Turbulent waves!
Luther growled.
Sizzling sounds rang through the air. All the people were amazed by what they saw. Luther looked like
a very powerful warrior indeed.
Numerous purple sword energies encircled Luther's body. They intertwined with each other, layers
upon layers. Sword-lights came in waves and undulated in the air. The waves soon spread all over the
place and the whole arena was occupied by the ethereal ripples. Waves upon waves surrounded the
whole arena. They were firmly knitted together and majestically forged ahead. They crashed violently in
a thunderous noise that swept everything that came in their way.
That was the dual effect of the swordsmanship combining the sword intent.
Luther employed his vital energy force. All of a sudden, the monstrous waves that formed by the sword-
lights raged like a roiling and roaring turbulent river. It swirled and thrashed towards Austin's direction.
He would surely be in trouble if the attack reached him.
Austin faced the river of sword-lights that came at him. He wasn't fazed at all. He felt rather at ease. He
was not at all threatened by Luther's attacks.
When it came to the cultivation base on vital energy, the real strength of Austin actually had reached
the preliminary stage of Earth Realm. This kind of opponent would not harm him.
The preliminary stage of Earth Realm and the eighth level of the Energy Gathering Realm were too
different. They belonged to different realms.
With the strength gap standing in between, a warrior at the ninth level of the Energy Gathering Realm,
even equipped with one and a half level sword intent, would surely be unable to defeat a warrior at the
preliminary stage of Earth Realm. Austin was confident because he was way above Luther when it
came to strength level.
Moreover, Austin had already comprehended level two sword intent. He had a deeper understanding of
swordsmanship than Luther. When it came to swordsmanship skills, he was more superior to Luther.
If Luther had mastered something like the blade intent, the spear intent, or the palm intent and not the
sword intent, Austin would not be as calm as he was at the moment. He was lucky that his opponent
was using the sword intent.
Unfortunately to Luther, Austin had a knack for sword intent. He trained his swordsmanship in
preparation for this competition. He was sure that beating Luther was a sure outcome in this fight.
Luther mastered only one and a half level sword intent while Austin mastered level two sword intent.
Austin was at a higher level than Luther.
Luther's sword intent posed no threat to Austin.
All of a sudden, the river of sword-lights made by Luther had already reached Austin. Luther was sure
that the fight would be soon over because his attack was about to tear his opponent apart.
At that moment, Austin began to fight back. He stomped on the ground and flashed away at a lightning
speed. In a split-second, he was twenty meters away from where he had stood. It was time for him to
show his abilities.
Bang!
The river of sword-lights hit the ground where Austin stood moments before. In no time, dirt rose into
the air and gravels flew all over the sky. The whole arena was enveloped in dust. The attack was so
powerful that a pit had appeared on the ground that was paved with basalt and cracks began to form
and spread.
Austin's speed was too fast. Luther hadn't seen how Austin managed to dodge his attack. After the
ashes dissipated in the sky, he was surprised to see that Austin disappeared from his sight. He looked
around and found that Austin was already twenty meters away from him. He was surprised at what had
just happened. It was surely impossible for a newbie to move that fast.
The audience burst into an uproar. This was the kind of fight that they were waiting to witness in the
competition.
Almost all of the people marveled at Austin's lightning speed. It was almost as fast as teleportation. He
managed to distance himself in just a blink of an eye! This fight was proving to be exciting.
Even the Sect Leader Theon and the six prominent Elders were slightly amazed at Austin's defense.
They didn't expect that an outer disciple could move at such a speed. After all, his cultivation base was
only at the Energy Gathering Realm.
Austin suppressed his vital energy and pretended that he was only at the ninth level of Energy
Gathering Realm. No one present at the arena saw through Austin's real cultivation base. He didn't
want to show off his powers unnecessarily. He would only use it if he was really in danger.
"Haha! A one and a half level sword intent is indeed impressive. As expected of a warrior of your
caliber!"
Austin smiled as he gazed at the pit on the ground. He was not teasing Luther. He was just stating his
honest opinion on Luther's attack.
However, Luther was flustered. 'How come my sword intent seemed to not have worked on him? It was
impossible for an outer disciple to dodge my attack that fast!' he thought.
