Heavenly Sword Saint
The incense stick slowly burned down.
Its final trace of smoke disappeared into the air.
The supervising elder stepped onto the arena.
The remaining eight disciples stood beneath the platform.
"First battle of the final eight."
"Jian Yuan versus Jian Wei."
Jian Wei stepped onto the arena.
His expression was serious.
Across from him, Jian Yuan calmly walked forward.
The two stood facing each other.
The surrounding disciples immediately began discussing the battle.
"Jian Yuan is at the Early Ninth Stage."
"Jian Wei is only at the Mid Eighth Stage."
"That's an entire major realm."
"Jian Wei's technique is strong, but can it make up for such a difference?"
"Probably not."
Jian Wei ignored the discussion.
He tightened his grip around his sword.
He knew the opponent standing before him was powerful.
But he had reached the final eight.
He wasn't going to surrender before fighting.
Jian Yuan looked at him calmly.
"Are you ready?"
Jian Wei raised his sword.
"Come."
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
The moment his voice fell...
Jian Wei exploded forward.
His spiritual energy surged through his body.
His sword flashed toward Jian Yuan's chest.
"Flowing Wind Technique!"
The attack was fast.
Several disciples immediately focused on the arena.
Jian Yuan raised his fist.
Clang!
His fist collided directly with the incoming sword.
Jian Wei's expression changed.
His arm trembled.
The force behind Jian Yuan's fist was far greater than he expected.
Before Jian Wei could react...
Jian Yuan stepped forward.
His fist struck again.
Boom!
The impact forced Jian Wei backward.
His feet dragged across the stone floor.
He quickly stabilized himself.
Several disciples stared.
"Such strength."
"That was only a single punch."
Jian Wei's expression became solemn.
He immediately changed his approach.
His body shifted sideways.
His sword swept toward Jian Yuan's shoulder.
Jian Yuan leaned away.
The attack passed beside him.
Jian Wei continued attacking.
One attack followed another.
His technique became faster.
He didn't give Jian Yuan much opportunity to counterattack.
Slash!
Thrust!
Sweep!
Jian Yuan continued moving backward.
He remained calm.
Jian Wei suddenly changed direction.
His sword stabbed toward Jian Yuan's abdomen.
Jian Yuan shifted his body.
The attack missed.
At the same moment...
His right fist shot forward.
Boom!
The punch struck Jian Wei's abdomen.
Jian Wei's eyes widened.
His body flew backward.
Bang!
He crashed onto the arena floor.
The disciples around the arena fell silent.
Jian Wei struggled to breathe.
His internal energy churned violently.
He slowly pushed himself up.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Jian Yuan stood several meters away.
"Give up."
Jian Wei clenched his teeth.
"I haven't lost."
He grabbed his sword and stood.
His spiritual energy surged once again.
This time...
He released everything he had.
His technique reached its peak.
"Flowing Wind"
Jian Yuan suddenly moved.
Jian Wei's pupils contracted.
Jian Yuan appeared directly before him.
His fist struck.
Boom!
The attack collided with Jian Wei's sword.
Crack!
A fracture spread across the blade.
Jian Wei's expression changed.
Before he could retreat...
Jian Yuan's second fist arrived.
Bang!
The sword flew from Jian Wei's hand.
Jian Wei stumbled backward.
Jian Yuan stepped forward.
His fist stopped directly before Jian Wei's chest.
The force behind it caused Jian Wei's clothes to flutter.
Jian Wei froze.
He knew that if Jian Yuan's fist continued forward...
He would be unable to withstand it.
Jian Yuan slowly lowered his hand.
"Now you've lost."
Jian Wei looked at his empty hand.
His sword lay several meters away.
He remained silent for several breaths.
Then he lowered his head.
"I admit defeat."
The supervising elder immediately announced,
"Jian Yuan wins!"
The surrounding disciples began discussing the battle.
"So fast."
"Jian Wei couldn't withstand him."
"That difference in cultivation is too great."
"Jian Yuan barely needed to attack."
Jian Yuan stepped down from the arena.
His expression remained unchanged.
The supervising elder looked toward the remaining disciples.
"The next battle."
"Jian Sheng versus Jian Huang."
Jian Sheng walked onto the arena.
Jian Huang followed.
The two stood opposite each other.
Jian Sheng was at the Early Eighth Stage.
Jian Huang was at the Peak Eighth Stage.
The difference between them was two minor stages.
The disciples immediately began discussing the matchup.
"Jian Huang has the advantage."
"He's at Peak Eighth Stage."
"But Jian Sheng's technique isn't weak."
"Still, two minor stages is a significant gap."
"Jian Huang should win."
Jian Huang slowly raised his sword.
Jian Sheng took a deep breath.
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Jian Sheng moved first.
His sword shot forward.
Jian Huang blocked.
Clang!
