Once Elder Wang received the sect decree, his anger flared.
"Presumptuous!"
"It's you who are presumptuous."
At that moment, a voice echoed from the sky.
It was loud and clear, striking directly at the soul.
Before the figure appeared, the voice arrived first.
The words fell—then a giant sword descended from the heavens, landing in front of Elder Wang.
A man in white robes, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, slowly descended.
"Who are you?" Elder Wang took two steps back, a flicker of guilt in his eyes—the sword had nearly split his head in two.
"Presumptuous!"
Before Elder Wang could finish, Sect Leader Li Guang of the Blazing Heaven Sect descended from the sky.
Li Guang landed, bowed deeply to the newcomer, and said with respect, "This is Elder Jian Wuhen of the Myriad Sword Sect! Wang Youwei, you blind fool—how dare you be disrespectful!"
Elder Wang was stunned. He hurriedly bowed again and again to pay his respects, but Jian Wuhen ignored him, instead looking silently at Zhang Fan.
The corner of Jian Wuhen's mouth curved into a smile.
"Boy, I have a question for you."
"Ask." Zhang Fan replied calmly.
Name: Jian Wuhen
Cultivation Base: Peak of Integration Stage
Affiliation: Elder of Myriad Sword Sect
Note: His realm is far too high for any contract.
"Myriad Sword Sect is the greatest sect in the east of Azure Cloud Continent," Jian Wuhen said. "If someone insulted our sect, as its Elder, how should I deal with them?"
"Senior," Zhang Fan replied, "you seem like a benevolent man, unwilling to take lives. Why not dig out his eyes, destroy his dantian, and cut off his legs?"
Jian Wuhen's eyes flashed. He hadn't expected such an answer.
Not bad—kindness first, then the eyes, then the legs, then the dantian! Should he call himself the Benevolent Sword Master? Or perhaps the Benevolent Emperor?
"Good! You truly understand me. I am indeed a benevolent man—I dislike killing."
With a wave of his hand—
Boom! Eyes burst.
Boom! Legs shattered.
Boom! Dantian destroyed.
A scream rang out. In the space of three blasts, Elder Wang went from a high-ranking Blazing Heaven Sect Elder to a cripple. He was carried away.
Throughout it all, Sect Leader Li Guang did not protest. Instead, he smiled, gave a big thumbs-up, and said, "Sword Elder is merciful and benevolent. I admire you!"
Zhang Fan looked on thoughtfully.
This was the cultivation world—
The weak are prey to the strong.
Even if someone killed your Elder right in front of you, you might have no choice but to smile and praise them.
"It's all due to my mercy," Jian Wuhen said lightly. "Sect Leader Li, let's announce the top three of the competition."
Li Guang nodded and addressed the crowd:
"This year's top three are Zhang Fan, Murong Xue…"
"Wait!"
A voice interrupted. Everyone turned in surprise, frowning. Jian Wuhen's expression darkened—who dared speak after he had just crippled an Elder?
A man stepped forward, bowed, and said,
"Senior, I do not agree with Zhang Fan being in the top three! He is only at the first level of the Qi Refining Stage. How could he clear the ninth floor of the trial tower in just two hours? There must be something suspicious!"
"This is Wang Teng," Li Guang said quickly. "He placed fourth, clearing the eighth floor."
Jian Wuhen frowned and glanced at the stele. Sure enough—eighth floor cleared. Only Zhang Fan, the Murong sisters, and Wang Teng had done so.
He knew the ninth floor's trial well—
All it required was one step forward, facing a false dragon without retreat. No battle, just courage. Zhang Fan and the Murong sisters had it. Wang Teng did not.
And yet, now this same coward dared challenge Zhang Fan in front of him? Ridiculous.
"Then what do you want?" Jian Wuhen asked with interest.
"I want a fair fight with Zhang Fan! The winner will represent Blazing Heaven Sect in the Peerless Genius Martial Arts Competition!" Wang Teng declared.
Jian Wuhen smirked. Fair? Wang Teng was at the tenth level of Qi Refining, challenging someone at the first level.
"Boy, he wants a fair fight. What do you think?"
"Senior, you must know that I am a fair man," Zhang Fan said calmly. "I will even give him the advantage of two free moves. It's just a pity I won't be able to use my full strength—it may disappoint you."
Jian Wuhen chuckled. Were all men surnamed Zhang this arrogant?
"Zhang Fan! You're insulting me!" Wang Teng roared.
Jian Wuhen waved to Li Guang.
"Prepare the ring."
On the ring, Wang Teng suppressed his cultivation to match Zhang Fan's stage. He held a low-grade spiritual weapon and said coldly: "Zhang Fan, I don't know how you cleared the ninth floor, but I'm certain you cheated. Today, I'm fighting not just to prove I'm better, but to reclaim what's mine!"
Zhang Fan smiled faintly.
"Senior Brother Wang, you'd better bring more spiritual weapons, otherwise this won't be fair to you."
Wang Teng's face flushed with rage at the mockery. He put away his weapon and faced Zhang Fan barehanded.
"I don't need spiritual weapons to deal with you!"
"Good," Zhang Fan replied. "I'll even let you make all your moves first—to be fair."
"I told you, I'm the fairest person you'll ever meet."