Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 294 Sailing Boat VS White Hair
Zhang Qingxiang had no idea about double tribulations or inner demon tribulations. At most, he recognized that the Red Lotus Hellfire Tribulation was a superposition, and if he included the previous great lightning strike, it would be at most a triple tribulation.

Although powerful, it's not beyond comprehension.

Dugu Qingli was also at the third level of tribulation, but Zhang Qingxiang still believed that she could not be his opponent. Not to mention this newcomer who had just crossed the tribulation realm and had not yet established a firm foothold, how could she possibly fight against him at the third-level upper stage?
Moreover, he is not an ordinary third-rank upper-level cultivator. As the direct descendant of Tianyao, his cultivation techniques and skills far surpass those of ordinary people. He is usually the one who beats others of higher ranks, so how could he be beaten by someone of a higher rank?
From Zhang Qingxiang to the other disciples of the Holy Land, almost no one thought Lu Xingzhou could win.

If you can break through their defense after three moves, that would be quite an achievement...

Elder Xu was covered in sweat but couldn't stop him. He could only watch as Lu Xingzhou walked up to Zhang Qingxiang and assumed a bow stance with his fists drawn back.

Zhang Qingxiang instinctively felt a sense of unease, but since he had already spoken, he couldn't immediately unleash his magic weapon. He could only grit his teeth and wait for him to make his move.

Ah Nuo stretched out her head.

Dugu Qingli, who had been leaning against the mountainside with her arms crossed, subconsciously straightened her body.

With a loud "boom", Lu Xingzhou pushed out with his palm.

The palm strike looked unremarkable at first glance, but the situation changed dramatically in the latter half of the strike.

The sound of flames crackling suddenly rang out, and a clear image of a red lotus appeared on the palm, like a lotus flower blooming in the Buddha's palm.

Zhang Qingxiang was horrified. How could he be so arrogant as to try to take it on? He reached out to block, but the fiery lotus suddenly intensified and engulfed him.

"Bang!" Zhang Qingxiang was knocked back several steps by a palm strike, and the disciples behind him scattered in a panic, none of them daring to help him up.

Because he was like a man of fire, with flames clinging to his body, which he could not dispel no matter what methods he used.

Because that is the fire of judgment.

Your arrogance is also subject to judgment.

Zhang Qingxiang couldn't process this kind of stream-of-consciousness stuff for a while. He finally managed to suppress it by relying on his absolute cultivation level. When people saw him, his once handsome face was now as black as charcoal, his hair was burnt and curly, and his whole image was ruined.

Ah Nuo was overjoyed and added a blinking sound effect to it.

Lu Xingzhou took a half step back and smiled as he cupped his hands in greeting: "Thank you for your kind offer."

Zhang Qingxiang, the charcoal-covered man: "..."

He felt both ashamed and angry. He felt he could easily beat Lu Xingzhou to death, but if it was just a friendly spar, Lu Xingzhou's "I concede" already clearly indicated the outcome. He couldn't bring himself to say in front of everyone that burning him was nothing and they should fight again.

Ye Tinglan sighed softly, suppressing a smile that was even harder to hide than Lu Xingzhou's later-night boat ride, and tried her best to make her voice sound calm and disappointed: "Is this the strongest among the younger generation that you said could defeat Qingli?"

Elder Xu wiped his sweat: "Well... the outcome is not actually decided yet. Lu Xingzhou used a clever trick..."

"During the grand competition at sea, will others listen to your explanation?"

"This one……"

Ye Tinglan sighed, and was about to speak when a clear, cold voice came from below: "Young Master Lu, your ability to apply what you've learned is unparalleled. I admire you. Dugu Qingli of the Tianyao Holy Land requests your guidance, Young Master."

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

Ye Tinglan: "

The two stared blankly as Dugu Qingli slowly walked over from the mountainside. Reaching Lu Xingzhou, she held her sword upside down and performed a respectful bow: "Actually, some people's dignity is none of your business..."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Night listens to the waves and strokes her forehead.

"Besides... I've always wanted to try your cultivation technique, but back then your cultivation was insufficient, so I was embarrassed to say so. Now you're at the third rank, while I'm only at the middle stage of the third rank, so the difference isn't that great."

