Within Qingzhou.
Not a cloud stretched across the ten thousand miles of sky.
Three great sects stood in rivalry throughout Qingzhou.
Leading them was the Four Thunder Sword Sect, founded by Daoist Siji.
Next came the Baiyun Dao Sect and the Taiyue Sword Sect.
At this very moment, within the Four Thunder Sword Sect.
A sword-testing convention had just concluded.
The top ten young talents—seven men and three women—stood prominently upon the martial platform, each holding their heads high and chests proud, brimming with youthful vigor.
Several elders stood atop flying swords, watching the crowd.
Just then, a powerful voice rang out.
"Excellent! Very good indeed! In this sect's sword-testing convention, seven people have cultivated the Spring Thunder Sword Technique to the realm of great completion and perfection. What is more, two have brought the Spring Thunder Sword Technique to Peak Attainment."
"Of course, one person has even condensed Spring Thunder Sword Intent. Good, very good, exceptionally good."
The elder's voice boomed like a great bell, resounding in every disciple's ears.
Beyond the martial platform, several thousand disciples watched the ten people onstage with envy in their eyes.
Especially after the elder's lavish praise, the smiles on those ten faces grew even wider.
But at that moment, the elder continued.
"However, this Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention is no ordinary matter. There are still two months left, and you must not lower your guard. In order to contend for the top ten in this convention, the Sect Leader will personally guide your cultivation. Do you understand?"
As those words fell.
Several thousand disciples instantly erupted into an uproar.
Even the ten people on the martial platform were stunned beyond measure.
No one had expected that a mere Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention would bring Daoist Siji out to personally instruct them.
Sect Leader Siji was the creator of the Four Thunder Sword Technique and was hailed as Qingzhou's foremost Sword Dao expert. He had made his name throughout Qingzhou centuries ago. Although Daoist Siji had held the position of Sect Leader all these years, he had been like a divine dragon whose head and tail could not be seen.
Yet no one had expected him to come and instruct inner disciples now.
Among all the sects in Qingzhou, disciples were divided into outer disciples, inner disciples, core disciples, and true disciples.
No matter how outstanding inner disciples were, they should never have warranted guidance from someone like Daoist Siji.
Within Qingzhou, Daoist Siji was an existence akin to faith itself. Qingzhou's number one Sword Dao expert—such a reputation was no empty boast.
At that moment, it was not merely the outer disciples who were envious. Even the various inner disciples and core disciples could not help but feel envy.
Envy was secondary; what truly mattered was that they found it unbelievable.
Just then, the elder's voice rang out again.
"This Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention is of utmost importance. The Four Thunder Sword Sect's goal is not first place, but a place in the top ten."
"We have received reliable intelligence that several Hidden Sects within Qingzhou have also sent disciples to participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention. Do you understand now?"
As the elder's voice sounded.
The uproar became far louder than before.
Hidden Sects.
To these disciples, those four words were like a towering mountain.
Though most of them had never left Qingzhou, they still knew what Hidden Sects represented.
Above Qingzhou was the Jin Kingdom.
And above the Jin Kingdom lay the Ten Kingdoms.
According to legend, turmoil had once erupted in the Ten Kingdoms, and some colossal sects had fallen. Yet although those sects had perished, a portion of their most core strength had remained, lying low in small and obscure places.
After many years had passed, when the world had forgotten those sects, they became Hidden Sects.
Of course, there was another kind of Hidden Sect, one even more terrifying. They were almost passed down through a single lineage and possessed supreme inheritances. Such Hidden Sects were simply not something the Four Thunder Sword Sect could compare to.
No, using the Four Thunder Sword Sect as a yardstick against Hidden Sects was the greatest insult to Hidden Sects.
In an instant, everyone understood why Daoist Siji would personally offer guidance.
Clearly, this Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention was a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons gathered. Even Hidden Sects were taking part, so there had to be some important purpose behind it.
Thinking of this, everyone felt even more sour.
Had they known, they would have fought to the death to enter the top ten.
The disciples were filled with endless regret.
They had not received the slightest hint beforehand.
Although they could still participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention, receiving the Sect Leader's guidance and not receiving it were entirely different matters.
The elder swept his gaze over the disciples' expressions. He said nothing more and simply waved his hand.
"Very well. Whether you entered the top ten or not, you must still temper yourselves diligently. Never become complacent or arrogant. The path of Sword Dao is boundlessly long; diligence must come first. The meeting is adjourned."
After saying this, the elders departed one after another, leaving the disciples behind.
Before long, inside the Four Thunder Sword Sect's main hall.
Several dozen elders sat quietly within the hall, their expressions solemn and not a word passing between them.
The hall was exceedingly quiet, filled with a stern and chilling air.
Just then.
A figure appeared outside the hall.
It was an old man.
Everyone rose to their feet and respectfully addressed the old man.
"We greet the Sect Leader!"
They spoke in unison.
The old man waved his hand, then entered the hall and took his seat of honor.
"I summoned you all here today for an important matter."
He spoke slowly, drawing the elders' curiosity.
They did not know what had happened to make Daoist Siji personally emerge from seclusion.
"Sect Leader, may I ask what exactly has happened?"
"Yes, Sect Leader, what exactly has happened?"
"Could it be related to the Tai Xuan Sword Pagoda Token?"
The crowd spoke up. Some who knew a little of the inside story could not help asking this.
But Daoist Siji shook his head.
"If it were merely the Tai Xuan Sword Pagoda Token, it would not be such a heaven-shaking matter." Daoist Siji spoke, then said solemnly, "Do you know of the Ten Nations Academy?"
Daoist Siji spoke slowly.
"The Ten Nations Academy?"
"Is the Ten Nations Academy opening once more?"
For a moment, the elders all came to a sudden realization. They knew of the Ten Nations Academy, but curiosity appeared on their faces as they failed to understand what connection it had to the Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention.
"Sect Leader, the Ten Nations Academy is no trivial matter, but what does it have to do with the Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention? Could it be that whoever takes first place in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention can be selected into the Ten Nations Academy?"
An elder could not help speaking, his curiosity plainly apparent.
The Ten Nations Academy.
It was an extremely renowned academy among the Ten Kingdoms. This academy only recruited outstanding talents from the Ten Kingdoms—and these talents were true talents.
They were not people whom a title like Qingzhou's number one could compare to.
It was said that any disciple taken from the Ten Nations Academy would be an outstanding talent of an entire kingdom.
Among the Ten Kingdoms, the Jin Kingdom's national strength ranked toward the bottom.
Within the Jin Kingdom, there were thirty-three provinces in total. Qingzhou was merely above average, and that was only thanks to Daoist Siji forcibly raising Qingzhou's standing by several levels.
Otherwise, Qingzhou would basically have ranked among the very bottom.
To Qingzhou cultivators, the Ten Nations Academy was an existence far beyond reach.
Thus, they were extremely curious about the connection between the Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention and the Ten Nations Academy.
Could it be that taking first place in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention would grant entry into the Ten Nations Academy?
If that were truly the case, Qingzhou would likely erupt into a complete frenzy.
The elders all turned their gazes toward Daoist Siji.
And he did not keep them guessing, speaking directly.