Heavenly Sword Saint
The training ground had fallen completely silent.
Jian Xuan stood on the platform.
His Eight Stage cultivation spread through the surrounding area like an invisible pressure.
Across from him, Jian Chen held his iron sword.
His cultivation had finally been revealed.
Sixth Stage.
What six Stage...
This revelation had shock everyone.
One month.
In one months.
How did he do it many whisper amount themselves.
Jian Chen had only cultivated for one month.
And he had already reached a realm that many disciples needed years to reach.
But the shock hadn't faded.
Because Jian Xuan was standing two stages above him.
And Jian Chen had chosen to fight.
Jian Xuan slowly raised his sword.
His expression was no longer casual.
"I've heard of your battle with Jian Mo."
His eyes sharpened.
"Your swordsmanship is indeed interesting."
He paused.
"But swordsmanship alone won't erase two stages of cultivation."
Jian Chen remained calm.
"We'll see."
A faint smile appeared on Jian Xuan's face.
"Good."
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Boom!
Jian Xuan moved.
His body shot forward like an arrow.
His sword descended toward Jian Chen.
Jian Chen immediately raised his sword.
Clang!
The collision sent a powerful force through his arms.
His feet slid backward.
Before he could stabilize himself
Jian Xuan attacked again.
Swish!
The blade swept toward his waist.
Jian Chen twisted.
The sword passed dangerously close to his clothes.
He countered with a slash toward Jian Xuan's wrist.
Jian Xuan easily blocked.
Clang!
The force of the collision pushed Jian Chen backward again.
Jian Xuan didn't stop.
His sword moved continuously.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
Each attack was faster than the last.
Jian Chen's expression became serious.
He moved across the platform.
Step.
Turn.
Block.
Redirect.
Counter.
But the pressure was enormous.
Jian Xuan's spiritual energy was too powerful.
Every collision sent force through Jian Chen's arms.
His fingers gradually became numb.
His breathing became heavier.
The crowd watched nervously.
"He's being completely suppressed."
"Of course he is. Jian Xuan is at the Eighth Stage."
"Two stages..."
"That's not a small difference."
Even the visiting clan elders were watching carefully.
One elder nodded.
"Jian Chen's swordsmanship is remarkable."
"But his cultivation is still too low."
Another elder narrowed his eyes.
"He can defend himself because his understanding of combat is extraordinary."
"But if this continues..."
"He will eventually lose."
The elder paused.
Then his gaze shifted toward Jian Xuan.
"Still, the Jian Clan's younger generation is stronger than I expected."
Another visiting elder smiled.
"Indeed. Jian Xuan alone is enough to prove that."
His eyes briefly passed over the other young disciples.
"Several of them have considerable potential."
The smile remained on his face.
But deep within his eyes...
A trace of coldness appeared.
Potential was admirable.
But potential that grew too quickly could become troublesome.
On the platform
Jian Xuan suddenly stepped forward.
His sword descended with tremendous force.
Boom!
Jian Chen raised his sword.
The impact shook his entire body.
His knees bent.
Cracks appeared beneath his feet.
For a moment, he was forced down onto one knee.
Jian Xuan looked at him.
"Yield."
Jian Chen slowly raised his head.
His eyes were calm.
"No."
Jian Xuan's expression hardened.
"Then I'll make you."
He withdrew his sword.
Then attacked again.
Swish!
Jian Chen barely avoided the blade.
The sword cut across his sleeve.
A thin line of blood appeared on his arm.
Jian Chen glanced at it.
Then looked back at Jian Xuan.
His opponent was strong.
Much stronger than anyone he had faced since beginning his cultivation.
Jian Mo had been powerful.
Jian Hu had been troublesome.
But Jian Xuan...
Was different.
His cultivation was deeper.
His attacks were more refined.
His combat experience was greater.
And most importantly
Jian Xuan wasn't underestimating him anymore.
Another sword came.
Jian Chen blocked.
Clang!
His wrist trembled.
Another.
Clang!
His shoulder shook.
Another.
Bang!
Jian Chen was forced backward.
The edge of the platform was already behind him.
The disciples held their breath.
Jian Xuan raised his sword.
"This is your limit?"
Jian Chen said nothing.
His eyes were fixed on the sword in front of him.
His mind became strangely quiet.
The crowd disappeared.
The voices disappeared.
Even the pressure seemed distant.
There was only the sword.
Jian Xuan attacked.
The blade descended.
Jian Chen raised his sword.
Clang!
The collision shook his arms.
But this time...
He didn't immediately push against the sword.
He allowed it to slide.
His wrist turned slightly.
The force changed direction.
Jian Xuan's sword passed beside him.
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed.
A strange feeling appeared in his heart.
He had been thinking about the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.
About movement.
About flexibility.
About redirecting force.
But perhaps...
He had misunderstood it.
Clouds didn't resist the wind.
They didn't try to stop it.
They moved with it.
They changed with it.
They allowed the wind to determine their direction without ever losing themselves.
Jian Chen's eyes slowly brightened.
"So that's what I've been missing."
Jian Xuan frowned.
"What?"
Jian Chen didn't answer.
Jian Xuan attacked again.
This time, Jian Chen didn't meet the sword head on.
His sword moved with the incoming force.
Clang!
The blade slid away.
Jian Xuan's attack missed.
Jian Chen stepped forward.
His iron sword followed naturally.
Slash!
Jian Xuan's eyes widened.
He barely raised his sword.
Bang!
The impact forced him backward.
The entire training ground fell silent.
Jian Xuan looked at his sword.
Then at Jian Chen.
Something had changed.
Jian Chen's sword was no longer rigid.
