Chapter 207: The Rising Half Moon

Lu Fang’s cultivation was slightly superior to Zhang Ziyou’s.

Having been an Inner Disciple for many years, she possessed extensive trial experience, a resolute will, and a formidable Divine Sense.

Among her Foundation Establishment peers, she was considered a formidable opponent; unfortunately, she had the poor luck of running into the Chief of Mist Concealment last year.

Consequently, the instructors of the Academy did not hold high hopes for Yun Liu.

Although he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment after repairing his Qi Sea with a Reversion Pill, he had made no further progress in the sword way. Furthermore, he had skipped classes for a long time.

It was entirely possible that the sole disciple of Celestial Phenomena Peak would be eliminated here today.

However, the boy managed to dodge the Wood Spirit Sword Qi every time as if he possessed foresight.

Not a single leaf touched him.

It was likely that his Divine Sense was exceptionally keen, allowing him to understand the flow of the surrounding spiritual energy perfectly.

“If that is the case, then how about this?”

Unable to land a blow for a long time, Lu Fang’s gaze sharpened.

She pointed her sword toward the sky, her spiritual energy churning the clouds and mist.

Strands of green light descended like a rainstorm.

They looked soft, but they hid a lethal danger.

“It is the Rosy Clouds Spring Rain! Senior Sister Lu is getting serious. Our First Senior Brother-in-law is in trouble.”

The disciples of Qingxia Peak watching from the sidelines chirped with envy; none of them had mastered such a profound sword technique.

Jing Tan’er’s heart tightened.

No matter how good Yun Liu’s movement technique was, how could he dodge a torrential downpour?

If it were her, she could only endure it head-on.

The white-robed youth slowly looked up, his eyes clear.

He seemed to accept his fate as he welcomed the baptism of the sword rain, letting the spiritual energy soak his entire body.

As the wood spirits latched on, flowers and green leaves sprouted from Yun Liu’s body.

To the other Inner Disciples, this looked like maggots on a bone. Once a disciple of Qingxia Peak fully entangled an opponent, defeat was essentially guaranteed.

“The match is decided.”

The Head of Sunset Peak shook her head in disappointment.

She had wanted to see the sword cultivation of the boy Xiao Xinran was so obsessed with, but it turned out he could not even fight back.

This Lu Fang possessed good comprehension and a masterfully refined Sword Intent.

Before long, Qingxia Peak would have another Golden Core sword cultivator.

At that moment, Yun Liu opened his right hand.

An exquisite small sword fell into his palm, and he gently stroked the White Fishbone with two fingers.

It might be a bit late to draw his sword now.

The Grand Elder glanced at the Aunt Master, but the woman, serving as his Master, was distracted.

Aside from the victory or defeat, she had more important things to worry about.

However, the expression of the Head of Qingxia Peak grew increasingly solemn.

With a sword in hand, the previously lazy and evasive white-robed youth’s aura shifted drastically, as if he had become a completely different person.

Jing Tan’er’s gaze wavered.

She could not help but recall the scene when they first met.

The sharp and overbearing Consort Princess had stolen her heart in just such a reckless manner.

Clang!

While the torrential rain had yet to dissipate, a beam of moonlight suddenly descended during the day, looking pale and desolate.

Lu Fang felt a flash of light before her eyes.

The three flower petals protecting her body withered one by one, and the smile on her face froze.

A sharp Sword Qi whistled past her, accurately locked on like a triangular burst of the Gun Sword Form.

The moonlight was a fleeting glimpse, so fast that the audience outside the arena could not see what had happened.

They only saw Yun Liu sheathing his sword and bowing.

“Thank you for the match.”

“…”

Lu Fang swallowed hard, staring at a lock of hair that had fallen onto her shoulder.

She was in a daze.

If it had been just a bit closer, the Sword Qi would have slashed her neck.

“Moonrise: First Quarter!”

Gelan shook Yan Bingling’s shoulder and asked in shock, “When did Liuer reach the fourth realm of the Sword Scripture of Celestial Phenomena!?”

“How should I know?”

Yan Bingling’s expression was complex.

She felt as if she were waking from a dream, equally stunned.

Who could have imagined that the child’s sword techniques had not only remained sharp but had even progressed further?

His Spirit Breath was only at Foundation Establishment, but his chilling Sword Intent far surpassed what it had been before.

Lu Fang opened her mouth, failing to grasp the situation.

She only knew she had lost.

She bowed back with a bitter expression.

What was going on?

Her luck this year… seemed even worse.

“Yun Liu wins!”

The Academy instructor announced the result, causing a stir.

