Zhao Xinyu sheathed her sword and stepped back, her face slightly flushed but radiating confidence, drawing cheers from the disciples of the Cloud-Leveling Hall. Just then, the elder presiding over the competition turned his gaze, his voice booming like a bell echoing across the plaza:
"Next up, Yang Zheng, an outer disciple of the White Cloud Sect, will face off against swordsman Li Feng!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in commotion.
Yang Zheng slowly walked out of the crowd. His steps were steady, he carried a long sword on his back, and his expression was resolute. Although he was only at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm, the tenacity and sharpness he possessed, honed through countless life-and-death battles, made many outer disciples secretly tremble.
On the other side, a tall, slender young man slowly stepped onto the arena; he was none other than the sword cultivator Li Feng. Li Feng's gaze was sharp, his sword gleaming, as if an invisible blade was moving through the air, causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly. He chuckled softly, his voice laced with provocation:
"So you're a disciple from the Cloud-Leveling Hall? I heard you won one match in the outer sect competition of the Cloud-Leveling Hall through sheer perseverance, but this time, I'm afraid you won't have a chance."
Yang Zheng was not angry. Instead, he smiled, raised his hand and slowly gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes as firm as a mountain.
"Enough talk, let's see who's the best in the ring!"
As soon as the words fell, the array patterns around the arena suddenly lit up, and vast Spiritual Qi gathered, instantly filling the arena with a chilling fighting spirit. Countless outer disciples held their breath, anticipating this fierce duel between fellow sword cultivators.
On the arena, waves of energy surged.
Li Feng struck first. The moment his longsword was drawn from its sheath, it rang out like a dragon's roar, its myriad sword intents soaring into the sky. His figure flashed, transforming into a sharp sword light, like lightning tearing through the heavens, slashing towards Yang Zheng with overwhelming force. The brilliance of that sword light caused the disciples watching around the arena to subconsciously hold their breath, as if if that sword were to strike, they too would be instantly cut in two.
"What a fast sword!" someone in the audience exclaimed.
However, Yang Zheng remained unfazed, stomping his feet hard and unleashing a surge of Spiritual Qi. His figure became as stable as a mountain, and with a horizontal swing of his longsword, his aura suddenly shifted. His heavy and steady sword intent, like a collapsing mountain range, forcefully blocked Li Feng's thunderous sword light.
--boom!!!
The two swords clashed, their spiritual light exploding as if hundreds of lightning bolts had simultaneously erupted in the center of the arena. Tiny cracks appeared in the space, sword light scattered in all directions, and shockwaves swept outwards, forcing many outer disciples to circulate their Spiritual Qi to protect themselves from the aftershocks.
Yang Zheng roared, "Heng Mountain Sword Art - Steady as a Mountain!"
He gathered all his Spiritual Qi into the sword's blade, which instantly transformed into an incredibly heavy, mountain-like phantom. The blade pressed down, forcefully suppressing Li Feng's fierce swordplay. The arena trembled incessantly, as if it were about to collapse at any moment.
Li Feng sneered, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. His sword aura suddenly shifted, transforming into a raging storm of swords. The sword light intertwined into countless cold glints, like a giant sword net, slashing down wildly, trying to completely engulf Yang Zheng.
Yang Zheng's expression was resolute. With a flick of his longsword, the heavy, mountain-like sword aura suddenly shattered, transforming into a raging counterattack. "Heng Mountain Sword Art - Balanced Force Break!"
He concentrated all his strength into the sword's edge, unleashing a powerful strike that shattered mountains and tore through Li Feng's sword net.
Boom!!!
Sword Qi energy soared into the sky, piercing the clouds, and the entire arena reverberated with a deafening roar. The spectators gasped in astonishment, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Yang Zheng's sword... is even stronger than during the competition!"
"He's honing his swordsmanship through a life-or-death battle!"
On the field, the two swords clashed, creating waves of energy. Their hair and robes fluttered wildly in the Sword Qi, and the clash between their sword intents seemed to cleave the entire world apart!
