With Heaven-Defying Talent, I Actually Became Lu Xueqi

Zhang Xiaofan stared in horror at the incoming thunderball. At this moment, he was completely drained of strength and energy, yet he still refused to give up.

As the thunderball crashed down, he thrust the Soul-Devouring Staff violently into its center.

In that instant, the violent power of lightning erupted with a roar. It coiled around his body like silver serpents, engulfing him entirely in dazzling electric light.

Amidst the searing pain, Zhang Xiaofan let out a muffled groan, yet he clenched his teeth so tightly they nearly shattered, forcing himself to maintain his forward charge, crashing toward Lu Xueqi at full speed.

Lu Xueqi’s heart trembled violently at the sight. The distance between them was now less than half a step, and in a hurried moment, she could only twist her body and dodge to the side.

Zhang Xiaofan’s scorched figure swept past her with a burning whirlwind. The gale he brought with him lifted her veil, and the air was filled with the pungent stench of scorched flesh.

She turned her head and saw that although Zhang Xiaofan’s body was smoking and covered in blood, his eyes remained bright and clear, locked tightly onto her figure.

Just then, her veil was swept away by the whirlwind, revealing her flawless beauty without reservation.

Her skin outshone snow, her features were like a painting, and her cool aura was like a celestial maiden descending from the Moon Palace, even more ethereal than in memories of past lives.

Zhang Xiaofan’s pupils contracted sharply. The moment this figure’s true face was revealed, it was etched into his heart like a brand, never to be erased.

Below the platform, Tian Buyi's expression changed dramatically upon seeing his beloved disciple in such a state. With a flash, he leapt onto the platform and caught Zhang Xiaofan steadily before he could fall off.

Daoxuan and the other peak masters exchanged shocked glances.

In this battle, both contestants had displayed the power of the Upper Purity Realm, truly a clash between the brightest prodigies of Qingyun in nearly a century.

And the moment Lu Xueqi’s true face was exposed, the entire audience fell into a deathly silence.

Her beauty was like the most perfect creation under heaven, freezing everyone’s gaze and sending a deafening roar through their minds.

There was only one voice echoing in their hearts.

“So beautiful.”

Lu Xueqi, seeing this, didn’t remain suspended in the sky. With a flicker, she reappeared on the platform.

Master Shuiyue quickly leapt onto the stage and asked with concern,

“Xueqi, are you hurt?”

Lu Xueqi gently shook her head and replied,

“Master, I’m fine.”

Only then did Master Shuiyue let out a sigh of relief.

She then turned her gaze toward the elder presiding over the match.

The elder, catching Master Shuiyue’s look, finally snapped out of his daze and declared in a loud voice.

“This round, Xiaozhu Peak’s Lu Xueqi is victorious.”

Only upon hearing the elder’s announcement did the disciples below regain their senses. Their eyes remained fixed on Lu Xueqi at the center of the platform, as if unwilling to miss even a second of the sight.

Though they had long heard of Lu Xueqi’s extraordinary talent and stunning beauty, none had expected her appearance to be so shockingly divine.

By comparison, Tian Ling’er—once hailed as one of the “Twin Beauties of Qingyun”—paled significantly. It was like fireflies next to the bright moon, simply incomparable.

Master Shuiyue gazed at her disciple with a mixture of pride and helplessness.

She had long known that after her transformation, Lu Xueqi’s temperament and looks had surpassed the past, which was why she had asked her to wear a veil. But she hadn’t anticipated such an incident, nor the stir it would cause.

Daoxuan stared at Lu Xueqi thoughtfully.

When they had met just a few days ago, her beauty had been within understandable bounds. But now, she seemed utterly transformed, divinely radiant, breathtaking like a fairy descended to earth.

He couldn’t help but wonder whether Lu Xueqi had encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity in recent days that had brought about this change.

Had that opportunity reshaped her appearance, enhanced her aptitude, or perhaps... both?

Lu Xueqi bent down to pick up the veil that had fallen, her gaze once again landing on Zhang Xiaofan.

This young man’s performance today made her regard him slightly differently. His resilience had shaken her a little—no wonder he was the protagonist of this world.

For him to rise in this world and eventually become a supreme powerhouse, it wasn’t just the fortuitous encounters along the way. His tenacious will played an equally crucial role.

Even now, though gravely injured and on the brink of death, his defiant gaze still met hers.

Daoxuan stood up, his figure flashing as he landed on the platform. His intense gaze fell upon Lu Xueqi.