The impact echoed across the arena.
Jian Sheng immediately changed his technique.
His sword swept toward Jian Huang's waist.
Jian Huang stepped backward.
The attack missed.
Jian Sheng followed immediately.
Another attack.
Then another.
His technique became increasingly sharp.
Jian Huang blocked each attack.
Then...
He suddenly increased his strength.
Boom!
Jian Sheng was forced backward.
Jian Huang stepped forward.
His sword descended.
Jian Sheng raised his sword.
Clang!
The impact forced him back several steps.
Jian Huang continued pressing forward.
Jian Sheng gritted his teeth.
He suddenly changed direction and attacked Jian Huang's side.
Jian Huang turned.
The two exchanged several attacks.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Jian Sheng refused to retreat.
His sword moved continuously.
Jian Huang remained steady.
The difference between their cultivation gradually became apparent.
Jian Sheng's movements slowed.
His breathing became heavier.
Jian Huang suddenly stepped forward.
His sword swept aside Jian Sheng's defense.
Before Jian Sheng could recover...
The blade stopped before his chest.
Jian Sheng froze.
Jian Huang looked at him.
"Yield."
Jian Sheng remained silent for a moment.
Then slowly lowered his sword.
"I admit defeat."
The supervising elder immediately announced,
"Jian Huang wins!"
Jian Huang withdrew his sword.
The disciples began discussing the result.
"Jian Sheng fought well."
"But Jian Huang's cultivation was higher."
"In the end, he couldn't overcome the difference."
Jian Huang stepped down from the arena.
The supervising elder looked toward the remaining disciples.
"Next battle."
"Jian Chen versus Jian Ming."
The moment those words were spoken...
The arena became lively.
This was the battle many disciples had been waiting for.
Jian Chen had already defeated Jian Xuan.
But Jian Ming was widely considered stronger than Jian Xuan.
He was a Peak Eighth-Stage cultivator.
He also possessed the High-Tier Yellow-Rank Phantom Flow Sword Art.
Many disciples wanted to see whether Jian Chen could defeat him.
"Jian Chen versus Jian Ming!"
"Now this is a real battle."
"Jian Ming is much stronger than Jian Xuan."
"But Jian Chen already defeated Jian Xuan."
"Who knows who will win?"
Jian Chen didn't pay attention to the discussion.
He simply stepped onto the arena.
Jian Ming followed.
The two stood several meters apart.
Jian Ming slowly drew his sword.
Jian Chen raised his wooden sword.
Neither spoke.
The supervising elder stepped away.
"Begin!"
Jian Ming moved instantly.
His spiritual energy erupted.
His figure shot forward.
His sword flashed.
Jian Chen raised his wooden sword.
Clang!
The two swords collided.
Jian Ming's eyes sharpened.
Jian Chen remained calm.
Neither retreated.
Jian Ming suddenly twisted his wrist.
His sword slid along Jian Chen's wooden blade.
Then...
It suddenly changed direction.
The blade swept toward Jian Chen's shoulder.
Jian Chen shifted his sword.
Clang!
The attack was blocked.
Jian Ming immediately followed with another strike.
Jian Chen raised his wooden sword again.
Clang!
Their swords collided.
The force pushed Jian Chen half a step backward.
The surrounding disciples immediately noticed.
"Jian Chen was forced back!"
"Jian Ming really is powerful."
"He has already gained the advantage."
Jian Ming didn't give Jian Chen time to breathe.
His sword moved again.
This time...
His technique became faster.
The Phantom Flow Sword Art unfolded.
His movements seemed to overlap.
One sword became two.
Two became three.
The surrounding disciples stared.
"What a fast technique!"
"That's the Phantom Flow Sword Art!"
"Jian Ming has finally used it!"
Jian Chen's eyes remained calm.
His wooden sword moved.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Every attack was blocked.
Jian Ming's expression slowly became serious.
He increased his speed.
His sword flashed repeatedly.
Jian Chen continued defending.
The two figures moved across the arena.
Their swords collided again and again.
Neither side gave ground.
Then Jian Ming suddenly disappeared from Jian Chen's front.
His figure shifted to the side.
His sword stabbed toward Jian Chen's ribs.
Jian Chen turned.
The wooden sword intercepted the attack.
Clang!
The force sent sparks flying from the collision.
Jian Ming immediately changed direction.
His sword swept upward.
Jian Chen lowered his body.
The blade passed above his head.
Jian Chen stepped forward.
His wooden sword thrust toward Jian Ming's chest.
Jian Ming's expression changed.
He quickly retreated.
The wooden sword stopped inches from his chest.
The surrounding disciples gasped.
Jian Ming stared at Jian Chen.
For the first time...
His expression became completely serious.
Jian Chen stood calmly with his wooden sword raised.
The next exchange...
Would decide who truly held the advantage.