Chapter 632 - 257: True Inheritance

It seemed this wasn’t an impulsive challenge after all.

As Chen Qing unleashed the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body, the blood and qi in his body roared like a furnace, and his strength, speed, and defense surged in an instant!

He no longer retreated. The Diancang Spear in his hand blazed with an unprecedented light!

Black Tortoise Shaking the Mountain!

The spear spun like a divine tortoise shouldering a mountain. A defensive Spear Momentum, as heavy as the earth itself, spread out, forcefully blocking the surging tide of the attack!

"CLANG—!!!"

Sparks flew like a waterfall! Chen Qing’s frame shuddered violently, yet he didn’t retreat even half a step!

The next moment, he counterattacked!

He infused the spear with his Dragon Elephant Power while his Cyan Wood True Gang surged and roared, unleashing the True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear at the Perfection Realm to its absolute limit!

True Martial Seven Joints!

The spear lunged like a dragon, instantly creating what looked like seven afterimages. Each one contained the terrifying Power to shatter mountains and sunder peaks. Like seven cold arrows tearing through the sky, they enveloped Lu Chenming, targeting his vital points!

Lu Chenming’s expression finally changed!

He had never expected Chen Qing’s Body Refining Cultivation to be so powerful, much less that his counterattack would be so swift and ferocious!

He made his saber dance like a spinning wheel of light, pushing his Nine Heavens True Astral to its limit as he desperately defended himself.

BANG BANG BANG BANG...!

A rain of percussive impacts exploded through the air!

Under the pressure of Chen Qing’s sudden eruption of terrifying strength and piercing Spear Momentum, Lu Chenming was forced back step by step, the reach of his saber light shrinking continuously.

’Could it be...!?’

Stunned, Meng Qianxue watched the tables turn on the platform. An unbelievable thought began to form in her mind.

The composure on the faces of everyone from the Nine Heavens Lineage had long since vanished, replaced by looks of grim tension.

Meanwhile, everyone from the True Martial Lineage held their breath, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation—could Chen Qing really have a chance to defeat Lu Chenming and become the new True Disciple?!

More and more disciples surged in from all directions. The area around the once-sparse Seven-Star Platform was now a sea of people, the roar of the crowd soaring to the sky!

Everyone had a growing feeling that the outcome of this challenge might just defy all their initial expectations!

"BOOM—!!!"

The two clashed head-on once more. The collision of True Astral and vital energy triggered a violent explosion, filling the air with dust and smoke.

As the dust began to settle, Chen Qing could be seen swaying slightly. He took a single step back and planted his feet firmly, a bronze-gold light flowing around him, his aura as imposing as ever.

Lu Chenming, on the other hand, stumbled back five consecutive steps. The arm holding his saber trembled slightly, and a trickle of blood even spilled from the corner of his mouth!

He glanced at the long saber in his hand, its light now somewhat dim, then looked up at Chen Qing, whose aura was still vast and majestic. His gaze became incredibly grave.

"I... underestimated you."

Lu Chenming’s voice carried a hint of hoarseness. He slowly raised the long saber in his hand.

With this movement, a vast, majestic, and terrifying Saber Intent, seeming to originate from beyond the Nine Heavens themselves, suddenly descended!

With him at the center, the very air on the Seven-Star Platform seemed to freeze. The formless pressure made the disciples standing close to the stage nearly suffocate!

The platform’s surface began to vibrate violently. Small pebbles seemed to lose their gravity and slowly floated into the air, only to be silently turned to dust by the Saber Intent!

"Is that Saber Intent!?" Elder Deng Ziheng’s brow furrowed as he spoke in a low, heavy voice.

"The outcome is decided. It looks like Chen Qing is going to lose," Gong Nansong said, taking a deep breath.

"What?! Saber Intent!?"

"Brother Lu actually managed to comprehend Saber Intent from the Nine Heavens Soaring Heaven Saber!"

"Everyone must have forgotten that Brother Lu was once a renowned genius of the Saber Path!"

"What a shame. Chen Qing was just one step away!"

"Looks like the match is decided!"

"Chen Qing loses with honor! Forcing Brother Lu to this extent is something to be proud of."

"Incredible..."

...

The crowd below erupted into an uproar, the sound of their discussions sweeping through like a tidal wave.

Everyone was overwhelmed by this immense Saber Intent. Some disciples were utterly horrified, a chill shooting up from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads.

’This...’

Meng Qianxue was utterly shaken. She never thought Lu Chenming had such a powerful ace up his sleeve.

’What a pity.’

Ruan Lingxiu sighed internally at the sight.

Qu River also shook his head inwardly, not having expected Lu Chenming to be holding back.

’Then again, it’s to be expected. He’s been a True Disciple for eight years. How could he not have a few aces up his sleeve!?’

As everyone watched, the long saber in Lu Chenming’s hand transformed into a brilliant beam of light, as if to sunder heaven and earth. Imbued with a supreme will that towered over the Nine Heavens, it slashed down ferociously toward Chen Qing!

