178: One cut

Everyone watched the battle between the two in the arena with rapt attention.

On the longsword in Lü Heguang's hand, a pattern composed of clear inscriptions emitted a mysterious aura; even from hundreds of meters away, everyone could see it clearly and feel its powerful presence.

"This is the power of a companion weapon," Xue Cheng said helplessly.

"By the way, Xiao Weiqing, does your blade have divine runes now?" Xue Cheng asked.

Xiao Weiqing fell into deep thought, not knowing how to answer.

"Xue Cheng, after all, Xiao Weiqing's companion weapon isn't his own. Nourishing it is extremely difficult, and the consumption of divine charm substance far exceeds that of people like Lü Heguang. It's normal for it not to have divine runes," Qin Tian spoke up to resolve the awkwardness upon seeing Xiao Weiqing's silence.

"Right, that's exactly it."

Xiao Weiqing quickly responded, "My thousand flame blade doesn't have divine runes yet; the consumption of divine charm substance is just too terrifying."

"Huang Yitong, you have to help me. Help me exchange for more when you get the chance," Xiao Weiqing turned and said.

"Do you think I'm running a shop? Go to the Demon Realm and slay some demons yourself."

"Kid, I know where there's a lot of high-quality divine charm substance. How about we cooperate?" Second Girl took the opportunity to chime in, tempting Xiao Weiqing.

Xiao Weiqing turned his gaze back to the stage; he wouldn't believe a single word that Orange Cat said.

"Fight!~"

Luo Dechang roared loudly, the veins on his arms bulging, emitting an aura even more startling than a Yao Beast's.

With two steps, he was already in front of Lü Heguang.

He swung his Square Great Hammer with all his might.

"Boom!"

Lü Heguang remained calm and unhurried. While sidestepping, he used his sword to parry the great hammer to the side, causing it to smash into the arena floor.

"Luo Dechang is going to lose; the rhythm is now completely under Lü Heguang's control."

The crowd nodded repeatedly. They weren't mediocre; they could easily see that Luo Dechang's attacks had become disorganized, and he was merely wasting Spiritual Qi.

As expected.

Three minutes later.

Lü Heguang pressed the tip of his sword against Luo Dechang's chest, and the referee announced the result of the match.

"Lü Heguang wins!"

"You won. Wait until I've nurtured some divine runes, then we'll fight again."

Luo Dechang was not discouraged.

"Alright! I'll wait for you. However, the winner will still be me."

The second match thus concluded.

The audience exclaimed in satisfaction after witnessing the battle between two contestants who possessed companion weapons.

Xiao Weiqing also nodded repeatedly. So companion weapons had this concept of nurturing divine runes; it seemed he would have to nurture one or two divine runes next time, otherwise people would notice something unusual... The third match.

Teng Hai was up against a Level 5 Trainee from the Azure Dragon Academy.

"Come, let me see what you're made of!"

The Level 5 Trainee from the Azure Dragon Academy provoked.

"Nether Lamp Finger!"

Teng Hai didn't waste any words. With a low shout, he immediately struck.

He tapped several fingers in succession, sending energy flying toward his opponent.

"Paltry tricks!"

"Traceless Sword!"

A cold light flashed, and the Nether Lamp Finger attacks were all broken.

Teng Hai raised an eyebrow.

"You have some skill, but it's not enough."

"Hundred Ghosts Drifting Flames!"

Countless eerie blue flames drifted about, surrounding the Azure Dragon Academy contestant.

The face of this Azure Dragon Academy contestant with a Level 5 Extraordinary Talent changed.

"Star-Shifting Sword!"

Over a dozen sword lights enveloped him, blocking the flame attacks.

However, the invisible flames were pervasive, burning through the Azure Dragon Academy contestant's Spirit Energy Cloak.

And that wasn't all.

"Yellow Springs Knocking at the Door!"

A violent shout.

A Nether Gate several meters high opened, and a Skeleton General from Hell returned to the battlefield, sending the Azure Dragon Academy contestant flying with a single slash.

"Teng Hai wins!"

Teng Hai sneered:

"A mere Level 5 Extraordinary Talent, and you dare to look down on me? Who the Hell do you think you are, Xiao Weiqing?"

In the contestant area, Xiao Weiqing's face darkened. This Teng Hai was really putting on an act.

Others might not know, but how could he not? Teng Hai had used all his tricks, essentially catching the Azure Dragon Academy contestant off guard.

