2026-09-20 22:40:56
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The twenty-four remaining participants now stood in their respective positions on the stone stage. Whispers and bustling conversations could be heard among them once more, and once again, a single name dominated the talk: Qing Zilong."That's him.""Qing Zilong? The one who wiped out Luo Ming yesterday without moving much?""Right. I even heard he killed an eighth-rank beast alone in the forest.""Seriously? If that news is real, his strength is clearly far beyond the limits of the 3rd Stage of the Earth Realm."Zilong listened to those whispers without the slightest change in expression. He stood tall, his hands left hanging casually at his sides. At his waist, the ancient black sword rested quietly.On the other side of the arena, Wang Li stood with a gaze full of burning vengeance.The shadow of the mysterious black-robed man's visit last night flashed back in his head, reminding him not to create lethal chaos within the sect territory. Wang Li took a deep breath, clenching his pal
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Dawn slowly crept over the region of the Heavenly Sword Sect.The thin mist hanging between the pillars of the stone buildings began to be swept away by the glow of the morning sun. The mountain peaks that previously appeared only as dark silhouettes now revealed their majestic forms, while golden rays pierced through the gaps in the pine foliage, warming the path leading to the main arena.From the row of lodging pavilions, the participants began to step outside. The atmosphere that on the first day was colored by tension now felt much calmer and more focused.Out of a total of forty-four participants who started the preliminary round, only twenty-four managed to survive. Those still standing here were no longer ordinary cultivators; they were selected talents proven to possess above-average endurance and combat capacity.Nevertheless, as Elder Bai Yun had warned previously: Yesterday's victory was not a guaranteed ticket to acceptance. And defeat did not necessarily close off all op
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Meanwhile, far away in the real world...The oil lamp in Qing Tian's private study was still burning brightly, accompanying the night as it nearly turned to dawn.The middle-aged man sat alone behind his desk. A cup of warm tea was served before him, but its vapor had long since vanished, leaving behind liquid that cooled without ever being touched.His thoughts drifted back to his secret conversation with King Tianxuan the previous night.Qing Tian raised his hand, massaging his throbbing temples. "Actually... what did Your Majesty see in Zilong to be so certain?"That question kept spinning in his head without a definitive answer.As a father, he should have been the person who knew and understood his own child's condition best. However, lately, reality showed the exact opposite. Qing Tian felt himself becoming increasingly alienated and incapable of guessing the contents of his son's head.He still vividly remembered Zilong's condition two months ago—a body full of severe wounds, d
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The aura surrounding Zilong surged drastically. The ninth stage of the Earth Realm vibrated strongly, but the barrier wall still stood firmly, refusing to collapse.Zilong frowned. He gathered all his qi reserves in his dantian, condensing them into a single spear of pure energy, then slammed it forward instantly!BOOM!The barrier wall trembled violently. Fine cracks began to appear on its surface, but it was not yet enough to shatter it.Zilong took another breath. There was not the slightest fear in his heart. He was someone who had lost everything. He had experienced the shattering of all his meridians and had stood right at the brink of death. Compared to all the torture and despair he had passed through, this cultivation barrier wall was nothing at all!Whoosh!Spiritual energy rumbled once more, far more ferocious and dense than before. Zilong's dantian vibrated violently, producing a metallic humming sound.The cracks on the barrier widened further.Crack!The sound of minor b
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The night grew deeper and crawled quietly.The moonlight hung silvery above the lodging complex of the Heavenly Sword Sect selection participants. After a full day of testing in fierce, energy-draining battles, most participants had fallen fast asleep in their respective rooms to recover their energy.However, Qing Zilong did not have the slightest intention of closing his eyes yet.He stood tall near his open chamber window. His gaze stared straight through the dense, quiet night sky. There was not a shred of pride or joy on his face, even though a few hours earlier he had just achieved an absolute victory on the arena stage.To Zilong, the victory over Luo Ming was not an achievement worth boasting about.Quite the contrary. That fight further opened his eyes to a bitter reality: The power he displayed before the public today was still far too small compared to the true strength he kept hidden within his body.Zilong lowered his gaze for a moment. His fingers slowly traced the hilt
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Wang Li stood rigidly in his place for a very long time. His gaze was empty, fixed on the chair where the man had been sitting. Slowly, his clenched fists hardened once again."Destiny..." he snorted softly, accompanied by a terrifying, cynical smile."If there truly is someone in this world destined to bring down the Wang Clan..."Wang Li's gaze turned extremely cruel and lethal. "...then I, Wang Li, will never let him live long enough to see that day arrive!"Far from the hustle and bustle of the sect's lodgings, inside the simple residence of the Qing Clan...Qing Zilong sat cross-legged quietly near his wide-open chamber window. The blade of his ancient black sword rested obediently beside his sitting spot. The blowing night wind parted strands of his loose black hair. He stared at the night sky expressionlessly.In the corner of the room, Tianyi, the spiritual turtle, slowly raised its head from the floor.Zilong."Hm?" Zilong murmured without shifting his gaze from the moon.The
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