On this day.
The Hidden Dragon Group's competition came to an end.
Lu Fan sat beside Han Xuanji and said with a sigh:
"This time was a real eye-opener. The world truly has experts as numerous as clouds and geniuses as plentiful as carp crossing a river. I only barely managed to fight my way into the top ten."
Seeing how optimistic he was, Han Xuanji said little.
Although Lu Fan had not been the last one standing, he had made it into the top ten.
His final opponent was a peak Golden Core Realm cultivator whose strength was already no weaker than that of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. The two fought a grueling battle, and Lu Fan finally exhausted his strength. Though defeated, he had fought with honor.
Lu Fan also began recounting what he had gained. In truth, none of his victories had come easily.
In fact, if the Devil Venerable in his mind had not repeatedly given him warnings, he might have lost long ago.
Next, Lu Fan began talking about how he had encountered the legendary sword scion of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Nangong Wenjian.
"You have no idea how strong Nangong Wenjian is. I saw his Sword Intent with my own eyes. It was as vast as the sea. I only caught a glimpse from afar, and like a swimming fish seeing a true dragon, like a mayfly gazing at the blue heavens, I finally understood how great the gap between me and a true expert was.
"I heard he's already close to the realm of sword intent forms a domain. Even many Void Return Realm sword cultivators can't compare to him. He'll be my goal from now on. One day, I want to fight him fair and square."
Lu Fan spoke earnestly.
Han Xuanji smiled and said:
"I think your future accomplishments won't fall short of his."
"I hope so."
Lu Fan sighed.
Lu Fan did not leave until nightfall.
That night.
Han Xuanji returned to the Heaven-Reaching Sword Hall and silently said:
System, sign in.
A crisp notification sounded again.
[Congratulations to the host for successfully signing in at the Heaven-Reaching Sword Hall. You have obtained the mid-grade Immortal Artifact, the "Heaven-Reaching Sword."]
"Another Immortal Artifact?"
Delight appeared on Han Xuanji's face.
According to legend, the Heaven-Reaching Sword had been the Heaven-Reaching Daoist's personal sword, and its whereabouts had long been unknown. He had not expected to obtain it by signing in.
If the people of Heaven-Reaching Peak found out, heaven knew how much trouble it would stir up.
At the thought, Han Xuanji felt like a thief with a guilty conscience. He hurriedly left the Heaven-Reaching Sword Hall and returned to the cave abode he had set up.
Sensing the protection of the many formations, Han Xuanji could not help breathing a sigh of relief.
He could not shake the feeling that he had stolen someone else's treasure.
In fact, Han Xuanji understood that the system's sign-in rewards were not the originals given directly to him. It was more as though the system had used unimaginable means to make him a perfect copy of the Heaven-Reaching Sword. In a certain sense, this was his Heaven-Reaching Sword, not Heaven-Reaching Peak's.
With a thought from Han Xuanji, a black longsword appeared in his hand. It shimmered with a faint light and contained unimaginable power.
With his previous experience, Han Xuanji knew the ropes this time.
Once again, he obtained some information from the Immortal Sword.
Only then did Han Xuanji learn that the Heaven-Reaching Sword had not been forged by the Heaven-Reaching Founding Master, but was part of an inheritance he had obtained from a secret realm dating back to High Antiquity.
The Heaven-Reaching Sword's original owner had been a powerful peak Immortal Ascension cultivator from the Great Void Spirit Realm. He had also been the ancestor of a supreme power. Forging this Immortal Sword had cost him countless treasures of heaven and earth, and he had even drawn on the fortune of a divine dynasty.
He had ultimately ascended, but he had not taken the Immortal Sword with him. Instead, he had left it behind as a foundation for his power.
Later, the Heaven-Reaching Daoist had traveled the world and obtained the sword in a secret realm. With the Immortal Sword's power, his journey had naturally been smooth sailing, and he had defeated heaven knew how many enemies.
But even so, the Heaven-Reaching Daoist had ultimately fallen to the ascension tribulation.
"The Immortal Sword made him, and the Immortal Sword broke him."
Han Xuanji could not help sighing.
