Chapter 41: Purple Lightning Flowing Cloud Sword

As time passed, the turmoil caused by the slaying of Lin Hai gradually began to subside. Within the Flowing Cloud Sect, whether it was the inner or outer disciples, their attention gradually shifted to another matter.

The once-in-five-years sect competition!

The Flowing Cloud Sect was a relatively ordinary sect in Luoyun City, but with a heritage spanning several hundred years, its scale was not small. It had over a thousand disciples, and to encourage their cultivation, such competitions were necessary.

The sect competition was a major event for the Flowing Cloud Sect, held only once every five years. At that time, not only would all the high-ranking members of the sect attend, but people from the hundreds of towns and villages under the sect's jurisdiction would also come to join in the excitement.

The scene was always incredibly spectacular!

Because of this, the sect competition was always a good opportunity for both inner and outer disciples to stand out. Lin Hai, who was killed by Shen Chen, had precisely emerged victorious in the previous competition by defeating the Shadow Sword Li Xuan.

In the blink of an eye, five years had passed, and in less than three months, that exciting day would come again.

For this reason, the vast majority of the disciples in the sect were desperately cultivating. Performing well in the sect competition had unparalleled significance, and many disciples who were confident in their achievements over the past five years were looking forward to that day.

In comparison, the incident of Shen Chen killing Senior Brother Lin Hai was gradually forgotten, though the bet was still on everyone's mind. Many people were curious about how Shen Chen and Wang Yue would secure the top five positions among the inner disciples in the sect competition...

...

On Luoyan Peak, in the evening, two figures were still diligently practicing on the mountaintop, drenched in sweat.

"Brother, can't you be a little gentler? I'm not Lin Hai, why do you have to use so much power with your Netherworld Ghost Slash!"

During the practice, Wang Yue complained bitterly and soon threw down his two axes in a huff, refusing to continue.

Upon closer inspection, there was a fresh cut on his right arm, though not deep, it was still bleeding.

This wound was Shen Chen's doing.

"You brat, stop whining. If it were your enemy, your right arm would have been severed by that strike!"

Shen Chen, at this moment, reined in his bloodlust and walked over with his iron sword, clearly dissatisfied with Wang Yue's complaints.

Although it was just a practice match, Shen Chen still hoped Wang Yue would give it his all, but this kid clearly didn't.

In Shen Chen's view, he hoped Wang Yue, who came from a small mountain village, would become more ruthless. The path of a martial artist was destined to be bloody, and only the most ruthless, strongest, and most talented could reach the end and stand out among the crowd.

"But you're my brother, I can't bring myself to do it..." Wang Yue muttered softly.

He naturally knew that Shen Chen was doing this for his own good, but whenever he faced Shen Chen, for some reason, his two axes would hesitate, knowing he couldn't defeat Shen Chen but also fearing he might hurt him.

Shen Chen was at a loss. Not only because of the bond they had formed over the past days, but also because of the life-saving grace Wang Yue's family had shown him. Shen Chen was determined to help Wang Yue advance further in cultivation.

The Flowing Cloud Sect was not the limit of Shen Chen's ambitions, and he didn't want Wang Yue to be limited to thinking about such an ordinary sect. However, some deeply ingrained beliefs were hard to change.

"Suit yourself, but if you're not ruthless enough, you'll eventually suffer a great loss," Shen Chen said with a hint of frustration. "And I must remind you, during the sect competition, your grandfather and sister will likely come to watch. If you get expelled from the sect in front of them, you'll find it hard to hold your head up in the future."

Shen Chen's words had the desired effect. Wang Yue could care less about other things, but he couldn't ignore his grandfather and sister. He immediately clenched his teeth and said, "Alright! To avoid disgracing my grandfather, I'll give it my all! It's just a girl, I can't be afraid of her. Brother, let's go again!"

The girl Wang Yue referred to was none other than Zhong Ling, the fourth-ranked inner disciple, known as Senior Sister Zhong Ling among the inner disciples.

