Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

The people arriving from each county seemed rather excited at this moment, their expressions showing a hint of nervousness. Although they were talents emerging from the major forces of each respective county, aside from a very few genuine prodigies, the talents from each county usually didn’t stand out much when placed in Donglai County.

Meanwhile, those participating from the major forces of Donglai County appeared more composed, with many displaying a trace of arrogance in their eyes as they looked at the county talents.

"Last time, in the Donglai competition, seven to eight out of ten of us county participants were eliminated in the first round... In the end, only one made it into the top ten, ranking tenth. I wonder if this time we can have one more?"

"Ah, it’s difficult. Let alone having one more... I’m afraid it’s very hard for you and me to replicate last time and have someone in the top ten again."

"Among us, the strongest should be Shangguan Ke, Zou Ming, and Wang Feng, especially that Shangguan Ke, who joined the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau half a year ago and has improved by leaps and bounds in strength. In the ranks of the Golden Order Blade Catchers, she’s also a standout with formidable strength. After this competition, she might be promoted to the Fifth Grade."

The talents from various counties participating in the smaller contests murmured among themselves.

Though they hailed from the major forces of each county, these great forces couldn’t compare to the resources available for disciple cultivation in Donglai County City.

Shangguan Ke?

Golden Order Blade Catcher?

In the process of inference, Su Mu suddenly heard such a familiar name, and slowly opened his eyes, scanning over the twenty county participants until he spotted Shangguan Ke’s figure.

Upon seeing Shangguan Ke, a hint of surprise and unexpected pleasure flashed in Su Mu’s eyes. Previously, Su Mu had not noticed that Shangguan Ke was also present in the mountaintop plaza.

After the battle at Changfeng City to annihilate the Black Mountain Army, the two could count as having fought side by side, and now meeting again at Bai Jiao Mountain could somewhat be considered a reunion with an old acquaintance in a foreign land.

"Having undergone the Blood Exchange three times already, yet her aura is still unstable, she likely just recently broke through. There’s still a long way to go to reach the Fifth Grade... a Qi Blood River spanning two zhang and eight chi, indeed her strength has progressed significantly."

If only looking at the Qi Blood River, Shangguan Ke, having had three Blood Exchanges, still fell short by three chi compared to Su Mu, who had two Blood Exchanges, and was on par with the Blood Wolf Woman. It was evident that Shangguan Ke’s strength had significantly increased over the past half year.

The mountaintop plaza was divided into five rings, positioned at the east, south, west, north, and center. The hundred participants in the small contest were divided into five groups, with twenty people in each, and the first round began quickly.

Shangguan Ke’s draw number was: forty-three; assigned to the west ring.

...

"If that guy were here, perhaps there’d be a chance to break into the top five... no, if it were that monster, they might even contend for the top three, right?"

Feeling the intense and expectant gazes around her, and hearing the words of praise, Shangguan Ke’s thoughts inevitably drifted back to the battle at Changfeng City six months ago.

In her mind’s eye, she couldn’t help but envision that figure enveloped in a swirling Cyan Flame, like an ancient demon beast.

Only Shangguan Ke knew that her improvement over the past half year was largely due to the pressure that person brought upon her. Each time she thought of Su Mu, a sense of powerlessness and despair surged within her, followed by a strong drive for cultivation.

Thus, while Shangguan Ke often felt suffocated under Su Mu’s pressure, she advanced rapidly, overtaking even the talents in the Shangguan Family who initially surpassed her.

Additionally, after leaving a small county like Canglan North County and heading to the Ancient Qingzhou County, Shangguan Ke’s vision and mindset improved significantly.

After being stationed in the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau as a Golden Order Blade Catcher, Shangguan Ke encountered many young talents in Qingzhou, but for some reason, she harbored a strange thought.

She believed that these so-called young talents seemed not to compare to that monster from the Land of Cyan Clouds, and even fewer could rival Wang Xuantian, who was slain by that monster.

Recently, Shangguan Ke attributed all of this to the profound impact the two made on her back then, which kept a strong impression of them in her mind.

"Is that the case?"

Shangguan Ke shook her head, pulling her scattered thoughts back. The most important thing now was the Donglai competition.

"First match at the east ring, number one against number eighteen."

...

"First match at the west ring, number forty-one against number forty-three."

Upon hearing number forty-three, Shangguan Ke took a deep breath and walked towards the ring. In the crowd, Su Mu opened his eyes again.

At the west ring.

The complexion of the county participants changed slightly. It was because the heavily entrusted Shangguan Ke faced a formidable opponent in her first match; number forty-one not only came from a major force in Donglai County City but also belonged to the foremost Tao Family of the Donglai Noble Family.