Li Feng's sword strikes were like a torrential rain, a myriad of swords intertwined, the sword light resembling a sky crisscrossed with thunder, relentlessly pressing down on Yang Zheng. The Spiritual Qi above the arena surged endlessly, as if it were about to be torn apart by this sword intent.
Yang Zheng did not move his feet, but gripped his longsword tightly with both hands. The sword's momentum crashed down, and Spiritual Qi transformed into an incomparably heavy mountain shadow.
"Heng Mountain Sword Art: Steady as a Mountain!"
Boom! The sword strike was as immovable as a towering mountain. Li Feng's storm of sword light crashed down, but it was as if it had struck a mountain. Although it shook and roared, it could not be shaken in the slightest. The arena trembled and stones flew everywhere, but Yang Zheng's figure remained unmoved, like an unyielding stone tablet.
The disciples watching were shocked. "He actually withstood Li Feng's rain of swords with his defense!"
Li Feng sneered, his sword aura suddenly shifted, and hundreds of sword beams converged into a single point, transforming into a sword light that pierced the sky and struck directly at Yang Zheng's brow!
"Break!"
As the crisis struck, Yang Zheng's eyes narrowed sharply, his Spiritual Qi surged wildly, and the heavy, mountain-like sword aura suddenly exploded. He roared:
"Heng Mountain Sword Art - Balanced Force Break!"
The sword tip suddenly grew three zhang (approximately 13 meters) and condensed into a phantom image of a collapsing mountain. Its momentum was extremely heavy. When the sword was swung out, it was as if a mountain peak was collapsing and tens of thousands of rocks were falling down!
Boom--!
Li Feng's sword light was instantly torn apart, and the protective array on the arena emitted a piercing roar, forcibly stabilizing the scattered aftershocks of Sword Qi. The two figures were shaken back by the shockwave, but Yang Zheng did not retreat a step. Instead, he took a step forward forcefully amidst the turbulent wind and current, his sword pointing directly at Li Feng!
Li Feng was forced back several steps, and for the first time, a look of seriousness flashed in his eyes. He roared, his true essence erupted, and his sword momentum poured down like a river. The sword light intertwined to form a radiant sword moon, which he then slashed down fiercely!
The arena suddenly shone brightly, causing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to stagnate. The sword moon, like the sky pressing down, was about to completely engulf Yang Zheng.
However, at this moment, Yang Zheng's eyes became even more intense, his aura suddenly surged, Spiritual Qi energy surged in his dantian, and a thick, mountain-like sword intent phantom appeared around his body.
"Heng Mountain Sword Art - Mountain Crushing the Summit!"
Boom boom boom!
His sword aura merged with the entire mountain, transforming into a towering phantom that descended from the sky!
The mountain and the sword moon collided head-on, like two stars colliding in the center of the arena. The heavens and earth changed color, and the light was so intense that the disciples watching the battle had to shield their eyes.
As the light faded, a trickle of blood spilled from Li Feng's lips. He was blasted ten feet away, kneeling on one knee, his longsword trembling incessantly.
Yang Zheng remained standing as firm as a mountain. Although his aura fluctuated, his eyes were sharp and his fighting spirit was high!
The entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers. "He won! Yang Zheng won!"
"Incredible! He actually managed to suppress Li Feng's Mad Sword with the Heng Mountain Sword Art!"
Light suddenly converged on the arena, and the protective formation slowly returned to calm. As Li Feng was forced back from the arena, the elder's voice rang out loudly:
"Yang Zheng this battle!"
Boom--!
In an instant, the light screen representing the victor on the stone walls of the arena in the entire square suddenly lit up, and a dazzling golden light shone among countless names, clearly illuminating...
[Yang Zheng]
Golden light flowed and shone brightly, as if announcing to the entire White Cloud Sect: another powerful figure has entered the list of the second round of elimination matches.
The disciples watching from below the stage erupted in cheers.
"Yang Zheng is amazing! He's known for his defense, but I never expected his attack to be so terrifying!"
