Xiao Yu stepped on his sword-shaped flying magical artifact, arriving at Emerging Clouds Peak shortly after. Many of the Giant Sword Sect's administrative offices were set up on Emerging Clouds Peak, so it was quite bustling with people coming and going.
Reaching a pavilion near the peak of the mountain, Xiao Yu leaped off his flying sword and walked inside with light steps. Few people frequented this place, making it appear somewhat quiet.
After turning two partitions, Xiao Yu arrived at a rather spacious hall with long tables arranged around the perimeter. Behind a long table on the inner side of the hall, a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties sat with his eyes closed.
Seeing this person, Xiao Yu felt somewhat surprised, not expecting the person in charge here to be him, but he did not reveal it. He stepped closer, bowed respectfully, and said,
"Disciple Xiao Yu pays respects to Uncle Zhao!"
Xiao Yu did not know the middle-aged man's specific name, only knowing that his surname was Zhao. He was a Foundation Establishment stage uncle whom his father had previously known in the sect, over a hundred years old with middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. Xiao Yu had entered the sect seven years ago through his recommendation, which was why he recognized him.
Uncle Zhao slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that the visitor was Xiao Yu, a slight smile appeared on his face as he spoke,
"Ah, it's Disciple-nephew Xiao. Unseen in a few years, your foundational cultivation technique has already reached the twelfth layer! Very good. With your aptitude, being able to achieve this shows that over these past few years, you have still put in a good deal of hard work."
"Replying to Uncle, this nephew has ordinary aptitude and can only cultivate with bitter dedication to have a shred of hope on the Great Dao. Therefore, over these years I have continuously practiced without cease, fortuitously cultivating to my current cultivation level." Xiao Yu wore an embarrassed smile and replied respectfully.
"Hehe, Disciple-nephew need not be so formal. Your father and I are old acquaintances; seeing you at this age with your current cultivation, I am happy for him as well. The important thing is that I see you possess a resolute Dao heart, and I imagine you will be able to go much further in the future." Uncle Zhao praised him, then asked, "What brings you to see me today?"
"Uncle, some days ago this nephew learned that these few days are the time to sign up for the Blood Trial, and therefore specifically came to register, earnestly imploring Uncle to record it." Xiao Yu hurriedly answered.
"Oh? To participate in the Blood Trial! Have you considered it thoroughly? Entering in there is extremely perilous; disciples from past sessions who manage to come out alive basically do not exceed one-third, and even disciples of the twelfth layer entering inside are not necessarily able to make it out alive.
Besides, with your current cultivation, if you participate in the sect grand competition in three years, there is still some hope of securing a high ranking. By then you can also obtain the reward of a Foundation Establishment Pill, which is much safer than going to the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land." Uncle Zhao was somewhat astonished that Xiao Yu wanted to participate in the Blood Trial, and spoke thus.
"Reporting to Uncle, this nephew feels that with my aptitude, a single Foundation Establishment Pill gives no certainty of successfully establishing foundation. I want to go to the forbidden land first to try and see if I can gather enough spiritual herbs in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Even without any harvest, as long as I can come out alive, I can still participate in the grand competition three years later.
Moreover, where on the path of immortal cultivation is the journey ever plain sailing? For the sake of advancing further on the Dao path, some risks must be taken!" Xiao Yu said with a resolute tone.
Uncle Zhao looked at Xiao Yu's steadfast expression and was momentarily lost in thought.
"Sigh, very well. It is I who thought too much; as one grows older, there are more scruples. Thinking about how my current self no longer has the drive of a youth, perhaps this is the reason why my cultivation cannot advance an inch. Hehe, I have lived for quite a few years yet cannot see through things as clearly as a little doll like you. Fine, I shall register you right now."
After muttering a few words of self-deprecation, Uncle Zhao produced a book volume and wrote Xiao Yu's name with a writing brush.
"That's settled. We depart half a month from now, so you should head back first and make preparations. I hope you can come out alive!"
"Thank you, Uncle. This nephew takes his leave!"
"Mn, if there is a chance, send my regards to your father."
"Yes, Uncle. This nephew will certainly convey it."
After finishing his registration, Xiao Yu left Emerging Clouds Peak and flew on his flying sword toward Morning Glow Peak, where the Earth Fire rooms were constructed.
His plan this time was to go and refine the Spirit-Restoring Pill.
During these three years, apart from forcing the Seven-Star Grass to mature for making talisman paper, he had also forced all thirty-one supplementary herbs for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill to mature. The quantity of obtained spiritual herbs, if reckoned by refining them one by one, was enough to carry out a hundred-odd refining sessions. Furthermore, he had forced a dozen furnaces' worth of spiritual herbs needed for refining Spirit-Restoring Pills to mature. Since he was going to enter the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land this time, spell combat was unavoidable. If he could have spiritual power-replenishing pills on hand for quick recovery, then he would not fear a war of attrition. At that time, possessing the capability for sustained combat would allow him to avoid many dangers.
While he was lost in his own thoughts, a burst of cheers suddenly traveled over from the nearby mountain ridges below:
"Senior Brother Yan is mighty! Beat him to the ground!"
"Go for it, Senior Brother Yan! The moniker of Martial Fool is truly not undeserved."
"Shut your trap and wait until he can hold out before you talk."
