Chapter 16: Turning Qi into a Sword

But Lu Fengmian’s eyes were tightly shut, yet his figure moved within the cramped space like willow fluff in the wind or a shadow under the moon, always narrowly avoiding the blade at the most critical moments.

Those two sword-shadow duplicates were almost indistinguishable from the true sword, but they had no effect on him at all.

This was precisely a special movement technique he had obtained from the system in his early years—“Seek guidance from the moon, seek guidance from the wind”.

This movement technique brought the mind and spirit into harmony with heaven and earth, allowing one to sense the flow of wind, the waxing and waning of moonlight, and even the rhythm brought about by an opponent’s mental power, muscle movement, and even fluctuations in thought.

As the battle continued, He Shi’an grew more and more horrified.

His sword became faster and faster, his attacks denser and denser, and even the vague outline of a third duplicate began to appear! Sword qi crisscrossed, carving countless fine marks across the arena floor.

But Lu Fengmian remained calm and composed. His moon-white figure wove through the sky full of interlacing sword shadows as though he were taking a leisurely stroll in a courtyard, with not a single leaf touching his body.

His calm, closed-eyed expression formed a stark contrast with He Shi’an’s increasingly impatient and increasingly ferocious attacks.

On the high platform, the pride on Peak Master Leng’s face had long since vanished, replaced by solemnity and disbelief. Elder Lin and the others stared without blinking, their eyes bright.

“What kind of move is this?!” Elder Wu asked in a low voice. “It can actually completely ignore the confusing effect of ‘Peerless Sword Shadow’?”

“It seems able to predict movements by sensing changes in airflow and spiritual power.” Elder Lin from the lecture hall was broad in learning and understood some of the logic behind it, but he was still deeply shocked.

“This requires an extremely profound perception of the rhythms of heaven and earth, and the soul’s senses must be extraordinarily sharp! This Lu Fengmian… could he really only be at the Golden Core stage?”

The disciples below were already dumbfounded; the enormous martial arena had now fallen into total silence, leaving only the whistling sound of blades slicing through the air on the stage.

After failing for a long time to land a hit, unable to so much as touch the corner of the other’s clothes, He Shi’an said provocatively in anger, “Senior Brother Lu! As the Sect Master’s first disciple and the sect’s senior brother, could it be that all you know how to do is dodge and avoid battle?!”

Before his voice had fully faded—

Lu Fengmian, who had been dodging with his eyes closed the whole time, suddenly pierced through the dense sword net like a ghost, appearing within one foot of He Shi’an in an instant, without the slightest warning!

Lu Fengmian opened his eyes.

Those eyes that always carried a gentle smile were at this moment calm and utterly without ripples. He raised his right hand, joining his index and middle fingers into a sword gesture, and pointed into the air.

There was no earth-shaking momentum, nor any dazzling sword light.

A sharp sword shadow, condensed from pure and highly refined spiritual power, appeared out of thin air three inches in front of his fingertips!

“Turning qi into a sword?!” On the high platform, Master Leng Ye abruptly rose to his feet and cried out in shock, “The Lingyun Sword Art has reached the stage of great mastery!”

He Shi’an only felt a chill shoot instantly from his tailbone straight to the top of his head! He had no time to react at all; even his thoughts seemed to freeze for an instant.

That transparent sword shadow of spiritual power seemed to have already crossed space itself and lightly rested against the side of his neck.

The cold sensation spread through his skin.

The sword qi was sealed without being released, yet it still made all his hairs stand on end, and even the circulation of spiritual power within his body became sluggish.

The entire venue fell silent.

It was so quiet in the hall that even a pin dropping to the ground could have been heard.

Everyone stared open-mouthed at the frozen scene on the stage.

The outcome had already been decided.

Clean and neat, decisive and forceful, without the slightest suspense.

Lu Fengmian looked at the shock and confusion that had not yet faded from He Shi’an’s eyes, then slowly dispersed the spiritual sword shadow at his fingertips.

He withdrew his hand, and that familiar gentle smile appeared on his face once more, as though that astonishing sword strike just now had not come from his hand at all.

