"The Holy Son actually lost..."
Many elders on the raised platform still could not recover their wits, much less accept this truly horrifying fact.
They remained immersed in the match just now, recalling Su Lianxin's every move, recalling the Holy Son's... defeat.
Lu Tianxing stood stiffly below the arena for a long time.
His expression grew uglier with each passing moment, and blood stained the gaps between his fingers as he clenched them too hard.
Even after some time had passed, he still could not accept that he had actually lost to an ordinary disciple.
How could he accept it?
He was the illustrious Holy Son! The future hope of the Azure Yang Sword Sect!
He had cultivated bitterly for years, never daring to slacken for a moment, enduring a thousand hardships to comprehend the Azure Yang Sword Instruction. He had even suffered backlash several times and nearly succumbed to Qi Deviation before finally mastering the sixth form...
In the end, less than half a day later, he had been dealt a vicious slap in the face.
Defeated by a disciple from one of the lowest-ranked peaks, an obscure female disciple... how could he accept it?
How could he possibly accept it!
"Holy Son..."
The crowd who usually surrounded Lu Tianxing did not dare breathe loudly. Someone approached with his crane-feather cloak, moving cautiously, not daring to provoke him in the slightest.
Hearing the voice, Lu Tianxing cast a cold glance over. The cautious looks on their faces nearly ignited his temper again. Only the thought that this was the sect tournament made him suppress his stifled fury and turn back to his seat with a dark expression.
He could not vent, nor did he dare vent here. Sitting in his seat, enduring gazes from every direction, Lu Tianxing felt the brutality in his heart surge higher, yet he could only clench his fists tightly inside his sleeves.
The atmosphere throughout the sect tournament gradually turned strange.
Even when people entered the arena to fight, the mood would not liven up. Even their sword moves carried a furtive caution, as though they were stealing chickens and sneaking off with dogs.
After all, anyone could see how foul Lu Tianxing's mood was.
Lu Tianxing wore a cold expression and said nothing. The joy of defeating his old rival had long since vanished.
His fingers tapped rapidly against the chair back, anxious and irritable, betraying their owner's frustration.
He desperately needed some way to vent his fury...
"Arena One, Number 79 versus..."
Here it comes!
The instant he heard the announcement, Lu Tianxing straightened his back, his deep, dark gaze roaming over the other sect disciples.
Who was it?
Whoever it was, his fury finally had an outlet.
"...versus Number 222!"
"Hmm?" Hearing the number, Wang Yan, who was below the arena, froze briefly before delight filled him.
"Finally, it's my turn!"
He stood and imitated Su Lianxin, cupping his hands toward Lin Xuan with a smile. "Master, this disciple will bring you back a victory too."
After Lin Xuan nodded, Wang Yan happily leaped into the arena and bowed, holding his longsword.
"Wang Yan, personal disciple of Starfall Peak. Please instruct me, Holy Son."
Lu Tianxing, who had just entered the arena: ...
"Starfall Peak!"
He spat out those words darkly, laden with hatred. As he looked at the unremarkable Wang Yan nearby, killing intent surged in his eyes.
Starfall Peak again!
Lu Tianxing flew into a rage, laughing in his extreme anger, and nearly failed to maintain his bearing as the Holy Son.
Su Lianxin had dealt him a defeat.
That defeat had thrown all his plans into disarray.
His guaranteed victory, all his advantages, everything he had worked toward for so long would all vanish like smoke and clouds!
As he entered the arena, he instinctively glanced at the Third Peak Master on the raised platform.
Heaven did not grant his wishes. The moment the Third Peak Master met Lu Tianxing's gaze, he immediately looked away toward the sect boundary stele in the distance.
That evasive attitude, as though he could not avoid him quickly enough, extinguished the last lingering hope in Lu Tianxing's heart. His heart sank, and uncontrollable anger nearly poured out of him. When he turned back toward the arena, a vicious light flashed in his eyes.
Starfall Peak!
Everything was because of Starfall Peak! They had ruined his plans!
Without warning, Lu Tianxing recalled the time some days ago when he had sent the Ninth Peak Master to win Lin Xuan over.
He had not taken Lin Xuan's refusal to heart, nor had he cared whether the attempt succeeded. Starfall Peak was among the lowest-ranked peaks; whichever side it joined, it could not affect the overall situation.
