Heavenly Sword Saint
The training ground remained quiet after the supervising elder's announcement.
Sixteen disciples stood beneath the gazes of thousands of spectators.
They were the strongest disciples who had survived the previous stages.
Every one of them had earned the right to stand here.
But only eight would remain.
The supervising elder stepped forward.
His gaze swept across the sixteen disciples.
"The next round will determine the Top Eight."
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
"This time, there will be no open challenges."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
The elder pointed toward a wooden box.
"Each disciple will draw one number."
"Numbers will be assigned from one to sixteen."
"The disciple who draws an odd number will be matched against the disciple who draws the following even number."
"For example..."
"Number one will fight Number two."
"Number three will fight Number four."
"And so on."
The elder's voice became solemn.
"The winner of each battle will advance."
"The loser will be eliminated."
There would be no second chance.
The sixteen disciples understood.
The elder continued.
"Once the Top Eight are decided, you will draw lots again for the next round."
"The competition will continue until the champion is determined."
"The clan has prepared rewards for the Top Eight."
"These rewards include cultivation resources and martial techniques."
A stir immediately spread through the spectators.
The younger disciples became excited.
Cultivation resources.
Martial techniques.
Neither was easy to obtain.
The elder continued.
"The rewards for the Top Four will be greater."
"And the champion..."
He paused.
"...will receive a special reward from the clan."
The entire training ground erupted.
The sixteen disciples' expressions became more serious.
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin."
The first disciple stepped forward.
"Jian Yuan."
Early Ninth Stage.
The strongest disciple among the younger generation.
Jian Yuan walked toward the wooden box without hesitation.
He reached inside.
Pulled out a bamboo lot.
The elder looked at it.
"Number one."
Jian Yuan nodded and stepped aside.
There was no nervousness in his expression.
At Ninth Stage...
He had confidence in his strength.
The next disciple stepped forward.
"Jian Ming."
Peak Eighth Stage.
The Third Elder's son.
Only one step separated him from the Ninth Stage.
He was also one of the most talented sword cultivators in the younger generation.
His greatest weapon was the High-Tier Yellow-Rank Phantom Flow Sword Art.
Jian Ming reached into the box.
He drew a lot.
The elder glanced at it.
"Number eleven."
Jian Ming looked at the number before stepping aside.
Number eleven.
His opponent would be Number twelve.
Next came Jian Huang.
Peak Eighth Stage.
The Eighth Elder's son.
Unlike Jian Ming...
Jian Huang did not use a sword.
A heavy sabre rested at his waist.
His cultivation technique was different.
His fighting style was different.
And his signature martial technique was the Mid-Tier Yellow-Rank Mountain-Crushing Sabre Art.
Jian Huang reached into the box.
He pulled out a bamboo lot.
"Number eight."
He calmly returned to the group.
Next.
"Jian Wei."
Mid Eighth Stage.
He stepped forward.
"Number three."
He stepped aside.
"Jian Shuang."
Mid Eighth Stage.
She reached into the box.
"Number fourteen."
Next came Jian Sheng.
Early Eighth Stage.
He drew his lot.
"Number six."
Then Jian Ling.
Early Eighth Stage.
"Number seven."
Jian Ling calmly stepped aside.
Next was Jian Han.
Early Eighth Stage.
He drew his lot.
"Number five."
The crowd began whispering among themselves.
The numbers were slowly being assigned.
The stronger disciples had already revealed their numbers.
But several important matchups had yet to be decided.
The supervising elder called the next name.
"Jian Tao."
Peak Seventh Stage.
Jian Tao stepped forward.
He reached into the box.
"Number twelve."
His eyes briefly flickered.
Then he returned to his position.
Number twelve.
His opponent would be Number eleven.
Jian Ming.
The crowd immediately became excited.
"Jian Ming and Jian Tao!"
"That's a powerful battle."
"Jian Ming is Peak Eighth Stage."
"But Jian Tao is Peak Seventh Stage."
"The difference is one minor realm."
Jian Ming remained calm.
Jian Tao's expression was also serious.
The drawing continued.
"Jian Yue."
Peak Seventh Stage.
She drew her lot.
"Number fifteen."
Next.
"Jian Fengyu."
Mid Seventh Stage.
He reached into the box.
"Number two."
A few spectators immediately looked toward Jian Yuan.
Number one.
Jian Fengyu.
Number two.
Their battle had already been decided.
Jian Fengyu's expression became solemn.
Even before stepping onto the platform...
He knew he had drawn one of the worst possible opponents.
Jian Yuan remained indifferent.
Next came Jian Qiao.
Early Seventh Stage.
"Number sixteen."
Then Jian Luo.
Early Seventh Stage.
"Number four."
Then Jian Xun.
Early Seventh Stage.
"Number thirteen."
The remaining disciples watched silently.
Only two disciples remained.
Jian Kai.
Early Seventh Stage.
And Jian Chen.
The supervising elder looked toward the final two.
"Jian Kai."
Jian Kai stepped forward.
Only two lots remained.
He reached inside.
Pulled one out.
The elder looked at it.
"Number nine."
Jian Kai stepped aside.
The final lot remained.
