Heavenly Sword Saint
The annual competition had officially begun.
The moment the Clan Master announced the start, the atmosphere across the training grounds changed.
The casual conversations disappeared.
The disciples who had been laughing moments earlier became serious.
Some tightened their grips around their weapons.
Others quietly circulated their spiritual energy.
Everyone understood that the real competition had finally arrived.
Jian Chen stood among the younger generation.
His hand rested lightly on the wooden sword at his waist.
His expression was calm.
He wasn't nervous.
He wasn't excited either.
He was simply observing.
The supervising elder stepped onto the stone platform.
"The annual competition will be conducted through elimination."
"The victor will advance."
"The defeated disciple will be eliminated."
"Intentionally taking another disciple's life is forbidden."
"Anyone who violates this rule will be punished according to clan regulations."
The elder's voice spread across the training grounds.
"Now..."
"Let the first battle begin."
Two disciples immediately stepped onto the platform.
The first was a thin young man carrying a spear.
His name was Jian Wei.
His opponent was a broad-shouldered youth holding a long sword.
Jian Tao.
The elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Jian Wei attacked first.
His spear shot forward like a serpent.
Jian Tao immediately raised his sword.
Clang!
The weapons collided.
The surrounding disciples began cheering.
Jian Chen watched silently.
His eyes followed every movement.
Jian Wei's attacks were powerful and quick.
However, his footwork was unstable.
Jian Tao was slower, but his defense was more disciplined.
The two exchanged several blows.
Then Jian Wei made a mistake.
His right foot landed too far forward.
His body tilted slightly.
Jian Tao immediately noticed.
His sword flashed.
Bang!
The blade struck Jian Wei's shoulder.
The spear fell from his hand.
The supervising elder announced the result.
"Jian Tao wins!"
Jian Tao withdrew his sword and stepped down.
Jian Wei followed shortly after, his expression disappointed.
Another pair quickly entered the platform.
This time, the two disciples were Jian Hao and Jian Lin.
Their battle lasted longer.
Jian Hao specialized in close-range combat, while Jian Lin relied on agile footwork.
Jian Chen watched them carefully.
Jian Lin was fast.
But she wasted too much movement.
Jian Hao was stronger.
But his attacks were too straightforward.
After more than ten exchanges, Jian Lin eventually found an opening and struck Jian Hao's shoulder.
"Jian Lin wins!"
The crowd cheered.
Jian Chen continued observing.
He wasn't interested in the excitement.
He was studying.
Every battle gave him more information.
The habits of the younger disciples.
Their preferred attacks.
Their weaknesses.
Their control over spiritual energy.
Their reactions under pressure.
All of it was useful.
More battles followed.
Jian Rui defeated Jian Feng.
Jian Yue defeated Jian Bo.
Jian Qiang defeated Jian Lei.
One after another, disciples were eliminated.
The atmosphere gradually became more intense.
The weaker disciples were slowly disappearing from the competition.
Eventually...
A familiar name was announced.
"Jian Mo!"
The atmosphere immediately became louder.
Jian Mo stepped onto the platform.
He possessed twelve opened meridians and was considered one of the stronger members of the younger generation.
His expression was serious.
His eyes briefly swept across the crowd.
They eventually stopped on Jian Chen.
The two looked at each other.
Jian Mo's expression became complicated.
He remembered their previous battle.
He had lost.
That defeat had left a deep impression on him.
But there was no fear in his eyes.
Only battle intent.
His grip tightened around his sword.
Then he turned toward his opponent.
His opponent was Jian Qiu, a young disciple who had already defeated two opponents.
The elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Jian Mo immediately moved.
His sword flashed.
Jian Qiu raised his weapon to defend.
Clang!
The collision sent Jian Qiu backward.
Jian Mo didn't give him time to recover.
Another slash.
Then another.
His movements were clean and decisive.
Jian Qiu tried to counterattack.
But Jian Mo calmly avoided it.
A final strike landed against his chest.
"Jian Mo wins!"
The crowd erupted.
Jian Mo stepped down.
Before leaving the platform, his gaze once again landed on Jian Chen.
The battle intent in his eyes was even stronger.
He wanted another battle.
Jian Chen noticed.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
That was good.
If Jian Mo wanted to become stronger...
He welcomed it.
The competition continued.
More disciples stepped onto the platform.
Eventually...
The elder announced another name.
"Jian Chen!"
The training ground became noticeably quieter.
Hundreds of gazes turned toward him.
Jian Chen stepped forward.
His wooden sword rested at his waist.
His opponent was already standing on the platform.
A tall young man carrying a heavy sword.
The elder announced his name.
"Jian Long."
Jian Long stared at Jian Chen.
His expression was serious.
"I've heard about your swordsmanship."
Jian Chen remained silent.
Jian Long tightened his grip.
"But I won't make the same mistake Jian Mo made."
Several disciples immediately became interested.
Jian Chen had defeated Jian Mo before.
Now someone had openly declared that he wouldn't repeat that mistake.
The elder raised his hand.
"Prepare yourselves."
Jian Long lowered his stance.
Jian Chen stood naturally.
The elder's hand descended.
"Begin!"
Boom!
