Chapter 27

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On the stage, Lu Yuling stood in a white dress that fluttered in the gentle breeze, exuding a cold and distant aura, like a solitary moon in the sky or a snow lotus at the peak of an ice mountain.

In front of her, Ling Wufeng stood tall and straight. Though only around fourteen or fifteen years old, his figure was more slender than most. His fair hands, which could make most women envious, skillfully manipulated a snow-white flying knife, his fingers dancing with the blade.

Zhuge Xiang watched Lu Yuling intently. Due to his recent breakthrough, the consumption of his qi was not significant. After two duels, he had only lost about 20 points of his 130 MP, which would quickly recover. For Zhuge Xiang, the most important thing now was to observe Lu Yuling, wondering what methods she might have. Despite being one of the most outstanding geniuses, Lu Yuling had so far performed well but in a conventional manner. Zhuge Xiang had a hunch that she was hiding something.

Cultivating to the third level of the Qi Nourishing Realm was impressive, but there were twelve others in this session who had reached the same level. His Qingbo Palm had also reached the Hall of Mastery, but the other third-level Qi Nourishing Realm disciples had also cultivated their martial arts to this level. Throughout the journey, Lu Yuling had not shown any particularly outstanding skills. Upon closer reflection, she did not seem to have a particularly strong position compared to others. How had she reached this point? It seemed to rely solely on pure combat experience and techniques. Could it be that Lu Yuling was just at the third level of the Qi Nourishing Realm and had only reached the Hall of Mastery with her Qingbo Palm?

"Lu Yuling, your name is as famous as thunder. You were the first disciple in this session to comprehend qi," Ling Wufeng said, his snow-white flying knife continuously darting and flashing as he stared intently at Lu Yuling.

"You're not bad either. It seems that you and Lei Potian, among others, began to comprehend qi only about ten days after me," Lu Yuling said, still maintaining her cold demeanor as she reached into her robes.

As she spoke, Lu Yuling pulled out a small bundle of silk threads, which she used to assist her Qingbo Palm. She usually used only a few threads, but this was the first time Zhuge Xiang had seen her pull out all of them.

The silk threads flew about as if they had a life of their own. In a short moment, they transformed into a glove as thin as a cicada's wing. Lu Yuling slowly put it on her right hand, and it looked very elegant. However, it was clear that this glove was not just for show.

"Three months ago, I accidentally obtained a Heart Knife manual in the Endless Mountains. By focusing my mind, I can control the flying knife with perfect accuracy. After intense practice, I have reached the Hall of Mastery. In the sect, I cultivate the Bone-Melting Soft Palm, which complements it. You should be careful," Ling Wufeng said, looking at Lu Yuling seriously.

"Bone-Melting Soft Palm? So Ling Wufeng cultivates the Bone-Melting Soft Palm in the sect and controls the flying knife with his mind? No wonder no one can stop him," the crowd below began to murmur as Ling Wufeng spoke.

Ling Wufeng's strength was mysterious and unfathomable. If he hadn't spoken up today, no one would have known that his flying knife was controlled by his mind or that he cultivated the Bone-Melting Soft Palm in the sect.

"Um, what's going on? Revealing your own situation before a duel? Is this a beauty's advantage?" Zhuge Xiang was somewhat amused and puzzled by Ling Wufeng's words. From his appearance, Ling Wufeng didn't seem like the type to do such a thing. It seemed that only Lu Yuling's charm could explain it.

Lu Yuling's brows furrowed slightly. She clearly hadn't expected Ling Wufeng to reveal his strength. She couldn't accept this gesture of goodwill and, after a moment of silence, spoke coldly, "My cultivation is also at the third level of the Qi Nourishing Realm. In the sect, I cultivate the Qingbo Palm, which has reached the Hall of Mastery. During my adventure in the Endless Mountains, I accidentally obtained the Ice Heart Technique and have been cultivating it. I have also collected ice silkworm threads to weave this indestructible glove."

"Ice Heart Technique?" Zhuge Xiang was slightly taken aback. Techniques and martial arts were different concepts. Martial arts were simple skills activated by qi, but techniques were methods of cultivating qi. Special techniques produced different types of qi.

Although the Martial Arts Pavilion had cultivation methods for the Qi Nourishing Realm, they were only the most basic. The qi cultivated from these methods had no special qualities. Of course, choosing other techniques later would reduce the likelihood of conflicts.

Various techniques had different effects and attributes. Some techniques produced qi with a cold aura, some with a hot aura, and some with a violent aura. It was unexpected that Lu Yuling had obtained a technique. However, it was unclear what the effect of her Ice Heart Technique was.

