Meeting Lu Jin's gratified gaze, Lu Ming took a deep breath. His grandfather had paid such a heavy price; if Thunderfire Hall failed to seize the title of champion hall, it would be too great a loss.
Therefore, in this match, he had no reason to lose.
In an instant, the Divine Ability Bone inside Lu Ming's body suddenly vibrated and roared. The six bands of Glazed Heavenly Light surrounding the Divine Ability Bone burst with mysterious light, mobilizing all of his primordial energy to surge into the Fire Lotus imprint.
Not a single shred remained.
The ball of Golden Liquid Fire in Lu Ming's left hand flared with brilliant golden light. Its sharpness and searing heat were unleashed simultaneously, causing the very air to warp.
Golden Liquid Fire, Initial Success!
Lu Ming extended his right hand, and the dark-gold blade light of the Flame Blade took shape once more.
Flame Blade, Great Perfection!
Lu Ming gripped the Golden Liquid Fire with his left hand and wiped it across the dark-gold Flame Blade. The fire, like molten metal, coated the blade's edge. In an instant, the Flame Blade seemed to transform into a real golden saber that had just been forged in a furnace, still radiating scorching heat.
Golden light flowed along the blade, seemingly possessing an indestructible power.
Pointing the golden blade slightly downward, the searing blade energy it breathed out was already melting holes into the hard, rocky ground.
Seeing this, Wang Chen across from him finally changed expression, a tempest raging in his heart. “Flame Blade at Great Perfection, and Golden Liquid Fire at Initial Success? How on earth did this guy do it?!”
Even he, having cultivated until now, had barely managed to train the Golden Gang Sword Hall's Mid Divine Ability, the Golden Light Technique, to Initial Success.
Yet now, Lu Ming was using the Initial Success Golden Liquid Fire to augment the Great Perfection Flame Blade. The sheer power of it made Wang Chen's heart pound in fear.
But even as Wang Chen was reeling in shock, Lu Ming was not done.
Violent lightning began to crackle and leap beneath his feet. In the next moment, the brilliant lightning transformed into lightning patterns that spread outward, covering Lu Ming's body like a thin coat of lightning.
Wang Chen's pupils contracted.
“Holy shit!”
That was... Lesser Lightning Flash at Great Perfection!
Two Lower Divine Abilities at Great Perfection, and one Mid Divine Ability at Initial Success!
Such a configuration of divine ability mastery was something even newly promoted Grand Divine Ability Practitioners would struggle to possess!
Was he even human?!
Boom!
While horror gripped Wang Chen's heart, a thunderous roar resounded.
Lu Ming's figure transformed into a blur of lightning afterimages. Dragging the fiery golden blade, he crossed the duel platform in an instant with unimaginable speed.
So fast!
The blade light rapidly expanded in Wang Chen's pupils. His hair stood on end as an overwhelming sense of crisis surged from the depths of his heart like a tide.
This strike... if he wasn't careful, he might die!
Cold sweat drenched Wang Chen's forehead. Without the slightest hesitation, he erupted with all of his primordial energy. In an instant, golden light flowed across his body, making him look as if he had transformed into a streak of golden light.
Mid Divine Ability, Golden Light Technique!
This was a highly famous Mid Divine Ability of the Golden Gang Sword Hall, capable of turning oneself and one's primordial energy into golden light.
Having turned into golden light, Wang Chen retreated frantically. At the same time, he bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which contained all of his remaining primordial energy.
The moment the essence blood was spat out, it turned into billowing golden light, resembling an indestructible ribbon of golden light that met the descending dark-gold fire blade.
Clang!
The moment the two clashed, an ear-piercing metallic screech erupted, and a violent shockwave of primordial energy swept outward.
Upon the dark-gold fire blade, the Golden Liquid Fire flowed. Though it looked like molten metal, it granted the Flame Blade an extremely rigid quality. With the two stacked together, plus the enhancement of his Sub-Heaven-grade Divine Ability Bone, the resulting power even exceeded Lu Ming's own expectations.
Crack!
Thus, the golden light divine ability that Wang Chen had unleashed with all his might held on for a mere dozen breaths before cracks quietly began to spiderweb across it.
Wang Chen's pupils contracted sharply as terror surfaced on his face.
Lu Ming took a deep breath. The clamor around him seemed to fall completely silent. In his eyes, there was only the swinging dark-gold fire blade, with metal-like liquid still dripping from its edge.
Boom!
The fire blade continued to press down, and the seemingly indestructible, dazzling golden light divine ability finally shattered completely at this very moment.
Shards of golden light splattered across the sky.
The Golden Light Technique was broken!
Wang Chen turned deathly pale, his figure retreating rapidly as a streak of golden light.
Boom!
Though his golden light was fast, the lightning light Lu Ming had transformed into was even faster. A blurry lightning afterimage flashed, and his figure caught up to the golden light.
The fire blade slashed down coldly and fiercely.
Tear!
The fire blade tore through the golden light. Wang Chen let out an ear-piercing scream as his body was sent flying backward in a wretched state, crashing heavily onto the ground.
A gruesome blade wound that exposed his bloody bones appeared on his chest, nearly disemboweling him.
Had his body not turned into golden light to absorb a portion of the damage, Lu Ming's strike truly would have taken his life.
But even so, Wang Chen was severely wounded and knocked unconscious.
The dull thud of Wang Chen's body hitting the ground seemed to possess a strange magic. Though it was not loud, it caused the noisy lake to fall into a dead silence at this moment.
Countless eyes stared blankly at this scene.
Wang Chen had lost!
