"Huo Qingming? What is he doing up there?"
Not far away, the Martial Hall Elder frowned slightly, saying, "Isn't this like bullying someone younger and weaker?"
He knew Huo Qingming's strength very well. In his view, Ye Qiubai stood absolutely no chance of winning against Huo Qingming now.
Lu Changsheng, however, looked completely carefree. After all, there were people nearby to step in and save him if things went wrong. Besides, who said Ye Qiubai was bound to lose? That was far from certain...
Huo Qingming looked at Ye Qiubai and said in a deep voice, "I originally had no intention of bullying someone younger, but I owe someone a favor. I hope you can understand."
Ye Qiubai was slightly taken aback. Someone wanted to harm him? "Who?"
Huo Qingming shook his head. "I can only tell you that after you defeat me. If you lose, knowing won't make any difference anyway."
After all, Ye Yan's demand was to cripple Ye Qiubai. Once crippled, Ye Qiubai would no longer have the capacity to seek revenge.
Hearing this, Ye Qiubai said no more. He gently raised the wooden sword in his hand, took a step forward, and charged at Huo Qingming with astonishing sword qi!
Huo Qingming stood his ground, thrusting both palms fiercely outward. A terrifying wave of air surged from his palms, compressing the space and sending wave after wave of sonic booms crashing toward Ye Qiubai!
Ye Qiubai dared not take him lightly, knowing the opponent was capable of slaying cultivators at the Peak Purple Palace. Instantly, dark demonic energy began to boil over the wooden sword! An oppressive aura that commanded all things to submit burst forth, spreading wildly in all directions!
"Oh? Is this the Nine-Sword Heavenly Demon? Truly extraordinary." Even Huo Qingming felt a hint of heavy pressure.
"The First Sword!"
The wooden sword in his hand slashed down fiercely! The black sword qi collided with those waves of pressure.
They separated the moment they clashed! The pressure dissipated, and Ye Qiubai was simultaneously sent flying backward.
"Not bad. To be able to protect your wooden sword from being destroyed under my punch." Looking at the wooden sword, which remained completely intact, Huo Qingming couldn't help but narrow his eyes. He asked himself if he could have achieved such a feat back when he was at the Peak Golden Core—the answer was no.
At this, even the people on the other high platforms turned their gazes toward this side.
"Oh? He actually managed to block one of Huo Qingming's punches? Not a bad kid."
"Well, even if I were the one taking that punch, it would be a bit rough. But isn't this fellow really bullying someone younger and weaker? Has he no shame?"
"There must be some grudge between them. Huo Qingming isn't the type to do this without reason."
Back on the arena, Ye Qiubai didn't linger in place for long. With a stomp of his foot, he sprang forward once more.
"The Second Sword."
This time, the demonic energy was even more intense!
Huo Qingming let out a cold snort. Stiding forward without dodging or evading, he crashed directly into Ye Qiubai. The momentum was terrifying!
Boom!
The wooden sword struck squarely against Huo Qingming's shoulder! Yet Huo Qingming's body was as sturdy and indestructible as if it had been forged a hundred times!
Even so, under the force of this strike, Huo Qingming was forced back five paces!
"The power of the second sword is many times greater than the first. If it were the third sword, even I would probably have to treat it with caution. But... you should only have comprehended up to the second sword, right?"
In such a short span of time, being able to master the second sword already made him a supreme prodigy. "However, this ends here."
With that, Huo Qingming's body suddenly began to expand, his skin turning the color of refined iron in that very instant. An extremely oppressive aura began to radiate from him, causing even the disciples below the platform to feel a sense of dread!
"Senior Brother Huo's physical body has undergone countless refinement sessions. Now, based on physical strength alone, he matches a Peak Purple Palace expert."
"If he has no other means, Ye Qiubai's journey stops here."
"Still, Ye Qiubai has enough to be proud of."
Watching this scene, Ye Yan grinned hideously. "Yes, just like that! Crush Ye Qiubai directly! That way, no one in the Ye Family will be left to compete with me!"
Clearly, no one held out any hope for Ye Qiubai.
On the other side, Ye Qiubai stood gripping his wooden sword. He felt no terror at his opponent's overwhelming aura; his expression remained calm as water.
Seeing this, Huo Qingming's face twisted with ferocity. "Still putting on a front..."
With that, his body charged wildly toward Ye Qiubai like a small mountain, making a truly terrifying spectacle!
Ye Qiubai remained completely unfazed. Wisps of demonic energy began to imbue the wooden sword, turning it pitch black.
At that moment, the Sword Hall Elder abruptly stood up, his face filled with disbelief.
Huo Qingming was also taken aback. Those wisps of tangible demonic energy posed a massive threat to him, causing his mind to tremble and even slowing his momentum!
