21: Chapter 21 The Enemy Appears! Showing signs of fatigue, let's not attack one by one, let's all come at once!

I have to say, in a situation where simply defeating opponents grants experience and increases maximum HP, this method is far more efficient than going outside the city to hunt ferocious beasts.

After all, the real wilderness isn't like the Martial Examination grounds where the levels of ferocious beasts are strictly controlled. It's highly likely that as soon as you step out, you could be swallowed whole by a terrifying beast.

Moreover, even if you're lucky enough not to encounter an unstoppable enemy, just finding the beasts would take an unknown amount of time. After all, ferocious beasts aren't like humans; they don't usually gather in one place.

[Defeated LV4 human martial artist, gained...]

[Defeated LV3 human martial artist, gained...]

As one Jiangcheng No. 1 High School student after another went up and came down, Lu Qingyun only heard sound after sound ringing in his ears.

This efficiency in grinding experience was truly satisfying to the extreme!

His total HP even rapidly broke through the three-thousand mark under these circumstances! He could be called a blood tank!

[Defeated LV3 Luo Qingxue, repeated defeat, no reward.]

A very different notification sound rang out, causing Lu Qingyun to involuntarily glance down at the stage.

Fortunately, Lu Qingyun had a good memory, and combined with the fact that Luo Qingxue's appearance was truly in a league of its own, he remembered that this was the girl he had met at the Martial Examination grounds.

However... after a glance, he looked away again.

There wasn't a hint of extra emotion in his eyes, as if, to him, Luo Qingxue had never left an impression on him at all. In reality, it was indeed about the same.

With no woman in his heart, his blade becomes divine!

If she couldn't bring him experience points and HP, then coming up on stage was just a waste of his time!

Below the stage, Luo Qingxue opened her mouth. The slight, imperceptible joy in her eyes gradually faded into the depths.

Her original intention was to thank him once she got on stage, and while revealing her identity, allow Lu Qingyun some time to rest.

But she hadn't expected that, having now entered the Mortal Shedding Realm (3rd level) and practiced several martial arts to great success, she wouldn't even have time to speak before being instantly blasted off!

And... Luo Qingxue looked at the deep slash wound on her abdomen; although it was bleeding continuously, she didn't feel much pain.

"Is my strength already this poor?"

"My family talent is slow to awaken, and my martial talent is not outstanding. Could it be... that my fate is only to be used for a political marriage, to marry into a big family, and from then on live a life of ease, wealth, and comfort forever?"

"No! I will never accept this fate!"

Luo Qingxue's face was abnormally pale due to excessive blood loss. However, her eyes reflected Lu Qingyun's completely indifferent gaze, and her already shattered self-esteem was scraped ruthlessly once more!

She gently closed her eyes and fell into darkness. Yet, in the darkness, she seemed to see two rays of light of different colors intertwining.

Luo Qingxue's fainting indicated that seventy-two people taking turns challenging him had still failed to defeat the man on the stage!

The remaining number of people was less than half, yet Lu Qingyun on the stage looked as if he hadn't expended any energy at all; even his breathing rhythm was the same as it was at the beginning—steady and powerful!

"Which one is this? Another one-shot! So far, no one has been able to withstand this guy's second strike!"

"Idiot! That's Blade Intent! You've practiced the spear for three years and haven't even possessed Spear Momentum. Don't you understand what the concept of Blade Intent is!? That's a monster of the blade path; even fighting above his level is as simple as eating and drinking for him!"

"But no matter how powerful he is, stamina is an issue! Seventy-plus martial artists—even seventy pigs would be exhausted to death!"

"Wuwuwu—! You're full of crap! What seventy pigs? There was one... bah, one who wasn't. My Goddess Qingxue!!!! This guy actually has no regard for women, don't stop me, I'm going up to kill him!!"

"Classmate, calm down. You're not even a martial artist; you don't have the qualifications to go up at all! Get lost!"

Not far away, Wang Jincheng kept a sullen face, watching the blade radiance on stage that was almost blinding.

"Are there still people left!? At this rate, I'm afraid that before his stamina is completely depleted to a certain level, he'll be facing Qing Heng and the others. Although with Qing Heng and the others' strength, they have a nine out of ten chance of taking him down. But I want absolute certainty! I, Wang Jincheng, cannot have the face of Jiangcheng No. 1 High School rubbed into the dirt! Understand!?"

"Understood! Understood!! I have already ordered the students who went home to practice to return immediately. They should be here soon!"

