Chapter Fifty-Nine: Boiling

"Master, why don't I take Senior Brother Long Yun's place in this round?" Yuan Chen suddenly spoke up. According to the rules of the match, disciples could substitute for one another.

Yuan Chen knew he wasn't a match for Chang Yuan, but in order to buy some time, he volunteered.

Xue Renqi's gaze flickered. "Forfeit. I fear Chang Yuan has murderous intent now. Don't risk your life in vain!"

Yuan Chen was shaken, then gritted his teeth. "I don't believe he would dare to kill in front of the Sect Leader!"

Xue Renqi shook his head. Though the Sect Leader was present, it was not uncommon for lives to be lost during these contests. The collision of every move could easily spiral out of control.

He didn't want Yuan Chen to throw his life away.

"If Long Yun is absent, which disciple from the Heart Sword Branch will step forward?" Chang Yuan gradually restrained his killing intent, and his expression turned mocking.

Xiao Leng, having participated in the matches, was unable to compete again. Apart from him, there wasn't a single disciple in the Heart Sword Branch that Chang Yuan regarded as a worthy opponent, so his mood grew arrogant.

"Master—"

"Step down!"

Yuan Chen had just begun to speak when Xue Renqi sternly dismissed him. Then Xue Renqi rose slowly, smiling. "For this round, our Heart Sword Branch—"

"For this round, our Heart Sword Branch accepts the challenge!" Xue Renqi's words were suddenly cut off as a figure swept in from afar, landing lightly on the stage after a few leaps.

"Sect Leader, esteemed elders, I was delayed due to urgent matters. Please forgive my late arrival." Long Yun smiled faintly toward those below and spoke calmly.

A trace of a smile finally appeared on Shangguan Yu's face, while Grand Elder Qiu Di's expression darkened abruptly. Three elders at the Transformation Realm had failed to claim this youth's life; just how formidable was his fighting strength?

"You are not too late. Let the match begin," Qiu Di said, regaining his composure befitting a leader, settling his emotions and addressing Long Yun.

Long Yun cupped his hands to Qiu Di. "I was able to return safely thanks to the Grand Elder's disciples. Your great kindness goes without saying; I will repay it in the future."

His words were skillfully chosen, but Xue Renqi and Xiao Leng, knowing the inside story, had their expressions change, suspecting that Qiu Di had sent men to assassinate Long Yun, causing his delay.

Thinking this, Xue Renqi's gaze grew colder as he glanced at Qiu Di from afar.

Qiu Di laughed heartily. "We are all disciples of Jade Sword Sect; mutual aid is only right. Long Yun, if you require no rest, I believe the match should begin!"

Long Yun nodded, cupping his hands to Chang Yuan. "I've long wished to face Senior Brother Chang Yuan; I didn't expect it would come so soon!"

A sinister glint flashed in Chang Yuan's eyes as he replied with feigned casualness, "I too wish to see what unique qualities Long Yun, hailed as the greatest genius in a hundred years of Jade Sword Sect, possesses."

"Then please instruct me, Senior Brother Chang Yuan!" Long Yun smiled, and the power of Bone Transformation Peak erupted forth, causing the crowd below to change expressions.

Just a month ago, this youth was at the Divine Reclusion Realm; how had he broken through again in so short a time?

For a moment, Long Yun's momentum even overshadowed Xiao Leng. Many disciples secretly resolved to join the Heart Sword Branch after the tournament ended.

"Bone Transformation Realm?" Sensing Long Yun's aura, Chang Yuan narrowed his eyes. Though they shared the same realm, he felt no concern; Long Yun had only just entered the Bone Transformation Realm.

But Chang Yuan himself had already replaced his spiritual bones, reaching the peak of Bone Transformation. Though nominally the same realm, the difference between them was vast.

"Clang—" The long sword flashed from its sheath without warning, and sword energy erupted as Chang Yuan's brows tightened, focusing all his hatred for Xiao Leng onto Long Yun.

He aimed to kill Long Yun in a single blow; thus, he held nothing back, unleashing his strongest move in a sudden strike!

Long Yun laughed lightly. Even without replacing his dragon bones, he would not have regarded Chang Yuan as a worthy opponent; now, his cultivation had increased tenfold.

