Chapter 32: Three Strong Advancements (Part 1)

Back in the cave, Master Xuan Yu instructed Master Zi Yang to heal Yun Feng's injuries, while he took the others outside for a discussion. Looking at Lu Yun, Master Xuan Yu asked, "Does anyone know where Yun Feng learned the Yin-Yang technique?"

Lu Yun glanced at Proud Snow and whispered, "This matter goes back to the day in the Yin Soul Forest. On that day, in order to deal with the Ghost Immortal, Yun Feng also used the Yin-Yang Sword Technique and almost annihilated the Ghost Immortal under its power. Yun Feng learned this technique from his master, Ghost Master, who unintentionally acquired it in an ancient cave and passed it on to him."

Master Xuan Yu and Master Zi Yang exchanged a surprised glance. Master Xuan Yu said, "So he didn't plan to use it initially. It was only provoked by Exhibition Jade, leading him to disregard the consequences and forcefully use the technique, resulting in severe injuries. Yun Feng should not have cared so much about winning or losing in this case."

Li Hongfei spoke in a deep voice, "Although he lost this battle, he actually won. If he hadn't been severely injured and used this unique technique, the outcome of this match might have been different."

Master Xuan Yu said, "With one victory and one loss in the morning, be careful in the afternoon matches. I don't want anyone to end up heavily injured like Yun Feng. Victory is important, but everyone should assess their capabilities. If you know you're not a match, don't force it. Preserve your strength for the next round. Now, Lu Yun and Proud Snow, prepare for the critical afternoon match. Lu Yun will face Cold Family's ranking third, Leng Jiahao, a formidable opponent."

Master Zi Yang sighed, "This time, six matches in two days, and three of them against Tianjian Academy. We seem to have a narrow path with them. Hopefully, tomorrow's matches won't pair us against them again." Everyone nodded in agreement.

In the afternoon, Yun Feng had recovered some strength and insisted on going to watch the matches outside. Master Xuan Yu allowed him, and the arrangement was for Master Jingyue and Li Hongfei to accompany him, while Master Zi Yang stayed behind to monitor Lu Yun's match closely.

Lu Yun looked at Proud Snow and smiled gently, "Good luck, let's win together. Tomorrow, we'll participate in the battle for the top six." Proud Snow looked at him, and in her misty eyes, a hint of tenderness appeared. After a glance at the arena, Proud Snow said, "Be careful, I wish you all the best." She turned and drifted away.

Watching her silhouette fade away, Lu Yun was contemplating the mysterious feeling in her eyes. Yun Feng patted his shoulder, chuckled, and said, "She's gone, why are you still looking? Do you feel a strange sensation in your heart? Hehe, your expression is quite interesting."

Lu Yun glared at him, noticing his pale face, and said softly, "Enough of your nonsense. Let's watch as I take revenge for you." He walked out of the cave.

By the arena, Master Zi Yang watched Lu Yun with concern and said, "Good luck, just do your best." Lu Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master. I will win. You'll see. Yun Feng collapsed here in the morning, and this afternoon, I'll make someone from Tianjian Academy collapse here." With that, he smiled slightly, carrying a meaning that only Master Zi Yang couldn't fully understand.

Lu Yun slowly entered the arena, looking at Yun Feng and Master Xuan Yu. He nodded slightly, smiling, and approached. On the opposite side, Leng Jiahao also walked up. The two stood a yard apart, silently observing each other. Leng Jiahao, twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, had a fair complexion. His narrow face held a pair of eyes shining with an extraordinary brilliance, giving off a calm and collected demeanor. Dressed in light blue clothes, he held a long sword in his left hand, standing still like a mountain.

Lu Yun's gaze was slightly puzzled as he looked at Leng Jiahao and said softly, "Eiyuan Lu Yun, please enlighten me." With that, the As-You-Wish Heart and Soul Sword, emitting a faint red light, circled above his head.

Leng Jiahao's expression remained aloof as he coldly said, "Tianjian Academy's Leng Jiahao, be on your guard." Without any extra words, they went straight into action. Leng Jiahao's long sword emitted a light blue glow and soared into the sky. The blue light descended, stopping three feet above Leng Jiahao's head, standing still, with the sword pointing directly at Lu Yun.

Lu Yun smiled faintly, and the As-You-Wish Sword whistled, charging straight at Leng Jiahao. In mid-air, a blue light met it, and the two different lights collided in an instant. The blue and red lights returned after the collision. Leng Jiahao snorted, instantly elongating his body into a mass of sword shadows, bathed in a blue glow, appearing in front of Lu Yun.

Lu Yun's eyes remained calm. The As-You-Wish Sword in his right hand followed a unique trajectory, attacking continuously with one hundred and eighty strokes. Over a hundred sword shadows formed a strong defense in front of Lu Yun, creating a dazzling display of red light, clashing with Leng Jiahao's blue light. In the hundreds of exchanges, both felt the strength of the other. Their figures intertwined, passing each other, and the red and blue lights fluctuated, making it difficult to determine a winner.

