Chapter 8 : One Sword

When the elder shouted the start of the third trail Jian Zheng immediately executed his movement technique to move quickly. 

His feet wasn't glowing but he believed by just circulating the technique he could reach the peak of the mountain.

Turning his head sides way Jian Zheng was surprised when he saw that Lei Yun was keeping up with him.

In fact Lei Yun wasn't just keeping up with him, he was also moving at the same speed as him. His feet were in rhythm to his which turned Jian Zheng surprise into amazement as it isn't a easy feat to copy someone so perfectly.

Jian Zheng was now wondering what background this kid had to not only have a great body refining technique but also an great movement technique.

Lei Yun raised his head to see Jian Zheng staring at him, "Hehe I know I'm handsome but I don't like men." Lei Yun then put on a flustered face as he placed his hand onto his nose in an shameful manner.

This made Jian Zheng almost slip causing him to slow down, "Hehe thanks boss I won't ever forget this favour!" Lei Yun laughed as his plan to get into Jian Zheng head succeed.

Lei Yun then increased his movement technique as he reached a quarter up the mountain in more than half a incense worth of time.

Furious, Jian Zheng grit his teeth as he never expected himself to fall for Lei Yun tricks. His feet glowed scarlet as he bring out the full potential off the Conquering Lightening Steps. With one step he traveled ten meters and in two minutes time he was already behind Lei Yun.

"What the-" This shocked Lei Yun as he looked at Jian Zheng with complicating eyes. Soon Jian Zheng overtake him which made him startled.

"Damn it!" Not messing around anymore Lei Yun also used the full potential of his movement technique as his his feet glowed white.

Scarlet and white lights jump up the mountain. It looked like two stars in the sky were having a race to a finish line.

In an instant Jian Zheng and Lei Yun reached the summit as sweat drip down their bodies. Using 100% of their movement technique has used up all the spiritual energy stored in their dantians to continue forward.

Jian Zheng looked at Lei Yun and so did he. At this moment Jian Zheng believe that Lei Yun did not come from the Cloud Empire.

"Where did this guy come from. Not only did he awaken sword aura but he also have a formidable movement technique." Lei Yun cursed silently as he was thinking the same thing as Jian Zheng. He also didn't believe Jian Zheng came from the Cloud Empire.

"You two have given me quite a surprise." The elder came up the mountain two minutes later as he look at the two boys with greedy.

"How about this, why don't you two become my..." The elder came up with the idea to take the two as disciples. Even though Jian Zheng have already rejected him the elder believed that he was still young and didn't understand how the world work.

"No!" But just when he believe that the two would say yes in an instant they both declined at the same time. The elder put on a bitter smile as this was the first time someone rejected his offer.

"Suit yourselves." The elder then sneered internally as he thought without his help these two had no hopes of entering the inner sect.

"Since you two tied then you both must fight it out for first place." The elder said. If one of them took him as their master then he would've given him first place without question but since the two were so arrogant he had no plans of playing dirty.

The elder clapped his hands together and the scenery on the peak of the mountain changed as a small stage formed where they stand. The Cloud Piercing Mountain also goes by the name Cloud Battling Mountain as its meant for inner court disciples to exchange pointers or participate in sure death challenges.

For the elder to do this must mean that he have a high position in the sect for only the Sect Master should be able to active the Cloud Piercing Mountain.

Jian Zheng looked at Lei Yun with eyes filled with battle intent, "Good Luck." He told Lei Yun before turning around to get in his position.

"I think I should be the one telling you that." Lei Yun mumbled to himself then went to the edges of the mountain. When the elder saw that both contestants were ready he nodded his head.

"Begin!" The elder shouted as his hand formed an ark that strike the mountain. When his hand landed it caused chunks of debris and dirt to fly out of the ground.

Jian Zheng and Lei Yun didn't move as they stare at each other. When the debris and dirt was about to land on the ground it felt like time slowed down. Thud! The dirt landed on the ground with a silent sound which Jian Zheng heard with his profound hearing.

'I can only end this with one strike of my sword but he's too strong.' Jian Zheng was about to make his move but stopped as he recalled that as a true swordsman he's only meant to defeat his enemy with one sword.

"Fuck..." Jian Zheng smiled bitterly. The only way he could defeat Lei Yun was if he found a flaw in his technique which would take forever.

He knew that Lei Yun body technique could refine at least 75% of others attacks so he wasn't optimistic of his full power being able to do anything against him.

"Since you won't make a move then don't blame me when I take first place!" Lei Yun saw through Jian Zheng plans and laughed. Clenching his fist his bones began cracking with the sound of thunder ranging out in his body.

His body roared like a dragon waking up from its slumber. "Cloud Dragon Palm!" Lei Yun then roared like an actual dragon as spiritual energy surged like crazy.

His cultivation at the Huotian fourth stage was released as cracks appear on the mountain. The mountain was currently trembling as Lei Yun palm flew right at Jian Zheng.

