This sentence was Lu Zhou's evaluation of Zhang Wanxiang. He had long seen that Zhang Wanxiang had just sprouted the tenth leaf. Zhang Wanxiang was clearly unfamiliar with his newfound strength and would use the same move twice. To paralyze his opponent, Zhang Wanxiang would make slight changes to the technique the second time he used it. In this regard, Zhang Wanxiang could not compare to Yu Zhenghai who lived life on the edge of the saber.
Yu Zhenghai abandoned the saber and mobilized his Primal Qi. With a single move, he soared to the height of 100 meters.
Sovereign Descent.
The Dark Heaven Starlight.
Yu Zhenghai cast two techniques at the same time.
At this moment, the rain from the sky seemed to have turned into energy sabers.
"The sword of creation?" Yu Shangrong frowned slightly. This was a theory from the sword path.
The people next to Yu Shangrong who had heard his words and asked curiously, "The sword of creation?"
Yu Shangrong calmly explained, "It's a theory from the sword path…"
"The sword path?"
"There are three kinds of swords: the commoner's sword, the lord's sword, and the son of heaven's sword. However, above all these three swords, there's the sword of creations. Otherwise known as the swordless path," Yu Shangrong patiently explained, "What that person is doing is similar to the sword of creations even if he executed it rather awkwardly…"
Everyone seemed enlightened upon hearing Yu Shangrong's words and nodded in admiration.
Someone said, "That's considered an awkward execution? In any case, his energy sabers enable him to stand against a Ten-leaf cultivator despite only having nine leaves…"
"We're not talking about the energy sabers. I'm talking about the theory from the sword path…"
"You're right."
At this moment, the energy sabers continued to fall heavily like torrential rain.
Zhang Wanxiang's 200-foot red lotus avatar spun horizontally in position, stirring up the debris and rubble in the surroundings.
Soon enough, a circle of energy with a diameter of 200 feet suddenly shot out.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
The collision was thunderous and violent like a raging storm.
Zhang Wanxiang raised his chin and smiled. It was within his expectation that his opponent would change his move. "Nine leaves are ultimately not a match for ten leaves!"
Zhang Wanxiang leaped up as a saber appeared in his hand. Between his fingers, the scripts 'The Path Has No Name' appeared; they were surrounded by black runes.
Upon seeing this, Lu Zhou frowned slightly. "Hmm? Black runes?"
If it was just a Ten-leaf cultivator, Lu Zhou would not worry about his disciple at all. However, with the appearance of the black runes, things had gotten complicated.
Lu Zhou looked in the direction of Yu Shangrong who was standing among the cultivators and saw the calm expression on Yu Shangrong's face. It was clear Yu Shangrong had no intention of making a move at all. He wondered if he was worried for nothing again. If Yu Shangrong claimed to know Yu Zhenghai second best in the world, no one would dare to claim the first place. Since Yu Shangrong was calm, why was he getting worried for nothing?
Back in the sky.
When Yu Zhenghai saw Zhang Wanxiang making this move, he said in a deep voice, "I've been waiting for you…"
Following that, Yu Zhenghai pressed both his hands down.
In just an instant, energy blades surged up from all directions.
Zhang Wanxiang was not intimidated at all. He looked at the saber in his hands, clearly very confident about the black runes. He aimed for Yu Zhenghai's heart as he said, "You're dead."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The saber in Zhang Wanxiang's hand parted the sea of energy sabers in the sky as the red lotus avatar followed in its wake. When he was about to arrive before Yu Zhenghai…
Yu Zhenghai suddenly parted his palms.
Buzz!
Whoosh!
The Jasper Saber stuck in the mud buzzed before it flew up majestically into the air. In just a moment, an energy saber that was thousands of meters long appeared and slashed at the back of the red lotus avatar. It landed accurately on the shoulder of the 200-foot red lotus avatar. Its strength did not decrease as it continued to slice down until exited from the avatar's chest. Just like that one-third of the avatar was sliced by the thousands of meters long energy saber that was formed by the Jasper Saber. It looked as though someone had torn a hole in the sky.
