Chapter 36: The Crucial Battle (Part 1)

  After lunch, Xuan Yu Zhen Ren looked at everyone and lightly told them about the competition. Then, he looked at everyone with a worried expression. However, what made him strange was that the four disciples under his door seemed to know in general, and there were no imagined surprises. Xuan Yu Zhen Ren glanced at Zi Yang and Jing Yue, seeing that they also had puzzled expressions, Xuan Yu couldn't help but ask: "This time's competition situation, it seems you all knew about it, right?"

  Li Hongfei said, "Yes, this morning Ben Yizhen and Bi Tian came here and told us about the competition. We all know about it now, and everyone's mind is calm. No matter what the outcome of this match is, as long as we can learn something useful from it, then it won't be a wasted trip, right?"

  Xuan Yu and the other three disciples exchanged a surprised glance, seemingly not expecting Li Hongfei, who was known for being quiet and taciturn, to suddenly say something like that. After glancing at the other three disciples, who all appeared calm, Xuan Yu couldn't help but feel relieved and said: "I'm delighted to see you all have this mindset. Although this competition affects the reputation of each academy, it's great that you can maintain a calm state of mind as cultivators. Whether you become a demon-slaying, dao-protecting knight or aim to ascend to immortality, you'll need a heart untainted by worldly desires and a calm mind. I was worried about you all, but since you've already let go, let's not say anything more and head to the competition. Just do your best, no need to force it."

  After finishing speaking, he led everyone out of the cave. Looking into the distance, Xuan Yu Zhen Ren said: "This time, Hong Fei and Jian Wu Chen's competition will be held outside Tian Xuan Cave, while Ao Xue and Zhan Yu's competition will take place in Tian Jian Cave. Only Lu Yun and Bi Tian's competition will be held in Tian Feng Cave. Now, I'll follow Hong Fei to the competition, as for Yun Feng, you can choose whoever you want to watch." After finishing speaking, he took Hong Fei and flew away on the wind, disappearing from sight in an instant.

  After the two left, Ziyang True Person glanced at Jingyue Master and said softly: "I wish Ao Xue's horse to be successful and return victorious." After finishing speaking, he left first. Lu Yun looked at Ao Xue, just slightly nodding his head, without saying anything. However, in Lu Yun's eyes, a strong concern and deep affection were revealed, which was more moving than thousands of words.

  She gazed into his eyes, those threads of deep affection and concern, like a gentle spring, nourishing her proud heart. A faint smile, a stunning beauty unfolded before Lu Yun's eyes, that breathtaking beauty, in an instant, deeply etched in Lu Yun's memory. After the smile, Ao Xue calmly turned around, a soft greeting floated quietly in the air. "Take care!"

  Jingyue Master glanced at Lu Yun, a strange light flashing in his eyes, and let out a soft sigh before turning to leave. Turning back to look at Lin Yunfeng, Lu Yun asked: "And you, do you want to go see Ao Xue take revenge for you and severely punish Zhan Yu?"

  Yun Feng looked at Ao Xue's back, his expression slightly dazed as he said: "Ao Xue just smiled, did you see? So beautiful, it's like a celestial being. If she smiled like that every day, it would be great. Unfortunately, that smile was too fleeting." After finishing, he glanced at Lu Yun and suddenly remembered his words, hurriedly saying: "I won't go look for her anymore, I've already secretly told Ao Xue to help me thoroughly deal with Zhan Yu. Hehe, I'll just watch you instead, see how you defeat Bi Tian?"

  Lu Yun ignored him, glanced at his master in the distance, and suddenly disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already beside Zi Yang Zhen Ren. Yun Feng's expression changed as he muttered to himself, "How is this possible? How did he suddenly learn to use spatial leap technique? He shouldn't know it, and Yi Yuan doesn't have such a technique either, strange." After saying that, his body leaped forward, flying horizontally for hundreds of feet before gently landing beside Lu Yun, closely following him.

  Upon arrival at the Tianfeng Cave, the people from Ruyu had already been waiting there. Since they were originally based in Tianfeng Cave, everyone was already waiting early on. As soon as they met, Ziyang Zhenren led Lu Yun and Yun Feng to pay their respects to Ruyu's leader, Haoyun Ju Shi, and Danqing Sword Knight Xu Canghai. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ziyang Zhenren spoke up: "This time, unexpectedly we've encountered another competition, it's really troublesome yet unavoidable."

