I Have a Sword

The Wanzhou Martial Contest wasn't held at the Sword Sect but at the Guanxuan Academy.

The Trial Peak was a training ground for the Guanxuan Academy's students. It was a lone peak that towered above the clouds. Once it was confirmed that the Wanzhou Martial Contest would be hosted in Qingzhou, the Qingzhou Branch of the Guanxuan Academy began expanding the Trial Peak. Now, it could accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.

At the summit was an enormous martial arena, large enough to hold tens of thousands of spectators. There were numerous floating rocks around the arena, and each hovered at various heights, just enough for one or two people to stand on.

These rocks, called Observation Rocks, were also filled with people.

The Observation Rocks, of course, weren't free. For a close view of the contest, spectators needed to pay. The closer the rock was to the martial arena, the more expensive it was. It was rumored that the rocks in the front row cost several hundred thousand Pure-grade spiritual crystals to use.

This event was extremely profitable for the Guanxuan Academy.

As a family member of a participant, Yang Yian needed no ticket. She had access to a designated viewing area. She arrived early and even brought a small stool to sit on.

"Lady Yian!" A familiar voice called out nearby. Yang Yian turned and saw Aunt Jiao, along with Uncle Butcher. Today, Uncle Butcher wasn't bare-chested. He was wearing a rough, long robe, and he looked a bit anxious and tense.

Seeing Aunt Jiao made Yang Yian feel slightly guilty.

Aunt Jiao and Uncle Butcher walked up to her, and she took out some steamed buns for her, saying with a smile, "Lady Yian, I got up early to make these buns. I made every flavor that you like. Go on, eat."

Yang Yian hesitated, then replied, "Thank you."

"No need to be so polite," Aunt Jiao said.

With that, she placed the buns in Yang Yian's hands.

Uncle Butcher laughed dryly from the side.

Just then, a beam of white light suddenly shot down from the sky, landing precisely in the center of the martial arena. As the light dispersed, an elderly man appeared before everyone. This man was none other than Zhu Qiu, the Academy Chief of Qingzhou's Guanxuan Academy.

Everyone fell silent.

Zhu Qiu looked around and clasped his hands with a smile. "Welcome to Qingzhou. Now, let us begin by welcoming the talented swordsman from each state's Sword Sect."

Buzz!

With a resounding hum of swords, streaks of sword light suddenly cut through the sky one after another. Soon, thousands of lights streaked across the heavens like falling stars, descending onto the martial arena.

It was a truly breathtaking sight!

As the sword lights dispersed, thousands of swordsmen could be seen. They were all young, standing tall and straight like unsheathed swords, radiating a fierce and untamed energy.

These swordsmen seemed to be competing, each releasing their unique sword intent. They weren't aimed at each other. Instead, they had unleashed their sword intent to assert themselves and surpass the other states. The entire martial arena was immediately shrouded in countless auras of sword intent.

The prowess of swordsmen was on full display.

The instant they appeared, the audience erupted in excitement.

In Qingzhou—or rather, throughout the entire Guanxuan Universe—swordsmen were an especially esteemed and admired group. It could be said that being a swordsman almost guaranteed attention and admiration. They had an allure to them.

Of course, being one wasn't easy to begin with, particularly for those with limited resources. The path of the sword required significant funds and resources, presenting a formidable challenge for those from modest backgrounds.

"Fu Ji!"

On one of the pillars, Aunt Jiao grabbed Uncle Butcher's arms with her right hand, pointing excitedly into the distance with her left hand while jumping up and down.

Uncle Butcher's trembled slightly when he felt her arm on him, and then he grinned sheepishly.

Yang Yian also smiled upon seeing Ye Guan.

Ye Guan smiled back at her.

The swordsmen from all the states released their sword intents. However, the strongest of these auras undoubtedly came from Qingzhou and Nanzhou. The sword intents of the swordsmen from these two states were as powerful as a tidal wave, far surpassing that of the other states.

Qingzhou and Nanzhou had long been centers of cultivation. Qingzhou had historically been dominant, especially before Nanzhou's rise. With Ye Guan's rise to power, however, Nanzhou's development over the past few years had actually outpaced Qingzhou's, as both the Ye Clan and the Nalan Clan were based in Nanzhou.

The young talents of these two states were fiercely competitive, neither willing to yield. Right now, the swordsmen from both states were releasing their sword intent with full force, each trying to overpower the other. The sword intent from other states could not even come close to these two states' area on the stage.

