A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

A clear, cold voice echoed in the training ground, and those eyes were fixed on Sikong Jue.

He showed not the slightest fear.

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone gasped, staring incredulously at the towering figure.

provocative!

This is blatant provocation!

Qin Wushuang dared to point his sword at Sikong Jue, the master of the Zhengyang Sect, in front of everyone!

Everyone in the audience held their breath.

On the high platform.

Sikong Jue's face was so gloomy it seemed to drip water, and the killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible.

"Qin Wushuang! How dare you be so insolent!!"

The oppressive aura of a Nascent Soul expert instantly enveloped the entire training ground.

"Your methods are so cruel!"

"A friendly spar is meant to end when the point is reached, yet you dared to use such a heavy hand, cutting off someone's path!"

"Today, I will make you pay with your life!"

Before he finished speaking, his oppressive aura suddenly erupted, completely enveloping Qin Wushuang!

"Sikong Jue!"

With a wave of his sleeve, Master Xuanming completely dispelled the overwhelming pressure.

"The rules of the competition are that life and death are preordained, and each shall accept their fate."

He snorted.

"Yesterday, Zhou Lang crippled my disciple Liu Yue's cultivation. Why don't you mention how ruthless he was?"

"What? You're allowed to harm people, but my Xuantian Sect isn't allowed to seek revenge?"

"What is the reasoning behind this?"

Sikong Jue's face was ashen. "Zhou Lang held back yesterday, otherwise Liu Yue would already be dead!"

"Hold your hands?"

Master Xuanming sneered, "Crippling someone by thirty percent of their cultivation, severing their path to enlightenment, and you call that holding back?"

"Qin Wushuang only crippled Zhou Lang today, but didn't take his life. Isn't that also showing mercy?"

"you--!"

Sikong Jue was furious, his spiritual power surged, and he showed signs of making a move.

"Senior Brother Sikong."

Yunxi spoke slowly, her voice calm.

"If we elders interfere in the sparring between disciples, what's the point of the competition?"

"You set the rules, are you going to lead the way in breaking them?"

"Well said!"

Master Qingyang also stepped forward with a smile, stroking his beard.

"Brother Sikong, if you're itching to have a match, we old folks can also join in and have a go."

"Perfect timing, I'd also like to experience the unique skills of your Zhengyang Sect."

"Let's see if your Blazing Sun Scripture is more powerful, or if my Azure Cloud Sect's Azure Cloud Sword Technique is superior."

Sikong Jue's expression changed.

He stared at Qin Wushuang, then looked at Xuanming Shangren, Yunxi, and Qingyang Zhenren.

After a long while, he took a deep breath and slowly sat down.

"Okay, very good, then we'll just wait and see."

Having said that, he waved his sleeve and ordered, "Men, carry Zhou Lang away and treat him!"

Several disciples of the Zhengyang Sect went up on stage and carried away the unconscious Zhou Lang.

With Liu Yue's help, Qin Wushuang also stepped off the stage.

"Senior sister, are you alright?"

Luo Jiyao stepped forward and helped her up with concern.

"It's alright."

Qin Wushuang shook her head; although her face was pale, her eyes remained resolute.

She looked at the Xuanming Master on the high platform and bowed slightly, "Master, your disciple has lived up to your expectations."

Master Xuanming nodded, unable to suppress the upward curve of his lips.

"Well done, now go and heal your wounds."

"Yes."

Supported by Liu Yue and Luo Jiyao, Qin Wushuang walked towards the Xuantian Sect's camp.

As she passed by Peach Blossom Temple, she paused slightly and looked at Luo Fan.

Their eyes met.

Luo Fan nodded to her, his eyes full of admiration.

Qin Wushuang was slightly taken aback, then nodded and turned to leave.

"Next match: Zhao Jingzhou of Peach Blossom Temple versus Chu Xuanqing of Zhengyang Sect!"

The elder's voice broke the solemn atmosphere.

Zhao Jingzhou slowly walked onto the stage.

The long sword in his hand pointed diagonally at the ground, its blade gleaming with a cold, clear light in the sunlight.

Chu Xuanqing also stepped onto the arena.

He was no longer empty-handed, but carrying a slender curved knife.

The blade was jet black, seemingly devouring the light.

The two stood facing each other, a murderous aura emanating from them, ready to erupt at any moment.

"Yesterday, Chi Ou seriously injured my junior brother. Today, I will also seek justice for my junior brother."

Zhao Jingzhou spoke first, a slight smile playing on his lips, "We can't be inferior to a mere woman, can we?"

These words were clearly directed at Qin Wushuang.

"He's all talk and no action, but not much skill."

Chu Xuanqing said lazily, "Very well, I haven't yet experienced the unique skills of Peach Blossom Temple, so I'll give it a try."

Despite saying that, his expression was full of disdain.

Zhao Jingzhou was only at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, far inferior to his strength.

This battle was a foregone conclusion.

"The competition begins!"

The elder finished speaking.

call out!

Zhao Jingzhou made the first move.

He and his sword transformed into a streak of light, aiming straight for Chu Xuanqing's throat.

Chu Xuanqing smiled disdainfully and slashed his curved blade diagonally.

clang!

Swords clashed.

Zhao Jingzhou's hand went numb, and he staggered back three steps.

Chu Xuanqing remained unmoved, coldly sneering, "What? Is that all you've got? Then take my blade!"

He took a step forward, and his curved blade transformed into a black streak, slashing towards Zhao Jingzhou.

Zhao Jingzhou stomped his feet on the ground and retreated rapidly to avoid it.

