Chapter 346: 346, [Once Promised to Be Top-notch in the World]
Lu Xun sat high on the platform, looking at Xu Zhongcheng who stood at the front of the crowd, feeling a bit nervous, how adorable.

However, Lu Xun’s first impression of him was when he exhausted his spiritual power during the outer sect trial and fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth…

The second impression was when he stood up for his sect members in the ancient relic, although… he was quite scared.

He admired Xu Zhongcheng.

Because he understood that the strength of a sect requires such people.

People who seem a bit foolish in the eyes of others.

Lu Xun gave a slight smile, channeling his spiritual power, enabling his voice to reach the stage below, he asked: “What level have you cultivated to?”

“Replying to Young Elder, I have re-cultivated to the sixth level.” Xu Zhongcheng replied with a straight face.

That’s like being only at level 6.

“Do you know what the inner sect examination entails?” Lu Xun asked.

“Replying to Young Elder, I am aware.” Xu Zhongcheng answered honestly: “An inner sect deacon suppresses his cultivation base to launch an attack for comparison purposes.”

Yes, the Demon Sect’s inner sect examination is simple and crude.

They send an inner sect deacon, who suppresses their cultivation base to the same level as the examinee, then uses their wealth of experience and other advantages to give the examinee a beating.

Those who suffer a severe beating are undoubtedly eliminated. Those who can hang on for a while get to join the inner sect.

As for defeating the examiner… that’s not very realistic.

After all, the cultivation base of the inner sect deacon is above the fifth level, they are all great cultivators. Even if they suppress their cultivation base, advantages like sword intent, knife intention and the like still exist.

They aren’t even on the same level.

After the contest, Shen Yan and the others will also comment on the duel and give the examinee some pointers.

This is a rare opportunity!

The ones who perform well have the chance to become their direct disciples!

Sounds… a bit like a talent show, huh!

Lu Xun looked at Xu Zhongcheng, nodded and said: “According to the rules, you didn’t pass the preliminary selection, so you can’t participate in the inner sect examination, do you understand?”

“Disciple… understands.” Xu Zhongcheng said.

Feeling slightly despondent.

“Do you regret it?” Lu Xun asked again.

“Regret.” Xu Zhongcheng honestly said.

“Rules cannot be broken, but I can give you a chance to spar with me.” Lu Xun said loudly.

Upon hearing the words, Xu Zhongcheng lifted up his head immediately, a light in his eyes.

There was a moment of confusion below the platform as some people were excited to see a spectacle and others showed envy.

Lu Xun turned to Shen Yan and the others and said, “Sect Master, Peak Masters, would it be possible to point out his deficiencies after the fight?”

After Shen Yan and the others looked at each other, they suddenly burst out laughing.

Lu Xun:

What’s so funny? Their laughter is so ugly.

Oh no, Peak Master Luo Wanqiu is still very charming, like the prettiest English teacher in school.

Shen Yan said, “Young Elder, even if you hadn’t said anything, I would also make an exception and go down to give him some pointers after the exam. Unexpectedly, Young Elder, you have the same idea as us.”

“So that’s why…” Lu Xun finally understood why they were laughing.

Yue Heshan, like many elders who love to cause trouble, asked: “Xu Zhongcheng, good for you now, both the Sect Master and Young Elder are willing to have a match with you, so… who do you choose?”

Lu Xun looked at him, musing in his heart: “Wow! Your sleazy middle-aged vibe is so strong today!”

Why bother such a young lad?

Although he thought so in his heart, Lu Xun, sitting next to Shen Yan, couldn’t help straightening his back.

Choose me, damn it!

Xu Zhongcheng felt as if he had just ridden a roller coaster. With a straight face, he looked at Shen Ludan, who was ugly, then at Lu Xun, who wore a radiant smile, gritted his teeth and said:

“Xu Zhongcheng humbly requests Young Elder for guidance!”

After he finished speaking, he bowed, bending to a ninety-degree angle.

As a fanatic fan of Lu Xun, he chose his idol without hesitation.

Satisfied, Lu Xun nodded his head, turned to Shen Yan and said: “Sect Master, after the match, any deficiencies should be pointed out.”

He was seeking benefits for Xu Zhongcheng.

Guidance from a top-notch cultivator is a rare opportunity.

Shen Yan laughed and said: “Young Elder is personally taking the field, how dare I slack off?”

This is a good thing about the Demon Sect, everyone can hold their heads high outside but also let down their guard in front of their own people.

Of course, over the years, Shen Yan, the famously terrible master, has repeatedly been reprimanded by his disciples for his preferential treatment. He may have gotten used to being overlooked by now.

His spring only begins at the next inner sect examination.

His “Bald Strong” image is well-liked by the players of the Demon Sect, hitting the unique spice of the meme-loving players, who love to choose him.

For now, the players are still weak and few are eligible to participate in the inner sect examination.

Lu Xun stood up, lightly tapped his toes, placed his hands behind, his robe was flowing, then he floated down to the stage below, standing on the platform.

He suppressed his cultivation base to the sixth level of Qi Consumption and did not intend to use the small sword in his Sword Sheath and Sword Heart.

Otherwise, as a Sword Cultivator, Xu Zhongcheng would be defeated with just one glance from Lu Xun.

Such guidance would be meaningless.

After preparing, Lu Xun said: “Let’s begin.”

Xu Zhongcheng nodded, directly drawing his sword, going all out.

