Chapter 293: Chapter 279: First Move, World Shocked! (4k)_2
And the Sect Leader of the Star Pavilion was quite interested in the cultivation level of Shen Xiaoyao's master.
After all, Mount Shu had seen the rise of a peerless genius such as Daoist Taiqing, and no one could say for sure if there wouldn't be a second Daoist Taiqing.
The eyes of the Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion lingered only for a moment, unable to perceive Lu Changsheng's true level of cultivation, revealing a hint of surprise.
Apart from the Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion, a gathering of the Supreme Elders of the Star Pavilion arrived, and the number of masters in the Unity Realm was no less than twenty!
This was the foundation of Zhong Zhou's number one Sect!
"Since the mighty ones from the various states have arrived, let's begin the Dao Discussion Conference," said the Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion as he swept his gaze across those present, his eyes sharp as knives.
As the Zhong Zhou Conference began, a Supreme Elder from the Star Pavilion took charge of the drawing of lots, with each Sect being assigned a number.
In this realm, there were well over a thousand Sects.
Lu Changsheng, representing Mount Shu, drew a lot, and the number on the paper was 1.
Lu Changsheng, upon receiving this slip of paper, furrowed his brow and deliberately glanced at the Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion.
Somehow, he always felt that the Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion had deliberately intervened; otherwise, the coincidence of Lu Changsheng being the first to perform was just too convenient.
Xia Ningxue, representing the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, drew her lot and showed the paper to Lu Changsheng, "My number is 720, so it looks like we are not in the same half. This is good news."
Xia Ningxue let out a sigh of relief. If the two were in the same half, there was a chance they would have to face each other early on.
Xia Ningxue was not too keen on battling Lu Changsheng.
Grandmaster Chen drew the number 136, although he was not worried about facing Lu Changsheng, having prepared himself for a potential first-round defeat.
Yu Xuanji drew the number 1024.
"Master Wuxiang, it's your turn for your Immeasurable Temple to draw lots," Grandmaster Chen said when he noticed the Abbot of the Immeasurable Temple was unmoving, prompting confusion.
"Amitabha Buddha, the representative from our Immeasurable Temple isn't the old monk here but one of our elders," Master Wuxiang declared, turning to an old monk beside him that seemed as withered as a dead tree.
The various sects from Xia State were all astonished.
No one had expected the Immeasurable Temple to send an unknown old monk to fight in their stead!
The old monk went up to draw a lot, and the number was 452.
Lu Changsheng, Grandmaster Chen, and the Nameless Elder Monk were in the upper half; whereas Xia Ningxue and Yu Xuanji were in the lower half.
"Now that our friends have finished drawing lots, let's start the first round of the competition without delay. Could number one and number two please step up to the stage?" announced the Supreme Elder of the Star Pavilion presiding over the Zhong Zhou Conference.
The eyes of everyone swept across the area, searching for the first pair to confront each other.
"Master, good luck!"
Lin Qingzhi, Lu Qinglian, Mo Huazhi, Shen Xiaoyao, Ji Xuan, and Chen Yao, several disciples, knew that their master's number was one and were all cheering for Lu Changsheng.
"This is Lu Changsheng, Sect Leader of Mount Shu, the number one Sect from Xia State!"
"Why is his aura so elusive? His realm seems to fluctuate somewhere between the second to fourth level of the Unity Realm?"
As Lu Changsheng was the first to enter the battle, he instantly became the subject of many discussions.
Mount Shu had gained some notoriety fifty thousand years ago, with Daoist Taiqing once suppressing his rivals and claiming victory at the Zhong Zhou Dao Discussion Conference.
As the new Sect Leader of Mount Shu, many were naturally curious about the extent of Lu Changsheng's cultivation.
Lu Changsheng's Innate Taoist Body concealed his true power, constantly emanating an aura somewhere between the second and fourth levels of the Unity Realm, leaving the crowd guessing.
"Hahaha, I didn't expect your first opponent to be me! You might as well prepare to roll off the stage now!" bellowed the Valley Master of Raging Flame Valley as he flew out from the crowd, stepping into the air to confront Lu Changsheng on the Martial Arts Platform.
"It looks like the Sect Leader of Mount Shu will be facing Yun Tianba, the Valley Master of Raging Flame Valley. Yun Tianba is a sixth-level Unity Realm powerhouse, and Raging Flame Valley's Sect-Defending Skills are the Immortal-grade mid-tier Supreme Heaven Burning Art. Mount Shu's Sect Leader is in for some serious trouble."
"The Sect Leader of Mount Shu appears quite young yet possesses such cultivation; it is truly remarkable. However, he is still too young."
"I heard that not long ago, there was a dispute between the Sect Leader of Mount Shu and Yun Tianba over the Fairy Pavilion Master. Given Yun Tianba's domineering nature, he definitely won't pull his punches."
"Yun Tianba is notorious for being brutally merciless. He once wiped out a powerful sect that had offended Raging Flame Valley completely. It's very possible that this Lu Changsheng could end up crippled by Yun Tianba."
The spectators on the viewing platform were not optimistic about Lu Changsheng's prospects.
With Yun Tianba's clearly higher realm and his experience in numerous tough battles, the odds seemed to favor his victory.
The Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion squinted his eyes, eager to witness the cultivation of this current Sect Leader of Mount Shu.
