You promised yourself to be a caged bird, but you became the supreme young master?

"What?" Lu Boyong was extremely ordinary-looking, with a tall and straight figure but no outstanding appearance.

His square face lacked any handsome features, but his eyes held a deep and resilient strength, and his whole being exuded an unassuming composure, making it clear at a glance that he was a person of firm character.

But then he spoke in astonishment.

For a moment, Lu Boyong, who had initially thought he had the victory in his grasp and was now completely bewildered by Feilong's sudden defeat, also began to lose his composure.

Are you kidding me?!

He had naturally gathered information about Lu Heng before challenging him.

He clearly knew the other party, but it took him a full twenty-six days to complete the Foundation Establishment stage, and he was merely a lucky person with below-average talent.

Aside from displaying remarkable combat talent in the training ground ten days ago, and for some reason becoming friends with Lu Jinnian, a young man who was considered one of the top students in their group, and being used as a shield by the young lady Lu Qingyan with a random excuse, there was nothing special about him.

If that were all, even if he were slightly inferior in combat techniques, he would have almost no chance of defeat due to his absolute superiority in cultivation.

Entry-level combat techniques do indeed give cultivators the possibility of fighting against opponents of higher levels.

But you should know that he also possesses beginner-level "Basic Swordsmanship"!

But now the opponent I chose to challenge actually said that his cultivation level has also reached the third level of Body Refinement. What the hell?

If he were to challenge someone in public and ultimately lose, he would likely never be able to hold his head high in the outer courtyard again.

"Luckily I was cautious..." Lu Boyong originally thought he was overthinking things. A 98% win rate was just giving God face. How could he possibly lose?

But in the end, he chose to play it safe and prepare an extra backup plan.

He had initially worried that it would be despicable and that he would likely not use his preparations when the real challenge came, but now he couldn't care less about that.

Losing is more shameful than being despicable!

"Swish!" Lu Boyong drew his sword. Still a young man, he blushed slightly, but still spoke.

"The sword is named 'Flowing Water,' a low-grade spiritual weapon."

The advantage of weapons is crucial in battle; at critical moments, it can even determine victory or defeat.

However, in the challenge from the outer court, taking out a low-grade spiritual weapon is simply bullying.

The reason is simple: a low-grade spiritual weapon costs at least ten spirit coins.

Without the help of elders, the boy from the outer courtyard would have no chance of affording it.

The victory is assured, Lu Boyong thought confidently.

In layman's terms, it means "You will win!"

………………

"Isn't that a bit unreasonable?"

Lu Qingyan looked at the young men from the outer courtyard families with dissatisfaction.

As a young lady from an outstanding background, even though she was a member of a branch family, the young men from the main family who stayed in the outer courtyard still had to give her face.

Or, to put it another way, when faced with a beautiful girl whose status is actually no lower than his own, a normal boy would involuntarily be more tolerant.

"Qingyan, artifacts are also a part of strength, they shouldn't be so unreasonable..."

"You can't forbid people from using their own weapons, can you?"

One of the young men from the outer courtyard family spoke up.

"Even if we win, it's an unfair victory."

Lu Qingyan shook her head and said with a cold expression.

However, she had made up her mind that if Lu Heng lost due to the difference in spiritual weapons...

She immediately lent out a mid-grade spiritual weapon and asked the two to compete again.

She has the ability and the qualifications!

After Lu Qingyan stated her position, the other young men from the main family beside her, except for the one who spoke first, all echoed her.

Although they were all young men from the main family, it was clear from their very first arrival at the outer courtyard that they were not important figures in the main family.

Young masters of truly high status usually go directly into the inner courtyard for cultivation.

Even the worst member of the main family has an elder who is a cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm, but compared to the second steward who is at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm and holds real power.

It's still not quite enough.

For them, marrying Lu Qingyan would be like gaining a great asset in the future.

Even if Lu Qingyan is a member of a branch family, the elders of the main family's youths will only tacitly approve.

………………

Amidst the lively discussion among the audience...

Lu Heng looked directly at the confident Lu Boyong in front of him, but felt somewhat bored.

Is a low-grade spiritual weapon all that gives them their confidence?!

He had originally expected the other party to be able to show him something he had never seen before, such as a body-refining level secret technique he had read in a book.

Now that I think about it carefully, how could a young boy from a branch family in the outer courtyard possibly be qualified to learn secret techniques?

Even if the other person's parents are unlikely to be qualified, let alone him!

He's completely overthinking it!

Under normal circumstances, a low-grade spiritual weapon is indeed sufficient as a trump card in such situations.

Lu Heng casually drew his sword and spoke indifferently.

"The sword is named Azure Sky, but it is an ordinary weapon."

In the myths and legends of this world, enlightened practitioners are able to travel to and from the azure sky.

In his previous life, this was the most direct and desirable ability.

"Let's begin." Standing between the two, the middle-aged man with blue eyes, who was responsible for determining the outcome at crucial moments, spoke lazily.

The so-called martial arts practice has not yet reached the point of a life-or-death duel.

If we choose to replace the selection process with a life-or-death duel at this stage, it would be tantamount to abandoning the vast majority of people and raising a Gu king through breeding.

With the spiritual sense of a cultivator in the Qi Refining Secret Realm, even with their eyes closed, it's impossible for the two of them to get into trouble right before their eyes.

The moment the martial arts competition began, Lu Boyong suddenly sprang up from the spot, his figure transforming into a blur, wielding the low-grade spiritual weapon Flowing Water Sword and slashing towards Lu Heng with the intent of a life-or-death struggle.

uninteresting.

Lu Boyong, the middle-aged man with blue eyes who was watching from the sidelines, chuckled. In his eyes, the two, who were of similar strength, would likely be locked in a stalemate for a long time.

In the Body Refining Secret Realm, it's not so easy to determine a winner among cultivators who have mastered the "Basic Sword Techniques".

Compared to the battles where ordinary people score points with a single move, these are battles that can determine life and death.

Cultivators, even those in the Body Refinement Secret Realm, are many times more tenacious in terms of vitality!

Unless the difference in strength is so small that it's enough to crush the opponent, there's almost no possibility of a quick victory.

And one thing that is not wrong is...

Compared to Lu Qingyan and several young masters from the outer courtyard, the middle-aged man with blue eyes, who had reached the Qi Refining Secret Realm, thought the two were evenly matched!

In other words, even with a low-grade spiritual weapon, Lu Boyong would still not be able to surpass Lu Heng in strength.

Without that, he would most likely be completely crushed.

Even an advanced beginner's course in "Basic Sword Techniques" is this extraordinary!

That's why Lu Heng was able to earn his respect before.

But what happened in an instant made the middle-aged man with blue eyes widen his eyes in shock.