Chapter 44: Black Rank Advancement Test, Passed! . . .
Expressing a sense of regret, Huyan Yong sighed as he observed the fading light on the screen symbolizing Ye Yuan's progress. Despite Ye Yuan's valiant efforts, Huyan Yong acknowledged the impressiveness of his journey, especially considering his current cultivation level at the Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm. Ye Yuan's remarkable performance marked the emergence of a rare genius in the Dan Wu Academy of the State of Qin, occurring once in fifty years.
Reflecting on the ongoing battle, Huyan Yong couldn't help but find humor in his initial sympathy. Recognizing the formidable power exhibited by Ye Yuan, Huyan Yong conceded that challenging the Black Rank Advancement test with Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm strength was a formidable feat. Anticipating Ye Yuan's inevitable failure in this test, Huyan Yong speculated on the potential for success once Ye Yuan attained a higher cultivation level, possibly the Sixth or Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm.
Amidst discussions among students, a sense of resignation permeated the atmosphere as Ye Yuan's light on the screen dimmed. Some expressed disappointment, while others admired Ye Yuan's resilience, acknowledging the difficulty of creating miracles. Comparisons were drawn to Senior Apprentice Brother Long Tang's achievement in passing the Black Rank Advancement test when approaching the Seventh Level Essence Qi Realm.
Amidst the varying sentiments, Wan Yuan, harboring a deep-seated desire for Ye Yuan's failure, observed the unfolding events with a sneer. His relief at witnessing Ye Yuan's anticipated failure was palpable, reinforcing his belief that Ye Yuan had overestimated himself.
Within the Illusionary Spirit Tower, the Dream Tapir sensed an anomaly in the ongoing group battle. Struck by confusion, it realized that Ye Yuan's defensive radius had not diminished for a considerable time. Intrigued, the Dream Tapir scrutinized the situation, discovering that Ye Yuan had begun employing his sword—a previously overlooked aspect of his arsenal.
Reflecting on the earlier weapon selection, the Dream Tapir had underestimated the significance of Ye Yuan's sword, assuming it to be a mere accessory. However, as Ye Yuan demonstrated exceptional swordsmanship, the Dream Tapir acknowledged the flaw in its assessment. Ye Yuan's resilience, combined with the adept use of his sword, disrupted the stability of the sword array deployed by the black-clothed martial artists.
Intrigued by the possibility that Ye Yuan was also an array expert, the Dream Tapir struggled to reconcile this unexpected revelation. Unbeknownst to the Dream Tapir, Ye Yuan, in his past life, had been a skilled sword expert, and the sword art currently employed was the Falling Flower Floating Zero Sword—a creation inspired by a sacred sakura forest in the Divine Realm.
As the Falling Flower Floating Zero Sword unraveled, Ye Yuan demonstrated a profound mastery of the Sword Dao, confounding both the Dream Tapir and those witnessing the spectacle. The unexpected resurgence of Ye Yuan's offensive capabilities defied expectations, leaving an indelible mark on the unfolding events within the Illusionary Spirit Tower.
Kuang Tianming's appreciation for the Falling Flower Floating Zero Sword was not merely due to its inherent power but rather the untapped potential he foresaw in Qingyun Zi's mastery of the Martial Dao. At that time, Qingyun Zi's cultivation realm soared, but his Martial Dao progress remained constrained. Kuang Tianming envisioned the sword art's transformation into a formidable force if Ye Yuan dedicated himself to the Martial Dao, continuously refining his understanding of the Sword Dao.
While the Falling Flower Floating Zero Sword possessed great strength, Ye Yuan's current cultivation level limited its unleashed power, lacking the necessary support of essence energy. However, the sword art's emphasis on elegance and agility perfectly complemented Ye Yuan's modified Instant Flash, resulting in a synergistic effect that multiplied its potency several times over.
The combination of Instant Flash and the Falling Flower Floating Zero Sword proved effective in countering the coordinated attacks of the five black-clothed martial artists. Despite the apparent power of their sword array, Ye Yuan discerned numerous flaws within it. He seized the opportunity presented by his movement technique and sword art to exploit these weaknesses.
The five martial artists, lacking corporeal forms, executed flawless cooperation within the sword array. However, Ye Yuan perceived a fundamental simplicity in their approach—an inherent weakness that couldn't be rectified. As the sword array unfolded, they coordinated their attacks every dozen moves, showcasing a formidable combined assault.
In a strategic move, Ye Yuan exploited a moment when one black-clothed martial artist's movements lagged due to his assault. Seizing the chance, he utilized Instant Flash to escape the encirclement, avoiding the imminent combined attack. Anticipating their attempt to reform the sword array, Ye Yuan preemptively unleashed a powerful Stacking Waves Layered Palm, Fourth Layer Wave, propelling the assailants away with a gusty palm wind.
Recognizing that the battle was not yet concluded, Ye Yuan gathered his remaining essence energy, employing Instant Flash to swiftly dispatch one black-clothed martial artist with a precise sword strike to the heart. Knowing the disparity in cultivation realms limited his ability to fatally wound them all, Ye Yuan repeated this process, delivering one sword strike to each of the remaining four opponents, effectively concluding the intense confrontation.
As the final moves unfolded, Ye Yuan, visibly fatigued, discarded the sword and collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The Dream Tapir, witnessing this unexpected turn of events, stood in disbelief, struggling to comprehend the reality before its eyes. In the aftermath, Ye Yuan, catching his breath, called out to the dream tapir, humorously demanding attention to his injuries and highlighting the impracticality of proceeding to the next round in his current state.