"Yeah, when that sword came down, I almost thought I was going to be crushed!"
"Now, the title of the Three Outer Sect Heroes will probably truly belong to Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng!"
In the crowd, Zhao Xinyu's eyes flickered slightly as she stared intently at Yang Zheng on the stage. She hadn't looked away from the entire thrilling battle.
Her eyes first showed worry, then shock at Yang Zheng's unleashed sword power, and now, they shone with an undeniable brilliance.
That light was a mixture of pride, heartache, and... a kind of fluttering emotion that even she herself dared not admit.
Qin Yu was also watching from below. As he watched Yang Zheng walk off the stage, a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips. He thought to himself:
"This kid has finally completely transformed."
As Yang Zheng stepped off the stage, Zhao Xinyu rushed to him, her eyes sparkling and her voice trembling slightly. "Yang Zheng, you won..."
Yang Zheng smiled slightly, his body still drenched in sweat, yet his sword remained sharp. He said in a low voice, "Xinyu, this is just the beginning."
An ambiguous atmosphere instantly filled the air between the two, drawing the attention of the surrounding disciples, some filled with envy, others with amazement. Qin Yu watched silently from a distance, his gaze gentle, a sense of relief rising within him—he knew that the bond between these two fellow disciples, forged through life and death, was quietly blossoming.
Just then, in the center of the square, the elder presiding over the competition rang out once more:
"Next up— Qin Yu is on stage!"
Boom--!
In an instant, the entire White Cloud Sect plaza seemed to boil over. Countless outer sect disciples held their breath and stared intently, while those who had heard of Qin Yu beforehand looked on with anticipation and shock in their eyes.
"Qin Yu! He's the one who returned from the Northern Dark Abyss Valley. It's said he single-handedly braved a tide of tens of thousands of Demonic Spirit and emerged Anran!"
"His cultivation level is clearly only at the Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm, yet he has a record of defeating powerful enemies!"
"This time in the competition... he's probably the biggest dark horse!"
The arena shone brightly, and a vast expanse of spiritual light condensed into steps that slowly extended into the air. Qin Yu, dressed in black and carrying Black Bone War Spear on his back, walked with firm and steady steps, as if none of the noise in the world could shake him in the slightest.
With each step he took, ripples of spiritual light spread out beneath his feet, making him appear like a young war god descending from the heavens.
His gaze was calm, yet a chilling edge emanated from that calm, like a blade drawn from its sheath, making it impossible to look directly at him.
The disciples present felt a chill run down their spines, and an inexplicable sense of suffocation arose in the air—as if, at this moment, the one stepping onto the stage was not an outer disciple, but an ancient demon god.
The moment Qin Yu stepped onto the arena, the entire outer plaza of the White Cloud Sect fell silent. Only the golden battle light screen floating above the arena illuminated his resolute face.
"This battle will be extraordinary."
As the elder announced, a surge of spiritual light appeared on the opposite side of the arena, and a young man in white slowly stepped onto the empty stone steps. This man had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a calm aura, and a bronze ancient sword in his hand that gleamed with a cold, chilling light. He was none other than Chu Wen'an, whose reputation had recently risen in the outer sect of the White Cloud Sect.
His soul power flowed like a heavy tide, its fluctuations spreading outwards, causing the air around the arena to tremble slightly, indicating that he had stabilized at the Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm.
Chu Wen'an looked sharply at Qin Yu, clasped his hands in a fist and smiled slightly, but his tone carried a hint of sharpness. "Senior Brother Qin, although you come from the Cloud-Leveling Hall, your achievements in Northern Dark Abyss Valley are known to all outer disciples, and your reputation is indeed considerable. Today, I want to personally experience Senior Brother Qin's Dao!"
The disciples were instantly in an uproar, whispering amongst themselves:
"It's Chu Wen'an! He's a Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm expert from the outer sect!"
"He specifically challenged Qin Yu; this match... is going to be interesting!"
"Chu Wen'an's 'Seven Luminaries Ancient Sword Art' is extremely fierce and specifically targets defenses. Can Qin Yu really withstand it?"
