Chapter 40: Facing Lu Xueqi in Battle Again

The results for the final four were soon determined; as expected, Qi Hao, Lu Xueqi, and Zhang Xiaofan each took a spot, and the other was Su Zhangqing, who had defeated his opponent with a single sword strike.

The rumors regarding Su Zhangqing have now spread throughout the entire Qingyun Sect.

Everyone realized at this moment that Su Zhangqing was not at all that simple "waste" at the Foundation Establishment Stage 1, but a top-tier powerhouse truly capable of fighting across cultivation realms.

However, Su Zhangqing had no desire to participate in this public discourse. In order to seize first place and obtain the reward of the Covering Heaven Method, he seized every minute to cultivate. Yet, his cultivation seemed welded to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage 6; after a day and a half, there was not the slightest sign of a breakthrough.

On the day of the final four, Su Zhangqing opened his eyes from meditation and let out a helpless sigh: "It seems it is difficult to break through by cultivation alone. Now, it depends on whether I can break through in battle during the match."

When Su Zhangqing arrived at the arena, he inevitably encountered his Senior Sister Lu Xueqi in today's battle, while on the other side of the arena was the battle between Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan.

Nowadays, Su Zhangqing and Zhang Xiaofan are collectively known as the Hidden Cloud Twins by the Qingyun Sect. At first, neither was favored, but they relied on their own strength to forcefully shatter the stereotypical views of others.

"Both are proud talents of Xiaozhu Peak; I wonder who will emerge victorious."

"I think Lu Xueqi should have the slight edge. She has the aid of the immortal sword 'Tianya'. A sword cultivator with a good sword at their side can increase their strength by at least several times, not to mention that this is the 'Tianya' immortal sword."

"The outcome is undecided, so one cannot jump to conclusions. Su Zhangqing's Gale Sword Technique is nothing to sneeze at either."

"Sigh! What's baffling is that Xiaozhu Peak alone occupies two spots in the final four. Now that they are facing each other, whoever wins is guaranteed to enter the second round. It truly makes the peaks of us male disciples feel inferior!"

Amidst the discussions of the crowd, Su Zhangqing stepped onto the arena.

"Junior Brother, can I witness your true strength today?"

Lu Xueqi asked Su Zhangqing with a smile.

Regarding the achievements of her Junior Brother today, she, as his Senior Sister, felt heartfelt admiration and joy for Su Zhangqing, and she hoped even more that Su Zhangqing could continue on this path.

"Senior Sister, just as you wish!"

Su Zhangqing also said to Lu Xueqi with a calm smile.

The two had practiced sword techniques against each other every night previously and already had considerable tacit understanding. After a knowing smile, Lu Xueqi summoned her 'Tianya', and Su Zhangqing also drew his 'Qingfeng' for the first time.

After a final glance at each other, the two figures suddenly vanished in an instant, each taking lightning-fast steps to meet the other. Lu Xueqi took the initiative with an overwhelming momentum.

Only a moment later, under the astonished gazes of the crowd.

Su Zhangqing slightly raised his hand holding the sword and easily blocked this sword move. With a backhand strike, he forced Lu Xueqi to retreat repeatedly. Charging forward, the two began to trade blows using only sword techniques, move by move.

After just a few rounds, the two retreated again. Trading blows with sword techniques, both were from the same sect, and it was truly hard to distinguish who was superior.

"Whoosh!"

"Clang!"

'Tianya' and 'Qingfeng' were drawn simultaneously with great tacit understanding, and a blue light and a cyan light shone respectively.

"Look quickly! 'Tianya' has been drawn! The legendary 'Tianya' of a thousand years has been drawn for the first time!"

"What kind of sword is in Su Zhangqing's hand? Why do I feel that its sword intent is not the slightest bit weaker than 'Tianya'? Could it be that another immortal sword has emerged?"

"One blue and one cyan, the two immortal swords are actually so well-matched, as if they were naturally prepared for the two of them." As Tianya and Qingfeng were drawn, the discussions off the field became even more intense.

Both knew that from this moment on, they had to start getting serious; only by going all out could they show the greatest respect to the other.

Lu Xueqi's smile vanished, replaced by her usual cold-as-frost expression. Without hesitation, a blue light flashed in her hand, and 'Tianya' slashed down at Su Zhangqing in mid-air, decisive and ruthless.

A strong wind whistled over, and that biting pressure rushed toward him.

"Senior Sister, this is the real you!"

After a smile at the corner of his mouth, Su Zhangqing also focused his entire mind on this battle. The cyan energy on the 'Qingfeng' in his hand flickered, and instead of avoiding it, he met it head-on. The two immortal swords touched in mid-air and immediately sprang apart.

Hearing only a loud "Boom", Lu Xueqi and Su Zhangqing, who were standing behind the sword energy, were both shaken to the core. Both had exhausted their full strength, so they both felt uncomfortable under this powerful impact.

In mid-air, blue light flickered and cyan light shone brilliantly. Two streaks of sword energy flew and crisscrossed. The arena made of hard boulders was shredded like paper scraps by the sword energy. The loud sounds were like thunder from the nine heavens, making the surrounding disciples watching the battle feel a rumbling in their ears. From time to time, sword energy would rush toward them, but fortunately, the elders deployed barriers to block these sword energies.

The nearly one thousand Qingyun Sect members watching were extremely shocked. Since the beginning of the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, no battle had been as stimulating as today's.

They had originally thought that since both were disciples of Xiaozhu Peak, they would each yield a step, but they did not expect that after trading a few moves, they would start causing such a commotion.

Just when everyone thought this was the limit for the two.

Lu Xueqi stabilized her figure in the air and formed hand seals. Suddenly, divine light erupted from her entire body. While suspended in the air, she stepped out the Seven Stars Array, flashing across seven positions in the void. 'Tianya' pointed abruptly at the sky, and her face lost its color at this moment.

"Mysterious frost of the nine heavens, condense into falling heavenly thunder! Sacred brilliance of heavenly might, summon the sword to come!"

In an instant, the blue sky that had been illuminated by the sun suddenly turned black. Several dark clouds gathered in the sky, within which lightning flashed incessantly, galloping between heaven and earth. A sense of killing intent fell upon everyone's heart.

Su Zhangqing's expression also became solemn at this time. Previously, he had treated this grand competition with a playful mindset, but he had forgotten that the one he was fighting today was Lu Xueqi.

She was not one of those ordinary disciples, but a fated person destined to grow into a female sword immortal who would stun everyone; her strength was definitely not something to be underestimated.

At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded.

Is this even a match?

In any other setting, this would simply be a duel between mortal enemies! "Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Art!"

Daoxuan Zhenren slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at the arena with a solemn expression. He was greatly shaken in his heart; just a single Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament had produced so many geniuses.

"Sigh!"

Shuiyue sighed helplessly. Both were disciples she cherished dearly, but she had not expected them to be fighting here at this moment, and for it to have become so intense.

The other peak masters did not feel very good inside either. It was evident that both Lu Xueqi and Su Zhangqing, who were fighting now, were peerless geniuses, but they both happened to be people from Shuiyue's Xiaozhu Peak.

Lu Xueqi was one thing; she was female, so it was only right for her to be under the tutelage of Xiaozhu Peak. But Su Zhangqing, this hidden genius, was the "waste" they had all disdained that day; it would be no exaggeration to say they had handed him over to Shuiyue on a silver platter.

It was this "waste" who now gave them the greatest shock.

Next, it depends on how Su Zhangqing will receive this move! (End of chapter)