Jian Chen.
The atmosphere changed subtly.
Jian Chen walked forward.
Publicly, everyone believed he was a Peak Sixth-Stage cultivator.
Only Jian Chen knew the truth.
He had already reached the Early Seventh Stage.
His breakthrough had been deliberately concealed.
He reached into the box.
His fingers closed around the final bamboo lot.
He pulled it out.
The supervising elder looked at it.
"Number ten."
Jian Chen glanced at the bamboo lot.
Number ten.
His opponent would be Number nine.
Jian Kai.
An Early Seventh-Stage cultivator.
Jian Chen calmly stepped aside.
The supervising elder looked over the sixteen disciples.
"The drawing is complete."
He raised the recording board.
"Jian Yuan, Number One."
"Jian Fengyu, Number Two."
"Jian Wei, Number Three."
"Jian Luo, Number Four."
"Jian Han, Number Five."
"Jian Sheng, Number Six."
"Jian Ling, Number Seven."
"Jian Huang, Number Eight."
"Jian Kai, Number Nine."
"Jian Chen, Number Ten."
"Jian Ming, Number Eleven."
"Jian Tao, Number Twelve."
"Jian Xun, Number Thirteen."
"Jian Shuang, Number Fourteen."
"Jian Yue, Number Fifteen."
"Jian Qiao, Number Sixteen."
He lowered the board.
"The matches are decided."
"Jian Yuan against Jian Fengyu."
"Jian Wei against Jian Luo."
"Jian Han against Jian Sheng."
"Jian Ling against Jian Huang."
"Jian Kai against Jian Chen."
"Jian Ming against Jian Tao."
"Jian Xun against Jian Shuang."
"Jian Yue against Jian Qiao."
The spectators immediately began discussing the matchups.
But one person wasn't paying attention to the discussions.
Jian Hu.
His eyes were fixed on Jian Chen.
One month ago...
He had beaten Jian Chen until he was nearly dead.
Until Jian Chen's body had stopped responding.
Until everyone believed he had died.
But Jian Chen had returned.
And now...
He was standing here.
Calm.
Composed.
Growing stronger.
That memory had become a shadow inside Jian Hu's heart.
He had already told his father.
He had already told Jian Ming.
Their father, the Third Elder, had given them one clear instruction.
Do not provoke Jian Chen.
Jian Ming had accepted the warning.
Jian Hu hadn't.
He couldn't accept Jian Chen rising above him.
Not after he had once stood firmly above Jian Chen.
His gaze shifted toward Jian Ming.
Their eyes met.
Jian Hu subtly moved his fingers.
A gesture only his brother would understand.
Jian Ming's expression became slightly cold.
He walked over.
"Still thinking about it?"
Jian Hu lowered his voice.
"I can't let him continue growing."
Jian Ming frowned.
"Father already told us not to provoke him."
"I know."
"Then forget it."
Jian Hu's hands tightened.
"You don't understand."
His eyes returned to Jian Chen.
"One month ago, I nearly killed him."
"And now look at him."
"He's standing here like nothing happened."
Jian Ming remained silent.
Jian Hu continued.
"If he keeps growing..."
"He'll eventually stand above me."
Jian Ming sighed.
"I won't deliberately violate Father's orders."
Jian Hu looked at him.
"But?"
Jian Ming's gaze became cold.
"If an opportunity appears during your battle with him..."
He paused.
"I'll do what I can."
A faint smile appeared on Jian Hu's face.
"That's all I need."
Neither brother noticed Jian Chen looking in their direction.
He couldn't hear their conversation.
But he noticed their expressions.
Their secret exchange.
The way Jian Hu kept watching him.
Jian Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Something was wrong.
He had no idea what they were planning.
But he knew one thing.
Jian Hu was afraid of him.
And fear could make a person do foolish things.
The supervising elder suddenly raised his voice.
"The first battle will begin now."
"Jian Yuan against Jian Fengyu."
The crowd erupted.
Jian Yuan stepped onto the platform.
Jian Fengyu followed.
The Ninth-Stage aura slowly spread across the arena.
Jian Fengyu gripped his sword tightly.
He knew the difference between them.
But he had no intention of surrendering.
"I'll see just how strong the strongest disciple of the younger generation truly is."
Jian Yuan looked at him calmly.
"Then show me."
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Boom!
Jian Fengyu exploded forward.
His sword tore through the air.
Jian Yuan moved.
Only once.
Bang!
Jian Fengyu's body flew backward.
He crashed onto the platform.
Silence.
The supervising elder lowered his hand.
"Jian Yuan wins."
The crowd erupted.
Jian Chen watched silently.
His eyes remained fixed on Jian Yuan.
Early Ninth Stage.
The only person among the younger generation who could truly threaten him.
Jian Chen's fingers lightly touched the wooden sword at his waist.
Soon...
It would be his turn.
His opponent would be Jian Kai.
An Early Seventh-Stage cultivator.
But no one knew...
Jian Chen was also already at the Seventh Stage.
And unlike Jian Kai...
He had spent the past month rebuilding his body through countless painful breakthroughs.
His eyes slowly became sharper.
The road to the Top Eight...
Had begun.