Immediately afterward, a towering pillar of demonic energy soared into the sky!
Everyone on the surrounding high platforms changed expression, instinctively channeling their techniques to keep the demonic energy at bay! The disciples below weren't as fortunate; those closest to the high platform whose cultivation was lacking even dropped straight to their knees on the ground!
"The Third Sword."
Ye Qiubai uttered three soft words. He raised the wooden sword high, and the demonic energy soaring into the sky began to converge onto the blade. That ordinary wooden sword transformed into a heaven-shattering demonic sword in that instant!
Then, he slashed it casually toward Huo Qingming!
A massive black sword qi tore through space, hurtling toward Huo Qingming!
Huo Qingming's expression changed drastically. His charging momentum halted instantly. With a loud roar, he drove his feet hard into the ground, burying them straight into the stone! He crossed his arms in front of his chest, and layers of refined iron hue began to cover every part of his body.
The surrounding space began to compress! Clearly, this sword strike forced Huo Qingming to concentrate all his strength on defense!
Nearby, Qin Tiannan, the Martial Hall Elder, and the others had already tightened their nerves, ready to step in and save him at any moment. After all, life and death struggles were inevitable in sparring matches, and once high-level martial techniques were unleashed without proper control, casualties could occur! Both were elite disciples of the academy, and the elders could not afford to let anything happen to them.
Even Lu Changsheng, off to the side, put away his casual expression. His gaze narrowed slightly as he prepared to act at a moment's notice.
The black sword qi slammed heavily into the constantly compressing space in front of Huo Qingming! Yet it met no resistance whatsoever; it tore right through and continued slashing toward Huo Qingming!
Huo Qingming's face shifted. With a roar, a set of golden chains materialized around his arms!
A Mysterious-grade treasured artifact!
The sword qi arrived in a flash, striking the chains and producing a resounding, metallic crash!
Clank! Clank!
Yet, lasting only a split second, cracks began to spiderweb across the golden chains before they shattered completely!
Huo Qingming was stunned. Even a Mysterious-grade treasured artifact couldn't block it?
The sword qi met no further obstruction and slashed directly across Huo Qingming's arms!
Slash!
Blood instantly burst forth from his iron-hard physique!
At that very moment, the Martial Hall Elder appeared directly on the arena and flicked his sleeve, causing the black sword qi to instantly dissipate.
Ye Qiubai's face was also slightly pale. Clearly, executing the third sword of the Nine-Sword Heavenly Demon took a heavy toll on him. Looking at Huo Qingming, who was covered in blood, Ye Qiubai asked, "Can you talk now?"
Chapter 12: Ye Qiubai Descends the Mountain!
Ye Qiubai now possessed the strength. Since someone wanted to harm him, he would naturally root them out one by one.
Huo Qingming looked at Ye Qiubai with a complicated expression. He swallowed a medicinal pill to stabilize his injuries before finally speaking: "Ye Yan."
Hearing this, Ye Qiubai frowned slightly. In his memories, he had never harbored any deep grudges with this cousin of his. Even if there were some grievances, they certainly weren't life-and-death hatreds.
The only possibility was that Ye Yan saw his talent had recovered—and even surpassed what it used to be—and didn't want him to return! Something had happened to the family!
Following this, Ye Qiubai looked down into the crowd, but Ye Yan was nowhere to be seen. He must have already fled.
After that, Ye Qiubai faced no further obstacles. Hardly anyone dared to step onto his high platform to challenge him. After all, if even Huo Qingming could be defeated, going up there would just be asking for humiliation.
In the end, Ye Qiubai was selected to participate in the academy exchange with the other three domains a month later. At the same time, he received generous rewards: the Qingling Pill and the Breaking Palace Pill.
Both of these pills aided in rapid cultivation growth. The Breaking Palace Pill, in particular, helped cultivators break through from the Golden Core Realm to the Purple Palace Realm. Such pills were extremely precious in the outside world and could even spark fierce bidding wars.
However, Ye Qiubai found them somewhat lackluster. Compared to the pills bestowed by his Master, the quality of these two was far too inferior!
Grass Cottage.
Lu Changsheng was being lectured by a group of elders.
Martial Hall Elder: "I'm telling you, kid, you're clearly capable of teaching an outstanding disciple like Ye Qiubai. Why don't you take on a few more?"
Sword Hall Elder: "If you take on more disciples in the future, it'll also be a contribution to our academy."
Lu Changsheng wore a look of utter helplessness. While nodding along with the elders, he privately resolved that once he got back, he must teach that kid Qiuwai to keep a lower profile.
Qin Tiannan, standing nearby, knew Lu Changsheng all too well. Seeing his expression right now, he couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Respected elders, once I've figured out my own cultivation, I'll naturally take on disciples."
