Chapter 88 Even if the golden elixir is as powerful as the sea, I will also draw my sword to test its sharpness. May I ask if this sword is sharp?
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Chapter 88: Though the might of Golden Core be like the sea, I shall draw my sword and test its edge; I ask, is this sword… sharp?
[Name: Black Rock]
[Race: Nine Nether]
[Strength: Golden Core Stage]
[Characteristic: A special creature evolved from Nine Nether Black Rock, indestructible]
From its appearance alone, the Black Rock King that now stood before Lu Chen was not particularly special.
A pitch-Black Rock body, a height of about two meters—these were not outstanding features for a Nine Nether Fiend.
If not for the terrifying Aura emanating from its entire body,
Lu Chen might even have thought it was just an ordinary rock monster from the wilderness.
But when Lu Chen activated his Azure Lotus Eyes and carefully observed the opponent,
the Black Rock King's image in his eyes immediately changed.
Its originally ordinary rock body transformed into a special rock formation covered in mysterious patterns.
Although Lu Chen could not discern what these patterns represented, he could sense an intense danger from them.
Strong, a strength difficult to describe in words.
This was the second Golden Core Stage powerhouse Lu Chen had encountered, after Yu Tianqi.
Although the power system of the Nine Nether Race differed greatly from that of Human Race Cultivators,
from a certain perspective, the Black Rock King could be considered a Golden Core Stage Body Cultivator among the Human Race.
In essence, the two were quite similar.
As for the characteristics of a Golden Core Stage Body Cultivator, Lu Chen was not particularly clear.
After all, he had never formally fought a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
The only channels through which he could obtain information were the school and the Immortal Alliance's network.
But no matter which one, Lu Chen could only obtain fragmented information, making it difficult to grasp the full picture.
Therefore, the Black Rock King was like a mist to Lu Chen at this moment, full of secrets from head to toe.
But even without knowing these, Lu Chen still wanted to give it a try.
After all, he really wanted to know whether his Sword Intent could pose a threat to a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
Thinking of this, Lu Chen's gaze towards the Black Rock King was filled with Battle Intent.
This scene was very similar to Lu Chen's recent encounter with the Golden Devouring Ant-Man.
Only now, the roles were reversed, and he stood in the position of the challenger.
Challenging a formidable enemy that he could almost certainly not defeat at present.
But just as the Golden Devouring Ant-Man, knowing he was no match for Lu Chen, still exerted his full strength to throw that punch,
Lu Chen, even knowing he was absolutely no match for the Black Rock King, still wanted to unleash that sword strike upon it.
Because this sword strike was not aimed at the Black Rock King, but at a result in Lu Chen's Dao Heart.
If he didn't even have the courage to draw his sword… then how could he talk about reaching the end of the Dao of the Sword!
Thinking of this, Lu Chen immediately assumed a charging stance.
And the twelve Azure Lotuses in his eyes began to rotate continuously, and all his remaining Azure Lotus power was used, strengthening all the pupil techniques of his Azure Lotus Eyes.
'Strong Sight', 'Perspective', 'Replication', 'Azure Lotus Mark'.
The result of all four pupil techniques being strengthened was that the Black Rock King's body was no longer without flaws in Lu Chen's sight.
A special Lotus Mark, only the size of a fingernail, appeared on the Black Rock King's body.
Although this Mark was very small and faint in color,
it truly existed.
One sword, he only had one chance with one sword.
Understanding his situation, Lu Chen began to constantly adjust his state, fully mobilizing the vast Sword Intent within his body.
And the Black Rock King in mid-air, seeing this scene, not only did not stop him, but its eyes were also filled with disdain.
In the face of absolute strength, all fancy tricks… were meaningless.
The Black Rock King descended from the air and slowly walked towards Lu Chen, completely unguarded.
As it walked, it calmly said, "Even if you only had Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, with the might of your Sword Dao master, I might truly be wary of you by three points."
"But unfortunately, you are, in the end, nothing more than a small Qi Training Stage Cultivator."
"In our Nine Nether Race, you would be nothing but a waste who hasn't even completed a single life evolution."
"Although I don't know what gave you the courage to face me directly, I must remind you…"
"When facing a powerhouse, even if you just stand there… that is an insult to me."
"Kneel!"
Boom!
With a furious roar from the Black Rock King, Lu Chen immediately felt a terrifying pressure, like Mount Tai pressing down.
In a daze, Lu Chen seemed to see a black mountain slowly descending from above his head.
No, this was not an illusion!
Lu Chen looked up and saw a hundred-meter-tall black giant mountain, which had appeared above his head at some unknown point.
