Chapter 9

"Lu Xiaolong!"

"Lu Xiaolong has finally made his move."

"Lu Qinghe is truly too audacious. What Lu Xiaolong and the others said earlier is correct. With his meridians severed, he is as good as a cripple. What face does he have to remain in our Qingyuan Academy? He is a disgrace!"

"Lu Qinghe may have had decent strength due to his excellent sword skills back then, but as long as Lu Xiaolong makes his move, he can surely stabilize the situation!"

When Lu Xiaolong drew his sword, it immediately caused a stir among the many students.

Even those who had witnessed the confrontation between Lu Qinghe and Gu Zhen's soul were impressed.

"Lu Xiaolong!"

Lu Qinghe's eyes flashed with a cold light.

"Do you really think I, Lu Qinghe, am powerless against you!?"

Meteor from the Sky!

In an instant, the meteor streaked through the air!

Lu Qinghe's true qi was only at the first level of True Qi cultivation, but the speed bonus from the sword's speed was equally astonishing.

"Bang!"

The two swords clashed, and a heavy explosion of air erupted from the center, a current of air rapidly spreading in all directions.

"How is this possible..."

His sword, his almost ambush-like full-strength strike, was actually blocked by Lu Qinghe!

However, Lu Xiaolong, ultimately the sixth-ranked powerhouse of Qingyuan Academy, quickly reacted after his first strike missed. He turned his sword, creating a dazzling array of sword light, like a gust of wind from the heavens.

"Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords!"

"Bang!"

The sword carried the power of the Heavenly Wind, instantly enveloping Lu Qinghe's figure.

But just as these sword tips were about to pierce Lu Qinghe, his figure suddenly split into three, weaving through Lu Xiaolong's sword shadows.

"Three Purities from One Sword!"

"Whoosh!"

Three sword shadows, two of which simultaneously struck Lu Xiaolong's sword tip, causing his sword to vibrate and his sword technique to falter.

The third sword, however, drove straight forward, reaching Qin Huailing.

Qin Huailing, who had been at a disadvantage against Lu Qinghe, felt that the situation was now settled when he saw Lu Xiaolong make his move. They were well aware that although Lu Xiaolong was ranked sixth in Qingyuan Academy, it was because he had encountered Bei Zhen during the ranking competition. In terms of strength, he could have entered the top three of Qingyuan Academy.

With him making the move, they were secure.

However, in the heat of the moment, he never expected that Lu Qinghe would attack him while engaging Lu Xiaolong.

"Bang!"

Flames burst forth.

Caught off guard, although Qin Huailing managed to block Lu Qinghe's sword tip with his own, the entire sword flew out of his hand from the shock.

"Meteor!"

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lu Qinghe's sword drove straight forward.

"Lu Xiaolong, save me!"

"Lu Qinghe, you dare! Heavenly Wind Breaks the Battle!"

Lu Xiaolong roared, his sword spinning rapidly, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords creating a sky full of sword shadows, the technique astonishing.

"Ah!"

At this life-and-death moment, the surrounding students couldn't help but scream loudly.

"Whoosh!"

Lu Qinghe's sword did not hesitate for a moment.

Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!

"Swish!"

Accompanied by the spray of blood.

This sword, however, grazed Qin Huailing's neck, leaving a glaring blood mark!

Lu Xiaolong, ultimately a top student at the third level of True Qi cultivation, had a cultivation level not much weaker than Yi Yingying. In a life-or-death struggle, Lu Qinghe might be able to kill him, but he would also suffer severe injuries.

Lu Xiaolong's full-strength Heavenly Wind Breaks the Battle was like a thunderbolt. If he did not slightly dodge, while his sword would pierce Qin Huailing's throat, he would also be pierced by Lu Xiaolong's sword.

A life for a life!?

Qin Huailing's life was not worth it!

Therefore, Lu Qinghe made a brief dodge at the critical moment.

"Rip!"

Lu Xiaolong's shoulder was torn by Lu Xiaolong's fatal strike, leaving a blood mark.

Before Lu Xiaolong could be pursued further, he used the Step-by-Step technique, his steps changing in an incredible manner, almost creating an illusion. When Lu Xiaolong's sword technique approached again, Lu Qinghe had already turned to face him head-on.

"Save me, save me!"

Qin Huailing screamed in a shrill voice, clutching the wound on his neck, his eyes filled with fear.

Lu Qinghe's sword had not killed him, but it had caused him to bleed profusely, and with the wound on his neck, his fear was magnified to the extreme.

"Lu Qinghe!"

Seeing Qin Huailing, who was pale and clutching his right hand, and Yan Wuchi, who was continuously screaming, Lu Xiaolong knew that this time, he had suffered a major setback.

Lu Qinghe, whose true qi had been severed, had managed to use his sword skills to bring them to this state.

He seemed to recognize the first-time Qingyuan Academy's top powerhouse.

If...

If the other party also had the third level of True Qi cultivation, he would have been killed in a single encounter with this sixth-ranked powerhouse of the academy.

"Lu Qinghe, what do you want!?"

Lu Xiaolong looked at Qin Huailing and Yan Wuchi, especially Qin Huailing, who was a member of the Qin family of Qingyuan City. If he died, Lu Xiaolong would be held responsible, and as a merchant, he would face severe repercussions.

"I said, compensation, three hundred gold."

"Three hundred gold!"

Lu Xiaolong glanced at Qin Huailing, whose face was becoming increasingly pale due to fear and blood loss, and then untied his money bag: "I have twenty-four gold on me, my jade pendant is worth forty-eight gold, making it seventy gold. The remaining thirty gold, I will send later."

"The thirty gold, you can repay with your sword."

Lu Qinghe said.

