39: In a friendly spar, he defeated his opponent in one move!

Lu Yuan sat upright in the main seat, taking in the greed in Ye Chen's eyes.

His expression did not change in the slightest; he couldn't even be bothered to show anger.

Because in his eyes, Ye Chen was already a dead man.

"The Taiyi Sect has come from afar, and this generous gift, this Seat accepts," Lu Yuan said calmly, his voice so quiet it made people palpitate.

He flicked his finger.

A golden light shot out, striking the ancient bronze bell.

Crack!

The ancient bell, which was capable of withstanding a strike from a Soul Transformation Cultivator, was instantly covered in cracks under this single flick, then shattered with a boom, turning into a pile of scrap metal.

"To not return a gift is discourteous. After the celebration ends, this Seat will naturally return the favor."

Seeing this, Ye Chen's pupils constricted slightly.

Destroying the ancient bell he had refined with just a casual strike—Lu Yuan's strength seemed to be stronger than rumors suggested.

But he didn't care.

He possessed the Innate Dao Body, invincible among those of the same rank; why should he fear a newly promoted Soul Transformation Stage?

"Fellow Daoist Lu truly has impressive methods," Ye Chen said with a fake smile. "Today is a joyous occasion. Drinking alone is boring. This Seat has brought a few incompetent Disciples to gain some experience. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Lu is willing to let the outstanding talents of your sect spar with my Taiyi Sect Disciples to liven things up?"

The ruse was revealed.

Everyone present knew clearly that this was an attempt to slap the Azure Cloud Sect in the face in public.

The Taiyi Sect was, after all, a veteran Soul Transformation power with deep foundations.

And the Azure Cloud Sect had only recently been promoted; how could their young generation of Disciples be a match for the Taiyi Sect?

"Since it is to liven things up, then I will agree to Sect Leader Ye's request," Lu Yuan said with a calm expression, agreeing directly.

A cold, triumphant sneer curled the corner of Ye Chen's mouth.

He turned and nodded at a young man in starry robes behind him.

"Xinghai, go and ask for some pointers from the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters of the Azure Cloud Sect."

The young man stepped out, his figure like an illusion, instantly landing in the center of the square.

"True Disciple of the Taiyi Sect, Meng Xinghai, please advise."

As soon as these words were spoken, a sound of gasping echoed all around.

This Meng Xinghai's aura was deep, with starlight faintly circling his body; he was clearly possessed of a special Physique.

Moreover, his strength had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, just one step away from Core Formation. Such cultivation could be considered a leader among the young generation.

"Starry King Body."

Lu Yuan saw through his background at a glance.

Being able to draw upon the power of the stars to enhance oneself was indeed an extraordinary Physique.

Gu Qingxue looked at Meng Xinghai, her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.

Among the True Disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, the highest cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; they were simply no match for this person.

"Husband, this person's strength is formidable, we..."

"It's fine." Lu Yuan gently patted the back of her hand and cast his gaze toward a girl in white standing below.

"Xue Yao, you go."

Lu Xueyao, who had been silent, raised her head slowly upon hearing this.

Today, she was still wearing a simple white dress, carrying a common iron longsword on her back, looking extremely plain.

To outsiders, her cultivation was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

"Yes, Revered Master."

Lu Xueyao bowed with her sword, then her figure drifted lightly onto the square, standing opposite Meng Xinghai.

"Azure Cloud Sect Disciple, Lu Xueyao, please advise!"

Her voice was cold and clear, without a trace of worldly noise.

As soon as she spoke, the whole place was in an uproar.

Sending someone at the early Foundation Establishment stage to fight a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Starry King Body.

Was the Azure Cloud Sect out of people?

Or was it that Old Ancestor Lu Yuan had already given up and intended to let things rot?

Even Ye Chen was stunned for a moment, then let out a scoff.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, do you have no one else to use? You actually sent such a delicate little girl up to die. If she gets hurt, this Seat will feel heartache."

His words were frivolous, drawing a burst of laughter from the Taiyi Sect crowd.

However, facing the sky full of mockery and questioning.

Lu Xueyao's expression remained without any fluctuation.

She just quietly watched Meng Xinghai opposite her; in those cold, clear eyes, it was as if two peerless sharp swords were hidden.

Her hand slowly rested on the hilt of the sword on her back.

"Make your move," she said calmly.

Meng Xinghai looked at the girl in front of him whose cultivation was far lower than his own, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.

"Since Junior Sister is in such a hurry to admit defeat, then Senior Brother will fulfill your wish."

He gave a low shout, starlight erupting around his body, and punched out, like a falling meteor, with astonishing power.

However, the moment he threw the punch.

"Clang—"

A clear sword hum resonated through the heavens and earth.

Lu Xueyao had drawn her sword.

No one saw how she drew it.

Everyone only felt a sword light that was brilliant to the extreme flash before their eyes, as if it had cut this world in two.

The next moment.

The sky full of starlight shattered.

Meng Xinghai maintained his punching posture, frozen in place.

At his throat, a plain iron sword was quietly hovering there.

There wasn't even a drop of blood on the tip of the sword.

But the bone-chilling coldness made the blood in Meng Xinghai's entire body freeze.

One sword strike.

Just one sword strike.

The Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Starry King Body, defeated.

The whole place was dead silent.

The smile on Ye Chen's face froze instantly.

On the square, Meng Xinghai maintained his punching posture, frozen in place, the tip of that ordinary iron longsword only half an inch away from his throat.

The icy Sword Qi had long since penetrated his skin, pierced into his Meridians, and locked his entire cultivation.

If Lu Xueyao flicked her wrist slightly, this Genius of whom the Taiyi Sect was so proud would fall on the spot.

"I accept your courtesy."

Lu Xueyao said calmly, flipped her wrist, and sheathed her sword.

She didn't even look at Meng Xinghai, turned, and drifted away.

Only then did the Cultivators from the various major forces around the square snap back to reality.

Sounds of gasping followed one after another.

A girl at the early Foundation Establishment stage had defeated the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Starry King Body with one sword strike.

Such a battle record, if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would dare believe it.

"Good, what a good seedling for a Sword Immortal."

The envoy of the Yu Hua Immortal Sect, Yan Nantian, couldn't help but clap and praise. As a Sword Cultivator, he naturally could see the value of that sword strike just now.

That kind of Sword Intent, pure to the extreme, as if it could sever all things, was extremely rare even within the Yu Hua Immortal Sect.

Gu Qingxue looked at Lu Xueyao returning to her side, her eyes full of gratification and surprise.

She had originally worried that Lu Xueyao's cultivation was still shallow and would suffer, but she hadn't expected that the Disciple her husband had trained would be so astonishingly talented.

She walked up, affectionately took Lu Xueyao's hand, and the tenderness in her beautiful eyes made even Lu Xueyao's cold sword heart tremble slightly.

"Well done, Xue Yao," Gu Qingxue said softly, her tone filled with undisguised affection. "After today, you are the pride of our Azure Cloud Sect. If anyone dares to bully you in the future, Master's wife will definitely not spare them."

At this moment, she truly regarded Lu Xueyao as her own younger sister, or even a future sister.

And in the direction of the Taiyi Sect.

The smile on Ye Chen's face had long since disappeared, replaced by a deep gloom.

He stared fixedly at Lu Xueyao, a trace of shock and doubt flashing deep in his eyes.