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The next moment, Bai Qi lunged forward with his spear, moving at an incredible speed, transforming into multiple illusory shadows that pressed towards Luo Jianqing. From the very beginning, he held nothing back and launched full-force attacks. The speed of his spear was too fast for anyone to see clearly. Only Zuo Yunmo and Wei Qiongyin among the disciples of Taihua Mountain could perceive some of the techniques, while those on the spectator stands could only witness the fierce spear strikes.

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The onslaught of spear shadows descended upon Luo Jianqing, sealing off every escape route. Every move was ruthless, aiming directly at vital points, yet no one intervened because in a duel, one must give their all, and the elders would naturally interrupt the battle at the critical moment to save the heavily wounded.

Luo Jianqing lightly stepped on his tiptoes, evading left and right. His dodging speed was not fast, as if he was taking a leisurely stroll. Amidst the dense array of spear shadows, only he appeared calm and composed, astonishing everyone.

An elder from a smaller sect exclaimed, “Luo Jianqing is truly formidable. He has actually cultivated Taihua Mountain’s ‘Drifting Steps’ to such a level. I’m afraid he has already reached the second stage. Marvelous! Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!”

“Yes! Judging by his performance, he is likely not far from attaining the third stage of mastery!”

Bai Qi continuously thrust his spear towards Luo Jianqing, but the latter effortlessly evaded with a light and ethereal manner. After a while, Bai Qi sensed something amiss. He directly slapped his palm on the long spear, manipulated hand seals, and silently chanted an incantation. Suddenly, a white jade-like hue appeared on the surface of the spear, transforming the entire black iron shaft into dazzling white jade, radiating a brilliant color.

Someone exclaimed, “What happened to the spear?”

A disciple from the Bai family by the side proudly said, “This is our Bai family’s ‘Seven Spears of White,’ and the Seventh Young Master has already mastered the third spear, ‘White Snow Brushes Plum Blossoms!'”

Everyone marveled in unison.

On the dueling platform, the white jade long spear spun incessantly, stirring up a whirlwind that lifted Luo Jianqing’s robes. Gradually, pale-colored petals began to float down from the air, as silent plum blossoms descended, covered by the swirling white snow, leaving nothing but boundless whiteness between heaven and earth.

Boom!

A spear was unleashed, the Snow Plum Piercer!

Accompanied by the stunning spear strike, the white snow and plum blossoms surged towards Luo Jianqing, their momentum astonishing. Unexpectedly, Luo Jianqing remained motionless, merely smiling as he watched the spear approaching him. It was only when the spear was about to reach him that he suddenly raised his hand, fingers together, gently waving it.

A streak of green sword light collided with the white jade long spear.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With just one clash, the countless white snow and plum blossoms vanished into nothingness. The white jade long spear was sent flying, directly embedding itself in the dueling platform and falling at Bai Qi’s feet. The luster of the white jade on the spear vanished completely, leaving the black iron dull and lifeless. Bai Qi, on the other hand, coughed up a mouthful of blood, stumbling and nearly falling.

Luo Jianqing propelled himself into the air and in the blink of an eye, arrived beside Bai Qi.

At this moment, Bai Qi, who had just spat blood, had yet to react fully. A green sword aura pressed against his neck. He trembled all over, stiffly lifting his head. He saw Luo Jianqing standing next to him, with a faint curve on his thin lips, his ink-like eyebrows slightly raised. Luo Jianqing smiled and asked, “Friend Bai, do you still wish to continue the fight?”

The entire arena fell into silence.

In the next moment, a sudden eruption!

“It hasn’t even been the time to burn an incense stick! Not even the time to burn an incense stick! Senior Luo only unleashed one sword light and made this Bai Qi vomit blood. This is simply outrageous!”

“He didn’t even draw his sword!”

“What? He didn’t even draw his sword! Does that mean, although they are both in the early Nascent Soul stage, Senior Luo can completely overpower Bai Qi?”

Hearing such discussions, Bai Qi was filled with embarrassment, his body trembling uncontrollably. He gritted his teeth and said, “I don’t admit defeat!”

Luo Jianqing lightly uttered, “Oh,” which Bai Qi thought was meant to persuade him to admit defeat. But to his surprise, Luo Jianqing whispered, “Then let’s fight until you admit defeat.”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Luo Jianqing kicked Bai Qi in the stomach, sending him flying. Before Bai Qi could land, Luo Jianqing’s figure appeared by his side once again, delivering another ruthless kick.

The white-haired elders from the Bai family stood up angrily in the spectator stands, shouting, “You brat, you’ve gone too far!”

However, before the elder could finish speaking, Luo Jianqing directly kicked Bai Qi in the face, sending him flying out of the dueling platform. Bai Qi had already fainted, and the Bai family members quickly carried him away. Luo Jianqing turned to the bewildered referee and smiled, saying, “Elder, would you please announce the result?”

