Chapter 124: Chapter 123: The 13th Floor
Yann Xiangyang bit her lip, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. When Wen Qingye had first arrived at Qig Mountain Academy, he couldn’t have withstood two of her moves. Even during the Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering, Yann Xiangyang was absolutely confident she could defeat him. But now... Yann Xiangyang couldn’t help but smile wryly.
’I wonder... between him and Wen Tongyu, whose talent is greater?’ Yann Xiangyang suddenly thought. As she watched that proud figure from behind, an answer began to form in her heart. ’No matter who wins... for some reason, I don’t want Wen Qingye to lose.’ Perhaps he possessed an innate charm, a captivating and admirable aura.
The Inner Courtyard students’ expressions also grew somewhat solemn. Wen Qingye’s Swordsmanship and Step Technique had just astonished them. Whether it was his combat experience or his unparalleled Swordsmanship, they discovered that Wen Qingye was exceptionally outstanding.
Wang Chong’s eyes narrowed slightly as he said, "A little interesting. But after the twelfth layer, it won’t be so simple."
Just then, several figures approached from a distance. Although most of the Outer Courtyard students didn’t recognize them, they were very familiar with the person in the lead—it was none other than Nie Qinglan.
"Vice Director!" everyone around said respectfully.
The Inner Courtyard students also became docile, without a trace of the overbearing arrogance they had shown moments before.
Nie Qinglan looked at Wang Chong and asked, "What are the results of the assessment so far?"
Wang Chong stepped forward and slowly said, "So far, thirty-seven people have attempted the assessment. Sixteen have passed, and the last one is being assessed now."
A middle-aged man holding a longsword behind Nie Qinglan looked at the Water Curtain and chuckled. "Eh? Not bad. This last student from the Outer Courtyard seems to have reached the twelfth layer. Looks like he’s considered to have passed."
Nie Qinglan looked toward the Water Curtain. She spotted Wen Qingye at a glance and couldn’t help but smile. "So it’s him!"
The middle-aged man asked in confusion, "It seems the Vice Director knows this student?"
Nie Qinglan’s eyes were filled with mirth as she said, "That’s right. He’s the Wen Qingye I told you about."
"Oh?" The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow and looked toward the Water Curtain.
Nie Qinglan continued, "In a moment, Instructor Chen, take a look at this young man’s Swordsmanship. I feel his Swordsmanship is extraordinary. You teach Swordsmanship, so you should be able to tell."
The middle-aged man nodded and said with a smile, "Rest assured. I’m also quite looking forward to seeing this Outer Courtyard prodigy."
Just then, Wen Qingye reached the 13th Layer.
"ROAR!"
A deafening roar spread through the air. A massive red lizard appeared before Wen Qingye, stretching roughly forty feet long. Its body was covered in purplish-black scales that exuded an eerie aura in the dim space.
The red lizard’s eyes glowed with a green light. It flicked out its long, red tongue, which carried a foul stench, and its eyes were fixed deadly on Wen Qingye.
"That’s a Fire Armor Lizard, a Demon Beast at the Peak of Refining Essence Seventh Layer Heaven!"
"A Demon Beast at the Refining Essence Seventh Heaven is definitely comparable in strength to an ordinary Martial Artist at the Refining Essence Eighth Heaven!"
"If the 13th Layer is already this strong, won’t the ones after be even harder?"
The new Outer Courtyard students watching the scene inside the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion all gasped in shock.
...
With a flick of his sword, a cold glint flashed. Wen Qingye stomped his foot and charged forward.
"Bright Moon in the Sky!"
The sword in Wen Qingye’s hand danced rapidly. Several sharp, cold glints slowly appeared on the Sword Body, which was as thin as a cicada’s wing. These glints suddenly flared, unleashing several streams of moon-white Sword Qi. The streams of Sword Qi continuously converged, seemingly transforming into a crescent moon.
"ROAR ROAR!"
