Chapter 280: Lu Qiulong

Qing Nü's true body awoke in a high-tech chair. She gasped softly, unclenching her hands.

"You have terrible luck," a mature woman in a white coat and glasses said as she handed Qing Nü a glass of plain water. "After ten consecutive wins, you actually ran into that monster." She glanced at the battle footage playing on the display screen on the opposite wall.

This was one of the benefits provided by the Sky-Mending Team. After each battle, a super-brain would help them analyze the reasons for victory and defeat, listing various details they hadn't considered. This not only improved everyone's combat abilities but also cultivated their higher-level combat awareness.

"I knew he was strong, but I never imagined he'd be *this* strong." Qing Nü took the water and drank it in one gulp, as if trying to dispel the irritation caused by her projected avatar being incinerated by the purple flame sword light.

"This person is a peerless sword cultivation genius, rarely seen in a thousand years. He comprehended Sword Rainbow Dispersion at Foundation Establishment Level One. I wonder how the Weapons Dao Academy managed to cultivate him?" The mature woman was Zhongli Yi, deputy leader of Sky-Mending Team Four. She had also created an account in Little Chitian, but unfortunately, being skilled in healing and poisons, her performance was subpar in an environment that relied purely on spiritual energy and spells. She had once been fortunate enough to be matched with Chen Mobai, only to be instantly killed by a single sword strike.

"He probably comprehended it himself. I wonder if he can break Patriarch Yuanyang's record." After drinking the water, Qing Nü calmed herself for a while, finally removing the burning sensation of her projected avatar's destruction from her sea of consciousness. She stood up and clicked the screen to watch Chen Mobai's next battle.

"It's probably going to be difficult now. They actually matched him with this guy." At this moment, Zhongli Yi saw Chen Mobai's next opponent and couldn't help but widen her eyes, sighing. It was a burly man with yellowish skin, large hands and feet, and a rugged face.

"Who is this person?" Qing Nü knew that while Zhongli Yi's combat skill was average, her background from the Zhongli family and her position in the Sky-Mending Team made her very familiar with the outstanding talents of various immortal sects. She had personally experienced Chen Mobai's strength, but upon seeing that man, she thought Chen Mobai might actually lose. It was clear then that this person's background and strength were likely extraordinary.

"He is Lu Qiulong!" Qing Nü's eyes widened upon hearing that name, a look of shock on her face. It was him!

After seeing Qing Nü off, Chen Mobai sighed lightly. This hurdle was something Qing Nü had to overcome herself. He shook his head, cleared his mind, and clicked the match button again.

A man who looked somewhat older appeared before him. With the Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye activated, Chen Mobai could already discern his cultivation level: Foundation Establishment Level Five. However, his entire body's vital energy and blood were exceptionally vigorous, as if burning. Wanting to look closer, he found that his opponent's vital energy suddenly transformed into a majestic, multicolored beast, opening its gaping maw and charging along his gaze into Chen Mobai's Zifu Sea of Consciousness.

Caught off guard, a seemingly tangible, multicolored tiger appeared before the young *Firmiana simplex* seedling that he had just mentally projected. Its stark white fangs were bared, about to bite off the young *Firmiana simplex* seedling.

*Clang!* A metallic clang, like a sword being drawn, rang out. A green sprout fell, transforming into an invisible blade that slashed through the air, instantly striking the "King" character on the multicolored tiger's forehead. Under the Divine Control Slash, this illusory fierce tiger, formed from vital energy and murderous intent, dissipated like a bubble in Chen Mobai's Zifu Sea of Consciousness.

But this strike instantly invigorated Chen Mobai, who had been somewhat relaxed. At this point, due to his terrifying record, his opponents were either those with similar undefeated streaks or the cream of the crop among mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators. These individuals possessed formidable combat skills and had already established illustrious reputations in Little Chitian.

"Lu Qiulong," the burly man stated his name. Chen Mobai nodded, indicating he had noted it.

"You don't know who I am?" Seeing Chen Mobai's calm expression after hearing his name, Lu Qiulong was a bit puzzled and couldn't help but ask.

"Are you famous?" Chen Mobai had genuinely never heard the name Lu Qiulong before. Within the immortal sects, he was truly dedicated to arduous cultivation. Apart from gathering resources in the Celestial River Realm, he spent his time studying and cultivating on Mount Chicheng. He truly paid no heed to outside affairs.

"Oh no, how did our president end up meeting this guy!" Outside, the student union members of the Weapons Dao Academy, who had been following Chen Mobai, frowned upon seeing his opponent. Ming Yu, who had always revered him like a god, was particularly concerned.

