Lu Yi didn't take long to arrive at the Martial Arena area.
The entire area was immense, spanning several kilometers. It was a massive plaza paved with dark blue stone slabs. Scattered throughout the plaza were various platforms where Outer Sect disciples sparred.
In the central area of the Martial Arena, there was an even larger platform known as the Central Platform. Generally, life-and-death duels and important competitions were held on this platform.
At the moment, many people were practicing techniques on the Martial Arena plaza. With so many Outer Sect disciples around, some preferred to train alone in peace, while others liked to practice in crowded places. After all, if one encountered difficulties during training, they could discuss and exchange ideas with their peers. There were many people of this sort.
Moreover, even solitary cultivators would come to the Martial Arena to spar with others when they reached a bottleneck to enhance their insights.
As soon as Lu Yi entered the Martial Arena, a Qi Cultivation Third Layer disciple practicing swordsmanship at the side glanced at him and suddenly froze. He widened his eyes and then greeted, "Brother Lu Yi? Brother Lu Yi, why are you at the Martial Arena?"
Lu Yi smiled slightly, "I felt inspired after the lecture and wanted to find someone to spar with."
Speaking, Lu Yi stepped into the plaza of the Martial Arena. The Qi Cultivation Third Layer disciple's eyes brightened. He was also a sword practitioner—maybe he could learn something from Brother Lu Yi's sparring?
Swordsmanship at the Returning True level! When the sword techniques were demonstrated during the lecture, only the disciples on the platform could see them. The tens of thousands of Outer Sect disciples below the platform were all deprived of this sight. They also wanted to witness such powerful swordsmanship, but unfortunately, their strength was insufficient at the time.
But who could have imagined that Brother Lu Yi would actually come to the Martial Arena to spar! Wasn't this a godsend opportunity?
The disciple quickly followed.
The conversation between Lu Yi and this Outer Sect disciple was also overheard by a few other Outer Sect disciples nearby, who also started discussing.
"Brother Lu Yi... Is he the one who cultivated the White Cloud Sword Technique to the Returning True Realm and won the approval of Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang?"
"It's him! I never thought he'd come to the Martial Arena; I have to go and see. Maybe I'll gain some insights!"
"Brother Lu Yi is so generous... During the lecture's basic technique demonstration, we couldn't see anything, but now we also have a chance to witness it."
"..."
The buzz spread, and many disciples followed Lu Yi into the Martial Arena.
Like on White Sun Peak, in the core areas close to the center of the Martial Arena, it was predominantly the more powerful Outer Sect disciples who trained. Lu Yi just had to keep walking inward.
Before long, Lu Yi saw a familiar face approaching. It was Wang Xinqi, who he had sparred with on the platform earlier. Unexpectedly, he was also here.
"Junior Brother Lu Yi, I heard the commotion outside and realized it was you who came. I never thought you'd come to the Martial Arena," Wang Xinqi said with a smile.
"So it's Senior Brother Wang Xinqi. I've had some insights recently and wanted to find someone to spar with."
Hadn't he just found an opponent? Lu Yi was pleased.
He silently mused, "I want to defeat Wang Xinqi."
The panel remained silent, showing no reaction and no display of a task.
Hmm? Why was there no task? Lu Yi was a bit confused.
He clearly had two Perfect-Grade Qi Condensation Elixirs before; why was there no task showing this time?
Soon, Lu Yi thought of something, and his face became strange. Could it be because his strength had increased too quickly?
After all, Lu Yi had advanced to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, and his White Cloud Sword Technique and White Cloud Skill had both improved to level 7. His strength was worlds apart from two days ago.
According to the panel's assessment, the gap between him and Wang Xinqi was too wide, making it reasonable that his matchup wasn't counted as a task.
This had to be the only explanation.
Lu Yi scratched his head. It seemed he needed to find a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator to spar with to get a reward?
Luckily, Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivators posed no threat to him.
Wang Xinqi didn't know what Lu Yi was thinking, but his eyes lit up. "Sparring? In that case, shall we spar, Junior Brother? I happen to have some new understandings."
Hearing this, Lu Yi felt a bit helpless. Without a reward, why should he spar? Senior Brother Wang Xinqi was too weak for him. He'd have to consider his senior's pride and avoid defeating him in an instant, which felt like a waste of time.
Lu Yi smiled slightly and let his aura of the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer spread out.
"Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer?!" Wang Xinqi's eyes widened in shock.
Then, he looked envious. "I didn't expect you to break through, Junior Brother. Right, Senior Sister Liu gave you a bottle of Top-grade Qi Condensation Elixir previously."
At this, Wang Xinqi sighed and shook his head. "I wasn't your match when you were at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer... and now..."
Wang Xinqi dropped the idea of sparring, making Lu Yi feel at ease.
Wang Xinqi continued, "With your current strength, Junior Brother, it seems that sparring only with Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer elders and seniors will yield results. Incidentally, there are two of my fellow disciples inside who are both at Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. How about you come with me?"
Lu Yi's eyes lit up. Did he not even have to search for an opponent?
He nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Senior Brother."
"Hahaha, you're too polite, Junior Brother. Those two senior brothers speak highly of you and have long wanted to meet you," Wang Xinqi said.
Lu Yi nodded, and the two walked inward together.
Soon, Wang Xinqi led Lu Yi to a platform where two young men were sitting cross-legged, discussing Dao. Both had long swords on their backs, indicating they were sword cultivators.
Lu Yi looked at their faces but found them unfamiliar. After all, there were about a thousand people on the platform then, and Lu Yi wouldn't intentionally remember everyone.
Wang Xinqi brought Lu Yi over, and the two young men sensed their arrival and turned to look.
Seeing Lu Yi, their expressions changed slightly, and they stood up.
The handsome young man on the left smiled and said, "Junior Brother Lu also came?"
The more robust young man on the right grinned broadly, "I knew something good was going to happen today. Turns out it was meeting Junior Brother Lu."
"Greetings, Senior Brothers," Lu Yi said with a smile.
Wang Xinqi introduced, "This is Brother Lu Ling, and this is Brother Wang Wulian. Both are at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer and ranked in the top hundred of the Outer Sect."
Then he looked at the handsome young man and said, "Brother Lu, Junior Brother Lu has broken through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer and wants to find someone to spar with. Are you interested, Senior Brothers?"
"Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer?!" The handsome young man, Lu Ling, widened his eyes and looked at Lu Yi in surprise.
Wang Wulian, thinking of something, looked enviously, "Senior Sister Liu gave Junior Brother a bottle of Top-grade Qi Condensation Elixir on the platform earlier, and it seems to have been very useful."
Lu Yi grinned, "Senior Sister Liu is very kind."
He silently mused, "I want to defeat Lu Ling."
[Task]:
Defeat Lu Ling (Progress: 0/1)
Reward: Top-grade Qi Condensation Elixir*10/Perfect-Grade Qi Condensation Elixir*1
Accept: Yes/No
Lu Yi: "..."
His feelings were complicated: On the one hand, he was happy to finally have a task. On the other hand, even Lu Ling at Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer was only worth one Perfect-Grade Qi Condensation Elixir? What a pity!