C45 Breaking Through to the next Level(part II)

In the Hunting Ground, a short distance from the center, Wei Lulin steadied his breath and raised his steel blade, pointing the tip directly at Tuan Jiuhuan.

Tuan Jiuhuan faced the pointed blade with a grave expression. Wei Lulin had merely adopted a starting stance from the Basic Blade Technique, yet it was executed flawlessly, leaving Tuan Jiuhuan uncertain of how to proceed.

Nevertheless, Tuan Jiuhuan was a battle-hardened Peak Expert at the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven Peak. "If you show no weakness," he thought, "then I'll have to force one." With a flourish of his long sword, creating an elegant arc, and using his advanced footwork, Tuan Jiuhuan launched the first strike.

As Tuan Jiuhuan closed in to within three meters of Wei Lulin, his sword carved through the air, unleashing a fierce blade of sword energy.

"He's a top-tier Peak Expert at the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven!" Wei Junyu observed, witnessing the Spiritual Force emanating from the long sword. His face turned pale, and he immediately called out, "Wei Lulin, get out of the way!"

At the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven, the most significant advancement is the ability to project Spiritual Force beyond the body. This force is a Qi Refiner's most distinctive feature and their most potent weapon. Its ability to extend outward signifies the versatility of their techniques, explaining why a Qi Refiner at Level Six stands no chance against one at Level Seven.

A Qi Refining Stage Level Seven expert can maintain a distance and attack, leaving their opponent with no choice but to mount a desperate defense. Furthermore, the Spiritual Force at Level Seven is denser and more formidable.

The casual burst of sword energy Tuan Jiuhuan had just released was already equivalent to the full-strength blow of a Qi Refining Stage Level Six.

Fortunately, Wei Lulin had anticipated the sword energy attack. When it was merely a meter away, he swiftly retracted his steel blade and used its spine to intercept the oncoming force.

Facing an adversary at the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven Peak, Wei Lulin couldn't afford to hold anything back. He summoned every ounce of power from his dantian, amplifying his full strength to meet the challenge.

The steel blade was a Ten-refinement Essence Weapon that Wei Ying had meticulously selected for him. Its sharpness and durability were exceptionally high, capable of directly blocking sword qi with the flat of the blade.

Wei Lulin could feel the force emanating from the steel blade, giving him a clear insight into the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven. A casual strike from a Level Seven expert possessed the full power of someone at Level Six. If such an expert were to unleash their sword qi with full force, Wei Lulin knew he wouldn't stand a chance. Thus, against such formidable opponents, Wei Lulin understood that defensive tactics would not suffice; he had to strike first.

With the steel blade in hand, Wei Lulin employed a Footwork Martial Skill to swiftly close the distance with Tuan Jiuhuan, compelling him into hand-to-hand combat.

As Tuan Jiuhuan observed Wei Lulin effortlessly deflect his sword qi and rapidly approach, his expression remained unchanged. He didn't retreat but instead engaged Wei Lulin in close-quarters battle with his sword at the ready.

In the realm of weaponry, the sword is prized for its agility and adaptability, while the saber is known for its sweeping, powerful strikes.

At first glance, Wei Lulin seemed to have the advantage in the fight, but only he understood the true difficulty of the situation. He was just managing to hold his own against Tuan Jiuhuan, and he knew that as the battle wore on, he would likely find himself at a disadvantage.

Wei Lulin's struggle wasn't due to a lack of strength or experience in combat; rather, it was because he had mastered too few Blade Technique Martial Skills, and his dantian held less Spiritual Force than Tuan Jiuhuan's.

Against a lesser opponent, Wei Lulin's Basic Blade Technique would not only dominate but also convey a sense of simplicity and proficiency. However, when facing an equally skilled adversary, his Basic Blade Technique seemed somewhat inadequate.

As the battle progressed and his Spiritual Force dwindled, Wei Lulin found himself temporarily outmatched. Yet, he didn't panic. Instead, a hint of excitement flickered across his face.

Under the immense pressure of a life-or-death struggle, he felt the bottleneck within his heart being forcefully challenged. The greater the pressure, the more potent the assault on the bottleneck. Therefore, Wei Lulin didn't spare any of his Spiritual Force; he continued to engage in the fight with his full might.

Despite appearing to be at a disadvantage, Wei Lulin's momentum not only remained unyielding but grew increasingly stronger, puzzling his opponent Tuan Jiuhuan.

Wei Lulin, at the peak of Qi Refining Stage Level Four, was never underestimated by Tuan Jiuhuan, who had regarded him as an equal adversary from the start.

Anyone capable of challenging a higher cultivation level is a genius!

Anyone who can surpass two Small Stages is a peerless genius!

And anyone who can surpass three Small Stages and leap over a Middle Rank is an extraordinary genius!

The strength of such extraordinary geniuses is immeasurable, as they could breakthrough at any moment.

Over time, Tuan Jiuhuan began to dominate the fight. He expected a swift conclusion, but the sight of Wei Lulin's joyous expression made him wary, prompting him to intensify his assault.

Being at Qi Refining Stage Level Seven, Tuan Jiuhuan had a substantial reserve of Spiritual Force in his dantian, with well over half remaining.

To prevent any unforeseen events, Tuan Jiuhuan unleashed his most formidable Middle Rank Martial Skill, the Demon Slaying Strike.

Under the weight of this skill, Wei Lulin, on the verge of a breakthrough, let out a thunderous cry: "Let me break through!" A force capable of altering the environment erupted from him, changing even the air within a meter's radius.

The formidable aura diminished the incoming sword strike by ninety percent, allowing Wei Lulin to effortlessly counter with a simple Blade Style.

"Tuan Jiuhuan, brace yourself for the Hua Mountain Slashing!" At the height of his aura, Wei Lulin combined it with his Blade Technique to deliver a powerful slash.

"Impossible!" Tuan Jiuhuan, usually unflappable, was taken aback by Wei Lulin's sudden surge in aura, particularly his ability to influence the environment.

Despite his shock, Tuan Jiuhuan, a seasoned Peak Expert, quickly composed himself. He channeled all the Qi from his dantian into his longsword, flung it with all his strength, and swiftly retreated.

The longsword Tuan Jiuhuan had hurled with all his might was effortlessly deflected by Wei Lulin's Blade Style and overwhelming presence. The relentless Blade Style rapidly closed in on Jiuhuan.

Despite his swift retreat, Lulin's Blade Force was swifter still. Jiuhuan watched as the steel blade bore down upon him, and in that moment of despair, he closed his eyes. A single thought flickered through his mind.

"Yao Country will soon witness the rise of a peerless Blade Man!"