Heavenly Sword Saint
The arena had barely settled after Jian Yue's defeat when the supervising elder stepped onto the platform.
Only four participants remained.
Jian Yuan.
Jian Huang.
Jian Chen.
And Jian Xun.
The tournament had reached its final stage.
The supervising elder looked across the arena before announcing the next match.
"Jian Yuan versus Jian Huang."
The announcement immediately drew the attention of everyone present.
Jian Yuan was the strongest disciple of the younger generation. He had reached the Early Ninth Stage and remained undefeated throughout the tournament.
Jian Huang was at the Peak Eighth Stage.
Although he was one stage lower, his sabre skills were among the strongest of the younger generation.
Naturally, some disciples still believed he might have a chance.
"Jian Yuan should win."
"That's obvious. He's at the Early Ninth Stage."
"Don't underestimate Jian Huang. He's stronger than Jian Wei."
"Do you think he can force Jian Yuan to reveal more of his strength?"
A few disciples nodded.
Others immediately disagreed.
"That's unlikely."
"Jian Yuan defeated Jian Wei without showing much effort."
"Jian Huang may be stronger than Jian Wei, but the difference between the Peak Eighth Stage and Early Ninth Stage isn't something that can easily be overcome."
"If Jian Yuan really has been hiding his strength, Jian Huang might not even be able to force him to reveal it."
The discussion continued around the arena.
Neither of the two people on the platform paid attention.
Jian Huang rested his hand on the hilt of his sabre.
Across from him, Jian Yuan stood calmly with empty hands.
Jian Huang slowly drew his weapon.
Clang!
The blade flashed beneath the sunlight.
"I know you've been holding back," Jian Huang said. "Today, I want to see how strong you really are."
Jian Yuan looked at him without any change in expression.
"Then make me show you."
Jian Huang's gaze sharpened.
The supervising elder stepped away from the platform.
"Begin!"
Jian Huang moved instantly.
His body shot forward, and the sabre descended with tremendous force.
Jian Yuan raised his fist and struck the side of the blade.
Bang!
The sabre was deflected.
Jian Huang twisted his wrist and swept the blade toward Jian Yuan's waist.
Jian Yuan leaned backward.
The sabre passed inches from his body.
Jian Huang didn't give him time to recover.
His sabre continued forward, striking repeatedly from different angles. Each attack was faster than the previous one, forcing Jian Yuan to keep moving.
Yet Jian Yuan remained remarkably calm.
He didn't counterattack.
He simply avoided every strike.
The disciples watching carefully began to realize what was happening.
Jian Yuan wasn't being forced back.
He was testing Jian Huang.
Jian Huang realized it as well.
His attacks became heavier.
He suddenly stepped forward and brought his sabre down with all his strength.
Jian Yuan raised his fist.
Bang!
The collision sent Jian Yuan backward several steps.
A flash of excitement crossed Jian Huang's eyes.
He immediately pursued.
His sabre swept toward Jian Yuan's waist.
But this time, Jian Yuan stepped inside the attack.
The blade passed behind him.
His fist struck Jian Huang directly in the chest.
Boom!
Jian Huang was sent flying backward.
He slid several meters across the platform before finally stopping.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Jian Huang wiped it away and looked toward Jian Yuan.
Jian Yuan was already standing calmly where he had stopped.
Jian Huang's expression became solemn.
His ordinary attacks weren't enough.
If he wanted to see Jian Yuan's true strength, he would have to use everything he had.
He tightened his grip around the sabre.
Spiritual energy surged through his body.
The aura of a Peak Eighth Stage cultivator spread across the platform.
Jian Huang raised his sabre.
"Mountain-Splitting Slash!"
The sabre descended.
A terrifying blade force tore through the air.
The platform cracked beneath the pressure.
This was Jian Huang's strongest attack.
For the first time, Jian Yuan's expression became slightly more serious.
Spiritual energy gathered around his right arm.
Then he punched forward.
Boom!
The fist collided with the incoming blade force.
A violent shockwave swept across the platform.
Dust filled the arena.
The disciples stared toward the battlefield, waiting for the result.
A moment later, the dust began to settle.
Jian Yuan stood exactly where he had been.
His clothes were barely disturbed.
The blade force had been completely destroyed.
Jian Huang stared at him.
He had already used his strongest attack.
Yet Jian Yuan hadn't been injured.
At that moment, Jian Huang finally understood the gap between them.
It wasn't something that could be overcome by fighting harder.
Before he could make another move, Jian Yuan appeared in front of him.
His fist stopped less than an inch from Jian Huang's chest.
Jian Huang looked at the fist in silence.
He knew that if Jian Yuan had continued forward, the battle would have ended instantly.
After several breaths, Jian Huang slowly lowered his sabre.
"I understand."
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Jian Huang has lost."
"Jian Yuan wins."
