Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit
chapter-365-30041322

Wang Qi was a Grade 2 disciple from Group 7. Although he was just in the Eighth Layer Blood Refining Realm, he had made it through two rounds and was about to face the third the next day.

From a young age, Wang Qi had developed an enormous interest in swordsmanship, especially after seeing Enlightened Master Du Xuan-Feng the day before. His Ruthless Sword's swordplay inspired him to hone his sword skills even more.

The only letdown was that the Water Sword Immortal, Enlightened Master Lu Xuan-Ping, hadn't shown himself on stage, so he couldn't witness his swordsmanship. Even so, that didn't affect his determination to improve his studies.

Although he had another round coming up soon and knowing that he should be resting to prepare for it, he simply couldn't help himself after seeing Enlightened Master Du Xuan-Feng's magnificent swordplay. Hence, he made his way to the Zhao Yang Summit to practice his sword skill.

At this time, there were only a few disciples on the summit; most were either still in bed or had gathered early at the plaza for the competition.

They say that Enlightened Master Lu Xuan-Ping was also from Group 7. Like us, he has also used the seventh platform on Zhao Yang Summit. I wonder if I’ll ever become someone like him in the future…

As Wang Qi made his way up to the summit and approached the seventh platform, he saw a young man of similar age already practicing his sword skill on the platform.

Puzzled, Wang Qi thought, Someone even earlier than me? Is he from Group 7 too? Weird, why don't I remember seeing him in the side hall before…

Just as Wang Qi stepped forward to greet the young man, he suddenly noticed that the young man was practicing the [Blood Condensation Bone Melting Sword], which left him baffled.

As the most basic and simplest cultivation sword art, every single side hall disciple had learned and practiced the [Blood Condensation Bone Melting Sword] for years. Many had already moved on to the other sword arts which were stronger and more advanced. So, it was strange to see someone actually still practicing this sword art.

Wang Qi opened his mouth but hesitated—he didn't know what to say to this unfamiliar young man. He was wondering what to do when the young man's sword play suddenly caught his attention.

The [Blood Condensation Bone Melting Sword] had a different look now, one that suited its name perfectly—that it could condense and melt one's blood!

Even the sharp and invasive sword intent was well controlled within Lu Ping's sword range, but Wang Qi was still intimidated just from watching the swordplay. He was flabbergasted and amazed to see that the [Blood Condensation Bone Melting Sword] was actually this strong!

This is… my chance!

Wang Qi quickly recollected himself from his shock, and immediately realized that this was his chance to learn from an expert, and who might even be an Enlightened Master!

Similar things had happened before—although the Enlightened Masters were normally out of their reach, Tian Ling Mountain was still just a mountain with limited space. Hence, there were often cases of disciples bumping into an Enlightened Master and receiving guidance from them.

The Enlightened Masters themselves didn’t mind, as they believed that fate had brought them and the disciples together in the same place at the same time. So, these cultivators would go along with fate's decision and guide the disciples.

However, Wang Qi never thought there’d be a day where he would experience it himself.

Meanwhile, Lu Ping had already noticed Wang Qi the moment he came up to the seventh platform, but paid him no mind. He was currently in an enlightened state which was helping him sort out his cultivation.

A thought dawned on him, and Lu Ping subconsciously performed the [Blood Condensation Bone Melting Sword], the first sword art he had ever learned. Because this sword art was intended for disciples to pick up sword skills, its steps were simple and basic. But for the same reason, it was also polished to the state of near-perfection with minimal flaws.

Wang Qi stood transfixed as he watched this [Blood Condensation Bone Melting Sword], grasping and learning everything he could like a sponge. But suddenly, the young man's swordplay changed.

Before this, the golden sword was held in the young man's grasp, so it was restricted to within the range of his arm. But now, the golden sword suddenly flew out of his hand and flowed around like a river, thousands of sword lights trailing behind.

Wang Qi was initially planning to greet Lu Ping, and after realizing that this might be a fortunate encounter to improve his swordsmanship, he naturally wasn't about to let this chance go. As a result, he was actually standing quite close to Lu Ping.

