Heavenly Sword Saint
The arena had become unusually quiet.
Only two figures remained on the stage.
Jian Yuan.
Jian Chen.
After defeating every opponent placed before them, the two strongest disciples of the younger generation now stood at the final point of the tournament.
Jian Yuan was the clan's most recognized genius.
An Early Ninth-Stage cultivator with twelve open meridians.
Jian Chen, on the other hand, had once been unable to cultivate for sixteen years.
Yet somehow...
He had fought his way to the final.
The supervising elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Jian Yuan moved.
Boom!
The instant his foot struck the ground, his body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
His right fist tore through the air toward Jian Chen's chest.
Jian Chen's expression remained calm.
He shifted his body to the side.
The fist passed beside him.
Before Jian Chen could counterattack, Jian Yuan had already twisted his waist and launched another punch.
Bang!
Jian Chen raised his iron sword and blocked.
The impact forced him backward several steps.
His arm trembled slightly.
Jian Yuan's strength was astonishing.
Even after experiencing Jian Ming's strength, Jian Chen could tell immediately that Jian Yuan was on another level.
As expected of the strongest younger-generation disciple.
Jian Yuan didn't give him a moment to breathe.
He advanced relentlessly.
One fist followed another.
Each attack was simple.
There were no unnecessary movements.
Yet the force behind every punch was terrifying.
Jian Chen continued retreating, using his iron sword to redirect the attacks rather than meeting them head-on.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of metal striking fists echoed throughout the arena.
The spectators watched the battle closely.
"Jian Yuan is overwhelming him."
"His physical strength is incredible."
"But Jian Chen isn't fighting him directly."
Several experienced disciples noticed the difference.
Jian Chen wasn't trying to overpower Jian Yuan.
He was controlling the distance between them.
Whenever Jian Yuan attacked, Jian Chen moved just enough to avoid the center of the attack before using his iron sword to probe for an opening.
A neutral elder narrowed his eyes.
"He's measuring Jian Yuan."
Another elder nodded.
"He's studying his rhythm."
Jian Yuan suddenly accelerated.
His fist came from the side.
Jian Chen ducked beneath it.
The iron sword swept upward.
Jian Yuan pulled his arm back just in time.
The blade passed across his sleeve.
He immediately countered with a kick.
Bang!
Jian Chen crossed his sword in front of his body.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
His heels left two shallow marks across the arena floor.
Jian Yuan didn't stop.
He pressed forward again.
The battle gradually moved toward the edge of the stage.
Jian Chen's eyes remained calm.
He continued defending.
Step after step.
He wasn't panicking.
He was waiting.
Jian Hu watched from below the stage, his expression growing increasingly excited.
"Don't let him escape!"
"Keep pushing him!"
Jian Ming remained silent.
Unlike Jian Hu, he wasn't celebrating.
He had already experienced Jian Chen's fighting style firsthand.
He knew that Jian Chen became more dangerous the longer a battle continued.
Jian Yuan was strong.
Very strong.
But Jian Chen was still hiding something.
Jian Ming had no doubt about that.
On the stage, Jian Yuan suddenly stopped.
He looked at Jian Chen.
"You've been avoiding my attacks from the beginning."
Jian Chen didn't answer.
Jian Yuan's eyes sharpened.
"Then let's see how long you can keep doing it."
He stepped forward.
Boom!
His entire body erupted with power.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
His fist shot forward with enough force to make the surrounding air tremble.
Jian Chen retreated.
But there was nowhere left to go.
His back was only a few steps from the edge.
Jian Yuan's eyes flashed.
Now.
He launched another attack.
Jian Chen shifted to the side.
But Jian Yuan had already anticipated the movement.
His second fist followed immediately.
Bang!
Jian Chen raised his iron sword.
The collision sent him backward.
His feet stopped just before the edge of the stage.
The spectators became tense.
Jian Hu's face lit up.
"He's trapped!"
Jian Chen glanced at Jian Yuan.
Then he noticed something.
Jian Yuan's breathing had changed.
Only slightly.
Most people wouldn't have noticed.
But Jian Chen did.
His breathing was heavier.
His attacks remained powerful, but the amount of energy Jian Yuan was consuming was beginning to affect him.