He gave He Shi’an a slight nod and said, “Junior Brother He, thank you for accompanying me in this match.”

His voice was calm, without the slightest arrogance of a victor.

He Shi’an stared blankly at the warmly smiling Lu Fengmian before him, then lowered his head to look at the sword in his own hand. An indescribably complicated wave of emotions surged into his heart: shame, shock, confusion, and an incomparable conviction.

He slowly sheathed his longsword, took a deep breath, and gave Lu Fengmian a solemn, deep bow.

“Senior Brother, your cultivation is profound, your swordsmanship mysterious and exquisite. He Shi’an has already been defeated.” This time, there was no trace of arrogance left in his tone, only sincere respect.

Lu Fengmian stepped forward to help him up and said gently, “Junior Brother, your swordsmanship is superb and your foundation is solid. Given time, you will surely become someone great. Today’s match was only a friendly competition, so there is no need to take it too much to heart.”

At this moment, the referee seemed to recover from his shock and loudly announced, his voice carrying a slight tremor:

“The winner of the main arena is Lu Fengmian!”

After a brief silence.

“Boom!”

Deafening cheers and cries of astonishment swept through the entire martial arena like a volcanic eruption!

“My heavens! Senior Brother won?!”

“One move! Just one move! Junior Brother couldn’t even touch the hem of his robe!”

“What kind of movement technique was that? He could dodge with his eyes closed? That’s incredible!”

“Who said Senior Brother was too busy with sect affairs to cultivate? Step forward! Does your face hurt?!”

“Forming a Golden Core within three years, making major achievements in swordsmanship, and mastering a mysterious movement technique… Senior Brother’s talent is probably even more terrifying than we imagined!”

“No wonder the Sect Master made an exception and accepted him as a disciple! That foresight is truly astonishing!”

Cries of amazement, discussion, and praise mingled together, nearly lifting the roof off the martial arena.

The looks all the disciples cast toward that moon-white figure on the stage had changed completely. If before they had admired and respected his ability to handle affairs, then at this moment, that admiration had already become mixed with awe and submission toward his absolute strength!

He Shi’an stood on the stage, listening to the surging roar from below, his cheeks burning hot.

He finally understood that there would always be people in this world more outstanding than he was, and always higher realms to reach. That little bit of talent and achievement of his was utterly insignificant in front of someone truly exceptional.

Lu Fengmian comforted He Shi’an with a few words, then signaled to the referee that the small competition proceedings could continue.

Then he lightly returned to the high platform and resumed his coordinating duties, as if that earth-shaking match just now had merely been a tiny interlude he had hurriedly finished.

After Lu Fengmian defeated a top expert in one move, the matches that followed seemed somewhat lackluster.

Although the disciples still fought with all their might, their gazes could not help but drift toward that calm and composed figure on the high platform.

As the setting sun sank westward, the mountain ranges encircled the land, and dusk spread across the earth, this year’s sect small competition finally came to a perfect close.

All arena battles had ended, and the new elite rankings had also been decided.

As the host, Lu Fengmian once again stepped into the center of the main arena. The setting sun made the gold trim on his moon-white brocade robe especially dazzling, further setting off his tall figure and extraordinary bearing.

His gaze swept across the dense crowd below, and his voice carried through the entire venue:

“Fellow disciples, after fierce battles, this year’s sect small competition has come to a successful conclusion. Everyone fought with all their might and displayed Lingyun’s character. This is truly something worth celebrating!”

Warm applause came from below.

“According to the statistics from the referees of each arena, as well as the verification by the Deacon Hall, the final top ten elite rankings for this year are as follows—”

Each time he read out a name, corresponding cheers erupted below.

“Third place, Zhao Qingyin.”

“Second place, Zhou Wu.”

At this point, Lu Fengmian paused for a moment and raised his voice:

“First place, He Shi’an!”

Thunderous applause broke out. He Shi’an’s strength was plain for all to see; had Lu Fengmian not stepped in, his place at the top of the rankings would have been entirely deserved.