Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit

As this was a battle royale, the Enlightened Masters were constantly under attack from each other. Hence, only the stronger cultivators were able to attempt to break out of the array formation while defending themselves from several attacks.

But after Xuan-Shang and a few stronger ones had failed in their attempts, the Enlightened Masters began to think that it was impossible for them to break out of the array formation.

If they couldn't do it, they naturally wouldn't allow others to break out of the array formation either. Otherwise, it would just make them feel inferior.

As a result, Lu Ping, whom the Enlightened Masters had tacitly agreed as the strongest cultivator present, was put under immense pressure. As the strongest, he had the highest chance of breaking out of the array formation, so they deliberately suppressed him to keep him from breaking out.

Even though the Enlightened Masters were still fighting each other, they were all keeping an eye on Lu Ping, always making sure he was kept busy.

Lu Ping sighed helplessly after realizing that he was heavily targeted in this battle. At the same time, he didn't know how his initial plan had gone astray and how things had ended up turning out this way.

Even though he was the strongest here, being targeted so heavily frustrated him and gradually worn down his patience. Hence, after a few moments, Lu Ping grit his teeth and thought, Fine, let's settle this once and for all!

Thanks to his [Tri-Pristine True Vision], Lu Ping had already found out the flaws in the array formation and was confident in breaking out of it with his [True Origin One Essence Sword Art]. However, that was no longer the plan.

As Lu Ping raised his sword, and the quivering sound filled the surroundings, the Enlightened Masters felt alarmed. Even Xuan-Wei, who was outside the array formation, suddenly had a bad feeling.

Lu Ping slashed the Golden Scale Sword forward twelve times in a row, striking out twelve rivers of sword lights that flowed around him like halos, pushing everyone back.

Although the sword rivers seemed to be moving randomly, they were actually perfectly coordinated and blocked all the attacks from every direction. At the same time, the sword rivers also fought back and returned the attacks to all of the Enlightened Masters.

How arrogant!

The Enlightened Masters were all infuriated after seeing Lu Ping try to fight them all at once. Hence, they all launched attacks at Lu Ping together.

The Golden Scale Sword appeared above Lu Ping and quivered rapidly. The twelve sword rivers merged together into a giant vortex of sword lights, expanding outwards to include all of the Enlightened Masters.

"Not good, this is a sword formation!"

Again, the knowledgeable Xuan-Chen was the first one to recognize Lu Ping's attack.

"A great sword divine ability?!"

"A fully-mastered great sword divine ability, how is this possible?"

"Work together, or it won't be easy for any of us!"

…

Although Lu Ping was already invincible in the same cultivation stage, he didn't think he was a match against all seventeen of them. One must know, even Guo Xuan-Shan left after seeing the number of Enlightened Masters involved in the fight. Even Guo Xuan-Shan had no confidence in defeating them all, let alone Lu Ping, who was much weaker than Guo Xuan-Shan.

Hence, Lu Ping's true intention was only to push them away and scare them. At the same time, he used this opportunity to severely injure Xuan-Xiang and Xuan-You, who were his initial targets before the sparring session turned into an all-out fight.

After only a few moments, Lu Ping had already started to struggle, barely holding the sword formation together under the combined attacks of the seventeen Enlightened Masters.

After the Enlightened Masters were pushed away, the Golden Scale Sword quivered again and the vortex of sword lights split back into twelve sword rivers that gushed towards the light barrier above them.

As the host of the light barrier array formation, Xuan-Wei naturally had a clear view of what was happening inside the array formation. Hence, when he saw Lu Ping direct the great sword divine ability at his array formation, he hopped up in mid-air, and cursed, "Brat, couldn't you use another approach to break out of the array formation? Oh my goodness, my Metal Curtain Formation… No…"

The shady light barrier shattered easily like a piece of paper under Lu Ping's great sword divine ability. As the array formation broke, Xuan-Wei mourned in pain as the Grade 2 spirit materials he used to set up the array formation were also destroyed.

