The White-Robed Deacon's words fell.
The crowd surrounding the plaza immediately burst into discussion.
Many were still in shock.
"Th-this person actually comprehended Great Accomplishment Blade Intent. That's terrifying!"
"Exactly. Judging by his clothes, he should only be an Outer Sect disciple of the Mystic Blade Sect. Who would've thought he'd comprehend Blade Intent of this level?"
"To possess such terrifying talent at his age is exceedingly rare!"
"In my opinion, that so-called Heavenly Sword Sect probably isn't all that powerful. Lin Xuan must've deliberately exaggerated its strength."
"That's true. After all, none of us have seen it with our own eyes. It's certainly possible."
"Tsk, Lin Xuan looked down on Xu Qingyun and the others earlier, but in the end he was easily defeated by an Outer Sect disciple of the Mystic Blade Sect."
"Now it seems he's nothing special either!"
After witnessing Lin Xuan get defeated by a single strike from Su Yun, the martial artists who had been tempted to join the Heavenly Sword Sect changed their minds.
At this point, nearly all of them had changed their minds.
Some even openly mocked him.
They were like completely different people from before.
Seeing this, Lin Xuan's expression turned extremely ugly.
On the White Jade Plaza.
Just as Su Yun turned to leave,
Lin Xuan suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"Su Yun!"
Hearing him, Su Yun stopped and glanced at him.
Lin Xuan took a deep breath, then spoke with a gloomy expression.
"I admit that your strength is indeed greater than mine now."
"But in martial cultivation, you have to look further ahead. A few short years don't prove anything."
"I'll definitely surpass you in the future, then defeat you fair and square and wash away today's humiliation!"
"Are you done?"
After he finished speaking, Su Yun merely looked at him calmly.
Then he spoke matter-of-factly.
"Lin Xuan, you're just a passerby on my path of cultivation."
"When I look back years from now, I probably won't even see you anymore."
With that, he flashed away from the plaza.
"Su Yun, you!"
Watching Su Yun leave, Lin Xuan clenched his fingers, his face deathly pale.
His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he closed his mouth.
A Mystic Profound Realm martial artist at the third level, whose cultivation was far weaker than his, had actually comprehended Great Accomplishment Blade Intent.
That showed his comprehension had reached an astonishing level.
And what about him?
He had been cultivating for more than five years.
Yet his Sword Intent had remained stuck at thirty percent, unable to improve any further.
The gap between them was like heaven and earth!
How was he supposed to surpass him?
"Hm? What's this..."
Su Yun, who had just flashed away from the plaza, suddenly stopped.
Then he looked up at the tavern beside the plaza.
On the tavern's seventh floor,
a tall, dashing middle-aged man was watching him with a smile.
Their eyes met across the distance.
The middle-aged man smiled at him, his expression friendly.
Su Yun was a little puzzled. He didn't recognize the man.
But he guessed the man must have a distinguished status.
So he nodded in simple acknowledgment.
Then he looked away and walked toward Jiang Feng and the others.
"Looks like the prince has taken an interest in him?"
Inside the tavern, Patriarch Mu withdrew his gaze and hurriedly moved closer to ask.
When Su Yun had stepped onto the plaza and displayed Great Accomplishment Blade Intent, defeating Lin Xuan with a single strike,
they family heads had all been stunned as well.
Such talent was simply terrifying.
To be honest, none of the younger members of their clans could compare to Su Yun.
It was only natural that King Wanyang would take an interest in him.
"Indeed."
King Wanyang made no effort to deny it and nodded with a smile.
"Your Highness, should we invite Su Yun over and hold a celebratory banquet tonight, so we can get to know him?"
Patriarch Mu asked cautiously.
"No need."
At this, a series of figures flashed through King Wanyang's mind. Then he spoke with a smile.
"Those old fellows of the Mystic Blade Sect won't just sit by and let me poach one of their disciples."
"Besides, the Mystic Blade Sect will be holding its Disciple Ceremony before long."
"And this year is different from the others. It's time for the Imperial Sect Tournament, held once every ten years."
"We'll have a chance to meet him then."
"Yes!"
After King Wanyang spoke, the family heads could only put aside their plans to cultivate a relationship with Su Yun and nod in agreement.
"Senior Brother Su Yun, why do I feel like your Blade Momentum is even stronger than it was a few days ago?"
Below the White Jade Plaza, Jiang Feng came over, his expression excited.
"That's right, Senior Brother Su Yun! When you used your Blade Momentum just now, I felt like I couldn't breathe or move. It was much stronger than before!"
Li Changqing, standing nearby, exclaimed in amazement.