Qin Yu, carrying the Black Bone War Spear on his back, remained calm and composed, ignoring the surrounding clamor. He simply raised his hand slightly, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and spoke in a deep, unhurried voice:
Please advise.
In an instant, the two auras converged in the center of the arena, their spiritual light roaring, like two torrents colliding with each other, causing ripples to spread across the golden battle light screen above the arena.
Qin Yu's aura was like a deep, still abyss, seemingly calm yet concealing boundless sharpness.
Chu Wen'an's aura was like a blazing sun and a long river, surging fiercely, with sword intent soaring to the sky.
At this moment, the entire square fell silent once more, all eyes focused on the center of the arena, awaiting the thunderous clash that was about to erupt.
On the arena, Chu Wen'an's longsword rose into the air, and the blade instantly burst forth with seven different colored lights—red like raging fire, orange like flowing clouds, yellow like thunder, green like blue waves, cyan like the sky, blue like the starry sea, and purple like the Heavenly Firmament.
"Seven Luminaries Ancient Sword Art - First Sword!"
With a cold shout, the Seven Luminaries Light suddenly exploded, transforming into seven sword beams that intertwined to form a blazing sword curtain. Each sword beam was wrapped with destructive spiritual energy fluctuations, and the booming sound was like thunder striking down, making the arena vibrate.
The crimson sword light erupted like a volcano, with blazing waves of fire rolling and turning half the sky red;
Yellow sword light crackled with lightning, arcs of electricity cleaved the void, and a scorching aura filled the air;
The purple sword light was particularly terrifying, as if it struck directly at the soul, causing the disciples watching the battle to feel their scalps tingle and their minds tremble.
The moment the seven beams of light converged, the entire arena was transformed into a dreamlike scene resembling a seven-starred sky. The deafening explosions were like a thousand cannons firing simultaneously! The spectators felt as if the heavens and earth were collapsing.
Chu Wen'an Sword Light crashed down like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting. The stone bricks at the edge of the arena cracked instantly, and the disciples watching held their breath, their hearts almost crushed by the sword's force.
However, at that very moment, Qin Yu's eyes suddenly narrowed, and the Black Bone War Spear in his hand trembled violently, with a dazzling white-gold light bursting from the tip!
"Spirit Spear Heaven-Guiding Art - First Form - Spiritual Light Thrust!"
Before he finished speaking, Qin Yu's aura suddenly surged like a tidal wave, and his spiritual Spiritual Sense locked onto the source of Chu Wen'an's sword light. His entire body's Spiritual Qi poured into the Black Bone War Spear like a torrent, and a straight beam of spiritual light suddenly shot out from the spear tip!
At that moment, inspiration struck like lightning piercing the darkness, sharp and razor-sharp!
The air exploded and distorted as the spear flashed by, the intense spiritual pressure causing the space to warp and the ground tiles to shatter and fly everywhere!
The moment the spiritual light collided with the Seven Luminaries Sword Curtain, the entire arena roared!
Boom--!!!
The seven luminaries shone like seven shooting stars, while the spear light was like a rainbow piercing the sun in the sky. When the two collided, the explosive spiritual light swept in all directions, turning into a violent energy storm that forced the disciples watching from all sides to retreat, their robes fluttering and their eyes almost blinding them!
In this breathtaking scene, the entire arena was filled with the light of swords like a tsunami, the light of spears like arrows breaking the dawn, and the earth and sky resounded endlessly. Light and shadow intertwined to create an Ultimate picture of destruction and rebirth.
On the arena, a strong wind howled and dust swirled. The aftershocks of their first clash had not yet completely dissipated, and the entire stone platform was already riddled with holes. Sword marks crisscrossed, as if countless pale lightning bolts had crisscrossed and descended, cutting the heavy arena into pieces. The rubble, carrying a spiritual light, floated in mid-air and did not fall for a long time.
