With a single wave of his hand, those hundreds of people were swept away without a trace. The terrifying power of the innately powerful was now unmistakable.
Then, Prince Xu's gaze fell on the dozens of people who had entered the sword formation but hadn't made it through to the other side.
"You have courage, but lack strength and realm. For now, remember that you will be outer disciples of my Biyou Sect."
Prince Xu waved his hand again, and the dozens of people struggling in the sword formation were effortlessly swept to a corner on the other side.
As soon as these people landed, several Biyou Sect disciples appeared and escorted them away.
Finally, Prince Xu's gaze fell on those who had successfully passed through the sword formation and reached the other side.
"According to the sect leader, you are already considered outer disciples of the Biyou Sect. However, as the Sword-wielding Elder of the Biyou Sect, I will impose an additional test. Regardless of the outcome, you are all outer disciples of the Biyou Sect."
Hearing Prince Xu's words, Ming Qi was shocked, unable to fathom the true intentions of this mysterious, innately powerful being.
Ming Qi knew that within the monastic sects, the Sword-wielding Elder was a transcendent figure. Even the sect leaders, the head of the sect, the great guardian elders, the elders who transmitted the skills, and so on, were required to show respect to the Sword-wielding Elder.
Of course, Ming Qi knew the power of the Sword-wielding Elder, and the others surely knew it too. Therefore, even after Prince Xu's words, the crowd remained silent, without a single murmur of dissatisfaction.
Seeing no objection, as if it were expected, Prince Xu flicked his vast, sweeping sleeves. Everyone saw a flash of light before their eyes, and a chilling longsword appeared.
A three-foot-long sword, dazzling and chilling.
At this moment, a three-foot-long sword, gleaming with a cold light, hovered before each person.
Ming Qi naturally had one before him, too. However, when he examined the sword closely, he discovered that its entire blade was as translucent as white jade, not made of ordinary iron at all. He could even sense an inexplicable aura from it, a force that charged forward, slashing everything in its path.
"This sword is extraordinary," Ming Qi thought, feeling the urge to reach out and touch it.
However, he wasn't so curious. He might even anger Prince Xu, and he could be killed instantly with a single finger.
At this moment, Prince Xu, floating in the air, remained motionless, but his eyes took in every expression and gesture of those present.
The long sword that appeared before everyone wasn't actually a real sword. It was merely a few dozen tiny strands of Crown Prince Xu's vast sword intent, condensed by the surrounding spiritual energy, fueled by his immense innate vital energy.
However, these individuals were all juniors born with acquired abilities, unable to comprehend the innate sword intent. Few could even perceive the rapidly condensing spiritual energy around them.
At this moment, they simply sensed the immense power of this suddenly appearing sword.
The most important aspect of swordsmanship is understanding, and for a master swordsman, understanding and perseverance are both essential.
As for the master swordsmen of the cultivator world, the pinnacle of swordsmanship, they are geniuses who combine understanding, perseverance, and a strong will.
Mortals cultivate their bodies, while cultivators cultivate their minds. Sword intent is the closest to reaching the heart, directly attacking the inner being.
Prince Xu's reason for this was to see if any promising swordsmanship talent might emerge among this year's crop. However, that was merely a promising prospect. As for those born with a natural talent for swordsmanship, he didn't dare to hope for it.
After all, if those people appeared, they would inevitably be closely watched by countless other powerful forces, who would absolutely not allow them to fall into the hands of a small sect like the Biyou Sect.
"This sword truly holds a secret!"
Ming Qi stared at the crystal-like sword before him until his eyes ached and bulged, then he rubbed them vigorously and muttered to himself.
But despite the intense pain, he couldn't help but want to see. It seemed as if something within the sword was desperately drawing him in.
Time ticked by, and Prince Xu, floating in the air, gradually revealed a look of disappointment.
Even after refining the essence of the sword into its most simplistic form, no one could grasp even a hint of its power. It seemed impossible for anyone among them to become a master swordsman this time.
"Hmm?"
Just then, Prince Xu suddenly noticed a person in the crowd undergoing a strange transformation.
He was a young man, about thirteen or fourteen, with wild, long hair flowing in the wind. A hint of evil lingered on his handsome face, his lips curled up in a strange smile or a grin of discomfort.
However, Crown Prince Xu paid no attention to the boy's facial expression. His gaze lingered on the boy's face for only a moment before he immediately shifted his gaze behind him.
Because at that moment, a cloud of inky black mist rapidly rose from behind the boy.
This cloud of black mist was volatile, twisting and shifting as it rose, and in a flash, it transformed into a massive black sword.
At the same time, a pair of terrifying eyes opened on the black sword's blade. These eyes held an indescribable terror, mingled with boundless greed and lust.
