Sword Dao in Its Glory

The Sword Inquiry Grand Competition assessed a person's strength in the sword dao through their understanding of the sword, the clarity of their sword heart, the depth of their Sword Intent, and their mastery of swordsmanship.

This was the Heavenly Sword Holy Lord Jian Wuxin's unwavering pursuit of the number one sword under heaven over the years.

"I'll go first!"

"I am Hao Xuan, from the Sword Sacrifice Sect!"

A man named Hao Xuan stepped onto the sword-dancing platform.

On the platform,

Hao Xuan held his breath and focused, drawing his sword. Holding his breath and focusing, he sensed the sword's essence.

Then,

"Heaven-Sacrificing Sword!"

Hao Xuan unleashed his natal sword technique, blue Sword Qi swirling around him.

Finally, he swung a streak of deep-blue Sword Qi into the sky, signaling the end of his sword technique.

"This fellow isn't bad. What do you think?"

"He's all right, just barely!"

Chu Muyang and Jian Wuxin discussed him.

Having finished his sword technique, Hao Xuan sheathed his sword. Then he stepped down from the sword-dancing platform.

"Decisive sword moves and masterful swordsmanship."

"He's all right. With a few more years of practice, he might achieve some success with his Sword Intent!"

The crowd below the sword-viewing platform discussed the first performance.

"Me, me!"

"My name is Qingqing! I'm from the Alluring Sword Sect. I hope everyone remembers me!" Qingqing threw a coquettish glance at the men below the platform, capturing quite a few of them.

"She's from the Alluring Sword Sect! I heard every move of that sect's swordsmanship is bewitching. It's a sword dao sect founded especially for women!"

"Beautiful, very beautiful! I, Li Si, am watching under my real name!"

A clamor rose from below the platform.

Qingqing was delighted to see this from the platform. This was exactly the effect her master had sent her here to achieve.

She took her position and composed herself, preparing to begin her sword dance. Qingqing drew her sword, and a voice that lingered in one's dreams rang out:

"Alluring Dance Swordsmanship!"

Pink Sword Qi swirled around Qingqing as she danced with her sword, every move revealing a woman's bewitching grace.

Though graceful and gentle, none of her moves lacked a killing edge.

The people below the platform felt as if their hearts had been captured again!

"Good, good! Minor accomplishment in Sword Intent!"

Jian Wuxin said with satisfaction.

The sword dao was in its glory, and Jian Wuxin was highly satisfied.

"Grand Elder of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, what do you think?" Jian Wuxin asked, looking toward the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's seats.

"Minor accomplishment in Sword Intent. She'll achieve some minor success in the future as well. Not bad," the Grand Elder replied, counting on his fingers.

After watching, Chu Muyang also replied, "Her cultivation realm is a little low, though. A few more years of cultivation, and she'll be quite good."

Jian Wuxin thought for a moment, then replied, "Mm, you're right! When the time comes, have the Alluring Sword Sect give her a helping hand!"

Figures continued to take turns on the sword-dancing platform.

After watching each display of swordsmanship, the people on the sword-viewing platform gave their full assessments.

As sword cultivators, seeing sword techniques more formidable than their own and experiencing each sword cultivator's different swordsmanship on the platform as though they were there themselves made every one of them thoroughly enjoy the feeling.

Ye Zichen, however, remained unmoved. This kind of petty play was like children playing house, with nothing worth watching. He quietly waited for the other outstanding performances to come.

The next participant came forward.

"Great Chu Imperial Dynasty, Chu Yunxi."

Chu Yunxi walked slowly and gracefully to the center of the platform.

"Oh? Everyone must be familiar with this one! Though she's a woman, her sword moves are surprisingly sharp!"

"After all, she's a princess who's often out and about. She's fought the prodigies of more than half the sects in the Central Continent!"

"She can be considered an extraordinary woman!"

In the sword-viewing seats, everyone praised Chu Yunxi to varying degrees.

Chu Yunxi focused, sensing the profound mysteries of the sword in her hand, then drew it.

"Chu Clan's Eighteen Swords!"