And the one who summoned this giant mountain was none other than the Black Rock King before him.
Seeing this scene, Lu Chen's pupils instantly contracted, and a large amount of sweat emerged from his forehead.
This was not only due to the terrifying pressure the Black Rock King exerted on him, but also because of the extreme oppression brought by the slowly descending mountain above his head.
At this moment, Lu Chen finally understood what the might of Golden Core meant.
The meaning represented by these light four words… was truly too profound.
So profound that Lu Chen was already exerting all his strength just to stand at this moment.
"Pfft!"
Under the terrifying Aura pressure of the Black Rock King, Lu Chen, who had persisted for several seconds, suddenly spat out fresh blood.
And his pupils even oozed a large amount of bloody tears, while the bones throughout his body continuously emitted cracking sounds of breakage.
Clang!
Lu Chen forcefully plunged his sword into the ground, gripping the hilt with both hands, trying his best not to be crushed by the terrifying pressure on his body.
Seeing that Lu Chen still wanted to stand even at this point, the Black Rock King's eyes became even colder.
"I told you, to… kneel."
Boom!
In an instant, Lu Chen felt the pressure on his body intensify.
This terrifying pressure immediately shattered the magical sword supporting him.
Bang!
Without the support of the magical sword, Lu Chen's body instantly staggered.
He fell heavily to the ground.
Looking at Lu Chen, who finally couldn't hold on, the Black Rock King's face finally showed a satisfied expression.
But its expression did not last long, because Lu Chen, who should have just stayed lying on the ground, actually… got up again, and with difficulty, stood before it once more.
"You…"
Looking at Lu Chen, who had risen again, the Black Rock King was finally shocked.
Because it clearly felt that Lu Chen's body had long reached its limit.
There was almost no complete bone in his entire body, and he could fall apart at any moment.
His eyes had also completely lost their sight due to excessive use of pupil techniques.
But even so, Lu Chen still stood up.
How could he stand up, why did he still stand up!
The Black Rock King looked at Lu Chen's completely blind eyes and the blood covering his cheeks, and fell silent.
Because with its insight, it quickly saw what power was supporting Lu Chen to rise again.
If it hadn't guessed wrong, this Human Race Cultivator's eyes should have some special effect that could replicate others' techniques.
And he was currently relying on the replicated Hundred Battles Body of the Golden Devouring Ant-Man to regain the ability to stand.
Even if he paid the price of blindness for it.
Even if he could only stand for a few short seconds.
But these few seconds were enough to be proud of.
Because let alone a Qi Training Stage, even a Foundation Establishment Stage would find it difficult to achieve this in front of it.
And Lu Chen paid such a heavy price, naturally not just to stand there simply.
Clop…
Lu Chen dragged his heavy body, slowly walking towards the Black Rock King based on feeling.
Although he and the Black Rock King were only ten steps apart, these ten steps became the longest road he had ever walked in his life.
Because at this moment, he was like carrying a huge mountain, every step required all his strength.
With every step, he felt life draining from his body.
Lu Chen also didn't know why he had to persist to this point.
It was just a fake exam.
What he faced was just a historical figure.
But he didn't know why, he just didn't want to kneel.
And he didn't want to leave in such a humiliating way.
Though the might of Golden Core be like the sea, I shall draw my sword… and test its edge!
Lu Chen dragged his almost depleted body and finally reached the Black Rock King.
Although he could no longer see anything due to excessive use of his Azure Lotus Eyes,
relying on his only sense of hearing, he still perceived the presence of the Black Rock King in front of him.
This distance… should be enough to draw the sword, right?
Amidst the Black Rock King's silent expression, Lu Chen suddenly smiled.
The next second, he used all his remaining spiritual power to activate his Sword Intent.
A scarred Dragon phantom suddenly appeared before the Black Rock King.
Looking at this Dragon phantom, the Black Rock King's expression was very cold.
Because even in this Dragon's prime, it could easily swat it dead with a single slap.
But for some reason, facing this scarred Dragon at this moment, it vaguely felt an indescribable palpitation.
This was not to say that this Dragon could harm it in any way.
Rather, what was revealed in the Dragon's eyes… made it feel a little uneasy.
It was a kind of determination to fight with all one's might, even when knowing that success was impossible.
Amidst the Black Rock King's silent expression, Lu Chen slowly raised his right hand, and using his fist as a sword, he slowly and with difficulty swung it towards the Black Rock King.
This punch was not only slow but also lacked any power.
Let alone a Golden Core Stage Fiend like the Black Rock King.
Even ordinary fiends would not be harmed in the slightest by Lu Chen's punch.