"I was practicing these past few days, and I naturally broke through."
Su Yun said with a smile.
Hearing this, the others couldn't help but rub their foreheads, feeling a little dejected.
As expected.
Cultivating in the martial path was great when you had talent!
At the same time, they couldn't help reflecting to themselves.
If they didn't work harder at cultivation, they might not even catch a glimpse of Su Yun in the future.
"Jiang Feng, you really ought to thank Junior Brother Su Yun this time."
"If he hadn't stepped in and defeated Lin Xuan, you would've rushed up there on impulse and ended up losing for sure."
Chen Qingxue said with a smile.
"Of course."
Jiang Feng nodded repeatedly.
"Haha! Then Jiang Feng's treating us tonight!"
Li Changqing's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly made the suggestion.
"Sure, my treat!"
"Come on, let's go to the best tavern in the city and drink till we drop!"
The group laughed as they headed toward the tavern.
On the plaza, as the crowd gradually dispersed and jeering voices rose here and there,
Lin Xuan clenched his fists, then let them fall limply.
He gave a self-mocking laugh.
In the end, he left with a dejected expression and vanished without a trace.
Night fell, with the moon bright and stars sparse.
Su Yun sat cross-legged on the bluestone in the courtyard, his eyes closed as he contemplated his Blade Momentum.
The cool moonlight fell upon him.
The surroundings were quiet.
At this moment, he was recalling his battle with Lin Xuan that day.
With eighty-percent Blade Momentum, Lin Xuan was naturally no match for him. Su Yun had defeated him with a single strike.
That was his greatest advantage!
But at the same time, his weakness was obvious too.
"My cultivation is still a little too low."
"Besides, I need to replace the cultivation technique I'm practicing."
Su Yun murmured to himself.
If an enemy broke through his Blade Momentum, he would lose his greatest advantage.
And then he wouldn't be able to defeat enemies above his level, either.
"When I return to the sect tomorrow, I'll pass the Inner Sect assessment as soon as possible, become an Inner Sect disciple, and then exchange for a Mysterious Grade cultivation technique!"
Soon, Su Yun had made up his mind.
While celebrating with Jiang Feng and the others just now, they had decided to return to the Mystic Blade Sect first thing tomorrow morning.
So, barring any surprises, he would soon be able to cultivate a Mysterious Grade technique.
Meanwhile, within the Mystic Blade Sect,
in a secluded purple tower,
the elders gathered one after another.
Elder Tie had come as well.
At one point, everyone had arrived.
They began their discussion.
"You've all received the news, haven't you?"
"Our Outer Sect disciple Su Yun comprehended Great Accomplishment Blade Intent and defeated Lin Xuan of the Heavenly Sword Sect with a single strike in Wanyang City!"
The white-bearded old man seated at the head of the room spoke slowly.
"We've already heard about it."
Some of the elders nodded repeatedly.
Their eyes showed a hint of astonishment.
Before this, if anyone had told them that an Outer Sect disciple had comprehended Great Accomplishment Blade Intent,
they naturally wouldn't have believed it!
But many people had witnessed this with their own eyes.
No matter how shocked they were, they had to believe it.
"Great Elder, should we take the initiative to give Su Yun some resources?"
"For example, a high-grade Mysterious Grade cultivation technique!"
"His comprehension is astonishing. If we grant him such a technique, his strength will surely improve greatly."
Elder Tie suddenly spoke up with a suggestion.
"That won't do!"
As soon as he finished, an elder frowned.
"The sect doesn't have many high-grade Mysterious Grade cultivation techniques to begin with. They're extremely rare."
"Even Inner Sect disciples, and even direct disciples, have to pay a steep price to exchange for one."
"If we give Su Yun one for free now, won't the other disciples feel disheartened?"
"That's not necessarily true. Su Yun's talent and comprehension are far superior to theirs. It's only right that he receive these rewards."
"If we give him nothing, won't that dishearten Su Yun?"
Elder Tie immediately countered.
After hearing this, the other elders all changed their expressions and began discussing the matter.
For a time, voices rose throughout the purple tower.
These elders each had their own factions and younger relatives.
As a result, they all had their own private interests, and it was hard for them to agree.
In the end, the Great Elder, seated at the head of the room, spoke calmly.
"Enough. How about this?"
"We'll hold a separate Inner Sect assessment for Su Yun and let him choose the difficulty. If he passes the highest difficulty, he can choose any high-grade Mysterious Grade cultivation technique he wants."
"What do you think?"
The moment the Great Elder spoke, the other elders fell silent.
And just like that, the matter was settled!
Before you continue