Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

The Heavenly Sword was trapped in the Profound Yin Cage, where golden sword light and black mist intertwined, like two ferocious beasts locked in battle.

The Heavenly Sword charged left and right within the cage, its sword light constantly cutting through the mist, but the mist would close up again after being cut, and it couldn't break through no matter what it did.

Then the Heavenly Sword exploded.

Qin Tianjun had lost control of the Heavenly Sword. The Heavenly Sword self-destructed, and golden sword light scattered everywhere, blasting the Xuan Yin Prison open from the inside.

The two forces were annihilated simultaneously, and a ball of light exploded in the center of the arena.

However, the Mysterious Yin Ghost Hand has two deadly moves. The first, the Mysterious Yin Cage, is only what's visible on the surface.

The second path is the ghost hand itself.

The invisible power of Xuan Yin quietly took shape, passing through the energy storm of the Heavenly Sword's self-destruction without making a sound.

A ghostly hand, seemingly invisible, suddenly reached for Qin Tianjun's throat and stopped.

The ghostly hand gripped his throat, and Qin Tianjun could feel its chilling aura.

Qin Tianjun's spiritual power was completely exhausted, leaving him powerless to resist.

He stared at the Xuan Yin Ghost Hand before him and remained silent for a few moments.

"I lost."

Lin Zhao withdrew the ghost hand.

---

Lin Zhao won.

He stood still, his right hand hanging limply at his side, trembling slightly. He had less than 30% of his magical power remaining, and the spiritual liquid in the Thunder Pool was almost empty.

He had fought so many matches, and he had never encountered such a tough opponent.

But Lin Zhao won.

A cultivator from a small family defeated a peerless prodigy nurtured by a thousand-year-old Nascent Soul family. It wasn't that Qin Tianjun wasn't strong; it was that Lin Zhao was stronger.

Qin Tianjun fell from mid-air, swaying slightly upon landing and nearly losing his balance. He glanced at his wounds, then at Lin Zhao.

"You win this round."

Qin Tianjun spoke, his voice not loud but clear, "But I will win. After I reach the Core Formation stage, we will fight again."

Lin Zhao's lips curled up slightly; he was in a good mood today, it has to be said.

Qin Tianjun has always been a heavy burden on everyone.

Now, Lin Zhao has moved the mountain.

"Alright," Lin Zhao said, "Let's fight again after we reach the Core Formation stage."

The referee announced: "Lin Zhaosheng wins."

There was a moment of silence in the stands.

Then it exploded.

---

"Lin Zhao won? Qin Tianjun lost?"

"Isn't it unfair to win with four third-tier magic weapons against someone who doesn't have a single magic weapon?"

"Is his victory dishonorable? The magic weapons were obtained through his own fortuitous encounters. Wasn't Qin Tianjun's magic weapon also given to him by his family? If he didn't have those nine swords, he would have lost long ago!"

"The nine swords are his natal magical weapons, so why can't he use them?"

"This magic weapon is also Lin Zhao's natal magic weapon!"

"It's only natural for sword cultivators to use swords. What kind of sword cultivator would use other magical weapons?"

"Then tell Qin Tianjun not to use the Five Elements Spiritual Body. It's not something he was born with, so wouldn't that be considered cheating?"

"A loss is a loss, why say so much?"

They were arguing fiercely.

The two viewpoints were diametrically opposed, and neither could convince the other.

Some people think Lin Zhao won because she had more magical treasures, while others think that magical treasures are also a part of strength.

But one thing no one can deny is that this battle was the most exciting Foundation Establishment duel in the sect's history of a hundred years.

-----

In the distance, on the highest viewing platform of the Qinggang Hall.

Qingyuan Zhenjun withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

Beichen Zhenjun sat beside him without saying a word.

"That kid surnamed Lin," Qingyuan Zhenjun put down his teacup, "is rather interesting."

Beichen Zhenjun glanced in the direction of the arena: "It's Wuya's grand-disciple."

