The Sword Maniac Ji Juechen

When Lin Jiayi heard this, delight showed on his face. He quickly stepped forward and raised a hand, releasing soul power to examine the Invincible Barrier's defensive effectiveness.

After sensing the barrier's supremely stable soul power fluctuations and flawless defensive mechanism, he immediately announced in a clear voice, "Ye Fan, Ye Guyi, full marks!"

After the two of them, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, having adjusted their mindsets, worked together with tacit understanding. They proceeded steadily, completed the production, and successfully submitted their assessment piece.

After that, before the exam time ended, a few more groups just barely finished. Among them was Ju Zi and Keke's group.

Lin Jiayi went up to these students one by one and inspected their monthly exam works.

Then he gave them their scores respectively. "Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, full marks."

"Lin Xi, Xiao Xiafeng, full marks."

"Mijia, Li Yan, full marks."

"Ju Zi, Keke, full marks."

As for the remaining groups, either their metal had not been processed completely, or the formation core had not been fully engraved, so their grades were all zero.

The soul tool production assessment ended.

After Lin Jiayi recorded everyone's grades, he announced to all the students of Year Three Class One, "Go back and rest for today. The practical combat assessment will be held tomorrow."

After that, he left the classroom on his own.

Hearing this, Ye Fan, Ye Guyi, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen gathered together and prepared to return to their residence.

Not long after they walked out of the teaching building, the four of them were stopped by a man and a woman.

The youth was slim and upright, wearing a plain, fitted outfit that looked neat and dashing. His brows and eyes were cold and sharp, carrying the aloof, chilly air unique to a sword fanatic.

The girl beside him had a graceful figure, her purple clothes setting off her skin. Her brows and eyes were lively yet carried a hint of edge, and her bearing was brisk and composed. The two stood side by side, with quite an imposing presence.

Ye Fan, Ye Guyi, and the others were still completely bewildered.

The youth opposite them suddenly pointed at Xiao Hongchen and said, "You're very strong. I want to challenge you."

Hearing this, Ye Fan and Ye Guyi exchanged a glance. Knowing the two were not here to make trouble for them, they immediately looked at Xiao Hongchen with curiosity.

Their meaning was, "Where did you brat stir up trouble this time?"

But who would have thought that before Xiao Hongchen could explain, the girl beside that youth pointed at the slim, aloof youth and explained, "Hello, my name is Jing Ziyan, and he is Ji Juechen."

When Ye Fan heard the familiar name, he immediately perked up and thought to himself, Ji Juechen. Isn't he that legendary sword genius? His talent wasn't considered top-tier, but relying entirely on perseverance, he forced his way up to the Titled Douluo level.

Thinking of this, Ye Fan could not help but examine Ji Juechen in front of him with curiosity.

He discovered that this person truly did have a kind of unconventional aloofness.

Appreciation appeared in his eyes, and he began considering the idea of bringing this person under his wing.

Before Ye Fan could continue thinking, he heard Jing Ziyan continue, "He has a little quirk. He likes challenging experts."

"We also watched your battle against Chen Fei in the Soul Fighting Arena that day."

"He thinks you're very strong and has always wanted to come challenge you."

"But there was never an opportunity."

"Only today did we finally manage to wait for you."

Jing Ziyan acted like his spokesperson, continuously explaining the causes and course of events on behalf of Ji Juechen beside her.

Ye Guyi and Meng Hongchen listened until they wanted to laugh but did not dare to. Ye Fan also snapped out of his thoughts. After hearing Jing Ziyan's further introduction, he became even more certain that this was the sword fanatic Ji Juechen he was familiar with.

After Xiao Hongchen figured out the whole story, his head started to ache.

He was very happy that someone acknowledged his strength, but he still refused firmly. "Sorry. If it were any other time, I might accept your challenge."

"But tomorrow, I still have the monthly practical combat assessment."

"Forgive me, but I can't accept your challenge."

Hearing this, Jing Ziyan looked regretfully at Ji Juechen beside her. "Ji Juechen, you heard him too. He has an exam tomorrow."