Zhang Wanxiang cried out in pain. The black runes and the saber in his hand were still a few meters away from his opponent, and his avatar had been damaged, severely injuring his Dantian's sea of Qi.
At this moment, Yu Zhenghai used the Great Dark Heaven Palm again. The palm seal landed accurately on Zhang Wanxiang's chest.
Boom!
Zhang Wanxiang fell from the sky and crashed into the rubble of the collapsed buildings.
The ruins that were littered with dilapidated buildings were now like flatland.
Yu Zhenghai looked down at Zhang Wanxiang who was lying in a puddle of water. He was rather satisfied with the result of the battle.
Everyone was stunned by the outcome.
"The expert from the Evil Sky Pavilion is actually so strong?"
"First, he discarded his desolate-grade weapon and threw crazily powerful attacks at this opponent. Then, when the red lotus avatar was about to attack, he used his desolate-grade weapon to launch a sneak attack from the back! Wonderful! It's truly wonderful!"
Yu Shangrong looked at everyone and said, "This is just a superficial feint. These moves are only flashy, but they're very powerful. Moreover, the opponent's lack of combat experience is a huge flaw. In conclusion, it's not that the Nine-leaf cultivator is strong; it's just that the Ten-leaf cultivator is too weak."
"…"
"Brother, you talk as if you're very strong. If you're capable, why don't you go out there?"
Yu Shangrong smiled gently and said in a polite tone, "It's unfortunate that he has been defeated. If I were to make a move, he would've lost even more miserably."
"…"
Everyone was rendered speechless by Yu Shangrong's words. This person was really great at acting cool. They did not want to pay attention to him anymore.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhou who was observing from the distance nodded in satisfaction. He recalled that when he was in the Evil Sky Pavilion, his two eldest disciples were already at the peak of the Eight-leaf stage. Although Ji Tiandao did not protect his two disciples, they were still able to dominate the cultivation world and rivaled each other. Now that he thought about it, he had never really witnessed them defeating a powerhouse. After witnessing the battle today, he was very gratified.
The thunder had stopped ringing, but the rain was still falling.
Nevertheless, Lu Zhou's hearing, even without the Heavenly Writing Power, was extraordinary. He could easily hear everything in the distance. As he looked in the distance, time seemed to slow down as his eyes pierced through the rain that was falling incredibly slowly.
Lu Zhou's heart stirred slightly. It seemed like he had become stronger. Was this a passive ability that came with activation of the fourth Birth Chart?
Back in the ruins, Yu Zhenghai slowly descended. However, he came to a stop next to Zhang Wanxiang before his feet touched the ground. Then, he raised his hand and the Jasper Saber flew back into his hand.
As his protective energy evaporated the rain before they could fall on him, Yu Zhenghai said, "Seventh Junior Brother told me that the genius from the Zhang family was missing and that there was a possibility he might seek revenge. You only changed your name but openly used your surname; how can I not be on guard? Zhang Ximing, what's the point?"
The onlookers broke out in an uproar upon hearing these words.
"Zhang Ximing of the Zhang family? I heard that Zhang Yuanren committed suicide in the palace because he was afraid of being punished. After that, Zhang Ximing's whereabouts was unknown. As it turns out, he broke through to the Ten-leaf stage?"
"No wonder. I felt something was amiss earlier. In the beginning, it looked like a friendly spar, but as time went on, it seemed like he was out for blood."
"Zhang Yuanren deserves it. It seems like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Zhang Yuanren's crimes have long been posted all over the capital. There's no one who's unaware of what he had done. However, this Zhang Ximing still has the audacity to seek revenge? If he's so capable, why didn't he seek revenge from that mighty Thousand Realms Whirling expert? He deserves to be spat on for picking on a Nine-leaf cultivator!"
Words could assassinate. Si Wuya's strategy was incredibly effective. There was no one who did not know that the loyal and valiant Zhang Yuanren was actually a corrupt and treacherous official; he was a traitor that everyone despised. Just the saliva of the common people was enough to drown the Zhang family.
Yu Shangrong smiled faintly before he said, "I'm afraid the matter isn't so simple."