But even though it was trembling, the power coming from Lei Yun wasn't enough to cause the mountain to collapse. It would atleast take someone at the Body Transformation stage to make cracks appear on its surface.

Jian Zheng soul nearly jumped out of his body. Using his movement technique he barely dodged Lei Yun palm but just when he dodged Lei Yun send an elbow strike that hit Jian Zheng in his chest.

Jian Zheng move ten steps away from Lei Yun as blood leak out of his mouth. If the elbow strike were to continue any further then his lungs would be in sever conditions.

Jian Zheng stared at Lei Yun with fear lingering in his eyes. Now he understand why true swordsmen never lives long. If a true swordsman wasn't able to defeat their opponent with one sword then they would be killed in an instant. 

"How foolish." Lei Yun saw that Jian Zheng was still standing and sneered, "Your a rare genius yet your cutting your life short by continuing down this path." Shaking his head Lei Yun sighed.

"If you step down now I can save you from being humiliated." Lei Yun declared arrogantly. Although he sounded prideful he truly cared about Jian Zheng as he believed with his abilities he could easily prosper to great heights.

The youth at the bottom of the mountain continue looking at Jian Zheng with disdain in his eyes. "This bastard should be pleased that he entered the outer court." The youth said. His name is An Luwang whose from a family with a long history in the Cloud Empire.

There are four ancient clans in the Cloud Empire, the An Clan, Wu Clan, Lei Clan and Xue Clan. These clans has been around since the ancient era and its said that they have connections even outside the Cloud Empire.

"I refuse to surrender after all, I haven't even draw my sword." Jian Zheng stared at Lei Yun with a playful smile, 'Scarlett are you ready?' While he said that to Lei Yun he was secretly talking with Scarlet spiritually.

"Lets do this! That guy have been acting too arrogant." At this very moment Jian Zheng unsheathe his sword as red runes lit up on it.

Scarlet have activated her power, bringing out five times her original strength, "If you manage to take this one sword ill consider it your win." Jian Zheng said with even more arrogance than Lei Yun which surprised him and An Luwang.

"One sword? This fellow is even more arrogant than Lei Yun." The elder exclaimed to himself as he wondered what Jian Zheng would do to turn the situation around.

As the elder was wondering a scarlet light lit up on the hand Jian Zheng was holding his sword. At that moment his sword aura at the Huotian initial stage spread out causing the surrounding air to form illusionary swords.

These illusionary swords surround Jian Zheng as his cultivation raised to the seventh realm. When Lei Yun and the others saw this their faces changed as they were clearly shocked by Jian Zheng.

Suddenly Jian Zheng sword was enveloped by white light rays. The current Jian Zheng looked like a Saint with his sword as his tattered clothes flutter in the wind.

"The Soaring Cloud Sword Art!" The elder expression changed. He never would have thought that someone would actually cultivate the sword art after all anyone who did so would lose their path as a swordsman basically becoming a cripple in the path of swords.

Then his shock turned into admiration. A few days ago he heard from the elder in charge of the Martial Hall that a labor worker picked the Soaring Cloud Sword art to cultivate.

At that time he shook his head thinking that the labor worker was a foolish individual but now that he saw with his own eyes that someone was using the sword technique he didn't know what to say.

"Soft Cloud Quivers!" Jian Zheng then swung his sword with all his might as the white aura left his sword, turning into crescent sword light.

The clouds in the sky floated quickly as they followed at the same speed as the sword light. The phenomenon made the elder and An Luwang amazed, "Astute stage!" The elder exclaimed as Jian Zheng actually managed to get the Sword art to the astute stage after releasing this attack.

Roar! Seeing that this formidable attack was getting closer to him Lei Yun body start cracking again as he released his full strength at the sword light, "Haa! Watch how I break your attack! Cloud Dragon Palm!" With a shout thunder sounds broke through his body as his palm landed on the sword light.

When his palm touched the edges of the sword light it shattered instantly surprising Lei Yun but the next second his expression changed as he coughed up mouthful of blood and was sent flying away by a mysterious power.

Lei Yun was sent off the mountain as he crashed on the ground like a star falling down when it clash with another star. When he crashed down a small explosion occurred as spider web cracks ten times larger than an actual web was created as dust flew out into the air.

When the dust settled you could see that Lei Yun had several marks on his body. These marks went deep into his skin almost reaching his bones. If it weren't for his body refining technique who knows if he would be able to survive Jian Zheng sword.

"This..." The elder looked at Lei Yun with fright. He immediately jumped down from the mountain and landed softly next to Lei Yun. The elder could see that Lei Yun have completed black-out as his eyes rolled in his sockets showing only white as fraught escape his mouth.

His entire face was pale as his back was filled with blood. The elder quickly took out a pill and forced it into Lei Yun mouth. Soon the elder saw his expression become rosy and sighed in relief.

"To be defeated by one sword this brat shouldn't be underestimated." The elder exclaimed as all this time he thought Lei Yun would win the battle.

The attack from Jian Zheng has opened the elders eyes as he now understand why people fears swordsmen.