The presiding Executor held the Jade Scroll, announcing without any expression on his face.
“Little Bamboo, watch your brother perform.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan stood up and walked towards the arena.
“Brother, be careful.” Lu Qingzhu said with concern, making a cheering gesture.
“Hahaha, don’t worry.”
Lu Qingshan, with a carefree expression, playfully tousled his little sister’s hair, messing up her smooth locks.
...
Though the siblings were only half a month apart in age, Lu Qingshan seemed much older.
“That’s Lu Qingshan, Tian Yuan Elder’s personal disciple!”
“I’ve heard that Brother Lu has a Gengjin Body Constitution, but I don’t know whether it’s true or not!”
“What a pity that he’s only at the Sixth Level Energy Refinement, while Yin Yan is at the Eighth Level Energy Refinement, and comes from the renowned Yin Family. He probably has a lot of fine magic artifacts, even talismans on him.”
“For Lu Qingshan to have fought his way to this round at Sixth Level Energy Refinement shows his strength should not be underestimated.”
“As a disciple of Elder Tian Yuan, Lu Qingshan mustn’t lack in those either.”
“I once heard that Jinyun Peak and Tian Yuan Peak don’t get along well. I wonder if Yin Yan will strike with full force!”
Many onlookers turned their gazes toward Lu Qingshan and Yin Yan, who had stepped into the ring, chattering among themselves.
At this point in the Sword Trial Tournament, the preliminaries had passed and anyone who had made it this far possessed certain skills.
Moreover, as one of only two disciples from Tian Yuan Peak in the Jinyang Sect, Lu Qingshan had a bit of a reputation. As soon as he appeared, he caused a stir among the cultivators present.
“So you’re Lu Qingshan, I’ve heard that when you were at Fourth Level Energy Refinement, you had the audacity to draw your sword against our Peak’s disciples? Quite brave indeed. To show my respect, I’ll take you seriously and hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Yin Yan, dressed in the uniform of the Jinyang Sect disciples, was tall and imposing, holding a Jade Quality Sword in his hand. The sword gleamed with an ever-changing light, at times dazzling, at times revealing its sharpness.
“Hmm.”
Lu Qingshan responded indifferently with a light hum.
The battle commenced only after the presiding Executor overhead declared the beginning of the match.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—”
Yin Yan formed a hand seal, causing a windless fog to rise on the platform, shrouding him in a thick mist.
His Flying Sword disappeared into the mist and, accompanied by the rolling fog, attacked Lu Qingshan.
“Clang!”
A golden, dazzling Magical Sword appeared in Lu Qingshan’s hand. He unleashed a Sword Qi that blocked the Jade Quality Flying Sword coming at him through the air. ŔÃɴȏΒÊṩ
“Clang clang clang—”
The mist churned, and the Flying Sword emitted invisible Sword Qi that assailed Lu Qingshan, who kept parrying with his Magical Sword.
“Ha!”
Just then, Lu Qingshan let out a long howl, employing both the Lion’s Roar Skill and the sonic waves of Spiritual Power from his martial practices, sweeping out in a burst that shook Yin Yan.
“Sizzle sizzle!”
In an instant, Lu Qingshan’s movements stirred up a breeze underfoot. Like a sharp blade of light, he tore through the air currents, closed in on Yin Yan, and unleashed a fiercely charged Sword Qi.
“Not good!”
Facing Lu Qingshan’s onslaught, Yin Yan was startled and hurriedly maneuvered his Flying Sword to defend, activating his Body-Protecting Qi Barrier.
He quickly pulled a talisman from inside his robe and activated it.
In an instant, a golden light barrier formed around him.
“A Superior Grade Talisman, the Golden Light Barrier Talisman!”
“That’s really bullying! He’s already higher in cultivation and now he’s using a Superior Grade Talisman!”
“It’s nice to have money. If my family were rich enough to give me a few talismans, I wouldn’t have been eliminated in the preliminaries!”
“But Lu Qingshan’s recent move, it seems like he also practices Body Refinement?”
“No, it’s not Body Refinement. Given his moves and sword techniques, they bear traces of mundane martial arts. I reckon he has trained in secular martial practices!”
Many of the surrounding disciples who witnessed the scene began discussing aloud.
“Go!”
Having secured his position with the Golden Light Barrier Talisman, Yin Yan manipulated hand seals and continued to send his Magical Sword at Lu Qingshan.
“Golden Light Barrier Talisman, as if! A Golden Light Bodyguard Charm would be more appropriate for you!”
Lu Qingshan sneered, his Magical Sword parried the incoming Magical Sword.
Then he howled, “Break for me!”
In that moment, the Spiritual Power in his body roared to life, spreading out as he broke through from Sixth Level Energy Refinement to Seventh Level Energy Refinement.
His golden Magical Sword shone brilliantly, its edge keen and fierce, tearing open the Golden Light Barrier in front of him.
“This!”
Yin Yan was shocked and immediately pulled out two more talismans from his chest, intending to activate them.
But in that instant, the Golden Light Barrier and Body-Protecting Qi Barrier around him shattered.
A golden Magical Sword was placed at his throat, sending a chill down his spine as if pain was about to ensue.
He said incredulously, “How is this possible, how could you break through the Golden Bell Shield Talisman and the Body-Protecting Qi Barrier so quickly!”
“Because I’ve made a breakthrough, the Energy Refinement Late Stage also has its differences. Don’t use your own strength to measure mine, and remember to use a Golden Light Bodyguard Charm next time.”
Lu Qingshan’s expression was indifferent as he spoke calmly.
“Tian Yuan Peak, Lu Qingshan, wins!”
The expressionless Executor in the air showed a hint of surprise, nodding slightly before announcing the result.
“Sss, a breakthrough in the heat of battle? And from Middle Stage to Energy Refinement Late Stage at that!”
“Sixth Level defeated Eighth Level?”
“He must have been on the verge of a breakthrough for a while but chose not to. Now, utilizing his full strength naturally led to overcoming the bottleneck.”
“This is very risky. If he hadn’t been able to break through Yin Yan’s defenses just now and had been defeated and injured, it might have affected his meridians.”
“I’ve heard that he has a Gengjin Body Constitution and practices sword techniques, following the path of Sword Cultivators. This must be the confidence of a Sword Cultivator, refining his blade through battle after battle, hence revealing the Sword Heart Edge!”
“Tsk tsk tsk, Brother Lu really is bold!”
Many in the audience voiced their comments upon seeing this battle, and many would remember the name Lu Qingshan.