Chapter 494 - 504: So It Was Him

Outside the Sword Forest, countless people stared straight ahead, their eyes glued to the scene.

Xi Yuheng said flatly, "Lu Wushuang’s abilities will stop at the 5th Layer. This is already his limit."

The crowd around them all nodded in agreement. The elders and Peak Master of Cloud Conceal Peak were only at this level themselves. No matter how monstrous Lu Wushuang’s talent was, he couldn’t possibly surpass Qii Yue, could he?

"Wushuang passing the 4th Layer is enough to prove his talent and that my choice back then was not a mistake, hahaha!" Qii Yue stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

The Sixth Elder of the Seven Elders of Cloud Concealment chimed in, "Yes, to be able to pass this 5th Layer as a disciple—such talent is truly rare. I’m sure that even the True Disciples from the other peaks won’t necessarily be his match if they encounter Wushuang."

"But of course. With such profound comprehension of the Sword Dao combined with the Dao of Profound Destruction, who in the same realm could possibly be Wushuang’s opponent?"

"Hahaha, I heard people from the Sword Sect will be coming for Hua Peak Master’s birthday celebration. This time, we’ll let them witness the might of our Celestial Profound Sect’s Cloud Conceal Peak!"

Everyone from Cloud Conceal Peak was beaming with joy, their faces radiant.

CREAK!

Suddenly, the great doors of the Sword Forest swung open, the sound reaching everyone’s ears.

A figure slowly walked out. He carried a sword in his hand, his handsome face etched with a hint of unwillingness. His expression was one of utter exhaustion, and he looked somewhat disheveled.

"Senior Brother Lu is out! Senior Brother Lu is out!"

"Lu Wushuang is finally out! To think he lasted so long in the 5th Layer!"

"The sword prodigy Lu Wushuang truly lives up to his name. It looks like the other True Disciples have a reason to be nervous now."

In an instant, all eyes were on the approaching Lu Wushuang. The sound of discussion was like a raging sea.

The entire area around the Sword Forest erupted.

Qii Yue quickly walked to Lu Wushuang’s side, clapped him on the shoulder, and laughed heartily. "Excellent, excellent! Wushuang, you did a fine job this time!"

The Third Elder of the Seven Elders of Cloud Concealment couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. "Wushuang, your Swordsmanship must have improved by leaps and bounds. Just a few days ago, you came to me for advice, and I felt it would still be difficult for you to reach the 5th Layer with your current skills. I never expected you to make it in just a few short days."

Lu Wushuang was taken aback by this. He immediately fell to his knees, bowed his head, and said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "This disciple has failed to live up to the teachings of Master and the Elders. I have disappointed you all."

Everyone was stunned, not understanding why Lu Wushuang was kneeling.

"What is going on?" Jian Chunqiu, who was standing to the side, couldn’t help but frown and ask.

Lu Wushuang kept his head low and said in a heavy voice, "I reached the 4th Layer but was defeated by Ancestor Qingyu. I only managed to grasp a superficial understanding of the Sword Dao Laws. However, I believe that in a few years, I will definitely be able to pass the 4th Layer and reach the 5th."

"What!?"

Hearing Lu Wushuang’s words, the surrounding clamor instantly fell silent.

Qii Yue quickly demanded, "If you didn’t pass it, then who did? Who is challenging the Sword Forest?"

"It should be... Wen Qingye," Lu Shaoyou couldn’t help but whisper from the side.

"What? Him?"

The astonishment on Qii Yue’s face deepened. He stammered, "He was the one who passed the 4th Layer?"

Everyone stared at the pavilion ahead in shock, their eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

The smiles on the faces of the Seven Elders of Cloud Concealment froze.

’Is that possible?’

How long has it been since Wen Qingye became a Core Disciple? How long has he been back from fighting for the opportunity of the Great Wilderness Ancient Stele at Xuwang Mountain in the Glazed Ancient Country?

This was the 4th Layer. The 4th Layer of the Sword Forest!

A trace of fury appeared in Sunx Shijun’s eyes as he growled, "How could it be him? How could it be him!"

Huang Zishan was shaken to her core. She cried out, "My heavens! So the one who passed the 4th Layer was actually Wen Qingye! This is too hard to believe!"

"I knew it! I knew Brother Wen was super strong! Hahaha!" Yum Baobao said excitedly, pumping her small fists.

Tao Liuu, at her side, also sighed softly in admiration. "Strong. Too strong. Brother Wen is truly getting stronger and stronger."

Nearby, Mingkong’s eyes were slightly narrowed, his face betraying no emotion. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.

Xi Yuheng recovered from his shock and let out a wry laugh. "What a pity. His meridians are ruptured. Otherwise, we’d be witnessing the rise of another prodigy."

Gao Yang nodded. "Yes, it is a shame. And because of this, the matter of him killing people from the Three Realms Sect and the Flowing Cloud Sect probably won’t be settled so easily."

Jian Chunqiu, standing by, couldn’t help but shake his head, feeling a surge of emotion.

Suddenly, a brilliant cyan light erupted. It was dazzling and soul-stirring as it shot into the sky from within the Sword Pattern.

SHIING!

A crisp, loud sound shook the heavens and echoed through the clouds.

The expressions on the faces of the surrounding crowd seemed to freeze. The previous noisy chatter vanished completely, leaving only the sound of the gentle breeze rustling the leaves.

In the next moment, everyone’s eyes turned toward the Sword Forest.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Jian Chunqiu gazed at the Sword Forest for a long, long time before finally sighing. "Ah, Qii Yue... perhaps you should have taken him as your disciple."

Qii Yue’s brows furrowed slightly. After a long pause, he said, "But, Elder Jian, his meridians are severely ruptured. He doesn’t have much time left to live, and his future is..."

Jian Chunqiu shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "His future is limitless. You have missed an opportunity for Cloud Conceal Peak to rise."

Qii Yue remained silent, not taking Jian Chunqiu’s words to heart.

Everyone was puzzled, not understanding why Jian Chunqiu would say such a thing.

.....

Wen Qingye stood above the lava, his feet floating lightly. His eyes were fixed on a red sphere of light ahead.

The end of the Sword Path was a sheer drop.

Within the dense red sphere of light was a black orb. This black orb emitted an extremely piercing sensation, refracting light into the distance.

"Is that an eyeball?" Wen Qingye couldn’t help but frown as he spoke, looking at the red orb.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Countless dazzling rays of light shot toward him like a volley of ten thousand arrows—sharp, piercing, and utterly staggering.

SHING!

Wen Qingye drew his sword abruptly. But in the next moment, the myriad piercing lights suddenly stopped. They then imprinted themselves before his eyes, forming lines of characters. It was a Sword Technique, but with a few words following it.

"Five Mountains Swordsmanship, a Peak King-grade Technique. Execute it within half a double-hour."

’So this is the test for the 6th Layer?’

Wen Qingye drew his One Thought Sword. Looking at the characters before him, he smiled faintly. With a flick of his finger, the sword SHINGED as it left its sheath.

The essence of the Five Mountains Swordsmanship was its powerful force and weighty aura. With Wen Qingye’s profound comprehension of the Sword Dao, he began executing it in a mere ten breaths.

Within thirty breaths, he had performed the entire Swordsmanship completely.

The moment Wen Qingye sheathed his sword, a surging Sword Dao Divine Rhyme rushed toward him. Seeing this, Wen Qingye immediately immersed his Heart Spirit and began to comprehend the fusion of the Rock Law and the Vibration Law.

WHOOSH!

Another dazzling stream of characters shot toward Wen Qingye, spreading out like a waterfall. It was like a mirror, and flowing across its surface were characters glowing with light.