Chapter 644: Extermination of Demons

"I would be honored to spar with a prodigy like Brother Zhu."

Lin Changsheng spoke politely, but his hands showed no courtesy whatsoever—he casually took the pill from Yi Ming Zhenjun's hand.

Du Ruoheng: "…"

He always felt that Little Changsheng had changed a great deal since the Xian Sect Grand Competition.

Or perhaps it was the effect of the Huanhuan Sect's "Anti-Emotional Fraud" technique?

"…" Yi Ming Zhenjun paused, then finally smiled, "Then I leave it to you, young friend."

"Senior, you are too kind."

Then Lin Changsheng turned to Zhu Feng.

"Brother Zhu, please follow me."

Though he is among the top Soul Transformation cultivators of his generation, it's not easy for him at all!

As a swordsman, he must nurture his own primordial sword, and now he also has to care for 'Qing,' brought back from a mission world.

She is now obsessed with pill alchemy, and her early material expenses are entirely funded by him…

I just hope she can actually produce something worthwhile.

Sigh~

Being a swordsman is truly not easy.

It seems that once my realm stabilizes, I should carve out time to study metallurgy more seriously.

These past few years, I've focused solely on cultivation and neglected metallurgy quite a bit…

Lin Changsheng put away the pill, thinking about his future plans.

He paid little attention to Zhu Feng, who was about to face him.

After all, this guy is truly weak in his eyes…

Though he is Soul Transformation, any random cultivator from the Xian Sect Grand Competition could single-handedly beat him senseless.

Zhu Feng was unaware of Lin Changsheng's thoughts; he raised an eyebrow, his challenge intensifying:

"Then I humbly ask Brother Lin for your guidance."

Lin Changsheng snapped back to attention.

He completely ignored the challenge in Zhu Feng's eyes and smiled:

"Brother Zhu, you are too kind."

Soon, both bowed to Yi Ming Zhenjun and Du Ruoheng, then turned and left together.

Watching their retreating figures,

"Senior, isn't it a bit too much to have your disciple face Little Changsheng directly?"

Though both are Soul Transformation, their gap is not small at all.

Let him suffer a little, and learn his place.

He founded 【Qiu Zhen】 many years ago and has taken on seven disciples; the first six are now capable of standing on their own.

Only this youngest disciple has had smooth sailing since he began cultivation, which has bred his arrogant, dismissive nature.

That's why I brought him here—to temper his temper…

Sharpness is important.

But sharpness without ability is merely insolent foolishness.

"Senior, your intentions are deeply thoughtful."

"I only worry that if he continues like this, he'll bring trouble upon himself…"

The two walked and talked, entering the Sect Master's Hall.

…

…

On the other side.

Lin Changsheng first took Zhu Feng to submit his mission report.

Then, based on Qing Fa's message, he exchanged a batch of spirit herbs and sent his primordial sword back to his cave dwelling.

As a swordsman who had been self-reliant since he began cultivation, he had long ago obtained licenses for sword-riding passenger transport, flying-sword parcel delivery, and Intermediate Swordsmith certification.

As Shenghuang Yuan once said:

In the cultivation world, more skills never weigh you down!

Not to mention his lifelong idol, the Xiang Jianzong, who mastered all arts!

After circling the Xiang Jianzong for a long while under the pretext of "touring its scenic beauty," he finally arrived at the usual training ground for duels.

There, rolling mountain ranges stretched endlessly, and countless Xuan Light Mirrors moved between them, displaying the outcomes of battles on each arena.

Looking out, square arenas of varying heights floated above the ground, mountain slopes, and cloud-capped peaks.

Sharp sword qi crisscrossed violently, shredding the mist that clung to the mountains.

But due to the barrier array, the howling sword qi was confined within a safe range.

Most arenas were crowded with onlookers, yet the four highest ones—radiating terrifying bloodlust, entirely dark red as if forged from dried blood, with banners snapping in the wind—remained untouched by anyone.

Zhu Feng gazed at the open-air training grounds before him.

He remembered the Xiang Jianzong had specialized combat spaces designed to prevent outsiders from spying…

But that's fine.

To face a Xiang Jianzong prodigy before the eyes of the world and defeat him honorably—that was his goal!

"There's an arena unoccupied over there, Brother Zhu. Let's duel there."

Lin Changsheng quickly spotted an empty arena.

Zhu Feng, however, frowned slightly:

"Aren't those arenas up above empty too?"

He looked at the four utterly distinct arenas at the very top.

"Oh! You mean those." Lin Changsheng glanced over, then explained, "Those are the 'Cessation of Arms' arena and the 'Blood Battle' arena borrowed from the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect."

And they're the upgraded versions, no less.

Currently, the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect's 'Cessation of Arms' arenas come in three versions in total.

The first is the kind sold to the public back then in Xuanjian City — generally speaking, as long as one's performance is passable, the arena's scolding won't be too harsh.

The second is the version the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect uses internally; it is said that its 'spiritual attack' ability far surpasses the first.

As for this third kind…

It's the upgraded version right before their eyes — no matter the performance, win or lose, one will suffer its merciless 'spiritual attack'.

Rumor has it it was borrowed from Xiang Jianzong's founder, and no one knows what it's used for…

"Does Brother Zhu want to go up and try?"

"…" Zhu Feng was silent for a moment. "An ordinary one will do."

He had long heard of the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect's 'Cessation of Arms' arenas.

Although Zhu Feng was quite confident in himself, this time his opponent was, after all, a Xiang Jianzong prodigy — if he lost…

Lin Changsheng did not find his retreat at all surprising.

After all, anyone with a functioning brain wouldn't want to face off on a 'Cessation of Arms' arena.

As for body cultivators…

Haven't those muscle-headed brutes always been short on brains?

"Let's go."

Lin Changsheng floated toward the empty arena first.

Zhu Feng paused, cast one more glance at the four arenas up high, and only then finally followed..

Sword cultivators passing by were many, and most had their attention fixed on the arena matches, so the two of them drew little notice on their way over.

Soon the two arrived near that empty arena.

Lin Changsheng landed on the arena, walked over with practiced ease to a device at the arena's edge, and prepared to channel in a wisp of magic power to activate the arena's isolation array.

Zhu Feng had originally been looking at the arena, but a striking figure appeared in his peripheral vision and immediately drew his attention.

The newcomer was dressed in the most ordinary black close-fitting attire imaginable.

A waist one could barely cup in both hands, slender as a willow swaying in the wind.

Brocade-like long hair cascaded to her mid-back, loosely gathered with a silver ribbon.

Skin luminous as snow, a long, slender neck — but what drew the eye most was those eyes, clear as a pool of spring water.

The corners of her phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward; a cinnabar-painted teardrop mole at the outer corner of her left eye looked like a red plum blossom dabbed on Bai Xi's fine, fair skin.

Radiant as the moon on a cold night, too dazzling to look at directly.

A flash of astonishment passed through Zhu Feng's eyes.

Seeing that person drawing closer and closer, a sudden, inexplicable flutter of nervousness stirred in his heart.

Could she have recognized him?

How should he greet her?

Casual?

Or a bit warmer?

Just as Zhu Feng's thoughts were running wild, that person didn't so much as glance at him, passing right by and landing near Lin Changsheng instead.

And Lin Changsheng, upon seeing the newcomer, raised an eyebrow:

"Old Yue? Here this early?"

As he spoke, a wisp of magic power was channeled into the arena, activating the isolation array.

"No time to spar with you today — I still have a match with Brother Zhu."