Xiao Yu had originally not planned to go watch the commotion, but when he heard the two words "Martial Fool," a matter suddenly came to his mind. Thus, he descended toward that mountain ridge and walked over at a brisk pace.
This was an open area on a mountainside where dozens of people had gathered, split into two factions of men and women. They emitted all sorts of clamorous sounds, shouting and cheering for the two people fighting fiercely in the center of the clearing.
When Xiao Yu arrived, the two people in the arena were locked in an inextricable battle. One of them had rugged features, a tall stature, and went barefoot; he looked to be a youth of twenty-five or twenty-six with twelfth-layer cultivation. The other was a strapping, handsome youth of around thirty whose cultivation was a startling thirteenth layer.
The barefoot youth was driving a silver giant sword magical artifact that emitted dazzling silver light, striking at his opponent time and again from unimaginable angles.
As for his opponent, that handsome youth was driving a black giant sword magical artifact, constantly blocking attacks coming from all directions. Although his cultivation was a notch higher than his opponent's, judging from the battle scene, he still seemed vaguely to be at a disadvantage.
"Go for it, Senior Brother Yan! The opponent is about to fall apart!" shouted a supporter of the barefoot youth excitedly, clearly thrilled.
"Go for it, Senior Brother Li! Bring out your true skills to teach this impudent little brat a lesson," the supporters of the handsome youth on the other side immediately retaliated.
"Who are you calling impudent? Believe it or not, I'll fuck you..."
Immediately, the two sides watching the battle started hurling insults back and forth...
Xiao Yu watched the mutual abuse of the crowd present with great interest. After a moment, he pulled on one of the more active-looking spectators and asked,
"This junior brother, may I ask who these people are and why they are fighting here?"
Being pulled, the man turned around angrily and said, "Who the hell are you? Pulling me... Ah, what did you just ask me, Senior Brother? Please forgive your junior brother for not hearing clearly." He had just wanted to flare up, but upon seeing Xiao Yu's cultivation level, he immediately put on a smiling face and asked cheerfully.
Xiao Yu did not mind, smiling as he repeated the question from before.
"Oh, so it's about this! It's very simple. The barefooted one is Senior Brother Yan Kuan, nicknamed 'Martial Fool.' He joined the sect seven years ago and is a rising star of the past two or three years. His mastery of the Sword Control Technique is exceptionally formidable.
Because he particularly loves seeking people out for fights and spell combat-don't look at how his cultivation isn't the highest, but he has defeated many disciples with higher cultivation than him-he has gained some reputation. However, his purpose is merely simple sparring and he won't excessively harm the opponent, thus earning him the nickname 'Martial Fool.'
As for the person fighting him, his name is Li Cheng. He is a veteran disciple and an expert with thirteenth-layer cultivation, considered quite formidable among us low-tier disciples. Heh, I see this expert is nothing much after all-look, he's being beaten to a pulp by Senior Brother Yan right now." After finishing his introduction, the man began to show off smugly.
Xiao Yu was speechless. Seeing his expression, he couldn't help thinking whether this immortal cultivation world also had something like fan culture.
At this moment, the crowd stirred, and a new development occurred in the arena.
Seeing that his giant sword could not match the opponent's magical artifact, Li Cheng immediately conjured a silver flying knife magical artifact and slashed it toward Yan Kuan.
Seeing this, the "Martial Fool" Yan Kuan remained unruffled, pinching out an incantation toward the silver giant sword. The silver giant sword instantly erupted with wisps of Sword Aura. These wisps of Sword Aura split into two parts: one part continued to suppress the opponent's black giant sword, while the other part launched an attack against the incoming flying knife magical artifact.
The silver flying knife dashed left and right, yet was permanently unable to shake off the restraints of the Sword Aura to attack its master.
Seeing this, Li Cheng's complexion turned rather unsightly.
After fighting for a while longer, Li Cheng was already thrown into a fluster by the suppression of the silver giant sword, having no choice but to command the black giant sword and struggle bitterly to hold on.
The so-called prolonged defense must eventually breach; finally, after a violent collision between the two giant swords, the black giant sword was batted away to the side, while the silver giant sword flashed and stopped right above Li Cheng's head.
Li Cheng's complexion turned pale and his forehead beaded with sweat, not daring to make the slightest movement.
However, Yan Kuan did not direct the silver giant sword to hack down. Instead, he pinched an incantation to recall it, slung it across his back, and cupped his fists toward Li Cheng, saying,
"You conceded, Senior Brother Li!"
"Junior Brother's methods are truly extraordinary." Li Cheng managed a forced smile, then put away his magical artifact as well and took his leave to depart. Having lost the spell combat, naturally he had no desire to stay here any longer to endure other people's mockery.
"Oh! Senior Brother Yan is mighty!" Watch the supporters of the Martial Fool cheer and leap about joyfully one by one. As for Li Cheng's supporters, they looked like defeated roosters, wilted and dejected.
"Hehe, interesting! The 'Martial Fool' Yan Kuan should be that barefooted brute from the original text. Judging by his performance today, that silver page should already be in his possession, and this Sword-Controlling Technique is indeed formidable!" Xiao Yu muttered inwardly.
Not long after, the two main figures left one after another, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
Xiao Yu soared into the air, continuing his flight toward Morning Glow Peak.
Before you continue