265: Think Kendo is too effeminate? I only believe in overwhelming power!

"Impact!"

At the moment Lu Sheng let out a roar in his heart, he did not hesitate at all.

His spirit source core, which felt as if it were being squeezed by ten thousand tons of water pressure, found a perfect outlet at this moment.

Boom—!!!

A torrent of energy, ten times more violent than when he had previously promoted to Level 10, exploded outward with him at the center!

The entire Earth Core Fire Vein trembled! That Origin fire, viscous like gold, seemed to receive a king's summons, transforming into streaks of golden wild Dragons and frantically surging into Lu Sheng's limbs and bones!

The solid barrier standing between Level 10 and Level 11, which was enough for countless Geniuses to spend years of hard work polishing, was as fragile as a layer of window paper before the current Lu Sheng.

Crack—!

A crisp sound of shattering, originating from the level of the Soul.

The barrier was broken!

An elemental aura, far purer than before and carrying a faint golden spiritual light, drifted from Lu Sheng's body, forcing the surrounding magma back by three feet.

Level 11, Spirit Apprentice realm!

It was a success!

However, this was only the beginning.

The half-bottle of dragon blood body tempering fluid swallowed earlier, the extreme squeezing of the hundred-fold gravity room, plus the current uncostly energy backflow from the entire King-grade Fire Vein... the accumulation within his body had already overflowed!

It was like a dam that had been blocked for decades; once the first opening was made, the accumulated monstrous flood would sweep away all subsequent obstacles with unstoppable force!

[Ding! Energy accumulation far exceeds what is needed for promotion! Starting automatic Breakthrough!]

[Promotion—Level 12 Spirit Apprentice!]

Boom!

Lu Sheng's aura surged once again! The elemental spiritual light surrounding his body became even more solid!

[Ding! Tinder energy continues to pour in! Physical Body strength and spirit source purity have reached the standards again!]

[Promotion—Level 13 Spirit Apprentice!]

Rumble!!

This time, the commotion far exceeded the previous ones.

Lu Sheng was like a sun ignited deep within the magma; the brilliant golden light even penetrated thousands of meters of earth and magma, projecting a blurry but massive pillar of light at the summit of Daozi Peak!

The entire floating island let out an overwhelmed hum under this terrifying elemental tide!

...Daozi Peak, by the Fire Eye.

Li Xiaoyao was slumped on the ground, his spirit drained, staring blankly at the calm magma lake, muttering "It's over, it's over, I can't afford to raise him anymore."

Suddenly, the ground beneath him shook violently!

Immediately after, a pure-to-the-extreme fire element fluctuation that made even him feel heart palpitations shot up from deep underground!

"Not good!"

Li Xiaoyao's fish-like face instantly turned pale, and he jumped three feet high like a cat whose tail had been stepped on!

"This brat! What on earth did he do down there?!"

He could clearly feel that this Breakthrough phenomenon had already exceeded the concealment limit of Daozi Peak's mountain-protecting Formation and was spreading towards the entire Dengxian Island!

Once detected by outsiders, a newcomer who just entered the sect, breaking through four levels in a single day, soaring from Level 9 to Level 13... if this news reached the ears of those two Holy Lands, Lu Sheng would become a living target before the grand competition even began, and all his cards would be studied inside out!

"He's truly a little monster!!"

Li Xiaoyao cursed in anger, but his movements were extremely fast.

He suddenly pulled a purple Jade Slip carved with complex Formation patterns from his robes and crushed it without a second thought!

Hum—!

An invisible purple light screen that seemed capable of devouring everything instantly spread out with Daozi Peak as the center, like an inverted giant bowl, tightly enveloping the entire mountain peak along with that sky-piercing phenomenon!

Heavenly Secret Concealment Formation!

This was one of Dengxian Island's trump card Formations, not to be used except in moments of life and death; every time it was activated, the resources consumed were enough to make Li Xiaoyao's heart bleed in pain.

After finishing all this, the Old Man was drenched in sweat and leaned against the nearby rock wall, panting heavily.

He looked at the Fire Eye, which was still churning violently, with an extremely complex expression.

