Chapter 530 - 312: Sharpness
Chapter 530: Chapter 312: Sharpness
The Kong Family Genius Banquet!
Because of Fang Xu’s remark, everyone turned to Xu Yang with expressions of eager anticipation, waiting for a good show. Ranked ninety-eighth on the Lingyun List—dead last—how many techniques could he have possibly comprehended?
His talent had never been particularly conspicuous on the Lingyun List. People only remembered him because of his track record of defeating Li Chuyang and Lin Jingyu, coupled with the fact that he had offended Huo Xiaochen.
Previously, even when they heard arrogant words, they didn’t care much. They hadn’t expected Fang Xu to take it so seriously and actively try to make Xu Yang make a fool of himself in public.
A glint of schadenfreude flashed in Ye Qiuling’s eyes. She silently rejoiced that she hadn’t stuck with Xu Yang and Sun Tao; otherwise, she would be losing face right alongside them now.
"My abilities are limited. I merely managed to comprehend one more technique than you," Xu Yang said with a smile.
Everyone was startled. Xu Yang had actually comprehended the Sixth Technique, just like Li Chuyang and Li Yunzhou. His Comprehension was also at the Below A-class level!
"That makes sense. The Lingyun List stated that Xu Yang defeated Li Chuyang during his Marrow Cleansing. It seems it wasn’t a fluke."
"He even defeated Brother Lin. He really does have a few tricks up his sleeve."
"It looks like Xu Yang’s ranking on the Lingyun List can move up a bit."
"No wonder the Kong Family tried to recruit him just now."
Thinking back to Xu Yang’s track record of defeating Li Chuyang and Lin Jingyu, everyone suddenly found this normal. Even if he had defeated Lin Jingyu before the latter had fully matured, it was still a victory within the same Realm. He hadn’t used a higher Realm to suppress Lin Jingyu. If it were anyone else, who would dare claim they could defeat Lin Jingyu in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm?
"He actually comprehended six techniques as well!" Li Chuyang revealed a look of disbelief. In his view, Xu Yang could comprehend four techniques at most. He hadn’t expected him to comprehend six, just like him.
"It seems I underestimated him a bit," Ye Qiuling murmured, a look of surprise on her face. She similarly hadn’t expected Xu Yang’s performance to reach this level. Not only was his Body Refining Talent quite good, but his Comprehension had actually reached the Below A-class level.
If it weren’t for the threat of Huo Xiaochen, he really would be a very good ally and fellow disciple. Crucially, he didn’t lust after her beauty. It was a pity that things had reached this point. Even if she could swallow her pride and approach him now, Xu Yang probably wouldn’t want anything to do with her. The guy was too shrewd.
"Fang Xu, it seems your rank of seventy-third on the Lingyun List is quite inflated," someone said, looking at Fang Xu with a smile.
He had wanted to make Xu Yang look like a fool, but he hadn’t expected to become the clown himself. A dignified seventy-third on the Lingyun List had only comprehended five techniques, while Xu Yang, at ninety-eighth, had comprehended six.
Fang Xu’s face flushed bright red. He hadn’t expected Xu Yang to comprehend six techniques, either, which instantly turned him into a leaping buffoon.
If someone who could comprehend six techniques in an hour said the swordplay wasn’t very profound, who would dare contradict them?
"He comprehended six techniques just because he says so? I could say I comprehended nine techniques! Anyone can make empty claims," Fang Xu questioned.
SWISH SWISH...
Before Fang Xu could finish speaking, Xu Yang formed a sword gesture with two fingers and casually thrust forward. Six streaks of Sword Qi shot out explosively.
Everyone present was a genius and had comprehended that exact Sword Technique. They naturally knew what six streaks of Sword Qi appearing simultaneously meant.
"It really is six techniques!"
"Xu Yang wasn’t bragging. He really did comprehend six techniques in an hour."
People exclaimed in the crowd, staring wide-eyed at the slowly dissipating Sword Qi.
Huo Xiaochen, Kong Cheng, Li Yunzhou, and the others raised their eyebrows slightly. Hearing Fang Xu’s doubts, they had subconsciously assumed that Xu Yang was talking nonsense. They hadn’t expected him to have genuinely comprehended six forms of the Sword Technique.
"Comprehending six techniques in an hour?" Kong Jie, who had just rushed over, revealed a look of astonishment upon seeing this scene.