In a flash of moonlight, the situation had been reversed.

Laymen watched for the excitement, while experts looked at the technique.

The disciples with low realms only thought Yun Liu had won with a sudden move, not realizing that the Sword Intent he displayed was far above Lu Fang’s.

He had easily broken her technique using only a small amount of spiritual energy.

The Five Peaks Elders widened their eyes, finding it hard to believe.

This was especially true considering the subject was a dropout who had abandoned the sword for alchemy.

The Shenhua Sect had seen a lack of talent in recent years, and no one in the Celestial Phenomena lineage had inherited the Aunt Master’s legacy.

How long had it been since the Moon Phase Sword had reappeared on the Cloud Top?

Above Jueyun Peak, Zhou Yan and Zhuang Heng were completely confused.

“Senior Brother, Lu Fang was clearly suppressing Yun Liu the whole time. She had the upper hand. How did that kid manage to turn the tables?”

Bai Yu shook his head, seeing through the situation but choosing not to explain.

Mr. Yun had never been at a disadvantage from start to finish.

He had simply chosen to achieve victory with the least amount of consumption, leaving his Qi Sea almost untouched.

The dance practitioner’s eyes shone with a strange light.

There was now another candidate for the companion to explore the secret realm in the Boundless Sea, and he was even more suitable than Ji Shiyu or Xiao Xinran.

However, given his prestigious status as the East Pole Pavilion Master, it would likely be difficult to get him to agree.

Perhaps she could start with Yu Steward.

However, what she found strangest was that Mr. Yun could have ended the battle much faster, yet he waited until this moment to strike.

Whether he was intentionally hiding his strength or being overly cautious was unknown.

Yun Liu did not think that much.

It was simply because Ji Shiyu had won at this exact stage, so he just copied her work.

After Lu Fang used the Rosy Clouds Spring Rain, there was a brief period of vulnerability; the opening was obvious.

When all the matches on the clouds concluded, the sword posts rose, announcing the new round of duels.

Once or twice might be a coincidence, but a third time was truly suspicious.

Yun Liu’s next opponent still followed the “strategy guide,” mirroring the path of the blonde girl.

Whatever.

As long as he followed Ji Shiyu’s script step-by-step to enter the top sixteen, it would be a success!

Qin Cha scanned the sky with her Divine Sense and let out a sigh of relief.

It was for the best that he did not run into Shiyu or Xinran. Of course, Xiao Yun would not work either.

“So, how was it? I did not embarrass you, did I?”

Turning her head, the Senior Sister saw someone squatting on a sword, slowly drifting over.

Seeing her beloved successfully advance using the gift she had given him, the girl gave a sweet smile.

“Look at you! Xiao Fang was almost crying. She thought she had caught a break, and she even asked me to comfort you yesterday.”

“Even if she did not lose to me, she would have lost to Ji… never mind.”

Yun Liu waved his hand.

There were too many experience babies that Feng Aotian had bullied.

It was better for her to lose to him than to have her Dao Heart Shattered by a New Student.

Qin Cha chuckled.

“You are the kind of bad guy who sleeps and loiters in class to trick other students into lowering their guard while you secretly work hard in private. Then you shock everyone during the examination and humble-brag that it was just good luck.”

The Yellow Chicken perching on Yun Liu’s head agreed deeply.

He was the kind of person who played the fat pig to eat the fierce tiger!

Qin Cha would never believe that Yun Liu had neglected the sword way just to focus on Elixir Cultivation.

Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu would not believe it either.

“I am not. I did not,” Yun Liu said with an innocent face.

The Sword Scripture of Celestial Phenomena focused on intent over form.

Once the Divine Soul reached a thorough understanding, cultivation progressed naturally.

His clear Sword Heart had already reached the fifth realm, matching any Chief Disciple of the Five Peaks.

However, the common circulation method of the Sword Sect had long since been replaced by the Heavenly Walk.

“Have you heard? Junior Brother Su from Mist Concealment barely won against his opponent. There is a high probability he won’t be able to attend the next Go Sword match. The news is already out, and Xinran is nearly fuming.”

“Could he be…”

“Exactly. He is Shiyu’s next opponent!” Qin Cha smiled.

It was true that fools had their own luck.

No way…

Someone was about to advance to the top sixty-four without even showing their face.

Yun Liu looked up and made eye contact with Ao Tian, his expression bizarre.

Again, once or twice was luck, but three times was something else.

The trials meant for the blonde-haired girl were constantly being skipped.

She was being escorted through three rounds without ever drawing her sword.

Was this good luck or bad luck?