How could Zhang Qingxiang know about things like the “Double Superposition Tribulation” or the “Heart Demon Tribulation”? At most, he recognized the “Red Lotus Hellfire Tribulation” as a superposition, and counting the previous massive thunder strike, that would only be a triple tribulation.

Though powerful, it wasn’t beyond his comprehension. Du Gu Qingli also faced a triple tribulation, yet Zhang Qingxiang still believed she couldn’t be his opponent. Let alone this newcomer who hadn’t even found solid footing in the Tribulation Crossing Realm—how could he possibly fight against someone of Zhang Qingxiang’s third-grade, high-level cultivation?

Moreover, he wasn’t just any ordinary third-grade, high-level cultivator. As a direct descendant of Tianyao, his cultivation methods and techniques were far superior to those of most people. He usually fought and defeated opponents beyond his own rank; how could he possibly be defeated by someone below his rank?

From Zhang Qingxiang himself to the other disciples of the Sacred Land, practically no one believed Lu Xingzhou could win.

Giving up three moves? It would be impressive if he could even break Zhang Qingxiang’s defense…

Elder Xu was drenched in sweat but couldn’t stop the fight. He watched helplessly as Lu Xingzhou walked up to Zhang Qingxiang, taking a bow-stance with a retracted fist.

Zhang Qingxiang instinctively felt an alarm ringing in his heart, but he had already spoken his challenge. He couldn’t summon a magical artifact first, so he had no choice but to brace himself and wait for Lu Xingzhou to make his move.

A’nuo craned her neck.

Du Gu Qingli, who had been leaning casually against the mountain with her arms crossed, subconsciously straightened up.

With a “boom,” Lu Xingzhou pushed out his palm.

At first, the palm strike appeared unremarkable, but in the latter half of its trajectory, the situation changed dramatically.

The sound of crackling flames suddenly erupted, and a distinct red lotus appeared on his palm, like a Buddha’s palm blossoming with a lotus flower.

Zhang Qingxiang was terrified. How dared he be arrogant enough to simply take the blow? He reached out to block, but the fire lotus flared, engulfing him.

“Bang!” Zhang Qingxiang was knocked back several steps by the palm strike. The disciples behind him scattered in alarm, no one daring to help him up.

Because he was already like a man on fire, enveloped in fierce flames that refused to be extinguished no matter how many spells he cast.

For that was the fire of judgment.

And his arrogance was also subject to judgment.

Zhang Qingxiang was momentarily unable to process this relatively abstract phenomenon. He finally managed to suppress it with his superior cultivation level, but when people looked at him, his once somewhat handsome face was now as black as charcoal, and his hair was singed and curled, completely ruining his image.

A’nuo was delighted, adding a twinkling-eyes sound effect for him.

Lu Xingzhou, meanwhile, took a half-step back and cupped his hands with a smile, “Thank you for the concession.”

Black-faced Zhang Qingxiang: “…”

He felt both shame and anger. He clearly believed he could pulverize Lu Xingzhou, but in the context of a sparring match, Lu Xingzhou’s “thank you for the concession” had already declared the victor. How could he, in front of everyone, say that getting scorched black didn’t count and demand a rematch? He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Ye Tinglan sighed softly, trying to suppress the corners of her mouth, which were harder to control than the boat Lu Xingzhou had arrived on later that night. She tried to make her voice sound calm and disappointed: “Is this the ‘strongest of the younger generation,’ the one you said could defeat Qingli?”

Elder Xu wiped his sweat: “This… the victory isn’t really decided. Lu Xingzhou used a clever trick…”

“During the Grand Competition in the Sea, would others listen to your explanation?”

“This…”

Ye Tinglan sighed, about to speak, when a clear, cold voice came from below: “Young Master Lu learned on the spot, his talent is unparalleled. I am impressed. Du Gu Qingli of the Tianyao Sacred Land requests your guidance, Young Master.”

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

Ye Tinglan: “…”

They both stared, dumbfounded, as Du Gu Qingli slowly walked down from the mountain. She stopped in front of Lu Xingzhou, holding her sword by the hilt, and bowed respectfully: “Actually, some people’s dignity doesn’t need you to protect it…”

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Ye Tinglan massaged her forehead.

“Also… I’ve always wanted to try your cultivation methods, but back then your cultivation was insufficient, and I didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask. Now that you’re in the third grade, and I’m only in the mid-third grade, the difference isn’t that great.”

