Chapter 1277: Hope for Your Guidance

Ordinary people, after spinning for too long, will also find it unbearable, leading to nausea and vomiting.

This Young Master Xue San, to perform the Golden Silk Slash, spun many times and very quickly... would he also feel overwhelmed, just like an ordinary person?

"Of course not..." The first pseudo-Projection Realm expert shook his head, slightly speechless. "If I'm not mistaken, Zhang Xuan must have used his Grand Illusionist abilities, and Xue Ning, caught off guard, couldn't resist it!"

Leaving aside the fact that a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Saint realm wouldn't react like an ordinary person, even if they did... to be able to use such a move, they must have undergone intensive training. Otherwise, if others were fine while they themselves vomited first, what kind of fight would that be?

"A Grand Illusionist? His movements earlier were indeed very strange, but... without elaborate clothes or exaggerated gestures, he could make Xue Ning fall for it?"

The second pseudo-Projection Realm expert found it hard to believe. Xue Ning's strength, while not at the peak among them, was certainly among the top. Such a person, with unyielding will and cultivation, was impeccable. How could a man, not even dressed well or displaying elegant body language, make her fall for it? Aren't Grand Illusionists supposed to be pleasingly beautiful women who mesmerize people? Could it be that Xue Ning... has a fondness for men?

"A truly powerful Grand Illusionist can mesmerize people with every single movement, as if following a profound principle... Under normal circumstances, it would indeed be very difficult to use such a method to attack Xue Ning. However, the opponent had been defending for a long time, unable to break through. Impatience led to a flaw appearing... which was then noticed, and she was immediately ensnared!"

The first pseudo-Projection Realm expert said, looking at the other's expression with a helpless look. Although their strengths were comparable, he knew more about the Grand Illusionist profession, while the other was skilled in other areas.

"Defending passively, exhausting energy, causing a shift in mental state, waiting for the opportune moment, and then striking... No wonder Hall Master Yue said that Zhang Xuan is the strongest among us. He's certainly not simple!"

After hearing the explanation, the second pseudo-Projection Realm expert looked at the youth, who was happily putting away the spirit stones, with a solemn expression. Initially, like everyone else, he thought Zhang Xuan had won against Liu Chongxin and Master Yun and others purely by luck. Only now did he understand that someone chosen by Zhao Xingmo could not possibly be simple.

"I'm interested in a powerful individual like this. Brother Sun, let me try. If I fail, then you can go!"

The second pseudo-Projection Realm expert nodded. Normally, even though Heavenly Drunken Dew could drive people mad, with their strength, they could maintain control and wouldn't need to rush to compete. However... Zhang Xuan's strangeness had piqued their interest.

"Our strengths are similar. If you can't do it, I certainly won't be able to either; there's no need to embarrass ourselves further..." The first pseudo-Projection Realm expert shook his head and warned, "Later, during the fight, don't use weapons, and tightly guard your Nascent Spirit to prevent his Grand Illusionist Dance..."

"Understood!" The second expert nodded, stood up, and cupped his fists. "Master Zhang, I am Ma Minghai, a renowned master teacher from Qianchong Empire. I request your guidance!"

"From Qianchong Empire?" As Zhang Xuan put away the spirit stones, marveling at Hall Master Yue's generosity for allowing him to earn so much from just a casual drink, he heard the call and looked over.

"That's right! Do you dare to accept the challenge?" Ma Minghai smiled faintly.

"I don't dare!" Zhang Xuan sat down.

Ma Minghai's body swayed. This conversation... why was it not playing out as expected? "I don't dare"... could he not sound so righteous about it?

"I am also willing to offer fifteen high-grade spirit stones as a wager!" he said through gritted teeth, filled with frustration.

"My energy consumption was too great just now; I no longer have the strength to fight!"

"Twenty pieces, no more than that..." Ma Minghai clenched his fists. Before he could finish speaking, he saw that the youth had, at some point, arrived in the middle of the hall. With a flick of his sleeve, looking like a grand master, Zhang Xuan said, "You should have said so earlier! I've recovered now. Let's begin!"

Ma Minghai was so stifled he could barely breathe. He had seen shameless people, but never anyone this shameless! It was clear he wanted him to bet spirit stones, yet he claimed to have no strength... Could he not have some integrity?

Filled with frustration, just as he was about to speak, a voice transmission reached his ear. "Don't let him affect you. He's deliberately trying to provoke you and disrupt your mental state first!"

It was Brother Sun from earlier.

"Understood!" Ma Minghai's eyes sharpened, and he nodded. He had indeed felt somewhat agitated by the opponent's antics just now. It seemed the confrontation had already begun before the fight even started.

Taking a deep breath to calm his mind, he flipped his wrist, took out twenty high-grade spirit stones, and flicked them onto Zhang Xuan's table. Then, he leaped to the center of the hall, extending an arm. "Please!" He had already recovered from his earlier anger.

"Please!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Without further ado, Ma Minghai, having suppressed his cultivation, charged straight ahead, his *zhenqi* roaring explosively within him. His movements were different from the previous challengers; there was no excessive flashiness, only raw power and ferocity, making it impossible not to defend against him.

"Not bad!" Zhang Xuan secretly praised. As expected of a genius, he was not to be underestimated. Having fought several matches without using his full strength, Zhang Xuan knew the opponent must have discerned something, hence abandoning flashy moves and directly attacking with the fiercest power! This way, even if he wanted to use other methods, he would be too pressured.