"I know." True Monarch Qingyuan stood up and stretched. "In the secret realm, have someone keep a close eye on his safety."

Beichen Zhenjun's brow twitched slightly, but he did not reply.

Qingyuan Zhenjun has already stepped out of the viewing platform.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, growing fainter and fainter.

-----

The battle between Lin Zhao and Qin Tianjun is considered a strong contender for the championship. The viewing platform is packed with people, and even the aisles are crowded with disciples.

Xu Chuan, Yan Chiheng, and Fang Yue all came.

After the competition, the four met on the stone steps outside the training ground.

"You two are monsters." Xu Chuan leaned against a stone pillar, arms crossed. "An ordinary Core Formation cultivator would have no chance of escaping if they faced you."

Lin Zhao pretended to think about it seriously for a moment and said, "Ordinary Core Formation cultivators really can't escape our grasp."

Yan Chiheng retorted directly, "Go to hell. You're really getting cocky just because I said you're fat."

"Let me tell you," Yan Chiheng pointed at Lin Zhao, "back in Cangyun Mountain, he liked to put on airs in front of me. I even..."

"What else?" Fang Yue asked.

"I was fooled by him," Yan Chiheng said reluctantly.

After a while of joking around, Lin Zhao stopped laughing and said seriously, "Qin Tianjun and I are not necessarily invincible. There are many hidden talents in the sect, and there may be people stronger than us."

Moreover, this competition was brought forward by forty years, which was too rushed and disrupted the cultivation plans of many prodigies. A significant portion of the Foundation Establishment prodigies did not return to participate.

He paused for a moment, then added, "For example, Senior Brother Wu Mingxuan, who is in charge of guarding Tianyun Market, is unable to participate due to his duty to guard the market."

Xu Chuan and the other two quieted down.

Lin Zhao said, "I sparred with Senior Brother Wu a few times back in Tianyun Market. At that time, my cultivation level was low, so I didn't feel anything. Looking back now, Senior Brother Wu definitely had the strength to compete for a top ten spot."

"And there's also Senior Brother Chu Fengge, the previous guardian," Lin Zhao continued. "Although he's well past the age for the Grand Competition, his strength in the Foundation Establishment stage is top-notch, and he has the ability to compete for first place."

He grasped the rudiments of the Nascent Soul Grand Divine Power during his Foundation Establishment stage, and has now formed a high-grade Golden Core, seeking the sect's true teachings.

He looked at Xu Chuan and the other two: "These two are no less powerful than you at the same level, and may even be stronger. They have already converted their potential into strength. When the three of you reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, it's hard to say whether you will have their strength."

Xu Chuan didn't reply. Yan Chiheng's playful smile vanished. Fang Yue lowered his head, lost in thought.

"Alright," Xu Chuan broke the silence. "Let's drink. You won today, it's your treat."

Lin Zhao did not refuse.

----

Lin Zhao returned to his cave dwelling, sat cross-legged on the futon, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into his sea of ​​consciousness.

Deep within the sea of ​​consciousness, a nine-story golden sword tower stood majestically. A warm golden light flowed across its body, and a single golden ray at its tip remained condensed, illuminating a small portion of the sea of ​​consciousness.

Next to the sword tower, a sword lotus has appeared.

Thirty-six zhang in size, it floated in the sea of ​​consciousness, like a silver-white sword mountain. Each piece was covered with intricate sword runes.

Those runes weren't engraved; they seemed to have formed naturally from the sword energy, recording every wisp of sword energy absorbed by this sword lotus.

The sword lotus slowly rotated, its silvery-white light intertwining with the golden light of the sword tower.

During the previous battle, Lin Zhao used his Heavenly State and his Core Formation level divine sense to forcibly record this sword lotus.

The reason Lin Zhao devoted herself to developing the Karmic Fire Sword Lotus a few years ago was because she saw its immense potential.

Absolutely not. They have a trump card up their sleeve to face Qin Tianjun in the future.