"Nanjin, did you pass the test on the sixth level of Deep Sea?"

"Thank you for your concern, senior brother. Not yet... but after fighting against A-009, I vaguely sensed the existence of some 'origin'. I should be close to a breakthrough."

"It's normal for Transcendents in the strong attack category to progress slower. Take it step by step, don't rush, and be steady."

"..."

Lu Er and Zhong Wei Nanjin chatted for a long time.

Gu Shen's consciousness entered the Awakening Dream, and it seemed that there would be a "long" leisure time ahead. This time was perfect for exchanging insights on Transcendent cultivation.

"Nanjin, senior brother said you withstood A-009's attack?"

"The situation is complicated, hard to explain in a few words."

Nanjin shook her head. "It can't really be considered withstanding... If A-009 had continued to go berserk, I would have died."

At the critical moment, A-009 stopped its attack.

She looked at the sleeping boy on the bench, her eyes filled with complexity... She had intended to save Gu Shen, but in the end, it was Gu Shen who saved her.

"If I remember correctly, the last time we met was in the metropolitan area, right? At that time, you were shorter than me, holding a knife, squatting in the corner like a stubborn weed... And now, you have become someone who can stand on your own."

Lu Shi Jie gestured, feeling quite emotional.

"Attack me."

Without hesitation, Nanjin drew her long knife from her waist.

After the battle with A-009, she always felt that she was lacking something... Now, this was the best opportunity for honing her skills!

A "buzz" sound.

The wind in the training ground reversed at this moment. The sharp blade aura flowed like water from the engraved patterns on the long knife, forming countless strands of silver brilliance suspended in the air, then forming a vortex and starting to rotate.

In the silent training ground, an invisible pressure slowly descended.

Zhong Wei stepped back two steps and sat on a bench with Gu Shen. He leisurely watched this scene, and above his head, the countless strands of pressure caused by the blade's momentum fell onto the bench, immediately dissolving and easily resolving.

Lu Shi Jie's ponytail fluttered in the wind.

She stood there in an ordinary manner, looking at the knife domain displayed by Nanjin at this moment, her brows slightly furrowed... Why did this knife domain seem so familiar?

That's right.

She remembered. The side view of the Heavenly Platform was very similar to the present scene. When Gu Shen awakened as a Transcendent and killed the strong attack Transcendent, it was similar to Nanjin's knife domain.

"Is it a coincidence?"

No time to think too much.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the blade ringing—

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Lu Er looked up, and the overwhelming silver blade aura surged like a tide, almost engulfing her completely.

The entire underground training ground was swept away by the blade aura. The copper walls, iron walls, and huge glass mirrors all shattered like fragile shells, forming a whirlwind of blade aura.

In the fierce and violent whirlwind, only one bench remained intact.

Zhong Wei leaned on the bench, watching this spectacle with an appreciative and regretful look in his eyes.

Nanjin's eyes were filled with a strong fighting spirit. She raised her battle knife high with both hands. Although she had a female body, she seemed like a divine being with the power to split mountains. Countless strands of silver brilliance converged into a line and "slowly" slashed towards Lu Shi Jie—

This move was extremely powerful.

But it was too slow. If it were a ground battle, the opponent could easily escape.

But now they were underground... and her opponent was Lu Shi Jie.

Lu Er wouldn't dodge, nor did she want to dodge.

Since she let Nanjin make a move, she was a hundred percent confident that she could withstand this attack.

At the moment when the majestic blade aura descended, Lu Shi Jie still didn't move. She just stared at the blazing and dazzling blade light, seeing every inch of its internal structure clearly... Then, she raised one hand.

At this moment, time seemed to slow down.

The iron scraps rolling on the periphery of the blade aura turned into mechanical arms under the control of Lu Shi Jie's five fingers. If someone opened a mountain, she would divide the sea.

"Boom boom boom—"

After Lu Shi Jie made a move.

Countless enraged blade auras wandering in the air dissipated at an extremely fast speed. With each inch of resistance, Nanjin could feel her willpower and physical strength being rapidly consumed.

She held the knife with both hands, assuming a stance. The airflow from the explosion blew open her windbreaker, almost level with the ground. Nanjin's low roar was drowned in the void's blade ringing. The engraved patterns on the silver knife were exceptionally brilliant. In the process of resisting "Lu Shi Jie," she felt a greater pressure than A-009. The blade was only a short distance away from hitting Lu Shi Jie...