"You... My sword is named Ziyu, a divine weapon from the Divine Weapon Workshop, priced at fifty-two gold, and you actually..."

"Then, I might as well take it myself."

Lu Qinghe said, already preparing to draw his sword again.

"Stop!"

Lu Xiaolong had already judged from their previous confrontation that the other party's strength was not inferior to his. Moreover, now was not the time for a confrontation.

"Here."

Lu Xiaolong coldly said, and the Ziyu sword flew out, embedding itself in the door frame.

"Qin Huailing, you have a hundred gold on you, leave it. And Yan Wuchi, your sword, jade pendant, and other items."

Lu Qinghe said simply.

But his gaze was extremely cold.

It seemed that if these two did not comply, he would immediately kill them with his sword.

Qin Huailing and Yan Wuchi could gather a hundred gold, as they had said themselves.

Lu Xiaolong did not dare to cause any further trouble and quickly untied Qin Huailing's money bag. Yan Wuchi also left his money bag, jade pendant, and sword.

At this moment, he was filled with fear towards the former top powerhouse of Qingyuan Academy, whom he had not taken seriously just a short while ago.

Soon, the three of them left the high-end dormitory, their faces filled with sorrow and no trace of their previous arrogance and arrogance.

As the three left, Lu Qinghe did not stop them again.

The two swords, plus the one that Qin Huailing had previously been knocked out of his hand, made three. The value of the three swords was: Ziyu, the most valuable at fifty-two gold, followed by Yan Wuchi's, and then Qin Huailing's, totaling around one hundred and twenty gold.

Then there was the cash on their persons, totaling one hundred and sixty-four gold.

Including the jade pendant with the effect of nurturing true qi.

The total value was nearly four hundred gold.

Almost half the price of a Unity Spirit Pill.

With these four hundred gold, Lu Qinghe would not have to worry about his meat resources for the next three months. Moreover, with three months of continuous consumption of fierce beast meat to refine essence into qi, and the aid of body-strengthening herbs, restoring his true qi cultivation to the third level of True Qi would not be a problem.

Looking at the dormitory, which was almost completely destroyed, with clothes and daily items shattered, Lu Qinghe shook his head.

All traces of the past, erased...

So be it, start anew.

With this thought, Lu Qinghe did not linger inside any longer. Under the admiring and reverent gazes of the many students, he turned and left.

...

"Buzz!"

After Lu Qinghe left, the entire corridor immediately became lively. Everyone was excited, their blood pumping, and they looked at Lu Qinghe's departing back with disbelief and shock.

"Pure sword skills can be this strong!?"

"Even Senior Lu Xiaolong was powerless against Senior Lu Qinghe? Senior Lu Xiaolong is a third-level True Qi cultivator, one of the only four third-level True Qi cultivators in our Qingyuan Academy."

"Senior Lu Qinghe truly lives up to being the top powerhouse of our Qingyuan Academy. Even without true qi, he can still overpower a third-level True Qi cultivator. That sword technique is simply incredible."

All the students couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

The shock and awe in their hearts were almost unbearable, and they wished to tell everyone about today's battle, to let those with average True Qi cultivation know that as long as they master exquisite sword skills, they can also rise to prominence.

Compared to the shock of the other students, those who had previously mocked Lu Qinghe were now silent.

Gu Zhen, who had been beaten to the ground, also dared not say another word.

Earlier, he had hoped that Senior Lu Xiaolong would help him regain his face and severely punish Lu Qinghe, avenging his humiliation.

But after witnessing Lu Qinghe's explosive combat power, all his thoughts had vanished, leaving only fear.

He quietly left the corridor without disturbing anyone.

"Unfortunately, Senior Lu Qinghe's meridians were severed. Unless he obtains a meridian-repairing pill, he cannot move true qi. No matter how exquisite his sword skills, it is difficult for him to reach the pinnacle."

A young female student said with some regret.

"Fear not, with such sword skills, Senior Lu Qinghe can earn a fortune by teaching at any sword school. He can buy a Unity Spirit Pill in two to three years."

"Before the age of twenty-five is the golden age for cultivation. Delaying for two to three years, it is uncertain how much more Senior Lu Qinghe can achieve."

Hearing the female student's words, the others also felt very regretful.

If it weren't for Lu Qinghe's severed meridians and inability to move true qi, they would have witnessed the rise of a genius.

At this moment, a young student suddenly spoke, somewhat puzzled: "However, I am curious, with such sword skills, and his peak third-level True Qi cultivation, almost ready to break through the Ren and Du meridians, why did Senior Lu Qinghe sneak attack Senior Bei Zhen? I have seen Senior Bei Zhen's sword skills, although exquisite, they are not outstanding."

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so people present simultaneously had the same doubt.

With such sword skills, Bei Zhen should not have been his match. Over the years, Lu Qinghe had always been superior to Bei Zhen in Qingyuan Academy, yet during the promotion exam, it was rumored that Lu Qinghe had secretly attacked Bei Zhen...

Considering Bei Zhen's rumored extraordinary background, the quicker-witted students had already understood something...

The truth of this matter needs further investigation.

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"However, I am curious, with such sword skills, and his peak third-level True Qi cultivation, almost ready to break through the Ren and Du meridians, why did Senior Lu Qinghe sneak attack Senior Bei Zhen? I have seen Senior Bei Zhen's sword skills, although exquisite, they are not outstanding."

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so people present simultaneously had the same doubt.

With such sword skills, Bei Zhen should not have been his match. Over the years, Lu Qinghe had always been superior to Bei Zhen in Qingyuan Academy, yet during the promotion exam, it was rumored that Lu Qinghe had secretly attacked Bei Zhen...

Considering Bei Zhen's rumored extraordinary background, the quicker-witted students had already understood something...

The truth of this matter needs further investigation.