"Taiping, words alone prove nothing. Would you like to try drawing a sword?"
Xu Ziyan suddenly held a sheathed sword horizontally before her and looked at Xu Taiping with a smile.
"Here?"
Xu Taiping glanced around.
Since the match had ended, most disciples had gone down to meet their fellow disciples. Only a scattering remained, waiting for people.
"You only need to draw the sword. I'll use a little strength to hold the blade inside, which will let us test roughly what level your Sword Flight Art has reached."
Xu Ziyan nodded with a smile.
"Taiping, give it a try."
Zhao Linglong also looked expectant.
Xu Taiping nodded at once.
In truth, he himself very much wanted to know where his Sword Flight Art currently stood among the disciples.
"Senior Sister Ziyan, I'm ready to draw it."
Xu Taiping rose and stood before Xu Ziyan.
"Go ahead. Even if you can't draw it, it won't-"
Shing!!
Xu Ziyan had barely spoken when the longsword in her hand broke free of her true qi's restraint and shot out of its scabbard.
Clang!
As everyone stared dumbfounded, the longsword under Xu Taiping's Sword Flight Art began circling him with ringing sword cries. Even at its swift speed, it remained two or three feet from his body throughout.
After four or five circuits, Xu Taiping felt more and more eyes turning toward him, so he raised his fingers in a Sword Finger gesture and pointed at Xu Ziyan's scabbard.
Whoosh!
Guided by his divine soul, the longsword returned to Xu Ziyan's scabbard with unerring precision.
At the sight, Zhao Linglong and Xu Ziyan fell silent.
"Senior Sister Linglong, Senior Sister Ziyan, how was that?"
After returning the sword to its scabbard, Xu Taiping immediately looked at them expectantly, awaiting their assessment.
"Taiping, have