In the central arena, Zhou Chongshan and Chu Qing stood opposite each other.
Chu Qing is wearing a light green gown with vine patterns embroidered on the cuffs. He has been taking care of Spirit Plant in the Spirit Plant garden for two years. He has the fresh breath of vegetation on his body. He has cultivated to the eighth level of Qi refining, Wood Element single Spirit Root, has long and mellow spiritual power, and is famous for his protracted battles in the outer sect.
Zhou Chongshan was dressed in light gray robes, simple and unpretentious. He stood there, his figure was not particularly tall, but gave people a sense of calmness like a mountain. He was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, earth element single Spirit Root, and ranked first in the formation competition.
The elder deacon waved the flag. "Start!"
Chu Qing took the initiative.
He took five steps back and Hand Seals his hands quickly. The bluestone ground shook, and three thick vines sprouted out of the ground. The vines were green and had barbs on the surface. As the vines twisted, they quickly condensed into human shapes - three seven-foot-tall wooden puppets, with green light shining in their eye sockets.
"Three wooden puppets from the sixth level of Qi refining!"
"Senior Brother Chu has become better at the 'Aoki Spirit Summoning Technique' again."
"Mu Ketu, Zhou Chongshan is in trouble."
The puppet took shape and surrounded Zhou Chongshan in a triangular formation. Chu Qing himself was ten feet away behind the puppet and continued Hand Seals. Green light circulated around him, and green grass grew on the ground through the rocks, spreading rapidly - he was setting up a wood spirit site to enhance the puppet's endurance.
Zhou Chongshan did not attack.
He pinched earth with his left hand and tied it with Method Formula. Three earth walls rose up from the ground in front of him, forming an arc to protect his whole body. His right hand pulled out a three-foot green sword from his waist. The sword was gray and looked ordinary.
"Zhou Chongshan uses a sword?"
"Isn't he a native monk?"
"It's normal to use a sword..."
Amid the discussion in the audience, the three wooden puppets moved.
Their movements were stiff but their power was astonishing. Their fists hit the earth wall, making a muffled sound. The earth wall trembled, and gravel fell down. Zhou Chongshan blocked with his sword, Swordsmanship was simple, simply blocking, blocking, and stabbing, and could barely cope with the siege of the three puppets.
It seems that he is very passive.
Chu Qing frowned slightly. He felt something was wrong - Zhou Chongshan was at the ninth level of Qi refining, and even if wood conquered earth, it shouldn't be so strenuous. But when he scanned Divine Sense, Zhou Chongshan's spiritual power fluctuations were indeed disordered, and his breathing was short, so it didn't seem like he was faking it.
Maybe... I consumed too much before? Didn't fully recover?
Chu Qing didn't think much, calmed down, and put more Divine Sense into the control of the puppets. The three puppets attacked more fiercely, their fists and feet fell like raindrops, and cracks appeared in the earthen wall.
Zhou Chongshan fought and retreated.
Every time he stepped back, a light khaki mark would be left under his feet. The mark was very light, mixed in the texture of the bluestone, and almost undetectable if you didn't look closely. He retreated in an organized manner - not in a straight line, but around the edge of the ring, drawing an arc with Chu Qing as the center.
Ten breaths, twenty breaths, thirty breaths...
The earthen wall finally shattered.
Zhou Chongshan rolled around in "embarrassment" to avoid the puppet's punch, and his robe was cut several times by the vine barbs. He breathed harder, and the hand holding the sword trembled slightly.
Chu Qing's doubts gradually disappeared.
It seems that I really can't hold it any longer.
He took a deep breath and poured all the Divine Sense into the three puppets - this was the final attack to defeat Zhou Chongshan in one fell swoop!
The eyes of the three puppets glowed green, their movements suddenly doubled in speed, and their fists and kicks were like a violent storm. Zhou Chongshan blocked with difficulty, retreated step by step, and was about to be forced to the corner of the ring.
At this moment--
The posture of Zhou Chongshan's left hand Hand Seals has changed.
