Chapter 17

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Chapter 17: Sword Piercing Cloud Shadows

Lou Fei had always been arrogant and aloof, his temperament somewhat similar to Lin Yuehua\’s. Today, before so many people, he had actually had his arm broken by Lou Yun. For him, this was an utter humiliation, a disgrace he absolutely could not swallow. So, he no longer cared about violating any family rules; the sole thought in his mind now was to kill Lou Yun!

\"Stop! Lou Fei!\"

It was Lou Qian\’s voice. She was the fastest to react, trying to shout and stop Lou Fei. However, the current Lou Fei couldn\’t possibly hear anyone else. He charged towards Lou Yun without slowing his speed.

Around the arena platform were the four clansmen Lou Tianzhi had assigned for safety. But they too were immersed in shock, completely failing to snap back to reality. By the time they remembered their duty and tried to intervene, it was already too late.

Lou Fei\’s sudden violent outburst naturally caused an uproar throughout the venue. Whether it was the observing guests or the Lou Family elders, their expressions all shifted slightly. They could clearly sense that Lou Fei was now unleashing all the spiritual energy he possessed as a primary three-star magical weapons master.

Liu Chi\’s face was like water, cold as he stated, \"He truly intends to kill Lou Yun!\"

Lou Tianming had already stood up nervously. Though he wanted to save his son, he was essentially useless now, unable to help at all.

Even if his cultivation were intact, the distance was too great for him to do anything. Lou Tianzhi also stood up, but only watched the arena platform intently with furious eyes.

The only one who reacted was Xu Yangteng. He tightly gripped his own magical weapon, the Silver Moon Bow. The bowstring vibrated intensely as a Silver Moon Arrow had just left the string, shooting towards Lou Fei. He wouldn\’t hesitate because of Lou Fei\’s status; in his eyes, there was only his little brother Lou Yun. So, to save Lou Yun, killing Lou Fei wouldn\’t make him bat an eyelid.

It was precisely because of this that Xu Yangteng\’s arrow truly earned him a powerful enemy!

Though he had acted, his strength wasn\’t particularly high, and his reaction time was a bit slow. Thus, the arrow didn\’t hit Lou Fei, instead flying past the back of his head.

Finally, Lou Fei reached behind Lou Yun. He roared, \"Low-tier moon-grade technique – Venomous Python Slash!\"

The weapon spirit power emanating from the Golden Python Blade suddenly transformed into a colossal golden python. Its jaws wide open, four venomous fangs ready to devour prey viciously bit towards Lou Yun\’s head.

Lou Yun\’s six senses were far sharper than an ordinary person\’s. So, even though his back was still turned to Lou Fei, he was acutely aware of Lou Fei\’s every move.

Feeling the powerful currents stirred by the Golden Python Blade slicing through the air ruffle his hair, Lou Yun abruptly raised his head. A flash of icy killing intent passed through his bright, star-like eyes.

\"Star-tier upper-level weapon technique, Sword Dance of Wind and Thunder\’s Sword Piercing Cloud Shadows!\"

Lou Yun didn\’t even turn his head. His left hand gripped the hilt in a reversed grip, drew the sword from its sheath, and simultaneously thrust backwards at an extremely bizarre, slanting angle.

One sword thrust, cloud shadows scattered!

The Stone Sword pierced with uncanny precision directly into the golden python\’s open maw!

\"Ah!\"

Another agonized scream erupted from Lou Fei\’s mouth. Because the golden python was fundamentally formed from the weapon spirit power contained within his Golden Python Blade, Lou Yun\’s sword thrust was equivalent to piercing directly through the entire blade. Moreover, since he held the blade with his left hand, the Stone Sword\’s tip simultaneously pierced into his left palm and drove straight through his arm.

Earlier, Lou Yun had broken Lou Fei\’s right arm with brute force. Now, with a weapon technique, he had crippled Lou Fei\’s left arm. In the span of mere moments, both of Lou Fei\’s arms were rendered useless!