Lin Zhao and the other Golden Gang Sword Hall disciple, who were in the middle of a fierce battle with Gao Yu and Yuan Da, had their morale and will to fight completely shattered by this sight. Their faces turned pale as their primordial energy rapidly dwindled.
Seizing this opportunity, Gao Yu and Yuan Da launched a fierce offensive to take the initiative. Within a few exchanges, they defeated the two dispirited opponents and knocked them out of the match.
With this, the Lower Flag Platform of the Golden Gang Sword Hall was completely lost.
Panting heavily, Gao Yu and Yuan Da looked at the young man not far away with complex expressions. Though the primordial energy around him had already dimmed and depleted, his eyes still held a sharpness and intensity that made it impossible to look him in the eye.
This youth was like a sharp sword that had just been polished and forged, revealing its first glint of brilliance to the world.
In the quiet atmosphere...
Lu Ming stepped over the unconscious Wang Chen and walked toward the Golden Gang Sword Hall's flag. Without hesitation, he swung his fading fire blade and slashed straight down.
Crack!
The sound of the flagpole snapping echoed, and the flag of the Golden Gang Sword Hall crashed down.
Thud.
As the flag fell, an unmaskable look of admiration appeared on Zhou Xuan's face at the top of the Lake-Viewing Tower.
“This Lu Ming is truly a fine talent.”
“With such a genius, Thunderfire Hall's future rise is promising.”
Beside him, Li Yan also nodded with a smile. Her eyes softened as she gazed at the sharp, youthful figure on the distant platform.
If Jing Yi knew about this, that girl would probably be very happy too.
Behind them, after a brief silence, some of the young disciples from the Divine Ability Clans could not help but exclaim in admiration.
“This kid is so fierce.”
“Haha, Thunderfire Hall actually won the title of champion hall. That's truly unexpected.”
“They can't blame anyone else. The Golden Gang Sword Hall brought this on themselves with their underhanded tricks, giving away a draw for nothing. They tried to gain an advantage but ended up suffering a double loss.”
“I bet Lin Changkong is going to die of anger.”
“...”
Amid the schadenfreude of the crowd, Yan Qing stared solemnly at Lu Ming's figure, a trace of wariness appearing in his eyes for the first time.
If this Lu Ming became a Grand Divine Ability Practitioner in the future, he would likely pose quite a threat.
Li Shuang also looked amazed at this moment. She murmured to herself, “Jing Yi's friend really does have something special about him. No wonder she always praised him. It's a pity I can't contact her right now. Otherwise, if she knew her friend shone so brightly at the Hall Meet today, she would definitely be thrilled.”
Zhou Fuling crossed her arms, her beautiful eyes reflecting the young man on the stage with a hint of delight.
This candidate might be worth a try.
At this moment, Ward Master Zhou Xuan stood up, his loud voice echoing in the ears of everyone inside and outside the lake. “Thunderfire Hall and Golden Gang Sword Hall: two draws and one win. Therefore, in this battle, Thunderfire Hall is victorious!”
“The title of champion hall for Qingyuan Ward this year belongs to Thunderfire Hall!”
As Zhou Xuan's words fell, the atmosphere of the entire area instantly exploded. Countless spectators felt their blood boil; this year's Hall Meet was far more exciting than those of previous years.
“Thunderfire Hall is mighty!”
Some onlookers shouted in excitement.
The young people who had rushed over from all parts of Qingyuan Ward were all excited and thrilled. Winning against a stronger opponent—what did that show? It showed that Thunderfire Hall's divine ability potential was even greater. Such a Divine Ability Hall was truly worth joining!
Of course, many also watched with glee. The Golden Gang Sword Hall had always acted overbearingly in the past, yet who would have thought they would lose so much face at this Hall Meet?
After all, this unexpected outcome was entirely brought upon themselves by the Golden Gang Sword Hall's own foolish antics.
Otherwise, with their absolute lead in overall strength, even if Thunderfire Hall's Lu Ming made a sudden rise, it would have been impossible for one person to turn the tide under a three-match format.
Yet, the Golden Gang Sword Hall had bizarrely handed over a draw right at the start.
Amidst the sky-filling cheers celebrating Thunderfire Hall, Lin Changkong turned and left expressionlessly, with the rest of the Golden Gang Sword Hall following behind him in dejection.
Looking at Lin Changkong's terribly cold gaze as he departed, everyone knew that after today, the grudge between Thunderfire Hall and the Golden Gang Sword Hall had deepened significantly.
Lu Ming did not care, because the source of Lin Changkong's hostility toward them was not the dispute over the champion hall, but rather the noble daughter of the Great Golden Crow Hall.
Even if Thunderfire Hall had swallowed their pride and submitted at this Hall Meet, Lin Changkong still would not have let them off.
“Lin Changkong suffered such a huge loss this time; he probably won't let it go easily. Now that he has entered the True Primordial Energy Realm, even if he lost the title of champion hall, the Golden Gang Sword Hall's position won't be shaken; instead, it will become even more secure.”
“This is too much of a threat to our Thunderfire Hall.”
“I am still too weak.”
A sense of urgency welled up in Lu Ming's heart. He did not let his achievements at the Hall Meet make him arrogant in the slightest.
“For now, I must break through to become a Grand Divine Ability Practitioner as soon as possible. Only then can I help my family more.”
“Furthermore...”
Lu Ming glanced at the ring mark on his finger, a strong look of anticipation welling up in his eyes.
He had now completed three bone refinements... Perhaps he could try to retrieve the spark known as “Life's Flame” from the black ring space.
Rate on N.U.
