Hu Zhou pouted, but didn't mind, as he was already used to it.
After winning, Gao Junyu seemed unsatisfied, looking around as if still wanting to continue another match.
Hu Zhou saw his parents and master appear outside the square, so he leaped over to them and scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, saying, "I lost, couldn't manage to win."
Gao Xiu laughed heartily, "You've only been cultivating for a short time, it's normal to lose; if you won, that would be abnormal, which would mean the daughter I've been teaching for over ten years is worse than your master and father guiding you for just one year?"
Everyone laughed, and Hu Zhou understood this logic, but he still said, "That's because my talent is poor; my master has only cultivated for two years but is much stronger than I am."
Everyone looked at Lu Zheng.
"Young brother Lu has only been cultivating for two years?" Hu Yijun couldn't help but ask.
He truly didn't know Lu Zheng's years of cultivation before, assuming Lu Zheng must have cultivated for nearly ten years to achieve his current status.
Considering the day they met, Lu Zheng had already completed Qi Refining, not only utilizing the White Cloud Temple technique but also practicing Martial Dao and Flying Sword Skill. Thus, it seemed impossible for him to be a new cultivator.
Hu Zhou had been with Lu Zheng for a long time, and he often heard Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan chatting about these trivial old matters, so he knew; however, upon returning to Dingfeng Mountain, he didn't specifically mention it, so Hu Yijun was still unaware.
This time, it was just a coincidence that Gao Xiu's conversation led to this point, causing Hu Zhou to blurt out and reveal Lu Zheng's talent.
Upon hearing, Lu Zheng modestly smiled, "Actually, I've only recently joined my sect, luckily suited for cultivation and Qi Refining. Also, thanks to Brother Hu for giving me the Jade Essence Pill for aiding my cultivation, or I wouldn't have progressed so fast."
His recent joining the sect for cultivation wasn't a secret; if someone cared to check, they could easily find out, nothing worth hiding.
The main reason not to mention it openly is humility; does he have to stress to everyone he meets that he's a cultivation genius?
Meanwhile, Gao Xiu and Wang Muran looked at Lu Zheng with surprise.
Lu Zheng was young, with a strong cultivation, already a remarkable figure among the new generation. But if he's only cultivated for two years...
He's not just remarkable, but absolutely a first-rate figure!
Without any accident, a hundred years later, in the rear mountains of White Cloud Temple, there will certainly be a position of the ancestor for him.
Previously, they valued Lu Zheng for his identity and demeanor; now, his strength and potential must be added in consideration.
Wang Muran was somewhat envious, having spent resources dozens or even a hundred times more than Lu Zheng. Yet, after cultivating for decades, he only has a Hundred Years of Dao Practice.
Truly, cultivation is a mystery!
"Remarkable! Remarkable!" Hu Yijun couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Wonderful! Wonderful!"
Lu Zheng patted Hu Zhou's shoulder, "You shouldn't undervalue yourself; after returning to Dingfeng Mountain, your strength must have nearly doubled. Otherwise, you couldn't have lasted so long against Miss Gao before losing. Brother Hu has indeed guided you well!"
Lu Zheng had observed clearly, Hu Zhou's current strength was not much inferior to Yuan Jing.
Hu Zhou scratched his head and chuckled, "Mainly because I've consumed quite a number of Spirit Pills and Spirit Fruits, still digesting them in my belly."
Gao Junyu came over to them, listening to their conversation.
Earlier, she had been slightly disdainful of Lu Zheng's cultivation level, yet after receiving his generous gifts, she felt thankful and respectful, but indeed, Lu Zheng's cultivation wasn't that high, right?
Upon hearing that Lu Zheng only cultivated for two years, she couldn't hide her inner shock, but also felt competitiveness rising.
"Master Lu..." Gao Junyu tightened her grip on the spear, her eyes shining, "Well..."
Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Want to spar with me?"
Gao Junyu blinked, not saying anything.
Wang Muran frowned, though Lu Zheng's cultivation wasn't weak, he'd only cultivated for two years. If defeated by Gao Junyu with his higher status, it would be unpleasant.