Shock, wild joy, lingering fear, heartache... all sorts of emotions intertwined, making his old face twist like a frayed rag.

This was no longer a "Genius."

This was a Prodigy!

He was a True Dragon capable of stirring the winds and clouds of an entire era by himself!

"Plop!"

Just then, a huge splash erupted on the surface of the magma lake.

Lu Sheng's figure leaped out from it and landed steadily on the shore.

At this moment, compared to before, his temperament had undergone an earth-shaking change. A faint, visible golden spiritual light lingered around him, and as his dark golden vertical pupils opened and closed, it was as if fire were burning within.

He just stood there quietly, and the pressure belonging to a Spirit Apprentice realm powerhouse naturally radiated outward.

He felt the unprecedented explosive power within his body, as if he could punch through a mountain range with a single fist, and the sense of control over the gold and fire elements as if they were his own limbs; it was so comfortable he almost groaned aloud.

Then, he saw Li Xiaoyao leaning against the wall with an exhausted look on his face.

"Old Man, why is your face so pale? Are you constipated?" Lu Sheng grinned, revealing a row of ivory-white teeth. "Thanks for acting as my Protector."

Li Xiaoyao's mouth twitched violently, too lazy to argue with him.

He waved his hand and said weakly, "Alright, your Foundation is more or less established."

He took a deep breath, and his gaze became more solemn than ever in an instant, as if he wanted to see right through Lu Sheng.

"Brat, your current power is already top-tier among those in the Spirit Apprentice realm. But if you only have power and don't know how to use it, you're still just a brute."

Li Xiaoyao slowly took something out from his robes.

It was a sword.

A rusty broken sword that even had several notches on the blade.

He casually threw the broken sword to Lu Sheng.

"For the next half month, forget your Dragon Claw, forget your brute strength, and forget that freakish scale armor of yours."

Li Xiaoyao's gaze was as cold as ten-thousand-year-old profound ice.

On the summit of Daozi Peak, clouds and mist swirled.

Li Xiaoyao sat cross-legged, and in front of him, that rusty broken sword floated in the air. Although the blade was damaged, it exuded a sharpness that remained immortal through the ages.

"The sword is the lord of a hundred weapons."

The Old Man's voice was ethereal, as if merging with the mountain breeze.

"Its Dao lies in sharpness, in spirit, in moving forward without looking back, and also in handling things with ease."

"My Dao is the 'Xiaoyao Sword Dao,' emphasizing great freedom and great leisure. With one strike, it can sever the ocean, or... peel an apple."

He flicked his finger, and the broken sword let out a clear sword chime, tracing a profound trajectory in the air.

"From today on, you will swing the sword ten thousand times a day. There is no need to learn Moves; just feel its breathing and its will. When you can make this dead object come alive in your hands, you will be considered to have entered the gate."

Li Xiaoyao looked like a grand master as he slowly opened his eyes, preparing to receive Lu Sheng's admiring gaze.

However, he only saw a face full of impatience.

Lu Sheng was holding the broken sword, weighing it in his hand, and then threw it on the ground with a look of disdain, making a crisp "clang" sound.

"Old Man, stop with the fluff."

Lu Sheng picked his ear, his tone blunt to the point of being crude: "My Dao is very simple."

He paused and grinned, his smile full of arrogance and disdain.

"If I can beat them, I fight; if I can't... I use even stronger power to crush them!"

"Swords are too light, too fragile, and too flashy. Only sissies use them."

Lu Sheng flipped his wrist, and that dark gold dragon devouring spear, radiating a ferocious aura, slammed heavily onto the ground.

Boom!

The white jade floor tiles instantly shattered into spiderweb-like cracks.

"This thing is what has real kick." Lu Sheng patted the spear shaft, looked at Li Xiaoyao, and raised an eyebrow: "The principles of using a sword should be the same when applied to a spear, right?"

PS: Speeding up the plot progress; after all, Spirit Apprentice is just a starting point. Otherwise, you readers might find it boring. The author mainly aims to be obedient. Please urge for updates, please give tips, I'm begging you, thank you everyone!!!"}],