When those mediocrities babbled about having a Martial Dao heart, it was naturally just a joke. But if it was a genius with A-class Comprehension, then it was a different story entirely. Something like a Martial Dao heart was invisible and intangible, but once damaged, a genius could be reduced to trash overnight.
"How is this possible..." Fang Xu’s face burned red. He felt as if he had been ruthlessly slapped in the face. Xu Yang had genuinely comprehended six forms of the Sword Technique, while he, ranked seventy-third on the Lingyun List, had only comprehended five.
In an instant, he felt that everyone around him was looking at him as if he were a leaping buffoon.
"What about you, Sun Tao? You also said..." Unwilling to accept this, Fang Xu turned to question Sun Tao, the one who had first claimed the Sword Technique was simple.
But before he could finish, Sun Tao thrust out his sword fingers just like Xu Yang. Six streaks of Sword Qi shot out simultaneously, answering him with concrete action.
"He also comprehended up to the Sixth Technique!"
"No wonder he dared to say it wasn’t profound."
"Ranked ninety-ninth, yet he comprehended six forms of the Sword Technique. The Lingyun List is truly full of inflated rankings."
"Counting Jiang Fan and Li Chuyang, the Purple Sun Sect really has a lot of geniuses this generation."
Everyone wore expressions of surprise. The most surprised of all were Li Chuyang and Ye Qiuling, who were also disciples of the Purple Sun Sect. Neither of them had expected Sun Tao to have comprehended six forms of the Sword Technique and reveal such sharp talent.
Sun Tao withdrew his Sword Qi and merely looked at Fang Xu calmly.
Fang Xu was overcome with shame and wished he could find a hole to crawl into. He hadn’t expected the obscure Sun Tao to also possess A-class Comprehension. He began to doubt his life choices. Were the ones at the bottom of the barrel all this fierce nowadays? Every single one stepping up had comprehended six techniques.
"Excellent! I didn’t expect Brother Xu and Brother Sun to possess A-class Comprehension as well. Once the Secondary Dragon Ascension begins, your rankings on the Lingyun List will surely take a step further." Kong Cheng stepped forward to smooth things over at this moment, which finally drew everyone’s attention away from Fang Xu.
Sun Tao smiled and cupped his hands. Xu Yang followed suit and cupped his hands.
This move was a bit high-profile, but he needed to reveal some of his edge. Raising his rank on the Lingyun List slightly would reduce a bit of trouble. At rank ninety-eight, truly anyone felt they could step on him. If his ranking had been higher than ninety-eight, Kong Shuyuan wouldn’t have let him leave without the slightest hesitation earlier after he refused the marriage alliance.
In the eyes of outsiders, a ranking of ninety-eight meant it was highly likely he would be squeezed off the Lingyun List after the Secondary Dragon Ascension. After all, dark horses always emerged every time.
For most people, the incident with Xu Yang, Sun Tao, and Fang Xu was just a minor interlude. Kong Yu soon turned his gaze to Liu Rumei, who was ranked sixtieth on the Lingyun List.
"Miss Liu Rumei, may I ask how many techniques you have comprehended?" he asked with a smile.
As the second most beautiful woman in the venue after Ye Qiuling, Liu Rumei attracted a lot of attention. Coupled with her being a genius ranked sixtieth on the Lingyun List, many young masters from the major families of Yunzhou City preferred her over Ye Qiuling, who they viewed as mere eye candy.
"This humble girl is untalented; I only comprehended six techniques," Liu Rumei replied.
Everyone was startled again. Yet another genius with A-class Comprehension.
Li Yunzhou’s face darkened. One by one, people ranked lower than him were achieving the exact same results as him, making it hard for him to save face. If Fang Xu’s ranking was inflated, didn’t that mean his, Li Yunzhou’s, ranking was inflated as well?
"Miss Ye Qiuling, may I ask how many techniques you have comprehended?" a passive-aggressive, overly sweet voice rang out.
Ye Qiuling wasn’t a genius on the Lingyun List, so asking her how many techniques she comprehended was meaningless. But earlier, after she appeared, she had drawn the attention of many geniuses, which had long since provoked the dissatisfaction of the young ladies and beauties of Yunzhou City. Now, someone wanted to embarrass her and make everyone see clearly that Ye Qiuling was nothing but a useless decorative vase.
