Leaving the Cave Mansion

Lu Ren hadn't expected the opponent to be so ruthless. He changed his attack, slamming his Seven Injuries Palm onto the opponent's blade, sending the longsword flying aside.

Seeing this, the man in black swung his sword towards Lu Ren's head again.

Lu Ren gripped the Fire Spirit Sword and also unleashed a strike!

Clang!

Their longswords collided, creating a metallic ringing sound. Then, Lu Ren's Fire Spirit Sword snapped into two pieces, and he himself was sent staggering back more than ten steps.

"You're also a Ghost Sword Successor? You seem to have reached the Fifth-grade Bloodline. How were you able to enter the Tuoshe Cave Mansion?"

Lu Ren stared intently at the man in black, his face filled with anger. These Ghost Sword Successors were truly persistent.

"That's right. My master, the Ghost Sword King, has accepted a total of eight Ghost Sword Successors. Chu Feiyang and Tang Hao are ranked seventh and eighth respectively. I am ranked sixth, and my name is Zhang Quan. You've only opened seven Spiritual Apertures, yet you possess such immense strength. It seems you've obtained the inheritance of Ancient Emperor Tuoshe. Hand over the key to the Tuoshe secret treasure, and I can spare your life!"

The man chuckled coldly, his pitch-black longsword glinting with a murderous aura.

Boom!

The vast and terrifying spiritual energy around him erupted, pressing down on Lu Ren.

Eleven Spiritual Apertures!

Lu Ren's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected this guy to have opened eleven Spiritual Apertures, making him even more formidable than Tang Hao.

"What key to the Tuoshe secret treasure?"

Lu Ren was secretly startled. He hadn't expected the other party to know about the key to the Tuoshe secret treasure.

"Lu Ren, there's no need to pretend. The key is definitely in your possession. I advise you not to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Killing you would be easier than crushing an ant!"

Zhang Quan said coldly, his gaze sharp and piercing.

As he spoke, he also observed Lu Ren's reaction, worried that Lu Ren might suddenly attack and escape.

If Lu Ren managed to escape the cave mansion, with Yun Qingyao and Meng Qian protecting him, it would be impossible to kill him.

"I can give you the key, but I want to know how you entered this cave mansion?"

Lu Ren couldn't help but ask.

Hearing Lu Ren say this, Zhang Quan remained vigilant. "I consumed a special pill that allowed me to suppress my bloodline to the Fourth-grade level!"

"It seems your master made many preparations for the key to the Tuoshe secret treasure. However, if you want the key, you'll have to take it by force!"

Lu Ren said with a faint smile.

Seeing Lu Ren's unyielding confidence, Zhang Quan mostly guessed that Lu Ren had indeed received a lot of inheritance from Ancient Emperor Tuoshe. Even though he hadn't entered the Spirit Stream Realm, his bloodline had likely been enhanced, perhaps to the Seventh-grade Bloodline, Eighth-grade Bloodline, or even stronger.

Otherwise, how could a Martial Artist who had only opened seven Spiritual Apertures possess such power?

If he could kill Lu Ren, not only would he obtain the key and complete his master's mission, but he might also acquire some divine techniques and secret manuals from Lu Ren.

With this thought, Zhang Quan's killing intent flared, and he attacked without hesitation.

Kill!

Powerful spiritual energy erupted from his body. The Ghost Sword in his hand trembled wildly, like a silver snake dancing, its sword light flashing like streaks of lightning, darting around Lu Ren.

Ghostly Sword Style, Ghost Flash Sword!

"What a powerful sword technique! This strike has likely reached the High-grade Yellow tier!"

Lu Ren stood completely still, facing this attack!

But just as those lightning-like sword lights were about to strike Lu Ren.

"Stormy Downpour!"

Swish, swish, swish!

Lu Ren continuously swung the broken Fire Spirit Sword, clashing against the sword light.

Boom, boom, boom!

Explosions echoed, deafening.

The vortex within Lu Ren's body spun rapidly, finally bursting forth, unleashing an astonishing aura from him.

The broken sword in Lu Ren's hand fiercely clashed with Zhang Quan's, each strike stronger, each faster than the last.

"What?"

Zhang Quan felt an indescribable surge of power slam into his black sword, causing his body to jolt violently. His blood churned, and the tiger's mouth on his hand cracked.

Clang!

Zhang Quan's black sword was also sent flying.

Without hesitation, Lu Ren, holding his broken sword, struck Zhang Quan's chest with a palm, sending him flying backward.

Zhang Quan crashed heavily onto the ground, spitting up blood.

"Zhang Quan, it seems you don't have the ability to take the key from me!"

Lu Ren stared at Zhang Quan and said coldly, his eyes filled with icy killing intent.

He hadn't expected the Ghost Sword King to have arranged two successors. If he hadn't cultivated the Spirit Burst Secret Art and merged with seven Spiritual Apertures this time, he might have been killed by Zhang Quan.

A martial artist with a Fifth-grade Bloodline and ten Spiritual Apertures would likely be able to sweep aside all martial artists in the Aperture Opening Realm.

"You only opened seven Spiritual Apertures, yet you're this strong? Has your bloodline talent truly improved?"

Zhang Quan was utterly shocked.

He, Zhang Quan, considered his talent peerless. With a Fifth-grade Bloodline, he was defeated by Lu Ren, a martial artist who had opened seven Spiritual Apertures. Lu Ren must have improved his bloodline.

"Die!"

Lu Ren showed no mercy. He took a step forward and unleashed another palm strike towards Zhang Quan.

"No... don't kill me!"

Zhang Quan roared.

But Lu Ren was completely unmerciful, pressing his palm firmly against Zhang Quan's chest.

Boom!

Zhang Quan was sent flying, arcing through the air before crashing to the ground, undeniably dead.

Lu Ren walked over and confirmed Zhang Quan was dead. He then began searching Zhang Quan's body, only to find that he didn't have a Storage Ring or anything similar on him.

Afterward, he shifted his gaze to the pitch-black longsword beside Zhang Quan's corpse.

The sword was three feet long, as thin as a cicada's wing, and entirely black. The characters "Seven Kill" were engraved on the blade.

"It could actually cut the Fire Spirit Sword. It's probably a mid-grade Spirit Artifact, or even a high-grade Spirit Artifact!"

Lu Ren put the longsword into his Storage Ring, then collected the Fire Spirit Sword, which had been broken into several pieces.

With everything settled, Lu Ren turned and walked towards the cave mansion's entrance.

Boom!

Outside!

The Tuoshe Cave Mansion suddenly began to tremble.

A powerful beam of fire shot up into the sky.

In an instant, the formations surrounding the cave mansion lost their original radiance and slowly dissipated, leaving behind an ancient cave mansion.

The martial artists waiting outside the cave mansion couldn't help but shudder, their eyes filled with immense shock.

"What's going on?"

"Could it be that Lu Ren successfully obtained the inheritance of the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe?"

Gu Yifan and Xie Kuang wore expressions of uneasy surprise.

Meng Qian and Yun Qingyao were also shocked.

In the past, if Lu Ren failed the final assessment, he would have been directly teleported out.

But now, Lu Ren still hadn't emerged, and the formations outside the cave mansion had already disappeared.

Furthermore, the light barrier outside had vanished while Lu Ren was undergoing the final assessment, so they had no idea what had happened inside the cave mansion. They could only wait for Lu Ren to come out.