Meeting Lu Jin's gratified gaze, Lu Ming took a deep breath. Grandpa had paid such a heavy price that it would be far too great a loss if the Thunderfire Hall failed to claim the top hall title.
So he had no reason to lose this match.
In an instant, the Divine Ability Bone within Lu Ming abruptly trembled and rumbled. The six strands of Glazed Heavenly Light surrounding it blossomed with mystical radiance, drawing on all his Primordial Qi and sending it surging into the Fire Lotus Mark.
Not a trace was left.
The ball of Golden Plasma Fire in Lu Ming's left hand blazed with golden light. Sharpness and scorching heat burst forth together, warping even the air.
Golden Plasma Fire, Minor Accomplishment Realm!
Lu Ming extended his right hand, and the dark-gold edge of the Flame Blade took shape once more.
Flame Blade, Perfection Realm!
Holding the Golden Plasma Fire in his left hand, Lu Ming swept it over the dark-gold Flame Blade. The flames coated the blade like molten metal, and in an instant, the Flame Blade seemed to become a real golden saber, freshly drawn from the forge and still faintly radiating searing heat.
Golden light flowed along its edge, as though it possessed the power to cut through anything.
The golden saber pointed only slightly downward, yet the scorching blade Qi flickering from it had already melted holes in the hard stone floor.
Across from him, Wang Chen's expression finally changed. Stormy waves rose in his heart. A Perfection Realm Flame Blade and a Minor Accomplishment Realm Golden Plasma Fire? How did this guy do it?!
Even he, after all his cultivation, had only just managed to bring the Golden Gang Sword Hall's Middle Divine Ability, the Golden Light Art, to Minor Accomplishment.
And now, Lu Ming was using a Minor Accomplishment Realm Golden Plasma Fire to strengthen a Perfection Realm Flame Blade. Its power was enough to make Wang Chen's heart pound with alarm.
But even as Wang Chen reeled, Lu Ming was not finished.
Violent lightning leaped beneath his feet. The next moment, dazzling lightning spread outward in the form of lightning patterns, covering Lu Ming's body like a faint robe of lightning.
Wang Chen's pupils contracted.
Fuck!
That's... a Perfection Realm Lesser Thunderlight!
Two Lower Divine Abilities at Perfection and one Middle Divine Ability at Minor Accomplishment!
Even some newly advanced Great Divine Ability Practitioners would struggle to attain such levels in their Divine Abilities!
Is he even human?!
Boom!
As shock filled Wang Chen's heart, thunder rang out.
Lu Ming's figure turned into a series of lightning afterimages. Dragging the flaming golden saber in his hand, he crossed the battle platform in an instant at an unimaginable speed.
So fast!
The saber's light swelled in Wang Chen's pupils in an instant. The hair on his body stood on end, and a profound sense of danger surged up from his heart like a tide.
That strike could kill me if I'm not careful!
Cold sweat covered Wang Chen's forehead. Without hesitation, he unleashed all his Primordial Qi. In an instant, golden light flowed over him, and his entire body seemed to turn into a ray of golden light.
Middle Divine Ability, Golden Light Art!
It was an extremely famous Middle Divine Ability of the Golden Gang Sword Hall, capable of turning both the user and their Primordial Qi into golden light.
Wang Chen transformed into golden light and shot wildly backward. At the same time, he bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which contained all his Primordial Qi.
The essence blood turned into billowing golden light, like a ribbon of golden radiance that could cut through anything, and met the descending dark-gold fire saber.
Clang!
The instant the two collided, a piercing metallic clang exploded, and a violent shockwave of Primordial Qi swept outward.
Golden Plasma Fire flowed over the dark-gold fire saber. Though it looked like molten metal, it gave the Flame Blade extraordinary hardness. With the two combined and further empowered by the Sub-Heaven-Grade Divine Ability Bone, its power exceeded even Lu Ming's expectations.
Crack!
Thus, the golden light Divine Ability Wang Chen had unleashed with all his might lasted only a dozen breaths or so before cracks silently spread across it.
Wang Chen's pupils abruptly contracted, and horror appeared on his face.
Lu Ming took a deep breath. The clamor around him seemed to fall completely silent. All he could see was the dark-gold fire saber he had swung, with metallic liquid still dripping from its edge.
Boom!
The fire saber continued to press forward, and the dazzling golden light Divine Ability, seemingly capable of cutting through anything, finally shattered completely.
Golden light sprayed across the sky.
The Golden Light Art had been broken!
Wang Chen's face turned deathly pale, and he transformed into golden light and retreated at speed.
Boom!
Though his golden light was fast, the lightning Lu Ming had transformed into was faster still. A blurred lightning afterimage appeared, and Lu Ming had already caught up to the golden light.
The fire saber slashed down, cold and vicious.
Rip!
The fire saber tore through the golden light. Wang Chen's piercing scream rang out as his body flew backward in a sorry state and slammed heavily into the ground.
A gruesome saber wound had opened across his chest, exposing bloody bone. It had nearly gutted him.
If his body had not transformed into golden light and negated part of the damage, Lu Ming's strike really could have killed him.
But even so, Wang Chen had been gravely wounded and knocked unconscious.
The dull thud of Wang Chen's body striking the ground seemed to possess a strange magic. Though it was not loud, it made the clamor over the lake seem to fall silent at that moment.
Countless gazes stared at the scene in a daze.
Wang Chen had lost!