  Hao Yunju smiled and said, "This is something that can't be avoided. No matter who we're with, we have to compete, right? So there's no need to feel any psychological burden. Regardless of the outcome, our relationship over the years won't change. Now, let's just watch together and see how their skills are. Let's treat it like a friendly spar between fellow disciples. Don't mind the result. Whoever wins will still have to face the next round of competition."

  Dan Qing Jian Xia Xu Cang Hai patted Zi Yang's shoulder, smiling and said: "What else can we say between us? We all saw Lu Yun's performance last time, I believe they will handle their relationship well. Alright, let's sit down together and let them begin." After finishing speaking, he announced the start of the competition.

  Yun Feng stood behind Zi Yang Zhen Ren, along with Ru Yuan's Gao Feng, Li Ming and another disciple, watching Lu Yun and Bi Tian in the arena. Everyone was anxiously watching the two, constantly guessing the final outcome. Suddenly, Li Ming spoke up, "Bi Tian, jiayou! Lu Yun, jiayou!" His words immediately caught Yun Feng's attention.

  Yun Feng patted him and asked, "Why are you cheering for both sides? It's strange, I don't understand." Li Ming smiled and said, "Bi Tian is the most outstanding disciple of our Confucian Academy, I'm cheering for him because I hope he can bring glory to our academy. As for Lu Yun, since he's a friend in my heart, I'm also cheering for him."

  Yun Feng smiled at him and patted his shoulder lightly, saying: "Good, you're indeed a friend of Lu Yun's. From now on, you'll be my friend too, Lin Yunfeng. Come on, let's cheer for the two of them together." After finishing speaking, he loudly cheered for the two people. This scene made Zi Yang Zhen Ren, Hao Yun Ju Shi and Dan Qing Jian Xia Xu Cang Hai smile and nod their heads.

  "In the arena, Lu Yun looked at Bi Tian and smiled: "Brother Bi Tian, remember what I said this afternoon. Regardless of winning or losing, we are friends. Let's begin now." As soon as he finished speaking, the Wishful Heart Soul Sword on his head automatically started spinning, its crimson light gradually intensifying."

  Bi Tian looked at Lu Yun and said in a low voice, "Next time I will go all out, I hope you are careful. Be aware." After finishing speaking, the sword on his back let out a sword hum and suddenly shot into the air. A dazzling red light appeared in the sky, spinning around in a circle before automatically stopping three feet above Bi Tian's head. This one move alone showed that Bi Tian was not to be underestimated.

  With a swift motion of his hands, a powerful aura burst forth like a mountain torrent, rapidly spreading in all directions. The mighty aura instantly formed a whirlwind, sweeping up everything on the ground and sending countless dust particles flying into the air, creating a gray mist. The rotating airflow whipped Lu Yun's clothes into a loud flutter, her long hair dancing wildly. That astonishing aura truly lived up to its reputation as the number one master of the Confucian school. Even Zi Yang Zhen Ren and Lin Yun Feng couldn't help but change their expressions slightly.

  Lu Yun's eyes were calm, and a faint blue aura slowly rose around his body, forcing the strong whirlwind back one meter, forming a true energy shield that tightly protected himself. Seeing Bi Tian was ready, Lu Yun's eyes flashed with a hint of divine light, and his body swayed, leaving behind a residual shadow in mid-air. In an instant, he shot towards Bi Tian along with the Ruyi Sword on top of his head. The speed was so fast that it seemed as if he wanted to chase back the fleeting time, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Bi Tian.

  Bi Tian's eyes turned cold, and he was slightly surprised in his heart. His body instantly transformed into three silhouettes, each dodging Lu Yun's sudden attack from a different direction. While airborne, Bi Tian grasped the sword on top of his head - Lian Huo Jian (Fiery Sword) - with his right hand and swung it 147 times in the blink of an eye. Instantly, 147 swords, accompanied by scorching heat, formed three sword auras in mid-air, enveloping Lu Yun within them.

  Lu Yun's body bent and twisted, his right hand swinging out 154 swords in an instant, directly meeting Bi Tian's attack. The sword light was dazzling, the countless sword strikes forming a beautiful melody in mid-air, drifting away with the wind. The figures merged and separated, two high-speed silhouettes clashing, surrounded by the same crimson glow, constantly colliding and counterattacking in mid-air. For a moment, the onlookers outside could only see two rotating balls of light, continuously emitting dazzling sword lights. Both beautiful and perilous.

