Mike's lightness skill was getting faster and faster. At this moment, he was not far from Baiku Mountain, and he began to leave the others behind one by one.
As the number of people ahead of him dwindled, Mike's excitement grew.
He had originally only hoped to make it into the top thousand and walk away with some silver, but who would have thought that he had made it this far.
Although his methods were somewhat dishonorable,
he couldn't care about that now.
As a martial artist, Mike's heart was burning with excitement. He was already in the top ten, and there were only three or four people ahead of him. If he could beat them, he might even have a chance at first place!
If he won first place in the Taixuan Holy Land's assessment, how much silver would they give him?
Fifty thousand taels?
Or maybe a hundred thousand?
With that much money, his junior disciples would never go hungry again, they'd have meat to eat!
"This little Taoist is fast! The Daoist Sect has such a powerful technique!"
At that moment, Jiang Nanyan, who was in third place, saw Mike about to overtake her. She frowned and was about to act.
However, just as she was about to make a move, she suddenly heard a voice in her ear: "Do not interfere!"
The voice was urgent.
Jiang Nanyan froze for a moment. Then she saw Mike overtake her.
"Father's voice?"
She didn't understand why her father didn't want her to act against this little Taoist.
He was only a fifth-grade martial artist, and she, the noble daughter of the Jiang family, couldn't possibly be unable to deal with him, right?
Seeing that Jiang Nanyan allowed Mike to pass, Jiang Yan, who was watching from Taixuan Holy Land's plaza, let out a sigh of relief.
The elders of the Jiang family standing behind him also wiped their cold sweat.
"It's good that the young lady didn't act. If she did..."
They didn't dare to continue the thought. If Jiang Nanyan had acted and Mike had used his Seven-Treasure Gourd to absorb her clothes, how would she face the world?
What would happen to her marriage prospects?
The Jiang family would be thoroughly embarrassed.
The second place was held by a disciple from the Sword Sect, who, just as he was about to act against Mike, was also stopped by his family elders!
Mike felt extremely fortunate that these two hadn't acted against him.
He didn't want to waste another chance with the Seven-Treasure Gourd.
Mike clicked his tongue and, thinking about Jiang Nanyan, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"One more person."
Seeing Lu Tianxing ahead, Mike's eyes burned with excitement.
He now had a chance to fight for first place!
That meant he needed to give it a try.
What if he could actually win?
"First place will definitely reward more silver!"
Filled with determination, Mike moved even faster, using his Yubu Nine Stars technique to push forward as fast as a shooting star.
The speed was so fast that it seemed to surpass his usual limits!
Even his fifth-grade cultivation was showing signs of breaking through to the sixth-grade.
"Hmm?"
Lu Tianxing, who had been leading since the beginning, suddenly felt a presence behind him.
He was shocked.
He had always been in the lead, and his body technique was ranked among the best. Yet now, someone was catching up to him?
Instinctively, Lu Tianxing turned his head to see who it was. When he saw it was just a mere fifth-grade Taoist priest, his expression became one of disbelief.
"A mere fifth-grade? And he's catching up?"
Why was no one acting against this little Taoist?
"Tianxing, be careful!"
At that moment, a voice from the elders of Taixuan Holy Land came to Lu Tianxing's ear: "That man has a strange artifact on his waist. Do not underestimate him!"
"Artifact?"
Lu Tianxing looked closely and saw the gourd at Mike's waist.
"Hmph, a mere Seven-Treasure Gourd. It's only an artifact used by a fifth-grade martial artist. What threat could it possibly pose?"
Lu Tianxing scoffed, dismissing Mike as a mere fifth-grade Taoist.
At this moment, Lu Tianxing stood on a stone wall at the edge of a cliff, and his battle axe flew out from behind him, freeing itself from its rope!
The sound of the axe echoed through the valley.
Behind him, a giant shadow appeared, as if a massive figure were looming over him, the aura sweeping in all directions.