Even so, Lou Yun had held back. Because Sword Piercing Cloud Shadows, this sword thrust, was the most domineering move within the star-tier upper-level weapon technique Sword Dance of Wind and Thunder, newly taught to him by Chang Xiang. While piercing the target, the intense vibration of the sword blade could also unleash an explosive force comparable to the damage caused by a high-tier moon-grade technique!

If Lou Yun had truly shown no mercy, Lou Fei\’s fate wouldn\’t have been merely a ruined left arm. He would have ended up far more wretched than Lou Tianming, and even his magical weapon might have been blasted to dust.

Lou Yun gazed coldly at Lou Fei, curled up on the ground from excruciating pain. He steadily returned the sword to its sheath with a reverse motion of his hand and turned to walk down from the arena platform.

Once off the platform, Lou Yun subtly retracted his arm into his sleeve, hiding the trembling. Since this sword thrust was so domineering, the consumption of spiritual energy was naturally immense. With the amount of spiritual energy currently in his body, he could use it at most once a day. So now, he too was at his limit.

The entire venue once again fell into absolute silence!

Earlier, Lou Yun hadn\’t used a weapon technique. He had merely relied on the Stone Sword and his own strength to break Lou Fei\’s arm. And Lou Fei, due to underestimating his opponent, hadn\’t had a chance to use a technique. Strictly speaking, it couldn\’t be said that Lou Fei\’s strength was inferior to Lou Yun\’s. But now, Lou Fei had unreservedly unleashed his full power, executing his proud weapon technique. Yet, his outcome was an even more miserable defeat.

In other words, the true strength possessed by Lou Yun, who currently couldn\’t even manifest a magical weapon, had already surpassed that of a primary three-star magical weapons master!

This speed of cultivation couldn\’t be described as merely fast; it could only be called a miracle.

In the VIP seats, Liu Ruyan lowered the hand she had covered her mouth with in shock. She glanced back at her uncle and whispered, \"Uncle, half a year ago… was he truly… trash?\"

Six months ago, he was still the waste everyone acknowledged him to be, yet now he possessed strength surpassing that of a primary three-star magical weapons master. This was truly unacceptable to all!

Liu Chi also shook his head in bewilderment. He looked toward Lou Tianming and said, \"Master Lou, was the weapon technique your young master executed earlier taught by you?\"

The weapon technique Lou Yun had just displayed indeed wielded overwhelming power. Most remarkably, that sword strike had been clean, precise, without the slightest hesitation—a perfect one-strike victory.

While Lou Tianming inwardly cheered, he too pondered this question. To his knowledge, among the weapon manuals housed by the Lou Family, those for the sword, though the most numerous, were capped at high-tier star-grade. None should possess such devastating might!

\"It was not I who taught him,\" Lou Tianming replied. \"Some time ago, I was injured and lay unconscious. I have yet to fully recover, so I honestly do not know from whom he learned this weapon technique.\"

Deep down, however, Lou Tianming was almost certain there must be someone guiding Lou Yun from the shadows. Otherwise, even with Lou Yun’s innate talent, he couldn’t possibly achieve his current strength solely through his own exploration.

Liu Chi didn\’t doubt Lou Tianming\’s words. He too believed that even Lou Tianzhi, the strongest in the Lou Family now, could never have produced a disciple like Lou Yun.

A glint of sharp light flashed in Liu Chi’s eyes before a smile spread across his face. \"This trip was indeed not wasted. Now we shall see what Ruyan thinks.\"

As for others—members from the other two prominent families of Lingjiang City, the Lin Family and the Wang Family—they whispered among themselves: \"This Lou Yun is truly a freak. We must closely monitor his movements henceforth. He is very likely to become the next clan head of the Lou Family, a formidable rival to our own clans.\"

\"Astonishing! Think about it—without even a magical weapon, or even with one, it’s impossible to advance to primary three-star… no, his strength now might even have reached the beginner four-star level! If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I truly wouldn\’t dare believe it!\"

The eldest son of the Lin Family, Lin Yuehua, didn’t join his family’s chatter. A shadow passed through his heart as he recalled his boast to Lou Yun half a year prior—warning Lou Yun to prepare to be taught a lesson during the soon-to-come duel between the three clans. Now, it seemed he would be the one receiving the lesson when the time came.

