Heavenly Sword Saint
The training grounds of the Jian Clan were already filled with people before Jian Chen arrived.
From the entrance, he could see hundreds of young disciples scattered across the enormous grounds.
Some stood together in groups, talking excitedly.
Others stood alone, quietly observing the surroundings.
The annual competition had not yet begun.
Yet the atmosphere was already tense.
Some disciples were eagerly waiting for the competition to start.
They had spent years preparing for this moment.
Their eyes were filled with anticipation, and their hands occasionally tightened around their weapons.
For them...
This was their chance to prove themselves.
But not everyone was excited.
Some disciples stood quietly at the edges of the crowd.
They knew their own strength.
They understood that reaching the top ten was almost impossible for them.
For such disciples, participating in the annual competition was little more than a formality.
They would still fight if they were given an opponent.
They would still give everything they had.
But deep down...
They already knew their limits.
Jian Chen slowly walked through the crowd.
His eyes moved from one disciple to another.
He didn't speak.
He simply observed.
There were many unfamiliar faces.
Some looked nervous.
Some looked confident.
Some were openly discussing their chances.
Others deliberately kept quiet.
Jian Chen paid particular attention to the latter.
A person who didn't need to boast about their strength was often more dangerous than someone constantly talking about their achievements.
Whispers occasionally reached his ears.
"Who do you think will make the top ten?"
"Jian Tianyu should definitely be one of them."
"Jian Wuchen is also extremely strong."
"Don't forget Jian Ruochen."
"I heard several disciples who rarely show themselves are participating this year."
"The competition is going to be difficult."
"What about Jian Mo?"
"He's strong, but I don't think he's one of the favorites."
"There are several people stronger than him."
Jian Chen listened quietly.
Most of the names being mentioned were unfamiliar.
That wasn't surprising.
The Jian Clan was large.
There were always disciples who preferred to cultivate quietly rather than make themselves known.
The annual competition would bring all of them together.
For Jian Chen...
That made this competition even more interesting.
He wanted to see how strong the younger generation really was.
But the annual competition wasn't merely about combat.
There was something far more important attached to it.
The position of Young Master.
Jian Chen's gaze moved toward the elevated platform.
To most disciples, becoming the Young Master of the Jian Clan was the ultimate goal.
The title represented status.
Authority.
Recognition.
And most importantly...
Resources.
The Young Master would receive cultivation resources far beyond those available to ordinary disciples.
That alone was enough to make countless disciples fight desperately.
But the position carried another meaning.
The Young Master would become the most likely successor to the position of Clan Master.
Because of this...
The annual competition wasn't simply a contest between young disciples.
It was also a struggle for the future leadership of the Jian Clan.
Jian Chen, however, didn't care much about the title itself.
He had no desire for empty prestige.
He wasn't interested in having disciples bow whenever he walked past.
What mattered to him were the resources.
His cultivation had only just begun in this life.
Every step forward required resources.
His body needed nourishment.
His cultivation needed spiritual energy.
And opening new meridians placed an enormous burden on his body.
If he wanted to advance quickly...
He needed more than what an ordinary disciple could obtain.
The position of Young Master could provide exactly that.
Therefore...
He had to win.
There was another reason.
His father had once been the Young Patriarch of the Jian Clan.
The position had once belonged to his family.
Then his father disappeared.
Everything changed afterward.
His mother had remained in the Jian Clan, quietly raising him.
She had endured countless whispers and cold looks over the years.
She had never complained.
She had never blamed him.
She had simply stayed beside him.
Jian Chen remembered all of it.
He wasn't obsessed with the Young Master position because of pride.
He wanted to win because of what it could provide.
And because his father had once stood in that position...
Jian Chen wanted to reclaim the place his family had lost.
Not for revenge.
Not for recognition.
But for his mother.
His eyes gradually became firmer.
"I'll win."
The words were so quiet that no one around him heard them.
He continued walking.
At that moment...
Several disciples noticed him.
Their conversations immediately became quieter.
"That's Jian Chen."
"The one who defeated Jian Mo?"
"Yes."
"I heard he has only recently started cultivating."
"Then how did he defeat Jian Mo?"
"I don't know."
"His sword technique is supposedly very strange."
Jian Chen ignored the whispers.
He had already become accustomed to people's curiosity.
Not far away...
Jian Mo noticed him.
Their eyes met.