"Fourth level of the Pan Axe Technique!"
Outside the arena, many experts were stunned.
"At such a young age, he has already mastered the fourth level of the Pan Axe Technique. No wonder the Taixuan Holy Master got the Brahma Axe for him."
One expert realized the situation.
It turned out that the other disciples of their sect were merely a backdrop.
Taixuan Holy Land wanted to build up their most talented disciple.
Everyone quickly understood Taixuan's plan, but they only dared to feel angry, not speak out. Taixuan Holy Land was simply too powerful.
At this moment, all eyes were on Mike. Everyone hoped that he would strike and make Taixuan Holy Land lose face.
But they knew it wouldn't be easy.
Lu Tianxing was simply too outstanding. His cultivation had reached the ninth grade, and compared to him, Mike's Seven-Treasure Gourd may not even have an effect!
As Mike moved forward, he suddenly felt an overwhelming force ahead, as if a gigantic wave was approaching him. The pressure made it feel as though he were facing some ancient beast!
"So strong!"
Mike was shocked.
If Lu Tianxing's axe hit him, he wouldn't just be dead—he might lose half of his life!
Instinctively, Mike reached for the Seven-Treasure Gourd at his waist.
"You won't get the chance."
At that moment, Lu Tianxing stepped forward, using his advanced footwork, while his battle axe came crashing down with terrifying force!
The huge axe beam came down like a comet!
The speed was incredible!
So fast that Mike didn't even have time to use his Seven-Treasure Gourd.
"I'm finished."
Mike knew that facing this level of power, he was done for.
"My things are not for anyone to touch."
Lu Tianxing's eyes were cold as he wielded his battle axe with intense battle lust.
"Boom!"
The axe beam struck with earth-shattering force, and the sheer pressure from the true Qi split the earth beneath them.
The disciples behind all turned pale, knowing they were no match for Lu Tianxing.
Just when Mike thought he was done, the Vajra Talisman in his body suddenly vibrated!
A golden light enveloped him, and the talisman's power surged. Lu Tianxing's axe hit the golden light, but despite the terrifying force, the golden light didn't break, and Mike wasn't harmed!
"What!"
Lu Tianxing's face changed as he felt as though his axe had struck metal!
No, it was harder than steel!
"What is that?!"
The experts in the Taixuan Holy Land plaza were equally astonished.
What was that golden light? How could it block Lu Tianxing's axe?
They realized that Mike, a mere fifth-grade martial artist, had withstood this blow without a scratch!
How was that possible?
"Daoist Talisman?"
Several Taixuan Holy Land elders suddenly stood up.
They recognized it immediately: the golden light was a Daoist talisman!
However, since the Daoist sect had fallen, the power of their talismans had greatly diminished, and they had been phased out long ago. It had been many years since such talismans had appeared in the world. To see one on Mike was shocking, and even more so that a small talisman could withstand an attack from Lu Tianxing!
"Who drew this talisman?"
They wondered if some great master had emerged from the Daoist Sect.
"The Vajra Talisman worked?"
Mike was completely stunned.
He thought the Vajra Talisman was just a keepsake from Mike (Li Hanzhou), but it had actually stopped Lu Tianxing's strike?
How was that possible?
"How did my master do this?" Mike wondered.
But now was not the time to think about this. Seizing the opportunity while Lu Tianxing was stunned, Mike raised the Seven-Treasure Gourd and shouted: "Absorb!"
A gust of wind blew!
Lu Tianxing stumbled, his battle axe flying out of his hands, straight into the Seven-Treasure Gourd!
"Tianxing, run!"
At that moment, the Taixuan Holy Land elders urgently shouted into Lu Tianxing's ear.
"Run?"
Lu Tianxing scoffed.
"Even if my weapon is taken, I'm not afraid of a mere fifth-grade! Once the talisman's power fades, I can crush him with my fists!"
**"I, Lu Tianxing, am unyielding.