His five fingers bloomed like lotus flowers, forming a very complicated seal.
"The formation begins."
The sound was very soft, but the arena floor suddenly lit up.
The faint marks he left behind when he retreated all appeared at this moment - three hundred and sixty khaki light points, with Chu Qing as the center, forming a complex array with a diameter of three feet. Between the light points, khaki spiritual threads were connected like a spider web, completely covering Chu Qing and the three puppets.
Chu Qing's expression suddenly changed.
He felt that the spiritual energy in his body was suddenly disordered, as if being stirred by an invisible hand. Divine Sense, who was controlling the puppets with all his strength, felt as if he had been hit hard. The movements of the three puppets all stagnated, and the green light in his eyes flickered.
"Spirit-disturbing formation!" Someone in the audience who knew the formation exclaimed.
"When was the formation set up?"
"When Zhou Chongshan retreated just now, he was preparing his formation every step of the way!"
Chu Qing gritted his teeth and wanted to regain control of his spiritual power. But the formation was fully activated, and the khaki spiritual threads wrapped around his spiritual energy like chains. Every movement was extremely difficult. The three puppets lost their fine control, and their movements became clumsy and full of flaws.
Zhou Chongshan moved.
He doesn't hide it anymore.
His figure was like an arrow from a string. He took one step forward and reached the first puppet. Instead of using a sword, he punched out with his right fist - the khaki aura condensed on the surface of the fist, which was as thick as a mountain.
"Bang!"
A big hole exploded in the wooden puppet's chest, and broken wood flew everywhere. The green light in the puppet's eyes went out, and it fell to the ground.
The second puppet came at him with a fist. Zhou Chongshan did not dodge and met it with his left fist.
"Crack!"
The puppet's arm was shattered inch by inch. He advanced forward and hit the puppet's chest with his right elbow, causing sawdust to fly.
The third puppet wanted to retreat, but Zhou Chongshan was already in front of him. He grabbed the puppet's head with both hands, twisted and pulled it, and the head separated from the body and the puppet became limp.
Even though he took advantage of the "Spirit Disturbing Technique", Zhou Chongshan's physical fitness was extremely strong. In three breaths, all three puppets at the sixth level of Qi Refining were destroyed.
Chu Qing's face turned pale, and he pinched Method Formula quickly. Countless vines sprouted from the ground in front of him, intertwining into a three-foot-thick wooden wall. The surface of the wooden wall quickly became lignified, forming a layer of wooden armor - this was the Wood Element defense technique "Aoki Armor". It was cast at the eighth level of Qi refining, and could block a full blow of Foundation Establishment or less.
Zhou Chongshan kept walking.
He rushed three feet in front of the wooden wall and pulled back his right fist. The earthy yellow aura on his fist was no longer restrained, but burned like a flame, forming a vague shadow of a small mountain.
Xuan Gang Fist.
Punch out.
There is no sound.
It's not that there was no impact sound, but the power of this punch was too concentrated, and the sound was squeezed into a line, making it inaudible. Only ripples visible to the naked eye spread from the surface of the fist, and the air was twisted like water.
The moment the wooden wall came into contact with the fist, it did not shatter, but turned directly into powder.
It was not broken into pieces, but was shaken into powder.
The force of the fist penetrated the wooden wall, and the aftermath hit Chu Qing's chest. Chu Qing flew off the ground, drew a seven-foot arc in the air, crossed the edge of the ring, and fell heavily to the bluestone ground below.
"Pfft--"
He spat out a mouthful of blood and struggled to get up, but his vision went dark and he fainted.
The whole place was dead silent.
The elder deacon was stunned for three full breaths before waving the flag. "Zhou Chongshan wins - advances to the finals!"
The uproar then exploded.
"One punch?! Just one punch?!"
"That's the Aoki Armor! The Aoki Armor of the eighth level of Qi refining!"
"Zhou Chongshan... has been pretending just now?"
"What kind of boxing is that? Can the earth type Law Technique be able to practice like this?"
