"Go ahead, draw whatever you like," Lu Changsheng said with a faint smile.
It did not really matter who she drew. To become the Heavenly Maiden, she would have to face them sooner or later.
Yun Haitang and the other seven Heavenly Maiden candidates went forward and began drawing lots.
Yun Haitang was third in line. She drew number two.
Number two belonged to Senior Sister Lu, one of the candidates with the greatest chance of winning the position.
"Ah..." Yun Haitang's expression darkened slightly.
Her luck was poor; she had drawn Senior Sister Lu in the very first round.
Senior Sister Lu's Dao Protector was a white-haired, white-bearded Daoist.
Moreover, this elderly Daoist was renowned throughout the region—none other than Daoist Thousand Hands of Zhanhai City.
Daoist Thousand Hands had created the Way of a Thousand Hands, which focused on hidden weapons.
It was said he could unleash dozens of hidden weapons at once with unfathomable speed.
Very few people could withstand his projectiles.
"Brother Dao, beware of Daoist Thousand Hands' hidden weapons,"
Yun Haitang warned. "Even Hundred Tripods Realm martial artists have been defeated by him in the past."
Daoist Thousand Hands was a Hundred Tripods Realm martial artist himself, and coupled with his venomous hidden weapons, he was exceedingly difficult to handle.
Among all the Dao Protectors present, he was the one everyone least wanted to face.
Yet Yun Haitang had drawn him.
"Heh, this old Daoist hasn't fought in a long time."
"If you have any tricks, sir, you had best show them quickly. Once this old Daoist makes a move, you won't have the chance."
Daoist Thousand Hands stood upon the arena ring, looking toward Lu Changsheng.
He still carried the bearing of an expert, unwilling to strike first. With his hands clasped behind his back, he offered Lu Changsheng the opening move.
"In that case, I won't hold back."
Lu Changsheng did not refuse.
*Clang.*
The next instant, his blade leaped from its scabbard.
A streak of blood-red blade light flashed into existence, slicing through the air with breathtaking brilliance.
Every spectator was captivated by the strike.
With that single slash, Lu Changsheng unleashed the Three Transformations of the Divine Dragon. A full two hundred and seventy tripods of strength radiated terrifying majesty, even across several zhang.
"What?"
Daoist Thousand Hands' face changed drastically.
The moment "Dao Twelve" slashed forward, he realized he had been far too overconfident.
Against such a terrifying blade, he was completely outmatched.
"Thousand Hands Hidden Weapons!"
Daoist Thousand Hands moved to unleash his projectiles at once.
His body was laden with hidden weapons, which he had categorized into light and heavy.
Light projectiles were swift, accurate, and deadly, taking lives without a trace.
Heavy projectiles carried tremendous force with every strike, capable of direct head-on combat.
When it came to hidden weapons, Daoist Thousand Hands possessed absolute confidence.
Sensing the monstrous power behind Dao Twelve's strike, he immediately deployed his heavy weapons.
Each of these projectiles packed the strength of a hundred tripods!
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*
The heavy weapons whistled through the air, hurtling viciously toward Lu Changsheng's blood-red blade light.
Yet Lu Changsheng did not alter his strike in the slightest. He pressed forward with a single slash, shattering all techniques with overwhelming force!
*Boom, boom, boom!*
In the blink of an eye, the heavy projectiles crashed into the blood-red blade light.
Yet the blade light did not pause for even a moment.
Faintly, one could even hear the rolling roar of ocean waves.
Ocean Wave Conception!
Lu Changsheng's slash already carried two hundred and seventy tripods of strength. Now augmented by the Ocean Wave Conception, its power doubled, surging to an astonishing five hundred and forty tripods!
Furthermore, wave followed wave, strike pressed upon strike, like the endless ocean tide. Who could possibly withstand it?
"No..."
Daoist Thousand Hands' face turned pale with horror.
Power exceeding five hundred tripods was simply not something his projectiles could shake or slow down.
When Lu Changsheng's blade cleaved down with unstoppable momentum, it met no resistance whatsoever.
*Slash!*
The blade light fell, cleaving Daoist Thousand Hands in two from head to toe.
Blood sprayed, and the heavy stench of gore filled the air.
Daoist Thousand Hands was dead!
The sight left everyone stunned, bordering on disbelief.
That was Daoist Thousand Hands!
The creator of the Way of a Thousand Hands, a grandmaster of hidden weapons—and yet, in a single exchange, he had been slain by the bladesman before them?
"Who is that man?"
"Where did Yun Haitang find such a powerful Dao Protector?"
"Hardly anyone could block a strike like that."
"Daoist Thousand Hands was too arrogant and threw his life away..."
Even Yun Haitang's mouth fell open, astonishment flashing through her eyes.
She had known Dao Twelve was powerful, but she had assumed he was merely at the Hundred Tripods Realm.
And among the Dao Protectors here, which of them was not in the Hundred Tripods Realm?
Who could have imagined that Daoist Thousand Hands, famous in Zhanhai City for so long, would be cut down before he could even withstand a single strike?
The clash between Dao Twelve and Daoist Thousand Hands sent shockwaves through the crowd.