Therefore, facing this punch, the Black Rock King didn't even think about dodging.
He just watched Lu Chen's blood-stained fist land on his chest.
Whack!
Lu Chen's punch landed on the Black Rock King, ultimately leaving only a bloodstain on his chest.
It didn't injure the Black Rock King in the slightest.
But Lu Chen didn't seem to care, because what he sought with this sword strike wasn't whether it could injure the Black Rock King.
What he sought… was merely a result in his heart.
Lu Chen looked up at the Black Rock King in front of him, a faint smile appearing with difficulty on his pale face.
"May I ask if this sword… is sharp?"
The Black Rock King looked at Lu Chen, who was blind in both eyes and at the end of his rope.
Finally, he spoke.
"Overestimating yourself, utterly… ridiculous!"
As his words fell, the black mountain hovering above them descended heavily.
Completely engulfing both of them…
On the playground, Lu Chen took off the holographic helmet he was wearing and let out a long breath.
He looked down at his right hand, seemingly pondering the final sword strike he had delivered to the Black Rock King.
Although, from a practical standpoint, his sword strike, as the Black Rock King said, was an act of overestimating himself and couldn't change the outcome in the slightest.
But to Lu Chen, that sword strike symbolized many things.
Because compared to the gap between Qi Training Stage and Golden Core Stage, Lu Chen felt that the gap between himself and the end of the Dao of the Sword… was even greater.
If he didn't even dare to draw his sword against the Golden Core Stage Black Rock King.
Then how could he talk about reaching the end of the sword?
All living beings are ephemera, what do all living beings seek…
Since he, this ephemeral being, wanted to see the end of the sword, he had to first take that crucial step.
As for whether he was overestimating himself in the end, or whether he could persevere until that day, it no longer mattered.
Because compared to the outcome, he needed the courage to take that step more.
And it was after that sword strike that Lu Chen got the answer he wanted…
[Due to your enlightenment in the Dao of the Sword, your Dragon Transformation Sword Intent has undergone some kind of change…]
[Dragon Transformation Sword Intent: Entering the Dao 1/1,000,000]
[Effect: Enter the Dao with the sword, condense the true intent of the Flood Dragon, and transform into a Dragon when encountering wind and rain. Can accumulate Aura to form an abyss, and a Flood Dragon will emerge with the sword.]
That's right, the Dragon Transformation Sword Intent, which was originally unable to upgrade.
After Lu Chen unleashed that decisive sword strike, it could finally continue to improve.
It's just that the amount of experience points required for this upgrade was so immense that Lu Chen could hardly estimate it.
One million experience points…
One must know that since he obtained the True Immortal Cultivation mini-game, let alone obtaining one million experience points.
He hadn't even reached one hundred thousand experience points.
However, a difficult road ahead and no road ahead… are two different things.
Although it would be extremely difficult for him to raise his Dragon Transformation Sword Intent above the Dao-Grade in the short term.
But he had, after all, taken a crucial step… hadn't he?
Thinking of this, Lu Chen's eyes no longer held any confusion.
After all, at this moment, he could already vaguely see some scenery from the other shore.
And as he finished his exam, the entire Three Schools Joint Exam also came to an end.
Even though some students were still in the examination hall at the moment.
But they were all people who chose to flee the Jade Mountain Ruins, and they were no longer important.
After crossing the playground, Lu Chen arrived at the rest area of the gymnasium.
But just as he was about to push open the gymnasium door.
A large group of students excitedly ran out and surrounded him.
"Wow, Big Boss, you're too awesome! You dare to fight a Golden Core Stage Cultivator while in the Qi Training Stage. Let alone Luo City, there are only a few people in the entire Immortal Alliance who dare to do that!"
"Yeah, yeah, that last scene completely stunned me. If it were me, I would have knelt down at the very beginning. How could there have been so many things later on!"
"Big Boss, let's exchange contact information. I have a cousin who just got into Qinghe Dao Academy of the Four Great Dao Institutes this year. With your performance, the Four Great Dao Institutes are yours to choose from. If you don't know where to go, I think Qinghe Dao Academy is quite suitable for you."
"And if you want to know more about Qinghe Dao Academy, I can also give you my cousin's contact information."
"Look, look, this is a picture of my cousin. I guarantee there are no Photoshop traces whatsoever. Absolutely authentic."
Saying that, the student from Third High School hurriedly placed his phone in front of Lu Chen, showing him a photo of a beautiful woman on his phone.
And you know what, this beauty's looks… were indeed good.
The other students around, seeing this, immediately looked at this Third High School student with shock.