"It's body tempering. Zhou Chongshan is at least the third level of body tempering!"
Qin Tiexin was sitting in the rest area, clenching his hands unconsciously.
He saw clearly.
Zhou Chongshan was acting from beginning to end. Those who retreated in embarrassment, those who reluctantly blocked, were all preparing for the formation. When Chu Qing completely relaxed his vigilance and devoted all his attention to the puppet, the formation suddenly activated and broke the situation with one blow.
What was even more terrifying was that punch.
The timing and strength are just right, the richness of the earth element combined with the power of body refining, this person is in the strongest Qi refining period he has ever seen.
While he was thinking about it, Zhou Chongshan walked down from the ring and did not go back to the rest area. Instead, he walked straight in his direction.
Qin Tiexin raised his eyes.
Zhou Chongshan stopped five steps in front of him. Their eyes met. There was no arrogance of a winner in Zhou Chongshan's eyes, only a calmness, like a deep pool.
"I am the eldest son of Zhou in Qingya Town," Zhou Chongshan said, his voice as steady as his own, "Cousin Zhou Xian."
Qin Tiexin's eyes moved slightly.
Qingya Town, the Zhou family, Huoyundao, the four pursuers... the memory fragments were quickly spliced together. He thought of the ugly-looking young man in brocade clothes in front of the blacksmith shop, and of the four figures blocking the road with knives.
But he didn't explain, he just looked at Zhou Chongshan quietly.
Zhou Chongshan continued, "If you defeat me, I will be the master of all the grievances between the Zhou family and you, and they will be wiped out."
After a pause, he added the second half of the sentence: "If you lose, go to Zhou's house to apologize."
Qin Tiexin shook his head. "I was right, no need to apologize."
Zhou Chongshan stared at him.
Qin Tiexin met his gaze and said slowly, "If we fail, I will leave Liuyun Sect."
These words were said calmly, but they made several eavesdropping disciples around him take a breath. Leaving Liuyun Sect - for an outer disciple who had just won the weapon refining competition and reached the finals of the martial arts competition, the stakes were too high.
Zhou Chongshan was silent for a long time.
"Okay." He finally nodded and stopped again before turning around and leaving, "You are very strong and I will do my best."
Qin Tiexin Looking at his retreating figure, the fire in his chest finally started to burn.
It's not anger, it's fighting spirit.
As night falls, the outer disciples live.
Qin Tiexin was sitting cross-legged on the couch, running the "Hunyuan Jue". The effect of the ice muscle ointment was very good, and combined with the body's recovery power, the burns on the body had scabbed off, revealing new skin, leaving only faint red marks. Naturally, the hair did not grow back that fast, and the scalp was still bald, and it felt prickly.
He spent too much today and has recovered less than 60% of his spiritual power. Tomorrow's final...
The window "squeaked" softly.
Qin Tiexin opened his eyes, and his right hand had already pressed the handle of Edgeless Saber. But when he saw the person clearly, he let go of his hand.
Nangong Yao sat on the windowsill.
She was still wearing the same aqua blue dress. The material was thin and glowed faintly in the moonlight. The dress was simple in style, with narrow cuffs and a hem just above her knees. She turned over and entered the room, stepping on the floor, and the red rope golden bell on her ankle made a soft tinkling sound. She walked to the bed and sat down naturally, with her feet dangling slightly in the air.
Qin Tiexin stood up. "Sister Nangong."
"Sit down, sit down." Nangong Yao waved her hand and looked at him with amber eyes, "How is the injury?"
"Much better."
"That's good." She raised the corners of her mouth, and the naturally raised lip line always looked like she was smiling, "I came first in the weapon refining competition and entered the finals in the fighting skills competition - Master is very satisfied."
Qin Tiexin said nothing.
"So," Nangong Yao leaned forward and stared into his eyes, "Master is willing to accept you as Registered Disciple. The premise is that... there should be no serious injuries that will affect the refining of the weapon."
