My disciples are all villains.

Duanmu Sheng was competitive by nature. His desire to win was much greater than Yu Zhenghai or Yu Shangrong. Yu Shangrong's words, naturally, provoked him. He bellowed angrily as he gripped the Overlord Spear with both hands, pushed away from the ground, and leaped into the air. His Overlord Spear seemed alive as he swung it around. It was an impressive sight to behold.

Yu Shangrong dodged and retreated.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The spear's tip consistently fell short of half an inch before it reached Yu Shangrong.

Duanmu Sheng swung the Overlord Spear ferociously. Spear shadows began to appear.

The others exclaimed in surprise.

Duanmu Sheng was capable of wielding the Overlord Spear at such a speed with just his strength alone. He had improved greatly from his training under the water.

The others were filled with nothing but praise for him.

The Overlord Spear moved even faster. Its afterimages began to overlap.

Hua Wudao nodded. "This is the Scorching Field Hundred Strikes of the Overlord Spear's Divine One Technique. 100 spear shadows can be conjured up in one go. If he were to use it with his Primal Qi, he could pierce a Four Script Six Compatible Seal."

"As expected of Elder Hua. You're truly knowledgeable. I've been enlightened."

Hua Wudao was discomfited by these words. How could he not be knowledgeable in regard to this? He had lost count of the times he had witnessed the Scorching Field Hundred Strikes in action. For a time, he even dreamed about the thrusting shadows of the Overlord Spear while he was sleeping. In the end, he said, "The next move after the Scorching Field Hundred Strikes is the Thousand Waves… It seems like Duanmu Sheng's opponent is slightly underestimating him."

"The Thousand Waves?"

As soon as Hua Wudao's voice faded, the Overlord Spear's 100 spear shadows vanished. Duanmu Sheng leaped up and conjured the spear shadows in the air.

The others were still under the assumption that Yu Shangrong would pay for underestimating his opponent when he smiled and swung his Longevity Sword.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

With a faster speed, more extreme movements, and more outrageous sword shadows, Yu Shangrong responded in kind.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A thunderous noise reverberated in the air as the two heaven-grade weapons collided. Sparks flew everywhere!

Every swing of the sword parried the Overlord Spear! Every strike of the sword was precise and flawless!

Bam!

The final sword stroke was from the bottom. It met the Overlord Spear's tip in a slashing motion.

The Thousand Waves was repelled before it was completed.

Duanmu Sheng did a somersault in midair. When his feet touched the ground, he slid back from the momentum. After taking dozens of steps backward, he crashed against the stone wall with a bang. Rubble fell from the natural formation.

Both opponents stopped attacking.

These were two of Duanmu Sheng's most powerful moves. However, they were unimaginably fragile before Shangrong.

Duanmu Sheng found this difficult to accept.

Those who witnessed this scene were silent. They were shocked by Yu Shangrong's seemingly simple move. This was especially true for Pan Litian, Leng Luo, and Hua Wudao.

The common folk would focus on fanfare while the professionals would notice the skill. They could tell how skilled with the sword Yu Shangrong.

Duanmu Sheng gripped his Overlord Spear, unwilling to give up. He looked at Yu Shangrong who wore an indifferent expression on the face and was filled with the urge to charge at him again.

Yu Shangrong said, "Give up." He turned around and returned his Longevity Sword to its scabbard. Then, he added, "This is meaningless."

"How is this meaningless?" Duanmu Sheng was puzzled. If he had to yield every time he met an expert, how was he supposed to improve?

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly without explaining himself. Instead, he looked at the audience. Was there not even a single person who could see what was going on here? Was there no one who would step forward to dissuade this blockhead?

Finally, Hua Wudao said, "Duanmu Sheng, that's enough."

"You think that I can't beat Second Senior Brother as well, Elder Hua?" Duanmu Sheng asked unhappily.

Hua Wudao coughed twice before he replied, "Whether it's sword or spear skills, all of Mister Second's skills were meant to kill. They had been tempered through battles of life and death… Without sufficient tempering and experience, you won't be able to defeat Mister Second no matter how long you train under the waterfall."

The experience of brushing shoulders with death was not something that could be obtained from classes or debates.

Leng Luo nodded and said, "That's true."

Pan Litian chimed in as well, "I agree."

The others looked at the old men from the Old Age Pavilion skeptically. Usually, these old men would address the disciples by their names. However, they addressed Yu Shangrong as Mister Second. Was this not discrimination?