Qin Yu held the Black Bone War Spear in one hand. The spearhead was as black as ink, and the ripples from when it pierced the air still remained. The cold wind billowed his clothes, and his long hair flew in the wind. His eyes were calm, and his aura was as deep as the abyss. He was like a solitary peak standing in the storm, as immovable as a mountain.
Opposite him, Chu Wen'an stood with his sword in hand, his eyes sharp, his aura like a galaxy pouring down. His Spiritual Qi and sword intent surged wildly around him, the remaining light on the blade shattering inch by inch, turning into streams of light that dissipated in the void. His chest heaved violently, but his fighting spirit was even more intense than before, carrying an unyielding edge, firmly locking onto Qin Yu.
The air was thick with the sharp aura of shattered spiritual energy, as if the world itself had frozen between the two. The cracked arena seemed unable to withstand the clash of their auras, emitting crisp cracking sounds, as if it might collapse at any moment. The disciples watching the battle stared in disbelief, holding their breath, not daring to utter a word, their hearts pounding rapidly with the escalating confrontation.
In the midst of this deathly silence, Qin Yu slightly raised his spear, a flash of black light, and the spear's intent condensed like thunder. Chu Wen'an also slowly raised his sword, his sword intent resonating with the light of the sky. The two auras collided, causing visible ripples to spread through the void, as if another earth-shattering collision was about to erupt at any moment.
The Spiritual Qi surrounding the arena stirred restlessly with the clash of the two, like the calm before a storm. Just as all the spectating disciples held their breath, Qin Yu's eyes narrowed, spiritual light burst forth beneath his feet, and he transformed into a blur as he charged forward!
The Black Bone War Spear trembled violently in his hand, its tip instantly emitting a blinding spiritual light that shot straight into the void like lightning. In that instant, the world lost its color, and all that remained was that single, sharp beam piercing the sky.
"Spirit Spear Heaven-Guiding Art - Heaven-Guiding Strike!"
Qin Yu leaped into the air, his figure slicing through the sky. He raised his spear high, and all the Spiritual Qi frantically gathered on the spear, condensing into an arc-shaped Spiritual Qi blade, like a blazing sun rising in the first daylight. The next moment, he roared and the spear slashed down with earth-shattering power!
Boom--!
As the spear blade slashed down, the air seemed to be torn open, and the arc-shaped Spiritual Qi blade spread out in an instant, engulfing all the sword light around Chu Wen'an. The Sword Qi shattered like paper scraps in that instant, and the aftershocks erupted like a mountain torrent, sweeping in all directions.
Before Chu Wen'an could react, Spiritual Qi slash pierced his chest, sending him flying backward like a kite with a broken string. He crashed heavily onto the edge of the arena, blood gushing from his mouth, his face deathly pale. The longsword in his hand clattered to the ground, its sword intent completely shattered.
The arena trembled violently, sending debris flying. As Qin Yu landed, his spear trembled, and all the aftershocks subsided. His back was straight, the spear still sharp, but the Spiritual Qi around him instantly returned to calm, as if the devastating blow had been done casually.
Silence, deathly silence.
Tens of thousands of outer sect disciples in the square held their breath, and after a moment, they suddenly erupted in a deafening roar!
Qin Yu, with the power of a single spear thrust, decisively defeated Chu Wen'an, Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm!
On the arena, Chu Wen'an was covered in blood and had lost the ability to fight. Several elders appeared in a flash, quickly stepped forward to carry him off the stage, and sealed his wounds to prevent further injury.
Immediately afterwards, the elder at the Middle Stage of the Mystic Understanding Realm who announced the rules slowly stepped onto the arena, his expression solemn yet tinged with admiration, his voice resounding throughout the entire arena:
"Qin Yu this battle!"
Boom! As these words fell, spiritual light arrays suddenly lit up around the arena, and Qin Yu's name instantly lit up, hovering above the golden stone tablet in the center of the square, its light blazing, clearly indicating that he had entered the elimination rounds.
The entire audience erupted in cheers!
"Too strong! He defeated Chu Wen'an with a single spear thrust. Although both are at the Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm, the difference between them is too obvious!"