She put away her smile and said seriously, "The battle between you and Zhao Yan today was too dangerous. If you can't withstand the mental attack, you will be useless. Tomorrow's finals, Zhou Chongshan is only stronger than Zhao Yan. Even if you admit defeat, you will definitely be in the top three. So..."
She paused and her tone slowed down. "Protecting yourself is the most important thing. How about just going through the motions? I know his master, tell him, he won't let you really leave Liuyun Sect."
Qin Tiexin looked directly into her eyes and shook her head.
"I want to win."
Three words, very light, but decisive.
Nangong Yao looked at him. The young man's eyes were calm, but there was a firmness like a rock. She looked at him for ten breaths, and finally gave up and sighed.
"Okay, now that you've decided."
She no longer tried to persuade her, but stretched out her hand to wipe Storage Bag on her waist.
There was a "clatter" on the table, and there was a pile of things.
"Here, let me give you some support and let you know that there is someone behind you." Nangong Yao clicked through each item one by one, "This is the 'Jade Dew Rejuvenation Pill', which is for healing wounds. Take it tonight and your injuries will be better than 90% tomorrow."
A white jade bottle with a warm body.
"This is the 'Nine Transformations Heart-Protecting Pill', for first aid. If you are really seriously injured, swallow it immediately. Although it is against the rules, losing is better than dying."
The second sapphire bottle.
"This is the 'Celestial Silkworm Soft Armor'. It has a medium-grade defense of Law Artifact and can withstand most attacks below Foundation Establishment."
A piece of silver-white soft armor, as thin as cicada wings, with cold tentacles.
"This is the 'Zhenyue Heavy Sword', the middle grade Law Artifact, which is darker than your big iron stick..." She glanced at the Edgeless in the corner, "It's easier to use."
A four-foot heavy sword with a dark gold blade, as wide as the palm of your hand, and a thick spine.
"This is the 'Resurrection Ring', middle grade Law Artifact, which can automatically absorb the supplementary consumption of Spiritual Qi. It is just right for your cultivation level. I have asked, and the competition is not against the rules."
A bronze ring with light blue sapphire on the surface.
"These are 'Wind-Walking Boots'. They are also mid-grade. They can be put on twice as fast. They were specially found for you."
Finally, there is a pair of black boots with cyan moire flowing on the uppers.
Nangong Yao finished speaking in one breath, without giving Qin Tiexin a chance to speak, and said directly, "As a weapon refiner, it's normal to have more equipment. If Zhao Yan can use it, we can use it."
She stood up, walked to the window, turned around and added, "Save your strength and rest early. Master will also visit tomorrow. Remember - the most important thing is to protect yourself."
Before he finished speaking, the man turned into a blue shadow and disappeared into the night.
Only the tinny sound of the bell is left, drifting in the wind.
Qin Tiexin looked at the Law Artifact elixirs that were shining all over the table. He was stunned for a long time. Then he smiled bitterly. The senior sister was afraid that he would refuse. He felt warm in his heart. There was someone in the sect who really cared about him.
He walked to the table, picked up the bottle of Jade Dew Rejuvenation Pill, and uncorked the bottle. The fragrance of the pill was fragrant and refreshing. He poured out one pill. The pill was round and had a cloud pattern on the surface. It was obvious at a glance that it was worth a lot of money.
He raised his head and swallowed.
The elixir entered the abdomen and turned into a warm and moisturizing force, seeping into the limbs and bones like spring rain. The wounds that were still a little painful completely disappeared, the new skin healed quickly, and even the recovery speed of spiritual power was accelerated several times.
According to this trend, he will indeed be back to his best condition tomorrow morning.
Qin Tiexin put the other Law Artifact one by one into Storage Bag. He walked back to the couch and sat down cross-legged.
The moonlight outside the window was like water, spilling into the house, illuminating the young man's bald, darkened but calm face.
At the corner of the table, the Edgeless heavy knife stood quietly, and the long white mark on the knife surface was clearly visible in the moonlight.
Tomorrow's final will be against Zhou Chongshan.
In this battle, go all out.