"This little girl also has a Spirit Root? Did I misjudge that day?"
Mu Jinyu recalled the moment just now when Wen Rou had sent her opponent flying with a single slap, that icy-cold True Yuan, he was certain he had seen it correctly.
But when the three of them joined the Heavenly Sword Faction back then, why hadn't he noticed that Wen Rou also possessed an Ice Spirit Root?
Mu Jinyu was somewhat puzzled but knew it was not the time to ask; he decided to discuss it with the Sect Leader after the Outer Sect's major exam ended.
"I yield."
Standing on the competition platform, Wen Rou bowed to her opponent, who was rubbing his chest as he stood up, then gracefully descended from the platform with a poised demeanor.
"Wow, Senior Brother Wang lost. I didn't expect her to be so formidable."
"Tsk tsk, originally, it seemed that the top three ranks of this Outer Gate major exam would surely emerge from among Brother Wu, Sister Li, Brother Chen, and the newly arrived Spirit Root prodigy, but now it seems that might not be the case."
The crowd beneath the platform watched Wen Rou descend, whispering with a look of awe on their faces.
Wen Rou's victory caused a slight stir, yet it did not bring the Outer Gate's major exam to a halt.
Soon, the disciples who drew numbers four against forty-seven, five against forty-six, and six against forty-five all successively took the stage and settled their matches.
Finally, it was time for the battle between number seven and forty-four.
Mu Jinyu was number seven.
And the one who had drawn number forty-four's pass token…
Was Wu Lei!
When Mu Jinyu and Wu Lei both stepped onto the platform, the Outer Gate square instantly erupted with an extremely enthusiastic uproar!
The atmosphere reached its boiling point!
"Wow, Brother Wu and that Spirit Root prodigy are facing each other so soon?"
"Yeah, I thought they would meet in the final showdown. Who knew they'd encounter each other in just the seventh round!"
"This is going to be a great match, let's see who is more powerful!"
"Come on, place your bets, place your bets..."
It's no wonder that the clash between Mu Jinyu and Wu Lei made the atmosphere extremely lively; everyone was surprised that the two strong competitors for first place in the Outer Gate's major exam were facing each other so early!
This major highlight of the Outer Gate's exam came much sooner than anticipated!
Mu Jinyu stood on the high platform, looking at Wu Lei not far away, showing an unsurprised expression.
He had already known his opponent would be Wu Lei.
But he didn't like the crowd below, thinking that his battle with Wu Lei would be the biggest highlight of this Outer Gate's major exam.
Because the top three experts of the Outer Gate were really too weak, not at all in his league.
"Please enlighten me!" Wu Lei said as he stood opposite Mu Jinyu, serious and bowing slightly.
"Please," Mu Jinyu replied with a bow, his expression indifferent.
"Shoo!!"
Without being courteous, Wu Lei immediately drew his sword as soon as Mu Jinyu finished speaking. The gleaming sword light, like a splash of autumn water, also hinted at a sudden, rising murderous aura!
This was the Top Yellow Grade Martial Technique Wu Lei had learned, called "Solitary Peak Sword Technique." Although it wasn't a technique of divine skills, its power wasn't far behind!
In close combat, it was even easier to seize the initiative than using techniques!
Some cultivators with Lower Profound Rank Techniques, caught off guard, could not withstand it at all. One misstep meant the end, and they would leave with regrets!
"Clang!"
When Mu Jinyu saw Wu Lei make his move, emitting a killing intent as his sword shadows flickered, a trace of faint admiration appeared on his face. He then flicked a strand of Heavenly Wood Sword Qi with his fingers, which parried the blade!
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
Wu Lei's sword did not achieve success but he did not feel disappointed. He continued to use the Solitary Peak Sword Technique, each move striking like a lone peak piercing the clouds, filled with murderous aura!
The targets of his blade were all critical parts of Mu Jinyu, truly the extreme of extremes!
Mu Jinyu's expression became slightly more serious at this, the admiration in his eyes grew stronger, but his move was still the initial variation of the Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi, blocking the sword strikes!
At this stage, he didn't have any suitable weapons to hand, except for the Dragon Bone Bracelet Magic Treasure which was barely usable. However, he did not want to use his strength to bully the weaker.
Thus, during the duel with Wu Lei, he did not use this magic treasure and suppressed his cultivation from the Sixth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm to the hidden Fourth Layer he currently retained!
He wanted a fair duel with Wu Lei!
"Clang!!"
In a few exchanges, Mu Jinyu and Wu Lei had sparred for several rounds, with Wu Lei having executed all the major moves of the Solitary Peak Sword Technique!
Seeing that he couldn't get the better of Mu Jinyu, he withdrew and stood at the edge of the competition platform, laughing out loud:
"Hahaha, good, worthy of being a genius with a Spirit Root. You've only been in the Heavenly Sword Faction for barely over ten days, and yet you've already mastered the Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi to the initial stage, impressive indeed!"
As he spoke, Wu Lei's tone shifted, his expression became solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "However, next, I must get serious. I hope… you can still parry my sword!"
After finishing, he took out another sword from his storage bag, holding one in each hand, and rushed toward Mu Jinyu!
"Swoosh!!"
Wu Lei charged close to Mu Jinyu, his right-hand sword straightforwardly stabbing at Mu Jinyu's throat, while his left-hand sword aimed a blow at Mu Jinyu's waist, both moves appearing to be ordinary without any martial techniques.
Yet, these two strokes caused Lin Feng, Elder Cheng, Jian Ruyan, and Li Xiaoxiao and Chen Qiuqiao's expressions to change!
"Is this… Sword Intent?!"
"Wu Lei has actually mastered Sword Intent?"
Lin Feng's eyes showed surprise as he exclaimed.
"And not just that!" Elder Cheng's face also showed shock, "He has mastered Sword Intent in both sword techniques!"
Jian Ruyan, who always practiced swordsmanship, saw at first glance the dual Sword Intent in Wu Lei's twin swords. After a slight surprise, she didn't take it to heart.
After all, Mu Jinyu had never seriously fought Wu Lei!
The common Outer Sect Disciples below, whose eyesight couldn't compare to Lin Feng and the others, only realized after Wu Lei rushed close to Mu Jinyu and his Sword Intent truly erupted, that Brother Wu's execution of these two major moves actually contained Sword Intent!
They watched as Wu Lei's right-hand sword, executing a move from the Solitary Peak Sword Technique, directly stabbed at Mu Jinyu's throat, emanating a murderous intent that seemed to reach the skies.
It made everyone momentarily feel as if they were witnessing the astonishing sight of a lone peak piercing the clouds!
Meanwhile, his left-hand sword, aimed waist-high at Mu Jinyu, executed a Lower Profound Rank Quality Martial Technique called the Cloud Sea Sword Technique, also reinforced by Sword Intent!
Wu Lei's left-hand sword slowly moved toward Mu Jinyu's waist in a gentle motion, unlike the extreme danger of the Solitary Peak Sword Technique, making everyone feel as if they were watching layers of cloud sea converging towards a solitary peak!
"Incredible, he actually merged the extremely perilous Solitary Peak Sword Technique with the smooth as water Cloud Sea Sword Technique so perfectly, truly a Sword Dao genius!"
Lin Feng could not help but exclaim in admiration.
"Although Mu Jinyu has only taken about ten days to achieve initial insight into the Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi, facing Wu Lei's perfectly merged dual Sword Intents, he might be in trouble if he doesn't have other measures!"
Elder Cheng's expression was solemn as he spoke in a low voice.