"I see he's only Foundation Establishment Level Five. Old Chen has probably slain twenty or so cultivators at that level. Is this person really so fearsome that you're all so scared?" Ming Yihua, who had come along to watch on the big screen, scratched his head, expressing his confusion as he saw the student union members looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

"This person is the top graduate of the True Spirit Academy. Although his cultivation level is ordinary, his companion beast is a peak Tier 2 Grand Absolute Fierce Tiger. Its combat power is so strong that he ranks among the top even among late-Foundation Establishment cultivators," Hua Zijing's face was filled with worry.

"Then there's even less to fear. You can't even bring magical artifacts into Little Chitian, let alone spirit beasts. Old Chen is sure to win." Ming Yihua's opinion differed from that of the student union members.

"It's different for True Spirit Academy. If they know their opponent is very strong, they can absorb their companion beast's power in advance, regardless of the mental strain." Lu Tiansuan voiced everyone's concerns. Upon hearing this, Ming Yihua also gasped. If that were truly the case, Chen Mobai might indeed be no match. Now, they could only pray that Lu Qiulong hadn't done that.

Chen Mobai didn't know. After Lu Qiulong became his opponent, almost all immortal cultivators watching the Little Chitian live broadcast shifted their attention to watch this fierce battle between two powerful contenders. In that instant, this particular fight became the number one trending topic on all major portal websites and forums.

"Are you from the Kunpeng Dao Academy or the True Spirit Academy?" Chen Mobai asked Lu Qiulong. These two were the most renowned for beast taming in the immortal sects.

"True Spirit Academy."

"Oh, that's a bit of a shame."

"Shame about what?"

"For you beast tamers, most of your strength lies with your companion beasts. In Little Chitian, you can't display your full power, which is a bit unsatisfying." As Chen Mobai spoke, he retracted his Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye. Lu Qiulong had undoubtedly cultivated his spirit-controlling techniques to a profound level, merging his bloodline with his beast, inherently possessing the fierce and malevolent aura of the Grand Absolute Fierce Tiger. If Chen Mobai hadn't mastered the Divine Control Slash to counter it, he might have been defeated in that instant.

"No shame at all, because I knew I would be matched with you today, so I borrowed some of my companion beast's power in advance." As Lu Qiulong spoke, he clenched his fists.

*Boom!* A powerful and majestic aura of vital energy and murderous intent erupted from every pore of his body. His upper garment tore open, revealing his perfectly muscled physique.

Chen Mobai's pupils sharply contracted! Lu Qiulong suddenly vanished from his sight. An indescribably terrifying punch, carrying a ferocious and absolute malevolent aura, slammed towards his right cheek.

"So fast!" This pure physical speed was the fastest Chen Mobai had encountered in over a hundred battles. Fortunately, his sword light had reached the realm where thought followed intention. He raised a finger on his right hand, and a brilliant, deep purple sword light burst forth, precisely cutting in between them just before Lu Qiulong's punch struck his cheek.

Sword light versus fist power! From the very start, they clashed with the most direct display of power!

Amidst a deafening roar, after Lu Qiulong's left fist was parried by the sword light, he laughed wildly. Instead of advancing, he recoiled slightly, then his right fist, carrying violent vital energy, heavily struck towards Chen Mobai's chin. But at this moment, Chen Mobai's left index finger was already raised, pointing a sword strike at him.

*Bang!* A massive impact radiated outwards from the two of them. Chen Mobai immediately used the momentum to fly backward. As he retreated, he clasped his hands together in a loose grip, and dazzling crimson lightning bolts began to form in his palms.

Lu Qiulong, on the other hand, landed on both feet, and like a cannonball, he moved against the momentum, charging frantically towards Chen Mobai. Amidst the roar! Lu Qiulong directly collided with the *Bing Fire Divine Thunder Art*. His entire body hair burned, and his bronze skin shimmered with faint reddish electrical sparks, but he forcibly broke through this powerful spell. He had once again closed in on Chen Mobai.

At this moment, two more fireballs, accompanied by sword light, emerged from Chen Mobai's palms. Swinging his fists, the fireballs and sword light simultaneously shattered. But Chen Mobai's combat talent began to emerge under the stimulation of such a powerful opponent. His hands moved again, his spiritual consciousness circulated, and the Fire Chain Art, obtained from the Longevity Sect, activated. The shattered flames and sword light, dispersed by Lu Qiulong, rapidly solidified and condensed under Chen Mobai's spiritual consciousness, transforming into a long chain of fire. As if rooted in the void, individual strands extended, firmly binding Lu Qiulong, who had already charged right in front of Chen Mobai.

