High Martial: I Can Copy All Root Bones!

A comparison of the two fighters’ interfaces.

Shen Qing’s chances of defeating his opponent were undoubtedly low.

The Fengqing Sect was renowned for its Light Body Techniques, and Shen Qing himself possessed an exceptionally rare Light Body Talent.

However, against Demon Fiend Power, it would likely fall short.

Demon Fiend Power provided an all-around enhancement to a Martial Artist’s physical constitution.

Lu Changfeng considered for a moment.

He spoke up, "That brute’s Sword Technique Cultivation is decent, and he possesses Demon Fiend Power. Brother Shen, don’t take any unnecessary risks. If you must, it’s better to forfeit in time."

Shen Qing was a practical man who knew when to press on and when to fall back. He nodded. "Thank you, Brother Lu. I understand."

"I’ll test him out a little. If I can’t win, I’ll forfeit right away."

Shen Qing was still confident in his Lightweight Skill. ’If I really can’t beat him, I can just forfeit while running away,’ he thought.

Shen Qing leaped to the center of the square with a graceful Light Body Technique, his movements more elegant than the Lightweight Skills of even some Tendon Transformation Martial Artists.

The level of his Lightweight Skill was impressive.

Lu Changfeng reflected that if they were in the same Cultivation Realm, even with his own High-Grade Light Body Talent, Flying Swallow, he would be no match for Shen Qing’s Lightweight Skill.

After all, Shen Qing specialized in Lightweight Skill.

However, Shen Qing was at the Seventh Level of the Blood Forging Realm, while Lu Changfeng was at the peak of the Eighth Level.

Although it was only a minor Realm’s difference, the gap in their physical constitution and the power they could erupt with was as wide as the heavens and the earth.

Relying on the suppression from his higher Realm, coupled with his own Light Body Talent, Lu Changfeng was confident that his speed was second to none among those in the Blood Forging Realm.

Across from him, Shen Qing’s opponent, Zhou Yangrui of Daliang Country, also leaped onto the stage, a longsword in hand.

This time, Zhou Yangrui of Daliang Country decided not to play by the book.

He seemed intent on finishing Shen Qing quickly, giving him no opportunity to use his Lightweight Skill.

So, the moment the match began, he activated his Demon Fiend Bloodline.

Empowered by the Ancient Ba Snake Bloodline, Zhou Yangrui’s body contorted, gaining a strange new power.

His body twisted, and he lunged at Shen Qing with a tremendous burst of speed.

The moment Shen Qing saw the speed Zhou Yangrui displayed after activating his Demon Fiend Bloodline, he knew he was outmatched.

He immediately used his Lightweight Skill to fall back, shouting, "I forfeit!"

As Shen Qing spoke, Jin Changsong, who was waiting at the side, instantly leaped to the center of the square and blocked Zhou Yangrui’s attack.

"Hmm?"

"Get lost!" Jin Changsong roared.

Seeing his path blocked, Zhou Yangrui hadn’t stopped. Instead, he had actually slashed his sword at the referee, Jin Changsong.

This was clearly deliberate.

Jin Changsong had no patience for this scum from Daliang Country.

Jin Changsong channeled his True Energy and sent him flying with a single palm strike.

The difference in their Realms was simply too vast.

And while Jin Changsong’s palm strike was spontaneous and didn’t use much of his strength, he hadn’t held much back either.

The palm strike left Zhou Yangrui gravely injured.

His body automatically deactivated the Demon Fiend Bloodline, and as he struggled to stand, he couldn’t stop himself from vomiting mouthfuls of blood.

He likely wouldn’t recover for several months.

The people of Jiangnan Prefecture cheered, cursing Zhou Yangrui for his lack of martial virtue.

Since Zhou Yangrui was the one at fault, the Daliang Country contingent, though furious, could only retreat after a few angry shouts.

They took Zhou Yangrui to the medical pavilion for treatment.

"If anyone attacks a referee again, I will kill them on the spot. Mark my words."

Jin Changsong stood in the center of the square, his voice a sharp reminder to all.

’What a shame my blade wasn’t in my hand,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, when that Zhou Yangrui dared to attack me, I would have cut that little brat from Daliang Country down with a single strike.’

’Still, this outcome isn’t bad. I may not specialize in Palm Techniques, but my strike isn’t something a mere Blood Forging Realm cultivator can withstand—not even with an activated Demon Fiend Bloodline!’