With a swipe of his palm, his *zhenqi* surged, and it was as if a river had instantly appeared between the two of them. He did not use air stagnation but employed his own *zhenqi*. Even though he used less than a tenth of its power, it was still beyond what an ordinary person could handle. The surging energy looked like a silver streak across the hall, dazzling and hard to distinguish.

"This..." Liu Chongxin, who had woken up, swallowed, his throat dry. Previously, he had always thought that Zhang Xuan had defeated him purely by luck and was unconvinced... Only now did he realize that if Zhang Xuan had wanted to make a move earlier, he wouldn't have been able to withstand even this one technique!

"Excellent!" With an excited cry, Ma Minghai rubbed his hands together, forming a sword with his fingers, and pointed it forward. *Swoosh!* A sword light whistled out, tearing the river of *zhenqi* into two halves in the blink of an eye.

"What powerful sword intent!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. He had fought many experts, but he had never seen such pure sword intent; it could even rival a fifth of his own! As expected of an expert from Qianchong Empire, his first move was extraordinary.

He brought his index and middle fingers together, gently pinched the sword qi, and with a twist of his fingers, shot it back.

"He pinched such fierce sword qi?" Brother Sun's pupils contracted. This move by Zhang Xuan showed incredible ease; even though Ma Minghai's sword qi had pierced through the *zhenqi* river and its power was reduced, it was still not something an ordinary person could pinch. It required exceptional mastery of eyesight, strength, and even swordsmanship! Even he couldn't do it. Could this Zhang Xuan... truly be feigning weakness, appearing ordinary but actually being a master among masters?

"Impressive! Let's see if you can handle this move of mine..." Seeing his sword qi caught and even retaliated, Ma Minghai felt no fear. Instead, his eyes gleamed with excitement, and he let out another long cry. Sword qi spread, and around his body, countless swords, hundreds of them, seemed to instantly materialize, densely packed and obscuring the sky. These were all formed by converging sword qi, not actual swords, but if allowed to strike, they could still pierce skin and cause severe injury.

"It's the Thousand-Blade Sword Sea!" "He condensed so much sword intent without even using a sword. How strong would he be with a weapon?" "The sword qi permeates everywhere, intimidating all sides; I definitely couldn't block it..." All the talents present looked solemn. Qianchong Empire possessed a Sword Pond, and thus, its emerging experts had a unique understanding of the sword. Many sword techniques were passed down in the Sword Pond, and one of the most formidable was the Thousand-Blade Sword Sea. Once unleashed, sword qi permeated everything, making defense impossible.

Like everyone else, Zhang Xuan was also somewhat astonished. To unleash so much sword qi in the blink of an eye, his strength was indeed formidable. Although still far from Zhang Xuan's own level, compared to Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, Liu Yang... err, at the same level, Sun Qiang certainly couldn't defeat him!

With a faint smile, he didn't dodge. Instead, he suddenly opened his mouth and took a deep breath. *Whoosh!* The sword qi filling the sky immediately gathered, converging directly into his mouth. *Crunch! Crunch!* In the blink of an eye, the sword qi was swallowed into his belly.

"This..." Everyone around turned pale with fright. There was so much sword qi, they barely had time to dodge, yet this guy actually opened his mouth and swallowed it...

"Here, have it back!" Before their shock could subside, Zhang Xuan, having swallowed the sword qi, let out a low cry. The countless strands of sword qi had astonishingly formed a short sword entirely made of *zhenqi* within his stomach. With his shout, it shot straight towards Ma Minghai. The short sword grew longer against the wind, becoming over ten feet long. Before it even reached him, it tore through the air, seemingly about to crush him.

"Ah..." Unexpectedly, the person before him had this move as well. Ma Minghai's face turned pale. In the blink of an eye, the power within his body surged, and he could no longer suppress it. He continuously retreated more than ten steps, his sleeves tearing into tatters under the sword wind. Only by reverting to the pseudo-Projection Realm was he able to block the attack. Even then, his body ached as if it were being ripped apart, and his clothes were shredded as if he'd been stripped naked, losing all face.

"You are very strong..." Taking a deep breath, just as he was about to suppress his cultivation further and unleash his most powerful ultimate move to continue the fight, a voice sounded: "Alright, you're no match for Master Zhang!"

He turned his head and saw Hall Master Yue waving his hand from the side. "Yes!" He exhaled. Although unwilling in his heart, he knew the Hall Master was right; he probably couldn't defeat the young man before him at the same cultivation level.

"Master Zhang's strength is evident to all. Alright, the challenge ends here..." Hall Master Yue Quan waved his hand, filled with frustration. He had originally intended to use the others to teach this fellow a good lesson, but he never dreamed that not only would he fail to achieve his goal, but Zhang Xuan would also gain significant prestige instead...

"End it here? So, after bullying me, it's over? How can it be that easy!" Zhang Xuan lifted his eyelids, interrupting him. His voice grew louder and louder, making the entire hall hum.

"Zhang Xuan of Qingyuan Empire wishes to challenge Hall Master Yue of Qianchong Empire. I hope for your guidance!"

(Tomorrow is the college entrance examination. I wish everyone success in their exams and getting into their preferred schools. Laoya, only 18 this year, is also preparing for the college entrance examination. I hope all big brothers and sisters will give more...)