Chapter 270: Bottom Cards Keep Emerging

The azure wind blades hummed, forming an ocean that enveloped every corner of the golden stone platform. Each blade shimmered with a chilling light, striking fear into the heart.

In this brief exchange, Lu Feng displayed impressive techniques, making it clear that his position as the top disciple of the Outer Mountain was not merely for show.

All eyes converged on Zhou Yuan, trapped within the sea of wind, as everyone watched with bated breath.

“Kill!” A sharp glint of cold light appeared in Lu Feng’s eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he clenched his hand. The swirling wind blades suddenly vibrated, and a whistling sound erupted as they surged overwhelmingly towards Zhou Yuan.

“No matter how fast you are, you can’t escape the range of my wind sea!” A cold sneer appeared on Lu Feng’s lips.

Zhou Yuan seemed to know he couldn’t dodge, so he remained motionless, his expression slightly solemn as he watched the overwhelming wind blades engulf him.

Each wind blade contained formidable Origin Qi. Not to mention someone at the third level of the Alpha Origin Stage, even an ordinary person at the fourth level would likely be pierced by a thousand blades if caught within it.

Zhou Yuan, deeply entangled in the sea of wind, seemed to be in a grim situation.

Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators across the land, the sea of azure wind blades roared forward, and in just a few breaths, it completely engulfed Zhou Yuan’s figure.

A harsh, grating sound filled the air as the golden platform was torn and perforated.

The wind sea swept across, its assault relentless.

After a long while, the sea of azure wind blades gradually subsided, and countless gazes immediately darted towards the scene.

They saw Zhou Yuan’s figure still standing in place.

Lu Feng’s face revealed a cold sneer. Having directly endured his assault, not to mention Zhou Yuan, who was only at the first level of the Alpha Origin Stage, even a master at the fourth level would have been heavily wounded by him.

However, just as the cold sneer spread across his face, it slightly froze when his gaze fell upon the front.

They saw Zhou Yuan standing in place, his body slightly blurred. But at the same time, purple-gold scales had appeared on his body’s surface, providing strong protection.

Moreover, complex light patterns shimmered on the purple-gold scales, emitting a unique power.

It was clearly the power of Origin Runes.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan’s purple-gold scales were covered with cutting marks, some even shattered. But overall, the sea-like wind blades had failed to breach his layers of defense.

A low murmur of commotion arose throughout the area.

No one had expected that an attack capable of heavily wounding someone at the fourth level of the Alpha Origin Stage would be so easily fended off by Zhou Yuan...

“Indeed, what he cultivates should be the Etherealization Art, right? To be able to cultivate it to this extent in just three months shows remarkable talent,” Master Qing Yang said, nodding from the Origin Qi cloud.

Peak Master Gu Tianhong of Hongya Peak, his voice like thunder, said, “Those purple-gold scales hint at some external refinement techniques. This young man seems suited for external cultivation.”

The perpetually troubled white-browed elder from Spirit Rune Peak shook his head and said, “While this young man’s purple-gold scales offer decent defense, the main reason he could block Lu Feng’s Wind Sea Art is that he carved a Tier 4 defensive Origin Rune onto them.”

“Therefore, in my opinion, cultivating Origin Runes is stronger than external refinement techniques. The latter can lead to a body that’s too strong, making one’s mind dull.”

Gu Tianhong’s eyes widened, and he angrily retorted, “Old Bai, what nonsense! Cultivating Origin Runes is only for those who have no other path. How can it compare to external refinement?!”

The white-browed old man shook his head and sighed, “It’s like playing music to a cow—utterly pointless.”

Peak Master Liu Lianyi of Snow Lotus Peak, with her phoenix eyes, looked at Ling Jun and said, “It seems Lu Feng’s ambition to win first place in the Peak Selection Ceremony won’t be so easy to achieve.”

Peak Master Ling Jun of Sword Come Peak heard this, smiled gently, and said, “Peak Master Liu, you are mistaken. Lu Feng’s previous move was merely a test. If Zhou Yuan couldn’t even handle that, he would be truly pathetic.”

“In this entire confrontation, Lu Feng has held the upper hand from start to finish. That Zhou Yuan has been able to hold on until now with his first-level Alpha Origin Stage strength is quite extraordinary, but to say he can stop Lu Feng, I’m afraid that’s very difficult.”

Liu Lianyi smiled faintly, “Then let’s just wait and see.”

Beside Ling Jun, Lu Xuanyin dared not interrupt the two Peak Masters’ conversation, but her small red lips subtly pursed into a slight pout.