Alright, buddy, you really know how to play, selling your sister for glory, huh!
If you do the first, don't blame us for doing the fifteenth.
You have a cousin, don't we?
Even if we don't have cousins, we have paternal female cousins, maternal female cousins, and younger female cousins!
If all else fails, older and younger sisters are not out of the question!
That Third High School student seemed to have opened Pandora's Box, causing the surrounding students to pull out their phones one after another, searching for eligible young women in their families.
So much so that Lu Chen was a bit overwhelmed for a moment.
No, no, what are you doing?
Are you holding a matchmaking convention for me?
Fortunately, this commotion didn't last long, because a surprising wave of heat suddenly came from inside the gymnasium, forcing everyone around Lu Chen to retreat.
"Everyone, get out of my way!!!"
"Holy crap! Mu Xiaoye, are you crazy? Using Phoenix Calamity Fire here, you want to burn us to death!"
Under Mu Xiaoye's strong offensive, the students who were originally surrounding Lu Chen all retreated several steps.
And Mu Xiaoye seized the opportunity, immediately ran to Lu Chen, and grabbed his hand.
She wanted to pull him directly out of the gymnasium.
However, before Mu Xiaoye could act, more than ten teachers from various schools and seven or eight Dao Academy investigators walked over.
And the leader of them was none other than Lu Chen's homeroom teacher—Chen Fugui.
Chen Fugui looked at Mu Xiaoye, who was protecting Lu Chen behind her like a mother hen guarding her chicks, not allowing anyone else to approach.
He couldn't help but say with a smile: "Lu Chen, Little Yezi, you two come with me. I have something important to tell you."
Hearing this, Mu Xiaoye immediately seemed to grasp a life-saving straw and hurriedly pulled Lu Chen towards Chen Fugui.
The other students around, seeing this, all showed expressions of regret.
What a pity, what a great pity.
Just a little bit more, and they could have promoted the female Cultivators in their families.
Don't think that all Dao Academy students are those who are oblivious to the outside world and only focus on cultivation.
Many of them were born into cultivating Families.
Both their horizons and their ways of dealing with the world were completely different from ordinary students.
The fundamental reason why many Family members wanted their Family juniors to attend Dao Academies instead of cultivating within the Family.
It was to allow them to make more connections with the favored children of heaven in the school and expand their Family's network.
And Lu Chen's performance was undoubtedly their best target for making connections.
Someone who can comprehend Sword Intent in the Qi Training Stage, if they don't connect with such a person early, are they going to wait until the other party grows up before trying to curry favor?
You'll see if they even give you a glance then!
Although they missed this opportunity to build a relationship with Lu Chen.
But it doesn't matter, Mu Xiaoye is just Lu Chen's classmate, not his wife.
As long as they're not married, then they… still have a chance!
Thinking of this, some male students with ulterior motives began to constantly ask their Family elders if there were any single female Cultivators in their clan who were exceptionally beautiful.
Compared to being friends with Lu Chen, they wanted to be in-laws with him even more!
At the same time, in an office at Third High School.
Chen Fugui and Li Youquan looked at Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye sitting opposite them, exchanged glances, and both smiled happily.
Because no matter what, they were both Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye's homeroom teachers.
And these two had greatly brought them honor in this exam.
As for the reason they called the two over, it was also very simple, which was to ask about their choices for future Dao Academies.
Mu Xiaoye goes without saying; she could have been recommended to a Dao Academy very early on, and even had the freedom to choose from the Four Great Dao Institutes.
After all, the title of Phoenix Calamity cultivator was not just for show.
As for Lu Chen, after his performance in this joint exam.
He also had the freedom to choose any of the Immortal Alliance's Four Great Dao Institutes, going wherever he wanted.
After all, not only was he an unparalleled Sword Cultivator who mastered Sword Intent in the Qi Training Stage, but he was also a ruthless individual who dared to draw his sword against a Golden Core Stage Cultivator while in the Qi Training Stage, possessing an incredibly firm Dao Heart.
And precisely because the two were so outstanding, Chen Fugui and Li Youquan worried that they might be tempted and make a decision too early.
One must know that at present, it was not the Dao Academies choosing them, but them choosing the Dao Academies.
In the Immortal Alliance, there weren't many people who could extort the Dao Academies, but these two in front of them just happened to be able to!
If they didn't seize this opportunity to extort a good sum, wouldn't it be a waste of such a great chance!
PS: Seventh day of ten thousand words completed…
Tomorrow, I will definitely finish one chapter before ten o'clock tomorrow!!!
Recommending a book by an old master! The Xianxia of Big Boss Baitman, trustworthy!