Of the three Outer Sect disciples available to challenge, two were at the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining. Only the disciple surnamed Xu had just broken through to the third layer.
If Yun Miaozhen had not gone ahead and stepped on that land mine, Chen Yu would probably have challenged the disciple surnamed Xu too.
But fortunately,
there was Miaozhen.
During Yun Miaozhen's fight with her opponent, Chen Yu had noticed Elder Sun cast an almost imperceptible glance at Elder Song beside him. Following that glance downward, he had seen Elder Song's hand forming a seal inside his sleeve...
Challenging the disciple surnamed Xu meant certain death.
The remaining two were both at the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining, so either would do. Chen Yu chose the arrogant senior brother with the foul temper.
Chen Yu gripped the rough Wooden Sword in his right hand and clutched the Glowing Jade in his left.
A move like Glowing Jade worked best the first time it was used.
This was no longer his old world. What his opponent held was not an unsharpened replica meant for entertainment, but a genuine blade sharp enough to slice a hair blown against its edge.
So,
be careful!
Across from him, the arrogant disciple raised his sword slightly, a disdainful smile playing on his lips.
The next instant, his figure darted forward. His blade cut through the wind, its cold, keen tip thrusting straight for Chen Yu's throat!
Chen Yu's pupils contracted.
He hurriedly dodged.
Both were at the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining. Though the arrogant disciple's sword moves were vicious, with Chen Yu determined to evade him, he could do nothing to Chen Yu for the moment.
"What kind of skill is running and dodging?!"
The arrogant disciple's thrust struck empty air as Chen Yu kept slipping around like a loach.
He barked, "Face my attacks if you've got the guts!"
Idiot...
I've got a wooden sword, and you've got a sharp blade. You expect me to clash head-on with you?
Are you out of your mind, or am I?
Watching from outside the fighting area, Elder Sun rested his gaze on Chen Yu, inwardly surprised. This boy has cultivated for only three years, yet he's already reached the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining. His talent is truly impressive. If he were refined into spirit essence, he might even yield the highest grade...
As the fight remained deadlocked, an icy voice suddenly rang out.
"If neither of you wins within ten breaths, you will both be declared defeated." It was Elder Wu who spoke. His face was expressionless, his words ringing with finality.
At those words, a flicker of agitation immediately crossed the arrogant Outer Sect disciple's eyes.
Ten breaths!
He watched Chen Yu keep dodging before him.
I can't drag this out any longer!
He drew a deep breath, circulating his spiritual energy and pouring it into his blade.
The sharp sword in his hand glimmered, trembling with a hum. Its tip pointed straight at Chen Yu, bristling with murderous intent!
On the other side, hearing Elder Wu's words put Chen Yu completely at ease.
The fact that they could both be declared defeated meant this Dao Sect disciple had no special status. No elder would secretly form seals against Chen Yu during their fight.
At that moment, the arrogant disciple twisted through a strange sequence of steps and instantly blocked Chen Yu's path.
Then his blade slashed diagonally.
The cold, keen blade carried murderous intent.
Chen Yu shot backward. The razor-sharp tip swept almost flush against the robes over his chest, the wind of its passing slicing a thin slit in his clothes... Fortunately, he had narrowly avoided it.
Fewer than five breaths remained.
It was about time. Holding the Glowing Jade, Chen Yu curled his lips into a smile and said to his opponent, "Senior brother, your swordplay isn't bright enough, and it certainly doesn't flash enough."
"For this next strike of mine, senior brother, keep your eyes wide open and watch!"
As he spoke, Chen Yu gripped his Wooden Sword in his right hand, his spiritual energy circulating wildly, looking every bit as though he were preparing a powerful move.
The arrogant disciple facing Chen Yu frowned slightly at the sight. His opponent was merely a registered disciple and should have practiced only the Qi Guiding Art, with no other martial techniques. Yet the sudden surge in his presence did not seem feigned. To be safe, the arrogant disciple tightened his grip on his sword, widened his eyes, and stared fixedly at the figure opposite him with unwavering concentration.
Then,
suddenly!
Chen Yu moved.
But,
it was not the sword in his right hand that moved.
It was his left hand.
Chen Yu abruptly flicked his left hand forward. The arrogant disciple was still wondering what kind of move this was when, in the very next instant-
Flash-
A blinding burst of white light.
Without the slightest warning, it suddenly erupted before his eyes!
It appeared in an instant and vanished just as quickly, lighting up the entire summit of Jadewood Peak.
"Holy shit!"
"My eyes!"
"Am I blind?"
Cries of shock rose from the others nearby.
On the battlefield, although the light lasted only an instant, after it vanished, the arrogant disciple felt a searing spot lingering before his eyes, forming a stark contrast with the darkness around it.
It left him completely unable to see what was in front of him.
Before his sight could recover,
flash!
Flash!
Flash!
Three more flashes of different colors erupted in different positions.
He instinctively shielded his eyes.
But then he suddenly remembered that he was in the middle of a duel and hurriedly lowered the hand shielding his eyes. With nothing visible except four intense spots of light, he could only swing his sword wildly in front of him, relying on instinct alone.
When his sight recovered, the arrogant disciple found a Wooden Sword pressed against his chest.
Directly in front of him,
Chen Yu gave him a smile.
"You've lost, senior brother."
Meanwhile, once the dazzling light faded and their vision gradually recovered, the other two Outer Sect disciples watching exchanged bewildered looks.
"What just happened... Am I blind?"
"S-Senior Brother Li actually... lost? What trick did that registered disciple use?"
Standing off to the side, waiting to die, Yun Miaozhen had looked ashen. When she saw that Chen Yu had actually beaten his opponent, surprise first flashed in her eyes, only for their light to dim again...
"Ugh... You!"
On the battlefield, the arrogant disciple was arrogant no longer. Humiliation had turned to fury.
So this was...
Your bright, flashy swordplay?
And you even told me to open my eyes wide and watch?!
"Crooked tricks!" the Outer Sect senior brother cursed, his expression twisted with humiliation and anger. Then he immediately turned toward the three elders, bowed, and pointed at Chen Yu. "Elders, please judge fairly!
"This man is despicable! He won through underhanded tricks. It cannot count!"
At this, Elder Sun and Elder Song exchanged a glance, then looked toward Elder Wu.
Elder Wu's gaze was indifferent. "The registered disciple wins."
Only after hearing Elder Wu's final ruling did Elder Sun look at Chen Yu, his tone carrying a measure of approval. "To think you came up with such an unusual move... Not bad. You have talent! From today onward, you are an official disciple of the Dao Sect's Outer Sect!"
Chen Yu put away his Wooden Sword and answered with due courtesy, "Yes."
Beside him, the Outer Sect disciple whose face had filled with humiliation and fury upon hearing the elders' verdict... No, he should now be called Senior Brother Spirit Essence. His expression instantly filled with despair and terror.
He dropped the sword in his hand and fell to his knees, intending to beg for mercy.
At that moment, Elder Song made a slight move.
An intensely sweet scent poured into his mouth and nose. A few seconds later, his expression gradually relaxed. Senior Brother Spirit Essence smiled. "After all these years of cultivation, I still couldn't defeat a mere registered disciple. It's time I made way..."