Tao Feng stepped onto the ring, looking at the figure emerging from the county ranks, the disdain in his eyes was blatant.

"Hmph, so you are my opponent? If you don’t want to end up in too much of a sorry state, I advise you to concede voluntarily!"

Shangguan Ke’s beautiful eyes revealed a hint of anger deep within, then she tightened her grip on the long saber at her waist, and released it to salute.

"From Canglan North County, Shangguan Ke, please enlighten me."

Seeing Shangguan Ke unmoved, Tao Feng seemed provoked. Though his strength wasn’t the strongest among the Tao Family’s participants in this small event, it certainly wasn’t something someone from a small place could surpass.

Tao Feng’s expression turned suddenly dark, and he spoke coldly.

"From Tao Family, Tao Feng."

After speaking, a spiritual light flashed in Tao Feng’s hand, summoning a cyan ancient sword, yet he did not take the initiative to attack, adopting an arrogant posture, waiting for Shangguan Ke to make the first move.

Shangguan Ke observed without much expression on her pretty face, her repeatedly calloused right hand suddenly pressing on the hilt.

"Clang!"

The blade grated against the scabbard, producing a dense blade song, as cold light enveloped crimson light. Shangguan Ke tap-stepped to draw her saber.

Her long hair wildly danced, and the power of Qi and Blood erupted around her, a blood mist spreading into a rushing river of Qi Blood, echoed with a low roar as it advanced.

In an instant, the two eight-foot rivers of Qi Blood transformed into a Qi Blood Flood Dragon, then gathered around and condensed into a Qi Blood Flood Dragon Armor.

"Three blood exchanges? I underestimated you."

When Tao Feng saw this, a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes. The cyan long sword in his hand was infused with wind-attribute spiritual energy, making cyan light flare up as Tao Feng formed hand seals.

The ancient sword in his hand slashed out, as cyan light swelled into a ten-foot-long sword light, blocking Shangguan Ke’s approach.

This is the advantage of Daoist cultivation; with several feet distance from the arena, if a martial artist cannot get closer, they can only be attacked.

"Screech!"

Shangguan Ke hesitated, stopping her body and drawing her saber to meet the cyan sword light. The clash of gold and iron resounded with a clang, her form retreating a step, while the spilled sword light coldly swept over Shangguan Ke’s body, colliding with the external Qi Blood Flood Dragon Armor, producing a grating noise.

When a martial artist steps into the Middle Third Grade, completes the first blood exchange by refining the five viscera, they can release Qi Blood externally, greatly enhancing their strength and survival.

Especially during ranged attacks against enemies, the external Qi Blood can function similarly to external Gang Force, able to withstand incoming attacks, ensuring martial artists aren’t overly disadvantaged against other cultivators with diverse methods, and maintain close-combat capability.

"Screech screech screech!"

Silver light flickered in Tao Feng’s eyes, his spiritual power covering around a ten-foot radius to control the battlefield. His ancient sword continuously slashed out, constantly forcing the approaching Shangguan Ke back.

"Clang!"

Shangguan Ke’s form retreated a step again, repeatedly drawing her saber despite the sting in her tiger’s mouth, and her Qi Blood Flood Dragon Armor dimming slightly with each collision. The quality of the ancient sword in Tao Feng’s hand surpassed her long saber, every strike carried a lethal force.

"Ah, Shangguan Ke is unlucky, seems about to be defeated."

"This Tao Feng is quite formidable; though not the strongest among Tao Family participants in this small event, he could rank in the top three. Losing is normal."

At this moment, several contestants from various counties shook their heads and sighed beneath the stage, showing regret and despair, unable to predict that the gap between them was so vast.

Earlier, they’d thought Shangguan Ke was strong, but even closing in was difficult.

"Give up, you’re not my match!"

On stage, Tao Feng sneered incessantly while continuing to mock.

"In this battle, Shangguan Ke will win."

Only Su Mu thought differently, his gaze falling on the long saber in Shangguan Ke’s hand.

Sure enough, Shangguan Ke drew her saber again, Tao Feng coldly labeling her as foolish, but before his words finished, a sudden ’click’ resounded in the arena.

The cyan sword light shattered abruptly.

The sneer froze on Tao Feng’s face, hastily slashing out another sword, yet was once again shattered by Shangguan Ke’s saber, red as ten thousand pounds, with the blade directly breaking through the not-yet-fully-expanded spiritual barrier, resting just inches from Tao Feng’s face.

"Thank you for letting me win."