Just as Lu Yin was about to climb, a man stepped out and blocked his path, sizing him up curiously. "Brother, which floor are you going to?"
"Which floor is Gurbach on?" Lu Yin asked.
Everyone was startled, looking at Lu Yin in shock.
"You're looking for the Hall Master?" the man asked in amazement.
Lu Yin said calmly, "He's the one looking for me."
The crowd sized up Lu Yin, their gazes mostly probing. In the crowd, a shorter man glared at Lu Yin. He was one of the Martial Hall elites who had participated in the Earth trial and also one of the elites who had been robbed by Lu Yin. He had a deep impression of Lu Yin and was one of the few who knew his identity. He badly wanted to cause trouble for Lu Yin, but facing the identity of the King of Zishan, he thought better of it.
"The Hall Master is on the top floor," the man who had blocked Lu Yin said.
"Thanks," Lu Yin replied and started to climb.
At regular intervals, there was a vast floor. The higher he went, the fewer people there were, and no one stopped him.
By the time he emerged above the clouds, he was very close to the top of the tower. There was no one here.
On the top floor of the tower, Gurbach stood by a stone window, the fierce wind whipping around him.
Lu Yin leaped up and entered the top floor. He immediately saw a young man standing not far away, his back tall and straight, his entire body exuding a sharp intent. This was Gurbach, one of the top young experts of the Great Yu Empire, one of the Martial Hall's Hall Masters, and a pervert in the mouths of countless disciples.
As Lu Yin was sizing up Gurbach, Gurbach suddenly turned around. His sharp gaze locked onto Lu Yin like a pointed arrow piercing the void, sending a chill down Lu Yin's spine.
This person looks a lot like Gules; he must be her older brother, Lu Yin thought to himself.
They were both Hall Masters of the Martial Hall. Tian Ming was gentle and polite, while Gurbach had an overwhelmingly heroic aura. His whole being was like a sharp arrow, filled with an aggressive pressure.
"My sister received your care during the trial," Gurbach spoke, his eyes fixed on Lu Yin.
Lu Yin raised an eyebrow, his gaze meeting Gurbach's without any sign of weakness. "It was just the strong preying on the weak."
Gurbach's mouth curved. "Indeed. Since you knew that, why did you help her?"
Lu Yin was stunned. Help her? When? Didn't I just rob her?
Gurbach said coldly, "Although the Earth trial was not a success, in terms of individual achievement, Gules was far ahead, even surpassing Erde. I don't believe it, and I know my sister. With her strength, she couldn't have achieved such a score. It was you who helped her. You captured a dozen disciples, and that achievement was enough for her to surpass the others."
Lu Yin blinked. It seemed Gules hadn't told Gurbach about being robbed by him. Makes sense, he thought. With her personality of never taking a loss, how could she tell Gurbach? Although Gurbach has great power in the Martial Hall, it's limited to the Martial Hall. He has no authority to interfere with the trial, so he couldn't know the details, couldn't know I robbed Gules. A wonderful misunderstanding.
"So you refused to let me learn the first 20 forms of the Heavenly Beast Claw because of this?" Lu Yin asked.
Gurbach's gaze swept outside the tower. "I just wanted to meet you. Although you are the King of Zishan, you participated in the trial as a native. A mere native who could defeat a dozen disciples, including Martial Hall elites and even Las. I am very curious about you." He then stared at Lu Yin again, his eyes filled with battle intent. "And I want to experience your strength for myself. It's rumored you can learn the Heavenly Beast Claw in actual combat. I don't believe it."
A smile touched the corner of Lu Yin's mouth. "Then let's try."
Gurbach shouted, "Good!" and suppressed his Star Energy to the Reaching Realm. "Be careful. Once we're in a combat state, I won't hold back."
"Me neither," Lu Yin replied. The two of them launched themselves at each other at the same time.
Boom!
Their fists collided, sending shockwaves everywhere. Both retreated simultaneously, then charged at each other again. Gurbach truly wasn't holding back. He raised his hand and unleashed the Heavenly Beast Claw, far surpassing the Thyssen he had fought before. This was Gurbach; even while maintaining the strength of the Reaching Realm, he could still execute a combat technique that surpassed a Melting Realm expert.
Lu Yin's eyes focused. He suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on Gurbach's Heavenly Beast Claw. Five stars faintly appeared and revolved around his body, forming a special defensive field. As Gurbach's claw entered the field of the Heavenly Star Art, the distance suddenly seemed to stretch infinitely, so far that Lu Yin could clearly see every single change in the Heavenly Beast Claw.
One, two, three... up to 15 forms. Gurbach's single strike of the Heavenly Beast Claw contained 15 forms of change, its power terrifying. The roar of the Void Beast shook the air, making the surroundings seem to freeze.