Jian Chen's gaze became sharper.
So that's the weakness.
Jian Yuan's strength was overwhelming.
But maintaining that level of power was draining his energy.
And Jian Yuan had been attacking continuously since the beginning.
Jian Chen slowly adjusted his grip on the iron sword.
This time...
He advanced.
Jian Yuan's expression changed slightly.
Jian Chen's sword flashed.
A short slash swept toward Jian Yuan's shoulder.
Jian Yuan blocked it with his forearm.
Another slash followed.
Then another.
The attacks weren't powerful enough to overwhelm Jian Yuan.
They weren't meant to be.
Jian Chen was forcing him to react.
Forcing him to move.
Forcing him to spend even more energy.
Jian Yuan suddenly stepped back.
Jian Chen didn't pursue.
Both men stood several meters apart.
A thin line of blood appeared across Jian Yuan's arm.
The arena became quiet.
Jian Yuan looked at the wound.
Then he smiled.
"Good."
He wiped the blood away.
"I'll end this with my next attack."
Jian Chen's expression remained unchanged.
Jian Yuan lowered his body.
The spiritual energy within him surged.
His muscles tightened.
The force gathering around his body became increasingly oppressive.
Even the spectators could feel the difference.
Jian Hu clenched his fists.
"That's it."
"Finish him!"
Jian Yuan exploded forward.
Boom!
His body crossed the distance in an instant.
His fist carried everything he had.
There was no feint.
No hesitation.
No room for retreat.
Jian Chen understood immediately.
This was Jian Yuan's strongest committed attack.
If he retreated...
He would lose the initiative.
If he blocked...
He might be overwhelmed.
So Jian Chen did something no one expected.
He stepped forward.
"What?"
Several disciples stared in disbelief.
Jian Chen was moving directly into Jian Yuan's attack.
Jian Yuan's fist tore toward his chest.
At the final instant...
Jian Chen shifted his body.
The fist passed beside him.
The distance was so small that Jian Yuan's sleeve brushed against Jian Chen's shoulder.
Jian Chen had entered the attack rather than escaped from it.
And now...
He was inside Jian Yuan's defense.
His iron sword moved.
There was no dazzling light.
No enormous explosion.
Only a clean and precise slash.
Slash!
The blade cut across Jian Yuan's chest.
Blood splashed onto the ground.
Jian Yuan's body froze.
His eyes widened slightly.
He understood.
Jian Chen had not reacted after the attack began.
He had already anticipated where Jian Yuan would strike.
Jian Yuan staggered backward.
Jian Chen didn't chase him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Jian Yuan gritted his teeth.
He refused to accept defeat.
With a roar, he charged forward again.
His fist shot toward Jian Chen.
Jian Chen's eyes remained calm.
The iron sword rose.
Then fell.
Slash!
Jian Yuan's attacking arm was knocked aside.
Before he could recover...
Jian Chen's sword had already reached his throat.
The sharp edge stopped against his skin.
The arena fell completely silent.
Jian Yuan stared at the iron sword.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
He knew.
The battle was over.
After several breaths, he slowly lowered his fists.
"I concede."
The supervising elder immediately stepped forward.
"Jian Chen wins!"
The declaration echoed throughout the arena.
The silence broke.
Voices erupted from every direction.
"He won!"
"Jian Chen defeated Jian Yuan!"
"The champion is Jian Chen!"
The excitement spread through the younger generation.
Some disciples stared at Jian Chen with admiration.
Others looked at him with disbelief.
A few remained completely silent.
They had watched him fight from the beginning.
They had seen him defeat Jian Xuan.
They had seen him defeat Jian Ming.
And now...
He had defeated Jian Yuan.
The three strongest opponents in the tournament had all fallen before him.
Jian Chen slowly lowered his iron sword.
His expression remained calm.
There was no arrogance in his eyes.
No excitement.
To him...
This victory was only a result.
The supervising elder looked across the arena.
"The tournament is officially concluded."
"The final rankings have been determined."
"All eight disciples who reached the final stages are to remain."
"We will now distribute the rewards."
The disciples settled down.
A moment later, the Clan Master stepped onto the stage.
His gaze swept over the younger generation.
"Our Jian Clan is not a large clan."