As Chang Yuan's earth-shattering sword descended toward Long Yun, Long Yun's eyes narrowed, and his right hand slowly reached out as if absentminded.

There was no trace of true energy gathering in his palm, yet as his hand was about to touch Chang Yuan's sword energy, a golden radiance suddenly burst forth, enveloping his entire hand.

"Dragon Capture Technique!" The peerless martial art inherited from the Prisoned Ox Spirit Bone was unleashed. This claw pierced through layers of space, shattering Chang Yuan's sword energy wherever it passed.

Without the slightest hindrance, Long Yun's claw seized the blade's edge, his palm encased entirely in golden light, forming lifelike scales like a dragon's talon.

The storm of sword energy vanished, leaving only Chang Yuan's incredulous gaze.

Impossible..." Chang Yuan's face turned pale as death, his muscles twisting, eyes blood-red, a violent surge of energy erupting skyward.

"There's nothing impossible. You are not worthy to face me," Long Yun said coolly, exerting force with his palm. The sword in his grasp exploded into dust.

Then, with another swift motion, Long Yun seized Chang Yuan by the collar mid-air, true energy penetrating and sealing all his meridians.

Long Yun's claw was like an azure dragon reaching for clouds, exquisitely mystical; not only could Chang Yuan not avoid it, even Shangguan Yu and Qiu Di frowned—the technique was clearly not from Jade Sword Sect.

"Boom—" Long Yun did not harm Chang Yuan. Though Qiu Di had sent men to hunt him, and the matter was certainly linked to Duan Tianyi, in front of the elders, he could not kill. So he simply tossed Chang Yuan down from the stage.

Chang Yuan's eyes widened, his heart utterly broken. He had thought Xiao Leng's humiliation was enough, but now, the youth he once regarded as an ant had reached a level he could no longer contend with.

"Heart Sword Branch, victory to Long Yun!" The presiding elder hurried to announce the result, secretly amazed at the Heart Sword Branch's brilliance this year.

By contrast, the Sword of Man Branch was in dire straits, nearly all their disciples defeated. It seemed none would participate in the upcoming hunting tournament.

"Excellent!" Shangguan Yu stood up abruptly, clapping. "Jade Sword Sect needs such promising young talents. Renqi, you have found a worthy disciple indeed—congratulations! From now on, the Heart Sword Branch will regain its former glory!"

Qiu Di's face was dark. He had intended to suppress Long Yun's claw technique, but before he could speak, Shangguan Yu rose to congratulate Long Yun.

Qiu Di realized Shangguan Yu must intend to protect Long Yun, anticipating Qiu Di would use the incident to stir trouble. So Shangguan Yu acted first, leaving him unable to respond.

With that, Qiu Di's expression grew even gloomier, a chilling smile spreading across his lips.

"Shangguan Yu, let's see how long your prestige lasts," Qiu Di muttered through clenched teeth.

"Master, I have returned!" Long Yun approached Xue Renqi and was about to kneel, but Xue Renqi caught him with both hands.

"Good! It's enough that you've returned!" Xue Renqi's excitement was beyond words. Now that Xiao Leng had reached the Transformation Realm, the Heart Sword Branch had risen to a new tier.

Long Yun's instant defeat of Chang Yuan was icing on the cake; after this match, the threshold of the Heart Sword Branch would surely be overwhelmed by disciples seeking entry.

Moreover, the Sword Stone was steadily recovering, so the Heart Sword Branch's brilliance was just around the corner.

"Senior Brother Chang Yi, do you think you could withstand Long Yun's attack?" Chen Long, seated beside Chang Yi, smiled wryly.

Chang Yi shook his head. "Clearly Bone Transformation Realm, yet the power of that grasp was at such a level... Brother Chen, I don't think I'm his match!"

Hearing Chang Yi's words, Chen Long shook his head with a bitter smile. He hadn't expected Long Yun's cultivation to advance so much in just a month. This youth truly was an extraordinary talent.

"Enough. This match has shown me the future of Jade Sword Sect. You are all outstanding. I witnessed everyone's battles just now; there is no need for further contests. I will announce the list of participants for the hunting tournament." Shangguan Yu glanced around at the gathered disciples and spoke in a gentle tone.