Chapter 27: Change of Circumstances

Someone's getting on the stage again so soon.

I thought everyone else would hesitate after hearing that擂台's honey-coated speech.

'Is it her?'

Li Fengping on the judging panel quickly recognized Zhang Yunlu—the Qi Condensation cultivator who had stirred his sword intent—because he'd followed her and gotten beaten senseless.

Last time he saw her, she was only at Qi Condensation Level 8; now she's already Level 9, and her spiritual energy isn't weak even among Qi Condensation Level 9 cultivators!

Her progress is astonishing.

"Nephew, do you know this student?" asked the principal beside him.

As one of the top Spirit Transformation cultivators, even with bandages wrapped around his head, Li Fengping sensed something unusual.

"We've met once."

"If you take notice of her, she must be a promising talent."

Huh? I didn't say anything.

They saw Zhang Yunlu walk step by step into the courtyard, pass through the outer stages, and arrive beside the largest stage under everyone's gaze.

Wow! So confident? She's choosing the biggest stage outright!

"Zhang Yunlu, I humbly ask for your guidance, fellow students!" Zhang Yunlu held her sword in her left hand, expression calm.

If she'd felt a hint of nervousness before stepping onto the stage, now, standing upon it, her heart was utterly serene.

Fang Chi's face darkened.

The previous two had announced their classes, but Zhang Yunlu only named herself—this was clearly aimed at him.

But fine, better this way—no need for that honey-coated擂台 to give him some humiliating evaluation and make him lose face.

He turned to look at Fang Lin, who was staring at Zhang Yunlu on the stage.

'Should I go up now?' he hesitated inwardly.

Everyone only gets two chances, so choice matters—though most students here were beneath his notice, a few were ones he had to tread carefully around.

While he hesitated, someone had already stepped forward.

Pale gray eyes glimmered with spiritual light, his spiritual energy so full it nearly overflowed—the same boy who had discussed "Cang Jiezi" in the classroom.

He strode swiftly past stage after stage, his target unmistakably Zhang Yunlu! Good—let's see what they're capable of.

At this point, Fang Lin no longer cared about Fang Chi's earlier instructions—who knew Zhang Yunlu would climb the biggest stage so fast? Ranking is more important.

"Class Three, Hou Xiang, humbly request your guidance, Miss Zhang."

Hou Xiang also held a longsword, blade bright and gleaming with cold light, yet still just an ordinary sword.

The two stood facing each other, each gripping a longsword.

Zhang Yunlu leaned forward slightly, then in the next instant, shot straight toward her opponent, a thin layer of spiritual light spreading over her blade as she charged.

Hou Xiang swiftly retreated, channeling spiritual energy to form a hand seal with his left hand, preparing to condense a watery shield.

Just as the shield was about to fully form, Zhang Yunlu was already upon him—her eyes blazing with ferocity and killing intent made Hou Xiang's heart leap with dread.

Shit! Is this the look of a student? His mind raced—he made his decision in an instant, swinging his right sword toward her waist and abdomen to force her back, then use the shield to create distance.

Clang! A sharp clash rang out—his sword was blocked by a short sword, while Zhang Yunlu's blade tip had already pierced through the mist, mere inches from his brow.

A sting of pain came, blinding Bai Guang flooded his vision—he snapped his eyes shut and scrambled backward.

Thud! A dull impact, sharp pain at the back of his skull—he'd hit something.

Hou Xiang blinked, dazed, to see Zhang Yunlu looking down at him in surprise from above.

Only then did he realize he'd somehow ended up off the stage; the thing he'd hit with the back of his head was another stage.

【In a single sword stroke, victory and defeat are decided, life and death are determined】

【The defender who defeats an opponent with one sword may be rated Excellent】

【The attacker, though full of spiritual energy, lacks decisiveness—defeated in one stroke, overestimates himself; calls himself a cultivator, but is nothing but a meat pig】

Man, you've got quite the vocabulary for insults! Hou Xiang thought he'd prepared himself mentally, but hearing this still rattled him—especially remembering how he'd tumbled off the stage and scrambled backward like a clown… Shit! Stupid擂台! Zhang Yunlu sheathed her short sword, thoroughly satisfied with this bout.

Though the opponent was weak, to defeat him head-on would've taken at least three strikes.

That monster in the trial was sneaky, sure, but its techniques were still useful.

…………

"Nephew's discernment is truly sharp—no wonder you're from the Sword Sect." The principal praised.

Others might think Zhang Yunlu got lucky, but he wouldn't—even if Hou Xiang had barely dodged the first strike, once she seized the initiative, he had no chance against the second.

Who knew the school had such a gifted combat prodigy?

"Principal, you're overstating it."

So her ability to stir his sword intent wasn't accidental—this girl truly has the potential to become an outstanding sword cultivator.

He'd suspected before that the body cultivator who attacked him might be connected to this girl, so he had someone investigate.

But he found her parents were dead, and her only brother was merely a Jin Dan cultivator—and the very first to discover the elder who had just emerged from seclusion.

Recently, aside from reporting to the two senior elders of the Tai Shang Dao Sect, these two siblings had had no contact with any cultivators above Nascent Soul Stage.

In the courtyard.

Zhang Yunlu soon faced several more challenges—after all, to others, her first win had seemed lucky.

The result was the same every time: each challenger was defeated by a single sword strike.

Most of them were even weaker than Hou Xiang had been at first.

Fang Lin's Expression Grew Serious—he no longer dared underestimate Zhang Yunlu; one win could be luck, but this many were pure strength.

But what confused him more was—had his uncle lost his mind?

To target such a powerful student over a bit of tutoring fee? He wondered if his uncle regretted it now.

Fang Chi didn't just regret—he regretted so deeply his heart bled.

Last year, the teacher of the neighboring class produced a student who ranked first in the entire city. The school rewarded him with a large sum of cultivation resources, directly allowing him to advance from late-stage Jin Dan to Nascent Soul.

That student also joined the Xian Sect in his second year, with a boundless future ahead, and the teacher of the neighboring class was therefore promoted to Deputy Director of the Teaching Affairs Office.

For teachers like them, being able to muddle through to a Nascent Soul cultivation in this lifetime and get a promotion was already the pinnacle.

Fang Chi could even imagine how many teachers would invite Zhang Yunlu to transfer classes after this magic-duel test.

…………

"The sword art she employs, however, has never appeared before."

Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun, seated high upon the clouds, watched Zhang Yunlu; he was familiar with every sword art collected by the various middle schools of Xuanjian City.

But the sword art Zhang Yunlu was currently using, he had never seen before.

'Could it be related to that sword cultivator who came out of seclusion?'

He recalled that this little cultivator seemed to still have an elder brother disguised as a Jin Dan cultivator; it seemed indeed not simple. Once this magic-duel test was over, he could perhaps go and inquire.

Suddenly, Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun's heart gave a jolt, and his divine sense swiftly extended toward a certain place in Xuanjian City.

He sensed only a surge of hidden, immensely powerful, terrifying demonic energy shooting skyward.

It was a member of the demonic path — and moreover, an old devil of the Dao Merging realm!

"No!!!"

Following it came a despairing, wretched shriek.

What was it? Something that could drive an old devil of the Dao Merging realm to such despair!

And at this moment, Xu Xing also looked toward the place where the demonic energy was rising.

"Truly one to make a fuss. Looks like I'll have to go pick him up."

Begging for bookmarks, begging to follow and read!! (End of this chapter)