A’nuo translated from behind: “Master, she said she’s wanted to beat you up for a long time.”

Lu Xingzhou: “Shut up, I understand.”

Du Gu Qingli looked at him earnestly: “Please grant me your guidance.”

Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath: “It is my honor. Please.”

Ye Tinglan opened her mouth, then closed it again, watching the confrontation between her disciple and her lover below, her eyes somewhat complex.

While it proved there was no illicit affair between them, it also showed that her disciple wasn’t as supportive of her relationship as she claimed on the surface…

“Clang!” An ice sword burst forth, chilling the air for a hundred li.

Lu Xingzhou, facing it at close range, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. Even the surrounding disciples watching the battle subconsciously retreated again, the cleared circle at least double the size of the previous battle’s area.

Without directly facing the “Little White Hair’s” sword, it was difficult to truly comprehend the sense of powerlessness others felt against her. Just the bone-chilling cold that froze the soul could slow down the movements of equally powerful cultivators by half a beat. That’s why the Little White Hair’s battle record often showed one-hit KOs. In battles between masters, a single difference could decide the outcome. If one party was slowed down by the sacred ice aura, how could they even fight?

As thoughts churned in his mind, the sword light had already reached his chest.

Fast! Incomparably fast.

It carried a bone-piercing chill and a murderous intent.

She wasn’t just using ice-type Dao magic… she was, first and foremost, a swordswoman.

A lotus illusion subtly appeared around Lu Xingzhou, breaking free from the freezing ice. Lu Xingzhou’s hands, pressed together like a blade, chopped at the side of the sword.

Both swayed slightly, each retreating half a step.

Du Gu Qingli’s fierce sword energy was indeed stronger than Lu Xingzhou’s, but after being offset by the “Tai Xu Wheel Rotation,” it appeared evenly matched. Lu Xingzhou’s flames attempted to spread up the sword, trying to repeat the “judgment” he had inflicted on Zhang Qingxiang, but they were extinguished by tiny ice crystals, leaving not a single flicker of fire.

Everyone instinctively turned to look at Zhang Qingxiang, whose blackened face now showed a hint of red.

The whistling of sword energy resounded continuously, yet there was no clanging of metal. Only the soft thud of a palm occasionally striking the side of the sword, and the infrequent clash of arms.

But the howling ice wind and the roaring flames were even more unsettling than the clang of metal.

The two fought faster and faster in the arena. Those with poorer eyesight could no longer even discern Du Gu Qingli’s sword movements, only seeing the red and blue colors swirling in the arena, accompanied by waves of heat and biting cold.

Ye Tinglan subtly breathed a sigh of relief.

It was clear that Qingli was holding back. She knew Lu Xingzhou was new to the “Blazing Prison Residual Sun” technique and not yet proficient in its various moves. The nature of a practice match was quite evident, and it was clear that Lu Xingzhou was becoming more skilled with each move.

So, her disciple was tough on the outside but soft on the inside…

Just as she was thinking this, the sword energy in the arena suddenly changed.

Du Gu Qingli, who had been engaging in close-quarters combat to help Lu Xingzhou familiarize himself with his new moves, exchanged another palm strike with Lu Xingzhou and then both drifted back several zhang. Suddenly, her eyes became serious.

As if announcing, “I’m getting serious now.”

The next moment, she and her sword became one, shooting forth. The sword light in her hand flared brightly, an incomparably sharp sword beam piercing through the heavens and earth.

Like a solitary, towering snow mountain, it cleaved through the evening clouds.

It also cleaved through Lu Xingzhou’s flames and qi.

That extreme sharpness and destructive power, if it hit, even Lu Xingzhou’s “Tai Xu Wheel Rotation” might not be able to offset it! Ye Tinglan instinctively clenched her fists, ready to intervene at any moment.

Zhang Qingxiang’s blackened face suddenly turned pale. He realized that he, in all likelihood, couldn’t have withstood that sword strike.

Lu Xingzhou’s expression was solemn. He suddenly flicked a finger at the tip of the sword.

Du Gu Qingli was slightly puzzled when she saw him flick his finger.

This light flick of a finger, there was no way it could deflect her sword by even a hair’s breadth. To deal with it like this, was he trying to injure himself? Had he gone crazy? The “Yin Yang Extreme Intent Skill” was indeed not a good…

As the thought crossed her mind, his finger had already flicked the sword tip.

