Heavenly Sword Saint
"Next battle!"
The supervising elder's voice echoed across the training ground.
Another pair of disciples stepped onto the platform.
Both were at the Seventh Stage.
One wielded a saber.
The other relied on a pair of short blades.
"Begin!"
The saber-wielding disciple attacked first.
His saber swept forward with considerable force.
Clang!
The short blades blocked the strike.
The two exchanged several moves.
Neither had a clear advantage.
Then the saber wielder suddenly changed his rhythm.
A heavy strike forced his opponent backward.
Before the disciple could recover, another saber strike landed against his shoulder.
Bang!
He staggered outside the boundary.
"Jian Qiao wins!"
Scattered cheers rose from the crowd.
Jian Chen watched quietly.
The battle had been ordinary.
Both disciples possessed decent foundations, but their martial techniques were still rough.
His gaze shifted toward the next platform.
This time, the difference was much clearer.
A young man in gray robes stood opposite a Seventh-Stage disciple.
His cultivation was at the early Eighth Stage.
The moment the elder announced the beginning, Jian Han moved.
Boom!
His palm struck his opponent's chest.
The Seventh-Stage disciple was sent flying before he could complete his defensive technique.
He landed outside the platform.
The battle ended almost instantly.
The crowd fell silent for a moment.
"That was fast."
"An early Eighth Stage cultivator really is different."
The supervising elder nodded.
"Jian Han wins."
Jian Han calmly stepped down.
He had barely used any spiritual energy.
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He didn't waste strength.
He knew exactly how much power was needed.
That was worth remembering.
The next battle began.
A Seventh Stage disciple named Jian Ling stepped onto the platform.
Her opponent was a middle Eighth Stage cultivator.
"Begin!"
Jian Ling attacked with her sword.
Her opponent sidestepped the first strike.
Then he entered her range.
Bang!
A palm struck her shoulder.
Before she could recover, another palm landed against her chest.
Boom!
Jian Ling flew from the platform.
"Jian Feng wins."
The supervising elder looked toward the surrounding disciples.
"Against a weaker opponent, don't waste time. Control your strength, exploit the opening, and end the battle cleanly."
Several disciples nodded.
Jian Chen glanced toward the elder.
That assessment was correct.
Another battle followed.
This time, a Seventh Stage disciple faced a late Eighth Stage cultivator.
Unlike the previous fights, the weaker disciple displayed excellent footwork.
He avoided several attacks and repeatedly changed his position.
The late Eighth Stage cultivator didn't become impatient.
He simply waited.
Then, when his opponent stepped forward...
Bang!
A palm struck his wrist.
The disciple's arm went numb.
A second palm followed.
Boom!
He was sent outside the boundary.
"Jian Sheng wins."
The supervising elder nodded.
"Good battle awareness from both sides. The weaker disciple used his movement well, but his spiritual energy couldn't support the battle for long."
Jian Chen nodded slightly.
That disciple had potential.
With enough cultivation, his footwork could become a considerable advantage.
More battles followed.
The pattern gradually became obvious.
The Eighth Stage disciples were eliminating the Seventh Stage disciples one after another.
Some victories took only a few breaths.
Others lasted several exchanges.
But the stronger cultivators were no longer wasting time.
They understood that every battle was part of a larger competition.
Jian Chen continued observing.
He memorized their footwork.
Their breathing.
Their spiritual energy circulation.
Their martial techniques.
Their habits when attacking.
Their reactions when defending.
Then the supervising elder called another name.
"Jian Tao!"
A young man stepped onto the platform.
Early Eighth Stage.
His opponent was a peak Seventh Stage sword cultivator named Jian Luo.
Jian Luo tightened his grip.
He knew the difference between their cultivation levels.
But he still attacked.
Swish!
His sword shot forward.
Jian Tao tilted his body.
The blade passed beside him.
In the same instant, Jian Tao stepped forward.
Bang!
His palm struck Jian Luo's wrist.
The sword flew from his hand.
Jian Tao's second palm stopped inches from Jian Luo's chest.
Silence.
Jian Luo looked at the palm before him.
Then he sighed.
"I admit defeat."
Jian Tao withdrew his hand.
The supervising elder announced the result.
"Jian Tao wins."
Jian Chen watched him leave the platform.
His timing was good.
He had immediately recognized the weakness of his opponent's sword range.