The Heaven-Reaching Founding Master had relied too heavily on the Immortal Sword's power and underestimated the might of the ascension tribulation. In the end, he had fallen.
Fortunately, Han Xuanji was more cautious. He neglected none of his physical body, Primordial Spirit, Law Treasures, or Sword Dao.
"I need to prepare before breaking through to Void Return. I absolutely can't rush it."
Han Xuanji silently made a plan.
Aside from those memories, the Heaven-Reaching Sword had also transmitted many insights into the Sword Dao.
It had to be said that the Heaven-Reaching Daoist's realm in the Sword Dao had been extremely high, even slightly superior to his own current realm. Although the man had also been stuck at the realm of sword dao forms a domain, over countless years, he had found some information concerning sword intent forms a world.
The most crucial point was none other than cultivation.
According to the Heaven-Reaching Daoist's information, to advance any further, one might only truly be able to touch that realm after becoming an immortal.
Having learned this, Han Xuanji was not surprised.
Cultivation was the foundation.
As for the notion of a mortal comprehending the Dao and ascending in a single day.
He did not believe it. In his view, such people were most likely reincarnations of mighty figures who had merely inherited their cultivation.
The next day.
Han Xuanji came to watch the Peerless Group's competition.
In the Hidden Dragon Group, hidden dragons and crouching tigers abounded, and no one knew who would have the last laugh.
By comparison, many people thought there was no suspense in the Peerless Group's competition.
Because Nangong Wenjian's strength was the real thing. Sword cultivators widely acknowledged him as the foremost of his generation.
A voice drifted slowly down from the sea of clouds:
"Please welcome the Heavenly Sword Sect's sword scion, Nangong Wenjian."
As the words fell.
A man dressed in white appeared. He stood tall and straight, with a handsome face and a sword case on his back. His hands were clasped behind him, and his gaze was utterly calm, as though nothing around him could affect him in the slightest.
Even without making a move, his presence alone was enough to intimidate many people.
Countless gazes turned to him in unison.
The cultivators on the sword-viewing platform also began discussing Nangong Wenjian's exploits.
It was said that this peerless genius had comprehended Sword Force after observing swords for just one day, astonishing the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Over the following century, he had continually challenged sword cultivators from all quarters and had never suffered a defeat.
He had even once traveled to Northern Nether Province and wiped out a branch of the Heavenly Devil Cult single-handedly. His strength was truly terrifying.
In a pavilion.
Many True Disciples and elders of the Divine Profound Sect had gathered.
At the sight of Nangong Wenjian, troubled expressions appeared on all their faces. They did not know whom to send out.
"This boy was born with a sword heart and possesses heaven-grade aptitude. In my day, he might have become a formidable rival of mine."
The Devil Venerable's voice sounded faintly:
"But with my guidance, it won't be hard for you to surpass him."
Lu Fan rolled his eyes and thought:
Then many thanks, senior.
The Peerless Group's competition was different: it used a format in which a contender held the arena against challengers.
Even so, no one was willing to step forward.
For no other reason.
Every sword cultivator in Great Xia knew how formidable Nangong Wenjian was. Wouldn't someone have to be sick in the head to go up and take a beating when they knew they couldn't win?
At that moment.
The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples also began talking among themselves.
"Eldest Senior Brother really is incredible. He can suppress everyone without even lifting a finger."
"After all, there was never any suspense. Didn't they say the Divine Profound Sect would send the Devil-Slaying Sword Venerable? Is that true?"
"Does the Devil-Slaying Sword Venerable really exist?"
"No idea."
Hearing so many people begin discussing the Devil-Slaying Sword Venerable, Han Xuanji did not know whether to laugh or cry.
But he was certain of one thing.
The Devil-Slaying Sword Venerable would not be coming.
He had no interest in making his name known throughout the world.
Lying low until he was invincible before coming out into the world was what suited him best.
Soon, a figure appeared on the raised platform.
"Heaven-Reaching Peak, Shangguan Feihong."
As a True Disciple of Heaven-Reaching Peak, Shangguan Feihong was no weakling, but Nangong Wenjian had always held him down. It could be said that he had been utterly outclassed.
He had already prepared himself for defeat before stepping onto the platform this time.