Jian Yuan withdrew his fist and stepped off the platform.
Jian Huang remained where he was.
He looked down at his sabre.
He had lost badly.
But instead of frustration, determination slowly filled his eyes.
Today, he had finally seen the distance separating himself from the strongest disciple of the younger generation.
It was a gap he could not cross yet.
But now he knew exactly what he needed to surpass.
The supervising elder glanced toward the incense holder beside the arena.
"One incense stick of rest."
"The next battle will begin afterward."
Jian Xun immediately sat down and began circulating his spiritual energy.
The wound across his side from his battle with Jian Yue was still painful.
He needed every moment of the brief rest.
Across the arena, Jian Chen remained standing quietly.
Unlike Jian Xun, he had not suffered a single injury throughout the tournament.
The incense slowly burned.
The disciples' attention shifted toward the final battle before the championship.
"Jian Xun is already injured."
"And now he has to face Jian Chen."
"This won't be a close fight."
"Not after Jian Chen defeated Jian Xuan and Jian Ming."
"Jian Xun was fortunate with his previous matchups."
"He never faced Jian Yuan, Jian Ming, or Jian Xuan."
"His luck ends here."
Jian Xun heard the voices around him.
This time, he didn't argue.
He knew there was truth in their words.
His path through the tournament had been fortunate.
He had avoided the strongest disciples until the final four.
But that did not erase what he had accomplished.
For someone who had never been considered among the strongest of the younger generation, reaching this stage was already something worth remembering.
Jian Xun slowly clenched his fists.
He knew he was unlikely to win.
But he had come this far.
He refused to walk away without giving everything he had.
The incense finally burned down.
The supervising elder stepped forward.
"The rest period is over."
His gaze swept across the remaining participants.
"Jian Chen versus Jian Xun."
Jian Chen stepped onto the platform, his iron sword held loosely in one hand.
Jian Xun followed.
The atmosphere was noticeably different from the previous battle.
There was almost no argument over the likely outcome.
Jian Chen had already defeated Jian Xuan.
He had then defeated Jian Ming even after Jian Ming broke through to the Early Ninth Stage.
Now he was facing Jian Xun, an Early Seventh Stage cultivator who was already carrying an injury.
The difference was simply too great.
Jian Xun stared at Jian Chen.
He had watched every one of Jian Chen's battles.
He knew how dangerous the young man standing before him was.
Still, he raised his fists.
"I know I can't beat you."
Jian Chen looked at him calmly.
"But I still want to fight."
Jian Chen gave a slight nod.
"Then fight."
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Jian Xun rushed forward.
His fist shot toward Jian Chen's chest.
Jian Chen raised his iron sword.
Clang!
The fist struck the flat of the blade.
Jian Xun immediately followed with another attack.
Then another.
His fists moved rapidly, attacking from different angles.
Jian Chen calmly deflected each one.
Jian Xun changed direction and attacked from the side.
Jian Chen shifted half a step.
The fist passed through empty air.
The iron sword moved.
Swish!
Jian Xun froze.
The blade had stopped directly before his throat.
He hadn't even seen when Jian Chen had drawn it across his path.
Jian Chen looked at him calmly.
"Give up."
Jian Xun stared at the sword.
His breathing became heavier.
For several moments, he stood completely still.
He knew.
The difference was already obvious.
Yet he had come here to fight.
He couldn't bring himself to surrender after only a few exchanges.
Jian Xun suddenly clenched his fists and attacked again.
Jian Chen's gaze sharpened.
He stepped forward.
The iron sword flashed.
One sword.
The blade struck Jian Xun's arm, knocking his attack aside before stopping against his chest.
The entire exchange ended in less than a breath.
Jian Xun lowered his gaze toward the sword.
For the first time, he completely understood.
Jian Chen wasn't simply stronger.
They were not on the same level.
Jian Xun slowly lowered his fists.
"I concede."
The supervising elder immediately raised his hand.
"Jian Xun has lost."
"Jian Chen wins."
Jian Chen withdrew his sword and stepped off the platform.
Jian Xun remained where he was.
He had lost.
But he wasn't ashamed.
He had reached the final four of the clan tournament.
That alone had proven that he belonged among the younger generation's better disciples.
Still, the battle had shown him something far more valuable.
He now knew how much further he had to go.
The supervising elder looked across the arena.
Only two disciples remained.
Jian Yuan.
And Jian Chen.
One had dominated the tournament from the beginning.
The other had returned to cultivation after sixteen years of being unable to cultivate and had defeated every opponent placed before him.
Now, there was nowhere left to hide.
The two strongest disciples of the younger generation would finally meet.
The arena gradually fell silent.
Even the disciples who had been shouting moments earlier stopped talking.
Everyone understood what was coming.
Jian Yuan versus Jian Chen.
The final battle was about to begin.