Let's Make a Bet

Xu Changxing froze slightly when he heard that voice.

Wasn't the Sect Grand Competition supposed to start two months from now? How had it come around so soon?

He had barely finished speaking when he seemed to remember something and began counting on his fingers.

Although he was not proficient in divination, calculating how much time he had spent was no trouble.

A moment later, Xu Changxing finally understood what had happened.

Two months had already slipped past without him noticing.

Watching the scenes from the simulation alone had taken him more than twenty days.

Afterward, he had practiced his sword art as though seized by a sudden enlightenment, training for over a month without stopping.

By now, he had thoroughly mastered the Yi Wood Sword Art, and his cultivation had unknowingly broken through a minor realm, reaching the foundation establishment middle stage.

"I broke through just like that?

"Damn it, what a loss!"

Realizing he had reached the foundation establishment middle stage, Xu Changxing instinctively slapped his forehead.

After watching the simulation, he had spent all his time practicing swordsmanship and actually forgotten to simulate again to raise his cultivation to the foundation establishment late stage.

Now that his cultivation had broken through on its own, the cost of his next simulation was bound to rise again.

Still, he had not come away empty-handed.

Although he had spent more than two months, practicing his sword art had allowed him to fully assimilate his surging cultivation.

A faint sword intent now wreathed his every movement, and the unfamiliarity caused by his sudden surge in cultivation was gone.

Taking that into account, he had not lost out too badly. He might even have come out slightly ahead.

But he clearly had no time to weigh his gains and losses now, because the young Daoist attendant outside knocked on the courtyard gate again.

After a brief moment of thought, Xu Changxing decided to participate in the Sect Grand Competition.

Although his earlier observations had given him some experience in fighting others,

that experience was not truly his own, after all. He still wanted to try it for himself.

Putting away his Sword Pellet, he opened the courtyard gate and asked, "How many days until the Sect Grand Competition begins?"

"There are..."

The attendant had intended to answer, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt an inexplicable sword intent.

Under its pressure, he found himself struggling to speak.

The attendant's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

"S-Senior Brother, you've condensed sword intent?!"

Only then did Xu Changxing realize that he had indeed condensed a sword intent uniquely his own.

Rubbing his chin, he said, "I just gained a little insight while practicing my sword art these past few days."

The young attendant's jaw dropped.

His eyes shone with admiration. "Senior Brother, you condensed sword intent in just over two months! You're a true sword genius!

"If Eldest Senior Brother found out, he'd be so excited he'd drag you off to fight in a secret realm with him!"

"Uh..."

At that, the corner of Xu Changxing's mouth twitched.

In truth, after watching the last simulation, his thoughts had changed again. He was no longer particularly opposed to fighting in secret realms.

However, he still had no intention of entering one too early.

At the very least, he wanted to run a few more simulations and use up his spirit stones first.

Xu Changxing waved a hand. "Don't tell Eldest Senior Brother about this yet.

"I still plan to hone my Sword-Controlling Art."

The young attendant nodded like a chick pecking at grain. "I understand!

"Don't worry, Third Senior Brother. I won't tell anyone you've condensed sword intent."

Xu Changxing did not pursue the subject. Instead, he asked, "How many days until the competition starts?"

Only then did the attendant remember his task. He hurriedly said, "It starts tomorrow! Here are the location and schedule!"

As he spoke, he handed over a Jade Slip.

Xu Changxing took the Jade Slip, read through it, and nodded.

"I understand. You can head back.

"I'll make my own way to the venue tomorrow."

After sending the young attendant away, Xu Changxing returned to his room and took out the Flying Shuttle Liu Chenyu had given him.

Although Xu Changxing had condensed sword intent and could now fly on his sword,

his cultivation was only in the foundation establishment realm, after all, and he could not yet split his sword light.

A flying artifact would still be extremely useful when fighting in the air.

Moreover, this Flying Shuttle could do more than fly. It also offered some protection.

He had wanted to refine it for his use long ago, but had never found the time.

Before the competition began, he needed to refine the Flying Shuttle and familiarize himself with its use as much as possible.

The Flying Shuttle was not particularly high-grade, so refining it took only a moment.

However, flying it skillfully would still require some practice.

With time running short, he could only squeeze in a night's practice before the competition began.

Although he had not reached the point where controlling it felt as natural as moving his own fingers, it was good enough for Xu Changxing.

His opponents in the Sect Grand Competition would all be cultivators in the foundation establishment realm, and most would not be especially skilled at flying.

Refining this Flying Shuttle was merely a precaution.

By the time he had finished all his preparations, a pale light had already appeared on the horizon.

Xu Changxing simply mounted the Flying Shuttle and flew toward the competition venue.

He arrived before daylight fully broke.

Quite a few cultivators were already waiting there.

Among them were several familiar figures.

The one who had left the deepest impression on him was a young cultivator with a Rune Pouch hanging at his waist.

He remembered that this man was probably called Han Mingguan, a talisman cultivator.

His Rune Pouch was practically stuffed with talismans of every kind.

Whenever Han Mingguan fought, he scattered Runes by the handful.

Judging by the sheer density of his Runes, he could even rival some core formation cultivators.

In the earlier simulation, Xu Changxing had lost beneath that sky full of talismans.

Han Mingguan seemed to sense Xu Changxing's gaze and turned to look his way.

Xu Changxing simply cupped his hands openly. "Xu Changxing of Flying Stream Peak. When we compete two days from now, I hope you'll be generous with your pointers, Brother Han."

Han Mingguan: "?"

Han Mingguan did not quite understand. The competition clearly started today, so why was this man asking for pointers two days from now?

Still, he did not dwell on it. He merely thought the man before him might be a little nervous.

He had intended to offer a casual reply and leave it at that.

But just as he was about to cup his hands, he unexpectedly noticed the sword intent wreathing Xu Changxing.

"Oh?"

Han Mingguan's eyes lit up. "Brother Xu, you're a sword cultivator who has condensed sword intent?"

Xu Changxing nodded. "I only comprehended sword intent these past few days. Please don't laugh at my poor efforts, Brother Han."

Han Mingguan's eyes gleamed. "Haha! I've wanted to fight a sword cultivator for ages, but I've never found a suitable opponent.

"Why should we wait two days to fight? Let's have a good, satisfying match today!"

Xu Changxing shook his head. "Today's opponents are decided by drawing lots. We won't be matched against each other."

Han Mingguan smiled. "I happen to think we'll definitely meet today."

A thought stirred in Xu Changxing's mind. "Since you're so certain, Brother Han, why don't we make a bet?"

"What are we betting?"

"A thousand spirit stones.

"If we meet in the arena today, I'll lose a thousand spirit stones to you.

"If we don't meet today, you'll lose a thousand low-grade spirit stones to me."

"Sounds great! It's settled, then!"

Han Mingguan agreed readily, then immediately took a Message Jade Pendant from inside his robes and said,

"Master, I just met a sword cultivator called Xu Changxing, and my hands are itching for a fight today.

"Why don't you find a moment to come over and draw our lots together?"

Xu Changxing: "..."