If they only needed one position, they could defeat the fifth-ranked inner disciple who had automatically advanced. But if they wanted two positions, both Shen Chen and Wang Yue would have to defeat the fourth-ranked Zhong Ling.

The reason was simple: if Shen Chen defeated Zhong Ling first, she would drop to fifth place, and Wang Yue's opponent would then be the original fourth-ranked Zhong Ling.

This was precisely what Shen Chen and Wang Yue were worried about, especially Shen Chen, who was very concerned that Wang Yue might not be able to defeat Zhong Ling. Hence, he even let Wang Yue suffer a minor injury to clear his head.

"Alright! From now on, you must grit your teeth and train hard. Even I don't have a sure win against Senior Sister Zhong Ling, so you'd better take her seriously!" Seeing Wang Yue's renewed spirit, Shen Chen took the opportunity to remind him.

A year ago, when Zhong Ling left the Flowing Cloud Sect to train, her cultivation was said to have reached the Seventh Level of the Blood Fusion Realm. After a year, she would undoubtedly be even stronger. Shen Chen himself had some confidence, but Wang Yue was a different story.

The practice resumed, and Shen Chen immediately used the first move of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld, the Netherworld Ghost Slash!

Shen Chen had mastered this move to perfection, and its power was at its peak, making Wang Yue suffer greatly. In a short time, his arm had several more small cuts.

"Again!"

Encouraged by Shen Chen's words, Wang Yue was determined to fight harder. Despite repeated defeats, he kept getting back up, and his pair of axes soon broke free from their restraints, fighting with all his might.

"Mountain Splitting Axe, Sweeping a Thousand Armies!"

"Netherworld Ghost Slash!"

"Force Splitting Huashan!"

"Netherworld Ghost Slash!"

...

The struggle on the top of Luoyan Peak continued for a long time, with Shen Chen always responding to Wang Yue with the Netherworld Ghost Slash.

The Nine Cuts of the Netherworld were aggressive and lethal, and under the pressure of such a fierce martial technique, Wang Yue's fighting spirit was maximally stimulated, honing his skills.

As the sky gradually darkened and stars appeared, Shen Chen stopped and casually stuck his iron sword in the ground.

"Alright, that's enough for today. After you apply the golden wound medicine, carefully think about the process and details of each injury. It will be very beneficial for you!" Shen Chen said, putting away his sword.

"Brother, aren't you coming back with me?" Wang Yue's fighting spirit had not completely dissipated, and he looked at Shen Chen with some confusion, clearly having gained a lot.

Shen Chen was already at the edge of the cliff, his back to Wang Yue, seemingly enjoying the evening breeze.

"Sure, you go ahead. I'll stay here for a while and then come back." Shen Chen said without turning around, smiling faintly.

"Alright, I'll go first!"

Wang Yue didn't suspect anything, picked up his axes, and walked down the mountain, quickly disappearing into the dense forest.

After Wang Yue had been gone for a long time, Shen Chen finally turned around.

He glanced at a large pine tree nearby and respectfully bowed into the darkness. "Sect Master, the cool breeze here is refreshing. Why don't you come out and enjoy it?"

"Ha ha ha! What a keen observer, no wonder you're a rare talent who has unblocked the head meridians!"

As Shen Chen spoke, a black figure darted over from the towering pine tree, revealing the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect, Liao Yan.

Earlier, there had been no extra movements on the mountaintop, and no one would have thought there was another person hiding there. However, this also demonstrated the Sect Master's formidable cultivation.

If not for Shen Chen's advanced head meridians and keen senses, he might not have detected Liao Yan's presence.

"Shen Chen, I observed that you have become very proficient with the Netherworld Ghost Slash. Your talent in swordsmanship is impressive. How about we spar?"

Liao Yan stepped out of the darkness, and a precious sword had appeared in his hand.

The sword's blade was smooth and gleamed with a cold light, clearly not an ordinary weapon. Liao Yan held the sword behind his back, his eyes twinkling with excitement, like a camel suddenly spotting a water pond in the desert.

