Chapter 26: Just Warming Up

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Lu Yi quickly arrived at the central martial arena platform area where everyone else had already gathered.

Jiang Fan had his hands behind his head, and he was chewing on a brittlegrass he didn’t know where he had pulled from. When he saw Lu Yi, he greeted him with a smile, “Lu Yi, you’re here.”

Others looked over and nodded slightly in greeting. Lin Wan’er playfully waved her hand at Lu Yi and asked “Lu Yi, which peak are you planning to join in the inner sect?”

Others turned curious gazes toward Lu Yi.

Lu Yi smiled and said, “I promised Liu Ningshuang to participate in the assessment for the Silk Peak.”

Hearing that, a handsome Level 10 Qi Refiner disciple dressed in embroidered clothes chuckled, “With Lu Yi’s aptitude, entering the Silk Peak is indeed possible.”

That hand disciple’s name was Bai Yulong, and he was also one of the top three in the outer sect in terms of strength.

The sturdy Level 10 Qi Refiner disciple next to Bai Yulong scratched his head and said, “Unfortunately, my talent isn’t that great. I’ll probably be kicked out if I go to Silk Peak.”

That was Tie Man, and his strength was equally formidable. He cultivated Body Refinement techniques.

“Silk Peak… It’s also a gathering place for geniuses in the inner sect. How can an average person go there?”

“I had different thoughts. I plan to go to the Crimson Flow Peak. I heard there are the most fire cultivators there. After I reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I plan to cultivate Fire techniques.”

“After entering the inner sect, I wonder if we’ll be able to make a name for ourselves?”

“We’re not sure, but Lu Yi probably won’t have a problem.”

As they chatted about their future prospects in the inner sect, everyone was filled with anticipation.

Before long, Dugu Fang descended from the sky and landed on the central platform. The ten individuals fell silent, and the atmosphere among the onlookers grew more intense.

Dugu Fang’s gaze swept across the crowd, and he said, “May I have your attention?!”

The atmosphere immediately quieted down. Dugu Fang’s authority was still quite imposing. He looked towards the top ten disciples and said, “The ranking battles for the top ten will begin now. As usual, you will compete in pairs, and the final rankings will be determined.”

As Dugu Fang spoke, he took out ten jade tokens. The tokens floated and arrived in front of the ten people, including Lu Yi.

Lu Yi received the token and looked at it. There was a number 1 etched on the jade token. He was taken aback for a moment. He hadn’t expected to be the first one. Looking around, he noticed others were also checking the tokens in each other’s hands, seeming quite curious about each other’s numbers.

Just then, Dugu Fang continued, “Let the matches begin. Number 1 stays on the stage, while the others step down.”

Upon hearing that, eight individuals descended from the platform, leaving only Lu Yi and Tie Man, who were left staring at each other.

Lu Yi looked at Tie Man, grinned, and said, “Tie Man, what a coincidence?”

Then Lu Yi muttered to himself internally, ‘I need to defeat Tie Man!’

Task: Defeat Tie Man (Progress: 0/1)

Reward: Supreme-Grade Physique Elixir x 40 / Perfect-Grade Physique Elixir x 4

Accept: Yes/No

Seeing the task, Lu Yi was taken aback. He pondered, ‘The reward wasn’t Qi Condensation Elixirs but Physique Elixirs instead?’

The Physique Elixir was used for cultivating Body Refinement techniques. It could accelerate the cultivation speed of such techniques. Even without cultivating Body Refinement techniques, taking the Physique Elixir could enhance physical strength, though its effect wouldn’t be as good as refining Body Refinement techniques.

Lu Yi didn’t expect the reward for this mission to be such an item. This was definitely valuable—more precious than the Qi Condensation Elixir.

It was worth noting that the strength of a cultivator’s physical body usually progressed alongside their cultivation stage. Unless they cultivated Body Refinement techniques, which could enhance physical strength, most cultivators wouldn’t have the time, energy, and resources to focus on Body Refinement cultivation.

