“Congratulations.”
“You have received a Spotlight in the open tournament.”
“This spotlight has brought you a special reward.”
As these small characters appeared, the “Qi Refiner’s Combat Preparation Room” automatically opened.
A brand-new shelf appeared before Xu Yuan’s eyes.
Corresponding prompts lit up:
“You earned a spotlight in the competition.”
“With this performance, you may currently perform an ‘upgrade’ on a piece of equipment or a skill.”
“Current options are:”
“Qiong Jia Sword, Yan Ge Sword Technique, Flying Eaves Movement Technique, Cun Quan.”
“Please choose.”
“After choosing, place it on the ‘Upgrade Shelf’ and wait a few seconds to complete the process.”
—Equipment upgrades made sense.
But skills could be upgraded too?
Xu Yuan marveled inwardly, looking around without revealing anything on his face.
By now, everyone had already taken refuge in the subway station.
Jiang Xueyao was actually proficient in formations as well.
She was currently setting up small buffer-type formations for some pregnant women, elderly, and children.
Zhao Afei was crouched before a middle-aged man with a broken leg. Having just finished examining his condition, he was now pulling pills from a gourd.
A white crane flew in from outside, leaning close to Yang Xiaobing’s ear and chirping nonstop.
The team members were each performing their own duties.
For the moment, there was nothing for him to do.
Well then—
Should he try this so-called “upgrade”?
Xu Yuan pondered briefly, moved his consciousness, and spoke to that illusory shelf:
“I choose the Yan Ge Sword Technique.”
The next second.
A booklet immediately appeared on the shelf, bearing the four large characters “Yan Ge Sword Technique” on its cover.
Glowing small characters swiftly appeared:
“During your study of the ‘Yan Ge Sword Technique,’ you gained unique insights and created a new sword move, adding it as the fifth move of this sword technique.”
“This is your own unique sword technique. Its name is—”
“Yan Qu.”
“A basic flying sword technique, capable of further growth.”
“Effect: Your sword flies out a distance of three meters and strikes through the air.”
“Note: Everyone’s understanding of sword techniques differs, and everyone has their own unique combat style—you are naturally no exception.”
The sword manual on the shelf vanished.
At the same time.
A wondrous insight surfaced in Xu Yuan’s mind.
He involuntarily drew his long sword, made several gestures at the air before him, and completed the entire sword formula of “Yan Qu.”
—This sword formula felt as though he had comprehended it himself.
In an instant.
Xu Yuan had completely mastered it.
But he quickly furrowed his brow.
It was called a flying sword technique, but this move was completely useless!
The sword flies out three meters to strike.
Then what?
The sword would fall to the ground!
If an enemy pinned it down, wouldn’t he lose his weapon?
Learning a move like this made him quite suited to be a villainous boss, performing a tantrum of impotent rage to highlight the protagonist’s greatness.
I don’t freaking want to be a villain!
Unconvinced, Xu Yuan looked at that prompt again.
Basic technique…
Capable of further growth…
It seemed he needed to invest more “spotlights” to raise this skill up before it could be used in actual combat.
On the other side.
Jiang Xueyao saw him draw his sword and watched from afar. Suddenly her gaze fixed. She put away the formation plate in her hand and drew her sword to attack.
Xu Yuan subconsciously blocked, and the sword formula instantly activated. His face changed as he said:
“Careful!”
A streak of sword qi shot out from the Qiong Jia Sword, slashing straight at Jiang Xueyao!
Jiang Xueyao retreated several steps, swinging the Chi Xiao Sword repeatedly to neutralize the sword qi.
“Were you just trying to practice a new sword move?”
She tucked her hair back, a hint of curiosity entering her tone.
“After the battle just now, I was inspired and wanted to see if it would work,” Xu Yuan said.
“That’s not right. You used a handgun to kill the wolf demon earlier,” Jiang Xueyao said.
“I got the feeling when I killed the tree demon.” Xu Yuan shrugged.
Jiang Xueyao fell silent, staring at him, an inexplicable meaning flashing through her eyes.
A moment later.
She said softly:
“The Yan Ge Sword Technique is fundamentally an ‘enlightenment-type’ sword technique, guiding beginners to comprehend the subtleties of the sword, then find a sword method suited to themselves.”
“That you could create your own move through this sword technique means you’ve grasped its true essence.”
“—I also created a move, ‘Yan Shuang Fei.’”
Xu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.
She had also created a sword move!
Interesting.
This girl truly had talent.
Although he had faintly sensed something, he actually hadn’t reached that level yet—after all, he hadn’t been here long.
He had relied on the boost from that “spotlight” ability to create a sword move!
What?
The “spotlight” was an ability activated when I was nailed to the bridge at the brink of death—one of my innate talents?