Lin Zhao and the other Golden Gang Sword Hall disciple, who were locked in fierce combat with Gao Yu and Yuan Da, had their resolve and fighting spirit utterly crushed by the sight. Their faces turned deathly pale, and their Primordial Qi steadily weakened.
Gao Yu and Yuan Da did not let the opportunity pass. They seized the chance to attack fiercely and take the initiative. Within a few exchanges, they defeated the two, who had no fight left in them, and eliminated them.
With that, the Golden Gang Sword Hall's lower flag platform had fallen completely.
Gao Yu and Yuan Da panted heavily as they looked with complicated expressions at the young figure not far away. The Primordial Qi around him had long since dimmed and weakened, but his eyes held a sharpness and keenness that made them feel they could not look straight at him.
The youth was like a sharp sword that had just been polished, revealing its first glint of sharpness to the world.
Amid the silence,
Lu Ming stepped over the unconscious Wang Chen and walked toward the Golden Gang Sword Hall's flag. Then, without hesitation, he swung the steadily dimming fire saber in his hand straight down.
Crack!
The flagpole snapped, and the Golden Gang Sword Hall's flag crashed down.
Thud.
As the flag fell, undisguised admiration appeared on Zhou Xuan's face on the top floor of the lake-viewing tower.
"This Lu Ming is truly a fine prospect."
"With such a genius, the Thunderfire Hall has hope of rising in the future."
Beside him, Li Yan nodded with a smile. Her gaze rested on the sharp-bearing youth on the distant platform, her eyes gentle.
If Jingyi knew, that girl would surely be happy too.
Behind them, the young scions of the Divine Ability clans remained silent for a moment before someone finally could not help exclaiming in amazement.
"That kid is fierce."
"Ha, the Thunderfire Hall actually claimed the top hall title. That really was unexpected."
"They can't blame anyone else. The Golden Gang Sword Hall only has its own cheap tricks to blame for throwing away a match on a draw for nothing. They tried to steal a chicken and ended up losing the rice used to lure it."
"Lin Changkong must be furious enough to die."
"..."
Amid the crowd's gloating laughter, Yan Qing stared at Lu Ming with a grave expression, a trace of wariness appearing in his eyes for the first time.
If Lu Ming became a Great Divine Ability Practitioner in the future, he might pose a threat to Yan Qing.
Li Shuang also looked amazed. She murmured, "Jingyi's good friend really does seem to have something special about him. No wonder she was always praising him. It's a pity I can't contact her now, or she'd certainly be very happy to know that her good friend shone so brightly at today's hall gathering."
Zhou Fuling folded her arms across her chest. The youth on the platform was reflected in her beautiful eyes, which held delight.
This prospect might be worth a try.
At that moment, Zhou Xuan, the market master, rose to his feet. His clear voice echoed in the ears of everyone on and around the lake. "The Thunderfire Hall and the Golden Gang Sword Hall have fought two draws and one victory. Therefore, the Thunderfire Hall wins this contest."
"The title of Qingyuan Market's top hall this year belongs to the Thunderfire Hall!"
As Zhou Xuan's words rang out, the atmosphere erupted. The blood of countless spectators boiled. Today's hall gathering had been far more exciting than those of previous years.
"Glory to the Thunderfire Hall!"
A spectator eager for excitement shouted wildly.
The young people who had come from all over Qingyuan Market were all fired up, their eyes shining with excitement. The weak had defeated the strong. What did that mean? It meant the Thunderfire Hall's Divine Abilities had greater potential. A Divine Ability Hall like that was worth joining!
Of course, many others were gloating. The Golden Gang Sword Hall had always acted overbearingly, yet who would have thought it would lose so much face at this hall gathering?
After all, this unexpected result was entirely the Golden Gang Sword Hall's own doing.
Otherwise, with their overwhelmingly superior overall strength, even if Lu Ming of the Thunderfire Hall had risen as a surprise contender, he could not have turned the tide single-handedly under the three-match format.
Yet the Golden Gang Sword Hall had come up with the brilliant idea of handing over a draw right at the start.
Amid the cheers for the Thunderfire Hall that filled the air, Lin Changkong turned and left without expression. The people of the Golden Gang Sword Hall followed him, their faces downcast.
Seeing the frighteningly cold look Lin Changkong cast as he left, everyone knew that after today, another layer had been added to the feud between the Thunderfire Hall and the Golden Gang Sword Hall.
Lu Ming did not care, however, because the source of Lin Changkong's hostility toward them was not the contest for the top hall title, but the noble young lady from the Great Golden Crow Hall.
Even if the Thunderfire Hall had swallowed its anger at this hall gathering, Lin Changkong still would not have let them go.
Lin Changkong suffered such a great loss this time. I'm afraid he won't let it rest. Now that he has entered the True Qi Realm, even though the Golden Gang Sword Hall has lost its position as the top hall, its standing won't be shaken. It will only grow more secure.
That's too great a threat to our Thunderfire Hall.
I'm still too weak.
A sense of urgency rose in Lu Ming's heart. His performance at the hall gathering had not made him the slightest bit arrogant.
For now, I still have to become a Great Divine Ability Practitioner as soon as possible. Only then can I do more to help my family.
And...
Lu Ming glanced at the mark on his finger where a ring had been, a trace of intense anticipation appearing in his eyes.
He had now completed three rounds of bone refinement... Perhaps he could try to see whether he could take the fire seed called the "Flame of Life" out of the black ring's space.