And so, the third match came to an unceremonious end.

It concluded with Shen Qing’s timely forfeit.

Everyone began to realize that the nine opponents were indeed incredibly strong; they were likely the best candidates Daliang Country could muster for this Martial Arts exchange.

Furthermore, seeing as their opponents were almost all fighting to kill, a murderous intent began to glimmer in the eyes of the local fighters.

The Martial Artists of Jiangnan Prefecture didn’t just know how to compete—they also knew how to kill.

The fourth match: Lu Changfeng versus Baili Xiong.

Name: Baili Xiong

Root Bone: Middle A Class

Talent: Middle Grade Talent [Thunder Hammer]

Bloodline Talent: [Ancient Thunderbird Man 0.5%]

To Lu Changfeng, who had seen his fair share of geniuses, Baili Xiong’s Martial Innate Talent was merely above average.

’However, this brute possesses a Demon Fiend Bloodline. This fight should be somewhat interesting.’

’As for losing? That’s not a possibility.’

’It’s more practical to think about how to kill Baili Xiong.’

"Brother Lu, be careful."

Amid the cautionary words from the other contestants, Lu Changfeng leaped onto the square.

Across from him, Daliang Country’s chosen fighter was Baili Xiong.

Baili Xiong approached slowly, a savage grin on his face and a pair of hammers in his hands. "You’re Lu Changfeng, right? Little whelp, you’d better forfeit now. Otherwise, you’ll end up as a pile of mush under my hammers."

Lu Changfeng drew his Autumn Water Long Sword, turning to the side and angling its tip toward Baili Xiong.

Seeing this, Baili Xiong cracked his neck. ’You don’t know life from death. Perfect!’ he thought, then charged, smashing his twin hammers straight at Lu Changfeng’s torso.

As a cultivator at the Seventh Level of the Blood Forging Realm who had also comprehended Intermediate Martial Arts True Intent, the power of Baili Xiong’s hammer strike was not to be underestimated.

But to Lu Changfeng, the strike was nothing special.

He thought, ’If I were also wielding hammers, I could send his flying in a direct clash.’

But Lu Changfeng chose not to reveal his full strength right away.

Lu Changfeng chose to match him, revealing only the power of a Seventh Level Blood Forging Realm cultivator.

He didn’t engage a heavy weapon like a hammer head-on.

Instead, he used his Antelope Leaping Skill to shift his position, his Autumn Water Long Sword weaving around Baili Xiong’s hammer strikes to exploit openings and stab at him.

Baili Xiong howled in frustration as the longsword nicked him repeatedly. His own Body Technique was no match for Lu Changfeng’s, and he finally activated his Demon Fiend Bloodline in a rage.

"Another one with a Demon Fiend Bloodline!" The crowd grew anxious for Lu Changfeng.

In the audience, Chunzhu and the others gasped, covering their mouths.

Ever since the incident with Sikong Jue, they were all too aware of how terrifying the Demon Fiend Bloodline could be.

This was the second Blood Forging Martial Artist from Daliang Country to reveal a Demon Fiend Bloodline.

On Jiangnan Prefecture’s side, however, there hadn’t been a single one.

Would Lu Changfeng have to forfeit this match too?

Lu Changfeng’s next move, however, allowed the people of Jiangnan Prefecture to breathe a small sigh of relief.

Baili Xiong activated his Ancient Thunderbird Man bloodline.

His sturdy, bear-like frame instantly slimmed down by more than half, transforming into an agile form.

His eyes turned blue, and faint arcs of electricity flickered within them.

"DIE!"

"Thunderlight Purple Gold Hammer!"

Blue lightning crackled around Baili Xiong. His speed skyrocketed, now matching Lu Changfeng’s, as he hammered down on him.

Though the hammers were still several meters away, arcs of Thunder Light leaped ahead.

Lu Changfeng’s pupils constricted. The analysis from his *Longevity Sword Dao* told him that this scoundrel Baili Xiong had actually fused a Demon Fiend Skill with a Martial Arts Ultimate Technique!

Its power was magnified!

VMMMM!

As the Purple Gold hammers, wreathed in Thunder Light, smashed down, Lu Changfeng raised his sword to block.

CLANG!

Lu Changfeng’s longsword was sent flying by the Thunder Hammers.

