Chapter 87: Here Comes the Lu Hype Squad

Lu Chen's gaze swept over the remaining fighters in the crowd. With the Hunyuan Greatsword in hand, he swung it gracefully, carving a brilliant sword flower through the air. He said, "Most of you who have not come up are at the fifth level of the Qi Regulation Realm. It's about time this celebration banquet came to an end. Since that's the case, all of you, come at me together. Let this battle decide the victor."

His words froze the crowd below.

Three seconds later, a roar of furious chatter broke out. Several of the stronger cultivators drew their weapons, faces burning with anger.

Lu Chen's lips curled into a casual smile as he looked down at them. "Do you know what it means to be truly powerful? Do you know what it means to show off?"

The cultivator at the front shouted back with a sneer, "What do you take us for? You might be strong, but we're no pushovers."

"Yeah, do you think you're Senior Martial Brother Song Ping?"

"Even Senior Brother Song never dared challenge all the high-level cultivators at once. Where do you get the audacity to say that?"

Their scowls deepened, voices brimming with indignation at Lu Chen's arrogance. They could tolerate being asked not to hold back, but demanding they gang up on one person? That was absolutely unacceptable.

"You actually dare challenge everyone with that broken sword of yours? I thought you were strong, but it turns out you're just a big, dumb brute. The boss really misjudged you."

Song Ping looked at the battered sword in Lu Chen's hands and sneered. He then closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair to rest.

The "Song fans" in the crowd quickly swayed public opinion against Lu Chen.

"Look at how modest Senior Martial Brother Song is."

"Seems like he got a little too cocky after trading blows with the Spidercrab in the secret realm."

"Exactly. Compared to Brother Song, he's nothing."

Jun Laoye glanced at Jun Wudi and said, "Second Uncle, it's getting late. Since Little Lu wants to test his strength, let him. If he loses, it'll be a lesson well learned."

Jun Wudi gathered spirit qi in his eyes and fixed his gaze on Lu Chen. After a moment, he said, "Everyone at or below the fifth level of the Qi Regulation Realm, step onto the arena. Those above, watch and learn."

"The boss has given the order. Charge, brothers!"

The cultivators who had drawn their weapons surged forward onto the arena. There were twenty-one in total. They moved like a whirlwind, attacking from all directions with an array of weapons. They quickly formed a circle, trapping Lu Chen in the center.

Wind Dragon observed the surrounding cultivators and spoke through the Hunyuan Greatsword, "

Hm? Twenty-one Qi Regulation Realm cultivators. Ten at level-five, seven at level-four, and four at level-three. I haven't come out in thousands of years. It's a good chance for me to see how strong today's cultivators are.

"Two weaklings at level three Qi Regulation Realm are just behind you on the right. You should be able to take them out in one move. Let's go, Little Lu. Don't think about showing off during the fight. You know why."

Lu Chen responded,

"Hahaha, I just want to experience the feeling of showing off. Being humble and low-key. I get that."

"Hahaha, then what are we waiting for? Let's do this!"

"On it, Wind Dragon."

Lu Chen gripped the sword hilt with both hands. He stomped his right foot into the ground, using the recoil to surge toward the two cultivators behind him on the right with a yell of challenge.

Without any feints or flashy moves, he swung the Hunyuan Greatsword in the most straightforward way possible at the two cultivators.

Before the two cultivators even realized what was happening, they were sent flying off the arena.

One of them shouted, "Brothers, move in! Let's surround him!"

The rest charged at Lu Chen.

Wind Dragon remarked with a hint of surprise in his voice, "

Two down already? Not bad. Next up. Four cultivators about ten meters to the right—two at level four, two at level three."

Shortly after Wind Dragon spoke, the two level-four cultivators were knocked off the arena.

Nearby fighters tried rushing to where Lu Chen stood, but he had already closed in on the two level-three cultivators.

Two dull thuds rang out as those two were also knocked off the platform.

Lu Chen returned to the arena's center.

Wind Dragon sounded disappointed. "

The four are already down? Cultivators nowadays are too weak.

"

Tension thickened among the cultivators in the arena. They were already ashamed for not suppressing their cultivation realms. Now, with so many ganging up on Lu Chen, losing would be a total humiliation.

"Charge, brothers!"

"Give it your all! Our pride and rewards are on the line!"

The fighters unleashed their strongest attacks, shouting as they surged forward.

Defeating one might be luck. Taking down two could prove strength. But to still fight with ease against a whole group... that was something only a one-in-a-million genius could manage.

The crowd below no longer looked down on Lu Chen. Some had begun to worship him, becoming devoted "Lu fans."

They shouted excitedly, "Boss Lu, take them all down!"

"Little Lu is so powerful. He is just as fast as Brother Xiao Long."

Jun Laoye was so engrossed in the fight that he forgot the wine cup before him, spilling it all over himself as he suddenly shot to his feet to get a better look at the fight.

"

Let's do this, Wind Dragon!