The teacher on the side wiped the cold sweat from his face and answered cautiously. After receiving this reply, Wang Jincheng's expression improved slightly.

"Go, tell Qing Heng that I don't care what method he uses; after he defeats this person, I will reward him with a Qi Nourishing Pill in the name of the school."

A Qi Nourishing Pill! It is an auxiliary pill specifically used to help Mortal Shedding Realm cultivators break through to become Aperture Opening Realm cultivators. Even for someone with good talent, one pill is enough to be worth half a year of hard cultivation! The market price is as high as seven million!

This made the teacher on the side feel a wave of envy. If it weren't for their status not fitting, they would have wanted to go down and fight themselves.

Another twenty or so figures fell, and the number of martial artists left who could go up could be counted on one's fingers. Among those remaining, Lu Qingyun did not see the figure he had been longing to see.

The only ones worth a second glance were a man and a woman with unique auras, who were also the two strongest in Jiangcheng No. 1 High School.

Both of their panels had a talent column; one was Gravity Release, and the other was some kind of Geng Metal Body. Their cultivation levels were also quite good, reaching the 6th level of the Mortal Shedding Realm. But compared to him, they were still too weak. This made him feel a bit disappointed.

But just as he was preparing to finish off the remaining lot in one go, so as to unlock the brand-new BOSS mechanism and obtain the subsequent cultivation techniques, a group of figures rushing back instantly increased the number of people below!

And among these people, Lu Qingyun unexpectedly saw two familiar figures at the same time!

Xing Li, who had crippled his legs, and Lu Tianshun, the last remaining bloodline of Lu Dacheng's family!

The moment he saw the two, Lu Qingyun's gaze became extremely cold, and killing intent ravaged his eyes!

The two below did not recognize Lu Qingyun at first. After rushing back to school, Xing Li's face was full of impatience.

If it weren't for the fact that the Martial Examination required the school's channel to participate, he probably wouldn't have bothered with this completely unreasonable request.

What did Jiangcheng No. 1 High School being challenged have to do with him? He had the backing of the Xing Family, and his cultivation had reached the 4th level of the Mortal Shedding Realm!

Although it was basically raised by taking pills, he only needed to use a little bit of connections and operate a little to get into a key martial arts university!

By then, he wouldn't care about such a small place as Jiangcheng; he would have long since returned to the main clan and seen the scenery outside.

"Young Master Li, your great kindness, I, Lu Tianshun, will never forget it in my life!"

Beside him, Lu Tianshun's face was glowing red, and his eyes were full of extreme excitement! It was just that in the past two days, with Xing Li's help, he had actually managed to comprehend Qi and Blood Power and become a martial artist with special privileges!

This was a martial artist! An existence that they, ordinary people, could hardly reach!

Even, just because his cousin, who had no father or mother, had a little bit of talent to become a martial artist, his treatment at home was much better than before, he didn't know how much!

But now... thinking of Lu Qingyun, who was estimated to have a miserable end on the stage, a sneer appeared on Lu Tianshun's face.

A poor little wretch who relied on his family, why should he have such good talent! To be used as his stepping stone and become an aid for the Xing Family's young master on the list—that was the value he should fulfill most!

Now, the effect was significant! In just a few days, he had become a martial artist with special privileges! He couldn't wait to return home and tell his parents this good news.

It was just a pity that the school suddenly wanted them to come back to deal with someone's challenge, so he could only temporarily suppress the joy in his heart.

"It's just a small matter."

Xing Li didn't even raise an eyebrow, his expression cold. In his heart, however, he couldn't help but sneer.

This fool was as simple as his crippled cousin. A mere ordinary person, what qualifications did he have to follow him?

The forbidden drugs concocted in the clan were originally very troublesome to find real people to test. To have one delivered to his door, and a proper student of No. 1 High School at that, who could resist using it?

Looking at the peculiar ruddy color on Lu Tianshun's face, Xing Li felt a bit irritable. Judging by this state, I'm afraid that in a few more days, he won't be able to take it anymore.

It seems that this potion still has many defects and needs further optimization. However, for an ordinary person who has no hope of becoming a martial artist in his life, being able to experience the power of a martial artist at the last moment of his life can be considered a bargain for him.

It's just the final cleanup work... With the Martial Examination approaching, wanting to quietly wipe out a whole family still requires some effort.

If that guy who hadn't been crippled by him was still there, it might be more difficult to handle. But fortunately, he was just crippled by himself a few days ago.

"Damn! That stinking bitch!"