When Lu Ping was wielding the sword in his hand, the range of his swordplay was small and not in Wang Qi’s proximity, but after casting the sword up with his true energy, its range suddenly expanded without limit and Wang Qi immediately felt like he was standing inside a danger zone.

Not to mention that the sword's prowess had been amplified by more than a hundred times after the change of sword art!

Just as Wang Qi believed he was about to be crushed like a small rock by the incoming river of sword lights, the sharp and straight blades suddenly turned into spiritual fishes. They swam around him before returning to the young man.

At this time, Wang Qi's clothes were already soaked in his own cold sweat, his heart palpitating nonstop like a war drum. He felt a mix of emotions: terror from having just escaped death; amazement for the young man's exceptional swordsmanship; joy that the young man had acknowledged his presence and allowed him to watch his swordplay.

Meanwhile, after Lu Ping changed to the [Stormy Waves Crashing Shore Sword Art], the clouds seemed to have thickened and rolled rampantly like the tide, the heavy wind pressing down on the flora of Zhao Yang Summit. If not for Lu Ping's incredible control, the flora would've already collapsed under the immense pressure.

The others on the summit naturally couldn't ignore these obvious changes. A moment later, another side hall disciple cautiously made his way up to the seventh platform, clearly afraid of disturbing Lu Ping.

However, after seeing Wang Qi sitting quietly on the side and watching the swordplay, the disciple relaxed slightly and quickly moved to join him. He nodded at Wang Qi who didn't even glance back; he immediately realized Wang Qi's attention was all on the swordplay, and he quickly turned to look.

By this time, Lu Ping had already moved on to the [Disarrayed Rocks Puncturing Sword Art]. The fast-moving clouds suddenly slowed down, rolling calmly but heavily like a convoy of battering rams, as if to besiege the shores.

In order to cast these sword arts, Lu Ping used his sword intent and divine revelation. Without them, the sword arts would merely be frames without cores—there would be nothing of essence to learn from within.

Although he could restrict his sword intent and divine revelation within the sword lights, there was inevitably some leakage to the surroundings. Otherwise, the Blood Refining Realm disciples would have collapsed on all fours before they could even reach him, let alone study his swordplay now.

His exceptional divine revelation and the murderous sword intent brought a feeling of heavy suppression to his surroundings. The side hall disciple had just arrived, so he wasn’t as affected. However, Wang Qi had been there from almost the start; the suppression over him had been stacking up to nearly an unbearable level.

But this also served as a small test for Lu Ping to gauge the disciples’ abilities. Although he wasn't planning to take on an official disciple, he didn't want to give guidance to just any random cultivator. First and foremost, the disciples must have strong hearts and minds—if they couldn't even endure this pressure, then they naturally weren't qualified to receive his guidance.

Suddenly, the spiritual sword lights all returned to the golden sword, and the two disciples felt the immense pressure lifting from their bodies. Wang Qi felt akin to a drowning man that had been scooped out of water and finally able to catch his breath.

Just when they thought the swordplay was over, the rolling clouds suddenly turned thunderous. Then, a weird-looking Jiao emerged from below and rolled playfully among the clouds, tearing through them like water.

As Lu Ping's sword art gained strength and power, the heavenly phenomenon mutually grew larger, grander, and more noticeable. Sure enough, two more side hall disciples were attracted by this display and sat down beside Wang Qi and the second disciple.

At this time, the weird-looking Jiao suddenly dived into the clouds, a screen of golden light burst out below, then a golden sword pierced through the layers and flew upward into the sky, a thousand spiritual sword lights trailing behind like a river.

Two more disciples were now making their way to the scene. However, they were intimidated by the [Great River Eastward Sword Art], and stopped on the spot.

One of them looked terrified and just as he was about to step back, he saw the other disciple, who had noticed the initial four disciples seated on the platform, clenching his teeth and moving forward. Thus, the disciple was left with no choice but to follow after.

When they moved ahead, the suppression from Lu Ping's sword art grew stronger, so every step they took was harder than the last. Even the four disciples on the platform were swaying back and forth as if they were about to be blown away by the intense gale.

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