"It seems I won't have to make a move myself after all, which is quite regrettable."
Sun Jian of Thousand Swords Manor watched Yun Tianba and Lu Changsheng facing off coldly, lamenting that he couldn't be the one to defeat Lu Changsheng himself.
"You brat, let me show you the Supreme Skills of our Raging Flame Valley!"
Yun Tianba channeled his cultivation technique with full force, fiery blaze reaching to the skies, and waves of heat surging tumultuously.
Yun Tianba had reached Great Accomplishment in the Supreme Heaven Burning Art, his presence like the all-consuming fires of heaven.
With the beginning of the Zhong Zhou Conference, Yun Tianba could unleash his full strength to teach Lu Changsheng a lesson.
Lu Changsheng's face was expressionless as he secretly circulated the Taiqing Wuji Technique.
The opponent was at the sixth level of the Unity Realm. Lu Changsheng didn't need to exert all his strength.
With a flick of his left hand, a Immortal Sword rose to the sky behind him!
A deep blue radiance flourished, and this mid-grade Immortal Sword summoned the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, with lightning flickering.
This was one of the seven swords that formed the Seven Star Sword Formation.
"Mid-grade Immortal Sword!"
"Mount Shu still has some heritage, able to bring out a mid-grade Immortal Sword."
Those present were somewhat surprised, but not shocked, to see Lu Changsheng bring out a mid-grade Immortal Sword.
However, Lu Changsheng brought out a second mid-grade Immortal Sword.
Once the Shaking Light Sword appeared, its sword light soared thousands of feet, like a dazzling star.
Then, Lu Changsheng brought out a third mid-grade Immortal Sword.
This mid-grade Immortal Sword was the Opening Sun Sword. The moment it appeared, Yang energy crisscrossed, like a blazing sun.
"A third mid-grade Immortal Sword?!"
The spectators were all astonished.
Lu Changsheng brought out three mid-grade Immortal Swords in one breath.
Immortal Sword magical treasures are rare among all types of magical artifacts.
Such heritage had already surpassed many sects.
But Lu Changsheng was not finished.
A fourth mid-grade Immortal Sword was unsheathed.
A fifth mid-grade Immortal Sword was unsheathed.
...
As the Tian Shu, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, and a fourth mid-grade Immortal Sword rose to the sky, they totaled seven mid-grade Immortal Swords!
"Mount Shu's heritage is so profound, casually bringing out seven mid-grade Immortal Swords!"
"Not only that, these seven mid-grade Immortal Swords seem to be a set of treasures, their combined power not inferior to a high-grade Immortal Artifact!"
Many sect powerhouses were shocked that Lu Changsheng actually had seven mid-grade Immortal Swords at his disposal from the very first round!
"Quite interesting."
The Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion showed a hint of surprise upon seeing Lu Changsheng invoke the seven mid-grade Immortal Swords.
This Mount Shu Sect Leader indeed had some unusual aspects.
"Hm?"
Sun Jian initially thought that Lu Changsheng would be easy to handle, but Lu Changsheng's first move was to bring out seven mid-grade Immortal Swords.
"Seven Star Sword Formation, rise!"
Lu Changsheng controlled the Big Dipper Seven Swords, forming the Seven Star Sword Formation, which enveloped Yun Tianba!
Yun Tianba's face turned pale.
The Seven Star Sword Formation was a celestial-grade sword formation. With the addition of the Big Dipper Seven Swords invoking the power of the Big Dipper Seven Stars, the Seven Star Sword Formation's power was doubled, its Sword Qi crisscrossing the sky.
Seven pillars of light that reached to the heavens pierced the sky, shaking the very earth.
Lu Changsheng was like a Sword Immortal. With a change in hand seal, the Big Dipper Seven Swords were activated, each Immortal Sword shuttling through space, carrying a sharp sound that seemed to tear apart the void, thrusting towards Yun Tianba.
Yun Tianba brandished a mid-grade Immortal Artifact-level Profound Saber to counter the Big Dipper Seven Swords. The clash of Immortal Artifacts produced earth-shattering booms.
The power of the Seven Star Sword Formation was too strong; each sword seemed unstoppable.
Yun Tianba, who just now was proudly boasting, now only had the strength to barely parry.
With a hiss, the Yu Heng Star Sword, amidst the fray with Yun Tianba and the other Big Dipper Seven Swords, cut through Yun Tianba's mystical armor, leaving a trail of blood.
Yun Tianba was startled, and the Heavenly Authority Sword stabbed from behind; the mid-grade Immortal Artifact, with the power of the stars from the sword formation, once again broke through Yun Tianba's mystical armor and body.
"Pu!"
Yun Tianba spat out a mouthful of blood.
He had actually been injured by Lu Changsheng.
If not for Lu Changsheng's consideration of the other participants at the Zhong Zhou convention, Yun Tianba might have already been killed.
Lu Changsheng deliberately spared his life, using only the Seven Star Sword Formation, and the formation continued to speed up.
"I am defeated! Spare my life!"
Yun Tianba, fearing that Lu Changsheng might harbor killing intent, quickly showed weakness and begged for mercy.
For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar.
Yun Tianba, the long-established Valley Master of Raging Flame Valley, actually admitted defeat on his own initiative.