Seeing Wen Qingye charge over, the Fire Armor Lizard’s eyes filled with rage. Its huge, red, iron-like tail swept toward him. A fierce wind howled, and Wen Qingye felt a sting in his eyes.
"CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!"
Wen Qingye’s Sword Qi struck the Fire Armor Lizard’s iron tail, creating a series of metallic clashing sounds.
"SSS!"
Wen Qingye felt a jolt in his arm, and half of it went numb. He couldn’t help but retreat four or five steps.
’What a powerful tail,’ Wen Qingye thought, his brow furrowing.
Seeing Wen Qingye at a disadvantage, the Fire Armor Lizard was overjoyed and charged toward him. Its footsteps on the stone tiles of the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion’s 13th Layer felt like an earthquake.
Even though the crowd was outside the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion, they could almost feel the imminent danger of the charging Fire Armor Lizard, even through the Water Curtain.
"WHOOSH!"
The Fire Armor Lizard suddenly shot out its long tongue, fast as lightning, like a speeding arrow.
Wen Qingye hastily raised his Cyan Mist Sword to block, the edge of his blade flicking away the lizard’s hard tongue. The Fire Armor Lizard charged, and Wen Qingye immediately fell back.
Wen Qingye’s Step Technique was unusually fast, and every time he retreated, the spots he moved to were extremely unpredictable. Although the Fire Armor Lizard’s massive body was agile, it couldn’t catch up to him for the time being.
An Inner Courtyard student snorted coldly, "Hmph, with just that little strength, he dares challenge the 13th Layer? How arrogant."
The person next to him shook his head and said sarcastically, "Sigh, just because he’s a champion in the Outer Courtyard, he thinks he’s truly invincible? How ridiculous."
The corner of Wang Chong’s mouth curled into a contemptuous smile. "What a disappointment. He can’t even pass the 13th Layer, yet he was aiming for the fourteenth?"
Seeing Wen Qingye on the defensive, the Inner Courtyard students all wore gloating expressions.
Meanwhile, Instructor Chen watched Wen Qingye’s earlier use of Moonfall Swordsmanship, lost in thought. ’The essence of that sword strike... Why can’t I seem to grasp it?’
"FWOOSH!"
The Fire Armor Lizard watched the constantly fleeing Wen Qingye, then suddenly stopped. Its great mouth opened, and raging flames spewed forth. The flames roared and raged, and the surrounding air began to warp from the heat.
"Look out, the Fire Armor Lizard is breathing fire!"
Everyone’s hearts tightened. The Fire Armor Lizard’s most powerful weapon was the fire from its mouth. A person would be incinerated to ash in less than three seconds if touched by it.
Waves of scorching heat washed over Wen Qingye like a tide. He had been forced into a corner with nowhere left to hide. But just then, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Planting his right foot on the wall, Wen Qingye kicked off, using the momentum to charge directly into the billowing flames.
"Heavens, what is Wen Qingye doing?"
"He actually charged into the Fire Armor Lizard’s flames! Is he trying to get himself killed?"
"The temperature of the Fire Armor Lizard’s flames is incredibly high. Wen Qingye is being too arrogant."
Everyone stared at the Water Curtain in disbelief, not understanding what on earth Wen Qingye was doing.
In a flash, Wen Qingye’s sword slashed forward. The movement seemed plain and unremarkable.
But just then, the crowd suddenly saw that when Wen Qingye’s blade met the flames, the raging fire began to part wildly to the sides, as if it had been cleaved in two by his sword.
A single slash parted the waves of fire!
Wen Qingye, sword in hand, stepped through the air as if he were a gracefully dancing butterfly.
"SHLICK!"
Wen Qingye thrust his sword toward the Fire Armor Lizard’s throat. Unable to dodge in time, the creature was run through by Wen Qingye’s blade. Scarlet blood spurted more than three feet high.
Wen Qingye took a deep breath, glanced at the Fire Armor Lizard’s corpse, and without resting, walked directly toward the fourteenth layer.