Thinking of the scene a few days ago, Xing Li couldn't help but feel a surge of nameless anger. As a member of the Xing Family, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

If it weren't for having a fallback, he wouldn't want to get involved with a woman like Wang Linlin, whose personality was said to be outgoing, but who had a bunch of male best friends and a chaotic social circle.

What was even more infuriating was that in order to humiliate him, that woman specially dragged someone who hadn't even reached the level of a martial artist to be a shield!

The result was, naturally, that the shield bore his anger.

But... why does it suddenly feel like the ruthless guy on stage, who strikes hard and takes one out with one slash, looks so much like that honest and stupid shield from before?

"Hmm!?" Upon feeling that cold gaze, a chill rose in Xing Li's heart. He pulled the face of Lu Tianshun beside him, making him face the stage!

And the moment he saw Lu Qingyun, Lu Tianshun's eyes widened immediately!

Having lived with him for more than a decade, how could he not recognize that face! Although their temperaments were worlds apart, completely two extremes, that identical appearance proved...

the one on the stage, who was challenging the entire Jiangcheng No. 1 High School alone, was actually his cousin Lu Qingyun!

But just a few days ago, hadn't he been crippled directly!?

Seeing Lu Tianshun's widened eyes, Xing Li knew he hadn't mistaken the person. It was really the shield he had crippled back then on the stage!

In just a few days, not only had he recovered, but he... also had such powerful strength!

A possibility emerged in the mind of Xing Li, who came from the Xing Family! An Awakened! And it must be the most powerful physical talent in the early stages!

"Heh—to think he could have such great luck."

A trace of violence flashed in Xing Li's eyes. He couldn't accept that the guy who was casually tortured by him not long ago now had strength far exceeding his own!

Why wasn't he the one who became an Awakened, but a mere person who hadn't even reached the level of a martial artist!

"No... it can't be, could this be a mistake? That guy Lu Qingyun couldn't possibly be this powerful! He should clearly be huddled in the corner of his room right now, waiting for me, who has become a martial artist, to go back and toss him a bone, that's how it should be!!"

Lu Tianshun shook his head incessantly, but his eyes were fixed on the figure on the stage. The long blade in his hand was as agile as a swimming dragon.

His temperament, strength, habits—not a single point matched the Lu Qingyun in his memory! But that one face had a 100% match rate! So, was Lu Qingyun's purpose for coming here... revenge!?

"Argh!!!" A scream pulled Lu Tianshun back to reality!

He saw the person being carried down, the bloody wound slashed into his chest, and his mind went blank!

"Revenge... it's definitely revenge!" "No, Young Master Li, we can't participate!"

Lu Tianshun dared not imagine if he were to go up, one slash, and whether he would be cut in two. Although based on his understanding of the former Lu Qingyun, he felt that such a thing wouldn't happen.

But the scene before his eyes now brought him too great a shock! This made a bad feeling arise in his heart... as if Lu Qingyun's goal in coming here was for them!

Xing Li was hesitant. Just by watching two matches, he knew he was definitely not Lu Qingyun's opponent! But if he just retreated like this... it would be too embarrassing!

"Hoo—! Hoo—!!" On the stage, after Lu Qingyun knocked down a student wielding a great spear, he panted heavily.

From the moment Xing Li and Lu Tianshun appeared, Lu Qingyun had been intentionally putting on an act. And this, in fact, was also within everyone's expectations. Being tired was normal! This also proved that Lu Qingyun was not so invincible!

"Wait a moment!" For the first time, Lu Qingyun spoke up proactively, pausing the fight.

Seeing this, everyone present thought that Lu Qingyun's stamina was almost exhausted and he wanted to buy some time to rest. How could they let him have his way!

"Since it has already begun, there is no reason to pause. Either admit defeat directly, or continue! Next one, hurry up and get on!" Wang Jincheng breathed a sigh of relief, a flash of shrewdness in his eyes, and shouted loudly.

However, before the next person could go up, he heard Lu Qingyun chuckle, sweat falling onto the stage like raindrops! The long blade in his hand was even broken beyond recognition and was casually thrown at his feet.

He looked around at the remaining dozen or so who were left for last, most of whom were also the most powerful, and grinned: "Don't misunderstand, what I mean is, you guys, one by one, are really too weak! Wasting my time, it would be better to just come at me together! I will fight all of you by myself!"

"Actually, not just the ones remaining."

"Those who were knocked off the stage by me before but still have combat strength can all come up to fight me!"

"I, Lu Qingyun, can fight without a blade, and take on all of you at the same time!!"