Three months have passed now, and there are only nine months left before the newcomers compete. Improvements in other aspects were rapid, but swordsmanship seemed to have hit a bottleneck.
Cheng Ling thought hard for a long time and remembered the way to practice swordsmanship in martial arts novels that he had seen before. His eyes lit up and he decided to give it a try. He designed several small mechanisms to make the leaves fall continuously. The sword in his hand stabbed the leaves at the fastest speed, and every round could not fail.
Sometimes, he would stab the fruit that kept shaking. In one breath, he would stab as many swords as possible. From the three or four swords at the beginning to the eight or nine swords at the end, the speed of the strikes would become faster and faster.
Sure enough, with the improved practice methods, basic swordsmanship began to improve rapidly again.
Spring passes and autumn comes, and time passes slowly. Soon, one year is up, and tomorrow is the time for the newcomers to compete. Xuan Lingzi also returned to the Taoist temple and watched Cheng Ling slowly withdrawing his power, with a flash of admiration in his eyes.
In the past year, Xuan Lingzi came back four times, and each time he brought back some pills to improve his cultivation. Cheng Ling lived up to his expectations and did not slack off at all in a year. His Qi refining cultivation had reached the peak of the later stages, and he was only a hair away from perfection.
He has also learned several kinds of spells. Basic spells such as earth movement, gravity, ice blade, wind blade, etc. have been practiced very proficiently, and the control of his own spiritual power has gradually matured.
Swordsmanship, basic swordsmanship must be practiced every day, and gradually it becomes an instinct, and the speed of shooting and reaction becomes faster.
As for the Baiyun Swordsmanship and the Thunder Light Swordsmanship, I have already mastered them very well. The level of these two swordsmanships is not high, they are just low-level human level, but they are more than enough to be used during the Qi refining period.
He also understood the swordsmanship in his mind and the subsequent three sword moves. As soon as this move was launched, it was like a breeze blowing on the face, but it contained a hint of murderous intent, catching people off guard and smelling like an assassination. Cheng Ling named it Qingfeng Xulai. When fighting, it can have unexpected effects.
However, he didn't want to use it unless it was a life or death situation. This swordsmanship was of a very high level, and it would be really bad if someone coveted it.
It is said that in more than a year, he has read all the books in the sect, and he also knows the grades of swordsmanship and martial arts. It is generally divided into four levels: low-grade, medium-grade, top-grade, and top-grade. If Baiyun Swordsmanship is low-grade, then Qingfeng Xulai must be at least the top-grade.
One can imagine how difficult it is to practice. He is a young monk in the Qi refining stage and possesses superb swordsmanship. If someone else gets it, he will definitely be swallowed up to the point where nothing is left.
Seeing that he had finished his work, Xuan Lingzi said, "Yes, with such a big improvement this year, I don't have to worry about the competition."
However, Cheng Ling did not relax and asked, "Master, do you know what level of cultivation the disciples in the martial arts competition have reached?"
"Most of them are in the late stage of Qi refining, and a few have reached the perfection of Qi refining."
"Oh, isn't there a foundation-building stage?"
"The foundation building stage can be different from the Qi refining stage. Without the foundation building pill, it will be difficult to break through."
"Foundation Pill."
"The Foundation Establishment Pill is the best elixir for Qi Refining monks to use to break through to Foundation Establishment. It can increase the success rate of breakthrough. Unfortunately, the materials are very scarce and difficult to refine."
"Master doesn't have one either?"
"Yes, this kind of elixir usually becomes the sect's strategic reserve and is only awarded to disciples as rewards. It is difficult to obtain on weekdays. If you can win the first prize in this competition, you may be able to get one."
Cheng Ling pondered for a while and said, "Master, I don't want to be too pushy. I can just win a few games to save some face for you!"
Xuan Lingzi hesitated and asked: "Why? There are very few people in our formation hall who can win in martial arts competitions. From what I can see, although your cultivation has not reached perfection, your combat power is definitely not low, and you have a good chance of winning." Number one! Besides, most of my body is lying in the coffin, so I can’t have a moment of glory once in a while?"
"No, I have too many enemies. If I am too arrogant, it will only provoke my enemies even more!"
"You brat, who dares to do anything to you while I'm here?"
"Then I can't stay in the Taoist temple every day. I've been suffocating for more than a year and I want to go out to practice. Besides, how many more years can you protect me?"
"You're staring at a lot of people anyway, so you're not afraid of a few more."
"My God, you, an old man, want to be in the limelight at such an old age, and you don't have a little sister to come to your door. What's so strange about it?"
"What do you know? I am the leader of the Formation Hall. I finally taught an outstanding disciple, how can I bury him?"
"Don't you know you shouldn't pretend to be cool? Don't you pretend to be cool and get struck by lightning?"
"Have not heard!"
"..."
The two argued for a long time, but Cheng Ling refused to obey. Xuan Lingzi used his fists and Xiao Zhi's kicks. In the end, he retreated gorgeously. He flicked his sleeves and went back to draw circles.
Early the next morning, Xuan Lingzi woke Cheng Ling up with a dark face, picked him up and left without saying a word. In a daze, Cheng Ling knew that the old man was unhappy, so he let him go. He didn't have to walk anymore and continued his tryst with Duke Zhou...!