"Brother, don't you think you're overthinking things…"
Yu Shangrong continued to say, "That's not true. Forget about Zhang Ximing being a new Ten-leaf cultivator. Did you see the black runes around his hand earlier? It's proof that the Zhang family was colluding with the black lotus domain…"
The people nearby were about to refute his words when…
Yu Zhenghai raised his head and looked at Yu Shangrong before he asked, "Second Junior Brother, what do you think about my victory?"
Yu Zhenghai's voice was loud and clear so even the onlookers who were standing 1,000 meters away, just outside of the ruins, heard his words. The onlookers were surprised that he had discovered their presence so quickly. In any case, that was not important. What was important was… Who was his Second Junior Brother?!
Yu Shangrong replied, "It's barely passable."
Everyone. "???"
Yu Zhenghai argued, "I used the Sovereign Descent and saber of creation to attack Zhang Ximing. He thought that was my main attack, but he did not know the Jasper Saber was my killing move. How's that barely passable?"
Yu Shangrong said, "It's true that the Sovereign Descent has extraordinary effects. However, what do you mean by saber of creation? It's called the sword of creation. Technically, you used a sword skill. Perhaps, that was why the effect was rather lacking when you tried to turn all creation into sabers. If it were me, I'd easily use the sword of creation and turn the rain in my swords to kill Zhang Ximing without needing to launch a sneak attack…"
"This…" Yu Zhenghai's mouth opened and closed for a moment before he said. "What you said is just a hypothesis. I admit it was a little difficult to use all creation as sabers. However, it's not possible for you to defeat him with energy swords alone with launching a sneak attack."
Everyone. "???"
Yu Shangrong calmly refuted Yu Zhenghai's words, "Eldest Senior Brother, have you forgotten that my sword has been repaired?"
Whoosh!
The Longevity Sword flew out of its sheath. Not only was it repaired, but it had also advanced to the flood grade. As it spun in the air, 80,000 energy swords filled the sky. Together with the rain, they formed a huge sword that covered the entire sky. It spun in the air above everyone.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
After a moment, the energy swords seemed to disappear into the Longevity Sword. Following that, the Longevity Sword flew back into its sheath.
The Longevity Sword's speed was so fast that the cultivators present could barely catch a glimpse of its shadow.
Everyone. "…"
The two cultivators who thought that Yu Shangrong was bragging and acting cool were dumbstruck.
Yu Zhenghai said, "The difference between the two weapons can't be considered as a difference."
"Eldest Senior Brother has a point…"
Just like that, the two disciples reached an agreement.
At this moment, Zhang Ximing grunted and coughed out muddy water. His expression was one of disbelief as he looked at Yu Zhenghai hovering above him. He could not resign himself to this outcome! How could a Ten-leaf cultivator lose to a Nine-leaf cultivator? This was a great humiliation everywhere in the cultivation world! His eyes shone with undisguised hatred as he endured the pain and asked, "Y-you… You already knew everything right from the start?"
Yu Zhenghai replied nonchalantly, "You know too little about the Evil Sky Pavilion. I have a junior brother who's extremely intelligent. As you can imagine, he makes for an excellent strategist. He had rounded up all the members of the Zhang family after His Majesty ordered the Zhang family to be executed. It was not difficult to notice your absence. There are very few people who dare to challenge me in this world. You sure have guts…"
"My Zhang family was… wronged… wronged…"
Yu Zhenghai asked, "Tell me, did the black lotus domain contact you?"
Zhang Ximing laughed maniacally. There was a hint of sorrow in his laughter. "You want to know? Unfortunately, I'm not going to tell you anything…"
"Do you think I won't be able to find out if you don't tell me?"
Zhang Ximing said in between his coughs, "So what… if you find out? I… I knew I couldn't defeat a Thousand Realms Whirling expert so I decided to kill a Nine-leaf cultivator first…" All of sudden, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes were bloodshot, and the blood on his chest was mixed with mud. When he recovered, he continued to say, "T-they… They… will d-definitely c… come…"
"They?" Yu Zhenghai tilted his head slightly.