Duanmu Sheng scoffed and said, "I wouldn't bet on it!" He suddenly raised his spear domineeringly and launched an even more intense attack.

The others exclaimed with surprise. They did not expect Duanmu Sheng to attack so suddenly.

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly. He turned to the side slightly and softly said, "Too slow."

The spear's thrusts were dizzyingly fast.

The others felt lightheaded as they tried to follow the spear's movements.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The Overlord Spear stirred up a cloud of dust.

"Lift." Yu Shangrong raised his arm. He did not retreat. Instead, he suddenly lunged forward.

Duanmu Sheng had no choice but to retreat. Otherwise, the Overlord Spear would be too long for it to have any use.

The moment Duanmu Sheng moved back, Yu Shangrong moved closer at a much faster speed compared to Duanmu Sheng.

Duanmu Sheng retreated again.

Swoosh!

Duanmu Sheng lifted his spear and pointed it in the air as he swung his arm.

"Not bad. Alas, you're too slow." Yu Shangrong was already by Duanmu Sheng's side.

The others shook their heads and sighed helplessly. This was the difference between the heavens and the earth.

Just when the others thought that Duanmu Sheng was about to be defeated, he erupted with Primal Qi!

Boom!

The Primal Qi rippled into the surroundings.

Yu Shangrong's cultivation base had been sealed. The impact landed on him squarely causing him to reel back like a fired projectile.

Whoosh!

Yu Shangrong appeared calm, but his Qi and blood were surging. Pure skill was what made him seem less battered than he actually was. In fact, he seemed confident and at ease even when he was sent flying back.

…

"Ding! Punished Yu Shangrong. Reward: 300 merit points."

...

The entire scene had fallen silent.

Clearly, Duanmu Sheng had broken the rules. He had used Primal Qi.

At this moment, Duanmu Sheng seemed to have withered. He had lost the will to continue fighting. He was utterly ashamed of himself. Even when he used his Primal Qi, he still could not defeat Yu Shangrong… All he managed to do was to send Yu Shangrong flying back. What more could he say? The weak would only find excuses for themselves.

The atmosphere was slightly tense. No one knew how this would end.

After a moment's silence, Duanmu Sheng walked up to Yu Shangrong and bowed respectfully. "Second Senior Brother, I've been rude…"

"It's a trivial matter," Yu Shangrong said. He did not hold this against Duanmu Sheng.

The others felt helpless. If Duanmu Sheng could not defeat Yu Shangrong, then, the others definitely did not stand a chance.

At this moment, a voice laced with skepticism rang from behind the crowd. "Is that your so-called sword path?"

The crowd parted. They retreated and bowed.

"Pavilion Master."

"Old senior."

Lu Zhou walked over with his hands on his back as he swept his gaze across everyone. Then, he walked up to his two disciples.

Duanmu Sheng's face fell. He fell to his knees immediately and said, "Master, I've made a mistake! I was only trying to spar with Second Senior Brother."

Yu Shangrong wore an arrogant expression on his face and remained silent.

In the Cave of Reflection, Zhu Honggong kneeled and greeted Lu Zhou. "Greetings, master! Thanks to your instructions, I had a stroke of luck and entered the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. I now have a Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar!"

Lu Zhou glanced at Zhu Honggong. That news surprised him. Within three months, not only did Zhu Honggong manage to quell the rampaging energy in his body, but he had also entered the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. That was no small feat. He casually waved his hand, and the barrier vanished, indicating Zhu Honggong was free to leave the Cave of Reflection.

Zhu Honggong was overjoyed. He kowtowed and said, "Thank you, master! You're truly magnanimous, and your might knows no bounds! May you live forever and ever!"

What a blatant attempt at flattery!

Those who heard it felt their scalps tingle. Just how shameless was Zhu Honggong that he was able to utter such words without a change in his expression?

Lu Zhou was pleased when he saw Zhu Honggong's loyalty rising.

Zhu Honggong left the Cave of Reflection and walked to the other side.

Lu Zhou looked at Yu Shangrong.

Name: Yu Shangrong.

Identity: Nobleman (human)

Realm: Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm (restricted)

These were the information he gleaned when he first met Yu Shangrong. He was neither intrigued nor shocked by this.

Yu Shangrong was weirded out by Lu Zhou's gaze. He lowered his head and said, "Master."

Lu Zhou faced Yu Shangrong and did something shocking. He cupped his fists at Yu Shangrong and said, "I'm not worthy."

Yu Shangrong was astonished.