Lu Yin's pupils contracted. His body dodged at an unbelievable angle. The Heavenly Beast Claw covered a hundred-meter radius, yet Lu Yin evaded it. The claw struck the ground, blasting a huge claw mark into it.
Gurbach looked at Lu Yin in astonishment. "You actually managed to dodge it. Good."
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. He had just learned nine forms of change. Not enough. Again.
Gurbach executed the Heavenly Beast Claw again, covering all directions, attempting to defeat Lu Yin with it. Unfortunately, in Lu Yin's eyes, the Heavenly Beast Claw was not without flaws. Every strike was dodged. By the time Gurbach executed the Heavenly Beast Claw for the fifth time, Lu Yin's eyes lit up. Got it. The 15 forms of change were now clear in his mind. The next moment, Lu Yin raised his hand, his palm turning into a claw. "Heavenly Beast Claw!"
Gurbach was shocked and launched a Heavenly Beast Claw of his own.
A deafening boom caught the attention of many people below the tower.
Lu Yin and Gurbach both retreated, leaving deep marks on the ground.
When the dust settled, it revealed Gurbach's shocked eyes.
"You... you can actually imitate it—no, you learned the Heavenly Beast Claw. Just by watching five times, you've managed to execute the 15 forms," Gurbach said in amazement.
Lu Yin panted, his palm aching. Gurbach was a Melting Realm expert. Even with his realm suppressed, his body was still that of a Melting Realm expert. Clashing with him head-on was a huge disadvantage.
"I never thought there would be a prodigy like you. The Heavenly Beast Claw is carved on stone walls, and even Martial Hall elites take a long time to learn it. Some people can't even learn the 15 forms in their entire lifetime. For you to master it in such a short time is admirable," Gurbach praised.
Lu Yin saw no jealousy in his eyes, and his favorable impression of him grew. "It just so happens that this combat technique suits me."
Gurbach nodded and said with emotion, "Indeed. When you find a combat technique that suits you, you learn it very quickly."
"Still want to fight?" Lu Yin asked.
The corner of Gurbach's mouth lifted. "The Heavenly Beast Claw is not my specialty. Since I said I'd fight you, it can't end like this. Be careful. Next, I will use my own suitable combat technique. If you die, don't blame me."
Lu Yin's gaze turned serious. As a Hall Master and a peak Melting Realm expert, Gurbach's combat techniques would be absolutely terrifying. "Bring it on."
Gurbach grinned. A strange fruit appeared in his palm, with lightning patterns on it. This type of fruit, like a natural energy crystal, could provide lightning energy.
As Gurbach crushed the fruit, lightning flashed, and the high temperature scorched the ground, even piercing through the stone windows and blasting outside, shocking many people.
"The Hall Master is fighting! Who is it with?"
"Could it be that person who just went up?"
"Impossible, that person is only in the Reaching Realm..."
...
Lu Yin felt the berserk lightning and subconsciously retreated. This scene reminded him of Gules's battle armor, but it was far more terrifying.
Can't wait. He had to attack proactively. Lu Yin's eyes sharpened. He raised his hand and fiercely unleashed the Sky-Splitting Palm. Gurbach snorted coldly. With a wave of his hand, the lightning in his palm exploded, directly tearing apart the airwave of the Sky-Splitting Palm, then transformed into an arrow and shot towards Lu Yin.
Lu Yin hurriedly dodged. The wall behind him was pierced through, and the scorching shockwave sent him flying. A trace of numbness appeared on his body; this was the power of lightning.
"This is my combat technique, the Flashing Thunder Arrow. Let me see your true strength!" Gurbach shouted. He took a step forward, and the lightning formed a bow and arrow, aimed directly at Lu Yin. In an instant, Lu Yin's scalp tingled. In his eyes, there wasn't just lightning, but also an unfathomably sharp force. The entire world seemed to turn into a sea of lightning, the entire world an enemy.
Below the tower, Bronson's gaze was solemn as he stared up at the sky. In the Martial Hall, as long as it wasn't an intentional murder, he couldn't interfere in a life-or-death battle. He hoped the King of Zishan wouldn't die. Facing a Martial Hall Master, even one with a suppressed realm, was not something an ordinary Melting Realm expert could compare to.
Lu Yin stared at the sharp force within the endless lightning. At this moment, the threat Gurbach posed to him was even greater than Qing Yu's had been. Qing Yu's combat power had been suppressed to the Reaching Realm due to his severe injuries, and many of his combat techniques couldn't be used. Gurbach was different. He had no restrictions and could unleash his power limitlessly, pushing the strength of the Reaching Realm to its extreme.
Instantly, that sharp force shot towards him. Lu Yin knew he couldn't escape. He raised his palm, five stars revolving, and unleashed a single Heavenly Star Palm. As the palm struck, the stars appeared.
BOOM!