Chapter 77

"Still, there's one thing you need to be clear about. The reason I'm challenging you just as the challenge phase is about to end is intentional! I want to make sure you can't enter the final stage!"

"Now, our battle can begin!"

As Jing Shuhe spoke, he drew his weapon, a silver longsword. The longsword shimmered with a silver glow. This was a high-quality weapon!

Jing Shuhe's challenge to Jing Yan naturally attracted the attention of countless onlookers.

The challenge phase was about to end, and at this time, Jing Shuhe, who was at the Ninth Heaven of Martial Dao, stepped onto the stage to challenge Jing Yan. His intentions were obvious.

No matter who won or lost, one of these two would definitely not be able to enter the final stage.

"How can Jing Shuhe be so bold? Does he really think he can defeat Jing Yan?"

"Jing Shuhe is at the Ninth Heaven of Martial Dao, and among the Ninth Heaven martial artists, his strength is indeed quite strong. However, even if he were to fight Li Tianfu, he might not necessarily defeat him, right?"

"Hehe, don't you know Jing Shuhe? This person has always been extremely arrogant. No martial artist below the innate realm can be taken seriously by him. Now, it's clear that he believes he can defeat Jing Yan!"

Many martial artists around the square were discussing and talking.

So far, the vast majority of people did not think that Jing Shuhe would be a match for Jing Yan. Even the Jing family members of the Grand Elder and Fifth Elder's lineage slightly shook their heads.

They believed that Jing Shuhe's behavior was dooming his family's competition.

Jing Yuxiang on the high platform in the square had a dark expression.

He did indeed let Jing Shuhe challenge Jing Yan, but he only wanted to put on a show.

This situation was unexpected even for him.

Originally, the ten Ninth Heaven martial artists should have been able to easily enter the finals. But now, at least one of them would not be able to enter the finals.

"Swish!"

On the stage, Jing Shuhe lightly moved his silver longsword, and the sword shadow appeared.

Qi energy also surged forth.

"What?"

"What is that?"

At this moment, the originally noisy square was suddenly stunned. Then, an even more intense wave of excitement followed.

Because they saw that in front of Jing Shuhe, amidst the floating sword shadow, there was a layer of faint mist.

Even Jing Ziqi's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise.

Jing Ziqi was at the innate realm, and she could certainly recognize what that white mist was!

"How can this be?" Jing Ziqi bit her lip, worried.

"Heavens!"

"Qi energy turning into mist! That's Qi energy turning into mist!"

"Is Jing Shuhe a strong innate realm martial artist?"

One by one, shocked gazes stared at the white weapon in front of Jing Shuhe, exclaiming in shock.

Even the lowest-level martial artists knew that the mark of a strong innate realm martial artist was when Qi energy condensed to a certain degree and turned into mist visible to the naked eye.

"But that's not right. In the previous test, Jing Shuhe was clearly a Ninth Heaven martial artist! If he were at the innate realm, he wouldn't be able to participate in the competition!" Someone frowned, recalling the test.

In the test, Jing Shuhe was indeed at the Ninth Heaven. Unless the test crystal had a problem.

On the high platform in the square!

"Half-step innate! Jing Shuhe is already at the half-step innate realm! He is just a step away from the true innate realm!" Jing Chengye exhaled and slowly said.

Half-step innate is also known as the minor perfection of Martial Dao. It means that in the realm below the innate, a martial artist's path has reached a perfect state, which is also a limit.

Of course, not all Ninth Heaven martial artists will experience the half-step innate stage. Some martial artists will directly advance from ordinary Ninth Heaven to the innate realm.

However, the half-step innate realm is also frequently seen.

Martial artists at the half-step innate realm have their Qi energy partially turned into mist, but not completely. Only a part of it has been transformed.

However, even the partial transformation of Qi energy is enough to make all Ninth Heaven martial artists fall short.

Qi energy that has turned into mist contains power sufficient to sweep away all ordinary Ninth Heaven martial artists.

Now, the surrounding martial artists finally understood where Jing Shuhe's confidence came from. Jing Shuhe was already at the half-step innate realm. No wonder he believed he could defeat Jing Yan.

At this moment, the dark expression on Jing Yuxiang's face turned into a smile, and his eyes sparkled. His grandson, Jing Shuhe, had brought him glory. The half-step innate realm was very close to the true innate realm.

Jing Shuhe was only twenty-five years old now. In a few years, before he turned thirty, he might step into the innate realm. Martial artists below thirty years old who reached the innate realm had a very good chance of entering the three major academies of Lanqu County for cultivation.

"Yuxiang, you!"

"Hehe, you're really so composed. Shuhe has already reached the half-step innate realm, and you never mentioned it." Grand Elder Jing Chunyu patted Jing Yuxiang's shoulder and said with a smile.

"Hehe..." Jing Yuxiang laughed.

In fact, if he had known earlier that Jing Shuhe was at the half-step innate realm, he would have announced it long ago. How could he have held back? Jing Shuhe was his direct grandson!

He only found out about Jing Shuhe's half-step innate realm now.

Considering Jing Shuhe's personality, he felt relieved. Jing Shuhe was naturally quiet and aloof. It was normal for him not to mention his breakthrough in realm.

"Things are not looking good!" Fourth Elder Jing Tianying frowned.

Seeing that Jing Shuhe was at the half-step innate realm, Jing Tianying also became worried about Jing Yan.

The strength of a half-step innate martial artist far exceeds that of an ordinary Ninth Heaven martial artist.

The gap between Ninth Heaven martial artists and innate realm martial artists is a vast chasm that is hard to measure. The two are almost incomparable. However, the gap between half-step innate and innate realm is relatively smaller. Innate realm martial artists also look down on half-step innate martial artists, and some innate realm martial artists even call half-step innate "pseudo-innate."

On the stage, Jing Yan's expression also became more serious.

If Jing Shuhe were not at the half-step innate realm, Jing Yan would not have cared at all. Even if the opponent were a Ninth Heaven martial artist comparable to Li Tianfu, Jing Yan could easily deal with him. But, half-step innate...

Jing Yan's own Qi energy had not yet begun to turn into mist. He had only recently advanced to the Ninth Heaven.

"Half-step innate, huh?" Jing Yan's eyes flickered.

"Let me see just how strong a half-step innate is!" Jing Yan's fighting spirit soared.

Jing Yan planned to fight with the innate realm Jing Tianlong. How could he retreat when facing a half-step innate realm martial artist? How could he retreat?

Fight!

Fight on!