C61 Sword Intent

In a moment that captured everyone's attention on the field, two palms met with a thunderous impact.

The resulting explosion reverberated through the plaza, causing many disciples to reel from the surge of their vitality and the pain in their ears.

Their eyes widened in astonishment as they watched the two combatants on the stage.

After exchanging a single blow, both fighters were pushed back, retreating seven or eight meters before they could regain their footing and come to a halt.

Incredibly, they had matched each other evenly in that powerful exchange!

The onlookers erupted into a buzz of amazement at the sight.

Only a month ago, Lin Xuan had been at the Early Enlightenment Stage, and now, at most, he was in the Qi Gathering Stage, not yet at its peak.

Yet, he stood his ground against Chen Yuze, who had already advanced to the Qi Transformation Stage.

This indicated that Lin Xuan truly possessed the power of the Qi Transformation Stage.

Despite the crowd's anticipation, witnessing it firsthand left them profoundly shaken.

Lin Xuan's strength had already matched the Qi Gathering Stage while he was still in the Enlightenment Stage.

But now, having reached the Qi Gathering Stage, he was demonstrating the might of the Qi Transformation Stage.

Could this be the innate gift of a sect's top-tier prodigy?

He was indeed in a league of his own, far surpassing their own abilities!

A collective sigh of admiration rose among the spectators.

Up on the stage, Chen Yuze gazed at Lin Xuan, equally staggered by the revelation.

He had braced himself for this possibility, but facing the reality was still somewhat hard to swallow.

Was Lin Xuan too formidable to be true?

Chen Yuze, once the premier expert and genius of the Outer Sect, seemed insignificant compared to Lin Xuan.

But now was not the time for such reflections.

He refused to be defeated by Lin Xuan and reduced to a mere stepping stone.

Winning, however, would not be simple.

If he relied on his standard Qi Transformation Stage abilities, victory seemed unlikely, judging from the force of that last palm strike.

Chen Yuze knew it was time to play his ace.

A draw or a defeat would be disastrous.

Moreover, having ascended to the Qi Transformation Stage, he was eligible for the Inner Sect, yet he chose to compete today. Was it not for the glory and the spectacle of it all?

Revealing his trump card was inconsequential; it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Chen Yuze's voice resonated with a deep resolve:

"Lin Xuan, your prowess is formidable. You've outclassed nearly all of the Outer Sect disciples.

But make no mistake, I will not be defeated in this battle!

From here on out, I'm not holding anything back!

I will fight with every ounce of my strength!

Prepare yourself for my next move!"

The murmurs of surprise and anticipation rippled through the crowd as Chen Yuze's declaration echoed across the field.

Was his Qi Transformation Stage power not the full extent of his abilities?

Could he possibly have more strength in reserve?

Chen Yuze's reputation as the top expert of the Outer Sect was well-deserved.

The disciples, especially the senior ones, were eager to see Chen Yuze triumph.

Though Chen Yuze had broken through to the Qi Transformation Stage and was on the verge of advancing to the Inner Sect, he was still one of their own—a seasoned disciple representing their collective interests.

Lin Xuan, on the other hand, was a prodigy with immense strength, surpassing all Outer Sect disciples except Chen Yuze.

Yet, he was merely a newcomer, having joined the beginner level just a month prior, embodying the aspirations of the new disciples.

If Lin Xuan were to win, it would signify the new disciples outshining the old—a blow to their pride.

They would lose face, to the point of avoiding the new disciples, not to mention the implications in other areas.

Thus, they pinned their hopes on Chen Yuze to claim victory in the final showdown.

Conversely, the new initiates were rooting for Lin Xuan to unleash his full potential once more, to continue his winning streak and clinch the top spot in the Grand Competition.

Such an outcome would grant the newcomers significant prestige and alleviate any fears of oppression within the Outer Sect.

Back on the platform.

"Very well!"

Lin Xuan's face was etched with concentration.

Gone was his previous nonchalance.

He recognized that Chen Yuze was unlike any opponent he had faced before—far more formidable.

Defeating Chen Yuze would be no simple feat.

This time, Lin Xuan chose not to rely on a single move to secure victory.

Instead of avoiding confrontation, he directly challenged Chen Yuze to gauge his true capabilities after having replicated so many treasures. Moreover, he had been on a winning streak. Defeating Chen Yuze would not only cause a sensation in the Outer Sect but could even make waves in the Inner Sect. He would also earn a substantial number of energy points. Therefore, he didn't need to expose too much of his own strength.

Chen Yuze's face was etched with concentration as he reached out and grasped the Breeze Sword. A glimmer of light flickered along the blade, slicing the air above cleanly in two. Then, a sharp aura that seemed capable of rending the very void itself radiated from Chen Yuze, spreading in every direction.

The disciples in the square felt as if their skin had been grazed by a steel blade, causing them pain. They instinctively stepped back, and even looking at Chen Yuze brought a stinging pain to their eyes. They quickly looked away, unable to bear the direct sight of him. A collective shock surged through the crowd.

"What's happening?"

"What kind of martial art is this?"

"How can he be so powerful? I can't even bear to look at him!"

The plaza erupted into chaos, with disciples reeling in fear and astonishment. The sheer power that they couldn't even witness with their eyes left them profoundly shaken.

On the platform, the Head Elder and Core Disciple Xu Annlan, both significantly more advanced in their cultivation than the Outer Sect disciples, had reached the Spirit Opening Stage and were largely unaffected. Yet, they too were deeply astounded.

"Is this sword intent?"

"No, it's the nascent form of a Concept!"

As seasoned members of the Sect's upper echelons, they identified it instantly. Still, the revelation left them deeply moved.

"I never imagined that not only would the Outer Sect produce a top-tier genius like Lin Xuan, but also a disciple who, having just advanced to the Qi Transformation Stage, has already grasped the nascent form of a Concept. Impressive," the Head Elder remarked, his surprise giving way to delight.

The Concept represents the initial manifestation of the universal laws governing all things. Grasping it is incredibly challenging. It's a feat not easily achieved even by many at the Condensation Spin Stage, let alone the Qi Transformation Stage. Even for those like them, who had ascended to the Spirit Opening Stage, comprehending even 20% of a Concept was an accomplishment.

Chen Yuze, still in the Qi Transformation Stage, had impressively reached the beginner level of Concept. It was just a nascent form, but it was already quite remarkable. No wonder the Head Elder was so thrilled.

"Indeed, for him to grasp the beginner level of Concept at the Qi Transformation Stage and be unbeatable among his peers is commendable. He likely has the potential to advance to the Spirit Opening Stage," Xu Annlan remarked, visibly astonished.

While Chen Yuze might not match Lin Xuan, he was undoubtedly a prodigy. Xu Annlan hadn't anticipated encountering two such remarkable talents among this year's new disciples.

"He's no match for you, of course. But when you look at the other Outer Sect disciples, he's a rarity. Still, he's not on Lin Xuan's level," the Head Elder responded with a smile, before adding calmly, "However, this match might be Lin Xuan's loss."

"It's still in its infancy, but it's a Concept nonetheless, with formidable power. When Chen Yuze combines the Concept with his martial arts, it's as if he's wielding the force of nature, multiplying his power manifold. Lin Xuan is strong, but at Qi Gathering Stage level 4, his cultivation time has been short. With Chen Yuze already at the Qi Transformation Stage, if his strength were to double, Lin Xuan would struggle to compete."

Xu Annlan concurred. The idea that Lin Xuan could grasp the Concept hadn't crossed their minds. After all, not just in the Drifting Cloud Sect, but across the entire Cangyuan Country, there was no precedent for such an achievement.

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