Zhuge Xiang was surprised that Lu Yuling would also reveal her strength. Ling Wufeng was momentarily taken aback but then nodded and said no more. His face remained cold as he raised his hand, and the flying knife flashed and disappeared. Ling Wufeng finally made his move.

The unpredictable flying knife had always defeated enemies with a single strike. How would it fare against Lu Yuling?

Lu Yuling's fair hand, wearing the ice silkworm thread glove, was raised at some point. In her hand, she held a flying knife.

The unpredictable flying knife, which no one had seen being launched, was caught by Lu Yuling.

Zhuge Xiang's eyes flickered. Lu Yuling catching Ling Wufeng's flying knife revealed something to him. He had barely seen the trajectory of Ling Wufeng's flying knife, but Lu Yuling's reaction was unusually quick. As soon as Ling Wufeng released the flying knife, Lu Yuling's hand was already raised, and the flying knife fell into her hand as if it had flown there on its own.

"Is this a coincidence? This can't be explained by quick reflexes," Zhuge Xiang muttered, staring at Lu Yuling intently.

"Caught? Ling Wufeng's flying knife was caught?" Ling Wufeng, who had always defeated enemies with a single strike, had his flying knife blocked for the first time, and it was caught by Lu Yuling.

Ling Wufeng's brows furrowed. He clearly hadn't expected his flying knife to be caught, but his reaction was quick. At some point, he held a flying knife in each hand and threw them, one shooting straight ahead and the other spinning rapidly to appear behind Lu Yuling. The flying knives attacked from both front and back, a swift and unpredictable maneuver. Zhuge Xiang believed that, except for his Burst Step, he wouldn't be able to dodge, but the Burst Step required a 10-second cooldown...

Ding...

A clear sound. The flying knife that shot straight ahead was caught again by Lu Yuling's ice silkworm thread glove. The flying knife behind her, without her even turning her head, was caught by her left hand, which she had placed behind her back.

"Four knives at once," Ling Wufeng's brows furrowed. Two more flying knives appeared in his hands, and he threw them. The four flying knives collided in the air and changed direction, attacking Lu Yuling from four blind spots.

Lu Yuling's skirt fluttered as she leaped and twisted her waist in the air, her movements graceful. Two flying knives almost grazed her clothes, and she deflected the remaining two with a flying knife in each hand.

The four flying knives, unpredictable and changing direction in the air, made it difficult to react. Even Lei Potian would have struggled to deal with such a maneuver, but Lu Yuling had already prepared to dodge.

"Is this her ability? Premonition?" Zhuge Xiang's brows furrowed. Lu Yuling's performance made him feel pressured. This strange premonition ability was hard to explain.

The four flying knives shot out, but Lu Yuling had already prepared to dodge. If not for Ling Wufeng's serious demeanor, Zhuge Xiang would have thought they were putting on a show. Lu Yuling had prepared to dodge, and Ling Wufeng's flying knives just grazed her. The synchronized attack and dodge couldn't be explained by quick reflexes.

Lu Yuling's steps were light, her dress fluttering. She either dodged or deflected Ling Wufeng's flying knives, which were swift. She moved like a butterfly among flowers, her body gliding past the flying knives. In a short time, Ling Wufeng had already thrown over a dozen flying knives, but none had hit their target. Lu Yuling had already closed in on him.

Ling Wufeng smiled bitterly and said, "I have used all my flying knives. I concede."

Lu Yuling, who was about to use her Qingbo Palm, naturally stopped when she heard Ling Wufeng concede. None of his flying knives had hit, and the duel seemed to have become a one-sided performance by Lu Yuling.

"I want to know how you managed to dodge my flying knives," Ling Wufeng asked, unable to bear the fact that his mind-controlled flying knives had missed every time as he watched Lu Yuling turn to leave.

Lu Yuling paused, hesitated for a moment, and then said coldly, "The Ice Heart Technique allows me to reach a state of mental clarity. I saw through the trajectory of your flying knives."

"Mental clarity? I see," Ling Wufeng didn't see Lu Yuling leave, but his face showed admiration.

Mental clarity was a state similar to a state of no self, where all five senses and thoughts were focused. If one could concentrate all their mental energy on a single point, they could perceive the opponent's attack during combat.

Although it seemed that Lu Yuling had reached this state due to the Ice Heart Technique, it must have required a lot of hard work. Cultivation was easy to achieve, but mental clarity was difficult to cultivate. Cultivation could be improved with effort, but mental clarity required insight. This was why Ling Wufeng admired Lu Yuling, the first disciple in this session to comprehend qi.

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(Please note: This chapter has been recommended. I'm requesting votes, favorites, and a spot on the new book list. I'm only one position away from the new talent list in my category. I strongly need your support...)