Austin took the vital energy crystals that piled on the ground like a small hill back into his space ring,
then he focused all his attention on cultivation.
When he was at the Valley Town the past few weeks, he hadn't found any time to cultivate. Fortunately,
after a few battles he had reinforced his strength. Not long after he entered the preliminary stage of
Earth Realm, he had stabilized his level.
As soon as the Golden Sun Scripture started to work, Austin was immediately in the groove.
When he entered the Earth Realm, the size of the light ball in his elixir field became as big as the size
that was equivalent to five or six fists gathering together. The luminous ball glittered like gold. Austin's
whole body shone under the numerous beams of dazzling golden light. His muscles, bones, and
energy meridians were covered with a layer of golden brilliant light. The rays of golden light flew
through his arteries, veins and his four limbs. It made Austin feel as if his body was full of endless
strength.
The more Austin practiced the Golden Sun Scripture, the more he felt that it was a magical and
ingenious martial arts masterpiece. He didn't know which grade this formula was but according to the
introduction in the outline, with persistent efforts, the practitioner would be able to progress from the
elementary stage and reach the Divine Realm. This was all possible with only the Golden Sun Scripture
in hand.
Austin had no idea what the Divine Realm was and which level it was in the vital energy cultivation. The
name of it alone, which included Divine, gave Austin the impression that it was something very
superior.
He therefore assumed that the Golden Sun Scripture was certainly more advanced than the fifth grade
or sixth grade martial arts formulas. More than that, Austin guessed that it might even exceed the
seventh grade martial arts formulas.
On the other hand, Austin found that after he entered the vital energy Earth Realm, the speed in which
the light ball grew in his elixir field became slower.
Austin pondered on it and figured out that for all the martial arts formulas, the more advanced the level
one reached, the more difficult it would be for the practitioner to make a breakthrough and advance to
the next level. Thus, it made sense why the light ball grew slowly.
Austin decided that he would spend the next two days cultivating the Golden Sun Scripture and Illusory
Swordsmanship.
It was said that when one reached the Major Achievement Stage of the Illusory Swordsmanship, one
would be able to shoot over one hundred sword-lights at one strike. As of now, even when Austin tried
his best, he was only able to shoot about twenty sword-lights at a time. He was still far away from the
Major Achievement Stage.
Because of that, Austin planned to spend more time on practicing the Illusory Swordsmanship
After two days in the practice room, Zen held the Violet Royal Sword in his hand and swung the sword
into the sky. He focused his mind on the movement of the sword. The sword-lights spread all over the
practice room, with the sword intent emitting a great momentum.
Austin moved like a flying dragon. He struck the sword elegantly with quick and light steps. He showed
an extraordinary swordsmanship that no one else could match. His whole body was engulfed in the
dazzling sword-lights that intertwined with each other. It emanated a great power like that of a horrible
rainstorm. The mist-covered fairyland-like scene was so ethereal and capricious that it made it difficult
to tell whether it was the real world or only an illusory dream.
All of a sudden, from the clouds and mists came over thirty sword-lights that went in all directions of the
practice room. The sword-lights carried terrifying murderous will and forged ahead quickly and
forcefully. It was as unconquerable as ever.
Crack! Boom! Bang! ...
The deafening thuds pierced through the air and they were followed by the sight of over thirty holes that
appeared on the walls of the practice room.
Then swiftly, Austin took back his sword. The sword-lights and sword energy dissipated immediately.
Austin stood alone in the center of the room with his sword in his hand and his eyes closed. He went
through the whole process again in his mind.
He reflected on the sword's momentum and on the sword intent that was produced when he struck the
sword moments ago. He was so intoxicated in his meditation that he buried himself with his practice
and totally forgot the world around him.
The more he dug into it, the more he understood about the swordsmanship. More insights on the
swordsmanship suddenly appeared in his mind.
Now, the sword energy and sword intent that emanated from him became more pure and refined. His
whole figure appeared like a long sharp sword.
All of a sudden...
Clank!
Austin seemed to have heard a crisp clicking sound that rang out into his soul. Something new was
born.
A new sword radiance appeared in his soul!
Austin opened his eyes immediately and they were as sharp and cold as if they were two beams of
sharp sword-lights. In a flash, numerous sharp energies intertwined with each other and surrounded
Austin. When Austin gave a command, they would charge forward and launch an attack.
Level-two sword intent!
Austin could now strike over thirty sword-lights with the Illusory Swordsmanship! What's more, he
actually gained the level two sword intent.
Austin placed the Violet Royal Sword back into its sheath with a satisfied smile spreading on his
handsome face.
He glanced outside the window and found that dawn already broke in the east. Later, the brilliant sun
would rise from there.
Outside of the practice room, the Top Ten Outer Disciples Ranking Challenge kicked off!
... . .
Finally, the sun rose from the east and shone with dazzling light. The whole world came to light after a
long dark night.
The venue of the Top Ten Outer Disciples Ranking Challenge was at the biggest field for practicing
martial arts in the Sun Sect—The Martial Arts Square. This was the most spacious place in the whole
of the Sun Sect and could accommodate tens of thousands of spectators.
The Martial Arts Square was fully packed today. The number of people there almost exceeded the
upper limit of the capacity that the arena could hold. The square housed a sea of people. In the
distance, the throng of excited spectators stretched as far as the eyes could see. Even on the high-
rises around the square, people could be seen everywhere. It was evident that this event was
anticipated by many!
The shouts of the crowd soared to the sky and spread all over the place. The noise could even be
heard for hundreds of miles away. Music and cheers enveloped the whole place.
Although the Top Ten Outer Disciples Ranking Challenge was a competition for outer disciples, it also
attracted other disciples. Many grunt disciples and even the most of the inner disciples all gathered
here. Everyone was welcome to enjoy the spectacle in the arena.
None of the outer disciples would ever miss such an important event. It was the event that everyone
was waiting for all year round.
Many outer disciples were ineligible to take part in the competition because they were not good enough
in their cultivation base. However, they still came to watch with the intention of learning something from
the strong ones. It was exciting to discuss and comment on the performance of the participants in the
competition. It was amazing to witness the strength of the elites. The disciples came to both learn and
enjoy the event.
In the center of the Martial Arts Square stood the arena which was paved with extremely hard and
strong grey stones. It made the arena look all the more magnificent with its vast expanse of flat land.
In front of the arena, there were some seats that were especially reserved for the important figures.
Today, all of those seats were taken. The people sitting in the front all had dignified appearances and
vigorous vital energy force that surrounded them. They were imposing in their manners which awed
anyone who looked at them. They were the top leaders of the Sun Sect.
Many disciples were surprised to find that Theon, the Sect Leader of the Sun Sect was also in
attendance. The Elders of the sect all decided to show up.
The discovery of it got around fast among the disciples. All of their eyes were intensively bored into the
people who were sitting in the front row. After all, they were the most powerful figures in the Sun Sect.
Doubts crossed their minds on why the competition this year would attract the attention of the leader of
the Sun Sect. The Top Ten Outer Disciples Ranking Challenge was a grand event and always had
been. But the Sect Leader and the Elders seldom showed up in the events that were held in the
previous years.
It went beyond doubt that the sect attached great importance to the Top Ten Outer Disciples Ranking
Challenge this year.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda