C19 Sect Master Is Here

The upcoming bout was the final showdown of the top five contenders. Yang Ying was set to face off against the list's top-ranked Wang Shuo. To date, neither had tasted defeat.

This climactic duel would determine the champion of the Outer Sect Trial Assembly.

Ever since Wang Shuo joined the Green Cloud Sect's Outer Sect four years ago, his cultivation had consistently surpassed that of his peers.

His mastery of the sword was unparalleled, and six months prior, he had perfected the Thirteen Swords of Green Cloud, a complex and unpredictable sword technique inspired by the ever-changing mists of Green Mountain.

Standing across from each other, Yang Ying bowed respectfully to Wang Shuo. "Senior Brother Wang, I have long held you in high regard! To cross swords with you today is a great honor in my life!"

Wang Shuo returned the gesture with a smile. "Junior Brother Yang, you flatter me! I've learned much from observing your swordplay!" He glanced at the eager crowd below and suggested, "They're all waiting with bated breath. Shall we begin?"

"Absolutely!" Yang Ying replied, drawing his long sword, named 'Buzheng.'

"Excellent choice of name," Wang Shuo complimented as he unsheathed his own blade, 'Illusion.' "Take care, Senior Brother Yang."

With those words, Wang Shuo lunged forward. Yang Ying, observing his opponent's technique, countered with the Thunder Collapsing Sword Arts. The clash of steel echoed as Wang Shuo was forced to retreat two steps.

"Such skillful swordplay! Truly formidable!" Wang Shuo exclaimed, then cautioned, "Stay sharp, Junior Brother Yang!"

In the next moment, Wang Shuo's True Qi surged, his presence swelling with power until it plateaued.

"He's advanced to the half-step Foundation Establishment stage!" Wang Mingxuan realized silently. "I never suspected Senior Brother Wang had been concealing the true extent of his cultivation."

Yang Ying gazed at Wang Shuo with admiration and exclaimed, "He's truly formidable! I never expected you to have advanced to the half-step Foundation Establishment stage."

Wang Shuo opened his eyes and proposed to Yang Ying, "Junior Brother Yang, shall we call it quits?"

Yang Ying chuckled and responded, "Senior Brother Wang, we haven't yet decided the victor!"

With those words, Yang Ying's long sword lunged towards Wang Shuo.

Wang Shuo sensed an extraordinary Sword Qi emanating from Yang Ying's blade before he could even close the distance, prompting him to quickly execute the Thirteen Swords of Green Cloud.

As the battle progressed, Wang Shuo grew increasingly alarmed. Junior Brother Yang's swordsmanship was peculiar, inhibiting Wang Shuo from tapping into his full combat potential!

Employing the Wind Controlling Spell in tandem with the Green Cloud Sword Arts, Yang Ying was steadily overpowering Wang Shuo. Noticing Wang Shuo faltering, Yang Ying unleashed a cloud-shaped Sword Qi from his blade, striking Wang Shuo's right arm.

Pain surged through Wang Shuo, rendering his right hand powerless. His long sword clattered to the ground.

Wang Shuo stared at his fallen sword, lost in thought.

"This is the Green Cloud Sword Arts!" exclaimed a blue-robed middle-aged man standing next to Deacon Faang. "I never imagined I'd witness the Green Cloud Sword Arts here!"

Deacon Faang, taken aback, scrutinized the scene and recognized the technique. "Indeed, this is the Green Cloud Sword Arts!"

The blue-robed man was none other than Lee Yu, the Peak Lord of Heaven Pillar Peak.

Lee Yu had risen to his feet, murmuring to himself, "Perfection Stage! It's the Perfection Stage of the Green Cloud Sword Arts!"

Upon hearing Lee Yu's remark, Deacon Faang was astounded. "How can that be?"

Another deacon seated nearby inquired, "Peak Lord Lee, this is significant. Are you certain of this?"

"There's no mistake, this is the Perfection Stage Green Cloud Sword Arts! That cloud-shaped Sword Qi! I saw it used by Yun Luo a century ago!" Lee Yu said, his face reflecting a nostalgic glow.

"Then there's no doubt about it," Deacon Faang mused, as if he too were lost in memories.

Peak Lord Lee swiftly raised his hand, and with a flash of sword light that vanished as quickly as it appeared, it was on its way to the grand hall of the Green Cloud Sect's Sect Master.

Shortly thereafter, a figure soared from the distance, arriving above the main platform in an instant. Remarkably, he hovered midair without the aid of any devices.

Only those at the Nascent Infant Stage could manage such a feat of flight. This individual was unmistakably a Nascent Infant Stage Cultivator.

Clad in a golden robe, he was unmistakably the Sect Master of the Green Cloud Sect—Qing Hongzi. After a brief pause in the air, he descended gracefully to stand beside Peak Lord Lee.

Peak Lord Lee, Deacon Faang, and everyone nearby promptly rose to their feet, greeting him with respect, "Sect Master, greetings!"

The Sect Master gestured with his hand for them to be at ease, then inquired, "Peak Lord Lee, what has transpired?"

Peak Lord Lee responded, "During the final bout of the Trial Assembly's Five Experts Competition, an Outer Sect disciple named Yang Ying executed the Green Cloud Sword Arts. Impressively, he has mastered it to the Perfection Stage!"

"Perfection Stage? Is that so?" Qing Hongzi, initially expressionless, suddenly turned sharply to fix his gaze on Peak Lord Lee upon hearing the news.

"Sect Master, I witnessed him unleash the cyan Sword Qi of the Clouds!" Peak Lord Lee affirmed.

"Excellent!" Qing Hongzi paced thoughtfully for a moment before addressing Peak Lord Lee, "This Yang Ying, when did he join our Green Cloud Sect?"

Caught off guard by the question, Peak Lord Lee paused before turning to Deacon Faang, "Deacon Faang, you seem familiar with this disciple, Yang Ying?"

"Sect Master! He was chosen from the secular world to join as an Outer Sect disciple four years ago!" Deacon Faang explained with detail.

"Four years ago... Based on his True Qi, I surmised that his cultivation had attained the Perfection Stage of Qi Refining. That would suggest his aptitude is quite promising, wouldn't it?" mused the Sect Master.

Deacon Faang hesitated, as if holding back further comment.

Internally, he pondered, "I recall checking his records; his aptitude was rated as Red Level when he first entered our sect. If that's accurate, how is it possible for his cultivation to have advanced so swiftly? Could there have been an error in the initial assessment of his aptitude?"

"Bring Yang Ying to me," commanded the Sect Master to his adjacent companion.

Deacon Lee, upon hearing the command, wasted no time waiting for further instructions. With swift motion, he appeared before Yang Ying and instructed, "Yang Ying, follow me."

With those words, he ushered Yang Ying to stand before the Sect Master.

Yang Ying took in the sight of the imposing middle-aged man draped in the iconic golden robe. Observing the deference shown by the Peak Lords, elders, and deacons, it became clear to him that this man was none other than Qing Hongzi, the Sect Master of the Green Cloud Sect.

Despite his inner astonishment at being sought out by such an eminent figure, Yang Ying's response was prompt. He bowed respectfully and greeted, "Greetings, Sect Master!"

Qing Hongzi, lending a hand to Yang Ying, responded, "Rise." As Yang Ying felt a soft force envelop him, he was effortlessly brought to his feet without a chance to resist.