Simultaneously, he also activated his own Sword Heart.

Normally, it is impossible to re-cultivate once one’s cultivation base has been abolished, and the Sword Heart becomes useless once one becomes a mortal.

But Xu Zhongcheng had his own fortuitous encounters, becoming a unique case of a level-7 cultivator possessing a Sword Heart, and on the verge of understanding the threshold of Sword Intent.

Lu Xun raised his right hand, condensing Sword Qi at his fingertips, forgoing flashy moves and directly meeting Xu Zhongcheng’s longsword.

As mentioned before, Lu Xun is a top conscious player when gaming.

His combat style has always been mature and experienced.

Although Lu Xun traversed through worlds, his combat instinct has not diminished. In fact, in his numerous battles, he has become stronger than his previous life!

Every attack of Xu Zhongcheng’s could be effortlessly neutralized by Lu Xun, regardless of how unexpectedly he struck, Lu Xun could calmly parry.

I have already predicted your prediction.

This duel, from the audience’s perspective, wasn’t very flashy.

Lu Xun didn’t even use his signature Mist Sword.

It must be known that when his Sword Intent activates, it gives a feeling of misty clouds, dreamlike, like a fairyland in the mortal world.

At first glance, the visual impact wasn’t great, but as long as one wasn’t a complete novice, they could notice small details.

Many professional players and disciples with higher Enlightenment were already completely engrossed.

“So that’s how you can parry a sword coming at that type of angle?” Someone thought aloud.

“Wow! Just now that technique where the Sword Qi was spinning at the fingertips, it seems very energy-efficient.” Someone couldn’t help but comment.

“You guys noticed so much, I’m more superficial, I just think the Purple Palace’s every move is cool…” A player quietly said to those around them.

On the high platform, Shen Yan and others frequently nodded in agreement.

With their keen eyes, they could actually see many more ingenious details.

“Good intentions from the Young Elder. Until now, he has been pulling his punches. There have been five opportunities to defeat Xu Zhongcheng, but he deliberately held back.” Sima Chuan said.

“Indeed, in essence, he is providing a learning experience.” Gongshu Pan nodded in agreement.

Lu Xun was indeed doing what they stated, but when Xu Zhongcheng made mistakes, he did not completely ignore them, allowing him to be embarrassed to make him realize the extent of his prior flaws.

“When do you predict the Young Elder will fully engage, defeating Xu Zhongcheng?” Yue Heshan asked.

Luo Wanqiu slightly turned her body, propping up her charming face with her wrist, exhaling with an orchid-like fragrance, her voice soft: “Naturally, it will be when Xu Zhongcheng makes a big mistake and decisively knocks him down, to give him a lesson.”

After finishing her sentence, she raised her eyes and glanced at Shen Yan, “Sect Master, look at the Young Elder, that’s what feeding moves means. It’s not like how you directly instruct disciples. It’s so rough they can’t comprehend anything.”

Shen Yan coughed lightly, embarrassed to respond or retort.

“Huh? It’s right now!” Yue Heshan declared: “This mistake, is no ordinary mistake.”

On the stage, Lu Xun slightly frowned, his Sword Qi knocking away Xu Zhongcheng’s longsword, before halting an inch from his chest.

“In a real battle, your risky moves would already have cost you your life.” Lu Xun said gravely.

Xu Zhongcheng immediately bowed in respect, his heart anxious, “Disciple…will learn from this.”

He was afraid he hadn’t performed well enough and upset the Young Elder.

He had not realized the biggest change in himself after recultivating was— he was not as confident as before.

If this was the past, he wouldn’t be uneasy, because he had his own pride, and knew that he was no less than others.

But individuals retaining their self-confidence after many ups and downs are actually rare.

“You performed better than expected,” Lu Xun calmly said.

Xu Zhongcheng raised his head, his face expressionless, but his eyes showed astonishment.

“At the next Inner Sect examination, I want to see you here,” Lu Xun calmly stated.

Before Xu Zhongcheng could react, Lu Xun continued, “My expectation for you is to strive for the top while ensuring you’re within the top three.”

He added pressure to Xu Zhongcheng but also conveyed his expectations.

Sometimes, people actually crave the expectation of others.

While Lu Xun was studying, he matured earlier than his peers. He saw many classmates, just when their parents and teachers lost expectations of them, gradually become worse.

Lu Xun felt others’ expectations could really boost a person’s confidence within a certain range.

After all, this also represents others’ recognition.

Of course, too much expectation can also become pressure, so one must strike a balance.

Lu Xun felt his handling of this was particularly good.

Besides… he is their idol, after all!

Young man, accept the positive energy from your idol!

Lu Xun looked at him and said word by word, “I hope you rise from the ashes.”

“Rise from the ashes, rise from the ashes…” Xu Zhongcheng mulled over this phrase, his eyes gradually brightening.

He bowed deeply in respect and replied in the loudest voice, “Xu Zhongcheng will definitely not let the Young Elder down!”

Lu Xun smiled, not knowing why, but he recalled a line from a poem in ‘Thirty Small Images,’ which had once been his motto.

There are many versions of this poem, the most straightforward and easy to understand one is:

[One must know that youth harbors lofty aspirations, vowing to be the best in the world!]

Light ripples of spiritual energy spread out from Xu Zhongcheng, and the Magical Sword nearby emitted a slight hum.

Xu Zhongcheng made a breakthrough.

Sword Heart Minor Achievement.