27: Chapter 27: If you chose my fire poker, you should try your best to achieve miracles.

The vast square fell into an eerie silence because of a stick.

Immediately after, laughter erupted like a thunderclap, nearly overturning the sea of clouds at Xiaoyao Peak.

"Pfft—hahaha! I can't take it, this is the weapon prepared for a top Disciple?"

"It's black, crooked, and covered in ash—isn't this just a fire poker used by common farmers to clear a stove?"

"Has Yunxiao Holy Land gone mad with poverty? Even taking a random Black Iron Sword from the warehouse would be better than this locally sourced wooden stick!"

The younger generation laughed until they were doubled over, some even clutching their stomachs as they crouched on the ground.

In their eyes, this match had turned into a farce.

One side held a divine weapon forged from Saint Flood Dragon Bone, while the other held a wooden stick fresh out of a stove pit. How the hell was this even a fight?

Only atop the high platform did the smiles of the two Old Ancestors, Ziyang and Han Jing, freeze on their faces, a trace of uncertainty flashing in their cloudy eyes.

There were also Wei Hongyu and Yao Xi.

Wei Hongyu narrowed her charming eyes, which had seen countless treasures, and stopped waving the circular fan in her hand:

"Something's not right. If I had to choose between the Saint Flood Dragon Bone Spear and this fire poker, I would definitely choose his fire poker. I want to grasp my future..."

Yao Xi massaged her forehead helplessly: "That bastard, he actually gave her that thing."

On the arena stage.

Hua Tian, the Holy Son of Wanhua, laughed until tears almost came out, his hand shaking even as he held the spear.

"Junior Sister, are you here to be a comedian?" Hua Tian pointed at the fire poker in Leng Qingqiu's hand, his face full of mockery.

"Are you planning to use this piece of wood to perform a fire-making demonstration for this Saint?"

Leng Qingqiu remained expressionless, not even bothering to wipe the black ash off the stick.

"Too much nonsense."

"Since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll fulfill your wish!" Hua Tian's gaze sharpened, and his blood surged like liquid mercury.

Although his spiritual power was sealed, the malevolent aura inherent in the Saint Flood Dragon Bone Spear remained terrifying.

"Golden Dragon Piercing the Sun!"

With a loud shout, Hua Tian stepped onto the jade ground, creating spiderweb-like cracks.

He and the spear transformed into a golden streak of light. The spear tip tore through the air, producing a piercing sonic boom as it aimed straight for Leng Qingqiu's throat.

This thrust was powerful and heavy, enough to pierce through mountains!

Many timid female Cultivators below the stage covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the girl in red being splattered with blood on the spot.

However, Leng Qingqiu advanced instead of retreating.

She gripped the black fire poker with both hands. Without any fancy techniques or even a hint of evasion, she swung her arms in a wide arc like she was playing whack-a-mole and smashed it down hard against the incoming spear tip!

A head-on collision!

An image flashed through everyone's mind: the wooden stick shattering and the long spear piercing through the girl.

In the next instant.

Clang—!!!

A deafening sound of metal clashing echoed through the world.

The sound waves visibly rippled outward, making the eardrums of nearby Disciples throb and causing their blood to churn.

The expected scene of the wooden stick shattering did not occur.

On the contrary, the arrogant Saint Flood Dragon Bone Spear was actually smashed downward at the moment of impact, bending into a soul-stirring arc!

Sparks flew everywhere like brilliant fireworks.

"What?!"

The cruel grin on Hua Tian's face instantly froze, replaced by endless terror.

A terrifying counter-force, like a mountain collapsing or a sea overflowing, surged wildly through the spear shaft. The web between his thumb and forefinger instantly split, and blood sprayed out.

That was no wood!

"Trying to run already?"

A strange red glow flashed in Leng Qingqiu's eyes.

She gave Hua Tian no room to breathe. Using the counter-force, the fire poker in her hand traced a black afterimage in the air. This time, the target was Hua Tian's shoulder.

"Since Revered Master said to test him, I'll test him thoroughly!"

"Wait—!"