But no matter how much strength Nanjin exerted, she couldn't complete the final "strike."

In the end, even lowering it by one centimeter became a luxury.

A tiny difference, like a chasm.

"Crack!"

The silver knife made a crisp sound, emitting a crack, but it still couldn't make any progress.

Just a little bit more.

Just a little bit more...

Nanjin had no intention of giving up.

Just a little more distance!

Break it! Shatter it!

At the moment before her strength was exhausted, the silver knife successfully broke through and struck.

...

...

"Drip."

A drop of sweat fell to the ground, splashing into sparkling fragments.

Nanjin stared at the sweat bead sliding down her cheek and the shattered blade fragments on the ground, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Her strike... was delivered.Although Sister Luo was unharmed and still calm, her standing position was different from before.

If one were observant, they would notice that Sister Luo had subtly shifted a step to the side, and the place where she originally stood was chiseled out into a pit by a sharp blade aura.

Pieces of shattered metal were manipulated by a powerful and stable mental force, restored to their original state, like paper being smoothed out by a finger, and pasted back onto the inner walls of the training field.

"You're stronger than I imagined. Breaking through the sixth layer of the Deep Sea is just a matter of time."

Luo Er raised her hand, and the shattered blade flew into her palm, converging into a complete substantial battle blade.

Everything returned to normal.

"Was this move realized during your fight with A-009? Not bad, it's very lethal." She came to Nanjin's side and handed out the battle blade, "But in terms of subtle control... it's still a bit raw. If you can perfectly control every strand of blade intent, this blade would be enough to hurt me."

"..."

Nanjin silently noted down her sister's advice.

"Perfectly controlling every strand of blade intent is really too demanding."

Zhong Wei stood up and said solemnly, "Junior sister, your blade already carries the meaning of 'origin'. Among your peers, there should be few who can achieve this step. Don't be too hard on yourself."

Taking the long blade in both hands, Nanjin felt a subtle change in weight. The tip of the blade seemed to be missing a piece.

She was slightly taken aback.

The entire training field was restored by Sister Luo's mental power, except for the pit where she originally stood, where a piece of blade tip was stuck.

"The tip of this blade... let's leave it here as a memento. You should know, there are only a few in the entire Judgement who can hurt me."

Luo Er tiptoed and patted Nanjin's shoulder, praising seriously, "You've done well to get this far. Zhong Wei is right, don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes, taking a break is also a form of cultivation."

The teacher informed her.

Nanjin had been working very hard in her cultivation these years. It was not wrong to want to become stronger, but everything has a process, and gradual progress is in line with the natural order. Those who shine brightly from the start often burn out their life force quickly.

"Thank you..."

Nanjin just shook her head, not saying much, neither accepting nor rejecting.

"Unconsciously, it's been over four hours."

Zhong Wei stroked his chin and murmured, "Gu Shen hasn't woken up yet..."

According to the sister's profile, Gu Shen should be a mental Transcendent without a doubt.

Over four hours of comprehension time was not long. The comprehension of the Shocking Breath Method was difficult, and there were many geniuses in the Judgement who took seven or eight hours to comprehend it.

But for the highly anticipated S-rank, over four hours without comprehending the Shocking Breath Method... was a bit long.

If this news got out, it might have a negative impact on Gu Shen's review.

As a dreamer, Luo Er could still sense some movements in the dream world... She released her mental power to investigate and found that Gu Shen's spirit was extremely relaxed at the moment, not at all like he was comprehending the Shocking Breath Method.

"This kid... why does it sound like he's snoring?"

Zhong Wei was a bit dumbfounded.

Then, the relaxed mental power slowly condensed, a sign of waking up.

"Four hours... thirty-nine minutes..."

He glanced at the time.

"As an 'S' rank mental Transcendent... it's a bit slow."

This result, compared horizontally in the mental category, was too mediocre.

"No matter, as long as he has comprehended it, it's fine. I took eight hours back then." Luo Er raised an eyebrow, "Gu Shen still has a long way to go."

A serious look appeared on her face, and she said earnestly, "Remember, today's matter must not be leaked. The comprehension time of the Shocking Breath Method may affect the review results of the Judgement."