62: Chapter 62 Where is the promised secret weapon?

The next morning, the rising sun, like scattered gold, covered the training ground. The bells for the top four competition pierced through the morning mist, and four duels simultaneously commenced.

When Li Xuanfeng and Su Qingyuan stood opposite each other, a low murmur immediately arose from the audience.

The female Disciples of Sunset Glow Peak clutched their handkerchiefs, both expectant and nervous—Su Qingyuan was their Peak's most outstanding Disciple in recent years.

“Senior Brother Li,” Su Qingyuan raised her hand to adjust her sleeve, her eyes shining with stubborn light.

“Although you are a direct Disciple of the Sect Master, I, Su Qingyuan, am determined to win this top four spot.”

The spiritual energy around her circulated quietly, steadily at the Peak of the Core Formation Realm Middle Stage, yet her aura was several times more profound than that of ordinary Disciples at the same level.

Li Xuanfeng's long sword pointed diagonally at the ground, purple-green Sword Qi flowing in the morning light, his tone calm: “Then let our actions speak for themselves.” His spiritual energy fluctuations were also at the Core Formation Realm Middle Stage, seemingly on par with Su Qingyuan.

“Please enlighten me!”

Su Qingyuan flicked her sleeve, and two soft forces, like agile snakes, coiled towards Li Xuanfeng's wrists. This was Sunset Glow Peak's “Flowing Mist Technique,” seemingly gentle, but actually containing immense power.

Li Xuanfeng lightly tapped his toes, his figure retreating like a willow catkin. His long sword swept up with the momentum, the Sword Qi drawing an arc in the air, just enough to deflect the sleeve.

With a muffled thud, the air currents spread out, and the Disciples below the stage all retreated.

Halfway through their exchange, Su Qingyuan gradually grew anxious—her sleeve attacks were always easily neutralized by her opponent, and Li Xuanfeng's Sword Qi, though seemingly plain, was like an invisible net, pressing closer with each step.

After more than a hundred moves, she had been forced to the edge of the arena, and her sleeve even had a shallow sword mark.

“I can't hide it anymore!”

Su Qingyuan gritted her silver teeth, and the spiritual energy around her suddenly surged, subtly breaking through the shackles of the Core Formation Realm Middle Stage and directly approaching the Late Stage!

“It's the Core Formation Realm Late Stage!” Exclamations immediately erupted from below the stage, “Senior Sister Su actually hid her strength so deeply!”

“Now Senior Brother Li is in danger, cross-realm combat is too difficult!”

“The outcome is hard to predict...”

On the viewing platform, Sect Master Xuan Yangzi looked at the Sunset Glow Peak Master beside him, a smile playing on his lips: “Peak Master Su is quite reserved.”

The Sunset Glow Peak Master stroked his beard, smiling in response: “Sect Master Xuan Yangzi is joking. For the Disciples' competition, it's always more interesting to hold something back.” Although his words were humble, the pride in his eyes was hard to conceal.

On the arena, Su Qingyuan, riding the momentum of her surging spiritual energy, made her sleeves flutter like a waterfall, her attacks several times more ferocious than before, aiming directly for Li Xuanfeng's face.

She didn't believe that with her Core Formation Late Stage cultivation, she couldn't defeat a Core Formation Realm Middle Stage Cultivator.

But Li Xuanfeng's response remained calm. His Sword Qi seemed to predict the trajectory of her sleeves, always managing to avoid the sharp edge at the last moment, and counter-attacking her weak points.

The purple-green sword light weaved through the morning mist, seemingly slow, yet carrying a rhythm that made people's hearts palpitate.

After another thirty moves, Li Xuanfeng deflected her sleeve with a single sword stroke, the tip of his sword stopping steadily before Su Qingyuan's throat, the Sword Qi condensed but not unleashed.

Su Qingyuan froze in place, her face full of disbelief: “I'm already at Core Formation Late Stage... how could this be...”

She clearly had the advantage in cultivation, yet she was suppressed from beginning to end, not even touching her opponent's clothes.

Li Xuanfeng sheathed his sword. Seeing her eyes slightly red, as if she had suffered a considerable blow, he quietly transmitted a message: “Junior Sister Su, there's no need to be disheartened. I, your Senior Brother... actually hid a little bit too.”

Su Qingyuan suddenly looked up, only to see Li Xuanfeng had already turned and walked off the arena, his back as tall and straight as a pine.

How could she know that what Li Xuanfeng displayed at that moment was indeed the spiritual energy of the Core Formation Realm Middle Stage?

But his Saint-Grade Aptitude allowed him to easily fight across realms, so his “hiding a little bit” was merely a pretense to comfort her.

The murmurs below the stage continued. The Disciples of Sunset Glow Peak were both regretful and proud—their Senior Sister was actually at Core Formation Late Stage, a glorious defeat.

