On the peak of the core disciples …
Tang Yan was a famous figure among the core disciples. He was ranked seventh in the previous competition, and his Immaculate Swordsmanship had earned him great respect in the outside world.
He had once chased a Heavenly True Immortal realm bandit single-handedly for five hundred thousand li, destroying the sect and power behind the bandit. Due to that, his name had spread far and wide.
He was fifty-one this year, but his appearance looked no different from that of a twenty-year-old. His zhenqi was extremely pure, and his sword qi seemed as if it would burst forth from his body at any moment.
His fame, standing, and strength were all there was to him.
At this moment, he was standing in the middle of the courtyard, and the sword in his hand was drawing beautiful strokes in the air. It was as if he was a skilled painter, and it was a beautiful sight to behold.
Hu!
Tang Yan retracted his sword and stood upright.
The strokes were still drifting in the air, reminiscent of smoke.
Caw caw!
A wild bird accidentally flew into the midst of the smoke.
Peng!
It was as if it had fallen into a meat grinder. Blood splattered everywhere, and in the blink of an eye, it was reduced to dust.
"Congratulations, Senior! You've finally reached Major Accomplishment in the Immaculate Swordsmanship!"
Applause sounded as a young man walked over with a smile on his face.
He was ranked eighth among the core disciples, Guo Yi!
While Guo Yi looked to be in his twenties, his actual age was in his fifties.
Upon reaching Pseudo Immortal, one's lifespan would exceed three hundred years. True Immortals didn't increase one's lifespan, but their strength would increase, and they would be able to maintain their strength for a longer period of time. As such, fifty was already considered an extremely young age.
"After thirty years of hard work, I've finally made some progress today. I'll surely be able to get into the top five in the next core disciple examination!"
Tang Yan smiled with a proud look on his face.
He had been unable to master the Immaculate Swordsmanship to its pinnacle in the previous examination, and that was the only reason he was ranked seventh. Now that he had reached Major Accomplishment, it shouldn't be too difficult for him to get into the top five.
The Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion was known for its fighting prowess. Being able to get into the top five of the core disciples meant that he would be able to rank in the top twenty even across the entire Master Teacher Continent.
He could be considered as one of the top experts of the younger generation!
"The top five of the core disciples have a chance to become a core elder of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion. Allow me to congratulate you in advance, Senior Tang!"
Guo Yi clasped his fist.
The core elders of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion used to be in the top five of the core disciples.
A hundred years ago, Elder Bai Ye was ranked in the top three among the core disciples. He was only slightly weaker than Elder He Tian!
"There will definitely be benefits for you if I become a core elder …"
With a smile, Tang Yan looked over and asked, "Why? Why are you so free today?"
"It's like this. Senior, haven't you always been interested in Bai Ruanqing?" Guo Yi asked.
"Yeah …" Tang Yan did not deny it.
Bai Ruanqing might have a bad temper, but she came from a good background, and she was beautiful as well. If he could marry her, she would surely be of great help to his future development.
Perhaps, he would be able to take over the Sword Firmament Pavilion in advance and become one of the strongest existences on the continent.
"She's ranked 17th among the core disciples. I don't know why she suddenly challenged Wang Hao today …"
"Wang Hao, ranked sixteenth?"
Tang Yan smiled faintly as he commented, "That fellow isn't too strong, but his [Aqua Swordsmanship] is still extremely frightening. His Sword Intent is like water, and his defense is invincible. Even I would have to spend some effort to break it. Challenging him … is asking for trouble!"
"Wang Hao is indeed a powerful expert, but I have just received news that he was beheaded by Bai Ruanqing twice in a row. In total, it took less than three moves!"
Guo Yi said.
"He killed Wang Hao twice in less than three moves?"
Tang Yan widened his eyes in disbelief.
He was well aware of Bai Ruanqing's and Wang Hao's strength. Under normal circumstances, Bai Ruanqing would surely emerge victorious. How could she have been killed twice in less than three moves?
Since when did this female T-Rex become so powerful?
"After killing Wang Hao, Bai Ruanqing didn't stop. She continued challenging the other core disciples. Before I came here, I heard that she had also defeated the fifteenth ranked Sun Jian in a single move. The fourteenth ranked Yang Hu and the thirteenth ranked Du Zheng! "
Guo Yi said with a bitter smile.
"She went from sixteenth to thirteenth in a single move?"
"How is that possible?" Tang Yan exclaimed in disbelief. "Let's head over to take a look!"
"Alright!"
Guo Yi nodded.
This was the reason why he had come to look for his senior. The two of them took out their Ethereal Tokens and entered the Ethereal Hall.
Soon, they arrived at the dueling ring, and there were a few people standing outside with dejected looks on their faces.
"Hong Qing, why are you here as well?"
The young man at the front went by the name of Hong Qing, and he was ranked tenth among the core disciples. Even though he was ranked last among the top ten, the fact that he had been able to enter the Ethereal Hall was still an extraordinary feat.
After all, the competition within the top ten was far more intense than those at the back.
Under normal circumstances, the first level was one level, the second and third levels were one level, the fourth, fifth, and sixth levels were one level, the seventh, eighth, ninth, and eleventh levels were one level!
There were many tiers, and each tier represented a different expert.
Hong Qing was ranked seventh, which was equivalent to the fourth tier of the core disciples.
Even so, he was only at the same level as Hong Qing. Didn't they say that Bai Ruanqing had only reached the thirteenth rank?
Why was the tenth ranked young man standing at the entrance with such an expression?
"My head was just severed by Senior Bai in a single move!"
