Chapter 327 - 210: Blood Lingzhi, The Examination

Chapter 327: Chapter 210: Blood Lingzhi, The Examination

Lv Liangdong nodded, unsurprised.

"I said before that when you returned, I would test you to see if you’ve just been slacking off. Since you’ve already reached the Fourth Training level, this is a perfect opportunity. We haven’t had any practical sparring for a few days."

"Liu Tong, you will spar with Zhang Shan."

Xie Yuan was a little surprised to hear this. He hadn’t expected the test to be a direct sparring match. He had assumed he would just have to demonstrate his Swordsmanship, and that the instructor watching him from behind earlier had been the extent of it.

’This instructor seems a bit strict. Skipping out right after entering the Inner Sect must have displeased him...’

The tall and sturdy Liu Tong was stunned for a moment when Lv Liangdong called his name. He pointed at himself.

"Instructor Lv, you mean me?"

"What, do you need to prepare?"

Lv Liangdong said flatly.

"N-no."

Hearing Lv Liangdong’s question, Liu Tong flinched and immediately walked to the center of the training grounds.

The surrounding disciples had already cleared a space and began whispering to each other in surprise.

"Why are they sending Liu Tong up?"

"Yeah, didn’t this Zhang Shan just break through yesterday? Liu Tong is almost at the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm. Isn’t it bullying to have him fight?"

"Did Zhang Shan do something to offend Instructor Lv?"

"Didn’t you hear him? This Junior Brother Zhang has been in the sect for a while, but today is his first time at morning practice. Instructor Lv wants to ’test’ him."

"Zhang Shan managed to stay on Sword Peak for nine days, so he must be exceptionally talented. It’s normal for him to have a bit of a personality."

"What a coincidence. That’s the exact type of person Instructor Lv can’t stand. Zhang Shan is in for a rough time."

"Someone a half-step from the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm versus someone who just reached the Fourth Training. This is going to be a good show."

"What good show? It’ll probably be over in a few moves."

"I’m not so sure. Zhang Shan is talented, after all. He should be able to last a little longer."

On the grounds, Liu Tong stood with his sword drawn, facing Xie Yuan.

Liu Tong bowed first. He seemed friendly enough, but then he whispered quietly:

"Junior Brother Zhang, be careful. I won’t go easy on you. Under Instructor Lv’s watch, if I don’t attack you, he’ll attack me... If you can’t win, just surrender in time. Uh, but don’t do it too early, either."

"I see. Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother Liu."

Xie Yuan nodded.

"Liu Tong, what are you muttering about?"

Lv Liangdong’s cold voice came from the sidelines. Liu Tong shuddered and shouted:

"Junior Brother Zhang, please enlighten me!"

"Senior Brother Liu, please enlighten me."

Xie Yuan raised his sword, pointing it forward, mirroring Liu Tong’s stance from a distance.

The sidelines gradually fell silent.

Nine out of ten of the spectating disciples favored Liu Tong. Lin Zhen, Lin Cheng, and Pei Yu were among them, their gazes toward Xie Yuan filled with worry.

But as the two took their opening stances, the crowd sensed that something was off.

’Why does it feel like... Junior Brother Zhang has a more imposing aura?’

’Is it just an illusion?’

The disciples on the sidelines couldn’t quite put their finger on it, but Liu Tong, bearing the brunt of it, felt a sudden tightness in his chest as the tip of the opposing sword pointed at him. He was locked in place by an invisible pressure.

’It feels as if the person opposite me isn’t a junior brother who just entered the Inner Sect, but Instructor Lv himself...’

Even though they were using the same Swordsmanship, Liu Tong felt the difference in their skill was immediately and inexplicably obvious from just the opening stance. His heart pounded, and he couldn’t help but say:

"Junior Brother Zhang, be careful."

Forgetting the decorum expected of a senior brother, he couldn’t hold back and attacked first!

The audience was a little surprised. Liu Tong was usually a decent guy. Although he wouldn’t dare go easy in front of the instructor, he shouldn’t have to launch a preemptive strike, right?

His sword thrust forward without a hint of reservation, moving as fast as a shadow!

Watching this, the Lin siblings’ hearts leaped into their throats.

But to Xie Yuan, as he held his sword and watched Liu Tong’s "slow" thrust, several openings were instantly apparent.

However, considering he was new and this was just a friendly spar between sect members, Xie Yuan didn’t use an overly sharp counterattack. He simply played it safe, blocked the blow, and returned with a textbook riposte.

The two instantly began to trade blows, CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! For a moment, they seemed evenly matched.

The audience watched, stunned. They hadn’t expected the newly promoted Zhang Shan to actually be able to cross swords with Liu Tong.

This Zhang Shan’s Swordsmanship was solid. It looked like Liu Tong wouldn’t be able to defeat him anytime soon. He might have to rely on his superior cultivation level and drag the fight out to win...

Just as they were thinking this, they saw Zhang Shan suddenly seize an opening Liu Tong had carelessly revealed. He parried the Long Sword, thrust straight for the chest, and then stopped his blade right before it made contact.

"Huh?"

Many on the sidelines wore looks of astonishment.

’How did Liu Tong... suddenly get taken out?’

’He was too careless, revealing an opening like that.’

Many shook their heads in disappointment. He clearly had the advantage in cultivation; if he had dragged it out, he would have definitely won. They couldn’t understand why he had been so impatient.

’If it were me up there, there’s no way I’d lose so easily.’

’Still, this Zhang Shan’s fundamental Swordsmanship is quite good to be able to seize an opportunity like that...’

"Zhang Shan, who told you to hold back?"

Suddenly, Instructor Lv’s cold voice cut in.

Everyone froze upon hearing his words.

’What did Instructor Lv just say?’

’Zhang Shan... went easy?’

’A junior brother went easy on a senior brother?’

’He won that easily, and that was with him holding back?’

The crowd was completely bewildered. Liu Tong, however, looked as if he’d had a sudden realization. Ashamed, he cupped his fist in respect and said:

"Junior Brother Zhang, I have learned my lesson."

Xie Yuan hadn’t expected the instructor’s eyes to be so sharp. Before he could think of an excuse, he heard the veteran instructor snort heavily.

"In Inner Sect spars, you never hold back! Otherwise, what’s the point? Out in the real world, do you expect your enemies to spare your life? If you hold back again, you can get out of the Inner Courtyard!"

"Hou Zhen, you’re up. Spar another round with Zhang Shan."

"Yes, sir!"

The spectating disciples, who hadn’t even recovered from the last shock, were startled once again.

Hou Zhen, the number one genius of the Inner Courtyard’s External Training realm, a man who could break through to the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm at any moment.

"The instructor is actually sending Hou Zhen up. He must be really angry. Hou Zhen is a sword maniac who only knows how to swing his blade. He never holds back against anyone; all he sees is victory."

"Yeah, the last time he was asked to spar with a junior brother at the Third Training, he sent the guy flying in two strikes. He shows no mercy at all."

"He doesn’t even have that concept in his head."

"But still, Zhang Shan was holding back? It’s a little hard to believe. If he could hold back against Liu Tong and still win, then between him and Hou Zhen..."

"Don’t even think about it. Liu Tong is Liu Tong, and Hou Zhen is Hou Zhen. Have you ever seen Hou Zhen lose in the External Training realm? Liu Tong wouldn’t last ten moves against him."

"True. Maybe this Zhang Shan can last a few more moves... Hey, it’s starting. Let’s see how long he can last..."

"Huh?"