"

Lu Chen gripped the Hunyuan Greatsword and activated Star-Serpent Cloud Concealment, weaving through his opponents like a shadow.

In under one minute, Lu Chen sent the five remaining level-four cultivators off the arena with a single strike from his sword.

Wind Dragon sounded a little displeased. "

This is disappointing. Is this really the strength of today's cultivators on the continent?

Next up are the level-five cultivators. Little Lu, I'll give you one last chance to show off.

Ten minutes. No, five minutes. That's all you get.

"

***

Lu Chen gripped the Hunyuan Greatsword tightly, spirit qi surging rapidly within him. Amid the cheers of the Lu Hype Squad and the crowd, he charged toward the remaining cultivators.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Flood Dragon's Dive! Silver Snake Emerges from Its Lair! Divine Tree Vines!"

With every step he took, a new clone appeared by his side, blocking the nearby cultivators.

By the time Lu Chen reached the center of the crowd and came to a stop, nearly every cultivator was held back by the clones or entangled in the vines of the Green Sovereign Divine Tree.

Lu Chen stood firm at the center. Seizing that short moment in which his opponents were distracted, he quickly formed a hand seal.

A vast amount of spirit qi from his Heavenly Pool surged into the Hunyuan Greatsword. This was a prelude to the Nantian Sword Art.

Seeing Lu Chen's movements, Nantian Wan'er smiled softly. "Uncle Jun, Lu-gege is about to end the fight. Who's next?"

Having spent some time with Jun Wudi and the others, Nantian Wan'er had grown comfortable. She no longer felt as shy, and she had started to laugh more often.

Jun Wudi looked at her with a smile. "How do you know?"

"I just do. Lu-gege's next move will be very powerful. Uncle Jun, get ready."

Nantian Wan'er didn't explain further. She kept her eyes fixed on the arena.

Before Jun Wudi could reply, Jun Laoye stood up and said, "Little Lu may have restrained them, but there are still too many opponents. Two fists can't beat four hands. He'll have to face these level-five cultivators one by one, and it won't be an easy victory."

Glancing toward the arena, he added, "One more thing, Little Lu has only just ascended to the Qi Regulation Realm. His spirit qi reserve is limited. Once it runs out, things will get tough."

Nantian Wan'er glanced at Lu Chen and noticed that his hand seal was nearing completion. She then looked at Jun Laoye and giggled, "Why don't we make a bet, then? I say they'll definitely lose within one minute."

Jun Laoye met her gaze. "I also believe Little Lu will win, but the sheer number of opponents he faces this time is overwhelming."

Nantian Yijian said without hesitation, "Boss will definitely win."

His faith in Lu Chen was unshakable. If Lu Chen said it could be done, then it would be.

Jun Wudi responded, "

Hehehehe

, I also believe Little Lu will win, though it probably won't be easy..."

Just then, Jun Wudi felt the aura rising from Lu Chen's body, and he immediately stopped laughing. Pointing at Lu Chen, he exclaimed, "Could it be?"

A fiery red dragon's shadow slowly appeared on the Hunyuan Greatsword, and a surge of sword intent began to rise around Lu Chen.

"Sword intent?"

Below the arena, Song Ping's eyes widened as he felt the swelling aura. He jumped to his feet. "This is... the embryonic form of sword intent? Isn't Lu Chen supposed to be a body cultivator?"

The Lu Hype Squad and others below the arena stared in awe at the fiery dragon coiling around the greatsword.

They couldn't sense the sword intent, but it didn't stop them from cheering even louder.

The cultivators in the arena broke free from their restraints, rushing toward Lu Chen all at once. "Let's take him down, Brothers!"

Facing the onslaught, Lu Chen shouted, "Nantian Dragon-Slaying Sword!"

He soared upward with the Hunyuan Greatsword.

A dragon's roar echoed from the sword, reverberating through the entire airship.

Lu Chen looked down at his opponents and calmly said, "This ends now."

He unleashed the dragon-shaped sword qi, guiding it downward into the crowd.

Under his control, the sword qi weaved skillfully through the cultivators and struck the center of the arena with precision.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion rang out, and the arena cracked open.

The dragon-shaped sword qi swirled above, its cracks spreading rapidly like a spiderweb from where Lu Chen stood.

The dazzling attack created a shockwave so powerful it silenced everyone aboard the airship.

Jun Laoye stared wide-eyed at the devastation left behind. "How is this possible? Little Lu's strength exceeds even my expectations. Once this banquet ends, I'll need to retreat into seclusion for a while."

At that moment, Nantian Yijian rose quietly and approached the arena's edge. "Could this be the Nantian Dragon-Slaying Sword?"

Jun Wudi's eyes fixed on the dragon-shaped shadow etched into the arena floor. He quickly released spirit qi to reinforce the stage and repair the damage. "Looks like I underestimated him."

Nantian Wan'er smiled happily. "Yes, Lu-gege has truly become strong."

She almost spoke as if Jun Wudi's praise was meant for her, rather than for Lu Chen.