Hu Yijun and Gao Xiu didn't speak; they were both demons, unbothered by these ambitious motives. If they wanted to spar, sparing they would; identity is identity, friendship is friendship, strength is strength. Making friends isn't about weighing benefits.
Despite Lu Zheng's cultivation being far from theirs, yet he still interacted as equals, without arrogance or servility.
Hu Zhou, however, had confidence in Lu Zheng, having often lost to Gao Junyu, eagerly hoping his master would suppress Gao Junyu's arrogance.
Seeing Gao Junyu's pure, expectant eyes, Lu Zheng nodded and smiled, "Sure, are we just comparing Martial Dao, or anything goes?"
Gao Junyu raised her eyebrows, her face lit up with joy and said, "Anything goes!"
Lu Zheng's profession was a Daoist at White Cloud Temple, Martial Dao was merely supplementary; how could she possibly allow Lu Zheng to use only Martial Artist methods?
Otherwise, wouldn't that be bullying?
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin; if only using Martial Artist methods, he might not necessarily beat Gao Junyu, as his current Martial Dao only included the "Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques" and "Tiger Roar Saber," not particularly advanced techniques.
He was contemplating whether to temporarily enhance the Tiger Roar Saber with more experience. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝔫𝔢𝔱
But if he could use anything...
Lu Zheng was already considering what to reveal and what to conceal.
Gao Junyu leaped first, returning to the stage in the square.
Lu Zheng also arrived at the square, and lightly tapped the gourd, a Brocade Spring Saber elongated with the wind, landing in his hand.
"Jade Seal! Enhance!"
Then Lu Zheng flicked the long saber in his hand, laughed aloud, "Come!"
Gao Junyu's eyes focused, with a flick of her spear, spear shadows multiplied, akin to a Divine Dragon reaching its claws, swiftly approaching.
Lu Zheng's Powerful Slash of Hua Mountain resounded with a tiger's roar in midair, with tiger might coupled with the saber wind, clashing directly with Gao Junyu's spear.
Unlike Hu Zhou who could only engage in evasive combat earlier, Lu Zheng was clearly superior, opting for direct and hard confrontations with Gao Junyu.
The Brocade Spring Saber always narrowly brushed past the Coiling Dragon Spear, engaging in close-range assaults, restricting Gao Junyu from displaying her full battle prowess.
Several elders watched from above.
Gao Xiu couldn't help but say, "Young Master Lu's sword technique has reached the Transformation Realm, and this is merely supplementary cultivation in Martial Dao?"
Hu Zhou nodded repeatedly, "Supplementary cultivation indeed; after all, Master said his Martial Dao Technique was the weakest. When teaching me, it was because cultivation, sword techniques, and other techniques had their own masters, so he could only pass Martial Dao to me, naturally aligning with my temperament suiting Martial Dao cultivation."
"Indeed," Gao Xiu nodded, "This sword technique isn't as good as the one you just used."
After returning to Dingfeng Mountain, Hu Yijun certainly didn't hold back, after teaching Hu Zhou better cultivation techniques, he also imparted several stronger Martial Dao secret manuals to Hu Zhou.
All above the "Tiger Roar Saber."
But Lu Zheng just used "Tiger Roar Saber" to face the opponent, yet still engaged in a back-and-forth battle with Gao Junyu on the field.
"Careful, Master Lu!"
Gao Junyu couldn't win on techniques and momentum, she needed to go all out.
With an angry roar, Lu Zheng seemed to see a giant black bear bellowing in fury.
Then Gao Junyu grasped her spear in both hands and struck down, the spearhead slicing, raising a chill wind as if capable of cutting through everything.
Lu Zheng wasn't keen on wrestling against a big black bear, but...
Lu Zheng stomped the ground; he'd noticed earlier that the square's ground seemed reinforced with spell seals, solidly thick, difficult to perform Earth Travel Technique.
"Golden Palace Heart Sword, slash!"
A True Spirit attack momentarily stupefied Gao Junyu's spirit.
A gust of wind arose out of nowhere, dispersing Gao Junyu's spear and black bear's momentum.
Then Lu Zheng used the Brocade Spring Saber to block the already weakened spear, swiftly closing in, gently imprinting his palm on Gao Junyu.
"Supreme Infinite, Three Pristine Imperial Decree, freeze!"