The other three matches began soon after. While none were as shocking as Dao Twelve's battle, the victors were decided swiftly.
Senior Sister Zhang's Dao Protector, a swordsman, displayed formidable strength, likewise defeating his opponent with a single strike.
However, he was not as ruthless as Dao Twelve and spared his opponent's life.
After the first round, only four remained.
Drawing lots once again, Lu Changsheng was matched against Senior Sister Zhao's Dao Protector—a massive, burly man wielding a heavy iron hammer.
At a glance, it was obvious the man possessed immense strength.
Moreover, he seemed to possess a secret method of his own, his strength rivaling Lu Changsheng's.
Standing on the arena ring, the burly man sneered, "Daoist Thousand Hands let his guard down and died under your blade. But your bladework is nothing more than brute force. When it comes to strength, I fear no one."
This man was named Liu Tieta. His monstrous strength was terrifying, and he was an elite even among Hundred Tripods Realm martial artists.
With his secret method, he truly feared no one's physical might.
"Is that so?"
Lu Changsheng did not waste words.
In the martial world, talk was meaningless compared to action.
*Swish!*
The next instant, Lu Changsheng drew his blade once more. A breathtaking blood-red light flashed with lethal precision, cleaving straight toward Liu Tieta's head.
"Iron Tower Props up the Heavens!" Liu Tieta bellowed.
His muscles swelled like knotted cords, and his qi and blood surged, forming a crimson cloud above his head.
The explosive power suffocated the spectators.
Such pure strength was truly awe-inspiring.
Just as Liu Tieta was about to smash Dao Twelve's blood-red blade light with his iron hammer, a faint smile appeared at the corners of Lu Changsheng's lips.
"Lin!"
The Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method!
At the realm of perfection, the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method instantly froze Liu Tieta in place.
Yes, froze.
In that split second, not only did Liu Tieta's mind go completely blank, but even the qi and blood within his body solidified.
Everything came to a standstill.
*Shik!*
The blood-red blade light fell, slicing cleanly across Liu Tieta's neck.
Liu Tieta's head rolled across the arena floor.
Blood geysered into the air, and his massive, headless corpse crashed heavily to the ground.
An uproar swept through the crowd.
"What just happened?"
"Why did Liu Tieta freeze like that and let Dao Twelve slash his throat?"
"What kind of martial art was that? It's far too bizarre!"
Even Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised.
He had known the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method was potent, but completely freezing the spirit, qi, and blood of a Hundred Tripods Realm martial artist was no easy feat.
Had the technique remained at minor accomplishment, he could never have achieved this.
At perfection, however, it posed no problem.
Liu Tieta was dead.
In just two strikes, Dao Twelve had slain two Hundred Tripods Realm martial artists.
The sight left many spectators trembling with dread.
Now, among the Dao Protectors contending for the Heavenly Maiden, only Senior Sister Zhang's swordsman remained.
Senior Sister Zhang was visibly nervous. Looking at the swordsman, she whispered, "Cousin, do you have confidence? If not, we can forfeit the Heavenly Maiden position."
The swordsman was her cousin.
Clearly, she cared for him deeply.
She would rather relinquish the title than see him come to harm.
The swordsman rose and walked directly onto the arena ring.
Fixing his gaze on Dao Twelve, he said calmly, "Lu Jianming of Suspended Sword Villa!"
"Only the two of us remain. Come, let us decide the victor!"
Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised.
"Suspended Sword Villa?"
Speaking of which, Lu Changsheng had a past connection with Suspended Sword Villa.
Back at the Cui clan in Jubei City, he had heard of Elder Lu Tong of Suspended Sword Villa.
Though he had never met Lu Tong, he was now facing Lu Jianming.
"You are not a true bladesman. Your blade is insincere," Lu Jianming remarked placidly.
His own heart was devoted entirely to the sword; he had dedicated his life to the weapon in his hand.
No matter what methods an opponent used, he broke them with a single sword!
That was devotion to the sword!
Lu Changsheng nodded. "Indeed, I am no pure bladesman. I am a man of the martial world, and what I practice are killing arts! As long as it can kill, what does it matter whether I use a blade, a sword, or my bare fists?"
This Lu Jianming gave Lu Changsheng an unprecedented sensation.
Pressure!
Lu Jianming's sharpness was laid bare, like an unsheathed divine sword. Still while sheathed, it would shake heaven and earth the moment it was drawn.
He was a pure swordsman!
The two stood upon the arena. Lu Changsheng gripped the hilt of his blade.
Yet neither drew their weapon.
Both knew full well that the moment their weapons cleared their scabbards, victory and defeat would be decided.
"Lin!"
Lu Changsheng took the initiative.
He unleashed the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method.
*Hum.*
Lu Jianming felt his consciousness shudder violently.
Even though he had prepared himself thoroughly, concentrating his focus to withstand Dao Twelve's bizarre technique, his mind was still shaken.
Not only was his spirit rattled, but his qi and blood were also frozen.
"Sever!"
Lu Changsheng seized the opening. Without a shred of hesitation, he slashed forward.
The blood-red blade light spanned several zhang.