"Alright, I would be honored if you would guide me, Sect Master!"

Shen Chen was somewhat amused and helpless. From the look of the Sect Master, it seemed this battle was unavoidable. The Sect Master, regardless of the significant difference in cultivation, clearly hadn't sparred in a long time and was eager to do so.

Shen Chen was happy to oblige. On one hand, he was grateful for Liao Yan's support, and on the other, he wanted to see the prowess of a peak Blood Fusion Realm martial artist.

"Netherworld Ghost Slash!"

Without further ado, Shen Chen thrust his sword, creating a whirlwind, and aimed it at Liao Yan with great precision.

As the first move of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld approached, Sect Master Liao Yan did not dodge or move, standing still.

Liao Yan's face was calm, and he didn't even assume a defensive stance.

Just as Shen Chen's fierce strike was about to pierce Liao Yan's chest, the Sect Master moved.

"Clang!"

Liao Yan's sword smoothly blocked the attack, the blade meeting Shen Chen's sword tip perfectly, creating a shower of sparks. Shen Chen's momentum came to an abrupt halt, unable to advance any further.

Most astonishingly, Shen Chen's sword tip was now less than an inch from Liao Yan's chest. Any closer, and his iron sword would have drawn blood.

But this tiny inch was like an insurmountable chasm, and no matter how hard Shen Chen tried, he couldn't move it an inch.

"This..."

Shen Chen was speechless. Since learning the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld, he had never felt such a sense of defeat. A move that was so aggressive and precise was so easily deflected by Liao Yan.

The Sect Master hadn't even used a specific technique, just a simple block.

Was the gap really that big?

Shen Chen was stunned, but he soon noticed something. About two meters away, Liao Yan's arms and legs were flowing with blood light.

Counting carefully, there were exactly twelve streams!

At this moment, Shen Chen finally understood the incredible strength and speed of a Twelfth Level Blood Fusion Realm martial artist. At that level, their instincts alone were enough to block his Netherworld Ghost Slash.

"Your swordsmanship is quite cunning, but... with just this, you can't embarrass me," Liao Yan said meaningfully.

"Ah... then I'll use the final move, the Dark Spring Cut," Shen Chen scratched his head, pretending to be confused.

"Alright, don't hold back. I want to see the combined effect of the three moves of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld. Don't worry, I have no ill intentions, and I won't tell anyone!" Liao Yan smiled faintly.

Shen Chen's heart tightened. The combined moves of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld were one of his secrets, involving a mysterious mirror. No one, except the deceased Lin Hai, had ever seen it. How did the Sect Master know?

But Shen Chen soon calmed down. The Sect Master was famous for his swordsmanship and had a profound understanding of sword techniques. It wasn't surprising that he could deduce some of the secrets of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld from the incomplete manual.

"Ha ha, Sect Master, your insight is truly remarkable. Alright, I'll give it my all!"

Shen Chen smiled awkwardly, feeling like his tail had been stepped on.

"Netherworld Ghost Slash!"

"Shadow Ghost Sword!"

"Dark Spring Cut!"

After the initial awkwardness, Shen Chen attacked fiercely. In front of the Sect Master, he had no need to hold back. Although the combined moves were extremely powerful, Liao Yan's foundation was far beyond that of Lin Hai.

Shen Chen knew he still had a long way to go before he could match a Twelfth Level Blood Fusion Realm martial artist.

"Good! No wonder you could kill that unlucky Lin Hai. The combined power of the three moves of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld is indeed impressive. I wonder how powerful it would be if all nine moves were used together!"

Seeing Shen Chen's sword shadow quickly merge into a continuous flow, Liao Yan couldn't help but praise him. Then, he leaped up to meet the attack.

"Since you're giving it your all, I'll show you the subtleties of our sect's signature technique, the Purple Lightning Flowing Cloud Sword. Watch this!"