"Why don't we go back first and come challenge him another day?"

At this point, Ye Fan, Ye Guyi, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen were all ready to leave.

But who would have thought that Ji Juechen would speak with extreme economy. "No. Must fight."

As he spoke, he did not forget to draw his little iron sword, pointing the blade at Xiao Hongchen.

This made Xiao Hongchen frown as he said irritably, "I said, do you understand human speech or not? I already told you, I have an exam tomorrow."

"I don't have time to waste with you here."

As he spoke, Xiao Hongchen was about to force his way past Ji Juechen's obstruction.

But what awaited him was Ji Juechen following him like a shadow.

"Ah! You lunatic."

At this moment, Xiao Hongchen was truly, utterly speechless.

There was still the monthly assessment tomorrow. He really did not want to fight the person in front of him.

But if he did not fight, he would not be able to break through this man's obstruction.

Just as the two sides were on the verge of drawing blades...

Ye Fan spoke.

"Ji Juechen, since you want to challenge someone, how about I play with you?"

Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen both wondered if Ye Fan had lost his mind. "Ye Fan, are you crazy? We still have to take part in the monthly exam tomorrow."

"There's no need to waste time here with a lunatic like this."

Although Ye Guyi was not as blunt as the Hongchen siblings, her gaze still turned to Ye Fan, curious about what he would do next.

At this moment, Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan had also stopped a few feet in front of everyone, close enough to keep Xiao Hongchen from escaping, while maintaining a suitable safe distance from the group.

Ji Juechen said coldly, "You?"

Ji Juechen sized Ye Fan up with some doubt.

It was as if he were saying, "You're not good enough."

That made Ye Fan very unhappy.

So Ye Fan did not indulge him and said, "Ji Juechen, you must have seen my fight with Xiao Xiafeng that day."

"Perhaps you think I relied on tricks."

"But what I want to tell you is that when it comes to swordsmanship, I'm only stronger than Xiao Hongchen, not weaker."

"Because I came into contact with the way of the sword earlier than he did."

As he spoke, Ye Fan took out the peak tier-eight close-combat soul tool, the Sword of Judgment, from his soul tool.

The tip of the sword pointed at Ji Juechen.

The instant the Sword of Judgment appeared, a biting cold gleam suddenly burst forth, and powerful, domineering soul power swept out in all directions with a boom.

Clear yet majestic light flowed along the blade. It carried a grand, solemn aura that seemed born to judge all things. A piercing sword intent pressed down heavily, and the air suddenly froze. Fierce winds whipped up as an invisible sword momentum blanketed the area, instantly shocking everyone present and filling them with awe and reverence.

As a warrior utterly obsessed with the way of the sword, Ji Juechen saw with a single glance that this soul tool sword was extraordinary beyond measure. The power of light and darkness condensed within the blade, along with its top-tier quality, far surpassed ordinary weapons.

Rare ripples stirred in his cold, aloof eyes, filled with heartfelt envy and admiration. It was purely the joy of seeing an unmatched fine sword. In his heart, there was only longing for the divine weapon and the way of the sword, without the slightest greedy thought of coveting or seizing it.

Ji Juechen said, "Your sword is very strong. I want to challenge you."

Ye Fan was also very satisfied with Ji Juechen's reaction.

What he had been waiting for was precisely Ji Juechen's obsession with swords.

So Ye Fan struck while the iron was hot. "You can challenge me, but I have one condition."

Hearing this, Ji Juechen replied with a single word. "Speak."

It made Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen so angry their teeth itched.

Ye Fan, however, was not annoyed. He said leisurely, "My condition is very simple. If I win, you follow by my side for twenty years. After twenty years, you can decide whether to stay or leave according to your own wishes."

"If I lose, I'll give you this Sword of Judgment. What do you think?"

When they heard Ye Fan's condition, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen immediately grew anxious. "Ye Fan, are you crazy? Accepting his challenge is already showing this kid respect, and you still want to stake such a precious peak tier-eight soul tool?"

"Grandfather will be unhappy if he finds out."