Although the tear was not large, it showed that he had not fully evaded Chen Yuze's sword light.
"As expected of artistic conception, truly powerful!"
Lin Xuan remarked with a sigh.
Reaching out, he grabbed a sword.
This was a third-tier spirit tool he had casually replicated upon arriving at the training ground, suitable for gathering Qi.
Though inferior to the Clear Wind Sword in Chen Yuze's hand, it was enough for this match.
Across from him.
Chen Yuze, seeing his sword light tear Lin Xuan's clothes, realized Lin Xuan could no longer fully dodge, and his confidence surged.
He was about to increase his force and defeat Lin Xuan.
But the next moment, he couldn't help but pause.
Hearing Lin Xuan's words, he felt a flicker of disbelief.
Can't hold back anymore?
What does that mean?
Could Lin Xuan still be hiding his strength?
At this level, even an average fourth-layer Qi Condensation cultivator might not be Lin Xuan's match.
Yet Lin Xuan still had something in reserve?
If that were true, it would be terrifying!
But then, he saw Lin Xuan draw a sword.
Chen Yuze grew even more puzzled.
Lin Xuan's footwork, fist techniques, and palm techniques were all impressive and powerful.
Could his swordsmanship be even stronger, possibly enough to defeat him?
Chen Yuze's heart trembled, and he dared not think further.
The surrounding disciples in the square also turned their gazes toward Lin Xuan, confused.
Why was Lin Xuan pulling out a sword at this moment?
Was he planning to use swordsmanship to counter Chen Yuze?
But with Chen Yuze wielding artistic conception, his sword power surged, while also suppressing other sword techniques.
Wouldn't swordsmanship be less effective than fist or palm techniques?
They too couldn't fathom Lin Xuan's intent.
However, being far away and with the commotion on the stage, they hadn't caught Lin Xuan's muttered words.
Otherwise, they might have been stunned into silence.
On the high platform, the Grand Elder and true disciple Xu Anlan vaguely sensed something, their gazes converging on Lin Xuan with anticipation.
Then, on the stage, Lin Xuan resumed a calm expression, lightly flicking his sword, forming a sword flower:
"Artistic conception, impressive power.
Indeed, something a Qi Condensation cultivator can't withstand.
But you're not the only one who has comprehended artistic conception!!"
As his words fell, a terrifying sharpness emanated from Lin Xuan, spreading slowly outward.
Rip!
A sound like tearing cloth echoed.
It was as if the very void had been torn apart.
Utterly dreadful!
The disciples on the field were stunned for a moment, then snapped to realization.
Instantly, their pupils dilated, their hearts shaken with terror.
What did Lin Xuan's words mean?
Could it be that Lin Xuan also...?
But before they could think further, they felt a horrifying sharpness assault them.
A stinging pain spread across their skin.
Looking down, they saw countless faint cracks on their arms, blood seeping out.
As if sliced by countless tiny blades.
"What's happening?"
"It hurts!!"
"What kind of attack is this?"
"So strong!!"
"..."
The disciples were terrified, their eyes filled with fear as they fled backward.
As if some demon lurked at the center of the stage.
Then.
Clang, clang, clang!
A series of crisp sounds rang out.
All the disciples carrying swords on the field found their swords trembling uncontrollably, as if about to fly off.
They hurriedly pressed them down.
But the swords seemed drawn by a powerful, invisible force, and they barely managed to suppress them with all their might.
Their hearts grew even more shaken.
On the high platform.
The Grand Elder and Xu Anlan both stood up involuntarily.
Their expressions were filled with excitement.
"Another artistic conception!"
"A hundred swords singing in unison! This phenomenon isn't a rudimentary form—it's true artistic conception!"
"This is half-formed sword intent!"
"..."
They murmured to themselves.
Their eyes gleamed, fixed on Lin Xuan, equally stunned.
Though Lin Xuan's performance had repeatedly caught their attention, surprised them, and shaken them since the competition began, none of it compared to the shock this time.
This time, Lin Xuan had revealed artistic conception!
Not the rudimentary sword intent like Chen Yuze's, but true, fully formed sword intent!
Half-formed sword intent!
This was far harder to comprehend than rudimentary sword intent!
More importantly, Lin Xuan was only at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation!
A month ago, Lin Xuan had entered the sect.
During the entry test, his cultivation was only at the early stage of the Aperture Opening realm.
A month later, Lin Xuan had broken through repeatedly, even crossing a major realm to reach the mid-stage of Qi Condensation.
Not to mention his mastery of various martial arts at considerable levels.
That alone was astonishing.
But now, Lin Xuan had even revealed artistic conception—formed sword intent!
The Grand Elder and Xu Anlan were both deeply shaken, unable to believe it!
Both were at the Spirit Opening realm, having comprehended one or two-tenths of artistic conception.
They knew how difficult it was to grasp artistic conception.
They themselves had only begun to comprehend formed artistic conception at the Whirlpool or Spirit Opening realm.
Even Xu Anlan, a true disciple with talent among the top in Flowing Cloud Sect, second only to the senior true disciple Liu Qianyu, had only succeeded in comprehending formed artistic conception at the mid-stage of Whirlpool after countless trials.
But Lin Xuan, at Qi Condensation, had already achieved it.
Such a vast gap made it hard for them to believe.
Yet it was happening right before their eyes, leaving them no choice but to accept.
Thus, the two Spirit Opening cultivators found themselves questioning their own lives.
After a long while, they regained some composure.
Their gazes fixed on Lin Xuan, but the shock in their hearts only grew.
Breaking through a major realm in cultivation, mastering martial arts to a profound degree, and comprehending formed artistic conception—all in such a short time—could only be attributed to exceptional talent.
This once again proved Lin Xuan's extraordinary天赋!
The Grand Elder and Xu Anlan's hearts trembled.
Though Lin Xuan's performance had repeatedly exceeded their expectations since the competition began, and they had marveled at his talent many times, even believing his talent could rank among the top of Flowing Cloud Sect, on par with true disciples like Liu Qianyu and Xu Anlan, it now seemed that even this high estimate was an underestimation!
What did it mean to comprehend formed artistic conception at Qi Condensation?
At the very least, it had never happened in the entire Flowing Cloud Sect, or even the entire Cangyuan Kingdom!
This was a record-breaking feat for Cangyuan Kingdom!
It was easy to imagine.
His talent was undoubtedly beyond everyone in Flowing Cloud Sect, even surpassing the standards of Cangyuan Kingdom!
A genius like this might even be considered top-tier in the Red Sun Domain, where Cangyuan Kingdom was located!
"Could it be that my Flowing Cloud Sect is about to produce a prodigy?"
The Grand Elder's eyes flickered, a bold thought suddenly springing to mind as he murmured.
"What?!"
Beside him, Xu Anlan was also jolted, startled.
"Impossible, impossible..."
Xu Anlan muttered, his heart pounding.
After all, in the entire Red Sun Domain, only one person could be called a prodigy!
He couldn't believe Lin Xuan would be the next.
But Lin Xuan's consistent performance seemed to suggest it wasn't impossible...