The two created some distance, facing each other. This time, Lin Wanzhu was serving as the referee.

Seeing that the two were ready to begin, the crowd of onlookers began to murmur.

"I can’t believe Senior Brother Su actually dares to fight Senior Brother Jiang. The spirit of a genius is truly different."

"Junior Su is certainly a genius, but he’s a little too arrogant. Daring to fight Senior Brother Jiang right after breaking through to the Second Acupoint... I don’t like his chances in this fight."

"That’s right. The gap in their Martial Arts Realm is just too big. Junior Su needs to learn to respect his seniors."

No one in the crowd favored Su Yu; they didn’t believe he could win.

Nearby, Qin Yu’s brow furrowed. She whispered to Xu Feng beside her, "Senior Brother Xu, what does Father mean by this? Why is he making Su Yu spar with Jiang Liuchuan? Does he really want to humble Junior Su and curb his arrogance?"

Xu Feng was just as puzzled. He couldn’t understand their master’s reasoning either.

He couldn’t see any way for Su Yu to win this match against Jiang Liuchuan. Although Jiang Liuchuan was lazy with his training, he had consumed numerous treasures and spent a long time consolidating his power in the Second Acupoint realm. His Qi and Blood were far superior to Su Yu’s.

’If they fought, Su Yu probably wouldn’t last more than a few moves.’

’Perhaps he could use the agility of the Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber to play for time against Jiang Liuchuan, but even that wouldn’t last long.’

"Let’s just watch for now. Perhaps Master only wants Su Yu to experience the level of Qi and Blood of a Second Acupoint Martial Artist."

In the center of the arena, Jiang Liuchuan stylishly snapped his folding fan shut and tossed it aside.

Then, he slowly unfastened the sword from his waist.

SHIIING—!

The clear, resonant ring of the sword echoed across the Martial Arts Arena.

As the blade was drawn, it released a chilling glint. Faint, cloud-like patterns seemed to shift across its surface, a clear sign that this was no ordinary weapon.

"Junior Su, allow me to introduce you."

Jiang Liuchuan flicked the blade with a finger, a smug look on his face. "This sword is named ’Jade Dragon.’ It was forged from precious Star Iron by a master in Jian’an Prefecture, who spent three months on it. It cuts through iron as if it were mud and can slice a hair blown against its edge. It’s worth a hundred gold!"

A hundred gold!

Based on the current gold-to-silver ratio in the Great Xia, which was stable at about one to ten, this sword was worth at least a thousand taels of silver!

Su Yu couldn’t help but curse inwardly, ’Damn rich bastard!’

He slowly drew the Mo Yuan Saber from his waist. Its dark, heavy blade was a stark contrast to the elegant Jade Dragon Sword with its flowing cloud patterns.

Jiang Liuchuan gave his sword a beautiful flourish. He didn’t rush to attack, instead turning to Qin Fangqiong on the high platform with a cheeky grin. "Master, you’ll want to watch closely! I may not have learned the Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber, but I’ve put a lot of hard work into this Dragon-Slaying Swordsmanship! I’ve already reached the Skilled Realm!"

"Well, look at you, Jiang Liuchuan!"

Hearing this, Xu Feng couldn’t help but exclaim with a laugh, "To think you actually accomplished something with that Dragon-Slaying Swordsmanship!"

’The Dragon-Slaying Swordsmanship is a martial art the Jiang Family found in a cave mansion near the Black Water River. Even though it’s incomplete, it’s comparable to an Upper-tier Martial Art. I never thought Jiang Liuchuan would actually reach the Skillful Realm with it. I really underestimated him.’

’But that means Junior Su’s chances are even slimmer now!’

Lin Wanzhu’s heart leaped into her throat.

’If it were just an ordinary sword technique, Su Yu could probably win with his Minor Achievement Saber Stance. But the Dragon-Slaying Swordsmanship is renowned for its power, and when you add in Jiang Liuchuan’s abundant Qi and Blood...’

’She’d never expected that Jiang Liuchuan actually had such a talent for swordsmanship.’

"Senior Brother, please begin."

Su Yu’s expression remained calm and nonchalant. He held his saber in one hand, the tip angled toward the ground, his entire presence as still as a deep pool of water.

"Heh, your confidence is really starting to get on my nerves," Jiang Liuchuan said, shaking his head. His gaze instantly turned sharp. "In that case, as your senior brother, I’ll have to teach you a proper lesson!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Jiang Liuchuan moved!

"Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss!"

With a stomp of his foot, Jiang Liuchuan shot forward like a soaring dragon. The Jade Dragon Sword in his hand transformed into a blinding white streak, shrieking as it tore through the air, aimed straight at Su Yu’s chest.

The strike was as swift as a fleeting shadow, its power like that of a dragon bursting from the sea!

"What incredible swordsmanship!"

The onlookers couldn’t help but cry out in admiration. The power of that single strike was enough to instantly kill a First Acupoint Martial Artist!

Yet, in the face of this ferocious attack, Su Yu didn’t even blink.

