Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Sect’s Grand Competition

There’s still a month left until the hexennial Grand Competition of the Northern Region.

The Qingyang Sword Sect has decided to hold its own sect competition to select candidates for the Grand Competition.

When Sect Leader Jiang Qitian announced the sect competition, it sent shockwaves throughout the entire sect.

When Xiao Yang got the news, he couldn’t help but scoff.

After realizing the huge scam their sect leader had pulled, any remaining affection he had for his master Jiang Qitian evaporated.

Who would have thought that the respectable leader of the Qingyang Sword Sect would be such a hypocrite?

Countless disciples within the sect had been duped by their leader left and right!

While all the young disciples were eagerly itching to make a name for themselves in the sect competition, Xiao Yang had returned to the Qingyang Secret Realm.

With Song Qiang keeping an eye on the Holy Son’s Residence, Jiang Ting and the others dared not harbor any ill intent towards it.

“Why did you come back so soon?”

The Sword Guard was utterly delighted to see Xiao Yang.

After Xiao Yang left, he had no one to practice swords or drink with, and he was bored to death.

“I missed you!”

Xiao Yang laughed.

“Yeah, right!”

The Sword Guard certainly didn’t buy Xiao Yang’s nonsense.

“Let’s spar first!”

Without waiting for a reply, the Sword Guard swung his sword straight at Xiao Yang.

The fierce sword light tore through the air, instantly aimed at Xiao Yang’s chest.

“Come at me!”

Xiao Yang shouted, raising his sword finger to point it forward.

His finger landed precisely on the Sword Guard’s incoming sword light.

“Buzz!”

The two forces of sword way erupted simultaneously.

The Sword Guard was sent flying backward.

Xiao Yang took several steps back as well.

“What the…?”

The Sword Guard stared at Xiao Yang, a sword rainbow spiraling around him.

The intense sword light sliced through the air, accompanied by waves of piercing sounds.

“This doesn’t look much like the Qingyang Sword Technique!”

The Sword Guard questioned, puzzled.

“This is my own sword way!”

Xiao Yang’s lips curved upwards as he stomped on the ground, propelling himself into the air, instantly hovering above the Sword Guard.

“Your own sword way?”

The Sword Guard was left in shock.

He couldn’t believe it! Xiao Yang was still so young, had he truly found his own path?

How could that even be possible?

He knew very well how difficult it was for one to pave their own way.

“Nine Suns in Heaven!”

Xiao Yang unleashed the trump card of the Qingyang Sword Technique.

He poured all his strength into it.

With a loud ringing of a sword, nine dazzling sword lights appeared in the sky.

The nine beams of sword light pressed downward towards the Sword Guard.

The sword Qi waves rippling outwards from the nine lights stirred the surrounding air, making it look like translucent ripples on water.

“Not this move again!”

The Sword Guard laughed, swinging his right hand to summon his own nine sword lights in the air.

“Boom!”

The two forces of the sword way collided instantly.

Everything within a ten-meter radius was sliced into countless pieces by the erupting sword Qi.

Both of them moved rapidly, engaging in an exhilarating battle.

Xiao Yang went all out, fighting with the Sword Guard fiercely.

He pushed his limits, and after the battle, his cultivation level finally took a leap, breaking through to the Peak of the Heavenly Martial Realm.

At this moment, with the Futian Sword Technique in hand and tenth level sword intent, he was nearly invincible among his peers.

The Sword Guard felt quite gloomy, as he couldn’t stand up to Xiao Yang even while suppressing his own cultivation at the Heavenly Martial Realm.

With Xiao Yang back, he didn’t plan to stay long.

How could he miss out on such a grand event as the sect competition?

“You’re really astonishing, kid.”

After their duel, the two began to drink heartily under the sword platform.

The Sword Guard somehow managed to get a whole roasted lamb and set it up.

Big bowls of wine and large chunks of meat—one word: bliss!

“You little rascal, we’re not stopping until we’re drunk!”

The Sword Guard said gleefully.

“Old man, think a little better next time!”

Xiao Yang looked at the Sword Guard, hesitated, then sighed, saying nothing further.

“What did you say?”

The Sword Guard looked at Xiao Yang in confusion.

“Nothing, cheers!”

Xiao Yang clinked his bowl with the Sword Guard’s before chugging his wine in one go.

“Good!”

The Sword Guard gave Xiao Yang a thumbs up, also downing his drink in one gulp.

“One more!”

Xiao Yang, feeling a bit annoyed, just wanted to drink to forget everything.

The Sword Guard seemed to have something on his mind too.