The elder instantly woke up, “R-right! The winner of this duel is Luo Jian…”

“Absurd! You brat, since you’ve already won, why are you humiliating the legitimate successor of my Bai family on the dueling platform? I ordered you to stop, yet you dared to continue. Does Taihua Mountain think my Bai family is an easy target? Huh?!”

Indeed, the Bai family possessed formidable strength. The elder they sent to observe the match was a powerhouse in the Tribulation Crossing stage. In the past, they would only send elders in the Unity stage to observe the duels. This time, who knew if the Four Great Sects and Eight Great Clans conspired to cause trouble, as they all sent elders in the Tribulation Crossing stage, with the Soul Breaking  Sect even dispatching an elder in the Mahayana stage!

After the Bai family elder spoke, Venerable Yu Qingzi sneered and said, “Does Bai family think that we at Taihua Mountain have no one?”

The Bai family elder said, “Yu Qingzi, you’ve seen it too. Your Taihua Mountain disciple, after winning, continued to oppress and injure our Bai family’s Seventh Young Master! Please give my Bai family an explanation for this matter.”

Venerable Yu Qingzi slammed the table and said, “Explanation? We fought against the shameless challenger Bai Qi!”

The Bai family elder said, “Yu Qingzi, you…!”

Encountering powerhouses of the Tribulation Crossing stage and above was rare, and now there were over a dozen of them appearing at once. Two Venerables in the Tribulation Crossing stage even started arguing. The young disciples in the spectator stands were excitedly watching. Luo Jianqing sighed helplessly, smiled, and saluted, saying, “Senior Yu Qingzi, it seems you have forgotten something. I haven’t achieved victory yet.”

Venerable Yu Qingzi was taken aback, “Didn’t you just knock Bai Qi off the dueling platform?”

Luo Jianqing explained, “I meant that before I knocked him off the platform, I hadn’t achieved victory.”

The Bai family elder angrily said, “Nonsense! Everyone saw that you repelled Bai Qi’s ‘White Snow Brushing Plum Spear.’ What else is there to say!”

Luo Jianqing was astonished and said, “But Senior, Bai Qi himself said that he doesn’t admit defeat!”

The crowd fell into silence, and after a while, someone whispered, “Yeah, didn’t that Bai family Seventh Young Master indeed say he doesn’t admit defeat?”

“Oh, my! Senior Luo was so amazing just now that I didn’t even notice what Bai Qi said… Oh? Bai Qi? Why does that name sound familiar?”

“He’s an idiot! Hahaha!”

The Bai family elder stood there with his mouth wide open, unable to utter a word.

Venerable Yu Qingzi burst into laughter, and Venerable Guang Lingzi next to him laughed even louder. Among the three peak masters from Taihua Mountain present this time, besides these two, Venerable Hao Xingzi, the head peak master, touched his beard and appeared otherworldly, paying no attention to worldly matters. But the admiration in his eyes as he looked at Luo Jianqing was evident.

Luo Jianqing didn’t boast either. He bowed, smiled faintly, and said, “If that’s the case, then this disciple will withdraw for now.”

“Wait!”

On the spectator stands, a robust man suddenly stood up. His gaze was sharp and piercing, focused on Luo Jianqing. The smile on Luo Jianqing’s lips gradually faded as the two locked eyes for a long time. The man cupped his hands and said, “I am Yun Rong from the Yun family, ranked first. I’ve heard that Senior Luo took good care of my younger sister in the Flowing Flame Valley. Today, I would like to learn from Senior Luo’s brilliant techniques!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Rong swiftly flew onto the dueling platform. He landed gracefully without making a sound, and his hawk-like gaze remained fixed on Luo Jianqing, causing the latter to become increasingly vigilant.

Before the battle in the Flowing Flame Valley, the most outstanding individuals among the younger generation of Xuantian Continent were four people.

Yan Su, the Yan family’s direct disciple of the Soul Sect, the Buddhist disciple Yuan Chen from the Yuan Sect, Bai Ji, the Fourth Young Master of the Bai family, and Yun Rong, the eldest son of the Yun family.

These four individuals were all over twenty years older than Luo Jianqing and had cultivated for more than twenty years longer. With this twenty-year gap, although everyone knew that Luo Jianqing had the only exceptional aptitude in the world, they still believed that Luo Jianqing was inferior to the four of them. They were the top powerhouses of the younger generation in the Xuantian Continent, known as the “Four Heroes of Xuantian.”

It was only after the battle in the Flowing Flame Valley, where Luo Jianqing fought against the three opponents, including Yan Su, and the emergence of Mo Qiu, the descendant of the Mo family’s criminal, that they became legends following the Flowing Flame Valley. When it was rumored that they might have died in the valley, many cultivators were deeply regretful. But now that they emerged unscathed, it added a touch of mystery to their legendary story.