The rumble of ocean waves seemed to echo in the air.
A strike capable of sundering waves carried terrifying might.
If it connected, whether the target was in the Hundred Tripods Realm or the Thousand Tripods Realm, death was the only outcome.
Yet at the critical juncture, Lu Jianming broke free from the mental suppression.
Though his qi and blood remained frozen, he was a swordsman. So long as the sword remained in his hand, what did qi and blood matter?
*Clang!*
Lu Jianming drew his sword.
A streak of sword light blazed through the void.
The instant that ethereal sword light manifested, every onlooker felt a chill in their chest, as though a sharp blade hung directly above their heads.
Within the radiance of the sword, Lu Changsheng sensed countless sword tips filling the sky, dense as falling rain.
In that moment, Lu Changsheng finally understood what Lu Jianming meant by devotion to the sword.
Sword intent!
Lu Jianming had actually comprehended sword intent!
Just like the Ocean Wave Conception, Lu Jianming had grasped sword intent.
The piercing sword intent tore through everything.
Even Lu Changsheng's Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method had only held Lu Jianming's spirit for a fraction of an instant, all because of this sword intent!
"Devotion to the sword... what magnificent devotion!"
A gleam flashed across Lu Changsheng's eyes.
Lu Jianming was the only evenly matched opponent he had encountered thus far.
Moreover, Lu Jianming was only in the Hundred Tripods Realm.
His raw physical strength was not particularly high.
Yet, bolstered by sword intent, every strike of his sword held terrifying power.
"You have sword intent, but do you think I am weaker than anyone else?"
Lu Changsheng drew a deep breath.
In this instant, he unleashed his Ocean Wave Conception without holding back.
Previously, Lu Changsheng had kept it restrained.
He had not deployed the full twenty percent of his Ocean Wave Conception.
Now, facing Lu Jianming's sword intent, he had no choice but to use everything at his disposal.
*Boom!*
A terrifying aura erupted behind Lu Changsheng, soaring into the sky.
Faintly, it resembled towering, tempestuous waves.
The surging ocean seemed ready to engulf and sweep away all in its path.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*
Lu Changsheng unleashed slash after slash of blood-red light, carrying the earth-shattering Ocean Wave Conception as it collided with Lu Jianming's sword light.
Again and again.
In a single instant, they clashed dozens of times.
Lu Jianming's grasp of sword intent might not have matched the depth of Lu Changsheng's Ocean Wave Conception, but sword intent was inherently unmatched in offensive power. Whatever technique Lu Changsheng used, Lu Jianming sought to break it with a single strike!
Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng's Ocean Wave Conception was continuous and unyielding, like an endless tide.
Furthermore, Lu Changsheng possessed the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method, weaving it into the fight at intervals. Even if it only froze his opponent for a brief moment, it still played a crucial role.
Between masters, a single instant was often enough to decide the outcome.
*Rip.*
A soft tear sounded.
Lu Changsheng and Lu Jianming separated swiftly, coming to rest at opposite ends of the arena.
Lu Jianming glanced down at his chest.
A blade slash marked his robes.
Blood trickled out. Though it looked alarming, the wound had not damaged bone or sinew.
"I have lost," Lu Jianming said slowly.
Though he had not lost in sword technique alone, a loss was a loss. There was no room for excuses.
He could not demand that his opponent also hold devotion to the sword.
After all, Dao Twelve practiced killing arts.
So long as it could defeat or kill the opponent, that was enough!
Lu Changsheng looked at Lu Jianming and nodded. "Your sword is formidable—the strongest I have ever seen. Suspended Sword Villa truly lives up to its name!"
Lu Changsheng was not offering empty flattery.
He knew very well that without the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method, he might not have bested Lu Jianming.
"Dao Twelve, your Ocean Wave Conception is powerful. However, your blade art is too crude. Even if you are not devoted to the blade, you should thoroughly integrate your Ocean Wave Conception into your blade techniques."
"It is a pity you have yet to fuse your martial conception into your blade art."
"If you ever wish to integrate martial conception into your blade art, you may come find me at Suspended Sword Villa."
With that, Lu Jianming turned and walked away.
He showed no lingering hesitation.
With a few leaps, he vanished from everyone's sight.
The contest between Dao Protectors had ended.
In the end, Dao Twelve stood triumphant, sweeping aside all opposition!
Every gaze converged upon Yun Haitang.
Who could have imagined that she would become the ultimate victor in the battle for the Heavenly Maiden?
The previous Heavenly Maiden turned her gaze toward Yun Haitang and announced calmly, "Yun Haitang, starting today, you are the contemporary Heavenly Maiden of the Heavenly Maiden Sect!"
Yun Haitang was overwhelmed with excitement.
"Go ahead and attend to the sect's affairs first. I will wait for you here, and take the opportunity to look around the Heavenly Maiden Sect," Lu Changsheng said with a wave of his hand, gesturing for her to go.
Having just become Heavenly Maiden, Yun Haitang would undoubtedly be occupied.
Yun Haitang curtsied to him, then followed the previous Heavenly Maiden to receive the succession of the Heavenly Maiden.
Chapter 103