After a while, I heard voices coming from beside me. I opened my blurry eyes and saw that I had arrived at a square in front of a main hall. There were many people in the square, and everyone was greeting each other. There was also a ring set up in the middle of the square, which was obviously a place for martial arts competitions.
Cheng Ling had never been to this place since he entered the Wuxiang Sword Sect, so he couldn't help but look around curiously. The square is surrounded by stone fences, and four large vats are placed at the corners of the fence. The smoke in the vats is full of smoke, and bursts of sandalwood can be heard.
Facing the arena and facing south is a large hall, about three feet high. Along the main door of the hall, two rows of thick stone pillars carved with dragons stand. There is a semicircular iron pot above the stone pillars, which should be used for lighting at night.
While he was looking around, a middle-aged man full of evil spirits came over, bowed to Xuan Lingzi and said, "Uncle Xuan, I haven't seen you for a long time. Is this the disciple you accepted?"
After saying that, his eyes looked towards Cheng Ling.
Cheng Ling felt that the opponent's eyes were like two sharp swords piercing into his heart, and his whole body was like a mountain, pressing towards him with great momentum. I was busy running my skills, struggling to resist his momentum, and I was secretly shocked: How powerful!
Xuan Lingzi took a step forward, blocked Dahan's momentum, and said calmly: "Senior Nephew Song, this little disciple of mine can't stand your momentum!"
The middle-aged man laughed and said, "It's rare to see Master Xuan defend a junior like this. I believe this disciple is very satisfying to you!"
"Easy to say! Easy to say!" After saying that, he turned to Cheng Ling and said, "This is the Hall Master Song Hanyu of Wu Hall!"
Cheng Ling hurriedly bowed and said, "Disciple has met Hall Master Song!"
Song Hanyu nodded and said, "Yes, he can still hold my momentum. No wonder Uncle Xuan takes a fancy to me. If my brat is as good as you, I don't have to worry about him."
"Yingjie, come and meet me too!"
A boy of more than ten years old stood up in response, cupped his hands towards Xuan Lingzi and said, "Disciple Song Yingjie, I have met my uncle Xuan Master!" When it was Cheng Ling's turn, he was stuck and couldn't say his name.
Cheng Ling smiled and said to him, "My younger brother Cheng Ling, I have met Senior Brother Song."
The young man hurriedly raised his hands and saluted, which was very elegant, completely different from Song Hanyu's tough style.
After the ceremony, Song Hanyu said: "Uncle Master, there are many disciples in the sword hall and martial arts hall this time, more than ten times the number in the previous competition."
Xuan Lingzi said calmly: "It doesn't matter. Even if you have many disciples, you may not be able to win. Song Xian's nephew is a young hero, and the sect leader and other elders also understand it."
This sentence was said without any beginning or end. Cheng Ling couldn't figure out the meaning for a while, but Song Hanyu nodded, responded, and stopped talking.
Xuan Lingzi said to Cheng Ling: "Ling'er, look over there is the master of the sword hall, Chen Hai, and standing with him is the master of the martial arts hall, Cheng Yuan. Remember this!"
Cheng Ling followed the sound and saw two middle-aged men standing together, looking at him and others. When Chen Hai's eyes glanced at Cheng Ling, a glimmer of light flashed and he caught it instantly. Cheng Yuan only stared at Song Hanyu with a rather unkind look.
Cheng Ling secretly wondered, is there any conflict between the two hall masters? However, this place was not a good place to ask questions, so I made a mental note.
After several people waited for a while, they heard a long cry: "The sect master is here~!"
Everyone followed the sound and saw a middle-aged man wearing a golden crown walking slowly, followed by several old men and disciples.
Several disciples in the square immediately moved and moved several wooden chairs and coffee tables across the ring. Cheng Ling glanced at them and saw that there were five seats.
Although the middle-aged man walked slowly, he felt as if he was rising into the mountains, and every step he took seemed natural. All the monks in the room were eclipsed in front of him. It is Xuan Wuxiang, the leader of the Wuxiang Sword Sect!
Xuan Lingzi nodded secretly and said in a low voice: "The master's cultivation has improved again, I'm afraid he has reached the perfection of the golden elixir!"
Song Hanyu also agreed.
Xuan Wuxiang walked to the seat and did not sit down immediately. Instead, he said to the people in the square: "Our Wuxiang Sword Sect is holding a competition for new disciples today. This is the tradition of the sect for hundreds of years. All disciples We must give full play to our talents so that we can live up to the cultivation of our teachers. Okay, let’s get started!”
After saying that, he nodded to an elder behind him and sat on the chair in the center.
The elder took two steps forward and said, "Please come forward and take a seat."
After Xuan Lingzi and Song Hanyu exchanged a few words, they walked to the ring and sat down in their seats with Chen Hai and Cheng Yuan.
After the elder saw them sitting down, he added: "There are eighty-six disciples participating in this competition. Each disciple will get his own number by drawing lots and compete one by one. No. 1 is good against 86, and No. 2 is good against No. 85. So on and so forth!"
"The top five in the competition will be selected as the new kings, and they can get rewards from the sect. The first place will be crowned as the king of new kings, and the rewards will be higher! Okay, no more nonsense, the competition begins! "
Cheng Ling's heart trembled. The king of kings...wouldn't that be like ham sausage? It seems that the first place should be cautious. I don't know what the reward is. If you are in the top five, you will get foundation building. Dan rewards would be great.
