The next day,
Early morning.
Inside his secluded little courtyard.
Wang Quan Yan slowly opened his eyes.
Having few people on Grand Bamboo Peak had its advantages. At the very least, everyone could have an independent courtyard.
Unlike the other branches,
Where several people had to squeeze into one courtyard.
Whoosh!
Wang Quan Yan rose from his bed.
In truth, he had not slept all night. Instead, he had spent it meditating and cultivating.
After all,
At his level,
Whether he slept or not made little difference.
He could completely replace sleep with meditation.
He got up and washed.
After finishing all that,
Wang Quan Yan carried his sword into the spacious courtyard.
With a gentle push of his finger, the Sovereign Sword in his hand suddenly flew from its sheath. Its brilliant golden blade was revealed beneath the bright sunlight, reflecting a dazzling streak of sword light that seemed razor-sharp...
Whoosh!
Wang Quan Yan began his daily routine.
Sword practice!
Although ordinary sword practice did little to improve his cultivation, it was enormously beneficial to his Sword Heart!
As for what a Sword Heart was,
Even Wang Quan Yan could not explain it clearly.
After all,
He was still studying it himself.
After practicing his sword for a while,
Wang Quan Yan completed his training for the day.
He sheathed his sword, tidied himself up, then arrived at Shoujing Hall right on time.
At this moment,
The people of Grand Bamboo Peak had also just gathered.
"Time to eat!"
Zhang Xiaofan emerged from the back courtyard carrying dish after dish of food. His face was full of smiles, and he was clearly deeply engrossed in cooking.
Two years ago,
Du Bishu had broken through to the Fourth Layer of Jade Purity and needed to descend the mountain to gain experience and search for materials to refine a magical treasure. Thus, the responsibility of cooking had fallen to Zhang Xiaofan.
And so,
By a fortunate coincidence,
Zhang Xiaofan had begun his life as a cook.
"Xiao Yan is here?"
"Sit."
Tian Buyi glanced at Wang Quan Yan.
His voice was somewhat flat, as though nothing had happened yesterday.
Su Ru also looked warmly at Wang Quan Yan.
Whether Wang Quan Yan and Tian Ling'er had a marriage arrangement or not, he was still a disciple of Grand Bamboo Peak and Tian Buyi's disciple, was he not?
"Yes, Master."
Wang Quan Yan gave Tian Buyi and Su Ru a slight bow.
Then he calmly took his seat.
Not far away,
Tian Ling'er sat beside Su Ru.
She silently picked up her bowl and chopsticks, but her gaze occasionally drifted toward Wang Quan Yan. No one knew what she was thinking.
"Eat."
Tian Buyi gave the order.
The disciples of Grand Bamboo Peak immediately began eating.
Throughout the meal,
Not a single person spoke.
After everyone had finished eating,
"Ahem."
Su Ru suddenly gave a light cough.
At that moment,
All the disciples of Grand Bamboo Peak shuddered.
They seemed to recall the terror of being ruled by their "Master's wife." They looked at one another, their expressions even worse than crying.
"There are only three months left until the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament. Come over one by one and let me see whether you have been cultivating diligently these days."
Su Ru slowly rose to her feet.
She drew a wooden switch from behind her back, clearly intending to use it to "instruct" the disciples.
At her words,
Song Daren and the others all lowered their heads and played dead.
None of them wanted to be the first one to stand out.
"Hmm?"
Su Ru's delicate brows furrowed.
However, at that moment,
A figure stepped forward first.
It was none other than Wang Quan Yan.
"Master's wife, I have gained quite a bit recently. Why not let me go first..."
Wang Quan Yan clasped his hands slightly.
The moment he spoke,
Song Daren and the others immediately looked at him with gratitude.
Though they would still be beaten in the end,
At least,
As long as the Master's wife got her fill with the first person, those after him would take fewer hits.
Hearing this,
Su Ru said gently,
"Then Xiao Yan can go first."
As soon as she finished speaking,
The two went outside the courtyard.
Tian Buyi, who had originally intended to leave, became interested as well. He and Song Daren's group of disciples came out together and watched from nearby.
"Master's wife, shall we switch to a magical sword?"
Wang Quan Yan looked at the wooden switch in Su Ru's hand.
At his words,
Su Ru did not refuse.
After all, Wang Quan Yan's cultivation was now at the Peak of Ninth Layer of Jade Purity Realm. His combat strength could even rival a Supreme Purity Expert...
She could not be careless.
Otherwise,
If she lost, it would be embarrassing.
Su Ru casually found a magical sword to temporarily serve as her weapon.
However,
When she turned around, she discovered that Wang Quan Yan had set down his Sovereign Sword.
"Huh?"
"Xiao Yan, you are not using a sword?"
