Chapter 351: Inquiry Conference 2

Chapter 351: Chapter 164: Inquiry Conference 2

As the voice faded, two figures simultaneously leaped from the high platform and landed in the arena.

Liu Qingli’s expression remained cold. Her opponent was a burly man wielding a pair of Copper Hammers, his aura powerful and imposing.

The moment he stepped into the arena, he grinned. “Senior Sister Liu, I await your instruction!”

Liu Qingli didn’t say a word.

Zhou Wutong didn’t seem to mind. With a swing of his twin hammers, he charged straight at Liu Qingli like a small mountain.

BOOM—!!!

The whistling of the hammers kicked up a violent gust of wind across the arena!

However, just as the twin hammers were about to strike, Liu Qingli moved.

No one saw how she drew her sword.

All anyone saw was a flash of sword light.

Immediately after, Zhou Wutong was sent flying backward, tumbling out of the arena and crashing heavily onto the ground. The front of his robe had been sliced open, but his skin was completely unscathed.

One strike to defeat her foe.

The entire crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into gasps of astonishment.

“Just one strike?”

“Her Sword Intent… it’s even stronger than before.”

Liang Cheng watched Liu Qingli in the arena, his pupils narrowing slightly.

He had seen that strike clearly.

In the split second before Zhou Wutong’s hammers could connect, the tip of her sword had precisely tapped him on the chest, sending him flying.

Her control over her power was perfect—enough to defeat her foe without injuring him.

Li Jianfeng glanced at Liang Cheng. He didn’t speak, but his eyes said it all.

‘Did you see that?’

‘That’s our competition.’

Liang Cheng nodded slightly, a fighting spirit igniting within him.

…

The second and third matches of Group A quickly concluded.

In the third match, Li Jianfeng took the stage.

His opponent was a Disciple from the Fourth Peak at the Core Formation Middle Stage who specialized in the long spear.

They exchanged no more than three moves before Li Jianfeng’s sword sliced through his opponent’s spear shaft, the blade’s edge grazing the man’s throat.

The Disciple conceded on the spot, drenched in a cold sweat.

Li Jianfeng sheathed his sword and returned to the high platform, his face devoid of expression.

Soon, it was time for Group B and Group C.

The first match of Group C, then the second, the third…

Liang Cheng waited quietly.

Finally—

“Group C, seventh match: Liang Cheng of the First Peak versus Han Cheng of the Second Peak!”

At the announcement, all eyes in the crowd snapped toward the First Peak’s platform.

Liang Cheng rose to his feet.

Li Jianfeng glanced at him. “Go on.”

Yu Xiuqi said nothing, merely giving a slight nod.

Liang Cheng stepped forward, leaping through the air and landing gracefully in the arena.

Meanwhile, on the Second Peak’s platform, Han Cheng’s expression was ghastly.

A junior brother beside him whispered, “Senior Brother, why not just forfeit? It’s only the first round. Losing one match won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.”

Han Cheng gritted his teeth.

‘Forfeit?’

‘Forfeit to a newcomer who’s been in the sect for less than a year, in front of everyone from the Nine Peaks?’

‘How could I ever show my face on the Second Peak again?’

“Shut up.”

Han Cheng took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and leaped through the air to land in the arena.

The two stood facing each other.

As Han Cheng looked at Liang Cheng, his mind flashed back to the scene from three months ago outside Dragon Burial Island. He recalled being forced back by a single strike of Liang Cheng’s saber, a humiliating defeat.

And now, his opponent’s Cultivation seemed even stronger than it had been three months ago.

The sheer pressure radiating from him was so intense Han Cheng could barely breathe.

“Senior Brother Han,” Liang Cheng said suddenly, his tone flat. “Please.”

Han Cheng gritted his teeth and drew the long spear from his waist.

The moment he thrust the spear, a fierce blast of energy shot out, aiming straight for Liang Cheng’s face. He wasted no words and attacked directly!

‘Since I’m standing here, I can’t afford to lose too disgracefully!’

Liang Cheng did not move.

He simply stood there, quietly watching the gleaming tip of the spear approach. Only when it was less than three feet away did the Zhenxian Saber at his waist suddenly fly from its sheath!

SHIIIING—!!!

A flash of saber light flared!

The light from the saber was incredibly condensed, impossibly pure.

The strike arced from Liang Cheng’s waist, instantly colliding with the gleam of Han Cheng’s spear!

CRACK—!!!

The spear’s energy shattered!

Han Cheng’s pupils shrank. Before he could react, the flash of saber light was already upon him!

He instinctively raised his spear to block!

CLANG—!!!

An indescribably immense force traveled up the spear shaft, sending Han Cheng flying backward. The long spear was torn from his grasp, spun several times in the air, and landed with a clatter, its tip embedding itself in the edge of the arena!

Han Cheng crashed heavily to the ground. He struggled to get up but found that his strength had been completely drained; he couldn’t move.

One strike.

It took only one strike.

The entire arena fell silent.

Some Outer Disciples, unaware of Liang Cheng’s prior exploits, stared at the scene in disbelief.

Han Cheng… defeated in a single strike by a newcomer who had been in the sect for less than a year?

“Is that Blade Intent?”

Someone murmured.

“It’s definitely Blade Intent!”

“How is that possible? How long has he even been a disciple?”

“No wonder the rumors said Liang Cheng was the one who forced Gu Changge into seclusion…”

Whispers rose and fell throughout the crowd, but this time, there was no trace of contempt in their tone.

Liang Cheng stepped off the arena, returned to the high platform, and sat back down.

He hadn’t said a single word throughout the entire ordeal.

But everyone remembered this name—

Liang Cheng.

The newcomer from the First Peak.

…

The battles continued, one after another.

Yu Xiuqi took the stage and defeated his opponent in three punches, his mountain-like Fist Intent weighing down on the entire arena.

Liu Qingli of the Third Peak took the stage again, securing another effortless one-strike victory.

Shen Du of the Fifth Peak took the stage and didn’t even draw his sword. He simply raised his hand and made a pressing motion in the air, knocking his opponent out of the arena and drawing gasps of shock from the crowd.

Gu Tianya of the Seventh Peak also took the stage. His opponent was a Disciple from the Sixth Peak, also at the Core Formation Middle Stage.

Gu Tianya showed no mercy, defeating his foe in three moves.

As he left the stage, he shot another glance in the direction of the First Peak.

The first round quickly ended.

The pairings for the second round began.

This time, Liang Cheng drew the second match of Group A.

His opponent was a Disciple from the Sixth Peak named Yue Dingchuan. He was known for his defense, having achieved Entering the Dao through pure strength. Ordinary attacks couldn’t even begin to break through his guard.