  Ziyang Zhenren looked at Lu Yun, his hands clenched tightly, and his whole body appeared extremely tense. Although he had said nice things to Haoyun Ju Shi at first, when the competition arrived, his heart couldn't calm down no matter what. Similarly, the people of Ruyuanshan had equally heavy expressions on their faces at this time, everyone's tension in their hearts was the same, it's just that no one said anything. Yun Feng looked at the rapidly moving figures in the arena, her eyes full of concern and blessings. One hand grasped Li Ming's hand, and now both of their palms were covered with sweat.

  Suddenly, a soft shout came. Only to see Bi Tian's body suddenly appeared in the air five feet away from the ground, his right hand tightly grasping a long sword, his left hand making a sword gesture in front of his chest, and he shouted: "Take my move, Haoran Mountain River!" As soon as the words fell, Bi Tian's body suddenly burst out with a dazzling red glow, instantly enveloping him. Then, Bi Tian's body turned around, and he suddenly flipped over, head down and feet up, his long sword pointing at Lu Yun below, rotating rapidly downwards. From a distance, it looked like a red sword pillar suddenly falling from the sky, instantly enveloping Lu Yun in its powerful attack range. From the start to the attack, it was completed in just an instant, ten times more brilliant than Li Mingke's move that day, truly worthy of being the number one in Ruyu Garden.

  Lu Yun looked up at Bi Tian, feeling the air flow around him rapidly dissipating. He couldn't help but admire Bi Tian's cultivation. The Long Sword trembled, and the Intention Sword let out a dragon's wail that echoed across the land. Lu Yun's right foot tapped, his body suddenly spinning like a high-speed top, creating a powerful whirlwind. A brilliant red light burst forth, countless sword shadows forming a red fire dragon as Lu Yun spun, raging towards the sky.

  Up and down, two powerful auras with the momentum of opening mountains and splitting seas collided at a height of two zhang above the ground. Different natures, different directions of rotation, same crimson color, intersecting and colliding in mid-air, emitting countless dazzling lights, like shooting stars colliding, beautiful yet full of danger. The powerful air currents collided, and under the circumstances where neither side gave in, they suddenly exploded. That incredibly powerful sword aura, that dazzling sword light, like colorful flowing clouds, layer by layer, wave after wave, shot outwards, shattered, dissipated, and disappeared. All around, the air currents produced by the intense explosion instantly blasted a deep and bottomless pit into the ground.

  As they watched the powerful blow, the onlookers outside couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, each worrying for their own people and cheering them on. Zi Yang Zhen Ren's entire body was tense, his fists had turned white from exerting too much force, and the veins on his wrist were bulging with excitement. Yun Feng also gripped Li Ming's hand tightly, neither of them feeling any pain. The situation in Ru Yuan was similar, everyone's eyes were fixed intently on the fight, not daring to blink.

  Light and shadow shattered, figures scattered. Lu Yun's body fell three zhang away, his body swaying slightly, his face pale. As for Bi Tian's powerful cultivation, he finally understood it clearly from this intense battle. Across from him, Bi Tian landed with a few shakes of his body, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Lu Yun, seemingly unable to believe it.

  At this moment, the entire arena was silent, with everyone watching the two players intently, not a single sound was made. On the field, a suppressed atmosphere slowly rose, accompanied by a scorching airflow, like a heat wave, rushing towards all directions. Lu Yun's body had just stabilized, and another toe touched the ground, his body forming a 30-degree angle with the ground, as he swung his sword, bringing an ear-piercing whistle, and in the blink of an eye, it shot towards Bi Tian.

  Looking at Lu Yun's swift and fierce attack, Bi Tian's eyes changed. He stood firmly on the ground with his feet shoulder-width apart, and shouted: "Hao Ran Zheng Qi, Ren Zhe Wu Di! Receive my Hao Ran second style, Dan Xin Zhao Ri!" After finishing speaking, he swiftly swung his long sword, forming a red sword shield in front of him to block Lu Yun's attack. At the same time, Bi Tian instantly transformed into eight figures. Eight figures, eight long swords, converged from eight directions into eight red sword pillars. The eight sword pillars gathered in mid-air, forming a gigantic sword over ten feet tall, emitting dazzling red light and earth-shaking power, like an axe opening the sky, fiercely chopping towards Lu Yun.