Xuan-Wei looked at the apologetic Lu Ping and cursed inaudibly. If he didn’t already know that he was no match against Lu Ping, he would have rushed out to bash him already.

These Grade 2 spirit materials were enough for him to forge seven top-grade mystic instruments with the potential of upgrading them into mystic treasures. However, they had all been laid to waste because of Lu Ping. Not only did his initial plan of fleecing the Enlightened Masters fail, he even suffered a heavy loss.

Who would have thought that Lu Ping was such a special cultivator that could destroy his array formation entirely.

Right after Lu Ping destroyed the array formation, a black door suddenly appeared beside him and sucked him into it. Even with Lu Ping's exceptional strength, he was powerless against the black door and disappeared together with it.

Lu Ping didn't even see what was happening and was consumed by total darkness, while Xuan-Shang, Xuan-Lei and the other Enlightened Masters' laughs were heard together with Xuan-Wei's loud shouts.

"Don't go! My spirit materials... All of you owe me a spirit material, they have to be at least Grade 2!"

In the next second, Lu Ping found himself in the center of a hall. Sitting in the top seats were two men, with Guo Xuan-Shan to the left and Qu Xuan-Cheng to the right of the seats.

As for the two men, one was Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin whom Lu Ping immediately recognized, and the other was older and seemingly of higher status. The latter was looking at Lu Ping with a smile.

Lu Ping immediately knew it was the Great Ancestors that took him here, so he quickly bowed and greeted, "Lu Xuan-Ping greets the Great Ancestors and martial uncles!"

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin smiled, and asked, "How does it feel? Had fun?"

Lu Ping replied shyly, "I've been reckless, I apologize for not being considerate enough."

The older Great Ancestor said, "Your cultivation base is strange; the level of abundance in your true energy and divine revelation, and the mist that shades your heartspace, preventing others from seeing through your strength. You must've had your fair share of fortunes. I'd say, you fused at least an Earth-class mid-grade wonder item in your Mid Core Forging Realm breakthrough?"

Immediately, Lu Ping felt extremely uncomfortable and exposed. But after hearing the Great Ancestor's comments about his cultivation base, he quietly heaved a sigh of relief. The Great Ancestor hadn't actually seen through everything.

"Great Ancestor is wise, that is correct."

Lu Ping naturally wouldn’t explain further and expose himself. If the Great Ancestor thought he had fused an Earth-class mid-grade wonder item, then so be it. After all, even Great Ancestors didn't think it was possible to fuse a Heaven-class wonder item in a Mid Core Forging Realm breakthrough as it had never worked before.

The only reason Lu Ping succeeded was because of his unique bloodline. 24062

"You must have also fused a large amount of said wonder water?"

Lu Ping remained polite and respectful, "This junior was just lucky."

Seeing that Lu Ping didn't want to clarify the matter, remaining modest, the Great Ancestor knew that Lu Ping didn't want to expose his cultivation secrets. However, the Great Ancestor didn't mind and only smiled with understanding.

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin finally introduced the man beside him, "Kid, this is Great Ancestor Tian-Fan, you should greet him properly again."

Lu Ping was thoroughly shocked. The sect had three Mid Avatar Realm Great Ancestors, Great Ancestor Tian-Xiang whom he had met before, Great Ancestor Tian-Fan, and his wife, Great Ancestor Tian-Xue.

This husband and wife duo were known as the Wind and Snow Immortals. They had practiced a dual sword art that allowed them to hold their ground against the only Late Avatar Realm in the North Ocean, Xuan Ling Sect's Great Ancestor Dao Sheng.

In other words, the Zhen Ling Sect was only able to become the second strongest sect because of them. The only fine line that stopped the Zhen Ling Sect from replacing the Xuan Ling Sect as the strongest sect was because it lacked a true Late Avatar Realm Great Ancestor.

In most cases, when together, Great Ancestor Tian-Fan and Great Ancestor Tian-Xue were considered as a pseudo-Late Avatar Realm Great Ancestor.