Outside the door, Ye Qiubai heard these words and was left thoroughly bewildered. In his mind, his Master's cultivation was undoubtedly boundless and unfathomable—someone who could casually produce the Primordial Sword Classic, refine such high-grade pills, and effortlessly create paintings brimming with the profound intent of the Dao of the Sword.
And yet, you're telling me this is called "not having figured out cultivation yet"?
"Oh? Qiuwai is here?"
"Then we'll be leaving first. Changsheng, remember what we told you!"
Before leaving, Qin Tiannan dropped off a storage ring. "The Crimson Wood Heavenly Gold is inside. I won't ask what you plan to do with it, but you'd better use it sparingly."
Once the elders had all departed, Lu Changsheng put away the storage ring, turned to Ye Qiubai, and asked, "What is it?"
Ye Qiubai explained the matter concerning Ye Yan, along with his own deductions.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng pondered for a moment. "So, you want to return to the Ye Family?"
Ye Qiubai nodded.
Lu Changsheng glanced at him and said, "You should know that if you show up there now, you might provoke those factions that want you dead."
Ye Qiubai naturally knew this. Especially since discovering his talent had recovered, those people would certainly want him eradicated as soon as possible. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that returning to Tianyuan City right now meant walking into a den of dragons and tigers.
However...
Ye Qiubai's gaze grew resolute. "He is, after all, my father. Besides, the path of the sword demands moving ever forward; when it's time to face things, I cannot back down."
If he retreated now, it might damage his Dao heart.
Lu Changsheng gave a slight nod, then waved his hand. "Very well, then go. But before you go, break through to the Purple Palace Realm first."
Ye Qiubai nodded. He had already touched the threshold of the Purple Palace Realm previously. Now, following the academy grand tournament, he had gained new insights and could break through at any moment!
With that, Ye Qiubai returned to his room, swallowed the Breaking Palace Pill, and prepared for his breakthrough.
Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng walked over to the cliffside and brought out a variety of materials.
The willow tree beside him saw this and couldn't help asking, "Are you setting up the Nine Serenities Yellow Springs Formation?"
Lu Changsheng nodded. "Though I'm still missing a wisp of Yellow Springs River water to serve as the formation spirit."
"How could that be difficult for you?" The willow tree's branches swayed gently in the breeze, and its ethereal voice drifted out. "Now that you have comprehended the Dao of the Sword, wouldn't it be simple to tear open space and borrow some from the Nine Serenities Underworld?"
Lu Changsheng trusted the willow tree's words implicitly. After all, this willow tree had existed since the creation of the universe—when chaos first cleared and the primordial realm first appeared. No one knew how long this willow tree had truly lived.
"Still, aren't you making a bit of a fuss over nothing by using the Nine Serenities Yellow Springs Formation to protect this place? You must know the Nine Serenities Yellow Springs Formation is one of the top ten killing arrays of antiquity, capable of executing all things in heaven and earth."
Lu Changsheng replied indifferently, "It's fine. I don't plan on wandering the world anyway. Besides, if that disciple of mine stirs up trouble in the future and drags his enemies back here, I can at least use this array to block them if I can't beat them."
The willow tree: "..."
Was there anyone left in this world who could beat *you*?
Immediately afterward, Lu Changsheng began setting up the formation. With a step, he flew into mid-air, flicked his wrist, and a flurry of formation flags shot out like shooting stars!
Countless dao principles were etched onto every single one of these flags! There were eighty-one such flags in total, which scattered to embed themselves across various peaks of the mountain!
Instantly, pillars of dao principle surged into the sky! Lu Changsheng swept his hand through the air, directly sealing off the surrounding aura.
At the same time, those various materials transformed directly into the foundation pillars of the array! Just this alone caused wisps of deathly qi to begin drifting through the air!
Even Ye Qiubai was startled. He stepped out of the thatched cottage, looked up at Lu Changsheng in mid-air, and his face filled with dread!
"What kind of formation is Master setting up... It hasn't even fully formed yet, and it already possesses such a world-destroying aura!"
Ye Qiubai thought to himself that even if those elders or Academy Dean Qin Tiannan came here personally, they wouldn't be able to resist this destructive might!
Now, only the formation spirit was missing for the Nine Serenities Yellow Springs Formation to be fully completed!
Lu Changsheng drew a sword and slashed fiercely into the empty air before him!
Instantly, a massive spatial tear ripped open in the void, from which wisps of Netherworld deathly qi continuously billowed forth.
Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng's figure flickered, and he swept straight into the spatial rift.
The rift closed.
Seeing this, Ye Qiubai turned and returned to his room.
The next day, a terrifying surge of energy erupted from within the room!
The Purple Palace Realm!
