Contest

April 23.

This was the day of the contest agreed upon with the Iron Sword Sect.

At the entrance of the Qingshi Town branch, a black carriage stood waiting. The two horses pulling it were both superior steeds, their coats sleek and glossy, clearly worth a fortune.

Beside the carriage stood a Red Sun Gang coachman, waiting respectfully for Chen Xuan and Zhao Yuanshan to board.

"Although Qingshi Town isn't far from Baishui Town, riding horses would be too tiring. Taking a carriage will let us conserve our strength."

Zhao Yuanshan explained.

"Senior Brother Zhao is thoughtful."

Chen Xuan nodded without saying much, lifted the carriage curtain, and ducked inside.

The carriage was lined with soft cushions. A small table stood in the middle, bearing a teapot and cups.

Zhao Yuanshan sat opposite him.

"Hyah!"

The coachman lightly flicked his whip, and the two fine horses started forward. The carriage rumbled along, its wheels rolling over the bluestone-paved road with a rhythmic clatter.

Along the way, Zhao Yuanshan gave Chen Xuan a detailed introduction to their opponents.

"The Iron Sword Sect has sent three young disciples this time, all of them dispatched disciples from Ten Thousand Sword Villa: Wan Guiyun, Wan Yifan, and Wan Shengkuang."

"Wan Shengkuang is nineteen, at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering, and practices a horizontal training art. His defenses are astonishing."

"Wan Yifan is nineteen, also at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering. His main cultivation is the Gale Sword Technique, a fast sword art, so you'll need to be careful when dealing with him."

"As for the last one, Wan Guiyun, he only arrived in Lianshan City the day before Baishui Town was wiped out. All we know is that he is a Direct-Line Disciple of Ten Thousand Sword Villa."

At the mention of Wan Guiyun, Zhao Yuanshan's brow furrowed deeply as well.

"A Direct-Line Disciple?" Chen Xuan asked doubtfully. "Why would a Direct-Line Disciple of Ten Thousand Sword Villa be dispatched to a place like Lianshan City?"

Ten Thousand Sword Villa was a lineage-based power, bound by blood. It basically never recruited outsiders.

When it came to training disciples, Ten Thousand Sword Villa was vastly different from the other two sects. Everyone was born as a Collateral-Line Disciple, even the villa master's son. Only those who displayed exceptionally outstanding martial talent and passed the assessments could be promoted to Direct-Line Disciple.

If one had to make a comparison, Collateral-Line Disciples were equivalent to Guiyuan Sect's Outer Disciples, while Direct-Line Disciples were equivalent to Inner Disciples.

The difference was that Guiyuan Sect's Inner Disciples had to break through to the Zhuqi Realm, whereas Ten Thousand Sword Villa did not require that. Anyone tested to possess Superior Bone Aptitude could immediately be promoted to Direct-Line Disciple. Likewise, those with extraordinary comprehension in swordsmanship could also become Direct-Line Disciples.

Above Ten Thousand Sword Villa's Direct-Line Disciples were the Sword Children. Only by becoming a Sword Child could one qualify to contend for the position of villa master.

Compared to Guiyuan Sect and the Blood Fiend Devil Sect, Ten Thousand Sword Villa had fewer Direct-Line Disciples. Under normal circumstances, they would be dispatched to core locations in the various prefectures under Ten Thousand Sword Villa's control, not to a chaotic place like Tiannan Prefecture, much less a small city like Lianshan City.

"That, I don't know." Zhao Yuanshan shook his head. "But this Direct-Line Disciple Wan Guiyun should be the strongest of the three Iron Sword Sect representatives. He is likely Master Wan's source of confidence in proposing a contest among the younger generation, so if you face Wan Guiyun, be extremely careful."

"I understand."

Chen Xuan nodded.

Baishui Town.

Baishui Town was much livelier than usual today.

The Red Sun Gang and Iron Sword Sect had both arrived, and people packed the area around the arena.

Besides the people from both sides, quite a few spies from the various powers of Lianshan City had come to see the outcome of this contest.

Two rows of tables and chairs had been set up directly north of the arena.

The Red Sun Gang sat on the left, with Sun Tianxing at their head.

Today, he wore a dark purple brocade robe, his hair combed without a single strand out of place. He looked vigorous and full of spirit.

The Iron Sword Sect sat on the right, with Wan Zhenshan at their head.

He wore a black brocade robe with silver sword patterns embroidered on the cuffs. His expression was solemn, and his gaze was as sharp as a hawk's.