Ah Nuo translated from behind: "Master, she said she's wanted to beat you up for a long time."

Lu Xingzhou: "Shut up, I understand."

Dugu Qingli looked at him earnestly: "Please enlighten me."

Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath: "It's my good fortune. Please."

Ye Tinglan opened her mouth, but ultimately closed it, her eyes filled with complex emotions as she looked at the scene of her disciple and lover facing off below.

While this proves that there's absolutely nothing fishy going on between the two, it also proves that the apprentice isn't as supportive of his situation as he claims...

"Clang!" The ice sword suddenly rose, and frost swept for miles.

Even Lu Xingzhou, facing the enemy at close range, couldn't help but narrow his eyes. Even the disciples watching from the sidelines instinctively retreated again, creating a circle at least twice the size of the previous battle.

Without facing Little White Hair's sword directly, it's hard to understand the helplessness others feel towards her. The sheer chill that freezes the soul is enough to slow even the movements of a strong opponent of the same level, which is why Little White Hair's record often shows a single, decisive strike. In a battle between masters, the difference is often just a hair's breadth; if one side is slowed down by the Holy Ice Aura, what's the point of fighting?
The thought had barely crossed his mind when the sword's edge was already upon his chest.

Fast! Incredibly fast.

It carried a chilling, bone-deep desolation.

She wasn't an ice-based Taoist... she was always a swordsman.

A lotus-shaped phantom silently appeared beside Lu Xingzhou, breaking free from the extreme cold and icy chill. Lu Xingzhou brought his palms together like knives, slashing at the side of the sword.

The two swayed slightly at the same time and took half a step back together.

Dugu Qingli's fierce sword energy was indeed stronger than Lu Xingzhou's, but after being neutralized by the Taixu Wheel, they seemed to be evenly matched; while Lu Xingzhou's flames tried to invade upwards along the sword, repeating the "judgment" he had just performed on Zhang Qingxiang, but they were dissipated by the frost, leaving not even a trace of flame.

Everyone instinctively turned to look at Zhang Qingxiang, whose dark face had turned red again.

The whistling of sword energy rang out continuously, but there was no clanging of metal against metal. There were only the occasional soft sounds of palms slapping against the sides of the swords, and the occasional clashing of forearms. But the howling of the icy wind and the roaring of the flames were even more terrifying than the clanging of metal against metal.

The two fought faster and faster in the arena. Those with poor eyesight could no longer see Dugu Qingli's sword path at all, and could only see the red and blue colors surging in the arena, accompanied by an overwhelming heat and chill.

Ye Tinglan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

It was clear that Qingli had held back. She knew that Lu Xingzhou was a beginner in the Flaming Prison Remnant Sun technique and was not yet proficient in various moves. The nature of her training was quite obvious, and it was evident that Lu Xingzhou was becoming more and more skilled as the fight progressed.

So the apprentice is all bark and no bite...

Just as I was thinking this, the sword energy in the arena suddenly changed.

Dugu Qingli, who had been engaging in close combat to help Lu Xingzhou familiarize himself with the new moves, suddenly turned serious after exchanging a palm strike with Lu Xingzhou and retreating several feet.

It was as if declaring, "I'm getting serious."

The next moment, man and sword became one, and the sword shot out. The sword light in his hand shone brightly, and the incomparably fierce sword light seemed to pierce through the heavens and earth.

Like a solitary, snow-capped mountain, it cuts through the sunset and sea of ​​clouds.

It also severed Lu Xingzhou's flames and protective energy.

That extreme sharpness and destructiveness, once it strikes, would probably be something even Lu Xingzhou's Void Revolving Technique couldn't counter! Ye Tinglan subconsciously clenched her fists, ready to rescue him at any moment.

Zhang Qingxiang's dark face suddenly turned deathly pale; he realized that he was unlikely to withstand the sword strike.

Lu Xingzhou's expression turned solemn, and he suddenly flicked a finger at the tip of the sword.

Dugu Qingli was slightly puzzled when she saw him flick his fingers.