If that last move hadn't defeated his opponent, it would have turned into a battle of attrition. Even if Teng Hai won in the end, it would likely have been a pyrrhic victory, or he might have even lost.

Next.

Ren Jie defeated his opponent.

With that, the four matches of the morning were over.

Whether it was the audience or those watching the live stream, everyone felt they hadn't seen enough and looked forward to the afternoon matches even more, because the strong contenders for the top spot would be appearing one after another... Afternoon, 2:00 PM.

In the first match, Dongfang Xuan's battle was commendable, easily defeating a contestant from the same academy.

Xiao Weiqing was in the second match.

His opponent was Meng Yun, a Level 6 Extraordinary Talent from the Great Xia Academy, who could be considered an acquaintance.

The two grappled for five minutes before Xiao Weiqing "barely" managed to defeat him.

The Azure Dragon Academy contestant area.

"This Xiao Weiqing's strength is indeed decent, but he's not as formidable as they say."

"It took him so long just to beat a Level 6."

Luo Ziyuan said, "Then why didn't you guys defeat Xia Mo and Teng Hai?"

Yin Lingyao said weakly, "That Xia Mo was too cunning."

"That Teng Hai was also cunning; he used his full strength right from the start. I was careless," the Azure Dragon Academy contestant who lost in the morning argued.

"A loss is a loss."

In truth, the two from the Azure Dragon Academy couldn't be entirely blamed.

One could only say they were matched against the wrong opponents.

Xia Mo herself was very strong and possessed Exotic Water; among Level 6 Extraordinary Talents, her strength was at the very top.

As for Teng Hai, he had received help from Xiao Weiqing in Civilization Relic No. 1 and obtained an Exotic Fire, which significantly increased the power of his Innate Skill. Furthermore, he struck with full force right away, catching his opponent off guard.

Xiao Weiqing's match ended.

Immediately after came the main event.

The matches of Luo Ziyuan and Zang Yu.

Luo Ziyuan's match made Xiao Weiqing frown.

Whether it was the contestants or the spectators, their expressions were exceptionally solemn.

"A companion weapon, and with two divine runes."

"This Luo Ziyuan is so strong."

"Why did Hong Ming's movements suddenly freeze up while they were fighting just now?"

"I don't know."

Both Luo Ziyuan and Hong Ming were Level 6 Martial Cultivators, both focused on techniques.

Luo Ziyuan's weapon was a long staff—a native companion weapon. The staff was very thick, over two inches in diameter.

Hong Ming, on the other hand, held a blade, a very good elemental weapon. From the start, Hong Ming unleashed his strongest combat power, suppressing Luo Ziyuan for a time.

However, after ten moves.

Luo Ziyuan began his counterattack.

With the first strike of the staff, Hong Ming was halted.

With the second strike, he was forced back.

With the third strike, he was swept away.

The strange thing was that by the third strike, Hong Ming had already reacted and was prepared to defend.

But when the long staff reached him, for some reason, Hong Ming froze for a moment, as if he had given up.

"Xiao Weiqing, do you know what just happened?" Fei Xiaobao asked.

"It should have been a Mental Attack."

"A Mental Attack?"

Xiao Weiqing nodded. "Aside from a Mental Attack, I can't think of any other possibility."

In fact, Xiao Weiqing had other evidence: Zang Yu was a Spirit Cultivator, and since Luo Ziyuan was his teammate at the Azure Dragon Academy, it was very likely he had learned a Mental Energy Innate Skill.

Xiao Weiqing had reason to believe that Luo Ziyuan might even know a Mental Defense Innate Skill.

Xue Cheng nodded and said, "Xiao Weiqing has a point; Luo Ziyuan's method just now was indeed very similar to a Mental Attack."

As a Spirit Cultivator, Xue Cheng's Mental Energy was currently not as high as Xiao Weiqing's, but he was all too familiar with the methods of Spirit Cultivators.

"Next match!"

"Li Jian versus Zang Yu."

The two took their positions.

Li Jian was an Earth Element Technique Cultivator who specialized in defense.

Zang Yu walked slowly onto the arena. He was of average height, neither fat nor thin, with an ordinary appearance. He held a Black Blade and had an expressionless face.

"Begin!"

Zang Yu's feet moved slightly, and he vanished from his spot.

The moment Zang Yu moved, Li Jian reacted.

"Rock Barrier!"

Thick, earthy-yellow Spiritual Qi transformed into rock, enveloping him.

"Ding!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Zang Yu's Black Blade slashed against the rock.

Then, he sheathed his blade.

He turned around and walked away.