Three young men stood behind Wan Zhenshan.

Wan Shengkuang stood on the left, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, his skin gleaming bronze. One glance was enough to tell that he cultivated a horizontal training art.

Wan Yifan stood on the right, thin and lean with a cold face. His hands were long, his knuckles distinct. He was clearly an accomplished swordsman.

The one in the middle drew the most attention.

He looked seventeen or eighteen, tall and slender, with refined features. He wore a white robe and carried a longsword at his waist.

His eyes were calm, but upon closer inspection, one could see a hint of sharpness hidden in their depths, like a keen sword still sheathed.

Wan Guiyun, a Direct-Line Disciple of Ten Thousand Sword Villa.

On the Red Sun Gang's side.

Apart from Chen Xuan, the other two young men fighting were Shen Yi and Xia Shan. Both were nineteen and at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering.

"Since both sides are here, let's begin!"

Wan Zhenshan waved his hand.

An elder of the Iron Sword Sect stepped onto the arena and announced the rules loudly. "Each side will send three people. Two wins out of three will decide the contest. Different people may be sent for each bout, or one person may fight all three. Intentional killing is forbidden. Whoever is knocked from the arena or admits defeat loses. Now, both sides may send out their first contestant."

"Gang Master, I'll take the first round."

Just as Sun Tianxing was about to speak, Chen Xuan had already stepped forward.

If he wanted to earn merit, he would have to take the field sooner or later. He might as well go first and end the contest sooner.

"Good. Be careful."

Sun Tianxing nodded.

Chen Xuan walked onto the arena and stood in the center, calmly looking toward the Iron Sword Sect.

Wan Zhenshan turned and glanced at the three men behind him. "Wan Shengkuang, you go."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Wan Shengkuang strode out, every step making the ground tremble faintly.

He was huge and powerfully built. Veins bulged across his bare arms, and his skin shone bronze, as though he had been cast from copper and forged from iron.

He leaped onto the arena and stood facing Chen Xuan. Grinning, he revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"So you're the one who killed Liu Lie. Looks like you do have some ability." Wan Shengkuang looked Chen Xuan up and down, his voice booming. "But I'd advise you to admit defeat quickly. If I throw this punch, you might die."

Chen Xuan said nothing and merely watched him quietly.

"Begin!"

The Iron Sword Sect elder gave the order.

Wan Shengkuang roared, clenching both fists like iron hammers as he smashed them fiercely toward Chen Xuan.

His steps were heavy, each leaving a shallow footprint on the arena. He charged like a rampaging wild bull, unstoppable in force.

Chen Xuan neither retreated nor dodged. He raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and met Wan Shengkuang's iron fist.

"Courting death!"

A vicious glint flashed through Wan Shengkuang's eyes. He added another thirty percent to his fist force, determined to shatter Chen Xuan's arm with one blow.

Fist met palm.

Bang!

A dull, thunderous crash rang out.

The expected sight of snapped bones and torn tendons did not appear.

Wan Shengkuang's fist was firmly caught in Chen Xuan's palm, utterly motionless, as though it had struck an iron mountain.

"What?"

Wan Shengkuang's expression changed drastically.

He tried to pull back his fist, only to discover that it was clamped in place as though caught in iron pincers. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not move it.

"Not bad strength." Chen Xuan said flatly. "Unfortunately, not enough."

As his words fell, his palm tightened slightly.

Crack—

A crisp sound of bones breaking came from Wan Shengkuang's fist.

"Ah—!"

Wan Shengkuang screamed. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead.

Chen Xuan released him. Wan Shengkuang staggered back several steps and looked down, only to see that his right fist had swollen and deformed. At least three of his five finger bones had been broken.

"You... you..."

Wan Shengkuang raised his head, his eyes filled with shock and terror.

He had reached the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering and cultivated a hardened horizontal training art. How could the other man's strength possibly be even more terrifying than his?

"Still want to fight?"

Chen Xuan asked.

Wan Shengkuang gritted his teeth. He glanced at his ruined right fist, then at Chen Xuan's calm face, and finally lowered his head.

"I admit defeat."

"Red Sun Gang wins!"

The Iron Sword Sect elder announced it, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

An uproar broke out around the arena.

One move.

Only one move.

And Wan Shengkuang, at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering, had been crippled?

Just what cultivation did this Chen Xuan possess?

Sun Tianxing sat upright in his chair, a smile appearing on his face. He lifted his teacup and took a sip, unable to conceal the pride in his eyes.