Chapter 1175 - 1172: Flames of Jealousy, Battle of the Rising Stars

The duels went on one after another, and at most, three people simultaneously issued challenges.

The competition started from the first level and proceeded layer by layer. Luo Feng was on the ninth level, so it would take some time for his turn, and he sat at the edge of the dragon pillar, watching the others compete.

These contestants were all elite disciples from the various Golden Palaces. Studying their martial arts techniques could not only enhance his own combat experience but also help him understand the martial arts styles of the major Golden Palaces, preparing for future matches.

In each round of the advancement competition, a contestant only had one chance to challenge, so the pace of the competition was fast. It wasn’t long before it reached the seventh level.

"Oh, it’s them."

Noticing the two figures on a dragon pillar on the seventh level, Luo Feng’s eyes flashed.

The two were old acquaintances, Shi Zhong from the Yuangang Hall and Liu Changfeng from the Purple Extreme Palace.

During the twelve Golden Palace examinations, Shi Zhong and Liu Changfeng were his rivals. If he remembered correctly, they were also among the eight new stars this year.

"It’s Shi Zhong from Yuangang Hall and Liu Changfeng from Purple Extreme Palace!"

So far, there hadn’t been any particularly exciting matches. Seeing Liu Changfeng challenge Shi Zhong, many eyes were immediately drawn.

"They are both among this year’s eight new stars. Shi Zhong ranks seventh, and Liu Changfeng ranks eighth. I wonder who will win this match."

"Both Liu Changfeng and Shi Zhong are at the early stage of the Ninth Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm. You can’t tell the difference in cultivation levels, so the key to victory lies in their martial arts realm and actual combat experience."

"Shi Zhong’s saber technique is bold and open; when he moves, it’s astonishing. He was born to wield a saber. I believe Shi Zhong will win the match, but I wonder how long Liu Changfeng can hold on."

"That’s not necessarily true. Liu Changfeng’s swordsmanship is also not simple."

A rare exciting duel aroused high emotions among the crowd, and the discussions were intense, rising and falling.

Luo Feng was also looking forward to this match, especially Shi Zhong. His steady aura, in Luo Feng’s perception, was like a thundercloud, seemingly ordinary but harboring extremely terrifying power.

A person with such an aura has frightening explosiveness, and it’s hard for anyone to affect his mindset.

On the dragon pillar platform.

Liu Changfeng and Shi Zhong stood thirty steps apart.

Looking at Shi Zhong, Liu Changfeng sneered coldly:

"Shi Zhong, just because you’re ranked higher than me doesn’t mean you’re stronger. After this battle, the ranks of the eight new stars will be rearranged."

In the twelve Golden Palace examinations, whether in reputation or strength, Shi Zhong was far inferior to Liu Changfeng. However, now he was ranked above Liu Changfeng, which made Liu Changfeng burn with jealousy. As soon as the competition on the seventh level started, he challenged Shi Zhong without hesitation, aiming to put him under his feet again.

Of course, Liu Changfeng was even more jealous of Luo Feng, but he understood that the gap between them was too large, and jealousy was useless.

Shi Zhong’s personality was like his name, reticent and silent. Facing Liu Changfeng’s provocative attitude, his expression didn’t change at all, he shook his head and said:

"You’re not my match."

Hearing this, Liu Changfeng’s face darkened, and his facial muscles twitched. He said grimly:

"Good! Let’s see what you’re going to use to defeat me."

Clang!

As the words fell, Liu Changfeng drew his sword, his wrist flicked, and the blade danced in the void, scattering purple sword qi.

The sword qi was erratic, like a celestial phenomenon, seemingly real yet illusory at the same time, making people very uncomfortable.

"This is the Purple Extreme Palace’s Nine Palace Purple Cloud Sword!"

"The Nine Palace Purple Cloud Sword is a Profound Level superb swordsmanship. It is said that the ancestor who created this swordsmanship was a master of formations, so the swordsmanship is implicitly infused with formation mysteries, and the sword qi can affect the opponent’s sensory perception. Any mistake could lead to a desperate situation."

"I see, earlier I thought the sword qi was flickering near and far, and I thought I was seeing things."

Many people recognized the swordsmanship Liu Changfeng was displaying, and the disciples and senior figures at the peak of the Golden Palace were also discussing it.

Luo Feng listened to the voices nearby and nodded silently.

He had noticed something strange when Liu Changfeng drew his sword. Although the Nine Palace Purple Cloud Sword was a Profound Level superb swordsmanship, the ability to affect the opponent’s senses was extremely formidable and posed a threat no less than an ordinary Earth Level low-grade sword technique.

However, Liu Changfeng’s mastery of the swordsmanship was not at its peak, and the sword qi could only create a shifting illusion, unable to completely deceive the senses, so its power should be significantly reduced.

Of course, no matter what level Liu Changfeng had refined the swordsmanship to, it posed no threat to Luo Feng. In front of his perception, these little tricks were completely exposed.

Shi Zhong looked at Liu Changfeng, frowned slightly, and his gaze became serious. He sank his center of gravity, placing his right hand on the handle of his saber.

Buzz!

The moment his palm grasped the handle, an invisible momentum spread out centered on him, making the airflow on the entire platform turbulent, creating swirling winds.

If Shi Zhong had been a deep lake before, now he was a river engulfed in raging, turbulent waves, an invisible aura enveloping all sides. The platform, hundreds of meters in circumference, seemed unable to contain his small figure.

"What an astounding intent realm. Shi Zhong’s saber cultivation is truly remarkable."

Luo Feng sensed the change in Shi Zhong and raised his eyebrows.

At this moment, Shi Zhong’s Jing Qi Shen were fused into one, like a sharpened blade, the man and saber as one. Such a feat was not something any ordinary saber man could achieve.

"Defeat me! Purple Mist Across the Sky!"

Liu Changfeng didn’t know what had changed in Shi Zhong, but the overwhelming pressure from him brought immense pressure. Without thinking, he unleashed his move, his body leaping into the air, thrusting his sword in midair.

Swoosh!

A streak of purple sword qi shot across the sky, like a purple rainbow piercing towards Shi Zhong.

"Cutting Mountain Slash!"

Shi Zhong took a step forward, his eyes flashing with brilliant light as he drew his saber to strike.

Swish!

Before the saber edge even reached mid-air, the streaking purple rainbow was already split in two. It was then that the massive saber gang, the size of a small hill, appeared and struck the platform with a deafening roar.

"What’s going on!"

Quite a few people were at a loss, not understanding why the sword qi shattered before the saber gang arrived.

Luo Feng saw the profound mystery within. The power of Shi Zhong’s saber technique lay not in the saber gang but in the momentum. The moment he struck, the saber intent of slashing mountains and cliffs crushed Liu Changfeng’s sword momentum, already winning three points!

Liu Changfeng was surprised by this, but in an instant, his face turned ferocious, his face gradually turning blue and purple. His entire aura was elevated to an unprecedented peak, as he swayed his treasured sword.

"Purple Cloud Sky!"

Purple Mist Across the Sky was just the opening move. Liu Changfeng now executed the true Nine Palace Purple Cloud Swordsmanship.

Swoosh!

With the sword radiance blooming from the treasure sword, a semicircle was drawn in the void, and the split purple rainbow suddenly exploded, transforming into a cloud of sword qi composed of countless purple sword qi enveloping Shi Zhong once again, like the stars shining in the sky, like flowing clouds of endless changes, mysterious and magnificent.