"Upper Realm trash, are you fucking looking for a fight!"

Seeing the red-haired youth and his group surround Luo Xiu, Xiao Luanzi was the first to charge forward. Immediately after, Mu Xueyan and Yaya, along with Yao Ritian and the Three Bandits of Thunder Swamp, all stepped up to stand by Luo Xiu's side. The two groups confronted each other, their auras flaring in a tense standoff.

Luo Xiu, however, appeared utterly unconcerned. In his eyes, these Upper Realm nobodies weren't even qualified to make him use his Cultivation Strength, so he paid them no mind.

He suddenly looked over at Luo Qingxian, who was sitting cross-legged nearby. "Princess Luo, your bootlickers seem quite arrogant. If you won't discipline them, I'll handle it for you today."

"I have no connection to them," Luo Qingxian said, giving Luo Xiu nothing more than a detached glance. "Whether they live or die has nothing to do with me. However, I hope you won't be too loud."

Luo Qingxian had no interest in either Hongbin's group or Luo Xiu's. It wasn't born of disdain or contempt, but simply her indifferent nature; she refused to waste a sliver of energy on anyone or anything that did not interest her. Ever since she was young, her only interest had been cultivation and growing stronger. She had a dream from childhood: to become a mighty existence like the Azure Emperor, to single-handedly defy the heavens and protect all life. In pursuit of her idol, she had never slackened for a single moment.

"Xiao Luanzi," Luo Xiu called out suddenly.

"What is it, Boss?"

Luo Xiu's gaze fell on the red-haired youth. "What's his true form? Is he edible?"

Xiao Luanzi shook his head in disgust. "His true form is a Hongbin. Before transforming into a human, he enhanced his demonic power by absorbing the energy from rotting corpses. His flesh is both foul and sour. The smell alone is enough to make you puke, let alone eating it."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu curled his lip. "In that case, never mind. Just beat him up."

Hongbin burst out laughing at Luo Xiu's words. "A bunch of losers from the Lower Realm, you truly overestimate yourselves! My flesh might not be tasty, but yours is a delicacy!"

As his words fell, a sickening demonic power erupted from his body, and he strode forward. A Ninth Level Peak Hongbin's strength far surpassed that of a human Earth Immortal, putting him infinitely close to the Dao Jade Realm.

Hongbin suddenly stopped, looking down condescendingly at Luo Xiu, who remained seated on the ground. "A mere Mahayana Realm peasant dares to speak to me like that? If it weren't for your master, I'd have killed you last time!" he roared suddenly. "Kneel and accept your death!"

A few moments later, the series of sharp SMACKS finally stopped.

Hongbin knelt before Luo Xiu, his face swollen and bruised. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth, leaving him in an utterly pathetic state. The other Upper Realm geniuses scattered, keeping their distance from Hongbin, terrified of getting involved.

Luo Qingxian looked at Luo Xiu, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected this youth from the Lower Realm to possess the strength to utterly crush Hongbin. He had truly hidden his power well. Still, she had little interest in the matter. The strength or weakness of others was irrelevant to her. There was only one thing she wanted to do: continuously surpass her own limits.

"My lord, I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! Please, stop hitting me..."

"Consider yourself lucky that your flesh is foul and sour," Luo Xiu said with a faint smile, his foot pressing down on Hongbin's head. "That's the only reason you're still alive."

Dressed in her whale costume, Yaya stood with her hands on her hips, putting on a fierce air. "Upper Realm scum, hurry up and hand over your treasures!"

With a pained expression, Hongbin took off the Storage Magical Treasure from his wrist and dutifully handed it over.

Having beaten him and taken his things, Luo Xiu didn't want to waste any more time. He kicked Hongbin away and returned to his spot, sitting down cross-legged.

Yaya showed the Storage Magical Treasure to Mu Xueyan. "Sister Xueyan, let's go divide the spoils!"

Xiao Luanzi sidled up to Luo Xiu. "Boss, it's obvious that Hongbin is no good. Why didn't you kill him?"

Luo Xiu chuckled. "I heard from Elder Yan that he has a master backing him."

Xiao Luanzi stroked his chin, a look of sudden realization on his face. "So, Boss, you're using him as bait to catch a bigger fish?"

Luo Xiu simply smiled without a word.

「Elsewhere.」

Hongbin, his face a mess of bruises, gnashed his teeth and found a secluded spot. He took the Jade Pendant from his waist and infused a strand of his Divine Sense into it. That Lower Realm Mortal has gone too far! Once my master receives my Divine Sense message and arrives, I'll have him torn to pieces!

「Another day passed in a flash.」

Dou Dou and Yang Zhilu were still in the first layer of the Azure Dragon Sword Array. Meanwhile, there had been no sign of movement from Kuang Pi or Yan Daoling.

Luo Qingxian, however, who had rested for three days, suddenly made her move. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she walked into the Sword Array and directly entered the second layer, beginning her advance toward the third. It only took her two days to break through the second layer. Then, without pausing, she continued toward the fourth.

The Upper Realm geniuses outside the Sword Array watched in awe before entering the array themselves to make their own attempts. In just a few short days, several of them had successfully broken through the first layer of the Sword Array and entered the second. While they couldn't compare to Luo Qingxian, they were managing to follow in her footsteps.

As for Dou Dou and Yang Zhilu, they remained in the first layer, their progress as slow as a snail's. Luo Xiu, for his part, stayed outside the Sword Array, not attempting to break the formation. He spent some time each day observing Dou Dou and Yang Zhilu's situation, and their slow progress made him a little worried.

Why can these Upper Realm nobodies break through the first layer in just a few days, while Dou Dou and Yang Zhilu aren't making any progress at all? Is the gap between people from the Lower Realm and the Upper Realm really that vast?

"That's part of the reason, but not the main one," Master Ping said. "These people from the Upper Realm have cleared the Sword Array once before. Now that the array has been restored, they have to break through it again, but they have prior experience. A path you've walked once is naturally much easier to walk a second time."

"I see," Luo Xiu nodded. He then stood up and stretched his limbs. "After resting for these past few days, I feel I've pretty much acclimated. It's time to take on the array."

Master Ping laughed. "For you, this Sword Array doesn't need to be broken. You must understand, your goal isn't to break the array, but to use the Yin Thunder Qi within it to temper your body. Kid, listen to me. Tempering your body with the Yin Thunder Qi will only bring you benefits. This is your great opportunity."

Luo Xiu said no more and walked directly into the Sword Array. Seeing him enter again, Yaya and the others immediately began to cheer him on.

The Pig Dragon roared, "Big Brother, you can do it! You only lasted a few seconds the last two times, but don't be discouraged! Think bigger! This time, you'll definitely last for a whole minute!"

Hearing this, Luo Xiu shot a glare at the Pig Dragon. I'm suddenly craving some crocodile meat.

At the same time, the Upper Realm geniuses looked on with disdain.

"Look at him. He clearly knows nothing about the Sword Dao. I doubt he'll make it far."

"Heh, that Lower Realm Mortal might have some strength, but clearing the Sword Array has nothing to do with how strong you are."

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