He comprehended a one and a half level sword intent. As long as he used his vital energy which was at
the ninth level of the Energy Gathering Realm to activate his sword intent, he had always been
invincible. He had defeated a lot of warriors before who were at level nine of the Energy Gathering
Realm in many fights. That made him pretty confident in his swordsmanship.
However, when he gathered all his strength to attack Austin with his utmost effort, Austin just dodged it
in a way that he even didn't know how. Austin just stood there, unharmed, as if nothing had happened.
This was impossible!
"Thousands of waves!"
Luther shouted furiously.
All of a sudden, the forceful vital energy force at the ninth level of the Energy Gathering Realm burst
out from his body. His robe billowed just like a swelling balloon. He looked extremely horrifying.
With the surge of the vital energy force, numerous sword-lights and sword intents popped out and
spread all over the place. They came forth with tiers upon tiers. Six or seven rivers of sword-lights with
violent waves lashing inside whirled and circled around Luther.
'Huh! Let's see how you can escape this time!'
Luther gazed firmly at Austin with bloodshot eyes. He was determined to knock him down with his
strongest attack.
"Attack!" he ordered.
Several rivers of sword-lights rushed towards Austin. Each river was pumped with great waves. It
attacked Austin from different directions.
Luther had the ability to control his sword intent to attack the enemy precisely from different directions.
It was apparent that he had put a lot of effort on refining his swordsmanship.
However, Austin had already mastered the level two sword intent. He was stronger than Luther on the
cultivation of swordsmanship. There was no need for him to feel afraid.
He pushed off the ground with his tiptoe and in a flash of light, he floated in the air. He looked much like
the shadow of a ghost. He was not only fast in his speed but he also came with great dexterity. Under
the shocking gazes of the audience, he successfully dodged the attacks from Luther.
Bang! Bang! Boom!
The deafening sounds blasted on people's ears. The place where Austin had stood was filled with
flying dust and gravels. When the smoke disappeared, another pit which was as deep as half a meter
appeared on the ground.
At the same time when the thunderous noise suddenly broke out, Luther suddenly felt something cold
pointed at his neck from the back. He immediately sensed that danger loomed on him. 'Damn!' He
cursed in his heart.
He realized that a sword was pointed at his neck from the back. It sent shivers down his spine.
"You lost."
Austin's calm voice rang in his ears.
Luther's face paled. He stood dumbstruck for a while before slowly placing his sword back to its sheath.
"This is impossible. You are only at the ninth level of the Energy Gathering Realm. How could it happen
that you were not affected by my sword intent at all?"
Luther asked in a trembling voice.
"An easy question. Because I have already comprehended the level two sword intent!"
Austin blurted out in a voice that only Luther could hear.
Luther was relieved to get the answer. He then jumped off the stage and left the arena.
"Austin was given the chance to challenge the third winner of last year's competition! Half an hour later,
the third winner of last year will come to take the challenge."
Elder Xing's deep voice rang out again.
In the area where the top ten warriors of last year's competition were seated, a lanky man craned his
neck.
"Haha! A has-been top one outer disciple! Interesting fight indeed. However, that was only child's play
to me."
On the desk in front of the man, there was a plate that bore the "No.3."
Half an hour passed quickly.
During the break, Austin had been sitting cross-legged on the arena and reposed in meditation. When it
was time to start the fight, he slowly stood up.
In the area where the top ten warriors sat, a man also slowly stood up.
He pushed off the ground with his tiptoe and sprang up into the sky like a shooting arrow. Followed by
a rumbling sound, he landed on the arena forcefully.
When the ashes dissipated, a young man appeared with two axes on his shoulders. Each of the axes
was as big as a millstone.
"Haha, let me introduce myself. My name is Timothy Sima. According to seniority, you are my senior.
Three years ago, you were the number one in the outer disciples. At that time, I was only a nobody.
But the time passed so fast. Three years were gone."
Austin cracked a smile and replied, "Yes, time flies!"
"However, things changed. The world of the outer disciples is not as it used to be. Don't mistake that no
outer disciple can beat you after your strength recovered to the ninth level of the Energy Gathering
Realm. This is a word of advice out of goodwill. You'd better give up. Don't embarrass yourself," he said
in a sincere and soothing tone. It was as if he was giving advice to an old friend.
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