Chapter 249: Core Disciple

“Lian Can?”

“It’s the disciple of Summer Valley Head Lian Can!”

“This Lian Can, wasn’t he just an early Dharma adept? Did he have a breakthrough?”

…

The arrival of Lian Can surprised many people. This was a familiar face for everybody from the inner sect and the outer sect.

The rumor a few months ago that Lian Can had been defeated by a disciple of the Autumn Valley who had just entered the Dharma stage had done nothing to change their impression of Lian Can’s ability.

If Lian Can had reached the mid Dharma stage, he was definitely no weaker than Zhang Kun.

Furthermore, having just witnessed Zhang Kun being defeated with a single blow of the knife, and still daring to enter the arena, this meant that Lian Can was confident in his abilities.

“Brother Lian, your son, Lian Can, should have only recently reached the mid Dharma stage? Can he win?” Liu Fengao, the Spring Valley Head, turned to Lian Kun, the Summer Valley Head, and asked.

“Just wait and see,” Lian Kun smiled as he answered.

“Looks like Brother Lian is confident in your son, Lian Can.”

Liu Fengao looked at Lian Kun, then turned his attention back to the stage. By this time, Lian Can had already begun sparring with Xie Yu, the disciple of the Thunder Knife Sect.

Boom!

Boom!

…

Lian Can’s thirty-meter-tall palm of Dharma power dropped down on Xie Yu like a gigantic mountain compressing him, dominant and oppressive.

Wham! Wham! Wham!

…

Xie Yu’s huge knife of Dharma power appeared like a ghost figure, as it stitched itself into a web of knives. In that moment, it was difficult to differentiate between the abilities of the two.

“Lian Can’s strength has increased this much?”

The scene before her left He Mengxi in serious shock. She was certain that if she had not converted to the “Thousand-Star Sword Technique,” even if she had reached the mid-Dharma stage, she would be no match for Lian Can.

Lian Can’s Dharma power had not only reached the mid-Dharma stage, but he had also polished many of the slight imperfections within it.

“Lian Can’s progress is simply incredible.” He Mengxi was in disbelief.

At this point, Zhou Donghuang also could not help but reveal the surprise in his eyes. He had not expected Lian Can to improve so much in such a short time.

Not only had he improved in terms of his level of skill, but his Dharma power had improved as well.

“Lian Kun, your son is good. He just reached the mid-Dharma stage but is already so strong; he has great prospects ahead.”

Yu Yucheng, the leader of the Lightning Sword Sect, looked at Lian Kun. He did not hold back on his words of praise, as he promised, “If he wins this round, I will grant him special permission to enter the Lightning Peak early to become a core disciple.”

“Thank you.” Lian Kun’s eyes lit up and thanked Yu Yucheng profusely. He did not even have to bring it up, and the sect leader had promised it on his own accord.

At the same time, Lian Kun’s eyes were hopeful as he watched Lian Can on stage. “Lian Can, come on.”

At this moment, the Thunder Knife Sect disciple, Han Yuzheng, seemed to mutter impatiently, “Xie Yu, stop playing around.”

“Haha… alright, Brother Yuzheng!”

Hearing Han Yuzheng, Xie Yu laughed as his giant knife suddenly radiated with light as it overpowered Lian Can’s massive palm.

Then, he seemed to turn into a flash and appeared behind Lian Can before he could even react. With a slight push of his hand, he pushed Lian Can out.

“Ugh…” A mouthful of fresh blood gushed out of Lian Can’s mouth.

Lian Can had been defeated.

“You are not bad, just a little weaker than me.”

Xie Yu looked at Lian Can who had crumpled to the ground, glaring at Xie Yu. He shook his head and laughed. “If you can further perfect your Dharma power, perhaps you can tie with me. Now, you are just too weak.”

Xie Yu’s words made Lian Can’s face turn dark. He had not only lost the battle, but had lost his chance of entering the Lightning Peak early.

“Lian Can lost?”

Lian Can’s defeat made the group of elders and disciples of the Lightning Sword Sect turn quiet momentarily. Lian Can’s strength was clear to all of them, and he was surely among the top of the mid Dharma adepts of the Lightning Sword Sect.

But now, he had been defeated by an inner sect disciple of the Thunder Knife Sect.

Although they knew that the Thunder Knife Sect had come prepared, those from the Lightning Sword Sect were still unhappy that even someone as strong as Lian Can had been defeated by one of them.

“I did not expect him to conceal his true strength.”

He Mengxi looked at Xie Yu with surprise. Despite the fact the Xie Yu had been holding back initially, she was still certain that she could easily defeat him based on her current strength.

The Thousand-Star Sword Technique was a Deity-grade technique, and one of the supreme techniques in the whole universe. The strength that it gave her Dharma power was unbelievable.

“Liuji, go ahead.” He Jin turned around to his Autumn Valley disciple Liuji.

“Yes,” Liuji responded, then flew to the center of the stage.

“Excluding us… Liuji’s strength is the most powerful among the mid Dharma adepts in the Autumn Valley.” He Mengxi pointed out Zhou Donghuang.

Liuji called out to Xie Yu, “You take a rest, we’ll fight in a little while.”