Yun Rong is not Bai Qi. He had already reached the Nascent Soul stage eight years ago and is not the weakest among the “Four Heroes of Xuantian.” It is said that Bai Qi had also fought against Yun Rong and lost without even drawing his spear.

Yun Rong stood on the dueling platform and cupped his hands, saying, “Please be careful, Senior Luo.”

Luo Jianqing smiled faintly and nodded, saying, “Please!”

Boom!

Just as Luo Jianqing finished speaking, he witnessed the world before him shattering with a thunderous sound. The disciples in the spectator stands disappeared, the elders in front of Lingyun Hall vanished, and the majestic Taihua Mountain crumbled abruptly. The sky turned blood-red, with dark clouds gathering and silver lightning snakes surging within the dense leaden clouds.

Luo Jianqing suddenly felt intense pain coursing through his body. It felt as if his left hand had been immersed in molten lava, devoid of spiritual power, with meridians severed and blood staining his vision. Even his breath carried a strong scent of blood. His body trembled uncontrollably as Luo Jianqing realized… his cultivation had suddenly regressed to the later stage of the Golden Core realm.

The howling wind swept past his ears, and Luo Jianqing dared not lift his head. However, a loud voice resounded, “Senior Brother, you have killed countless people. Senior Brother Luo, today I shall address you as Senior Brother for the last time. You have fallen into the demonic path and harmed Second Senior Brother and Sixth Senior Brother. It can be said that you have defied the heavens and acted recklessly. If you are willing to end your life on this Cliff today, then for the sake of our past brotherly relationship, I can plead with the fellow cultivators to spare you a complete corpse.”

Luo Jianqing slowly raised his head and suddenly saw a group of people.

Hundreds of cultivators surrounded him, each brandishing their own treasures, glaring at him with anger. The one leading them wore the white Daoist robe of Taihua Mountain, with the jade token of Yuxiao Peak hanging from his waist. He appeared sorrowful and resolute, holding… a sword.

That sword was sharp and formidable, causing the heavens and earth to tremble even before it was unsheathed.

Luo Jianqing stared blankly at the sword, remaining speechless for a long time.

Li Xiuchen continued, “Luo Jianqing, are you still stubbornly ignorant?”

Luo Jianqing shifted his gaze upward and looked at him.

This once handsome and refined face was now stained with blood, but his slender phoenix eyes still revealed glimpses of his former elegance. Luo Jianqing’s blood-soaked cyan robe fluttered in the wind, behind him was the Cliff of Broken Affection that stretched for thousands of zhang, and before him were the righteous cultivators who had chased him for ten days and nights. He looked at them in confusion, his lips trembled, but his throat felt as if a heavy boulder blocked it, preventing him from speaking.

Li Xiuchen narrowed his eyes and suddenly drew the sword.

As the sword was unsheathed, the wind ceased, and sword radiance filled the air with a terrifying aura.

Li Xiuchen pointed the sword at Luo Jianqing and said in a stern voice, “Since that’s the case, Luo Jianqing, don’t blame me for being heartless. If you still have a shred of humanity left, you should end your own life, without tarnishing this Xuanling Sword bestowed to me by our master!”

“Why… is it this sword?” a hoarse and unpleasant voice resounded from Luo Jianqing’s throat.

Li Xiuchen replied, “Our master was worried that I couldn’t control you, so he granted me this sword!”

Luo Jianqing felt as if he had been thrown into eternal ice. His heart gradually froze, and each breath felt like inhaling blood. His vision turned blood-red, and the boundless despair in his heart transformed into endless darkness, leaving only a glimmer of light.

With a hoarse voice, he said firmly, “He wants you… to kill me!”

Li Xiuchen suddenly hesitated for a moment before saying, “Our master once said, seeing a sword is like seeing a person. After you end your own life, I will naturally bring your corpse back to our master, letting him know that you have taken your own life and no longer bring shame to the reputation of our Yu Xiao Peak of Mount Taihua!”

“Li Xiuchen!”

“Crack—” The last glimmer of light vanished in an instant. Luo Jianqing, in despair, uttered his final words. The Zuiyin Sword in his hand had already broken into two pieces. Holding onto the remaining broken sword, Luo Jianqing madly rushed toward Li Xiuchen. His body was on the verge of death, but all the physical pain was nothing compared to the wounds in his heart!

There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart!

Forty years of master-disciple bond, forty years of living together day and night!

He had kept that person hidden in his heart. He had become the best disciple of Mount Taihua, adhering to the etiquette for that person! He was never himself; he was only the eldest senior brother of all the junior brothers and sisters of Mount Taihua, a perfect disciple of Mount Taihua, a disciple of the esteemed Xuan Lingzi, he was…

No! He was no longer that person’s disciple.