SWISH!
In an instant, everyone turned to look at Ye Qiuling. She, who had been gloating just moments ago, suddenly panicked and cast a pleading look at Xu Yang and Sun Tao.
"Why are you looking at others? Will looking at others help you comprehend a few more techniques?" Xiao Ya spoke up. After Xu Yang, she had finally found another guy pleasing to the eye. But as soon as Ye Qiuling appeared, that man had abandoned her and left. Therefore, she was equally dissatisfied with Ye Qiuling.
Ye Qiuling’s face paled slightly as she gritted her teeth and said, "This humble girl is untalented; I only comprehended two techniques."
She didn’t dare to lie, knowing full well that these young ladies from the major families of Yun Province held a grudge against her. If she dared to spout nonsense, someone would definitely demand that she demonstrate it on the spot.
"Untalented, indeed."
"If you’ve only comprehended two techniques, don’t use the word ’untalented.’ You should use ’stupid.’"
"I didn’t expect Miss Ye’s Comprehension to be so poor."
The group of young ladies from Yunzhou City mocked Ye Qiuling recklessly. With her greedy habit of stringing men along while constantly searching for better options, Ye Qiuling had long since drawn their ire.
"Miss Ye Qiuling is a Pill Master. Comprehension naturally isn’t her strong suit."
There was never a shortage of lapdogs anywhere, and Ye Qiuling’s admirers immediately stepped up to speak on her behalf.
Seeing that an argument was about to break out, Kong Cheng hurriedly stepped in and asked a genius ranked in the fifties on the Lingyun List how many techniques he had comprehended.
This person cupped his hands and said, "Fourth Young Master, you shouldn’t make us embarrass ourselves. Why not ask Brother Huo and Brother Lin, the two true geniuses?"
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Lin Jingyu and Huo Xiaochen.
Huo Xiaochen smiled and cupped his hands. "I’m afraid I’ll make a fool of myself in front of everyone. I merely comprehended up to the Seventh Technique."
The Seventh Technique?
Everyone gasped. Huo Xiaochen’s ranking on the Lingyun List was entirely due to his Perfection Level Root Bone. They hadn’t expected his Comprehension to be so terrifying as well, comprehending the Comprehension-testing Sword Technique up to the seventh form in just an hour.
"Amazing!" Kong Cheng gave a thumbs-up. "To think that Brother Huo has achieved Root Bone Perfection, and your Comprehension is also extraordinary. To comprehend the Seventh Technique in an hour, Brother Huo’s Comprehension has definitely reached the Upper A-class."
Huo Xiaochen shook his head. He looked at Lin Jingyu beside him and said, "Brother Lin is known for his Comprehension. I’m afraid he has already mastered all nine forms of the Sword Technique and even comprehended a tenth technique."
Lin Jingyu’s expression was composed as he spoke calmly, "I have only comprehended the rudimentary form of a tenth technique. Strictly speaking, I have only comprehended the Ninth Technique."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked. Huo Xiaochen comprehending seven forms of the Sword Technique in an hour was already astonishing enough. They hadn’t expected Lin Jingyu to comprehend the rudimentary form of a tenth technique on top of comprehending the initial nine. Such Comprehension was simply appalling.
Let alone the others, even Huo Xiaochen was visibly moved. The young ladies of the major families in Yunzhou City looked at Lin Jingyu with gazes so intense it was as if they wanted to swallow him whole.
"It’s a pity I didn’t interact with him more while we were traveling," Ye Qiuling felt a wave of regret. At that time, she hadn’t thought much of Lin Jingyu at all. Who would have thought he was such a genius? Now that Lin Jingyu’s reputation had spread, it was a bit too late for her to try and befriend him.
"Brother Lin’s talent is truly breathtaking! As expected of the genius ranked eleventh on the Lingyun List. Being able to deduce the rudimentary form of the tenth technique is already considered a success. Your Comprehension should be at Perfect Comprehension, the same level as a Perfect Root Bone," Kong Cheng said with a look of awe.
Perfect Comprehension and Perfect Root Bone seemed to be talents on the same level, but in reality, Perfect Comprehension was even rarer than a Perfect Root Bone. In the later stages of the Martial Dao, the potential of a Perfect Root Bone was also inferior to that of Perfect Comprehension.