“Niece Xueqi, it’s only been a few days, and your transformation is nothing short of astonishing.”

Lu Xueqi lightly nodded and replied.

“Senior Uncle, you flatter me.”

Immediately after, Daoxuan turned to Master Shuiyue and smiled as he congratulated her.

“Junior Sister Shuiyue, congratulations. Niece Lu’s strength is outstanding. This year’s top rank in the Seven Peaks Tournament may well be claimed by Xiaozhu Peak.”

Master Shuiyue gave a faint smile and nodded.

“It’s all due to Xueqi’s own efforts. However, Longshou Peak’s Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu are not to be underestimated. As for who will triumph in the end, we’ll have to wait and see the upcoming battles.”

Daoxuan nodded, his gaze shifting toward the platform where Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu were fighting.

At that moment, figures flickered across that dueling platform, and thunderous sounds echoed nonstop.

After prolonged fierce combat, both Lin Jingyu and Qi Hao had bloodshot eyes, their killing intent nearly tangible, as though they would devour each other alive.

Their strengths were originally close. Qi Hao had more robust spiritual power, but was slightly inferior to Lin Jingyu in Daoist arts comprehension. Thus, after a long stalemate, their fight had reached an impasse.

As the duel grew even fiercer, both were covered in bloody wounds, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, yet they continued to confront each other without retreating an inch.

Below the platform, Daoist Cang Song’s face was ashen, but he dared not intervene rashly. The rules of the Seven Peaks Tournament were clear: unless one side voluntarily conceded, no one had the authority to stop the battle.

The elder overseeing the match was even more horrified. He had thought a battle between disciples of the same peak would be more of a formality. Who could have expected it to turn into a life-and-death struggle?

What shocked him even more was that the strength of these two youths surpassed even his own—a veteran Ninth Level of Jade Purity Realm cultivator—making him feel ashamed. How could he dare step in and interrupt?

After yet another fierce clash, Lin Jingyu locked eyes with Qi Hao, his gaze icy, his tone barbed.

“Senior Brother, you’re already a spent force, and you still think you can take me down? What a laughable dream.”

Qi Hao’s expression was as dark as water. He replied coldly,

“Spare me the talk. Are you in any better shape?”

He recalled how just a year ago, even while injured, he had still been able to suppress Lin Jingyu—nearly killing him. Yet now, in the span of a single year, the other had grown strong enough to fight him to a draw?

Lin Jingyu’s skillful use of Daoist secret arts far exceeded his expectations. Thinking back to how he had been constantly targeted by the others lately only deepened the hatred in his heart.

Feeling the last remnants of spiritual power in his body and noting the darkening sky, Qi Hao clenched his teeth and made a decision. One strike to determine victory.

He suddenly leapt into the air, stepping on the void, and began chanting a divine incantation.

“From the Nine Heavens, Profound Calamity descends as Divine Thunder, mighty and glorious, summoned forth by the sword!”

It was none other than the Qingyun Sect’s supreme divine technique: the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art.

This scene drew gasps from the crowd.

No one had expected that, following Lu Xueqi, another disciple would unleash such a supreme divine art.

Upon sensing the technique, they found its power range was somewhat smaller than when Lu Xueqi had cast it. Many then turned their eyes to the other dueling platform.

There, they saw Qi Hao wielding the Ice Immortal Sword, his expression solemn as he gazed skyward, crimson killing intent surging in his eyes. In the sky, lightning like silver serpents was gathering rapidly.

Seeing this, Lin Jingyu’s mind flashed back to the moment a year ago in the Back Mountain, when he had been gravely injured by this very technique from Qi Hao. Hatred surged in his chest.

“Senior Brother Qi, it’s been a year—I am no longer who I was. You know this divine art, and you think I don’t?”

He soared into the air, stepping on the void, spiritual power flooding into the Dragon-Slaying Sword as he chanted a spell.

In an instant, the dark clouds in the sky thickened, lightning flashed violently, and dragons of thunder streaked through the sky, converging toward both the Ice Immortal Sword and the Dragon-Slaying Sword.

Daoxuan and the other peak masters hurried to the platform’s edge, watching the two figures casting spells in the air, their hearts shaken.

This generation of disciples had talent far beyond imagination. And this was only the semifinals. Already, three had demonstrated the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art, and one had even broken through that supreme art’s protective barrier and summoned lightning with bare hands. Truly, it had broadened their ancient horizons.

All that had happened today was sure to make the entire Qingyun Sect regard these young disciples in a new light, and it made everyone even more eager to see what the upcoming matches would bring.