Yu Hai assumed a stance that resembled a ferocious beast stalking its prey. With a single lunge, he could surge forward at tremendous speed.Xie Dao Yun stabbed her sword into the ground, streams of lightning spreading in all directions.Yu Hai leaped high, reaching a height level with Xie Dao Yun, and launched an attack with his claws.The girl blocked the strike with the side of her sword blade. The clash of metal produced a sharp screech along with sparks.Xie Dao Yun counterattacked, but Yu Hai easily evaded it.Their battle grew intense, the two of them continuously exchanging attacks at high speed, to the point that many spectators found it difficult to see clearly.All they could perceive were fleeting afterimages and sparks created by the collision of their weapons.“He’s extremely fast and agile. Every time he attacks, it’s like a ferocious beast. Truly the fighting style of the Yu Imperial Family, said to be a manifestation of beasts,” Xie Dao Yun muttered, her expression st

Standing before the door, Tian Zhu didn’t bother knocking. The door suddenly opened, revealing the girl he was looking for.“Master, why are you looking for me in the middle of the night?” Ling Yin raised her eyebrows. It was unusual for Tian Zhu to visit her so late. “Is there something Master needs? Or perhaps… Master wants to do therapy again?”“No, nothing like that. I just want to borrow some paper and blank books from you.”“That’s fine. I have plenty. How many does Master need?” Ling Yin did not ask what they were for.“All of them.”Ling Yin immediately took out all the blank books and paper she owned—around twenty books and several hundred sheets of paper.Tian Zhu stored everything away at once.“Thank you, Yin’er. Oh right, who’s with you inside?”“It’s Senior Luo Ying. She came to ask me to join the Sky God Sect.”“That’s excellent! You should accept!” Tian Zhu raised his thumb in approval.Moments later, Luo Ying approached them.“Greetings, Senior,” Tian Zhu said respect

Ling Yin was utterly defeated with ease by Xie Dao Yun. Aside from the fact that her cultivation was indeed lower, the gap in their combat experience was also far too great. It was only natural that Tian Zhu’s disciple was unable to stabilize the fight at all.Moreover, Xie Dao Yun possessed a special power originating from the Lightning Soul within her body. After securing her victory, she immediately began recovering her energy at the edge of the arena. She still had one more battle ahead, so she wanted to remain in peak condition as much as possible.“Tian Zhu versus Ji Yan!” General Ling Duan announced the next match.“Finally, I’m not in the last slot again,” Tian Zhu muttered as he leaped onto the arena. Ji Yan followed shortly after.“Ji Yan, of the Ji Family of the Sun Empire.”“Tian Zhu, an independent cultivator.”They introduced themselves before General Ling Duan officially began the match.Ji Yan swiftly assumed a stance, releasing more than a dozen swords that floated ar

**One hour passed.At last, the long wait came to an end. The semifinals were about to begin.“Who will I face, I wonder? Xie Dao Yun? Ao Bing? Or maybe Ling Yuan?” Tian Zhu muttered, glancing at his three remaining rivals. “I hope it’s Ling Yuan so I can smash that fake face of his.”“Tian Zhu versus Ling Yuan!”A wide smile instantly appeared on Tian Zhu’s lips as General Ling Duan announced the first semifinal match.“Just as I hoped.” Tian Zhu walked onto the arena as Ling Yuan leaped up as well. “Your Highness, it’s an honor to fight you.”Ling Yuan, who usually wore a smile, now looked completely expressionless.“You’re the friend of the one who beat my younger brother, aren’t you? Since he was eliminated before he could face me, you’ll take his place and receive my fists!”“Well, well… he’s still your younger brother, Prince Ling Yuan. You’ve truly started treating him as an outsider, haven’t you?” Tian Zhu narrowed his eyes.“The weak are not worthy of being considered member

Truly absorbing it. With his low level of cultivation, it was impossible for Ao Bing to forcibly absorb such powerful lightning energy. His internal organs should have been damaged if he did so. Unless he possessed a specific artifact capable of absorbing lightning energy, or someone was helping him. Tian Zhu formed several hypotheses regarding this matter.“But even if he possesses an artifact that can absorb lightning, it’s impossible for him to neutralize the lightning flow in the blink of an eye. So there’s only one most likely possibility—someone is helping him. Someone who shouldn’t belong to the lower world, but to a higher one.”This kind of situation was not new to Tian Zhu. There were many powerful cultivators who preserved remnants of their souls within an artifact. Even after death, they still had a chance to survive through such objects. Especially if someone were to pick it up—those cultivators could help that person in exchange for an opportunity to be revived in the fu