Jian Mo's expression became complicated.
Their previous battle was still fresh in his mind.
He had once thought Jian Chen was someone he could easily defeat.
He had been wrong.
Now...
He wouldn't underestimate him again.
Neither of them spoke.
After a brief moment, Jian Chen looked away.
A short distance away stood Jian Yun.
Jian Yun had never fought Jian Chen before.
He was quietly observing the other disciples.
When he noticed Jian Chen looking in his direction, he gave a polite nod.
Jian Chen returned the gesture.
Nothing more was said.
Jian Chen's gaze continued moving.
Several disciples stood apart from the crowd.
One had his arms folded across his chest.
Another stood with his eyes closed.
A third leaned against a stone pillar, seemingly uninterested in everything around him.
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Those people were interesting.
They weren't participating in the discussions.
They weren't trying to attract attention.
They were simply waiting.
Jian Chen memorized their faces.
He didn't know their names.
But he would soon find out.
The sound of footsteps suddenly came from the main entrance.
The crowd turned.
A group of cultivators entered the training grounds.
"They're here."
"The Lin Clan."
The Lin Clan representatives walked into the Jian Clan's training grounds.
An elder led them.
Several young disciples followed behind him.
The Jian Clan immediately sent someone forward.
An elderly man wearing a dark blue robe approached the visitors.
His silver hair was tied neatly behind his head.
His expression was dignified.
He was Elder Jian Mingyuan.
As one of the Jian Clan's senior elders, he was responsible for receiving important guests.
Jian Mingyuan cupped his hands.
"Elder Lin."
"Welcome to the Jian Clan."
The Lin Clan elder returned the greeting.
"Elder Jian."
"Thank you for receiving us."
"The annual competition is an important event for the younger generation."
Jian Mingyuan smiled.
"We are honored by your presence."
He gestured toward the prepared seats.
"Please."
The Lin Clan representatives followed him.
The surrounding disciples immediately began whispering.
"The Lin Clan came as well."
"Of course."
"The Jian Clan isn't the only powerful clan in Moonriver City."
"That's right."
"The Lin Clan has several talented young disciples."
Jian Chen glanced at the newcomers.
His expression remained calm.
The Lin Clan of the Mortal Realm had nothing to do with the Lin Clan he had known in the Divine Realm.
To him...
They were simply another major clan in this city.
He didn't give them much thought.
Before long...
Another group appeared at the entrance.
"The Zhao Clan has arrived!"
Jian Mingyuan stepped forward again.
"Welcome, Elder Zhao."
The Zhao Clan elder smiled and cupped his hands.
"Elder Jian."
After exchanging a few polite words, Jian Mingyuan led them toward their seats.
Then came another major clan.
The Wang Clan.
And after them...
Another powerful family from Moonriver City.
One group after another entered the training grounds.
The atmosphere became increasingly lively.
The major clans of the city had gathered to witness the Jian Clan's annual competition.
Jian Chen quietly observed the young disciples accompanying them.
Some were clearly nervous.
Others looked confident.
A few looked down upon the Jian Clan's disciples.
But Jian Chen didn't care about their expressions.
The competition had not started.
There was no point judging someone before seeing them fight.
Soon...
The last group of guests entered.
The entrance finally became quiet.
Jian Mingyuan returned to the Jian Clan's side.
The visiting clans settled into their designated seats.
The central platform remained empty.
The Clan Master had not yet appeared.
The younger generation continued waiting.
The excitement gradually became heavier.
Some disciples stretched their bodies.
Others quietly circulated their spiritual energy.
A few closed their eyes and adjusted their breathing.
Everyone was preparing.
Jian Chen stood among them.
His hand rested lightly on the wooden sword at his waist.
His expression remained calm.
He looked across the crowd once more.
Hundreds of disciples.
Numerous hidden talents.
Several obvious favorites.
And perhaps...
A few people nobody had noticed yet.
Jian Chen's lips curved slightly.
The annual competition was about to begin.
For most disciples...
It was a chance to prove themselves.
For others....
It was merely a formality.
But for Jian Chen...
It was an opportunity.
An opportunity to obtain the resources he needed.
An opportunity to strengthen his position within the clan.
And an opportunity to do something for the mother who had stood beside him for sixteen years.
He slowly raised his eyes toward the empty platform.
"I'll take the top spot."
This time....
His voice carried absolute certainty.