Hong Qing said with a bitter smile.
Regardless of whether it was the inner disciples or the core disciples, the weaker ones had to address the stronger ones as' senior 'or' senior '.
"She challenged you and won?" Guo Yi's eyebrows shot up.
"That's right. She challenged me all the way here, but she severed my head in a single move!"
"Me too!"
The young men standing at the front replied simultaneously. Tang Yan turned his gaze over and saw the twelfth and eleventh ranked young men standing among them with helpless looks on their faces.
Clearly, they had not been able to withstand Bai Ruanqing's swordsmanship either.
"In the core disciples' Ethereal Hall, everyone's cultivation is the same, Lesser Pseudo Immortal realm primary stage. Yet, she single-handedly fought her way up from sixteenth to tenth … In other words, she still has the strength to spare even after killing seven people?"
Tang Yan was incredulous.
Everyone in the Ethereal Hall was at Lesser Pseudo Immortal realm primary stage, so there was a limit to their strength. Yet, they were still able to spare even after killing seven people who were stronger than them.
It had only been a few days since they last met, but Bai Ruanqing's swordsmanship had already reached such a level?
"Wait here. Could it be that she …"
Contrary to Tang Yan's shock, Guo Yi suddenly thought of something, and he felt like crying.
"Indeed. She's currently challenging the ninth ranked young man, Lu Yue. Once she succeeds, it'll be your turn … "
Before Hong Qing could finish his words, the door suddenly creaked open, and a young lady's head popped out. The door opened, and a woman's head popped out. She looked outside and said, "Guo Yi, you've come at the right time.
"…" Guo Yi.
Why did it sound like the other party was just messing around with him?
You are challenging a core disciple, not a meal. It's my turn now … Don't you need to rest?
"Don't go in. Let's just fight here!"
Tang Yan suddenly said.
"That's right. Regardless of the outcome, let's have a public duel. This way, everyone will be able to see it. In any case, it's just the few of us, so there's nothing to hide!"
Another person said.
They had already been challenged by a single person, so what was there to hide?
Rather than having a secret duel, it would be better for everyone to see it so that they could be prepared.
"You mean that we should have a public duel?"
Bai Ruanqing asked.
"Senior Tang's opinion is mine as well. I'll make it public as well!"
Guo Yi nodded in agreement.
"Very well then!"
Seeing that Guo Yi had agreed to it, Bai Ruanqing walked out with her sword in hand.
Guo Yi said, "Let's head to the dueling ring."
"There's no need to go through so much trouble."
Bai Ruanqing raised her sword and swung it horizontally. In the next moment, she was already right before Guo Yi.
"You want to make a move here?"
Not expecting Bai Ruanqing to make a move right away, Guo Yi's face darkened as he raised his sword.
However, before his sword could reach Bai Ruanqing, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his throat.
Padah!
His head fell to the ground, and his eyes were widened in disbelief.
Even when he was killed, he could not believe that this was real.
"Alright, it's your turn!"
After killing Guo Yi, Bai Ruanqing turned to look at Tang Yan.
Initially, she was still a little unfamiliar with the horizontal swordsmanship that Uncle Zhang Shi had imparted to her, so she had no idea how powerful it was. However, after killing several core disciples who were ranked higher than her, and they were all insta-kills, her confidence soared.
Her Senior Uncle had only guided her for a few minutes, and she was already so powerful.
It was no wonder why she was unable to defeat Dan Xiaotian.
She did not even dare to imagine how powerful she would be after receiving his guidance for four hours.
"I'll be here as well?"
Tang Yan's face darkened.
"Let's do it here. It'll save us some trouble," Bai Ruanqing said.
"Don't get too arrogant!" Tang Yan's eyebrows shot up.
If it had been in the past, he would not have been much stronger than Guo Yi. However, after mastering the Immaculate Swordsmanship to Major Accomplishment, he was no longer the weakling he once was.
"I'm in a rush. I still have to challenge the top five, so let's not waste any more time," Bai Ruanqing said with a wave of her hand.
"…"
Tang Yan's eyebrows shot up in anger. "Since that's the case, don't blame me for getting nasty!"
With a flick of his wrist, sword marks began appearing on the ground.
"Major Accomplishment of the Immaculate Swordsmanship?"
"Incredible!"
"This swordsmanship can probably be ranked in the top five!"
"Indeed!"
They were all knowledgeable swordsmen, so they could not help but tremble in agitation upon seeing the move.
They did not think that not only would Bai Ruanqing improve, but Tang Yan would also improve by leaps and bounds.
"Incredible!"
Bai Ruanqing exclaimed in astonishment.
The Immaculate Swordsmanship was riddled with sword marks, and anyone who dashed forward would be severely injured. While her horizontal sword was not too bad, it was a mismatch for the Immaculate Swordsmanship.
"I didn't think that you would have cultivated the Immaculate Swordsmanship to such a level. Don't worry, I'll be heading out for a moment.
After saying those words, Bai Ruanqing's figure blurred into a streak of light before vanishing from the spot.
"This …"
The crowd stared at one another in bewilderment.
Tang Yan was stunned as well.
He had thought that Bai Ruanqing would charge forward and decapitate him. If that was the case, he would have been able to kill Bai Ruanqing as well. It was just a matter of who was faster.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that Bai Ruanqing would actually turn around and leave!
And he even told him to wait …
"Senior …"
Guo Yi, who had entered the Ethereal Hall using another Ethereal Token, was also dumbfounded.
"Let's wait here. I don't believe that she'll be able to achieve victory in a moment!"
Tang Yan said with gritted teeth.
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