These eyes were filled with complexity and mystery, as if they were the product of a being that had experienced countless hardships: one kind of kindness, one kind of cruelty, one kind of greed, and one kind of emptiness.
"Sword Demon."
Gaze upon the pitch-black blade and the enigmatic eyes, Prince Xu calmly uttered those two words.
Demons arise from the heart, and sword intent is closest to the true heart, making it particularly easy to arouse the demon within.
"You sensed my sword intent, which is good, but unfortunately, it's so filled with demonic energy that it won't last."
Prince Xu sighed softly.
This young man was Ming Qi. Though outwardly calm, his inner world was already turbulent and fraught with danger.
His soul had experienced countless worldly experiences, teeming with distractions, including lust for wealth, sex, and material possessions. However, Prince Xu's swordsmanship was pure and sacred, forbidding even the slightest flaw. Ming Qi, glimpsing a glimpse of its essence, immediately planted the Sword Demon, bringing it to life.
"This sword is truly powerful!"
Ming Qi was deeply shocked. The birth of the Sword Demon had already thrown his Origin World into chaos, and the dense demonic energy immediately threatened to devour and occupy everything.
"Awoo..."
At this moment, Ming Qi felt the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map hidden within his sea of consciousness tremble again, and a faint wolf howl emanated from within.
This wolf howl, like a bolt from the blue, shook everything.
Even the boundless demonic energy within his Origin World was suppressed.
Wolf nature!
The existence of the Wolf Clan's supreme mysteries gave Ming Qi the possibility of defeating the Sword Demon.
This thought immediately ignited Ming Qi's boundless fighting spirit. He no longer had time to contemplate the infinite mysteries of the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map. Within his Origin World, his consciousness urged the true essence of wolf nature to condense into a single point, and he began to suppress and strangle the monstrous demonic energy.
Wolf howls echoed, sword energy roared, and Ming Qi's Origin World was practically turned upside down.
Ming Qi's soul had experienced many things, which meant it was immensely powerful. Demons emanate from within, and even if demonic energy surged, a force from deep within his Origin would counteract it.
At this moment, the true essence of wolf nature from the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map joined in, quickly suppressing the monstrous demonic energy, and the world of the academy quickly returned to a clear and peaceful state.
The pitch-black sword edge and the mysterious demonic eye behind Ming Qi quickly faded. After the black energy dissipated, it was replaced by a blade composed entirely of a faint white hue.
And on this blade, formed from the pure spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth, a mighty wolf head vividly appeared.
"This..."
Seeing this scene, even Prince Xu couldn't help but reveal a look of shock.
"Dispelling the Sword Demon's influence on his own? How could it be possible!"
At this point, he refused to believe that this young man could dispel the Sword Demon's influence with his own strength.
But the facts compelled him to believe it, as the entire process unfolded before his eyes, perfectly clear.
"Excellent, excellent!"
Prince Xu suddenly cheered inwardly, a rare smile breaking across his face.
One, one is enough!
Thinking this way, Prince Xu didn't waste any more time. So far, few others had been able to discern anything from his sword intent, and he had given up hope.
Swish!
With a flick of his sleeve, the long sword rang out, transforming into a stream of light and flying back to Prince Xu.
After Prince Xu withdrew his sword intent, the shadowy long sword behind Ming Qi also dissipated.
Without Prince Xu's sword intent supporting him, he couldn't muster even a shred of it. After all, he only understood a tiny bit about sword intent at this point; comprehension was far from complete.
Only by understanding can one see clearly. That's the truth.
The others were completely bewildered, completely unaware of the activities of this mysterious Sword-Wielding Elder.
Retracting his sword intent, Prince Xu glanced at the group and said, "The assessment is complete. Next, someone will take you to the Biyou Sect. The details will be explained later."
Without stopping, Prince Xu unleashed his flying sword and soared into the air.
As the group watched Sword-Wielding Elder Prince Xu depart, several Biyou Sect disciples arrived. They each received a leaf from the Biyou Sacred Tree and were instructed on how to use it. The disciples then activated the leaf and soared into the air, leading the new disciples on a zigzag flight towards the Biyou Sect's headquarters, Bikong City.
Before departing, Ming Qi waved to the Dire Wolf without hesitation, and it leaped onto the ship-like leaf of the Sacred Tree.
Strangely enough, the leaves of the Biyou Sacred Tree were only the size of a thumb when held in the hand, but once activated with a magical incantation, they unexpectedly grew to enormous size. Ming Qi and his wolf stood on top of them without feeling crowded at all.
At this moment, the others also took off one after another. Some, like Ming Qi, took away the demon beasts they had previously subdued, while others simply left them behind.