Arcs of electricity shot up the blade, causing a slight numbness to spread through Lu Changfeng’s body.

Feeling the power now coursing through Baili Xiong’s body,

Lu Changfeng no longer hid his strength at the Eighth Level of the Blood Forging Realm. He gripped his sword with both hands, his blue Intermediate Sword Intent enveloping him as he began to clash head-on with Baili Xiong.

His *Longevity Sword Dao* wasn’t limited to analyzing swordsmanship; it could also slowly deconstruct other techniques.

Once analyzed, he could convert them into his own Sword Techniques and turn them back on his opponent.

Lu Changfeng’s eyes began to gleam. As they exchanged blows, he felt his own Sword Intent growing more condensed.

"One Sword Hell!"

Lu Changfeng’s slash manifested a blood-red moon, within which grotesque faces seemed to flash in and out of existence.

"Thunder Hammer Chaotic Dance!"

Bolts of lightning erupted from Baili Xiong’s twin hammers, slamming into the blood moon!

A moment later, the blood moon shattered and the lightning dissipated. Suddenly, the sword in Lu Changfeng’s hand began to crack and break apart, inch by inch.

The Treasure Longsword, which had been with Lu Changfeng for several years, had finally succumbed to the relentless assault of the Thunder Hammers.

"Heh heh, your weapon’s gone. How are you going to fight me now? DIE!"

Baili Xiong lunged forward, swinging his twin hammers at Lu Changfeng’s head!

Only then did Lu Changfeng pull his gaze away from his broken sword, snapping out of the brief moment he had taken to mourn his Autumn Water Sword.

Facing Baili Xiong’s twin hammers, the corners of Lu Changfeng’s lips curved into a slight smile.

VMMMM!

Lu Changfeng’s aura shifted. A blood-red silhouette of pure energy materialized around him, enveloping his body. It reached out its hands and caught Baili Xiong’s twin hammers, holding them fast.

"That’s... Advanced Sword Intent! Brother Lu comprehended it in the middle of the fight!" Bai Yimeng exclaimed in astonishment from the contestants’ area.

It was, indeed, Advanced Sword Intent.

In the very instant his Autumn Water Long Sword had shattered,

Lu Changfeng had experienced a sudden epiphany, comprehending his own Advanced Martial Arts True Intent—Death Sword Intent.

They say every personality has two extremes.

Lu Changfeng, on one hand, yearned for longevity; on the other, he feared death.

His yearning for longevity led him to fuse it into his Longevity Sword Dao.

But his fear of death demanded fierce resistance! From this, Lu Changfeng comprehended Death Sword Intent! A Sword Intent that delivers his enemies unto death!

If the enemy dies, I live!

Thus, Lu Changfeng’s Advanced Sword Intent was named Death.

The blood-red specter enveloping Lu Changfeng’s body was the physical manifestation of his Death Sword Intent.

Lu Changfeng slowly extended a hand and pushed. Baili Xiong, still holding his hammers, was sent flying.

With a slight gesture from Lu Changfeng, the blood-red specter merged back into his body.

In that instant, Lu Changfeng’s pupils turned blood-red, his skin took on a faint crimson hue, and his black hair became tinged with the color of blood.

In Lu Changfeng’s mind, countless Sword Techniques and ultimate skills flashed past.

Finally, Lu Changfeng formed a sword seal with two fingers. "Death!"

A red beam of Sword Intent, more than ten meters long, shot from Lu Changfeng’s fingertips. It passed through the gap between Baili Xiong’s twin hammers and sliced his body in half.

"The winner is Lu Changfeng of Jiangnan Prefecture!" Jin Changsong strode forward, immediately announcing the result.

Baili Xiong was clearly not just some nobody. The contestants and delegation members from Daliang Country erupted into a clamor.

The Daliang National Preceptor, standing beside the Mansion Master, also frowned deeply. He hadn’t expected Baili Xiong, a wielder of a Demon Fiend Bloodline, to be defeated by a mere swordsman.

"If I’m not mistaken, although this swordsman has yet to undergo Tendon Transformation, his Realm has already reached the Eighth Level of Blood Forging."

"To comprehend such a profound Martial Arts True Intent on the spot at such a young age... Jiangnan Prefecture is truly teeming with talent."

The Daliang National Preceptor took a deep breath, managing to keep his composure as he spoke.