And Li Xuanfeng's powerful victory over a Late Stage Cultivator made everyone more respectful of this direct Disciple of the Sect Master.

The contest between Yun Qingjue of Yunfeng and Mu Chenyu of Jianxiao Peak was a clash of speed and sharpness.

Yun Qingjue's movement technique was as fast as a ghost, yet he could never escape Mu Chenyu's soul-reaping sword light.

When the seventh sword shadow grazed his shoulder, Yun Qingjue looked at the Sword Intent condensed on his opponent's fingertips, and calmly cupped his hands: “Jianxiao Peak's sharpness is truly well-deserved. I concede.”

The duel between Shi Jingxian of Qingyue Peak and Lu Chenyu of Zhenyue Peak was equally spectacular.

Shi Jingxian, bare-handed, directly confronted Lu Chenyu's profound iron shield. The roaring collision of his fist wind and the shield surface made people's eardrums tingle.

Ultimately, Shi Jingxian broke through the defense with a single Collapsing Mountain Fist, sending him flying and ending the battle.

Everyone was still gasping at Shi Jingxian's fierce power in sending Lu Chenyu flying with one punch, when another arena suddenly erupted with a shout: “Watch my ultimate move—Azure Cloud Slash!”

Before the shout faded, Li Wuling had already leaped up, his long sword wrapped in dazzling azure light, like a falling meteor, slashing towards Lin Mochen.

The momentum was even fiercer than his match against Fang Hanyu yesterday, the sword wind making the arena's stone slabs rattle.

The Disciples below the stage held their breath—this move had “defeated” the Genius of Zizhu Peak yesterday, and today it might give Lin Mochen a hard time.

Lin Mochen frowned slightly. He had seen him defeat Fang Hanyu with this move from afar yesterday.

He dared not be negligent. His profound iron axe was suddenly held horizontally in front of him, spiritual energy surged into it, and the axe body instantly glowed with a faint golden aura, meeting the azure light with a fierce chop.

Everyone expected a loud clang of sword and axe clashing, but in the next second—

“Pfft!”

As soon as the azure light and axe shadow touched, they dispersed like a popped bubble. Li Wuling only felt a huge force pouring back along the blade.

His wrist throbbed with pain, his long sword clattered out of his hand, and he himself was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, soaring over the arena ropes, and crashing with a thud onto the open ground in front of the spectator stands, unable to get up for a long time.

The entire venue fell silent.

After a few breaths, the training ground erupted with gasps of cold air:

“This... is that all?”

“What was that just now? An ultimate move?”

“Senior Brother Li's flying posture was even flashier than his sword moves!”

Lin Mochen stood rooted to the spot, clutching his profound iron axe, the golden light on its blade not yet dissipated.

He looked down at his empty palm, then glanced at the groaning Li Wuling below the stage, his face full of bewilderment—was that it?

He had almost thought he needed to get serious just now, and had deliberately poured in thirty percent of his spiritual energy for defense, but his opponent was like paper?

“What about the promised ultimate move...”

Lin Mochen subconsciously mumbled, his voice not loud, but clearly heard by the Disciples in the front row.

On the viewing platform, Shi Wanshan had just picked up his teacup when he heard this and spurted tea all over the ground, pointing at the arena and laughing as he slapped his thigh: “This, this kid from Qingyun Peak... he must be here to entertain us!”

Sect Master Xuan Yangzi sat upright in the main seat, the grip on his teacup tightening, his knuckles turning white.

As the Peak Master of Qingyun Peak and also the Sect Master, he felt his cheeks burning at this moment, and glared fiercely at Li Wuling, who was still fumbling for his long sword on the ground.

He cursed inwardly: This foolish boy! He must have been tricked by that cunning Fang Hanyu yesterday, actually believing he had cultivated some ultimate move!

Li Wuling finally managed to prop himself up on his arms, clutching his numb wrist, and stared blankly at the bewildered Lin Mochen on the arena—

Yesterday, he had clearly “slashed” Fang Hanyu until he coughed blood and conceded, so why did he himself fly out first when it came to Lin Mochen today? Could it be that this move only worked on Zizhu Peak?

From a distance, Xiao Ruobai saw Li Wuling fly out like a kite with a broken string, and nearly choked on a mouthful of tea.

He pointed at the groaning figure below the stage, unable to stop laughing: “Junior Brother, you really led him on, making him think his move was that powerful!”

Fang Hanyu's mouth twitched. Remembering his own “weak” retreat from the stage yesterday, his ears felt a little hot: “I couldn't really beat him unconscious.”

He glanced at the bewildered Lin Mochen on the arena and added, “Senior Brother Lin is quite honest, he actually went all out to meet the move...”

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