CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 71 THUNDER SPIRITUAL BODY_1

"Here he comes, here he comes! Lv Xu is here!"

Suddenly, there was a slight stir in the crowd.

Shen Mo saw everyone’s gaze turn towards the rear, so he also took a glance.

The person who arrived wore a black robe. He was slim, with a rather refined appearance, but not particularly striking.

If not for everyone discussing him, Shen Mo wouldn’t have even noticed him.

"It’s rumored that his cultivation talent is excellent. During his Body Tempering Realm phase, he cultivated three Grade I magic techniques to Perfection. Now that he’s just entered the Qi Gathering Realm, he should be quite unmatched!"

"His strength is good, but his battle record is somewhat lacking. You know, before Xu Longxiang advanced to the Qi Gathering Realm, he once hunted and killed a Class II demonic beast."

"Even though he relied on the power of a talisman and took some shortcuts, it was still a case of crossing realms to defeat a stronger opponent. Lv Xu has never had such an achievement."

He managed to cultivate three Grade I magic techniques to Perfection?

Shen Mo silently listened to the discussions around him, beginning to take this Lv Xu a bit more seriously.

He had the aid of the Destiny System, so cultivating magic, martial arts, and cultivation methods in the early stages presented almost no bottlenecks. Yet, even so, he still hadn’t cultivated "Thunderclap Rapid Step" to the perfection stage.

This person has just stepped into the Qi Gathering Realm and has already mastered three Grade I magic techniques to Perfection. He’s indeed not simple. For a cultivator’s combat power, the enhancement from magic is substantial. No wonder he’s so highly regarded.

That Xu Longxiang killed a Class II demonic beast before entering the Qi Gathering Realm?

Regarding Xu Longxiang, whom the crowd mentioned, Shen Mo also analyzed him in his mind.

The strength of a Class II demonic beast is similar to that of a human cultivator in the Qi Gathering Realm. However, because a Class II demonic beast’s gnosis isn’t high and it lacks the diverse combat methods of a cultivator at the same level, its combat power is often weaker than a human cultivator of equivalent rank. Even so, the chasm between realms is still vast. Normally, a Class II demonic beast could slaughter a cultivator at the perfection stage of the Body Tempering Realm as easily as chopping melons and slicing vegetables. The fact that Xu Longxiang managed to kill a Class II demonic beast single-handedly before advancing to the Qi Gathering Realm is indeed something worth noting. However, if he relied on the power of a talisman, then the referential value of this combat achievement would be greatly diminished.

He’s talented, but still far from the level of a prodigy.

In Shen Mo’s view, these influential new figures of the Inner Door seemed to have impressive past achievements and comprehensive combat power. However, they were far from being the kind of exceptional individuals who could stand firm at the top of a hundred-foot pole or turn the tide amidst thousand-layered waves.

At least, if I encountered them on the battle stage, I feel I could defeat them without too much pressure.

After a short wait in the arena, a crimson glow arrived, riding the wind.

This person’s arrival also drew a lot of attention.

He had a rugged appearance and an extremely tall physique, like an iron tower, exuding a powerful sense of oppression even from a distance. This was Xu Longxiang, the one everyone had been discussing earlier.

Unlike the low-key and reserved Lv Xu, Xu Longxiang radiated an intense sharpness; he was clearly a proud individual.

He must have cultivated some kind of body refinement method. Such abundant vital energy! He must have opened at least two major acupoints. His Dantian probably isn’t his only one.

Carefully observing Xu Longxiang, Shen Mo speculated internally.

Not only was this person tall and burly, but his muscles were also exaggeratedly developed. Blue veins bulged like coiling dragons on his arms. No one would believe he hadn’t specifically tempered his physique.

"Liu Qing is here!"

"So beautiful! Just as the rumors say, her face is like a flower, her appearance like the moon."

Xu Longxiang’s arrival didn’t hold the crowd’s attention for long.

Soon, when a woman entered the arena, everyone’s gaze shifted to her.

This Liu Qing wore a green dress, her raven hair cascading loosely down her back.

According to the information Shen Mo had gathered from the crowd’s discussions, Liu Qing’s past battle record and overall performance weren’t as outstanding as Xu Longxiang’s or Lv Xu’s. It was solely due to her beauty that she garnered more attention than the others.

「 」

Outside the arena, the spectating inner disciples were engrossed in fervent discussion.

Meanwhile, on the Ascension Altar, several prominent figures seated high above were also discussing the upcoming competition among the new talents.

"It’s time for the annual selection again. I wonder how many promising new talents will emerge this year."

The first to speak was Tang Lv, the Sunrise Peak Master. Dressed in a purple robe, he sat with impeccable posture.

"Countless new inner disciples join every year, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, but truly potential prodigies are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns."

Yuan Jing, Peak Master of Bright Moon Peak, shook his head and couldn’t help but say, "Old Tang, if there are any good prospects this year, you better not try to snatch them from my Bright Moon Peak!"

"In previous years, most of the top talents went to your Rising Sun Peak. It’s caused our Bright Moon Peak and Stars Peak to suffer from a dearth of talent, a real gap in successors. We’re almost out of fresh blood!"

"When it comes to competing for talent, how can one simply yield? It all comes down to our respective abilities."

Tang Lv smiled faintly. "If your two peaks have what it takes, you’re naturally welcome to try and poach people from my Rising Sun Peak."

"Peak Master Tang, that’s truly shameless of you to say!"

Hearing this, Yuan Jing couldn’t help the corner of his eye from twitching.

Among the Inner Door’s Three Peaks, Rising Sun Peak currently had the most momentum and thus received the lion’s share of the sect’s resources. Access to Trial Forbidden Lands, opportunities to slay Heavenly Demons, missions from the Black List, and various other sect rewards were always abundant for them. Bright Moon Peak and Stars Peak lacked such favorable conditions to attract these new Proud Disciples.

If they truly competed based on "respective abilities" as Tang Lv suggested, how could Bright Moon Peak and Stars Peak possibly contend?

"Peak Master Zhou, you tell me, isn’t Peak Master Tang’s stance a bit too unseemly?"

Seeing Tang Lv refuse to budge, Yuan Jing turned to Zhou Shili, Peak Master of Stars Peak, hoping he would side with him to prevent Rising Sun Peak from getting first pick of the talents this year.

However, Zhou Shili, as Peak Master of Stars Peak, had no intention of getting involved in their squabble.

"You two can argue all you like. My Stars Peak has already secured a Proud Disciple for this year; we don’t need to compete with you."

He stroked his beard, the very picture of calm indifference.

"A reserved disciple?"

Peak Master Tang and Peak Master Yuan both raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

"And where did you unearth such a promising prospect?" Yuan Jing couldn’t help but press.

"Don’t even think about poaching him. This prospect is a family relative of one of my Stars Peak’s inner disciples."

Zhou Shili glanced at a young man in a smart black uniform standing ramrod straight beside him and asked, "Lu Yao, has your clan younger brother arrived yet?"

"Reporting to the Peak Master, Lu Ming has already entered the arena."

The young man called Lu Yao replied respectfully, then pointed to a spot in the crowd below. "That is Lu Ming, the one I mentioned to you before, who was identified in our clan as having a Thunder Body."

The person he indicated was a horse-faced youth in a brocade robe, appearing to be in his early twenties.

"A Thunder Body?"

Hearing the conversation between Zhou Shili and Lu Yao, the other two Peak Masters exchanged a glance, suddenly finding it hard to sit still.