…I’m a genius, aren’t I?
Xu Yuan nodded and said offhandedly:
“Yan Shuang Fei? ‘Amidst falling flowers, a man stands alone; in the drizzling rain, a pair of swallows fly’—good sword technique, good name.”
Everyone looked at him.
“I’ve never heard of this poem before…”
Zhao Afei muttered under his breath.
Jiang Xueyao lowered her beautiful eyes and said calmly:
“Shall we exchange a move?”
“Here? No way.” Xu Yuan said coyly.
“You promised me.”
Jiang Xueyao remained unmoved, saying indifferently.
“Look around us. Let’s talk about it outside.” Xu Yuan said.
Jiang Xueyao looked around and saw ordinary civilians packed all around them.
Sword qi was too fierce.
The power of both swords was also very strong.
If they exchanged blows here, one careless moment could injure bystanders.
Xu Yuan’s reason was simply irrefutable.
She let out an “Ai,” her dejection visibly apparent. She silently walked back to the side with the women, children, elderly, and disabled, burying herself in constructing small buffer formations.
Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.
—Your sword can ignite with flames!
I’d be an idiot to fight you!
“It’s coming.”
Yang Xiaobing suddenly said.
“What’s coming?” Zhao Afei asked.
“The flood dragon’s technique—everyone, be careful!” Yang Xiaobing shouted.
Everything around them became silent.
The entire world seemed to fall into a vacuum.
Immediately after.
A thunderclap exploded mere inches above everyone’s heads.
All the lights in the subway station went out at once.
Accompanied by the sounds of reinforced concrete cracking, dust rustled down from the ceiling, and the dense patter of falling gravel continuously rang out.
“It’s collapsing!”
Someone screamed.
Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
In the previous few instances, he had grasped the key points of the questions.
But this exam question was a bit difficult to figure out.
Question: The flood dragon destroys the world—what emotion does the examiner express?
A critique of human civilization?
An interrogation and reflection on human nature?
—It can’t possibly be expressing his homesickness, right?
You hit everyone with a full-screen attack, killing all the examinees and sending them back—then what’s the point of the exam?
“It won’t collapse, stay calm!” Yang Xiaobing shouted.
She pulled out a talisman and tossed it out.
Huu—
The talisman floated in midair, rapidly burning and illuminating the entire platform.
This talisman burned for a long time without extinguishing.
The crowd on the verge of panic gradually recovered its composure after Yang Xiaobing displayed this miraculous talisman technique.
What was there to fear!
There were cultivators guarding here!
However, on the ceiling above everyone, cracks continued to expand.
Zhao Afei jumped up, looking helplessly at Xu Yuan, then toward Jiang Xueyao and Yang Xiaobing—
It might really collapse here!
What should they do?
“Xiaobing, it’s up to you.” Jiang Xueyao lowered her head to fiddle with her formation plate without looking up once.
Yang Xiaobing nodded. She took out a section of damp wood from her backpack, pressed one hand against it, and rapidly formed incantation gestures with the other.
“Water technique…”
She murmured softly, her entire body emitting faint water vapor suffused with spiritual light.
The incantation was complete!
In an instant.
They saw a gigantic mushroom grow from the wood, rapidly expanding and hardening, shooting straight up toward the ceiling.
Its cap had a radius of several dozen meters, firmly supporting the ceiling!
It didn’t matter if other places collapsed.
Above everyone’s heads was safe!
Many people cheered.
But Yang Xiaobing’s face turned pale, her figure swaying unsteadily.
Xu Yuan quickly stepped forward to support her. He slowly sat down with his back against the mushroom, opened his gourd, and took out a Spirit Replenishing Pill to hand to her.
Understood.
This question was a direct assessment of the students’ strength.
“This mushroom, though thick and large—it shouldn’t explode, right?”
Xu Yuan asked worriedly.
“How could it! Would I kill myself too?” Yang Xiaobing rolled her beautiful eyes.
—Why would a mushroom explode? Who knows what goes on in Xu Yuan’s mind.
Wait.
Mushroom…
Perhaps it could be made to explode…
Maybe it could catch enemies off guard in battle?
Yang Xiaobing fell into contemplation.
Xu Yuan looked up at the mushroom, pondering the situation ahead, unaware that his careless remark might truly start “Plants vs. Zombies” in this world.
Yang Xiaobing thought as she stuffed the pill into her mouth, chewing quickly, while reaching out to pat the white crane beside her:
“Scout again, report again.”
The white crane immediately flew toward the subway station exit.
At this moment.
In the dark underground station.
Only that continuously burning talisman emitted waves of light.
No one spoke.
—No one knew whether that flood dragon would continue attacking.