2026-10-01 22:59:55
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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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Three years ago, Wang Li did indeed have a choice. He could have let Zilong keep walking his path, accepting the reality that one day he would be surpassed by the genius.However, he did not do it. Deep down in his heart, Wang Li was consumed by an extraordinary fear—fear of losing his status, fear of losing his honor, fear of his future collapsing, and most terrifying of all: fear of having to live forever beneath the shadow of Qing Zilong's greatness."I had no other choice," Wang Li's voice sounded husky. "If I didn't destroy him back then... sooner or later, he would be the one to destroy my future.""He didn't necessarily intend to destroy you," the man replied."But he surely would have surpassed me!""That is highly likely.""And if he surpasses me, then the Qing Clan will crush the Wang Clan!" Wang Li's emotions finally spilled over. "You know very well how the history of this clan rivalry has been for decades! We can never let them stand above us!"The man in the black robe s
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The man ignored the question. He merely poured a cup of tea, then sat calmly as if the room was his own residence.Wang Li stared at him with a look of intense scrutiny and suspicion. "This place is the headquarters of the Heavenly Sword Sect. You shouldn't be sneaking in here.""I know precisely where I am," the man in the black robe replied flatly.He placed a small object onto the stone table: an old, dull jade token, carved with a mysterious symbol unfamiliar to Wang Li."It's precisely because I know the risks that I still came to see you."Wang Li glanced at the jade token on the table. "Tell me, what is the meaning of your visit in the middle of the night?"The man tilted his head up slightly, revealing a sharp jawline. "Qing Zilong."The atmosphere inside the room suddenly froze. The mere mention of that single name was enough to make Wang Li's expression change drastically.The man observed the change in Wang Li's facial expression. "It seems you are never happy when his name
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