After the control was established, a shimmering light flickered in Chen Mobai's eyes. He spread the five fingers of his right hand, and in the empty palm, a cluster of purple-green flames blazed, and a terrifying, earth-shattering sword light was about to erupt. Lu Qiulong felt the power of his spirit beast rapidly draining within him, and his heart was also shaken by Chen Mobai's terrifying strength, but the equation for victory was already in his grasp. After a heaven-shaking roar, his vital energy surged. He transformed into a three-meter-tall fierce tiger, breaking free from all the flame chains and lunging to devour Chen Mobai. Simultaneously, the purple flame sword light, activated by the Sun Ascension Art through his Fire Spirit Body, extended from Chen Mobai's palm, piercing directly into the center of the fierce tiger's gaping maw, into which Lu Qiulong had transformed.

"Who won!" Outside, amidst the dazzling purple-green flames and surging vital energy, no one could clearly see the scene of the two clashing in the center.

Just as Hua Zijing, Ming Yihua, and the others nervously clenched their fists, the spiritual light surrounding the two finally began to dissipate. They saw that Chen Mobai's sword light was grasped by Lu Qiulong's left hand, deflecting what should have been a fatal blow to the heart to his left shoulder blade. Although his left hand was ruined, he avoided being eliminated by death. At the same time, Lu Qiulong's right hand formed a claw, gripping Chen Mobai's neck, appearing ready to tear off his head.

But a clear spiritual light transformed into an invisible barrier, protecting Chen Mobai's neck like a halo, stopping Lu Qiulong's right hand from advancing any further. It was precisely Chen Mobai's "Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light," which he had diligently cultivated for nearly two years after reaching Foundation Establishment! As the prototype of the Divine Wood Sect's supreme art, "Heavenly Wood Divine Light," the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light lacked offensive power. However, under the Ever-Changing Spiritual Light Art he obtained from the Longevity Sect, it could change forms, making it his strongest defensive spell.

"Aren't you a Pure Yang Scroll cultivator?" Lu Qiulong looked somewhat surprised at the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light that was blocking his right claw. He could sense that it was formed from wood-attribute spiritual energy, which perfectly countered his earth-attribute spiritual energy.

"Your earth spiritual energy counters my fire-attribute sword qi. You are indeed the most suitable opponent to face me." As Chen Mobai spoke, he tried to pull his sword-finger from the bloody hole in Lu Qiulong's shoulder, but the latter held it tightly, preventing him from moving.

"It's a pity that your previous hundred-plus opponents were too weak to force out your trump card." Amidst Lu Qiulong's lament, the nails of his right hand, propelled by his spiritual energy, transformed into five sharp blades, slowly and steadily piercing into the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light, on the verge of touching Chen Mobai's neck.

"Shouldn't the True Spirit Academy be aligned with the Kunpeng Dao Academy?" Suddenly, Chen Mobai uttered a sentence that made Lu Qiulong frown.

"What do you mean?"

"Taishi Shu was recently defeated by Pure Yang Academy. Lan Haitian, indignant that Xiahou Weihuan and others were bullying the weaker, has already arrived at Chicheng Grotto-heaven. I originally thought you should be using your strength to fight against the people from Pure Yang Academy." Chen Mobai's words made Lu Qiulong's expression falter, but he immediately shook his head.

"Although I am a graduate of the True Spirit Academy, I am myself first. Since I promised to defeat you, I must at least achieve that." After Lu Qiulong finished speaking, his eyes suddenly transformed into tiger pupils. While his left hand firmly clamped down on Chen Mobai's sword-finger, one of the sharp blades on his right hand finally broke through the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light, appearing poised to cut the latter's throat.

"What a pity. I originally wanted to let you surrender honorably." Chen Mobai suddenly sighed. Just as Lu Qiulong wondered what this meant, his entire head exploded, turning into a spray of blood. Facing such a formidable opponent, Chen Mobai had evolved the "Divine Control Slash" from the flower-fruit formed by his spiritual consciousness. If Lu Qiulong had been at his peak, he naturally wouldn't have fallen for it so easily. However, after a fierce battle with Chen Mobai, and with Lu Qiulong forcibly absorbing and holding back his spirit beast's power just for this fight, his spiritual energy had already been severely depleted, ultimately leading to this outcome.

Chen Mobai raised his right hand, his fingers spread. Sword qi crisscrossed, already slicing the Lu Qiulong who was pinning him into several pieces. Amidst the flying blood, he looked up at the last traces of his opponent and sincerely praised him.

"A respectable opponent."