Bu Yunfeng had not appeared, she would not have missed her chance to meet that genius.

The outer hall had tens of thousands of disciples, with over a thousand newcomers alone.

The Myriad Phenomena Hall was also divided among nine side peaks. Without knowing Qin Hao's name, how could Mu Ziqing easily find one person?

"Junior Sister Ziqing."

As though he did not mind her coldness, Bu Yunfeng smiled faintly. "The Heavenly Drink House introduced a new Spirit Fish dish today. It comes from a high-grade level-one demonic beast, and eating it can help one's cultivation."

"Would you do me the honor of letting me treat you to some?"

"I'm busy!"

Mu Ziqing answered flatly and headed down to the first floor.

Bu Yunfeng's face darkened at once, but only for an instant before he quickly returned to normal.

Looking down at Mu Ziqing's graceful figure, Bu Yunfeng's eyes burned with desire.

What does she have to be so proud of?

If she didn't have an inner hall grand elder for a grandfather, Mu Ziqing, I would have had you in my grasp long ago!

Bu Yunfeng cast Mu Ziqing a dark look. Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed his refined, easygoing manner. A faint smile on his lips, he wandered about the second floor.

Meanwhile, Mu Ziqing searched the first floor.

A short while later, Mu Ziqing stood at the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall. Her delicate nose wrinkled, and a smile appeared on her face. "That fellow moves fast! But as long as he's still in the Myriad Phenomena Hall, I'll find him!"

When I do, maybe we can even compare our Sword Art!

Mu Ziqing did not search too closely. The disciples in the Martial Arts Hall were studying cultivation methods, and she did not want to disturb them.

What she failed to notice was Qin Hao tucked away in a corner of the first floor, engrossed in a Wandering Dragon Steps manual.

He also held two other martial technique manuals.

They were the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus and Sword-Sweeping Slash!

Qin Hao had barely begun to grasp the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus, but he still had some way to go before he could execute its first sword.

As for Sword-Sweeping Slash...

A martial artist's combat strength consisted mainly of three aspects: attack, defense, and movement!

The Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus was an offensive Sword Art, while Sword-Sweeping Slash could be used both to attack and defend, making it a better fit for Qin Hao's needs.

That left Qin Hao needing a Movement Technique manual.

"Wandering Dragon Steps, a high-grade Yellow Tier Movement Technique."

"Once mastered, the body moves like a roaming dragon. In a burst of speed, the practitioner can move three times as fast as usual!"

Qin Hao was pleased. "This is the one!"

Qin Hao had taken first place in the Tianshui City Genius Tournament, and his prize included two high-grade Yellow Tier martial techniques or cultivation methods.

If he wanted three high-grade Yellow Tier martial techniques, he would have to exchange Contribution Points for one.

I wonder how many Contribution Points it takes to exchange for a high-grade Yellow Tier martial technique?

Qin Hao pondered this and was about to take the manuals to the Martial Arts Hall's registration desk when a sharp shout suddenly rang out.

"Put down the Wandering Dragon Steps!"

Qin Hao turned and froze.

Not far away, an arrogant-looking young man approached at an unhurried pace.

Several other new disciples walked beside him. Most conspicuous was the young woman on his right.

It was Liu Ruoxue.

"Qin Hao? What a coincidence!" In an instant, Liu Ruoxue regained her composure, though a trace of mockery appeared in her eyes.

After the Tianshui City Genius Tournament ended, Liu Ruoxue had returned to Myriad Forms City with Yang Benhong and Yue Yilin.

Liu Ruoxue had intended to wait for Lei Zhen in Myriad Forms City, but he was in seclusion, trying to reach the seventh level of the Meridian Opening Realm. With no other choice, she had returned to the Myriad Phenomena Hall with the Lei family's other retainers.

As soon as she arrived, Liu Ruoxue heard that Qin Hao had angered Lei Jiaojiao.

He's incompetent, and using Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to force his strength up was bad enough. But he even dared to provoke the Lei family's second young lady. He's beyond saving!

Liu Ruoxue shook her head slightly, utterly unconcerned.

As far as she was concerned, Qin Hao was digging his own grave and courting his own destruction.