64: Spirit Mouse

Seeing that his sneak attack failed, and that his ultimate Magic Treasure was easily dissolved by the strange Black Water Screen, Li Yi was filled with shock and fury.

Unwilling to accept defeat, a fierce light flashed in his eyes. He forcefully suppressed the churning Qi and blood within his body, and his longsword let out a sharp, mournful cry.

This strike was a nearly suicidal Killing Move from the Rending Wind Sword Art, possessing immense power but placing an extremely heavy burden on his own Meridians.

Facing Li Yi's attack, in a flash of lightning, his mind raced. He condensed the Demon Slaying Sword Intent onto the tip of his sword and thrust it out.

"Pop!"

An extremely faint, strange sound, like a bubble popping, was heard.

The madness and determination on Li Yi's face instantly froze, replaced by complete confusion and disbelief. He felt that all the power in his full-force strike had been scattered by that single point.

He didn't even feel the force of the backlash, because that power had been fundamentally disintegrated before it could erupt.

He froze in place, his sword-holding hand dropping limply, his face as pale as paper.

Instakill.

A true, undeniable instakill.

The audience instantly fell into dead silence.

Everyone was stunned by this scene of extreme contrast.

One moment it was Li Yi's terrifying, life-risking Killing Move, and the next moment it had vanished so silently... disappeared?

"Wh-What happened?"

"Wha-What happened? Senior Brother Li's move... how did it disappear?"

"I... I didn't see clearly..."

Among the crowd, those sword experts suddenly changed expression.

Lu Chenyuan stood up straight, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

Fang Lingyao's face was filled with disbelief, and she unconsciously leaned forward slightly.

Liu Qingqing let out a soft "ah," quickly covered her mouth with her hand, and widened her eyes.

On the high platform, Chu Jingtian, who had been sitting as steadily as a mountain, stood up.

'Demon Slaying Sword Intent? No... that's not right.' His gaze was locked onto Lin Feng. "It's not simple imitation, but... but truly grasping the essence of 'Breaking the Surface with a Point.' How can he condense power to such an extent and instantly shatter its core before it erupts?"

He asked himself, even if he personally made a move to counter this strike, he might not be able to do it more cleanly, neatly, or effortlessly than Lin Feng.

"Junior Brother Lin Feng..." Chu Jingtian took a deep breath and slowly sat back down, but the shock and intense interest in his eyes could no longer be calmed. "...He can use Sword Intent to such a degree?"

Elder Qingxu announced loudly, "Lin Feng wins."

Li Yi stumbled off the platform, utterly distraught.

Lin Feng calmly dispersed his Heart Sword. The audience erupted in an uproar, their eyes filled only with shock and awe.

The Great Sword Competition continued, and the subsequent matches were even more spectacular, drawing constant gasps from the audience.

The battle between Fang Lingyao and Liu Qingqing was a contest of flexibility and resilience. Fang Lingyao's sword technique was unpredictable, while Liu Qingqing's sword style was soft and continuous. They fought for over a hundred exchanges, but Fang Lingyao proved superior in skill, narrowly winning with a subtle move called "Flowing Cloud Startled Swan" that broke through the defense.

The final Peak Showdown took place between Chu Jingtian and Lu Chenyuan. Both were supreme experts of the sword Dao. They fought fiercely for a long time, and the Restriction on the arena violently fluctuated amidst the crisscrossing sword light. In the end, Chu Jingtian narrowly won by half a move, relying on his deeper cultivation and Perfection of Sword Intent, successfully defending his title and shocking the entire venue.

Lin Feng continued his strong momentum, winning several more matches. However, in the crucial battle to enter the top eight, he encountered an Inner Sect Disciple whose cultivation had already reached the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage. The opponent's spiritual power was far more abundant than his, and their sword momentum was majestic and grand; brute force overcame skill. Although Lin Feng maneuvered with all his might, the gap in cultivation was too great, and sustained defense was bound to fail, leading to his regretful defeat.

At this point, the Great Sword Competition was completely over.

