On the viewing platform of Yunlou.

“Senior Brother, wasn’t Ji Wuyou also a disciple of the mountain in the past?” Zhao Linglong looked at Qingxiao with a worried expression.

“Yes, Ji Wuyou was once a disciple of the Fourth Peak, but he killed a fellow disciple in a dispute over a spiritual herb, resulting in the loss of most of his cultivation and expulsion from the Fourth Peak,” Qingxiao said with a solemn expression.

In fact, he hadn’t finished his sentence, which was that Ji Wuyou was actually one of the most watched disciples in the selection of the Seven Peaks. But to avoid causing too much worry to Zhao Linglong, he didn’t say it out loud.

“Didn’t they say that the selection of the Seven Peaks cannot use techniques above the Profound level? Why was Ji Wuyou able to use the Sword Control Technique without any obstruction?” Zhao Linglong asked again.

“That’s not the Sword Control Technique, it’s the technique of using qi to control the sword, which is completely different from using the soul to control the sword. It’s just that Ji Wuyou’s outstanding talent makes it look like he’s using the Sword Control Technique,” Zi Yan, who was sitting next to Zhao Linglong, answered.

“Senior Brother, isn’t Ji Wuyou the disciple that our First Peak wants to recruit this time?” Ye Xuan suddenly spoke up from the front.

Upon hearing this, Jin Hezhi also smiled and nodded, then turned back to Zhao Linglong and said with a smile, “Linglong, the little guy you know doesn’t seem to have much luck.”

“You said the same thing in the last match,” Zhao Linglong gave Jin Hezhi a white eye.

Jin Hezhi’s mouth twitched a few times at the words, then he snorted and said, “If you don’t believe me, then just watch carefully. In the next match, Xu Taiping is going to suffer.”

“The match begins!”

Just then, the voice of the invigilator on the platform boomed through the Sword Control Platform with a voice transmission talisman, and Ji Wuyou and Qi Bairi’s auras suddenly exploded.

“Clang!”

Following that, a sword cry suddenly rang out, and the flying sword that had been circling around Ji Wuyou suddenly flew out, piercing straight towards Qi Bairi.

Qi Bairi’s weapon was two huge bronze hammers. Seeing the flying sword coming, he immediately swung one of the huge bronze hammers, aiming to smash it.

Perhaps due to the use of qi to control the sword, the flying speed of the sword was not particularly fast, so Qi Bairi’s hammer was almost certain to hit.

“Clang!”

But just as the bronze hammer was about to hit the flying sword, Ji Wuyou’s other hand suddenly and quickly formed a seal, then he shouted, “Wind, come!”

As soon as the words fell, a gust of wind suddenly swept past Qi Bairi, causing his body to sway violently, and the bronze hammer in his hand lost its aim.

“Swish!”

At the moment when Qi Bairi’s body swayed.

The flying sword controlled by Ji Wuyou made a sound of breaking through the air, and with a flash of light, it cut off Qi Bairi’s arm that was holding the hammer.

“Ah!”

Qi Bairi screamed in pain.

Ji Wuyou, on the other hand, smiled and looked excited as he said, “I warned you to surrender earlier. Since you’re so uncooperative, I’ll take another one of your arms!”

As he spoke, the hand he used to control the flying sword suddenly pressed down with his index and middle fingers.

“Clang!”

Another sword cry rang out through the air.

The flying sword circling above Qi Bairi’s head suddenly flew down like a streak of light, and with a “swish,” it cut off Qi Bairi’s other arm.

“Ah!…”

Qi Bairi let out another scream, then knelt down in fear, begging for mercy, “I surrender, I surrender…”

“Swish!”

His plea for mercy was abruptly cut off by a sound of breaking through the air.

The flying sword controlled by Ji Wuyou pierced through Qi Bairi’s throat.

“Bang!”

Qi Bairi’s body fell to the ground on the platform.

For a moment, the whole place was in an uproar.

Some were discussing Ji Wuyou’s swordsmanship and spells, while others were commenting on Ji Wuyou’s cruel methods.

After all, in a situation where the opponent’s arms were both disabled and the victory was already certain, there was no need to kill.

Ji Wuyou didn’t care about the criticism, he just stepped to the edge of the platform, then looked down at Xu Taiping from above and said, “It’s your turn.”

…

“Not only is he proficient in using qi to control the sword, but he also has a strong talent in spells, and he is ruthless. This kind of person is born for cultivation,” Jin Hezhi said slowly while swaying the folding fan in his hand on the Yunlou.

Zhao Linglong bit her lip and said nothing.

Qingxiao and Zi Yan fell into contemplation.

“You should go and advise that kid to stop while he’s ahead. Leave the mountain and come back after three years of cultivation outside,” Jin Hezhi turned to Zhao Linglong and the others and said.

To be honest, both Zhao Linglong and Qingxiao had this idea.

Especially Qingxiao, he knew more about Ji Wuyou’s past cultivation and strength than Zhao Linglong did. Even if his cultivation was abolished and he started over, his methods would not be something that ordinary outer disciples could deal with.

“Sister.”

Qingxiao looked at Zhao Linglong, as if seeking her opinion.

“Senior Brother, it’s just one more match. Little Taiping will be able to secure the position of a formal disciple after one more match.”Zhao Linglong felt a sense of injustice on behalf of Xu Taiping.

“Xu Taiping will never agree.”

Lin Buyu, who had been silent from the beginning, suddenly spoke up.

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone’s gaze turned towards him.

Even Ye Xuan, who had always worn a look of arrogance, turned his head.

Lin Buyu, as if oblivious to the stares, closed the book in his hand, lifted his head to look towards the arena below, and then said to himself:

“If he were truly afraid of death, he wouldn’t be standing here at all.”

Upon hearing this, Qingxiao was initially startled, then nodded and said:

“That’s right.”

As the saying goes, concern leads to chaos.

If it weren’t for Lin Buyu’s reminder, he would have almost forgotten that Xu Taiping was now a cultivator, and facing life and death was the first step on the path of cultivation.

“Yes, Buyu is right. Since Taiping has embarked on the path of cultivation, every step he takes from now on should be his own choice.”

Zhao Linglong suddenly clapped her hands to her cheeks with a “smack,” then suppressed the worry in her heart and once again focused her gaze on the arena below.

“Nice words, but a person only has one life. Once it’s gone, everything is gone.”

Jin Hezhi sneered, then turned his head and leisurely started to fan himself with his folding fan.

Ye Xuan gave Lin Buyu a deep look, then turned away, locking his gaze on Xu Taiping in the stands and muttered under his breath, “Xu Taiping, what an unpleasant name.”

…

A stick of incense later.

Sword Control Platform.

“In this match, Xu Taiping versus Ji Wuyou. The victor will receive the first spot in the Seventh Peak selection, earning the right to challenge the Seventh Peak and be chosen as an official disciple.”

As the proctor announced, Xu Taiping and Ji Wuyou walked onto the platform from opposite sides.

Because this match would determine the first spot, the disciples from the Seventh Peak in the Cloud Pavilion stopped their jesting and watched the platform with serious expressions.

And on the southern side of the Sword Control Tower, atop the largest nine-story Cloud Pavilion, several incredibly powerful auras were spreading out.

Clearly, the Peak Masters of the Seventh Peak, the head of the Qingxuan Sect, and several Elders had all taken their seats.

“Carrying so many knives, are you planning to cook on the stage?”

Ji Wuyou glanced at the three long knives inserted on each side of Xu Taiping’s waist and asked with a squinting smile.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Xu Taiping tightened the rope around his waist that was used to secure the knives.