Leaving the Cave Mansion

Lu Ren had not expected his opponent to strike so viciously. He shifted the Seven Injuries Palm's trajectory and fiercely slammed it against the opponent's blade, knocking the longsword directly aside.

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

Gripping the Fire Spirit Sword, Lu Ren swung out a sword strike as well!

Clang!

The two longswords collided, ringing out like clashing metal. Then Lu Ren's Fire Spirit Sword snapped directly into two pieces, and he was sent staggering back more than ten steps by the impact.

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

Lu Ren stared fixedly at the man in black, his face filled with fury. These Ghost Sword Successors truly clung to him like restless ghosts.

"That's right. My master, the Ghost Sword King, accepted eight Ghost Sword Successors in all. Chu Feiyang and Tang Hao rank seventh and eighth respectively. I rank sixth, and my name is Zhang Quan. You have clearly only opened seven Spiritual Apertures, yet you possess such strength. It seems you have already obtained Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's inheritance. Hand over the key to Tuoshe's Secret Treasure, and I can spare your life!"

The man sneered coldly. The pitch-black longsword in his hand gleamed with a murderous light.

Boom!

Vast and terrifying spiritual energy erupted from his body, pressing down on Lu Ren.

Eleven Spiritual Apertures!

Lu Ren's expression changed slightly. He had not expected this fellow to have opened eleven Spiritual Apertures—he was even more terrifying than Tang Hao.

"What key to Tuoshe's Secret Treasure?"

Lu Ren was secretly startled. He had not expected the other party to know about the key to Tuoshe's Secret Treasure.

"Lu Ren, stop pretending. The key must be in your hands. I advise you not to refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Killing you would be easier than crushing an ant!"

Zhang Quan said coldly, his gaze incomparably sharp.

As he spoke, he watched Lu Ren's reaction carefully, worried that Lu Ren might suddenly flee.

Once Lu Ren escaped outside the cave mansion, with Yun Qingyao and Meng Qian protecting him, it would be impossible to kill Lu Ren.

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

Lu Ren could not help asking.

Hearing Lu Ren say this, Zhang Quan still did not relax his guard in the slightest. "I took a special pill that can suppress my bloodline to the level of a Fourth-grade Bloodline!"

"Looks like your master made quite a few preparations for the key to Tuoshe's Secret Treasure. But if you want the key, then come take it with your own ability!"

Lu Ren smiled faintly.

Seeing Lu Ren so fearless, Zhang Quan largely guessed that Lu Ren had certainly obtained much of Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's inheritance. Though he had not entered the Spirit Stream Realm, he had very likely improved his bloodline—perhaps to a Seventh-grade Bloodline or Eighth-grade Bloodline, or even higher.

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

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

At that thought, killing intent surfaced on Zhang Quan's face, and he attacked without hesitation.

Kill!

Powerful spiritual energy erupted from his body. The ghost sword in his hand trembled wildly, like silver serpents dancing in chaos. Sword light flickered like bolts of lightning, leaping back and forth around Lu Ren.

Ghostly Sword Style, Ghost Flash Sword!

"What a formidable sword technique. This strike has probably reached Yellow Tier High Grade!"

Facing that strike, Lu Ren remained utterly motionless!

Yet 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 lights.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions rang out one after another, deafening the ears.

The vortex within Lu Ren's body spun rapidly before suddenly exploding. An astonishing aura erupted from his body.

The broken sword in Lu Ren's hand clashed madly against Zhang Quan's blade. Each strike was stronger than the last, each strike faster than the last.

"What?"

Zhang Quan felt an indescribably tremendous force slam into the black sword in his hand. His body shook violently at once, his blood and qi churned, and the web between his thumb and forefinger split open.

Clang!

The black sword in Zhang Quan's hand was knocked flying as well.

The broken sword in Lu Ren's hand snapped into several more pieces.

After knocking away his opponent's longsword, Lu Ren did not hesitate. He fiercely struck Zhang Quan's chest with a palm, sending him flying directly away.

Zhang Quan crashed heavily onto the ground, vomiting blood wildly.

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

Lu Ren stared at Zhang Quan coldly, his eyes brimming with icy killing intent.

He had not expected the Ghost Sword King to arrange for two successors. If he had not cultivated the Spirit Burst Secret Art and fused seven Spiritual Apertures this time, Zhang Quan might very well have killed him.

A Martial Artist with a Fifth-grade Bloodline and ten opened Spiritual Apertures could probably sweep through every Martial Artist in the Aperture Opening Realm.

"You clearly opened only seven Spiritual Apertures. Why are you so strong? Could it be that your bloodline talent has truly improved?"

Zhang Quan was utterly shocked.

Zhang Quan considered himself peerlessly talented. Yet with a Fifth-grade Bloodline, he had actually been defeated by Lu Ren, a Martial Artist who had opened only seven Spiritual Apertures. Lu Ren must have improved his bloodline.

Die!

Lu Ren showed no mercy. Taking a step forward, he struck out with another palm at Zhang Quan.

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

Zhang Quan roared.

But Lu Ren was not softhearted in the least. His palm slammed fiercely into Zhang Quan's chest.

Boom!

Zhang Quan was blasted away, tracing an arc through the air before falling to the ground. He was dead beyond any doubt.

Lu Ren walked over and, after confirming that Zhang Quan was dead, searched his body. Yet he discovered that Zhang Quan did not even have something like a Storage Ring on him.

Then he turned his gaze toward the pitch-black longsword beside Zhang Quan's corpse.

The sword was three feet long and thin as a cicada's wing, entirely black, with the two characters "Seven Kills" engraved upon its blade.

"It was able to sever the Fire Spirit Sword. It's probably a mid-grade Spirit Artifact, perhaps even a high-grade spirit artifact!"

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

Once everything was settled, Lu Ren turned and walked toward the cave mansion entrance.

Boom!

Outside!

Tuoshe Cave Mansion suddenly began to tremble.

A fierce blaze shot into the sky.

In an instant, all the formations around the cave mansion lost their former radiance and slowly dissipated, revealing an ancient cave mansion.

The Martial Artists waiting outside the cave mansion all shuddered, their eyes filled with incomparably horrified expressions.

"What's going on?"

"Could it be that Lu Ren successfully obtained Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's inheritance?"

Gu Yifan and Xie Kuang both wore uncertain expressions.

Meng Qian and Yun Qingyao were also greatly shocked.

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

But now, Lu Ren still had not emerged, while the formations outside the cave mansion had already disappeared.

Moreover, the light screen outside had vanished when Lu Ren began the ultimate trial, so they had no idea what had happened inside the cave mansion. They could only wait for Lu Ren to emerge.