Hua Tian wanted to pull back his spear to defend, but his arms were already numb from the shock, and he couldn't keep up with Leng Qingqiu's speed at all.

Bang!

The dull thud of the impact set people's teeth on edge.

"Ah—!"

A shrill scream pierced the sky.

Hua Tian's proud defensive armor was as fragile as tissue paper before that unremarkable fire poker, instantly exploding into a shower of fragments.

His right shoulder visibly collapsed, and he was smashed to his knees like a ragdoll.

This is called true damage!

But it wasn't over yet.

Leng Qingqiu pressed her advantage relentlessly, swinging the stick left and right.

Bang!

"I won't wait!"

Bang! Bang!

Dust flew across the arena.

The previously arrogant Holy Son of Wanhua was now scurrying with his head in his hands, beaten so badly he had no strength to fight back.

Every time the fire poker fell, it brought a mist of blood and a scream.

How was this a sparring match? It was clearly a one-sided slaughter! It was also the ultimate display of violent aesthetics!

The tens of thousands of Cultivators below the stage watched in stunned silence, unable to believe it.

"Is this fucking Dao Palace Realm?"

"What material is that stick made of?"

Finally.

Leng Qingqiu seemed tired of hitting him and found it boring.

She leaped high into the air, graceful as a swallow. Raising the fire poker above her head, she slammed it down hard onto Hua Tian's head, which had already swollen like a pig's.

"Go to sleep."

Thump!

A crisp and pleasant thud.

Hua Tian's eyes rolled back, he foamed at the mouth, and before he could even scream, he slumped to the ground like a pile of mud, fainting on the spot.

The wind blew, swirling a few fallen leaves, making the scene look exceptionally desolate.

Leng Qingqiu stood with her stick retracted, her red robes fluttering, her hairstyle not even slightly disturbed.

"Enough!!"

A roar broke the silence.

Ancestor Wanhua, Han Jing, suddenly stood up, staring intently at the stick in Leng Qingqiu's hand, his eyes filled with greed and shock.

"The Dao patterns are naturally formed, containing immortal divinity... Even a Saint Weapon couldn't leave a single mark on it..."

Han Jing's voice trembled as he pointed at the black stick: "That is an Emperor Weapon Embryo!"

Boom—!

Those three words were more explosive than the battle just now.

All the prodigies were so shocked their breathing quickened.

Emperor Weapon Embryo!

That is a divine material exclusive to Great Emperors. Even if it were just an unpolished Ore, its value would be enough to buy ten first-rate Sects!

Using an Emperor Weapon Embryo as a stick? What a waste of God's gifts! It's simply a reckless waste of treasures!

Countless gazes instantly focused on Lu Chen—some with shock, some with jealousy, and some with madness.

Facing everyone's stares, Lu Chen simply smiled.

"Making a fuss over nothing."

Lu Chen glanced at Han Jing: "What Emperor Weapon Embryo? That's just a stick I picked up in the back mountain."

"I usually use it to poke the fire when roasting sweet potatoes for Qingqiu."

At this point, Lu Chen paused: "But, this stick is indeed quite sturdy. It's not only fireproof, it's also fool-proof, and it can even be used to feign weakness."

"What? Fellow Daoist Han Jing, if you like it, come with me to the back mountain and I'll pick up a couple more to give you? I'm just afraid you won't be able to carry them and will lose your life instead."

The entire audience: "..."

Ziyang and Han Jing felt a surge of blood in their chests, nearly spitting out a mouthful of old blood.

Picked up? An Emperor Weapon Embryo picked up in the back mountain?

Just then, a crisp female voice suddenly rang out, breaking the awkwardness of the two Quasi-Emperors.

"Lu Chen, since you picked it up..."

Wei Hongyu's eyes were shining: "Will you sell it to me for one hundred million Top-Grade Spirit Stones? I don't have my own exclusive Emperor Weapon yet!"

Lu Chen's mouth twitched.

"This spendthrift woman, why are you everywhere?"

He ignored Wei Hongyu and looked at the pale-faced Ziyang and Han Jing, a smile gradually forming in his eyes.