"Our resources are limited."
"But the strength and potential displayed during this tournament have shown that our younger generation still has a future."
He announced the rewards for the top eight disciples.
The rewards were modest by the standards of powerful clans.
Cultivation pills.
Medicinal resources.
Spiritual stones.
The exact quantity increased according to ranking.
For the disciples of the Jian Clan, however, these resources were valuable.
When the Clan Master reached Jian Chen's name, his voice became solemn.
"As the champion, Jian Chen will receive the highest reward prepared for this tournament."
Jian Chen's expression remained indifferent.
Only his eyes showed the slightest change.
Resources.
That was what mattered.
The Heavenly Sword Scripture was far more powerful than the cultivation techniques normally used by the Jian Clan.
But its power came with an equally demanding cost.
It consumed spiritual energy at an astonishing rate.
The stronger Jian Chen became...
The more resources he would need.
Pills.
Spiritual stones.
Medicinal treasures.
Anything that could accelerate his cultivation was useful.
The rewards from this tournament might not be much.
But they could still save him time.
And time was something Jian Chen valued greatly.
The Clan Master continued.
"Jian Chen is also granted permission to enter the Scripture Pavilion."
Several disciples looked at Jian Chen with envy.
The Scripture Pavilion contained the cultivation techniques and martial arts accumulated by the clan over many generations.
Jian Chen himself wasn't particularly interested in the position.
He had no desire to rule a small clan.
He had no attachment to the title of Young Patriarch.
But the Scripture Pavilion...
That was useful.
Even if the techniques inside weren't powerful enough to attract his attention, understanding the resources and martial arts possessed by the clan could still prove valuable.
Then the Clan Master's final announcement caused the arena to quiet once again.
"Jian Chen."
"From this day forward..."
"You are the Young Patriarch of the Jian Clan."
The disciples exchanged glances.
Jian Hu's expression instantly darkened.
His fists tightened.
The position he had never expected Jian Chen to obtain...
Had now fallen directly into Jian Chen's hands.
Jian Ming remained silent.
He looked at Jian Chen with complicated emotions.
After fighting him personally, Jian Ming understood why the Clan Master had made this decision.
Jian Chen's current strength was already astonishing.
More importantly...
His potential was even more frightening.
The Clan Master looked at Jian Chen.
"This position carries responsibility."
"The clan expects you to continue growing stronger and eventually lead the younger generation."
Jian Chen nodded.
"I understand."
Inside, however, he felt nothing toward the title.
Young Patriarch?
It was merely a name.
If the position brought him more resources...
Then he would accept it.
That was all.
Strength was what truly mattered.
The arena gradually began to disperse.
Jian Chen remained standing on the stage.
He looked at his iron sword.
Sixteen years.
The original Jian Chen had spent sixteen years unable to cultivate.
Sixteen years of humiliation.
Sixteen years of being called a cripple.
Sixteen years of watching others advance while he remained trapped in the same place.
Jian Chen slowly closed his eyes.
For a brief moment...
He imagined the lonely figure who had endured all those years.
"Jian Chen..."
"Do you see this?"
His voice was barely audible.
"You spent sixteen years being called a cripple."
"And now..."
"The entire clan knows your name."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I've made you famous."
He paused.
"Rest peacefully."
"I'll carry your name further than you ever imagined."
Jian Chen opened his eyes.
His gaze settled on the distant mountains.
No one would call Jian Chen a cripple again.
But he knew better than anyone that this victory meant very little compared to what awaited him.
He had only been cultivating for a little over one month.
Early Seventh Stage.
To the people of this small clan, his progress was astonishing.
To Jian Chen...
It was merely the beginning.
The heights he had once stood upon in the Divine Realm were still unimaginably far away.
There were countless realms ahead.
Countless powerful cultivators.
Countless geniuses.
And this small clan was only the first step.
Jian Chen tightened his grip around his iron sword.
The Young Patriarch position did not excite him.
The tournament victory did not satisfy him.
Only one thing mattered.
Becoming stronger.
And for that...
He needed resources.
His eyes gradually became sharper.
The path ahead was long.
But for the first time in sixteen years...
Jian Chen was walking it again.
And this time...
No one would stop him.
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