Chu Yunxi struck, and eighteen sword shadows appeared.

Accompanied by eighteen streaks of multicolored Sword Qi, every move Chu Yunxi made was exceptionally graceful.

With each swing of her sword, its Sword Qi shot into the air, forming a circle of eighteen streaks of Sword Qi before finally scattering in all directions.

On the platform, Chu Yunxi finished her sword dance as well.

"Good, very good! That precious daughter of yours is much better than you!"

Jian Wuxin teased Chu Muyang.

Her Sword Intent had reached major accomplishment, she had gained some insight into her sword heart, and her swordsmanship was absolutely splendid-far more impressive than her father's.

"Oh, go on. I'm not someone who specializes in swordsmanship anyway."

Chu Muyang spoke dismissively.

There were few sword-wielding Cultivation Methods among those passed down by his ancestors. The one Chu Yunxi practiced was already the finest Cultivation Method in the imperial family.

I'll look for some other sword dao Cultivation Methods for this girl in the future.

That was what Chu Muyang thought.

Jian Wuxin turned his head, his humor gone. With a stern face, he posed a question: "And what does the Dao Heaven Holy Land think?"

The Dao Heaven Holy Land elder, who had not spoken a word the entire time, now spoke and cupped his hands. "Princess Yunxi's swordsmanship is peerless. I fear no one can match her!"

"Spare us the flattery. I'd also like to know why your Dao Heaven Holy Land has sealed its mountain and remained secluded, with hardly anyone coming down the mountain all these years."

Chu Muyang asked in puzzlement.

Though the Dao Heaven Holy Land was a major power, it had stopped recruiting disciples over the past dozen years or so and had been preparing for something within the Holy Land all this time.

"Hehe, well, forgive me, but I cannot answer that. I cannot fathom the Holy Lord's intentions either."

The elder appeared exceedingly courteous. Everyone was left speechless and asked no more.

Ye Zichen glanced at the elder, finding it somewhat amusing. He was so polite on the surface that it truly left people nothing to gossip about.

"Never mind. Let's continue watching the sword displays!" Jian Wuxin ended the conversation and turned his gaze back to the sword-dancing platform.

Things were getting exciting on the platform now, and he had no wish to let such matters spoil his enjoyment.

"Heavenly Sword Holy Land, Jian Changqing. Please forgive my poor showing."

The one who came forward was Jian Changqing, the current Holy Son of the Heavenly Sword Holy Land.

Ye Zichen raised an eyebrow, having discerned something, and thought, Oh? A mortal's sword? He actually has the perseverance to cultivate this sword dao.

Jian Changqing stood on the fighting platform with his eyes tightly shut, not drawing his sword for a long while.

"What is this?"

Chu Muyang was puzzled.

"Brother Muyang, watch closely."

Jian Wuxin looked immensely proud.

The next second,

A clear sword hum rang out as Jian Changqing drew the sword in his hand.

"With a mortal heart, I enter the Dao. My heart is a mortal heart. Sword, rise!"

As Jian Changqing spoke with conviction, he began performing the basic moves of sword dao. His sword moves looked utterly ordinary.

"Why do I sense a towering killing aura from such ordinary swordsmanship?"

"Yes, yes! This Holy Son is only at Peak Spirit Transformation, yet these perfectly ordinary sword moves actually frighten me, a Late Void Refinement cultivator!"

"Damn, how can such ordinary sword moves be so vicious?"

The hundreds of thousands of people in the sword-viewing seats all held their breath at that moment, not daring to make a sound and disturb him.

When Jian Changqing sheathed his sword, the scene fell silent. Then thunderous applause erupted!

"A mortal sword, the most ordinary of swords. So your Heavenly Sword Holy Land has a genius like this too. Brother Wuxin, you've struck gold!"

Chu Muyang praised him nonstop.

Walking this path was unimaginably difficult. It required not only immense perseverance but also the constant tempering of one's sword heart, practicing the most ordinary swordsmanship day after day for decades.

"You flatter me, you flatter me. Please, no more praise!"

Jian Wuxin looked immensely proud, the corners of his mouth practically reaching the sky.