On the side of Yiyuan, Master Xuan Yu looked at Lu Yun and whispered to Master Zi Yang, "Lu Yun's cultivation is quite peculiar. There seems to be a shadow on him, constantly concealing something. I remember the first time I saw him in Yiyuan, I had a strange feeling, always thinking that he should be hiding something, but unfortunately, I have never been able to see through it. Like now, if it were Yun Feng instead, do you think his approach and judgment against the enemy would be similar to Lu Yun's?" The last sentence was clearly directed at Yun Feng.

Yun Feng, watching Lu Yun swiftly moving in the arena, spoke softly, "It's hard to say. My feeling is that Lu Yun is sometimes unfathomable. Every time he faces danger or a formidable enemy, he appears calm, without the usual panic. This time, he told me he would reclaim the Qiankun Pouch for Yiyuan. I think he might succeed. The key is to see how he performs in this round. If he wins, there's still hope." Master Xuan Yu shook his head slightly, sighed softly, and said nothing.

Master Zi Yang, watching Lu Yun in the arena, had eyes full of care and anticipation. This was the first outstanding disciple of Yang Academy in many years. Would he win or lose this battle? Would it be a disastrous defeat like Yun Feng? In fact, from Master Xuan Yu's recommendations for Proud Snow and Hongfei, Master Zi Yang understood that Lu Yun and Yun Feng were the weaker two among the four. Yun Feng had already lost this time, so what about Lu Yun? Would he be the one eliminated?

On the other side, Li Hongfei and Exhibition Jade were also paying attention to this battle. Watching Lu Yun in the arena, Exhibition Jade's face showed a slight coldness. "This time, Yiyuan's four individuals are exceptionally strong. Let's not talk about that Lin Yunfeng. I don't know where he learned the long-lost Yin-Yang technique, causing you to be heavily injured at the last moment. As for this Lu Yun, he has no fame in Yiyuan, coming from the weakest Yang Academy. Yet, his cultivation is surprisingly formidable, not weaker than Lin Yunfeng. Adding the other two disciples with strong cultivation, Yiyuan will be a formidable opponent this time."

Exhibition Jade looked at Lu Yun and sneered, "Tomorrow, I hope to face him. By then, I will make him know how powerful I am. Unfortunately, it's a pity he won't have a tomorrow because he is destined to lose this battle." Exhibition Jade nodded slightly, "Hopefully. That would be best."

In the arena, Lu Yun and Leng Jiahao had been exchanging moves for dozens of rounds. At this moment, it was difficult to determine who was superior. Both were extremely cautious. Through this long exchange, Lu Yun deeply understood that Tianjian Academy's reputation for its sword techniques, dominating the cultivation world, was justified. They had maintained their top position among the six academies for five hundred years with their supreme skill, the Tianjian Nine Strikes.

In Lu Yun's perception, Leng Jiahao's attacks were extremely fierce, with fast and agile speed, and his moves were naturally flowing. Truly worthy of being from Tianjian Academy, ranking third among their outstanding youth. Watching Leng Jiahao's powerful sword aura, like flowing clouds and myriad illusions, made one feel powerless to resist. Lu Yun's body moved as fast as lightning, weaving and spiraling through the myriad sword shadows. In his hand, the As-You-Wish Sword emitted a burst of red light, carrying a vigorous and domineering True Fire Elemental energy, meeting the opponent's relentless assault like waves.

Leng Jiahao's body flickered, appearing in mid-air. Looking at Lu Yun, he understood that relying on the speed and subtlety of sword moves would not lead to victory. Now was the time to showcase his formidable strength. Leng Jiahao's entire body glowed with purple light, and his blue long sword erupted with powerful momentum, instantly shrouding the entire arena. The flowing air around them came to a standstill at that moment, appearing mysterious and domineering.

With the long sword in hand, Leng Jiahao roared, "Receive my Shaking Heaven Technique!" As he spoke, Leng Jiahao's right hand trembled, and a powerful force burst forth. The ground trembled, and countless dust particles scattered in mid-air. The blue light surged, and in an instant, countless sword shadows, centered around Leng Jiahao, shot out in all directions, enveloping the entire space. The tremendous power made the surrounding air difficult to breathe, and everyone watching felt the difficulty of breathing, deeply shocked by his formidable strength. The Shaking Heaven Technique was truly worthy of being Tianjian Academy's supreme skill, extraordinary in every way.

Lu Yun leaped into the air, standing in the void. Watching the sword shadows fiercely shooting and attacking, Lu Yun's expression became serious. The As-You-Wish Sword in his right hand conjured thousands of giant waves, layer by layer, forming countless defensive formations in front of him to withstand the opponent's attack. The powerful blue light was all-pervading, penetrating everything. In a blink of an eye, more than two hundred clashes occurred between Lu Yun's sword and Leng Jiahao's, the formidable force shaking Lu Yun's body slightly. In his heart, he was amazed at the enemy's strength.