“No need for that.” Xie Yu shook his head. Clearly, he did not think highly of Liuji.

This enraged Liuji. He struck out right away, displaying his power that was much stronger than Lian Can, and eventually defeated the careless Xie Yu.

Everybody in the arena could see that if Xie Yu had rested before he had sparred again, even if he could not defeat Liuji, he would at least tie with him.

At the most crucial moment, Xie Yu hurriedly pulled out an ultimate Dharma spirit weapon, but Liuji had the same spirit weapon and defeated him.

“Xie Yu, you were too careless, and now you’ve lost.”

Among the group of four teenagers from the Thunder Knife Sect, there were three young men and one young woman. Now, the lady, who had a pretty face and an elegant figure, mocked Xie Yu after he returned.

“I did not expect this lad to be so much stronger than Lian Can and turn the tables on us.” Xie Yu was frustrated. If he had not wasted so much inner Yuan in his battle with Lian Can, he would definitely be able to at least match Liuji’s power.

“Well done, Liuji!”

“Liuji is undoubtedly a talent among our Autumn Valley disciples, and he is as powerful as his reputation!”

…

After Liuji defeated Xie Yu, the group of Lightning Sword disciples who had turned silent after Lian Can’s defeat now cheered excitedly.

“Inner sect disciple of Thunder Knife Sect, Wang Ping.”

Out of the three disciples of the Thunder Knife Sect who had not made their entrance, another young man flew down, a similar huge knife of Dharma power appearing alongside him. He began to spar with Liuji, who was using a massive sword of Dharma power.

Both of them had not used any Dharma spirit weapons because they had the same weapon, and that would not give them any advantages.

Just like how Xie Yu had brought out the Dharma spirit weapon just before he had been defeated, it would not change the outcome.

After many blows, Liuji was finally defeated.

Wang Ping was slightly stronger than Xie Yu.

“That Xie Yu, could he be the weakest among the four mid Dharma adepts from the Thunder Knife Sect who are here today?”

Many Lightning Sword Sect disciples gasped in shock as they speculated.

In time, it was proven that their guess was correct.

Wang Ping was calmer than Xie Yu and rested for a short while before he took on his next battle. His next opponent was an inner sect disciple of the Winter Valley of the Lightning Sword Sect, who was stronger than Liuji.

In the end, the two ended in a draw.

Wang Ping continued to rest before he took on the next opponent. This was Hu Jian, the disciple of the Spring Valley Head, Liu Fengao. He defeated Wang Pin within ten blows.

Hu Jian was one of the rare disciples who had been allowed to enter the Lightning Peak even before he reached the Primordial Soul stage.

“The core disciple of the Lightning Sword Sect is indeed powerful,” Wang Ping exclaimed as he backed down.

At that point, there were only two challengers remaining from the Thunder Knife Sect.

Even then, the hearts of those of the Lightning Sword Sect were heavy… now, even their core disciple had been defeated.

If the remaining young man and woman of the Thunder Knife Sect were stronger than the other two who had fought before them, their Lightning Sword Sect would be in a precarious situation.

Who knew if the next challenger would be able to defeat Hu Jian?

Hu Jian was widely recognized as the strongest mid Dharma adept in the entire Lightning Sword Sect.

In fact, before he had become a mid Dharma adept, he had been known as the strongest early Dharma adept in the sect!

When he was still a Golden Essence adept, he had already begun training his Dharma power, so he was extremely powerful when he just reached the Dharma stage.

This was the reason why he was allowed to enter the Lightning Peak and become a core disciple while he was still at the Dharma stage.

“Head Yu, your core disciple is indeed very powerful… is there anyone stronger than him among the mid Dharma adepts of your Lightning Sword Sect?”

Although two of his fighters from the Thunder Knife Sect had been defeated, Luo Yuanqiu, the Thunder Knife Sect still looked happy and relaxed as he asked Yu Yucheng this, the Lightning Sword Sect leader, with a smile.

“Head Luo, looks like you are very confident in your remaining two disciples,” Yu Yucheng turned to Luo Yuanqiu as he replied.

He sighed quietly to himself as he realized that he had underestimated the Thunder Knife Sect, and he had not expected them to have so many strong mid Dharma adepts.

Hu Jian was indeed the last hope of the Lightning Sword Sect.

“Brother Hu Jian, if you defeat the two from the Thunder Knife Sect, I’ll introduce you to some beautiful ladies later!” Liu Lang shook his fist as he shouted at Hu Jian.

“Haven’t you always admired me and wanted to find a beautiful partner for yourself? As long as you defeat those two from the Thunder Knife Sect, I’ll find one for you!”

Liu Lang’s words broke the serious atmosphere in the arena, making many elders and disciples of the Lightning Sword Sect break into laughter.

“You little brat, get lost!”

Liu Fengao, the Spring Valley Head, glared at Liu Lang, but his voice was gentle with no hint of anger. It was clear to all how forgiving he was of his only son, Liu Lang.

“Little Brother, look how calm the Thunder Knife Sect leader is… Brother Hu Jian might be in danger.”

He Mengxi frowned. “What a pity that I cannot take part… otherwise, no matter how strong those two from the Thunder Knife Sect are, as long as they are mid Dharma adepts, I could definitely defeat them easily!”