He didn’t retreat. Instead, he raised his Mo Yuan Saber, swinging it upward from an utterly plain and simple angle.

"Spiritual Ape Emerges from the Cave!"

CLANG!

Saber and sword collided, sending sparks flying!

A piercing screech of metal on metal exploded outwards.

The scene everyone had expected—of Su Yu being sent flying by the impact—did not happen.

In the center of the arena, Su Yu stood as firm as a boulder, having steadily blocked the powerful strike from the Jade Dragon Sword!

"What!"

Jiang Liuchuan’s pupils contracted. The force rebounding through his Jade Dragon Sword was barely weaker than his own!

’He had been tempering his Qi and Blood for two years; it was already incredibly abundant.’

’How could a newcomer who just broke through like Su Yu possibly match him in raw power, with so little difference between them?’

The spectating disciples burst into an uproar.

"He blocked it? And he met it head-on?"

"Senior Brother Su’s Qi and Blood... something isn’t right! It’s far too potent!"

Su Yu’s timing in battle had always been precise. Seizing the moment of Jiang Liuchuan’s shock, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

BOOM! 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The ground beneath his feet cracked as he instantly unleashed the Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step!

With a thunderous boom, he shot forward like a cannonball, instantly appearing at Jiang Liuchuan’s side.

"Demon-Slaying Mountain Splitting!"

The Mo Yuan Saber descended like a black bolt of lightning, letting out a roar as it slashed down toward Jiang Liuchuan’s chest!

Before the saber even landed, the fierce wind it generated made Jiang Liuchuan’s cheeks sting.

Not daring to be careless, he immediately executed Jade Dragon Raising Its Head, gripping his sword with both hands to block the incoming saber!

CLANG!

Once again, the sound of metal striking metal rang out, sending sparks flying.

With this blow, the two were once again evenly matched!

At that moment, how could Jiang Liuchuan not realize it? This kid, Su Yu—his Qi and Blood was barely any weaker than his own!

’No wonder he was so confident. The little brat!’

However, before he could process his shock, Su Yu’s saber was already moving again, slashing toward him with the agility of a climbing ape.

He immediately unleashed a move from his Jade Dragon Sword technique, Jade Dragon Flipping the Sea, clashing with the saber.

CLANG! CLANG! SHIING! SHIING...

The intense sound of their blades colliding rang out endlessly. In the center of the arena, the two figures moved rapidly, locked in a battle so fierce it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand.

"What’s going on? Senior Brother Su isn’t at a disadvantage at all! How is this possible?"

"I don’t get it. Why is Senior Brother Su so strong? He doesn’t have a special constitution or anything, so where is he getting all that strength?"

The crowd was completely baffled.

"It’s the Black Stone Body Forging Skill!"

Lin Wanzhu’s eyes widened. She stared intently at Su Yu’s bluish-black arm and couldn’t help but exclaim.

"It’s that Xuan Rank Body Forging Skill from the Black Stone Army!"

"Gods! How long has it been since the Martial Examination? Senior Brother Su has already learned that Xuan-tier Technique! And by the looks of it, he’s already past the entry-level!"

"That’s the Black Stone Profound Armor! Su Yu’s Body Forging Skill has already reached the Skillful Realm!" Xu Feng explained, his eyes as wide as saucers.

’No wonder Master had Su Yu fight Jiang Liuchuan! He’s actually mastered this Body Forging Skill to the Skillful Realm!’

’Empowered by this Xuan-tier Technique, his Qi and Blood are now on par with Jiang Liuchuan’s!’

Shock was written all over Qin Yu’s face. ’When he fought Chen Fan earlier, he wasn’t even using his full strength!’

’If he had activated the Black Stone Profound Armor back then, he probably could have killed Chen Fan in a single blow!’

She turned to look at Qin Fangqiong, only to see him calmly lift his teacup and take a sip, wearing a profound, unfathomable expression as if to say he had expected this all along.

’So Father knew all along! He was fully aware of Su Yu’s terrifying aptitude!’

’Making him spar with Jiang Liuchuan was a way to completely solidify Su Yu’s reputation as a genius!’

In reality, however, Qin Fangqiong was also stunned.

’What a kid! He was only at the entry-level during the last test. How many days has it been? And he’s already mastered the Black Stone Profound Armor?’

’I originally thought he might be able to last a quarter of an hour against Jiang Liuchuan before ultimately losing. Even that would have been enough to shock everyone.’

’I never expected he’d actually fight him to a standstill!’

’As expected of the one meant to inherit my legacy. My eye for talent is as sharp as ever!’

「In the arena.」

Jiang Liuchuan steadied himself. He stared at Su Yu’s arm, which was now emitting a dark light, and his expression became graver than ever before.

"Junior Su, I admit you’re an incredible genius, but that’s still not enough!"

Jiang Liuchuan took a deep breath. The disdain in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by a blazing will to fight.

"Junior Su, watch out! I’m about to use my trump card!"

Across from him, a glint flashed in Su Yu’s eyes. ’It’s time to use my Saber Stance and settle this!’