Chapter 237 - 237

Chapter 237: The Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament (Part 2)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍moment their hands met, Lu Xunxian felt a powerful force surge from Lu Zhengfeng's grip, as if trying to crush his hand to dust.

Had ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it been any other Early Immortal Emperor, they might genuinely have been overpowered.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍clearly, Lu Zhengfeng had picked the wrong person to provoke.

Seeing ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lu Xunxian completely unfazed, Lu Zhengfeng's eyes widened in surprise.

Before ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he could increase his force, Lu Xunxian exerted the slightest pressure in return. In an instant, a terrifying power surged back through Lu Zhengfeng's palm, twisting his expression in agony.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍seven Kin Disciples who knew Lu Zhengfeng well looked on with surprise, clearly not expecting Lu Xunxian to be able to match him.

What Lu Xunxian was employing wasn't merely physical strength--he was also channeling multiple Powers of Laws in secret, which was why Lu Zhengfeng felt such excruciating pain.

But with every Kin Disciple watching, Lu Zhengfeng couldn't let his composure crack.

If he showed any weakness, he'd lose all face.

So he maintained a strained smile and spoke.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanxian, might I ask if we could let go now?"

"Oh, it's not every day I get to shake hands with a prodigy of Brother Zhengfeng's caliber. It's truly an honor. One handshake hardly seems enough--I think we should hold on for at least two hours."

Lu Xunxian waved his free hand dismissively, his expression perfectly earnest.

Lu Zhengfeng cursed silently.

Let go of me already!

Off to the side, Lu Fenggu could naturally see that something was off between the two, but he made no move to intervene.

He'd been annoyed with Lu Zhengfeng for quite some time now. The man swaggered around constantly just because he happened to be the only one in this generation to have reached the Immortal Emperor Realm so far.

What was so special about that? Give him the same amount of time and he'd definitely be an Immortal Emperor too.

"As much as I'd love to shake your hand for two hours, the Clan Elder is waiting. So let's save it for next time."

Lu Zhengfeng ground out through clenched teeth, glancing toward Lu Tianyuan, who sat cross-legged nearby with his eyes shut, seemingly resting.

Lu Tianyuan showed no inclination to intervene.

As far as Lu Tianyuan was concerned, squabbles among juniors were perfectly normal--so long as no one died.

Seeing that Lu Zhengfeng had conceded the point, Lu Xunxian didn't push further and released his grip.

The moment Lu Xunxian let go, Lu Zhengfeng pulled his hand back. His gaze toward Lu Xunxian was filled with barely concealed malice.

He clearly hadn't expected to be humiliated by Lu Xunxian. What was meant to be an intimidation had blown up in his own face.

"Just wait. Once we're inside the Ghost Realm, I'll make you pay for this!"

Lu Zhengfeng vowed silently.

Inside the Ghost Realm, there would be no rules to restrain him. Participants could attack competing contestants, hunt specters, and even turn on their own allies.

In his estimation, Lu Xunxian merely had a stronger body--his techniques surely couldn't rival his own.

After all, he was of Lu Family blood, a legitimate Kin Disciple.

Lu Xunxian was an outsider. There was no way he was stronger!

Most importantly, his grandfather was a Clan Elder who had bestowed him with numerous trump cards.

Once inside the Ghost Realm, forget Lu Xunxian--even a Late Immortal Emperor specter might not be able to touch him.

What Lu Zhengfeng didn't realize was that every single one of his thoughts had been heard by Lu Xunxian.

After breaking through to the Dao Venerable Realm, Lu Xunxian's power had reached an entirely different plane.

As long as someone hadn't touched upon the level of the Dao, even their innermost thoughts were laid bare before Lu Xunxian.

A single glance was all it took to know their next move.

"How interesting. He wants to come after me? Looks like I'll need to deal with him once we're inside the Ghost Realm."

Lu Xunxian thought to himself.

He never started fights, but he always finished them. Since Lu Zhengfeng was already scheming to eliminate him, then regardless of whatever tenuous blood connection they might share, Lu Xunxian would absolutely not let him walk away.

Seeing the two release hands, Lu Tianyuan, who had been meditating nearby, opened his eyes and appeared before them in an instant.

"Good. If everyone's ready, let's move."

"Clan Elder, will we be traveling to the Ghost Realm on our own, or meeting up with the other seven branches first?"

Lu Xunxian stepped forward and cupped his fists as Lu Tianyuan approached.

"Each branch travels independently."

Lu Xunxian breathed another sigh of relief.

As long as he didn't cross paths with Lu Xuanyuan, everything would be fine.

Before long, they gathered at the front of the Clan Hall, where Lu Tianyuan raised his hand and summoned an enormous flying vessel.

The Ghost Realm was far from the Lu Family's territory. While Lu Tianyuan could reach it within a year with his own strength, he was also ferrying Lu Zhengfeng and the others.

Hence the need for a flying vessel.

And this vessel was no ordinary craft. From what Lu Xunxian could sense, it had reached the level of a Dao Artifact--likely an extreme rarity even within the Lu Family.

After boarding, Lu Tianyuan took control and steered the vessel toward the Ghost Realm.

Once everything was on course, Lu Tianyuan set the vessel to autopilot and addressed Lu Zhengfeng and the others.

"We should arrive at the Ghost Realm in roughly half a month. Rest and recover in the meantime, so you're in peak condition when we enter."

"Also, once inside the Ghost Realm, you may only use your own cultivation. External resources are strictly forbidden--that includes talismans, treasures, and medicinal pills."

Something came to mind, and Lu Tianyuan's expression turned stern.

"If you're caught using them, you'll be immediately disqualified."

Lu Zhengfeng's face fell instantly.

Without his trump cards, how was he supposed to deal with Lu Xunxian?

"Clan Elder, I don't recall that rule existing before."

"No, it's always been in place. You've simply never participated in the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament before, so you weren't aware."

Lu Tianyuan waved his hand. "The tournament exists to identify true prodigies. If someone relies on external resources, that only proves they have a powerful background--not that they're a true prodigy."

Hearing the Clan Elder's words, Lu Zhengfeng's heart sank like a stone. He cast a hate-filled glare at Lu Xunxian from the depths of his eyes.

It seemed he couldn't touch Lu Xunxian in the Ghost Realm after all.

But it doesn't matter. There would surely come a time when he caught Lu Xunxian alone. He would find a way to kill him!

What he didn't know was that he was the one who wouldn't be leaving the Ghost Realm alive.

Lu Xunxian would never spare anyone who harbored killing intent toward him--even if that person was a clansman.

Before long, all eight of them found rooms and settled in to rest, focusing entirely on preparing for the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament.

Lu Fenggu, meanwhile, was debating whether to ask Lu Xunxian for some last-minute pointers--a bit of cramming might help him break through to Immortal Emperor before entering the Ghost Realm.

But Lu Xunxian looked at him with a serious expression and spoke first.

"Fenggu, there's something I need to discuss with the Clan Elder in private. Could you give us a moment?"

Lu Fenggu: ???