Jian Long exploded forward.
His heavy sword descended toward Jian Chen's head.
The force behind the attack was tremendous.
Several disciples watching from below widened their eyes.
Jian Chen didn't block.
He simply moved.
One step.
His body shifted slightly.
The heavy sword passed beside him.
Bang!
It smashed into the stone platform.
Several cracks spread across the surface.
Jian Long immediately recovered and swung horizontally.
Jian Chen lowered his body.
The blade passed above him.
His wooden sword moved at the same moment.
Bang!
It struck Jian Long's wrist.
Jian Long's expression changed.
He quickly retreated.
Jian Chen didn't pursue.
He simply watched.
Jian Long's expression became more serious.
He attacked again.
This time, his movements were faster.
One slash.
Two.
Three.
The heavy sword swept across the platform.
Jian Chen moved between the attacks.
Step.
Turn.
Shift.
Deflect.
His Flowing Cloud Sword Art flowed through his body.
But something was different.
The movements weren't merely smooth anymore.
They were becoming natural.
During the past ten days, Jian Chen had practiced the sword art repeatedly.
He had adjusted his footwork.
He had adapted the technique to his current body.
He had experienced countless small imperfections.
And now...
Those imperfections were disappearing.
His understanding of the Flowing Cloud Sword Art had reached a new level.
Beginning Mastery.
Minor Mastery.
Major Mastery.
Perfect Mastery.
These were the levels Jian Chen used to measure martial arts mastery.
Until now, his Flowing Cloud Sword Art had only been at Beginning Mastery.
But during this battle...
Something changed.
Jian Long swung his heavy sword again.
Jian Chen stepped forward.
The attack missed.
His wooden sword gently touched Jian Long's elbow.
Then his wrist.
Then his shoulder.
Three strikes.
Three precise movements.
Jian Long staggered backward.
Jian Chen's eyes became sharper.
He understood.
The Flowing Cloud Sword Art had reached Minor Mastery.
His movements instantly became even smoother.
Jian Long didn't understand what had happened.
He only knew that Jian Chen had suddenly become harder to catch.
He roared and charged again.
His heavy sword descended.
Jian Chen moved.
The blade passed beside his shoulder.
His wooden sword followed the movement naturally.
Bang!
It struck Jian Long's wrist.
The heavy sword flew from his hand.
Before Jian Long could react...
The wooden sword stopped against his throat.
Silence.
The entire training ground became still.
Jian Long stared at the wooden sword.
His face was pale.
He had lost.
And the battle had ended almost instantly.
Jian Chen slowly lowered his sword.
"Your attacks are powerful."
"But your movements are too predictable."
He withdrew the wooden sword.
The supervising elder stared at them for several breaths.
Then finally announced:
"Jian Chen wins!"
The training grounds erupted.
"One exchange!"
"He defeated Jian Long with a wooden sword!"
"Did you see his movement?"
"His sword technique became even faster!"
Jian Chen stepped down from the platform.
But unlike the excited disciples...
Several elders weren't paying attention to the battle anymore.
They were looking at Jian Chen himself.
Elder Jian Mingyuan frowned.
"How long has he been cultivating?"
Another elder answered quietly.
"One month."
Jian Mingyuan's expression changed.
"One month?"
"Yes."
"He began cultivating only one month ago."
Silence.
The elders looked toward Jian Chen.
A complicated expression appeared in Jian Mingyuan's eyes.
"He was unable to cultivate for sixteen years."
"Yet after beginning cultivation..."
"He's already reached the sixth stage?"
Another elder shook his head slowly.
"From an ordinary person with no cultivation foundation..."
"To the sixth stage in one month."
"I've never heard of such a thing."
The Clan Master remained silent.
His gaze stayed on Jian Chen.
He had seen countless geniuses throughout his life.
He had witnessed talented disciples advance rapidly.
But those disciples had all possessed a foundation before their breakthroughs.
Jian Chen was different.
He had started from nothing.
For sixteen years, he couldn't cultivate.
He had possessed no cultivation foundation whatsoever.
Yet in only one month...
He had reached the sixth stage.
The Clan Master's fingers slowly tightened around the armrest of his chair.
"This isn't merely talent."
The elder beside him whispered:
"Could he have possessed some extraordinary opportunity?"
The Clan Master didn't answer.
No one knew.
Even Jian Chen had never explained his rapid progress.
The Clan Master looked toward the young man standing beneath the platform.
Jian Chen appeared completely calm.
There was no pride on his face.
No arrogance.
He simply watched the ongoing competition.
As if reaching the sixth stage in one month wasn't worth mentioning.
The Clan Master slowly narrowed his eyes.
"This child..."
"What exactly is he capable of?"
Meanwhile, Jian Chen wasn't thinking about the elders' reactions.
His attention had already returned to the competition.
Another battle was beginning.
Two disciples stepped onto the platform.
Jian Chen watched carefully.
There were still many strong disciples he hadn't seen fight.
And he could already sense that some of them were much stronger than the opponents he had faced so far.
The annual competition had only just begun.
Jian Chen lightly touched the wooden sword at his waist.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting."
For the first time...
He was genuinely looking forward to the battles ahead.