It flowed.
There was no fixed rhythm.
No unnecessary movement.
Every action connected naturally to the next.
Jian Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"Your sword..."
Jian Chen didn't respond.
He simply raised it.
The Flowing Cloud Sword Art had reached another level.
Not in cultivation.
Not in raw power.
But in understanding.
Jian Xuan's expression became serious.
Then he attacked.
Swish!
Jian Chen turned.
The sword passed beside him.
Jian Xuan changed direction.
Jian Chen followed.
Clang!
The sword was redirected.
Jian Xuan attacked from the opposite side.
Jian Chen moved with the strike.
Clang!
Again.
Another attack.
Another redirection.
For the first time...
Jian Xuan's attacks were no longer completely suppressing Jian Chen.
Jian Chen could finally find openings.
He could redirect some of Jian Xuan's attacks.
He could even counterattack.
But the difference in cultivation remained.
Every exchange consumed Jian Chen's spiritual energy far faster than it consumed Jian Xuan's.
His breathing became heavier.
His arms grew increasingly tired.
The breakthrough had narrowed the gap in technique.
It had not erased the difference in cultivation.
The crowd erupted.
"He's keeping up!"
"How did his swordsmanship suddenly change?"
"He's actually countering Jian Xuan!"
The visiting elders stood.
One elder's eyes widened.
"His comprehension just advanced."
Another elder stared at Jian Chen.
"During the battle?"
A Jian Clan elder frowned.
"Can someone really comprehend a martial technique to this degree while fighting?"
The visiting elder shook his head.
"Not someone ordinary."
His gaze remained fixed on Jian Chen.
"His adaptability is extraordinary."
On the platform, Jian Xuan's expression became increasingly serious.
He suddenly increased his speed.
Boom!
His Eighth Stage spiritual energy surged.
His sword became faster.
Stronger.
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed.
He moved.
Step.
Turn.
Flow.
Clang!
The attack passed.
Jian Chen redirected it.
Jian Xuan attacked again.
Clang!
Again.
Clang!
Jian Chen was still being pressured.
But now...
He could survive.
Then he found an opening.
His sword flashed.
Bang!
The iron sword struck Jian Xuan's shoulder.
Jian Xuan staggered half a step.
A thin cut appeared across his robe.
Blood slowly seeped through the fabric.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Jian Chen had injured Jian Xuan.
A Sixth Stage cultivator...
Had injured an Eighth Stage cultivator.
Then the entire training ground exploded.
"He injured him!"
"Jian Xuan is bleeding!"
"How can a Sixth Stage do that?"
The visiting elders looked at each other.
One elder slowly shook his head.
"This isn't merely talent."
Another stared at Jian Chen.
"His ability to adapt during battle is frightening."
The first elder's expression became complicated.
"Someone who can grow this quickly during a battle..."
He glanced toward the Jian Clan elders.
"What exactly happened to this child?"
The Jian Clan elders exchanged uncomfortable glances.
None of them had an answer.
But Jian Xuan didn't become angry.
Instead...
He smiled.
It was the first genuine smile he had shown since stepping onto the platform.
"Interesting."
He wiped the blood from his shoulder.
"I finally understand."
His eyes became sharp.
"Your sword art changed."
Jian Chen remained silent.
Jian Xuan tightened his grip.
"But don't misunderstand."
His Eighth Stage spiritual energy erupted once more.
Boom!
The platform trembled.
The smile disappeared from his face.
"I was holding back."
Jian Chen's expression became solemn.
He had already suspected it.
Now...
He knew.
Jian Xuan wasn't going to test him anymore.
He was going to fight seriously.
Jian Xuan lowered his body.
His sword pointed toward Jian Chen.
The atmosphere suddenly became suffocating.
Several elders stood up.
One of the visiting elders frowned.
"He's going to use that?"
Another nodded.
"Perhaps."
"Against a Sixth Stage cultivator?"
"He injured him."
The elder's eyes narrowed.
"Jian Xuan has always been proud."
"If he has decided to use that technique..."
"He must consider Jian Chen a genuine opponent."
Jian Chen heard the whispers.
His expression remained calm.
But his grip tightened around his sword.
His spiritual energy was already being consumed rapidly.
His arms were beginning to ache.
His body was reaching its limit.
He could continue.
But not forever.
The difference between the Sixth and Eighth Stages was still there.
His breakthrough in sword comprehension had allowed him to overcome the gap in technique.
It had not erased the difference in spiritual energy.
Jian Xuan was still stronger.
Much stronger.
If Jian Chen made one serious mistake...
The battle would end immediately.
Jian Xuan took one step forward.
The pressure around him intensified.
Jian Chen raised his sword.
His eyes became sharp.
He didn't know what technique Jian Xuan was about to use.
But he knew one thing.
He couldn't retreat.
Not now.
Not after finally finding the next step in his sword path.
Jian Xuan's sword began to glow faintly with spiritual energy.
The spectators held their breath.
The supervising elder's expression became solemn.
Then Jian Xuan spoke.
"Jian Chen."
Jian Chen looked at him.
"This next strike..."
Jian Xuan's eyes were filled with battle intent.
"Don't disappoint me."
Boom!
His figure exploded forward.
Jian Chen's pupils contracted.
He stepped forward instead of retreating.
Two swords collided.
Clang!
A terrifying shockwave swept across the platform.
The entire training ground trembled.
The visiting elders stared at the battlefield.
The Jian Clan elders had solemn expressions.
No one spoke.
Because everyone understood.
The battle had reached its most dangerous moment.
And Jian Chen...
Was already approaching the limit of what his Sixth Stage cultivation could endure.