Heavenly Sword Saint
The arena remained silent for several breaths after Jian Chen stepped down from the platform.
Jian Ming had broken through to the Early Ninth Stage during their battle.
Yet Jian Chen had still defeated him.
That single result was enough to change how the younger disciples viewed him.
Most of them no longer considered Jian Chen someone they could casually challenge.
The supervising elder stepped onto the platform.
"Enough."
The remaining discussions quickly faded.
He looked toward the next participants.
"Jian Xun versus Jian Yue."
Jian Xun stepped onto the platform.
His expression was calm.
Across from him, Jian Yue walked forward with her sword at her side.
Both were at the Early Seventh Stage.
Neither had an advantage in cultivation.
The disciples watched closely.
"Jian Yue's swordsmanship is impressive."
"Jian Xun is stronger once he gets close."
"This won't be easy for either of them."
Jian Yue heard the voices.
Her fingers tightened around the hilt.
Then loosened.
She drew her sword.
Clang!
The clear sound echoed through the arena.
Jian Xun lowered his stance.
Neither moved.
A few breaths passed.
Jian Yue's eyes remained fixed on him.
She had expected him to make the first move.
But Jian Xun simply waited.
Her grip tightened.
She stepped forward.
Whoosh!
Her sword flashed toward his chest.
Jian Xun suddenly moved.
He stepped to the side and struck the flat of her blade with his palm.
Clang!
The sword was knocked off course.
Jian Yue immediately pulled it back.
Jian Xun's fist followed.
She twisted her body.
The punch passed beside her.
Her sword swept toward his waist.
Jian Xun retreated.
The blade narrowly missed.
Jian Yue didn't stop.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
Her sword grew faster with every attack.
Jian Xun continued retreating.
Step by step...
He was pushed toward the edge of the platform.
Jian Yue's breathing remained steady.
Her attacks became sharper.
Finally
Clang!
Jian Xun blocked another slash.
The impact forced him backward.
His heel touched the edge.
A murmur spread through the arena.
Jian Yue's eyes sharpened.
An opening.
She stepped forward and thrust.
Whoosh!
The sword shot toward his chest.
Jian Xun suddenly stepped inside the attack.
Jian Yue's expression changed.
The sword passed behind him.
Bang!
His fist struck her shoulder.
Pain spread through her arm.
She staggered backward.
Jian Xun followed immediately.
Another punch came.
Jian Yue raised her arm.
Bang!
The impact forced her back several steps.
Her feet nearly crossed.
She quickly recovered.
Her sword dipped.
Only for an instant.
But Jian Yue noticed it.
She looked at Jian Xun.
A shallow cut ran across his shoulder.
Blood slowly stained his clothes.
Yet his expression remained calm.
Jian Yue tightened her grip.
She raised her sword again.
This time...
Her hand trembled.
Only slightly.
She noticed it.
Her fingers immediately tightened around the hilt.
The trembling stopped.
She charged.
Clang!
Her sword collided with Jian Xun's palm.
Jian Yue twisted her wrist.
The blade changed direction.
Jian Xun narrowly avoided it.
She followed with another slash.
He stepped inside.
Bang!
His fist struck her side.
Jian Yue stumbled.
Her foot slid across the platform.
For an instant, her balance nearly broke.
She recovered.
Her sword rose again.
Jian Xun advanced.
She swung.
He dodged.
She swung again.
He blocked.
Clang!
Every exchange ended the same way.
Jian Xun kept closing the distance.
Jian Yue's movements gradually became less precise.
One slash passed too far to the side.
Another came a fraction too late.
Her breathing grew heavier.
She stepped backward.
Then again.
Her heel suddenly stopped.
Jian Yue glanced down.
The edge of the platform was only a few steps behind her.
Her eyes flickered.
She hadn't realized how far she had retreated.
Jian Xun moved forward.
Jian Yue raised her sword.
She refused to retreat again.
Spiritual energy surged through her body.
It gathered around the blade.
Jian Xun's expression became serious.
He lowered his stance.
Both fighters circulated the last of their spiritual energy.
Jian Yue stared at the sword in her hands.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
The hesitation in her eyes disappeared.
She stepped forward.
"Moon Breaking Strike!"
Whoosh!
The sword shot forward.
Jian Xun charged directly toward her.
Jian Yue's eyes widened.
He was doing it again.
Coming straight through her attack.
For a fraction of a second...
Her sword slowed.
But this time, she didn't retreat.
Her fingers tightened.
She forced herself forward.
The blade reached Jian Xun's chest.
At the final instant, he twisted his body.
The sword cut across his side.
Blood spilled.
But Jian Xun didn't stop.
He had accepted the wound to enter her range.
Jian Yue's eyes widened.
Bang!
His fist slammed into her abdomen.
Her body bent from the impact.
Her sword stopped inches from his chest.
She tried to push forward.
Her arm trembled.
She couldn't.
The strength drained from her body.
Her fingers slowly loosened.
Clang!
Her sword fell onto the platform.
Jian Yue staggered backward.
The supervising elder immediately raised his hand.
"Jian Yue has conceded."
"Jian Xun wins!"
Jian Xun slowly straightened.
Blood continued running down his side.
He looked toward Jian Yue.
She remained still for several breaths.
Then she looked at the sword lying on the ground.
She bent down and picked it up.
Her fingers wrapped around the hilt.
She stared at the blade.
She had controlled the distance.
She had forced Jian Xun backward.
She had even wounded him.
Yet...
He had still broken through her defense.
And when he did...
She had hesitated.
Jian Yue lowered her gaze.
Then she looked at Jian Xun.
"You were stronger than I expected."
Jian Xun gave a faint smile.
"So were you."
Jian Yue nodded.
"I'll remember this battle."
"So will I."
She turned and walked off the platform.
Jian Xun watched her leave for a moment.
Then his gaze shifted toward the remaining participants.
Eventually...
It settled on Jian Chen.
Jian Chen stood beneath the platform.
His expression remained calm.
Jian Xun's eyes narrowed.
He had just fought someone at the same cultivation level.
And even then...
He had been pushed to his limit.
Jian Chen had defeated Jian Xuan.
Then Jian Ming...
After Jian Ming had reached the Early Ninth Stage.
Jian Xun slowly clenched his fists.
His victory had brought him closer to the top.
But Jian Chen...
Was different.
For the first time since the tournament began, Jian Xun wasn't thinking about how to defeat his next opponent.
He was thinking about how he could survive the battle.
The supervising elder looked across the arena.
"The tournament continues."