That flick of the finger wouldn't deviate from his sword path even slightly. Trying to handle it like that would injure him. Has he lost his mind? The Yin-Yang Ultimate Technique is definitely not a good thing…

The thought had barely formed in his mind when his finger had already flicked the tip of the sword.

An extremely gentle water-based energy seeped into my meridians, spread through my muscles, and soothed my dantian.

Having traversed the cold riverland alone for over a decade, engaging in more than a thousand battles, she had accumulated countless minor, hidden injuries. Lu Xingzhou's finger strike wasn't meant to block her attack; it was actually healing her…

Did he lose his mind on the spot, risking his life just to get a lick?

no.

Besides pain, there is another feeling that can make a person lose strength and become weak.

That is comfort.

The moisturizing sensation, healing hidden injuries, and the incredibly comfortable feeling almost made Dugu Qingli groan softly, her face instantly turning red.

The incredibly sharp sword suddenly went limp. Lu Xingzhou casually swung his hand, causing the sword's path to deviate, and it was carried past him.

Seeing that she was about to stumble, Lu Xingzhou instinctively put his arm around her waist, then very gentlemanly released her and took a half step back: "Thank you for your mercy, young lady."

Outsiders, unable to understand such details, genuinely believed that Dugu Qingli had shown mercy, and even being grabbed around the waist was considered an accident during the battle, so no one paid any attention to it.

Everyone was still immersed in the battle, unable to recover for a long time. Were the attacks, defenses, and strength of these two sides really only at the early third rank and the middle third rank?

No matter how you look at it, Zhang Qingxiang is still inferior to them...

Perhaps only Ye Tinglan could see Lu Xingzhou's "winning strategy." This move was only effective because Qingli was not a real enemy. If Qingli really wanted to kill him, this move would not have been effective. In reality, Lu Xingzhou had lost.

As for that arm around the waist, it was probably just an instinctive reaction on the spot... It seems like there's nothing to blame, but why does it look so annoying?
In the utter silence, the Holy Lord's voice resounded throughout the entire arena: "The young phoenixes sing in competition, which is why my Tianyao Holy Land has been strong for ten thousand years. I have witnessed today's competition and am very pleased. Everyone will be rewarded."

"Dugu Qingli granted me three days of enlightenment at the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords."

"Zhang Qingxiang may enter the Sutra Repository and choose any set of techniques to study."

"As for Lu Xingzhou, come with me. Seeing that you are just beginning to learn the skills today, there are still some areas where you have not mastered them well enough. I will personally guide you."

Dugu Qingli: ""

I'm giving you a chance, aren't I?
When will the Tianyao Holy Land be destroyed? Is it too late for me to join Yuan Muyu now?

Ye Tinglan had no idea what his disciple was thinking, and announced to himself: "There's no time like the present. I need to select three young disciples to participate in the Grand Competition in the Sea, three as regulars and two as substitutes. Based on what I've seen today, Qingli, Qingxiang, and Xingzhou are all qualified. As for the remaining spots, you can compete among yourselves to decide the winners."

At first, watching a fight is entertaining, but once it becomes personally relevant, people immediately become dissatisfied, asking why an "outsider" should take a spot.
Even among the elders, someone whispered, "Sect Master, this is inappropriate. What identity does Lu Xingzhou have to represent our Tianyao Holy Land in the competition? If other factions find out, they might think our Holy Land has no one to rely on."

Ye Tinglan sneered: "Are there that many people in the Holy Land? Do you think you can defeat Zhang Qingxiang, who claims to be able to defeat Qingli?"

Everyone blushed and stammered, "But..."

"There are no buts." An aged voice came from the rooftop of another building: "Lu Xingzhou is my unofficial disciple. How could he be an outsider? I myself didn't even know when I was expelled from the Holy Land."

The crowd's expressions shifted slightly, and they all fell silent.

With this person's endorsement, there's certainly no problem.

Whether unofficial disciples can be considered members of the Holy Land is irrelevant; on the contrary, it allows them to show off: "Even our temporary workers are this strong..."

The one with the truly strange expression was Ye Tinglan.

In terms of seniority, Master Feng is his grand-uncle.

Does this mean his unofficial disciple has to call him "Master Uncle" instead?
(End of this chapter)