Chapter 629 - 257: True Inheritance

She didn’t think Chen Qing could win. She had come mostly to prevent Lu Chenming from landing a vicious blow, hoping she might be able to intervene at a critical moment.

In the distance, the disciples from Xu Wang Mountain—Zhu Yu, Shang Lujing, Wang Bo, and Zhuo Xiaoyun—had already arrived.

Zhuo Xiaoyun murmured, "A True Disciple!? Can he really do it?"

For everyone present, this was nothing short of earth-shattering.

It wasn’t just her. Even people Chen Qing didn’t know, like Tian Pingning from Xu Wang Mountain and Qiu Qixing standing nearby, now had varied expressions as their gazes focused on him.

After He Shuang, Chen Qing was the second prodigy from the Hundred Sects selection of Xu Wang Mountain to challenge a True Disciple.

The other True Successor Candidates were also standing in their own groups.

Wu Anren and Luo Qianjue wore solemn expressions, evidently quite curious about Chen Qing’s true strength.

Wan Shangyi and Qian Baole were whispering to each other. Even Han Xiong had appeared silently in a corner, his gaze fixed on the platform above.

Nie Shanshan and a few of her fellow Inner Sect disciples stood in the distance.

Additionally, there were disciples and informants from various Noble Families and factions who had come to observe the contest.

All in all, the crowd wasn’t particularly large, and the atmosphere was nowhere near as fervent as it had been for He Shuang’s challenge.

After all, in the eyes of most, there was little suspense about the outcome. They were more interested in seeing how long this newly emerged dark horse, Chen Qing, could last against Lu Chenming.

All eyes eventually converged on the tall, wide Seven-Star Platform.

The sounds of discussion gradually died down, eventually fading into silence.

At this moment, two Main Peak Elders stood on the stage with their hands clasped behind their backs. They were Deng Zizheng and Gong Nansong.

The two had been the Steward Elders for the Hundred Sects selection, and they would now preside over this challenge.

Gong Nansong stroked his beard as he looked down at the sea of heads and the young, potential-filled faces below. He couldn’t help but sigh. "Time flies. This batch of seedlings from the Hundred Sects selection has produced an endless stream of geniuses. The last one was young He Shuang, and now Chen Qing has made it here as well."

Deng Zizheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Chen Qing, who stood waiting quietly to one side of the stage. His voice carried a hint of imperceptible anticipation. "Indeed. The boy’s spirit is tenacious and his foundation is solid. He already showed great promise during the selection. It was fate that I was able to guide him into my True Martial Lineage."

As he himself was from the True Martial Lineage, he naturally hoped Chen Qing would accomplish something great and restore the lineage’s prestige.

"The hour has come. It is time to begin."

Gong Nansong stood up, his resounding voice echoing across the entire Seven-Star Platform. "True Successor Candidate Chen Qing challenges the tenth-ranked True Disciple, Lu Chenming! This battle will be conducted according to Sect rules: stop before a fatal blow is struck. Intentionally maiming a fellow disciple is forbidden, and violators will be severely punished! Contestants, enter the arena!"

Chen Qing and Lu Chenming stepped forward in unison, walking toward the widest area in the center of the Seven-Star Platform.

They stopped, a hundred feet apart.

Lu Chenming stood tall, his aura as heavy as a mountain. He spoke. "The seventh."

Chen Qing, holding the Diancang Spear, stood as still as a pine tree and said nothing.

Lu Chenming continued, his tone flat as if stating a simple fact, "It’s been eight years. You’re the seventh True Successor Candidate to stand on this platform and challenge me. The six before you all failed."

"To have defended your rank for eight years, Brother Lu must have worked hard," Chen Qing finally said, his voice just as calm, betraying no emotion.

"Not hard work," Lu Chenming said, the corner of his mouth curling into a slight arc. "Just a bit of a nuisance."

"I suppose," Chen Qing said, raising a hand to gently stroke the cold shaft of his spear, his eyes locked on Lu Chenming, "that from this day forward, you’ll be free of this nuisance, Brother Lu."

Lu Chenming’s eyes narrowed instantly, a cold light flashing within them before disappearing. Then, he burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA! Junior Brother Chen, you’re quite the comedian!"

His laughter echoed across the empty expanse of the platform.

Chen Qing’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. His tone was as impassive as ever. "Perhaps you misunderstand me, Brother Lu."

"I never joke with people who aren’t my friends."

The instant the words left his mouth, an aura as piercing as the dead of winter began to emanate from Chen Qing.

The very air seemed to grow taut, as if unseen strings had been pulled tight. The battle was about to erupt!

A pale gold Nine Heavens True Astral erupted from Lu Chenming’s body like a volcano, instantly blanketing half the Seven-Star Platform.

The air whined in protest wherever the True Astral passed, as if unable to bear the weight.

Some disciples in the front rows with weaker Cultivation turned pale. They found it hard to breathe and hastily staggered backward.

Lu Chenming let out a low roar. His body and the gleam of his saber seemed to merge, transforming into a golden torrent that tore through the air as it cleaved down toward Chen Qing!

Before the blade even arrived, its sharp, unstoppable Saber Momentum had already locked onto Chen Qing, making his very skin crawl with a bone-deep chill.

Chen Qing’s gaze was as calm as still water. Faced with this incomparably tyrannical strike, he advanced instead of retreating. The ground beneath his feet exploded as the Diancang Spear in his hand let out a fierce, ringing cry, as if a slumbering black dragon had awakened. He met the attack head-on!

BOOM—!!!

The tip of the spear clashed violently with the Saber Astral! It was like a thunderclap splitting a clear sky!

Chen Qing felt an irresistible force surge down the shaft of his spear. It contained the unique, piercing, and vibratory properties of the Nine Heavens True Astral, and it shot straight through to his meridians!

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP! He was forced back three consecutive steps, each one leaving a deep imprint on the incredibly hard platform. His right arm, which held the spear, trembled slightly as a wave of aching numbness washed over it.

Lu Chenming, however, merely swayed for a moment before steadying himself. Although his pale gold Saber Astral had been dispersed, its power was clearly a notch above.

Having gained the upper hand in a single exchange, Lu Chenming didn’t pause for a moment. His body moved with his blade, sticking to Chen Qing like a shadow.

His right hand, fingers held together like a blade, suddenly switched from a chop to a slash. A condensed arc of golden light shot horizontally toward Chen Qing’s waist, moving so fast it left only an afterimage!