And now, that person wanted to kill him.

The agony in his heart overflowed, swallowing Luo Jianqing entirely. His heart had shattered into countless pieces, oozing fresh blood. His last thought of survival, his only hope for over forty years, was to become that person’s disciple, to be able to catch his attention with unwavering etiquette. But what had he received now?

With a broken heart, he was willing to die!

When Luo Jianqing rushed in front of Li Xiuchen, he suddenly threw the Zuiyin Sword from his hand.

The Zuiyin Sword emitted a desperate sword hum, but Luo Jianqing no longer wanted to wield it.

Chasing the sound, he had been chasing for so many years, but he was tired. He was tired to the point where he couldn’t lift his fingers, tired to the point where he couldn’t speak, tired to the point where he couldn’t chase anymore. What was the point of chasing the sound? Since he could never catch up, since he was destined to be abandoned by this person, what use did it have?

The spirit of the Xuanling Sword showed no hesitation and, under Li Xiuchen’s guidance, suddenly stabbed towards Luo Jianqing’s chest.

Luo Jianqing made no resistance. He smiled faintly, curling up his lips, and slowly closed his eyes. The sword met his skin, cold and merciless, sending chills throughout Luo Jianqing’s body. Various images flashed before his eyes—him falling asleep in that person’s embrace as a child, being sternly taught by that person as he grew up, that person gradually distancing himself from him, and him hiding in his own bamboo hut, watching that person meticulously instruct Li Xiuchen.

The sword slowly pierced in.

The sound of flesh being torn apart resounded loudly in that moment.

“Do not bring shame to our YuXiao Peak.”

“You are the eldest senior brother of Mount Taihua. If you don’t cultivate diligently, what qualifications do you have to lead your junior brothers and sisters?”

“You’re so proud of these achievements? Jianqing, you’ve truly disappointed your master.”

…

“…Jianqing, take care.”

The last sentence was spoken in a soft, gentle tone, as if suppressing intense emotions, and it directly reached Luo Jianqing’s ears.

Luo Jianqing suddenly opened his eyes, with the Xuanling Sword already half an inch deep in his chest. Li Xiuchen’s face contorted like a demon as he saw Luo Jianqing waking up. He lunged at Luo Jianqing with his five claws raised, but a flash of blue light appeared between Luo Jianqing’s eyebrows, and a four-petaled lotus slowly emerged.

In the next moment, the complete and intact Shuang Fu Sword appeared in Luo Jianqing’s hand.

“This is my inner demon, but things have changed in this life! Shatter for me!”

The sword radiated a brilliant light, and an elegant lotus suddenly bloomed, imbued with powerful spiritual energy, thrusting towards Li Xiuchen. Li Xiuchen let out a miserable scream, turning into nothingness, and the desolate cliff of broken emotions disappeared completely at that moment.

When Luo Jianqing opened his eyes again, he was back on the dueling platform. Before him, Yun Rong coughed up blood, his face as pale as paper, stumbling backward. No one could believe that this seemingly rough and robust man was actually a genius illusionist!

Although Yun Rong had trained in the Yun family’s swordsmanship, his spiritual power was naturally immense. The reason why Bai Qi was defeated by Yun Rong without even drawing his spear was that from the beginning of the duel, Bai Qi had fallen into Yun Rong’s illusion.

Yun Rong’s body trembled slightly as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Hoarsely, he said, “You were clearly trapped in my illusion, why…”

There was also a trace of blood on Luo Jianqing’s chest. Although the sword that pierced his heart was only an illusion, as long as Luo Jianqing believed it, it could manifest in reality. This was Yun Rong’s unique skill, the “Four Illusory Shadow Kill.”

Luo Jianqing wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Yun Rong solemnly. He said, “Because, some things have truly changed.”

This time, Luo Jianqing flipped his hand and took out the Shuang Fu Sword, gazing at his opponent with a serious expression. He let out a sigh and said, “Thank you for showing me something buried deep in my heart and strengthening my Dao heart. You are a respected opponent, and it is only right for me to draw my sword and defeat you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a breathtaking sword strike suddenly swung towards Yun Rong. Sword shadows formed a lotus in the air, appearing gentle and enchanting but hiding a terrifying killing intent. Yun Rong immediately drew his own sword to defend, using the Yun family’s “Heaven Phoenix Divine Jade Kill,” but he still coughed up blood and was sent flying off the dueling platform.

On the dueling platform, Luo Jianqing stood proudly, his figure slender and elegant, silently standing there, causing everyone to hold their breath.

He lightly swung his sword, leaving a profound sword mark on the solid dueling platform. Luo Jianqing raised his gaze, squinting his eyes, and his voice condensed into a line, entering the ears of everyone present: “Luo Jianqing, the first disciple of Mount Taihua, is here. Who dares to fight me?”