Elder Qingxu flew onto the stage, his voice echoing across the venue: "After comprehensive evaluation, the top ten of this Great Sword Competition have been decided. First, Chu Jingtian of Divine Sword Peak. Second, Lu Chenyuan of Heavenly Solitude Peak... Tenth, Outer Sect Disciple, Lin Feng."

When the results were announced, although everyone was somewhat numb to hearing Lin Feng place tenth again, a commotion of surprise and admiration still arose. Achieving tenth place in all four categories—Sword, Pill, Talisman, and Formation—was unprecedented in the Tianxuan Sect.

Elder Qingxu continued, "The top ten contestants may all enter the third floor of the Sect's Myriad Laws Pavilion and choose one Sword Art or secret technique to cultivate."

"The third floor of the Myriad Laws Pavilion? Choose any one?!"

"Heavens! That is where the Sect's true core Sword Arts and secret techniques are stored!"

"Even ordinary Disciples who perform great deeds find it hard to enter, yet the reward this time is so generous!"

Hearing this, the Disciples below the stage all showed signs of extreme envy. Even Chu Jingtian and Lu Chenyuan had a hint of delight flash in their eyes.

Once the competition settled, Lin Feng first headed to the Registration Office to replace his Identity Jade Token.

Upon learning that he had indeed reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, the Attending Disciple adopted an extremely respectful attitude and quickly processed the procedures for him.

The ordinary jade token representing an Outer Sect Disciple was recalled, replaced by a Cyan Jade Token inscribed with the characters "Tianxuan" on the front and his name on the back.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lin, on successfully achieving Foundation Establishment and becoming an Inner Sect Disciple." The Attending Disciple smiled and cupped his hands, then retrieved several items from behind him and presented them to Lin Feng one by one.

"According to Sect rules, all Foundation Establishment Disciples may open their own Immortal Cave. This is the Sect's relocation assistance for newly advanced Foundation Establishment Disciples."

He first handed over a furry spirit beast pouch, the opening of which trembled slightly. "This is a First-tier Spirit Beast, the 'Spirit-Seeking Mouse,' which is best at detecting the flow of Earth Vein Spiritual Qi. Senior Brother does not need to specifically return it after use; just issue a command, and this little fellow will return on its own."

Next, he presented a set of Formation Flags and a Formation Plate, faintly glowing with spiritual light. "This is a set of Formation Flags and a Formation Plate for the 'Minor Maze Formation,' which is sufficient to protect a newly established Immortal Cave."

Finally, he unfurled a spiritual scroll map radiating Spiritual Qi, upon which light and shadow flowed, clearly showing the mountain ranges. "And this specially made Sect Mountain Spiritual Map. It has marked the approximate locations of all unowned Peaks with spiritual light, which Senior Brother can use for detailed surveying."

He specifically pointed to a few obscure runes on the edge of the scroll and added, "After Senior Brother selects a desired Peak, you only need to inject your Divine Sense into the corresponding Peak marker on the map, and the selection information will automatically be sent back to our Registration Office for filing. It's quite simple."

Lin Feng accepted the items, thanked the Disciple, and then left the Registration Office. He stood in the plaza, took a deep breath, and gently opened the spirit beast pouch.

A faint light flashed at the opening of the pouch, and a furry Spirit-Seeking Mouse with a delicate pink, wet nose lightly leaped out, landing on the bluestone ground. Its small eyes darted around, and it wiggled its nose. After squeaking twice excitedly, it transformed into a gray shadow and darted toward the depths of the Sect.

Lin Feng smiled slightly, his figure drifting as he followed unhurriedly. This was the first time he truly surveyed this Spiritual Mountain Paradise belonging to the Tianxuan Sect as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and an Inner Sect Disciple.

Perhaps due to the change in his state of mind, the scene before him was suddenly clear and completely different from what he had seen as an Outer Sect Disciple.

The Spirit-Seeking Mouse led him past Peaks shrouded in mist and spiritual light, all of which were already occupied. It finally stopped at the foot of a mountain named "Silent Cloud Peak," squeaking excitedly at a seemingly ordinary stone wall.