Another disciple worth remembering.
The battles continued.
The number of competitors gradually decreased.
The EighthStage disciples continued advancing.
The stronger Seventh Stage cultivators fought desperately to remain in the competition.
Soon, only a small number of disciples remained.
Then the supervising elder looked toward the waiting contestants.
"Next battle."
A moment of silence followed.
Several disciples looked around.
Then one of them stepped forward.
"Jian Chen."
The surrounding crowd immediately became lively.
"It's Jian Chen!"
"He's finally fighting."
"Who is his opponent?"
A Seventh Stage disciple stepped onto the platform.
His name was Jian Bo.
He was in the late Seventh Stage.
Compared with most of the remaining contestants, his cultivation was respectable.
But the moment he stood opposite Jian Chen...
His expression became serious.
Jian Chen calmly stepped onto the platform.
The crowd's attention immediately focused on him.
Some disciples whispered among themselves.
"He defeated Jian Xuan."
"Let's see what he can do this time."
"His swordsmanship is probably his greatest strength."
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Jian Bo moved first.
Boom!
His spiritual energy erupted.
He rushed forward with a powerful punch.
The attack was fast.
Jian Chen didn't retreat.
He simply watched.
Three steps.
Two steps.
One step.
When the fist reached him...
Jian Chen moved.
His body shifted slightly to the side.
The punch passed beside his chest.
At the same time, Jian Chen raised his palm.
Bang!
His palm struck Jian Bo's chest.
The impact wasn't particularly loud.
Yet Jian Bo's body instantly flew backward.
Boom!
He landed outside the platform.
The entire training ground became silent.
The battle had ended in a single exchange.
Jian Bo struggled to sit up.
His face was filled with disbelief.
He had barely seen Jian Chen move.
The supervising elder stared at the scene for a moment before raising his hand.
"Jian Chen wins."
The crowd erupted.
"What just happened?"
"He didn't even draw his sword!"
"Jian Bo couldn't react at all!"
Jian Chen calmly stepped off the platform.
The supervising elder looked toward the disciples.
"Jian Chen's timing was excellent. He didn't meet force with force. He waited until the attack entered his range, then used his opponent's momentum against him."
Several disciples looked at Jian Chen differently.
Jian Chen returned to his previous position.
His expression remained calm.
That battle had taught him something as well.
His current body was becoming more accustomed to his strength.
His movements were smoother.
His control was improving.
And his combat instincts were returning faster than he expected.
He looked toward the remaining competitors.
Jian Ming had already advanced.
Jian Huang had already advanced.
The other Eighth Stage disciples were also gradually securing their places.
None of them had begun fighting each other yet.
That stage would come later.
For now, the competition continued to eliminate the weaker disciples.
Another battle began.
Then another.
A late Eighth Stage cultivator defeated a Seventh Stage opponent with three strikes.
A middle Eighth Stage cultivator forced another Seventh Stage disciple from the platform after a short exchange.
One particularly skilled Seventh Stage disciple managed to survive against a stronger opponent for nearly twenty moves before finally losing.
The supervising elder praised his footwork and defensive instincts.
Jian Chen remembered him.
Not because he had won.
Because he had shown potential.
The number of competitors continued falling.
Twenty four.
Twenty two.
Twenty.
Eighteen.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
The remaining disciples were now clearly the strongest survivors of the competition.
Jian Chen stood among them.
His hand rested lightly against the hilt of his sword.
He had already fought once.
There was no need to reveal more than necessary.
Around him, the stronger disciples watched each other carefully.
Jian Ming remained calm.
Jian Huang stood with his arms crossed.
The other Eighth Stage cultivators were equally cautious.
And among them...
Only one Ninth Stage cultivator remained.
He stood quietly at the edge of the training ground.
He hadn't revealed much.
Yet his presence alone made the surrounding disciples cautious.
The supervising elder looked across the training ground.
Only a few battles remained before the competition reached its next stage.
"Next battle!"
The crowd quieted.
Two disciples stepped onto the platform.
Jian Chen watched without blinking.
The weaker disciples were disappearing rapidly.
Soon...
Only sixteen would remain.
And once that happened, the competition would truly enter its most exciting stage.
Jian Chen's lips curved into a faint smile.
His first battle had been easy.
But the opponents ahead would be different.
He slowly tightened his grip on his sword.
The real competition was getting closer.