Chapter 26 Just Warming Up

Lu Yi quickly arrived at the central platform area where everyone else had already gathered.

Jiang Fan had his hands behind his head, with a piece of brittlegrass in his mouth from who knows where. Seeing Lu Yi, he greeted with a smile, "Junior Brother Lu Yi, you're here?"

Others turned to look, nodding slightly in greeting, while Lin Wan'er waved at Lu Yi with a smile, "Junior Brother Lu Yi, which peak do you plan to go to when you enter the Inner Sect?"

Upon hearing this, others looked at Lu Yi with curiosity.

Lu Yi smiled and said, "I promised Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang that I would participate in the assessment for Ling Luo Peak."

Upon hearing this, the handsome Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer senior who wore luxurious clothing smiled, "With Junior Brother Lu Yi's comprehension, it might really be possible to enter Ling Luo Peak."

His name was Bai Yulong, and he was also among the top three in the Outer Sect.

The burly Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer senior beside him scratched his head and said, "Unfortunately, my talent isn't good enough. If I go to Ling Luo Peak, I'd probably be kicked out."

This senior was named Tie Man, and he was also quite strong, cultivating in Body Refining Skills.

"Ling Luo Peak... that's a gathering place for geniuses in the Inner Sect. How could an ordinary person get in?"

"I'm different. I plan to go to Crimson Flow Peak; I heard there are many fire cultivators there. After reaching Foundation Establishment, I plan to cultivate Fire Arts."

"Once we get to the Inner Sect, I wonder if we'll be able to stand out?"

"We're not sure, but Junior Brother Lu Yi likely won't have a problem."

Everyone chatted excitedly about their future in the Inner Sect, each with a hopeful gleam in their eyes.

Soon, Dugu Fang descended from the sky, landing on the central platform. The ten people stopped talking and quieted down.

The atmosphere among the disciples watching the competition grew even more heated.

Dugu Fang swept his gaze over them and said loudly, "Quiet!"

The atmosphere immediately fell silent; Dugu Fang's authority was well-established.

He looked at the top ten disciples and said, "Now, we will begin the ranking competition for the top ten. As usual, you will face each other in pairs to determine the ranks."

While speaking, he took out ten jade tokens which floated in front of Lu Yi and the other nine.

Lu Yi took his jade token and saw: 1

He was momentarily stunned; he didn't expect to be the first?

He looked around and saw others also checking each other's tokens, seemingly curious about everyone's numbers.

At this moment, Dugu Fang said, "The competition begins now. Number 1 stays on the platform, everyone else off."

Upon hearing this, eight people lightly touched the ground and flew off the platform, leaving only Lu Yi and Tie Man staring at each other.

Lu Yi grinned at Tie Man and said, "Senior Brother Tie Man, what a coincidence?"

He said to himself, "I have to defeat Senior Brother Tie Man!"

[Task]:

Defeat Tie Man (Progress: 0/1)

Reward: Top-grade Physique Elixir*40/Perfect Yellow Bright Pill*4

Accept: Yes/No

Lu Yi saw the task and was momentarily stunned; it wasn't Qi Condensation Elixir? But Physique Elixir?

Physique Elixir is used for cultivating Body Refining Techniques; it can speed up the cultivation of Body Refining Techniques. Even if one doesn't cultivate Body Refining Techniques, taking Physique Elixir can still enhance physical strength, although not as effectively.

Lu Yi hadn't expected this task's reward to be such a valuable item.

This was really good stuff, even more precious than Qi Condensation Elixir.

One must know that a cultivator's physical strength usually follows their realm. Only by cultivating Body Refining Techniques can physical strength be enhanced. However, Body Refining Techniques are hard to cultivate and require many resources, as well as time and effort, which few people have.

Lu Yi had never cultivated them before because his previous talent didn't allow it. After his Golden Finger awakened, he focused on improving his Spiritual Energy Cultivation to ensure his combat strength increased, aiming for a good result in the competition.

He had thought about cultivating Body Refining Techniques after the competition, but he hadn't expected to receive Body Refining Pills now.

He looked at Tie Man with more friendly eyes, thinking maybe they could spar more in the future?

Tie Man saw Lu Yi's friendly smile and returned it with a simple grin, "It is quite a coincidence, Junior Brother Lu Yi. Looks like we'll be starting things off."

The disciples below became excited upon seeing that the first match was between a Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer disciple and Lu Yi, eagerly watching the central platform.

Gudu Fang glanced at the two and disappeared from the platform, his voice echoing, "Begin."

Upon hearing this, Tie Man grinned, spiritual energy surging as his skin turned a metallic gray. He clasped his fists together, producing a deep thud.

"Junior Brother Lu Yi, please guide me."

Lu Yi smiled and drew his long sword, spiritual clouds swirling around it, "Senior Brother Tie Man, please guide me."

Tie Man grinned, his thick legs tensing.

Boom!!

The ground beneath him cracked like a spider web as his body vanished, reappearing above Lu Yi's head, exuding a fierce beast-like aura.

He clenched his right fist and swung it at Lu Yi's head, the transparent energy surrounding his fist causing violent gusts, making Lu Yi's hair flutter.

Lu Yi felt a stinging sensation on his skin from the fist's force, internally marveling at Tie Man's impressive presence.

He circulated his spiritual energy, his body moving like a drifting cloud, seeming slow but actually retreating quickly.

Tie Man's punch hit nothing, creating a small crater in the platform.

Tie Man's legs tensed again, and he disappeared once more.

At that moment, Lu Yi swung his sword to the right, a fierce Sword Cloud slashing out, and Tie Man appeared right in its path.

Feeling the sharpness of the Sword Cloud, Tie Man's pupils shrank, and he roared, a layer of spiritual energy swirling around his body, making the gray iron color of his skin deepen.

Tie Man clenched his fists and punched straight at the Sword Cloud.

Boom!!

The spiritual energy-infused punch collided with the Sword Cloud, creating a thunderous noise. The shockwave spread out like a storm, and the surrounding Outer Sect disciples felt the overwhelming pressure, their eyes widening.

"Hiss... What immense destructive power!"

"This power... I'm not exaggerating, if it hit me, I'd be flat on the ground, begging the two seniors to light incense for me themselves!"

"...You're definitely not exaggerating."

"..."

At the edge of the platform, Bai Yulong and others' expressions changed as they watched the platform's intense fluctuations.

Wan Hua and the other two Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer disciples exchanged confused looks.

"...Is this really Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer?! Are they joking?"

"I'm just gonna lie down. I've made it to the top ten; I don't care about higher ranks, as long as I get into the Inner Sect."

"...Junior Brother Lu Yi is indeed something else. I'm convinced. How about we just go easy on each other, okay? No need to go all out like them?"

The three nodded in agreement.

Lin Wan'er glanced at the three and said with a mischievous smile, "Do you think they're going all out? They're just warming up."

Wan Hua and the others: "???"