Meanwhile, Lou Runhuo and Lou Tianlei rushed onto the platform. They helped Lou Fei, whose arms had been rendered useless, to his feet, hastily examined his injuries, and shot venomous glares at Lou Yun.

They could only glare, however. Lou Fei had been the instigator, so even if Lou Yun had killed him, family rules forbade any retaliation. Of course, given the character of Lou Runshui and his son, they wouldn’t simply accept this humiliation. Open revenge was off-limits, but opportunities for secret retribution might yet arise.

After clansmen carried Lou Fei away for treatment, Lou Tianzhi finally stepped onto the platform to declare the Lou Family\’s changing ceremony concluded.

Just as he was about to speak, Lou Yun leaped onto the platform once more. Sinking to both knees with a loud thud, he knelt before Lou Tianzhi. \"Clan Head,\" he said respectfully but boldly, \"Yun\’er presumes to make an additional, perhaps improper, request.\"

Lou Yun’s sudden action and words startled Lou Tianzhi, leaving him momentarily puzzled about the boy’s intentions. He quickly nodded, however, saying, \"Rise and speak, Yun\’er.\"

Lou Yun stood, meeting Lou Tianzhi’s gaze. After a pause, he stated, \"Clan Head, I just heard Sister Qian is soon to depart for the Ancient Weapon Academy. Therefore, Yun\’er requests that the clan head arrange for me to undergo the family test… so I may earn the clan’s recognition and the qualification to study at the Ancient Weapon Academy.\"

As these words fell, a murmur swept through the entire assembly. Everyone knew the prestige of the Ancient Weapon Academy—everyone wished to enter. Had this request come from the old Lou Yun, it would have invited only mockery. Now, however, not a soul dared laugh. Many silently agreed that Lou Yun truly possessed the strength to attend the academy.

Most believed Lou Yun sought the academy to further his cultivation studies. Only Lou Tianzhi grasped his real motive: to urgently seek a way to restore his father’s damaged magical weapon.

Lou Tianzhi’s expression remained kind. \"Yun\’er,\" he said, \"I understand your feelings. But clan recognition isn’t solely my decision. Moreover, the Ancient Weapon Academy only enrolls students twice a year. The first session has concluded. If you wish to go, you must wait for the second enrollment in half a year. Rest assured, I will recommend you then.\"

Disappointment flickered across Lou Yun’s face. He hadn’t known about the academy’s enrollment restrictions. Still, he trusted his Second Uncle wouldn’t deceive him. Waiting half a year seemed his only option now. \"Understood, Yun\’er,\" he replied softly.

At that moment, Liu Chi rose with a genial smile. \"Clan Head Lou,\" he addressed Lou Tianzhi, \"forgive me, but I too have a presumptuous request.\"

Liu Chi was not merely a guest; he also represented the Spirit Weapon Sect. Naturally, Lou Tianzhi wouldn’t refuse him. \"Please speak freely, Master Liu,\" he replied, smiling.

Liu Chi swept his gaze over the gathered crowd. \"We journeyed far to witness the talents of your esteemed clan,\" he began warmly. \"And your members did not disappoint—we truly witnessed remarkable sights. Yet I believe most present, myself included, still feel they haven’t seen enough.\"

\"Having just heard Lou Yun’s desire to enter the Ancient Weapon Academy,\" he continued, \"and knowing the Spirit Weapon Sect shares some rapport with the academy, I propose this: as the saying goes, \’No day is better for doing something than the very day it occurs.\’ Why not have Lou Yun undertake your family’s qualifying test today? Should he earn your clan’s certification, I shall offer my personal guarantee to the academy. This way, he need not undergo the academy’s separate entrance test. He could simply enroll directly when the term commences in half a year! What say you?\"