Back then, he had never imagined that Lin Xuan and his Starfall Peak would become the greatest obstacle to his ascent to the seat of Young Sect Master.
Looking at the unremarkable Wang Yan before him, with new grudges piled atop old hatred, Lu Tianxing's composure shattered completely, and his anger seemed to have found an outlet.
Shing-
His fifth-tier treasured sword left its sheath, and a savage presence swept across the arena like divine wrath, making countless weaker disciples shrink in fear.
Clearly, in this battle, Lu Tianxing probably wanted more than merely to defeat his opponent.
Facing Lu Tianxing's presence directly, Wang Yan adjusted well.
This little bit of sword intent was not even as much as that scorpion Master had killed.
Standing amid the surging, savage sword Qi rushing straight at his face, Wang Yan's warm smile gradually faded, turning cold and stern.
He sneered, raised his hand, and gently gripped his sword hilt, his gaze growing resolute.
Yes...
His strength was indeed inferior to Junior Sister Su Lianxin's, and his talent was ordinary too...
But what the hell were you, Lu Tianxing?
You couldn't beat Junior Sister Su, so you took your anger out on me?
Wang Yan slowly drew his longsword, its sky-blue tassel hanging from it.
Then all he could say was that Lu Tianxing had picked the wrong person.
He, Wang Yan, was not someone to be bullied!
Junior Sister Su was not someone to be bullied, and Starfall Peak was even less so!
No one paid attention to Wang Yan's thoughts. After seeing him enter, learning that he was a Starfall Peak disciple, and sensing the strength he revealed, many silently mourned for him.
All they knew was that Wang Yan was in for a miserable time.
A mere first-level Earth Profound Realm cultivator was facing the enraged Holy Son at the Earth Mysterious Fifth Layer.
This Wang Yan would probably end up dead or crippled.
Tsk, tsk...
Just as everyone expected, once both men entered the arena, the savage Lu Tianxing attacked with overwhelming force without hesitation, not even bothering with a greeting.
Embryonic sword intent wound around him. He opened with the sixth form of the Green Mountain Sword Instruction, leaving Wang Yan no chance whatsoever.
With his fury pouring out, Lu Tianxing looked utterly possessed. The spectators all trembled with fear, most retreating several steps to hurriedly avoid his cutting edge.
Under these circumstances, Wang Yan, who stood motionless, was especially conspicuous.
"Why isn't he moving?"
"He must be scared witless."
"If there's anyone to blame, he can only blame himself for coming from Starfall Peak."
Some also found Lu Tianxing's conduct contemptible. Unable to defeat Su Lianxin, he vented his fury on another Starfall Peak disciple instead. Such behavior was rather beneath contempt.
Only Sect Master Xuanyang, who was closest, suddenly frowned as though sensing something, but no one noticed.
In the arena, facing the silent sword light bearing down on him furiously, Wang Yan gently exhaled and drew his right leg back, planting himself firmly in place.
His right hand tightened, and he abruptly drew his longsword. He stood immovable as a mountain, with only his terrifying presence surging higher in waves.
Lu Tianxing had thought this attack would surely crush Wang Yan with ease and avenge his defeat by that sword strike.
He couldn't beat Su Lianxin, but could he not beat you, a mere first-level Earth Mysterious cultivator?
Hah!
But... at some unknown moment, a strange sensation arose. Even Lu Tianxing's sword hand trembled slightly. His sword seemed no longer under his control.
Amid his astonishment, Lu Tianxing heard Wang Yan murmur from the same arena.
"I'm not as good as Junior Sister Su, so I'll attack with everything I have."
The heaven-shaking sword strike with which Su Lianxin had defeated Lu Tianxing had been pure swordsmanship. Although Wang Yan did not consider himself weaker than Lu Tianxing, his cultivation realm was still a notch lower. Even having cultivated the Azure Emperor Scripture, he lacked confidence. To secure victory steadily, he did not dare underestimate him in the slightest.
Thus, just as Lu Tianxing opened with his strongest strike, so did Wang Yan.
When his sword fully left its sheath, everyone's expression changed.
On the raised platform in particular, many elders stood up outright, their expressions twisting rapidly, filled with shock and astonishment.
"Nascent sword intent?"
"No, it's sword intent! True sword intent!"