Afterward, leaving behind a letter, Ye Qiubai picked up his wooden sword and walked down the mountain.
Tianyuan City. Jiang Family.
A remarkably beautiful woman wore a chilling expression.
Beside her, a richly dressed man said, "Forget about it. Even if he joined Cangdao Academy, what use is it if his talent recovered? Come with me to the Sunset Dynasty, and when I ascend the throne one day, you will be my empress."
This woman was none other than Jiang Chan.
Seeing her nod slightly, she walked forward.
The man smiled, took Jiang Chan's hand, and boarded the vessel waiting behind them.
Shortly after, the colossal warship soared into the sky, departing from Tianyuan City...
Chapter 13: The Nine Serenities Underworld
Legend has it that upon death, every person's soul enters the Nine Serenities Underworld, washing away the memories of their past life in the waters of the Yellow Springs before entering the cycle of reincarnation.
Here, the sky was cast in a gloomy, ash-gray hue, and the surrounding air was turbid and thick enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Lu Changsheng looked around. Directly before him flowed a yellowish river, and spanning across the river was a bridge. At this moment, countless pale, ghostly figures were crossing the bridge...
Beyond the bridge stood a massive gateway, and inscribed upon it in huge characters were two words:
Underworld!
"Who dares trespass in my Nine Serenities Underworld!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted from the sky, its sound echoing through the entire spatial realm!
Lu Changsheng looked up toward the figures hovering in mid-air, each radiating an aura of utter deathly stillness.
"Who are you?" one of the figures demanded, his voice ringing out. "Why have you come to our Underworld?"
Normally, no living beings ever came to the Underworld; those who arrived were invariably souls who had perished in the mortal realm. Yet any living being capable of entering the Nine Serenities Underworld was undoubtedly a supreme expert.
Lu Changsheng spoke in a clear voice, "Nothing major. I just wanted to borrow some Yellow Springs River water from your esteemed realm."
The figures' expressions instantly shifted, and one of them shouted harshly, "The Yellow Springs River water is one of the supreme treasures of our Nine Serenities Underworld. How could we possibly lend it to you?"
Lu Changsheng looked somewhat helpless. It seemed fighting was still unavoidable. Only by displaying absolute strength could one earn the right to speak.
With a flick of his wooden sword and a solemn expression, a sharp intent of the sword naturally welled up from deep within him.
Seeing this, the group of figures turned grim, their bodies tightening as they braced themselves to weather Lu Changsheng's thunderous strike!
Then, they heard Lu Changsheng say solemnly, "Alright, come at me one by one."
The group of figures, who had just been about to charge all at once to seize the initiative, froze mid-stride, staring at Lu Changsheng with utter disbelief as if they were looking at a fool.
"You guys wouldn't want to gang up on me, right?" Lu Changsheng said with an expression of righteous indignation. "You're supposed to be the managers of the Nine Serenities Underworld! Is ganging up on someone something you people actually do? Truly lacking in martial ethics!"
The figures looked at one another, their already dark faces turning several shades blacker.
You're the motherfucker who came here to rob us of our supreme treasure! And you expect us to talk to you about martial ethics?! Are you treating us like complete idiots?!
"Stop wasting breath on him! Attack together, capture him alive, and throw him into the Nine Serenities Purgatory to suffer the torment of earthly fires!"
With that roar, several figures lunged straight toward Lu Changsheng! Every one of them brandished a treasured artifact, radiating waves of annihilation intent!
Seeing this, Lu Changsheng's expression tightened. He raised his wooden sword and slashed forward with a single strike!
Instantaneously, the void shattered, and the space of the Nine Serenities Underworld cracked apart like fragile glass!
The entire Nine Serenities Underworld trembled with wave after wave of thunderous echoes! The otherwise calm Yellow Springs River instantly began to churn and boil as if heated over a fire!
The expressions of the several figures changed drastically on the spot!
"Dao principles!"
"The Dao of the Sword! How could anyone in this realm comprehend dao principles?!"
"Quick, use blood to sacrifice to the artifacts!"
Hearing this, the figures frantically hammered their own chests, coughing up great mouthfuls of vital essence blood!
That essential blood cascaded directly onto an ancient, heavy gate. Etched across the front of the gate was the head of a fierce ghost, its jaws split wide to reveal a maw full of jagged fangs!
"The Rakshasa Gate!"
As the words fell, the gate swelled in size, transforming into a colossal monolith that blotted out the sky!
It slammed downward, blocking right in front of that terrifying streak of sword qi!
Boom!
That space-shattering sword strike struck the Rakshasa Gate head-on!
The shockwave from the collision swept across the entire Nine Serenities Yellow Springs! The bridge spanning the Yellow Springs River began to fracture!