Su Ru was slightly stunned.
"I am."
Wang Quan Yan smiled faintly.
He gently raised his right hand.
Whoosh!
In an instant,
Terrifying golden sword intent solidified at once.
It directly transformed within his hand into a sword resembling the Sovereign Sword.
This was—
Sword intent manifesting into a physical object!?
Wang Quan Yan's move immediately left everyone present stunned!
Using sword intent to manifest a physical object!
Just how profound was Wang Quan Yan's attainment in the Sword Dao?
They had never even heard of such a thing!
"Xiao Yan, this is..."
Su Ru froze.
Not only her.
Even Tian Buyi, who was watching the battle, was stunned.
He carefully recalled all the things he had seen over the years and realized that not even Senior Brother Wan, Qingyun Sect's unparalleled swordsmanship prodigy of the past, possessed an ability like Wang Quan Yan's...
"Master's wife."
"This is my sword intent."
Wang Quan Yan said softly, "Sovereign Sword Intent!"
The instant his words fell,
The longsword in his hand erupted with a brilliant sword light, as though it were responding to Wang Quan Yan's words.
"Sovereign Sword Intent?"
Su Ru exchanged a glance with Tian Buyi in the distance.
A flicker of eagerness appeared in her eyes.
"Good."
"Then let me see just how powerful your sword intent is."
As soon as she spoke,
Su Ru took the initiative and thrust her sword toward Wang Quan Yan.
For now, she used only thirty percent of her strength, wanting to test Wang Quan Yan's true ability. Yet before long...
She was astonished to discover that Wang Quan Yan seemed able to receive thirty percent of her strength with great ease. One had to remember that she was a Supreme Purity Expert!
Even though Wang Quan Yan had already reached the Peak of Ninth Layer of Jade Purity Realm,
There was still an enormous gap between him and the Supreme Purity Realm.
For him to so calmly withstand thirty percent of Su Ru's strength could only mean—
Wang Quan Yan's strength had already come infinitely close to the Supreme Purity Realm!
With that thought,
Su Ru continued increasing her strength.
From the original thirty percent, she raised it to fifty percent.
Whoosh!
Wang Quan Yan swung the longsword in his hand.
Within the space around them, invisible to ordinary eyes, strands of golden sword intent had completely surrounded Su Ru. Even using fifty percent of her strength, she could not break free.
Boom!
Left with no choice,
Su Ru could only continue increasing her strength.
She had to use sixty percent of her full cultivation before she could barely force back the surrounding sword intent. Only when she used seventy percent of her full cultivation could she gradually suppress Wang Quan Yan—
By then,
Su Ru's expression had grown increasingly grave.
Clearly,
Wang Quan Yan's combat strength was not much weaker than hers.
He might be only one step away from the true Supreme Purity Realm!
"Good! Good! Good!"
Not far away, Tian Buyi's face was filled with delight.
The other Grand Bamboo Peak disciples around them could not understand what was happening, but they could see the gravity on their mistress Su Ru's face. Clearly...
Their mistress had gotten serious.
To make a Supreme Purity Expert like Su Ru take things seriously?
Just how strong was Wang Quan Yan?!
For a moment,
the many Grand Bamboo Peak disciples looked at one another.
What they did not know was that Wang Quan Yan had not actually used his true strength. If he had unleashed the true Heaven and Earth One Sword, even Su Ru likely would not have been able to withstand it.
Even if she did?
She would still be seriously injured!
However,
this was only a spar.
Naturally, Wang Quan Yan could not use Heaven and Earth One Sword.
After all, it was a true killing move of the sword path!
Once it was unleashed?
Blood would surely be spilled!
There was no need to use something like that in a spar!
Boom!
Su Ru's sword forced Wang Quan Yan back.
She had already used eighty percent of her strength in that strike.
Only eighty percent of her strength was enough to suppress Wang Quan Yan?
"Good!"
"Xiao Yan, you now possess the strength to contend for the Supreme Purity Realm!"
Su Ru lowered the enchanted sword in her hand.
She looked at Wang Quan Yan before her with astonishment, never expecting his strength to have reached such a terrifying level?!
"Judging by Xiao Yan's current strength..."
"The top three of this Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament will surely include a place for our Grand Bamboo Peak!"
Su Ru praised him.
At those words,
the many Grand Bamboo Peak disciples erupted into commotion.
Top three in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament?
Gasp!
How terrifying!
"Hmph!"
Amid the crowd, Tian Ling'er gave a soft snort.
What was so impressive about the top three? The champion of this Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament would definitely be Senior Brother Qi!
After all,
he was the Foremost expert below the Supreme Purity Realm.
He definitely would not be weaker than Wang Quan Yan!
Before you continue