Before long, they were both feeling tipsy.

When Xiao Yang left the Secret Realm, he was in high spirits.

His cultivation had successfully broken through to the Peak of the Heavenly Martial Realm.

Old enemies from his past life now felt like nothing more than ants to him.

…

“Dong!”

As the sun began to rise, the first rays of dawn shone upon the top of Qingyang Mountain, accompanied by the sound of a bell echoing through the mountains.

Soon, the area around Qingyang Mountain buzzed with activity.

Countless disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect began to gather at the Great Hall at the top of the mountain.

In front of the Great Hall, the Sword Comparison Platform had already been erected.

Sect Leader Jiang Qitian, Transmission Elder Cang Xiao, and Law Enforcement Elder Lei Lie took their seats in front of the hall.

Along with the three grand heads of the sect, other elders and their disciples were also present.

Such as Elder Fang Tang from the Miscellaneous Department.

Elder Qinglian who managed the Spirit Herb Valley.

Elder Gu Feng who oversaw the library.

These made up the five great elders of the Qingyang Sword Sect.

When Xiao Yang arrived, the square was already crowded with countless disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect.

Everyone was excited and eager.

After all, the sect competition was their chance to shine.

“Greetings to Master and all the elders!”

Xiao Yang bowed respectfully to Sect Leader Jiang Qitian and the elders before sitting down on the Holy Son’s seat beneath the leader’s throne.

Jiang Qitian then announced the start of the sect competition.

Everyone was itching to participate, but nobody dared to step up to the Sword Comparison Platform just yet.

The rules of the sect competition were quite simple: you showcase your skills on the platform.

As long as you win two rounds in a row, you can step down to rest and come back for another round.

However, if you lose two rounds in a row, you get eliminated and lose the chance to return to the platform.

Using underhanded tricks was strictly prohibited during the competition.

Of course, with all the elders watching, who would dare to resort to tricks?

“Since nobody is going up, I’ll take my turn then.”

Just when everyone hesitated, a figure strode forward from the crowd.

Xiao Yang was surprised to see it was Lin Wangchuan, the eldest disciple of Elder Gu Feng, who managed the library.

Lin Wangchuan was quite peculiar in the sect; he was like a child who never grew up, always playing around in the mountains.

His master, Elder Gu Feng, didn’t mind him, letting him run wild in the mountains.

Now, Lin Wangchuan gracefully climbed onto the Sword Comparison Platform.

Everyone was astonished to see Lin Wangchuan step up.

This was the sect competition, not a place for Lin Wangchuan’s shenanigans.

“Come on, who wants to fight me?”

Lin Wangchuan shouted, hands on his hips, looking down at the crowd below the platform.

He was playful and carefree, seemingly never taking his training seriously. To the other disciples, he was just a fool often seen chasing after animals in the hills.

Everyone felt eager.

Just a waste of a talent—defeating him would be a piece of cake, right?

“I’ll have a go at you.”

A loud voice rang out, and a figure emerged from the crowd, leaping onto the Sword Comparison Platform.

It was Wang Ao, the fourth disciple.

Wang Ao had been defeated by Li Xingyao with just a casual move when he asked about the sword on Qingyang Mountain.

During this time, he had been training hard and was on the verge of breaking through to half-step Heavenly Martial Realm.

Defeating Lin Wangchuan was not an issue at all, was it?

Those who hesitated felt regret for not jumping in right away.

But was Lin Wangchuan really that weak? Was he truly just a useless disciple?

Xiao Yang couldn’t help but smirk slightly.

Wang Ao was in for a rough time.

With no further ado, the two jumped into battle.

Instantly, the Sword Comparison Platform was filled with energy.

The watching disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect watched the scene nervously.

Wang Ao’s flying sword transformed into a giant bird wrapped in flame, diving right towards Lin Wangchuan, while the sword Qi poured forth like a flood, unstoppable.

This was the swordsmanship ability of a master at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm, manipulating sword Qi with their own vitality.

Since practitioners at the Divine Ability Realm burned their energy quickly, such a technique couldn’t be maintained for long.

Once Wang Ao broke through to the Heavenly Martial Realm, he could draw from the natural spiritual energy, amplifying the strength of his moves tenfold and greatly reducing his own energy consumption.

“Haha, sword energy formation? I can do that too, Tiger Come!”

Lin Wangchuan laughed loudly.

The next moment, a phantom of a fierce tiger burst forth from him, charging straight toward the flaming giant bird.

The sword Qi surged massively, overwhelming everything.