The sword light flashed, and countless peach blossoms appeared out of thin air before falling.

"Fancy and overly complicated."

Chu Xuanqing swept his curved blade horizontally, the blade light as black as ink, shattering all the peach blossoms.

The powerful energy rushed straight at Zhao Jingzhou.

He parried with his sword, staggered several steps after landing, and barely managed to regain his balance.

Chu Xuanqing gave him no chance to catch his breath and immediately pressed down on him.

"This one cut will send you to meet your great-grandmother!"

He raised his curved sword high, the blade gleaming with a dark light that transformed into a black crescent moon.

The audience members in the audience below the stage changed their expressions drastically.

Zhao Jingzhou couldn't withstand that blow!

Zhao Jingzhou took a breath, his eyes reflecting the image of a black moon slashing towards him.

He flipped his wrist, and the sword light blazed brightly, with a phantom image of a peach tree appearing in front of him.

boom!

The black crescent moon slashed at the peach tree, the phantom trembling violently before finally shattering with a deafening roar.

Zhao Jingzhou was sent flying backward, crashing onto the edge of the ring and remaining motionless.

They couldn't even sense any breath.

At this moment, Xie Nantian and the others' palms were sweating profusely.

Chu Xuanqing sheathed his sword and turned to leave the stage.

however.

Zhao Jingzhou's fingers twitched.

"Stop...stop!"

Zhao Jingzhou stood up tremblingly, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Trying to run away? Coward!"

He grinned and beckoned to the person opposite him with his finger.

Chu Xuanqing narrowed his eyes, a surge of rage rising to the top of his head.

"court death!"

The veins on the back of Chu Xuanqing's hand gripping the knife bulged, and his figure suddenly darted out.

A slash infused with violent energy descended from above.

hum!

The violent shockwaves rippled outwards in countless waves.

As the sound waves subsided, Chu Xuanqing's blade struck a barrier.

Click!

The protective barrier gradually blurred and cracked.

Zhao Jingzhou, who was in the middle of it, had his eyes closed and his aura seemed to be rising!

Snapped!

boom!

Foundation Building Level Nine!

Zhao Jingzhou's bones crackled and popped, and his dantian was filled with explosive energy.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze blazing with sharp light.

With a furious shout, the force of the shattered barrier forced Chu Xuanqing to retreat several steps.

"A breakthrough in the heat of battle?"

Chu Xuanqing raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, and then darted out again.

At that moment, Zhao Jingzhou also rushed towards him.

The two were moving at incredible speeds, so fast that many people present could not even catch a glimpse of their exchange.

All that could be heard were the continuous explosions in the air and the ripples of the aftershocks.

After hundreds of moves and a violent collision, the two stood in mid-air, looking at each other.

"I've seen the Zhengyang Sect's techniques; they're nothing special."

After a brief silence, Zhao Jingzhou spoke first, "What other skills do you have? Show them off!"

He pointed his long sword at Chu Xuanqing.

Chu Xuanqing's face was extremely grim. He took several deep breaths and gripped the knife tightly.

Being publicly challenged by a newly qualified opponent was an immense humiliation for him.

He raised the black curved sword in his hand, its blade gleaming with an eerie light.

"You have every reason to be proud that you forced me to use this move."

Every word he uttered was filled with chilling killing intent: "This blade is named Tiger's Roar and Mountain Collapse."

His aura surged dramatically, and the violent spiritual power caused the longsword to roar like a tiger!

The blade had not yet been drawn.

The sharpness that tore everything apart had already caused the protective light barrier at the edge of the arena to flicker uncertainly!

"I can kill you!"

The last word was uttered.

Chu Xuanqing merged with the sword light, transforming into a ferocious, roaring black tiger.

This strike was his limit, faintly touching the threshold of the Golden Core realm!

Gasps of surprise erupted from the audience, and the disciples of the Zhengyang Sect were filled with excitement.

Meanwhile, the people from Xuantian Sect and Peach Blossom Audience were on tenterhooks.

Faced with this terrifyingly powerful strike, Zhao Jingzhou remained calm and closed his eyes.

The longsword in his hand hummed softly.

The cold, sharp light on the sword suddenly became warm and gentle.

Immediately, a dazzling pinkish-white light burst forth from his body!

That was not a peach tree.

Instead, countless phantom images of peach trees swayed and appeared behind him.

In an instant, the entire arena was transformed into a dreamlike world of blooming peach blossoms.

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, yet it contained the ultimate intent of swordsmanship.

Zhao Jingzhou opened his eyes, his gaze reflecting the myriad students.

He stepped forward, charged ahead, and thrust out his sword.

There were no roars, no dazzling lights.

There is only one kind of overwhelming, vibrant yet subtly desolate atmosphere.

"With this sword, my name will be known throughout the world, and my students will be numerous."

Wherever the sword light touched, peach blossoms fluttered, each petal a condensed sword aura.

They seemed to descend lightly, yet each one met the roaring, black, gleaming tiger with its blades.

"I may also kill you!"

The words fell.

The tip of the sword struck the sharpest part of the blade!

boom--!!!

A deafening roar, ten times more violent than any previous collision, suddenly erupted!

The roar of the black tiger and the sight of peaches and plums flying everywhere collided, tore apart, and annihilated each other!

The blinding light caused many people to instinctively close their eyes.

The violent energy surge slammed into the arena's protective array, creating a large ripple effect.

In an instant, the formation wailed and almost shattered!

The stalemate lasted only a moment.

A figure flew through the explosion's epicenter, tracing an arc before crashing onto the ground outside the arena.

It slid backward for several more feet before finally coming to a stop.