158: Chapter 158 Given time, he will surely achieve great things.

"Senior Brother, please offer your guidance."

Ao Qin cupped his hands, a faint smile on his face, though his eyes were full of seriousness.

Lu Jinghan nodded slightly without saying a word, his gaze as calm as water.

Around the plaza, the discussions among the Disciples gradually subsided. Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed intently on the two figures in the center.

One was the Sect Master's Personal Disciple; the other was the Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon Clan. This match was destined to be anything but ordinary.

Someone whispered, "Who do you think will win, Senior Brother or Senior Brother Ao Qin?"

"Isn't that obvious? Senior Brother could fight across Realms against Void Refining experts even at the Soul Transformation Stage. Although his Realm is still at the Peak of the Soul Transformation Stage, his combat power cannot be measured by his cultivation level alone."

"But Senior Brother Ao Qin is no slouch either. The Dragon Clan physique is inherently formidable, and with the Minghuang Dragon Art, who among the same Realm can withstand a single strike from him?"

"That's why it's interesting; otherwise, why would we be gathered here watching?"

Amidst the discussion, the two in the arena moved simultaneously.

Ao Qin struck first, his figure tracing a golden arc through the Void Realm with astonishing speed.

He threw a punch, the Qi of the Dragon form surging at his fist, carrying the power to split mountains and shatter rocks as it headed straight for Lu Jinghan's face.

Lu Jinghan's expression remained unchanged. He simply sidestepped, avoiding the punch with an extremely exquisite footwork technique.

At the same time, he raised his right hand, fingers held like a sword, and a refined Sword Qi shot out from his fingertips, aiming straight for Ao Qin's ribs.

Ao Qin twisted his body to dodge the Sword Qi and backhanded a palm strike toward Lu Jinghan's shoulder.

The wind from his palm whistled, compressing the air until it emitted a piercing, explosive sound.

Lu Jinghan still did not draw his sword. His figure flashed several times in the Void Realm, each time accurately evading Ao Qin's offensive while using his fingers as a sword to counterattack continuously.

His speed was not fast, but there was an elusive rhythm to it, as if every step landed in the gaps between time and space, making it impossible for anyone to predict his movements.

Around the plaza, the Disciples watched with rapt attention.

"Senior Brother's movement technique is so profound! Even though his speed isn't fast, he can always avoid Senior Brother Ao Qin's attacks."

"That is the use of the Law of Time and Space, didn't you notice? Senior Brother Ao Qin's fist looks like it hit, but in reality, it missed by a hair's breadth."

"Missed by a hair's breadth? That's as good as missing by a thousand miles!"

Ao Qin also realized this.

His fist technique was rigid and domineering, each punch strong enough to shatter stone and crack metal, but Lu Jinghan's movement technique was too bizarre. It seemed as if he could predict every one of his attacks and dodge a step ahead of time.

His fists missed time and time again, but his Battle Intent grew stronger and stronger.

"Senior Brother, watch out!" Ao Qin shouted in a low voice, his figure stopping abruptly.

His hands quickly formed seals in front of him. The golden Dragon-shaped Qi surged wildly around him, gathering in his palms to form a golden orb of light condensed to the extreme.

Within the orb of light, the faint sound of a Dragon roar could be heard, causing the air around the plaza to tremble slightly.

A trace of seriousness finally flashed in Lu Jinghan's eyes as he pressed his right hand onto the hilt of the Jinghan Sword.

Ao Qin did not hesitate. He thrust his hands forward, and the golden orb of light flew from his hands, transforming into a golden Dragon shadow several zhang long, lunging at Lu Jinghan with bared fangs and brandished claws.

Wherever the Dragon shadow passed, the bluestones on the ground were cracked with fine lines by that power.

This strike was already the full-powered effort of an Early Stage Void Refining expert.

Lu Jinghan drew his sword. A beam of sword light surged from the Jinghan Sword, silent and soundless, yet carrying a power that made time itself freeze.

Under the shroud of the sword light, the golden Dragon shadow seemed frozen, unable to move an inch.

Immediately afterward, the Dragon shadow began to shatter from its head, inch by inch, turning into countless golden specks of light that dissipated into the air.

Ao Qin was forced back two steps by the recoil, then he withdrew his stance and stood firm.

He looked down at his hands, then at the Jinghan Sword in Lu Jinghan's hand, which was still emitting a faint silver light. He gave a wry smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Brother, I have lost."

The plaza was silent. Then, a thunderous cheer erupted.

"Senior Brother is mighty!"

"I didn't even see that sword strike clearly! It was too fast!"

"Nonsense, that was the Law of Time and Space. It would be a miracle if you could see it clearly!"

Lu Jinghan sheathed his sword and nodded slightly toward Ao Qin, his tone calm but with a hint of praise: "Your Minghuang Dragon Art has already reached seven-tenths of its potential. Given time, you will surely achieve great things."

Ao Qin grinned and brushed the dust off his body: "That goes without saying. However, I still lost to Senior Brother today. In the upcoming Cloud Sea Grand Ceremony, Senior Brother will surely be able to take the top spot."

Lu Jinghan shook his head and said indifferently: "The Cloud Sea Grand Ceremony is a grand event for all forces in the Southern Wilderness. At that time, Prodigies from all regions will gather. One must not be careless."

Ao Qin nodded and said solemnly: "Senior Brother is right. I will continue to Cultivate and strive to make further progress before the Ceremony."

The Disciples on the plaza were still enthusiastically discussing the battle that had just taken place, but Lu Jinghan had already turned and walked toward the Trial Tower.

Lu Jinghan walked alone toward the Trial Tower. His pace was not fast, and every step was steady and powerful, but in his mind, he was still replaying the battle with Ao Qin.

Ao Qin's Minghuang Dragon Art had progressed extremely quickly. The power of that strike just now was already enough to defeat most Early Stage Void Refining opponents head-on.

If it weren't for his Law of Time and Space happening to counter that kind of rigid and domineering offensive, the outcome might not have been so easy.

"Nearly half a year." Lu Jinghan whispered to himself, stopping in front of the Trial Tower and looking up at the towering bronze tower that reached into the clouds.

"A cultivation level at the Peak of the Soul Transformation Stage might be considered top-tier among the younger generation of the Southern Wilderness, but the Cloud Sea Grand Ceremony gathers the Prodigies of the entire Southern Wilderness."

He had participated in the grand ceremonies of the Central Plains in his previous life and knew that in competitions of that level, Realm was never the only factor that determined victory or defeat.

Cultivation Techniques, Magic Treasures, combat experience, and even luck could all change the outcome of a match.

But his goal was never as simple as just entering the top five; what he wanted was to enter the Xuanhuang Fortress and compete for the Xuanhuang Command Flag.

Lu Jinghan pulled back his thoughts and stepped into the Trial Tower.

The tower gate closed slowly behind him, and the bronze tower trembled slightly. The battle reliefs on the tower began to light up one after another, as if welcoming the arrival of this frequent visitor.

When Lu Jinghan walked out of the ninety-first floor of the Trial Tower, it was the last month before the start of the Cloud Sea Grand Ceremony.

His aura was more restrained than it had been three months ago. There was no excess spiritual energy leaking from his body, and as he stood there, it was as if he had merged into the surrounding world.

His cultivation level remained at the Peak of the Soul Transformation Stage, but the faint, almost imperceptible dao rhyme around him already made many Disciples look on with awe and fear.