In her view, Lu Feng undoubtedly had victory in his grasp in this confrontation. Zhou Yuan’s resistance was ultimately just a futile effort.

On the golden stone platform.

Lu Feng looked at Zhou Yuan, who had fended off his wind sea assault. His expression slightly darkened, and his gaze became even colder. He said flatly, “Zhou Yuan, you truly possess some skill.”

He had originally thought that Zhou Yuan would surely be injured by this move, but now, it seemed he had miscalculated.

Clearly, he had still underestimated Zhou Yuan’s strength.

Although the latter was only at the first level of the Alpha Origin Stage, he possessed numerous unpredictable techniques.

Purple-gold scales shimmered on Zhou Yuan’s body. He had no intention of replying, as a cold glint also flashed in his eyes.

“Boom!” He stomped his foot, and his ethereal figure instantly vanished from its spot. In the next instant, he appeared before Lu Feng, unleashing a punch with his fist, covered in purple-gold scales and imbued with powerful Origin Qi.

He had begun his counterattack.

“Oh? So you finally dare to face me head-on?” Seeing this, Lu Feng’s lips curled into a disdainful sneer. He showed no retreat, and his fist shadow whistled forth, Origin Qi tearing through the air.

Bang! Bang! The two clashed head-on in dozens of exchanges in an instant. Each move was ruthless, aiming directly at the opponent’s vital points.

Although Zhou Yuan’s offensive was fierce, it was entirely parried by Lu Feng. Relying on his fourth-level advantage, his Origin Qi was clearly several times more powerful than Zhou Yuan’s.

“Is this all your offensive amounts to?” Lu Feng sneered during their lightning-fast exchange.

With a cold sneer, he unleashed a palm strike. It collided with Zhou Yuan’s fist shadow, and with all the Origin Qi in his body surging, he scattered Zhou Yuan’s fist shadow with a single blow.

“Whoosh!” However, the instant Zhou Yuan’s fist shadow dispersed, he thrust out his right palm. An astonishing amount of Origin Qi suddenly burst forth from its center, instantly transforming into an Origin Qi orb entwined with wind and lightning, unleashing an incomparably violent wave of fluctuations.

“Great Wind Thunder!” A low voice resonated within Zhou Yuan’s mind.

Lu Feng’s pupils sharply contracted. Zhou Yuan’s true attack had been hidden beneath his myriad fist shadows; the previous attacks were merely a feint.

The wind-thunder orb rapidly grew larger in his eyes.

However, Lu Feng was no ordinary person after all. In that critical moment, he sharply inhaled. The next instant, his cheeks puffed out, and he directly spat out a stream of azure Qi.

“Azure Light Origin Needle!” The stream of azure Qi transformed into a tiny, incredibly fast shadow. With a flash, it heavily collided with the wind-thunder orb.

A violent shockwave erupted, and both Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng’s bodies trembled violently as they were forced back.

Their feet scraped long marks on the ground before they each stabilized themselves.

However, Lu Feng’s expression was even more unsightly. He had almost been ambushed by Zhou Yuan earlier, forcing him to reveal a hidden trump card.

One must know that this “Azure Light Origin Needle” was also a Minor Heaven Origin Art, condensed from his Origin Qi and possessing astonishing power. If used properly, it could reverse the situation.

However, this art required prior condensation, but now, Zhou Yuan had forced him to use it.

Zhou Yuan’s brows also furrowed slightly, not because he failed to injure Lu Feng, but because this guy actually had a hidden technique. That azure shadow earlier was too fast; if he hadn’t been prepared, he might have been hit.

Fortunately, he was now prepared.

Lu Feng’s eyes were cold. He looked at Zhou Yuan, then suddenly shook his head and said, “It seems I truly underestimated you. Since that’s the case, don’t blame me for exploiting your weaker foundation.”

Zhou Yuan’s brows furrowed, and his gaze became wary.

Lu Feng let out a cold laugh and took a deep breath. His hands suddenly formed a seal, and instantly, a beam of azure light shot straight up from his crown. Within the azure light, a heaven-shaking sword hum resonated.

The sword hum was like an eagle’s cry.

Countless gazes converged, and then they saw that within the azure light, there was an azure longsword. The longsword burst forth with ten thousand feet of sword light, and an astonishing aura swept out.

Countless disciples suddenly widened their eyes at this moment.

Exclamations of shock rose one after another.

“Is that... a Heaven Origin Weapon?!”