Although Ye Chen was inwardly flustered, he reacted at once, unleashing all his methods to show Qin Luo exactly what it meant to be a Child of Destiny.
His cultivation surged in an instant to the peak of the Sea Opening Realm, and a damaged turtle shell appeared in his hand, blocking Qin Luo's killing strike.
He also released a sword art—naturally not the Four Symbols Swordplay, but another technique he had already cultivated to the Major Achievement stage.
As expected of an Innate Sword Bone; his sword talent really was monstrous.
Qin Luo, by contrast, had needed years of painstaking cultivation and his master's constant guidance just to barely bring a single martial skill to Major Achievement.
Yet Ye Chen, after once being a "trash," had cultivated for only a few years and reached this level. Comparing people really did make one angry.
The two clashed once, and the exchange ended in a draw. Qin Luo looked relaxed, while Ye Chen seemed to have exerted himself fully.
However, considering the huge realm gap between them, this alone was enough for Ye Chen to earn fame from a single battle.
Liu Changhe watched the scene below with a slightly grave expression.
If Qin Luo's talent were merely average as before—only possessing a solid foundation and his current status thanks to his master—then he would not have hesitated in his earlier decision.
But now, Qin Luo had displayed terrifying sword talent, instantly comprehending and unleashing a sword art at the Perfection Realm. That was enough to make Liu Changhe take him seriously.
The Law Enforcement Hall elder spoke coldly. "Holy Lord, Qin Luo stole the Four Symbols Swordplay from the Scripture Pavilion, causing our sect's Four Symbols Swordplay to be lost. Witnesses and evidence are both present. I believe Qin Luo should be thrown into the Tai Xu dungeon!"
Liu Changhe frowned and ignored him. Instead, he addressed Qin Luo. "Qin Luo, for the sake of your bitter cultivation, and in consideration of your master's great merits to Tai Xu Holy Land, I will give you a chance today."
"Go to the Reflection Cliff and reflect for three years. If you pass my assessment afterward, I will permit you to enter the War Affairs Hall."
Hearing this, Qin Luo sneered inwardly. Reflection Cliff was far from a simple place for "reflection."
Below Reflection Cliff howled unbearable gales and lay frigid pools. Never mind cultivation—even Cave Heaven experts had died there in the past.
It would definitely cripple his progress. He had no intention of going.
As for the War Affairs Hall, it wasn't even one of the Holy Land's main halls. Its death rate exceeded fifty percent every year.
Only disciples with poor resources and mediocre talent, who were forced to gamble their lives, chose to enter the War Affairs Hall.
Falling from Holy Son to a War Affairs Hall combat disciple was more than descending from heaven to earth—it was plummeting into the mud.
"The Holy Lord is being so lenient with Qin Luo? Just making him go to Reflection Cliff?"
"It's because of Qin Luo's talent. To bring a Heaven-Rank sword art to Perfection at eighteen—he's a genuine prodigy!"
There were still clever people present who immediately grasped the reason behind Liu Changhe's words.
Liu Ruyan was just about to speak up and plead for Qin Luo one last time, but Qin Luo gave her no such chance.
He looked directly at Ye Chen and sneered. "Do you really think that turtle shell in front of you can block me?"
Ye Chen, not to be outdone, snorted. "Senior Brother Qin, so what if you've cultivated the stolen Four Symbols Swordplay to Perfection? You want to break my Mysterious Armor Turtle Shell? Heh…"
The Mysterious Armor Turtle Shell was a treasure he had obtained by chance. Below the Cave Heaven Realm, it was nearly indestructible.
He shot Qin Luo a provocative look, gesturing for him to continue.
Qin Luo let out a cold laugh. "As you wish."
Boom.
His aura suddenly transformed.
A sharp, piercing edge erupted from his entire body, so intense that Liu Changhe, who had just been ignored and was about to reprimand him, closed his mouth.
Golden Edge Breaking Mountains!
This was the most penetrating offensive move of the Four Symbols Swordplay. Once unleashed, it was unstoppable, containing terrifying piercing power. Qin Luo was certain it could shatter Ye Chen's turtle shell.
His sword flashed out again, brimming with an indomitable momentum. A mournful keening seemed to echo faintly through the air.
The sword was incredibly fast. The instant the tip touched the turtle shell, to Ye Chen's utter disbelief, cracks began to spread across the shell's surface.
It sounded as though a turtle let out a sorrowful wail. The Mysterious Armor Turtle Shell started to fracture, webbed with spreading fissures.
"Impossible!" Ye Chen cried.
A pleasant female voice rang in his mind. "Chen'er, this man's sword art has reached Perfection, and it's the sharpest metal attribute form."
"The Mysterious Armor Turtle Shell cannot withstand it."
As the voice faded, the turtle shell completely shattered.
On the high platform, a woman who had been indifferent to everything so far—and who had only stirred slightly when Qin Luo displayed Fire Dance Nine Heavens—suddenly stood up, exclaiming, "That's another move of the Four Symbols Swordplay!"
"Qin Luo… he actually completed another form of the Four Symbols Swordplay?"
The look she cast at Qin Luo now burned with fervor. She immediately addressed Liu Changhe. "Holy Lord, Qin Luo is a sword genius with extraordinary talent!"
Liu Changhe was no fool. He had also seen Qin Luo's talent, and while he was shocked, a trace of anger surfaced.
"Good boy, hiding this deeply. It seems he no longer considers himself one of Tai Xu Holy Land."
"Elder Tu, stop this battle!"
Tu Shouyi, an elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, had already reached the mid-stage of the Cave Heaven Realm. He was also the one who had pushed for this trial.
Once Liu Changhe's command sounded, he didn't hesitate. He leapt from the platform, flying straight toward Qin Luo.
As he charged, he shouted angrily, "Qin Luo, stand down at once, or this old man will suppress and kill you on the spot!"
He had always disliked Qin Luo. The grudge stemmed from the previous generation—he had been beaten back several times by Qin Luo's master in past competitions and had nursed resentment ever since.
This time, he held back very little. As long as Qin Luo's life was spared, what if his cultivation was crippled?
Ye Chen had just been about to pull out a trump-card treasure.
The moment Tu Shouyi made his move, he decisively gave up that idea.
Cave Heaven experts could open up cave heavens within their bodies—small worlds in miniature. Their strength had already surpassed the human norm; in this world, they were called mighty figures.
Qin Luo watched Tu Shouyi barrel toward him, utterly calm.
The female elder on the high platform, seeing how ruthless Tu Shouyi's strike was, couldn't help but speak. "Holy Lord, Elder Tu, he—"
Liu Changhe raised a hand to stop her. "Elder Tu knows his limits."
"Some disciples, no matter how gifted, cannot be allowed to become so arrogant and unruly. It's only proper to teach him a lesson."
Closer, closer—just as Tu Shouyi was about to crush Qin Luo with a single blow, an ancient, boundless aura suddenly erupted.
Something all disciples of Tai Xu Holy Land recognized appeared before their eyes.
Boom.
The Tai Xu Bell descended.
Bang.
The Tai Xu Bell crashed down heavily on Tu Shouyi's body.
Standing right in front of Qin Luo, Ye Chen stared, eyes bulging. "That's… the Tai Xu Bell!"
He clearly knew the Tai Xu Bell should currently be in his ring, in his master's possession. How could it have appeared out here?
And it seemed to be in Qin Luo's hands. This was utterly absurd.
"Kid, surprised? Didn't see that coming?" Qin Luo's voice yanked him back to reality.
A sword thrust straight toward Ye Chen's chest.
Strike while the iron is hot.