An extremely gentle water spiritual force permeated her meridians, spreading through her muscles and soothing her Dantian.

For over ten years, she had traveled alone through icy rivers, fighting over a thousand battles, accumulating subtle internal injuries, minor or major. Lu Xingzhou’s flick of the finger wasn’t to block the attack; instead, he was healing her…

Had he gone crazy in the heat of the moment, throwing his life away just to flirt?

No, it wasn’t that.

Besides pain, there was another sensation that could make one lose strength and go limp.

That was comfort.

The soothing water spiritual energy, healing her old injuries, brought such an immense feeling of comfort that Du Gu Qingli almost let out a soft moan, her face instantly flushing red.

That incredibly sharp sword suddenly went limp. Lu Xingzhou casually waved his hand, and the sword’s trajectory shifted, being led past him.

Seeing that she was about to stumble, Lu Xingzhou smoothly wrapped an arm around her waist, then very gentlemanly released her and took half a step back: “Thank you, young lady, for going easy on me.”

Others couldn’t perceive such subtle details and truly believed that Du Gu Qingli had held back, even her waist being embraced was taken as a combat accident, unremarked upon by anyone.

The crowd, however, was engrossed in the battle, taking a long time to recover. Were the offense, defense, and power of these two truly just those of someone newly entered the third-grade and someone in the mid-third-grade?

No matter how Zhang Qingxiang looked at it, there was still a gap between him and them…

Perhaps only Ye Tinglan among those present could discern Lu Xingzhou’s “winning method.” This move was only effective because Qingli was not a true enemy. If Qingli genuinely wanted his life, this move would surely not have had such an effect; in reality, Lu Xingzhou would have lost.

As for the embrace around her waist, it was probably just an instinctive reaction in the heat of the moment… It seemed there was nothing to fault, but why did it look so infuriating?

In the profound silence, the voice of the Sacred Lord spread throughout the arena: “Young phoenixes contend, hence the enduring strength of our Tianyao Sacred Land for ten thousand years. This competition today, I have witnessed it, and I am very pleased. All shall receive rewards.”

“Du Gu Qingli is granted three days of enlightenment at the Myriad Sword Tomb.”

“Zhang Qingxiang may enter the Scripture Repository and select another set of techniques to study.”

“As for Lu Xingzhou, come with me. Seeing that you are new to your skills today and still lack mastery, I will personally guide you.”

Du Gu Qingli: “…”

So, I brought you an opportunity, didn’t I?

When will the Tianyao Sacred Land be destroyed? Is it too late for me to switch my allegiance to Yuan Muyu now?

Ye Tinglan had no idea what her disciple was grumbling about. She merely announced: “There’s no time like the present. I need to select three young disciples to participate in the Grand Competition in the Sea: three main representatives and two alternate reserves. Based on what I’ve seen today, Qingli, Qingxiang, and Xingzhou are all qualified to be selected. For the remaining spots, you may compete amongst yourselves to decide the victors.”

Watching the previous fights was just for entertainment, but once it became personally relevant, some people immediately felt indignant. Why should an “outsider” take up a spot?

Even among the elders, someone whispered, “Sect Master, this is inappropriate. In what capacity will Lu Xingzhou represent our Tianyao Sacred Land in the competition? If other sects find out, they might think our Sacred Land has no capable people.”

Ye Tinglan scoffed, “Does the Sacred Land have many people? Relying on your so-called Zhang Qingxiang who can defeat Qingli?”

Everyone’s faces flushed red, and they mumbled, “But…”

“No ‘buts’,” an aged voice came from the top of another building. “Lu Xingzhou is an unregistered disciple of Feng. Where does this ‘outsider’ come from? When was Feng expelled from the Sacred Land? I don’t even know myself!”

Everyone’s expressions changed slightly, and they all fell silent.

With this endorsement, there was naturally no problem.

Whether an unregistered disciple could be counted as a member of the Sacred Land was irrelevant; it could even be used to brag: “Our temporary workers are already this strong…”

The one who genuinely looked peculiar, however, was Ye Tinglan.

In terms of seniority, Elder Feng was her martial grand-uncle.

Did that mean she had to call his unregistered disciple her martial uncle in return?

Please note: m.llskw.org