Lu Yi had not cultivated Body Refinement techniques before. After all, his previous talent didn’t allow for it. After awakening the Golden Finger, he prioritized enhancing his spiritual cultivation to boost his combat strength, aiming for a good performance in the Grand Competition.

Lu Yi had considered cultivating Body Refinement techniques after the Grand Competition, but that was something to consider later. He hadn’t expected to receive a Body Refinement Elixir as a reward now.

It was quite a good item. Lu Yi looked at Tie Man more kindly and thought perhaps they could spar more often in the future.

Tie Man saw Lu Yi’s friendly smile and grinned back. He said, “It’s quite a coincidence indeed, Lu Yi. Looks like we need to start the match.”

The disciples watching below were excited to see that the first match was already between a Level 10 Qi Refiner disciple and Lu Yi. All eyes turned towards the central platform.

Dugu Fang glanced at the two and then vanished from his spot, only his voice echoing, “Begin.”

Hearing that, Tie Man grinned, and his spiritual energy circulated. His skin gradually turned into a gray iron color. He clenched his fists, and as his fists collided, a muffled sound rang out, “Lu Yi, please enlighten me.”

Seeing that, Lu Yi also drew his long sword, and clouds of aura revolved around it. He smiled faintly and said, “Tie Man, please enlighten me as well.”

Tie Man grinned, his robust legs exerting force.

BOOM!

The ground under Tie Man’s feet cracked like a spiderweb, and his body disappeared from its original spot. He instantly reappeared above Lu Yi’s head, emitting a fierce beast-like aura, extremely terrifying.

Tie Man clenched his right fist and swung it towards Lu Yi’s head. His fist carried translucent energy, and the punch created a howling gust of wind that stirred Lu Yi’s black hair.

Lu Yi felt a slight stinging sensation on his skin under the force of the punch. He sighed internally, ‘Tie Man’s momentum was indeed astonishing.’

Lu Yi circulated his spiritual energy, and his figure resembled white clouds, seemingly slow but incredibly fast as he retreated.

Tie Man’s punch missed, landing on the platform and creating a small pit. He stomped his legs and disappeared from his original spot once more.

Just then, Lu Yi swung his long sword to the right, and a strong aura of sword qi circulated as he struck. Tie Man’s body appeared exactly in that spot.

Sensing the formidable sharpness of the sword qi, Tie Man’s pupils constricted. He let out a low roar, and in the next moment, his body emitted a layer of circulating spiritual energy. The gray iron color on his skin became even deeper.

Tie Man clenched both fists and struck the sword qi.

BOOM!

The fist charged with spiritual energy collided with the sword qi, creating a loud explosion. The shockwave swept in all directions like a storm, causing the surrounding outer sect disciples to feel a terrifying pressure. Their eyes widened.

“Wow… Such a powerful destructive force!”

“That power… I’m not boasting, but if I took a single hit, I’d probably just lie on the ground and have my two hold a funeral for me!”

“Well, you’re indeed not boasting.”

…

Beside the platform, Bai Yulong and others watched the intense fluctuations on the platform, their expressions changing.

The three Level 9 Qi Refiner disciples exchanged glances, looking somewhat bewildered.

“Is he really at the Level 7 Qi Refiner stage? Or my eyes are fooling me?”

“Anyway, I’m gonna just sit back and relax. I’m already in the top ten. I don’t aim for a higher rank; just getting into the inner sect is enough.”

“Indeed, Lu Yi is impressive. We’ll probably just spar until we’re out, okay? Let’s not go all out against them.”

The three of them nodded simultaneously.

Lin Wan’er on the side glanced at the three of them, revealing a mischievous smile as she said, “You think they’re going all out? They’re just warming up.”

After hearing what Lin Wan’er said, Wan Hua and the others had a puzzled expression.