The very air seemed to scream wherever the saber light passed!

Chen Qing felt an overwhelming sense of mortal danger wash over him, and every hair on his body stood on end!

He felt like a lone skiff tossed on a stormy sea, in danger of capsizing at any moment.

’It’s over...’

This was what the vast majority of the people below the stage were thinking.

Saber Intent was the manifestation of Martial Dao Will, a power that could only be born after cultivating an Unparalleled Martial Art to the Extreme Realm and perfectly merging it with one’s own spirit.

Its might far surpassed ordinary Martial Arts Techniques.

Lu Chenming’s foundation was profound. With his Nine Heavens True Astral empowering his Saber Intent, the gap in their Cultivation was too vast to bridge, even with Chen Qing’s Body Refining Secret Technique.

No one believed Chen Qing could withstand this strike.

Deng Ziheng took a deep breath, preparing to intervene and protect Chen Qing.

However, just as the saber light that seemed capable of extinguishing all existence was about to strike him, the unexpected happened!

An unprecedented light erupted in Chen Qing’s eyes!

The surging Cyan Wood True Gang inside him suddenly changed. An incomparably sharp Geng Metal Qi and a vast, enduring Breath of Li Fire erupted, instantly fusing with the Cyan Wood True Gang!

It was no longer simple Cyan Wood True Gang, but a fusion of Cyan Wood, Li Fire, and Geng Metal—a fusion of three True Astrals!

The three-colored True Astral intertwined and flowed, transforming into a blended True Astral. The pressure it emitted was not in the least bit weaker than Lu Chenming’s Nine Heavens True Astral—in fact, it was even stronger!

"Wait! Is that... a fusion of Three True Astrals!?"

As if he had recalled something terrifying, Elder Gong Nansong froze, his face a mask of utter shock and disbelief!

It wasn’t just him; the expressions of Deng Ziheng and several other knowledgeable Elders also changed drastically, all of them visibly shaken!

A fusion of Three True Astrals!

Chen Qing was also a genius who cultivated Three True Astrals!?

This kid... he actually hid his strength so deeply!

"Hm!?"

Ruan Lingxiu’s Heart and Spirit tensed once more, and her breath caught in her throat.

’Something’s not right!’

Qu River also took a deep breath, a grave look appearing on his face.

At the same time, Chen Qing pushed his Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body to its limit. His vital energy and blood burned like the Heaven and Earth Furnace, and the phantom of the Dragon Elephant almost became solid!

The Diancang Spear in his hand blazed with unprecedented light. His Perfection Realm True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear, his fused three-element True Astral, and the vast vital energy of his Dragon Elephant Wisdom—the three merged into one perfect whole!

Demon Suppression Mountain!

Facing that brilliant and unstoppable Heaven-Reaching Blade Intent, Chen Qing thrust out his strongest spear strike yet!

This one thrust seemed to carry the supreme power of Emperor Zhenwu himself—a power that could suppress legions of demons and bring order to the world!

At the tip of the spear, the True Astral was highly condensed, and the very air rippled!

The spear tip struck the brilliant saber light with unerring precision!

"HUMMM—!!!"

There was no deafening explosion, only a low hum, as if from the dawn of creation!

The point where the saber light and spear glow met seemed to devour all sound and light.

The next moment, an indescribable shockwave spread out silently. Wherever it passed, the protective light barrier of the Seven-Star Platform rippled violently, flickering in and out of existence!

The light faded, and the wild winds ceased.

It felt as if an eternity had passed in that moment.

All eyes snapped toward the stage.

The brilliant bronze-gold light around Chen Qing had dimmed, and blood flowed from the web of his thumb down the spear’s shaft.

But the cyan, gold, and red of the Three True Astrals still churned within him, roaring like three great rivers through his meridians, emanating a heart-stopping, tyrannical power.

In the distance, Lu Chenming was kneeling on one knee, the long saber that had once unleashed the Heaven-Reaching Blade Intent now his only support.

The blade was embedded in the hard stone of the platform, cracks spreading out from where it stood.

He tried to prop himself up with the saber, but his arm trembled violently. As his chest heaved, another uncontrollable mouthful of blood surged up, staining the ground before him.

He raised his head to look at the figure still standing as straight as a spear a hundred feet away, his expression impossibly complex.

"...."

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but all his words were blocked by the surging blood in his throat.

The arm supporting his body finally gave way. His entire Essence, Qi, and Spirit seemed to be completely drained along with that mouthful of blood. He grunted, pitched forward heavily, and lost consciousness completely, collapsing onto the cold Seven-Star Platform.

"CLANG—"

The long saber slipped from his hand and fell onto the stone surface, making a crisp and lonely sound.

The sound wasn’t loud, but it struck everyone’s heart like a heavy hammer.

The entire main peak fell deathly silent, the only sound the crisp rustle of a gentle breeze.

.....