Bamboo Forest Guards

The purple-clad youth was at the Meridian Condensation Realm, Second Stage, placing him around the middle among those taking the examination. He wielded a broadsword, twice as wide as an ordinary longsword, with a thick, weighty blade. It was likely a heavy sword.

"Mountain-Splitting Sword!" The purple-clad youth gripped the sword with both hands, leaned forward, and poured all his strength into a slash at the Bamboo Forest Guard.

With a boom, the Bamboo Forest Guard easily dodged the powerful, heavy strike. The longsword cleaved into the ground, smashing out a huge gash.

That strike had tremendous power, but it was too slow. As the purple-clad youth drew back his sword, the Bamboo Forest Guard's green bamboo sword flashed out like lightning, striking his right shoulder and sending him flying.

Even a purple-clad youth at the Meridian Condensation Realm, Second Stage had lost. The faces of those youths at the Meridian Condensation Realm, First Stage changed again and again, and quite a few began to think of withdrawing.

Lin Xuan did not rush to make his move. He wanted to observe the Bamboo Forest Guard a little longer. Just then, another voice rose from the crowd. "We'll do it!"

A young man and woman stepped forward. The man was handsome and upright, while the woman was graceful and lovely. Their brows bore some resemblance, so they were presumably siblings.

"You support me, little sister," the young man said.

The two coordinated their twin swords and met the Bamboo Forest Guard head-on. Their two Refined Steel Swords worked in tandem, quickly breaking through the Bamboo Forest Guard's defenses.

Clang!

The young man's sword edge swept across the Bamboo Forest Guard's body, leaving behind a shallow sword mark. It had to be said that this Bamboo Forest Guard's defense was monstrously tough.

The young man froze slightly, apparently not expecting the Bamboo Forest Guard's defense to be so formidable. At that moment, the green bamboo sword had already struck before him.

Clang! The young woman acted in time, neutralizing the killing move. After that, she took every one of the Bamboo Forest Guard's attacks, while the young man focused entirely on offense.

Finally, after thirty exchanges, the young man cut off the Bamboo Forest Guard's head with a single strike and passed the test successfully.

After that, several more people passed through teamwork, but even more fell beneath the Bamboo Forest Guards' swords.

After watching these matches, Lin Xuan had gleaned some information: the more people there were in a team, the more Bamboo Forest Guards would join the fight.

A group of three faced two Bamboo Forest Guards, while a group of five faced three. However, all those Bamboo Forest Guards were emerald green. The Bamboo Forest Guards with red spots and golden lines on their bodies never entered the battle from beginning to end.

Those two kinds must be higher-grade puppets, Lin Xuan thought.

Most of the people in the arena had already completed their tests. Lin Xuan did not intend to wait any longer and stepped forward with his sword.

When the accompanying sect disciple saw that it was Lin Xuan, he hurriedly whispered a few words to the young man in charge. A smile appeared on the young man's face.

Lin Xuan's heart tightened. No matter how he looked at it, that smile carried ill intent. Sure enough, a Bamboo Forest Guard covered in red spots walked out and faced Lin Xuan from afar.

This Red-Spotted Bamboo Forest Guard had an entirely different presence from the previous ones. Its sword was more than twice as fast, and every strike forced Lin Xuan to deal with it at full strength.

If it had been anyone else, they would likely have already lost. Only someone like Lin Xuan, with his exceptional attainments in swordsmanship, could hold on.

This is definitely meant to target me. Lin Xuan knocked aside the Bamboo Forest Guard's bamboo sword, anger stirring in his heart.

In the distance, two figures stood concealed in the shadows, watching everything in the arena.

"So this is the disciple with the extraordinary talent you mentioned?" a handsome youth said with a smile.

"Yes. He has a unique understanding of swordsmanship. He is a rare genius." The speaker was unexpectedly Tang Yu.

"A genius still has to grow first. This fellow made powerful enemies before even entering the sect, and they actually sent out a Red Bamboo Guard. Let's see whether he can get past this hurdle first," the handsome youth said.

At that moment, the Red-Spotted Bamboo Forest Guard raised its sword high. A sheet of crimson light bloomed across its blade, dazzlingly bright. With a sweep of its arm, the sword arced like a rainbow and engulfed Lin Xuan.

"That's a sword skill!" someone in the crowd cried out.

Sword skills were killing moves within swordsmanship, possessing immense power. For instance, Lin Xuan's sword technique that was swift as a shooting star was a kind of sword skill.

"I wonder who this person offended. They actually sent out such a powerful Bamboo Forest Guard. Even a Spirit Warrior at the Meridian Condensation Realm, Fourth Stage might not be able to withstand this blow."

The disciples from noble families who bore hostility toward Lin Xuan cheered again and again at the sight, wishing desperately to see him cut down beneath the sword.

"The Bamboo Forest Guard's weakness is its head. This Red-Spotted Bamboo Forest Guard should be no exception." Lin Xuan did not retreat. He tightened his grip on the black iron sword and charged straight ahead.

Sword light flashed, like a falling meteor from the nine heavens, trailing a brilliant streak of sword radiance.

Ssh!

Lin Xuan shot four or five meters forward before dropping to one knee. Blood dripped from his shoulder. Meanwhile, the Red-Spotted Bamboo Forest Guard's head rolled across the ground, leaving only its headless body standing silently in place.

Everyone fell silent.

The young man apparently had not expected such an outcome either. His brows drew tightly together as he stared at Lin Xuan with a hostile expression.

Just then, a sweet voice rang out. "Lin Xuan, well done."

The young man turned around and saw Tang Yu approaching with a smile. Beside her stood the handsome youth, whose gaze remained fixed on Lin Xuan.

Seeing Tang Yu and the handsome youth appear, the young man knew that today's matter could only be dropped.

Unexpectedly, the handsome youth spoke first. "Where did you obtain that sword skill?"

"I picked it up in the Taihang Mountains," Lin Xuan casually made up. The youth's tone was like he was interrogating a criminal, which made him very uncomfortable.

"What is it called?" the handsome youth continued.

Lin Xuan looked at the youth and said seriously, "Heavenly Meteor."

"Heavenly Meteor?" No one present had ever heard that name. They all stared curiously at Lin Xuan, hoping he would explain it in greater detail.

But Lin Xuan had no such intention. He stepped to one side and quietly waited for the test to end.

"Lin Xuan, join our Battle Group," Tang Yu said.

The Profound Heaven Sect had countless disciples, which had given rise to countless small factions. The Battle Group was one of the more famous ones.

"Our Divine Might Corps also welcomes this junior brother to join," the young man suddenly said.

The young man's attitude stunned many of the disciples following him, but no one dared to say anything. Even the disciple who had whispered to him earlier wore a bewildered expression.

Lin Xuan cupped his fists and smiled. "Thank you for your kind offers, Senior Brothers. I'll consider it."

Seeing Lin Xuan's response, they could not say anything further and could only wait until the test was over.

Lin Xuan's face remained expressionless, but he was somewhat worried inside. It was obvious that both the handsome youth and the young man in charge had set their sights on his sword skill. Otherwise, they would not have behaved that way.

It seems life in the outer sect will not be peaceful. Lin Xuan sighed. He would never hand over this sword skill.

At last, the test ended. Thirteen people had passed the examination in total.

"Congratulations on joining the outer sect of the Profound Heaven Sect. I'll take you to collect the basic items for outer sect disciples. From now on, you may live here."

The young man in charge led everyone away. Just then, the handsome youth suddenly said, "Wait!"