"Senior Brother Qin truly lives up to his reputation; this battle is enough to intimidate all opponents!"
"It seems the tide of the outer sect competition will be rewritten because of him!"
The disciples began to discuss amongst themselves, their voices deafening.
On the arena, Qin Yu simply sheathed his Black Bone War Spear, his expression calm and composed, without a trace of arrogance. That unhurried demeanor was all the more astounding.
In the corner, inner disciple Luo Chuan coldly watched this scene, a sinister and ruthless glint in his eyes. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips, but a deeper killing intent surged within him.
"Qin Yu... you can't stop me after all."
Meanwhile, Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng clenched their fists tightly in the crowd, their eyes filled with excitement and pride. Zhao Xinyu murmured to herself, "Senior Brother Qin, he truly didn't disappoint..."
At this moment, countless gazes in the square converged on Qin Yu.
On the square of the White Cloud Sect, the aftershocks of the battle between thousands of outer disciples finally subsided. The arena was covered with sword marks, cracks, and lingering spiritual energy, and the air was still filled with booming sounds.
The first round of battles has come to an end. Countless disciples were injured or defeated and were taken off the stage by the elders, while the names of the winners lit up one by one, reflected on the golden stone tablet in the center of the square. In the end, among these tens of thousands of outer disciples, only twenty people stood out and became the candidates to truly enter the elimination rounds.
These twenty people were all at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm, each adorned with a halo, standing beneath the stone tablet, radiating an astonishing aura. The disciples discussed among themselves, their eyes filled with both awe and envy.
A clear and solemn voice came from the sky, carrying an unquestionable authority; it was the Mystic Understanding Realm elder who announced the competition:
"The first round of competition has concluded. Twenty disciples at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm have advanced to the elimination rounds. Disciples, please take a short rest. The elimination rounds will officially begin in one incense stick's time!"
As the words fell, the spiritual array light in the entire square faded, and the arena gradually returned to calm. The spectating disciples immediately erupted in cheers, but quickly quieted down under the pressure of the powerful elder, awaiting the next, even more brutal and intense match.
Qin Yu slowly withdrew his gaze, looked up at the sky, and felt calm. The elimination rounds were the real test, and also the only way for him to reach the inner sect.
Around the plaza, disciples were either resting on the ground to regulate their breathing or whispering among themselves. On the inner disciples' viewing platform, Luo Chuan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes as cold as a snake, fixed on Qin Yu was resting.
The killing intent in his eyes was no longer concealed, but he maintained a gentle smile on his face, as if he were enjoying the competition. When no one was paying attention, he slightly tilted his head, and a wave of Spiritual Sense was quietly transmitted.
Not far away, a tall young man dressed in a dark robe walked over. His face was cold and stern, his eyes were sharp, and his aura was as heavy as a mountain. He was clearly a disciple who had reached the Greater Completion of the Soul Foundation Realm. This person was named Xun Qing. He came from a subordinate Lineage of the Luo Family. He had profound cultivation and his blood-patterned heavy sword had killed a demon beast king of the same realm. He was famous for it.
Luo Chuan's eyes flashed, a cold smile playing on his lips. He transmitted his voice into Xun's ear. "Senior Brother Xun, I've secretly manipulated the draw for the elimination rounds. You only need to face Qin Yu on the stage and be sure to defeat him! Remember, don't hold back."
A cold glint flashed in Xun Qing's eyes as he replied in a low voice, "Young Master, rest assured. Even if a mere junior in the Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm has some fortuitous encounters, he can forget about surviving under my sword."
Luo Chuan nodded slowly, his fingers tracing a dark red talisman hidden in his sleeve, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "Qin Yu, I will repay the humiliation you suffered in the Cloud-Leveling Hall a hundredfold! This time, no matter how great your fortune, you cannot escape my methods."
Meanwhile, Qin Yu sat quietly at the edge of the square, his Black Bone War Spear resting across his lap, his spiritual energy circulating smoothly within him, completely unaware that a deadly calamity was quietly approaching.