This trembling voice, no one knew where it came from, but no one cared about the source of the voice anymore, because everyone was deeply shocked by the constantly swaying green vine.
Even Jiang Yun was no exception!
However, he was not shocked by how exquisite Wu Shang’s technique was, but because Wu Shang’s wood-element technique reminded him of his grandfather, Jiang Wanli!
He used to be completely ignorant of techniques, but after personally cultivating them, he now clearly understood that although his grandfather could cast many types of techniques, the strongest and most frequently used were precisely wood-element techniques.
Both earth-element and wood-element techniques belong to Five Elements techniques, and anyone who reaches the third level of the Tongmai Realm can learn them. After Wu Shang joined the Wen Dao Sect, he was directly accepted as an Inner Sect Disciple by Five Elements Peak, so it was not surprising for him to master Five Elements techniques.
However, the Dao of techniques lies in refinement, not quantity; grasping too much will only lead to superficial understanding.
Any single technique, let alone cultivating it to its limit, requires a considerable amount of time and energy to even master proficiently.
Some Cultivators even spend their entire lives studying a single technique, which shows the complexity and subtlety of techniques.
For Cultivators who have just entered the sect, their first task is not to learn as many techniques as possible, but to choose the most suitable one for themselves first. Only after mastering it proficiently should they consider cultivating another.
Although there is no fixed standard for what constitutes proficient mastery, it at least requires the ability to cast techniques at will and for them to be in harmony with one’s own Realm, thereby allowing the technique to unleash its corresponding power.
For example, for fire-element techniques, the requirement for the third level of Tongmai Realm is merely to be able to release a palm-sized fireball, while at the fifth level of Tongmai Realm, it increases to a watermelon-sized fireball.
Jiang Yun had a deep understanding of this point.
Although he cultivated fire-element techniques and sword arts under Dongfang Bo’s suggestion, he hadn’t touched sword arts at all in the past six months, constantly studying and refining fire-element techniques. Even now, he couldn’t claim to have mastered them proficiently.
Yet, Wu Shang had only been in the Wen Dao Sect for half a year. Not only could he master two techniques simultaneously, but judging by his casual execution, he had clearly reached a level where he could cast both techniques completely at will. Such high talent in techniques was truly astonishing.
At this moment, Xu Chengshan’s Face was completely drained of color. Although he was unwilling to believe that he had lost to a newly inducted Disciple like this, the constantly swaying sharp thorn in front of him forced him to admit that he had truly lost.
“I… concede!”
As Xu Chengshan conceded, the sharp thorn immediately retracted into the vine in a strange manner, and the entire vine gradually became transparent until it completely disappeared, as if it had never appeared. Wu Shang also turned around and walked back to his original position, standing motionless.
It was evident that this match, for him, was fought without him exerting his full strength.
After another moment of silence, the spectators gradually came back to their senses.
Although this match was far from spectacular, Wu Shang’s profound skill in techniques left a shadow in everyone’s hearts. Even Xiao Yishu looked at Wu Shang with a hint of apprehension.
As for Huo Yuan, his Face was already extremely grim. He and Wu Shang had both passed the three entrance trials, and he had always considered himself to be no weaker than Wu Shang in any aspect. However, both the re-assessment and the current small competition showed the great disparity between him and Wu Shang.
Among everyone, Jiang Yun was the calmest. He had long sensed danger from Wu Shang, and Wu Shang’s current performance merely confirmed his feeling.
Next, the competition continued.
Although a new Disciple like Wu Shang had won, it did not mean that all new Disciples possessed such powerful strength. Even Lu Yourong, the female Disciple with a dual Dao Body, lost to her opponent.
The only match that still surprised everyone was Tang Yi’s.
This burly man turned out to be a rare Body Cultivator. Although he ultimately lost as well, he lasted the longest, so much so that his opponent, an Outer Sect Disciple from Tianfu Peak, won rather messily, almost using up all of his Talismans.
When all nine matches concluded, the new Disciples’ record of one win and eight losses, though somewhat unexpected, was largely within everyone’s expectations.
“Jiang Yun, Fang Ruolin!”
Finally, two names were called out by Xiao Yishu, and only then did Jiang Yun learn the name of the female Disciple who had framed Lu Xiaoyu.
The two stood in the center of the square, their eyes meeting, and silence still enveloped the surroundings.
Although everyone could already imagine the outcome of this match, they were still a bit curious as to why Jiang Yun, who could draw out three Elders and Peak Lords only to have them leave without a word, chose Fang Ruolin as his opponent.
One should know that even though Fang Ruolin was merely an Outer Sect Disciple, relying on her brother’s status, even Inner Sect Disciples had to give her some Face, and no one dared to provoke her.
This was easily discernible from Xiao Yishu’s polite attitude towards her earlier.
But did Jiang Yun not know Fang Ruolin’s identity, or did he have an even stronger reliance that dared him to proactively challenge Fang Ruolin in this small competition?
After Jiang Yun and Fang Ruolin looked at each other for a moment, Jiang Yun suddenly spoke, “You should know my purpose!”
Jiang Yun did not immediately ask about Lu Xiaoyu’s whereabouts, because he knew very well that Fang Ruolin would not admit it under the watchful eyes of everyone, as it was against the sect rules.
“I know!” Although Fang Ruolin’s Face was wreathed in smiles, the disdain in her eyes was unconcealed: “But even if I tell you now, by the time you get there, you probably won’t find anything! Moreover, why should I tell you? A mere Utility Disciple, you are not qualified to ask me questions!”
Jiang Yun’s expression suddenly darkened as he said, “Are you going to tell me or not!”
“Hehehe!” Fang Ruolin let out a series of charming laughs, extended a finger, and beckoned to Jiang Yun, saying, “Want to know? Win against me first!”
“Good!”
Jiang Yun was extremely decisive. As soon as his words fell, his figure flickered, and he had already disappeared from his original spot, appearing directly in front of Fang Ruolin. He also extended a finger, pointing towards Fang Ruolin’s throat.
This sudden scene startled the surrounding people who were still immersed in Jiang Yun and Fang Ruolin’s conversation. Even Xiao Yishu and Wu Shang showed surprise.
Because Jiang Yun’s speed was too fast!
Among so many people present, absolutely no more than One Palm’s worth could clearly see his body movement!
Although Jiang Yun did not understand how to cherish and protect women, and was filled with disgust towards Fang Ruolin, as a dignified seven-foot man, he disdained to beat a woman, so he only intended to give Fang Ruolin a small lesson.
Fang Ruolin’s expression changed, equally shocked by Jiang Yun’s speed, but her reaction was not slow either. With a flick of her wrist, a black light suddenly burst from within her body and quickly transformed into a shield, blocking in front of her and deflecting Jiang Yun’s outstretched finger.
“Hiss!”
Gasps of surprise came from the crowd. They had just been shocked by Jiang Yun’s speed, but now they were even more shocked by the shield in front of Fang Ruolin.
“A second-grade defensive Magical Artifact, the Black Armor Shield, refined from the hide of a spiny armored turtle!”
“To possess a second-grade Magical Artifact as an Outer Sect Disciple, she truly lives up to being someone’s biological sister!”
“Perhaps she has more than just this one second-grade Magical Artifact on her!”
As if to confirm their words, seeing her shield block Jiang Yun, Fang Ruolin chuckled again. A burst of purple light erupted from her finger, revealing a palm-sized purple sable that darted out from a ring on her hand, rushing towards Jiang Yun with the speed of a gale.