Chapter 289: Lu Xingzhou vs Bai Mao

Zhang Qingxiang knew nothing of the Double-Layered Tribulation or the Heart-Demon Tribulation; at most, he recognized the Red Lotus Hellfire Tribulation as a layered one, which, counting the previous great thunder, amounted to no more than a Triple Tribulation.

Though powerful, it did not exceed the bounds of comprehension.

Dugu Miss Qingli also faced a Triple Tribulation, yet Zhang Qingxiang still believed she could not be his match; let alone this pure newcomer who had just crossed the Tribulation and not even stabilized her realm—how could she possibly fight him, a third-grade upper-stage cultivator?

Moreover, he was no ordinary third-grade upper-stage cultivator; as a direct disciple of Tianyao, both his cultivation art and combat techniques far surpassed those of ordinary people by a tier. Normally, he was the one fighting above his level against others; how could he possibly be defeated by someone fighting above their level?

From Zhang Qingxiang down to the other Sacred Land disciples, basically no one thought Lu Xingzhou could win.

Letting him have three moves; if he could break through the defense, that would already be an achievement...

Elder Xu was drenched in sweat but could not call a halt, helplessly watching Lu Xingzhou walk up to Zhang Qingxiang and assume a stance with one leg forward and fists drawn back.

Zhang Qingxiang instinctively felt a warning sign thumping in his heart, but since he had already spoken his words, he could not summon his magical treasure first; he could only grit his teeth and wait for Lu Xingzhou to strike.

A'nu stretched out his head.

Dugu Miss Qingli, who had been leaning against the mountain slope with arms crossed, unconsciously straightened her body.

With a "Boom," Lu Xingzhou pushed his palm forward flatly.

The palm strike appeared utterly ordinary, yet halfway through its trajectory, wind and clouds suddenly changed.

The rustling sound of flames suddenly erupted; a clear lotus shape appeared on that palm, as if a Buddha's hand had bloomed into a lotus flower.

Zhang Qingxiang was horrified; how could he dare to be arrogant and take it head-on? He reached out to block, but the fire lotus suddenly intensified, engulfing him face-first.

"Crash!" Zhang Qingxiang was knocked back several steps by a single palm strike; the disciples behind him scattered in a panic, no one daring to help him up.

Because his entire body had become like a human torch, with flames clinging to his form, and no matter how many techniques he tried to drive them away, they would not disperse.

For that was the Fire of Judgment.

Your arrogance also falls within the scope of judgment.

Such relatively abstract, consciousness-based things, Zhang Qingxiang could not handle for the time being. After finally suppressing them by relying on his absolute cultivation level, people saw that his originally quite handsome face had turned as black as charcoal, his hair scorched and curled, and his entire image ruined.

A'nu was greatly amused and added a sound effect of blinking eyes for him.

Lu Xingzhou even directly stepped back half a pace, smiled, and clasped his hands: "I yield."

Blackie Zhang Qingxiang: "..."

He felt both ashamed and furious; he felt certain he could have beaten Lu Xingzhou to death, but since the premise was a friendly spar, Lu Xingzhou's statement of "I yield" had already clarified the outcome, leaving him unable to say in front of everyone, "Being burned black doesn't count, let's fight again?"

Ye Tinglan sighed lightly, suppressing a smile harder than Lu Xingzhou suppressed his boat oars at night, and tried hard to make his voice sound calm and disappointed: "Is this the strongest of the younger generation you spoke of, the one who could surpass Miss Qingli?"

Elder Xu wiped his sweat: "This... the outcome has not actually been decided; Lu Xingzhou used a clever trick..."

"During the Great Competition in the Sea, did anyone else accept your explanation?"

"This..."

Ye Tinglan sighed and was about to speak when a clear, cold voice came from below: "Young Master Lu learns and applies instantly; his talent is unparalleled. I admire him. Dugu Miss Qingli of the Tianyao Sacred Land requests Young Master's instruction."

Lu Xingzhou: "?"

Ye Tinglan: ""

Both stared blankly as Dugu Miss Qingli slowly walked from the mountain slope, reached Lu Xingzhou, held her sword hilt downward, and performed a formal bow with utmost seriousness: "Actually, some people's dignity is not yours to protect..."

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

Ye Tinglan pressed his forehead.

"Besides... I have long wanted to test your cultivation art, but back then your cultivation was insufficient, so I felt too shy to say so. Now you are third grade, and I am only third-grade mid-stage; the difference is not far."

A'nu translated from behind: "Master, she says she has wanted to beat you up for a long time."

Lu Xingzhou: "Be quiet, I understand."

Dugu Miss Qingli looked at him seriously: "Please grant me instruction."

Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath: "It is my honor. Please."

Ye Tinglan opened his mouth but ultimately closed it; watching the scene below where his disciple and her lover faced off, his expression was somewhat complex.

Admittedly, this proved the two had absolutely no hidden agenda, but it also proved that his disciple did not support this matter as much as she claimed on the surface...

"Clang!" The ice sword suddenly rose, sending a hundred miles of frosty cold.

Lu Xingzhou, facing it at close range, could not help but squint his eyes. Even the disciples watching nearby unconsciously retreated again, the empty circle expanding to at least double the range of the previous battle.

Without having directly faced Little Bai Mao's sword, it is hard to comprehend the helplessness others feel toward her. Merely this soul-freezing, bone-chilling cold can slow the movements of cultivators of the same realm by half a beat; thus, Little Bai Mao's battle records often show a one-sword instant kill. When experts fight, the difference is but a hair's breadth; if one side is first slowed by the Holy Ice Halo, what is there left to fight?

As the thought crossed his mind, the sword light had already reached his chest.

Fast! Unparalleled fast.

Carrying a killing intent that chilled the marrow to the bone.

She is not an Ice-attribute Dao technique practitioner... she has always been a swordsman.

A lotus phantom shadow quietly rose around Lu Xingzhou, and the extreme cold was shaken off. Lu Xingzhou formed his palms into blades and sliced against the side of the sword.

Both staggered slightly and retreated half a pace together.

Dugu Miss Qingli's sharp sword qi was indeed stronger than Lu Xingzhou's, but after being neutralized by the Great Void Rotation, they appeared evenly matched; meanwhile, Lu Xingzhou's flames tried to climb up the sword to repeat the "Judgment" he had inflicted on Zhang Qingxiang just now, but were scattered by specks of frost, leaving not even a single spark behind.

Everyone unconsciously turned to look at Zhang Qingxiang, whose pitch-black face now showed a flush of red.

The whistling sound of sword qi erupted in succession, yet there was no clashing of metal; only the occasional light sound of a palm striking the side of the sword, and the occasional clash where they locked across the forearm.