On Qingzhou's side, Ye Zhuxin took the lead, while on Nanzhou's side, the leader was Ye Chen from the Ye Clan. Both were Sword Emperors and Time Immortal Realm cultivators, making their sword intents the strongest among the swordsmen present.

Even before the contest had started, the intense rivalry between the two states was already palpable, stirring the crowd into a frenzy. From the Observation Rocks, countless shouts erupted.

"Crush Qingzhou!"

"Take down Nanzhou!"

"Crush them both!"

***

Outside the arena, almost everyone from Nanzhou and Qingzhou was fired up. Thanks to the Cloud Recorder, the scene from the martial arena was being broadcast across all of Wanzhou.

In Nanzhou, everyone watching clenched their fists and shouted with fervor.

Last time, they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Qingzhou—a humiliation they had never forgotten.

During that contest, An Qinghan from the An Clan overpowered everyone, firmly suppressing Nanzhou. For three years, the people of Nanzhou had held onto that frustration, determined to redeem themselves this time.

On the arena, the swordsmen from Nanzhou released their sword intent with fierce intensity.

With clenched fists and unwavering gazes, they were determined to overpower the Qingzhou cultivators. However, the swordsmen from Qingzhou refused to back down, unleashing their sword intent with equal ferocity.

This was Qingzhou, after all—their home ground. How could they let the Nanzhou swordsmen dominate here?

The sword intent and auras from both sides grew increasingly powerful, crashing against each other strongly. This was no longer a subtle rivalry but an open showdown. However, neither side could overpower the other, leading to a tense stalemate.

Meanwhile, Zhu Qiu, the Academy Chief of Qingzhou's Guanxuan Academy, made no move to intervene. Instead, he looked over at Song Fu, the Academy Chief of Nanzhou's Guanxuan Academy, who was standing nearby, and said with a smile, "Brother Song, the swordsmen from Nanzhou are pretty impressive this time."

Song Fu replied with a grin, "And the swordsmen from Qingzhou are equally as exceptional."

Zhu Qiu laughed heartily. "Brother Zhu, after my Qingzhou becomes the champion, don't you dare leave right away. I'm counting on sharing a few celebratory drinks with you."

Song Fu shot Zhu Qiu a look and retorted, "You can take those celebratory drinks and shove them up your ass."

Zhu Qiu's face darkened immediately.

The swordsmen from both sides turned pale. Maintaining such intense sword intent was exhausting, but neither side showed any signs of backing down. They were going all the way.

Standing amidst the crowd, Ye Guan was observing the scene. Just then, Little Pagoda commented, "The younger generation is really going all out."

Ye Guan nodded, surprised at the level of rivalry between Qingzhou and Nanzhou. Still, he thought, as long as the competition remained healthy, it wasn't a bad thing.

His eyes drifted to the leader of the Nanzhou cultivators, Ye Chen. To his surprise, Ye Chen had been holding back, still looking composed and unbothered. Likewise, Ye Zhuxin from Qingzhou exuded calm confidence. Both were extraordinary talents, powerhouses of their generation. In comparison, Fu Ji and An Mujin were beginning to show signs of fatigue.

High above, a young man looked down at the swordsmen of both states with a faint smile and remarked, "Only Ye Zhuxin and Ye Chen are remotely interesting among the swordsmen here."

It was Han Yuntian, a prodigious talent representing Yunzhou.

Just then, a voice sounded in Han Yuntian's mind. "The two young cultivators behind Ye Zhuxin are worth watching as well. They may be weak now, but they must have someone guiding them. Their understanding of swordsmanship is promising. Be cautious with them."

Han Yuntian glanced down at the two figures standing behind Ye Zhuxin—An Mujin and Fu Ji. He observed them with mild interest, then chuckled. "Could those people behind them compare to you, Master? With you guiding me, there will be no one who is a match for me in this generation."

The mysterious voice in his mind laughed heartily. "You sure know how to flatter, kid."

Han Yuntian grinned and continued, "Master, is it true you once fought the Academy Master?"

The voice replied with a hint of pride, "Of course! I beat him so badly he was begging for mercy…"

Han Yuntian laughed. "Master, you're truly unstoppable!"

***

Elsewhere, another figure was watching the swordsmen from Qingzhou and Nanzhou below. This man, clad in a black robe with his hands tucked into his sleeves, looked down at Ye Zhuxin and Ye Chen

"Those two," he murmured, "are somewhat interesting."

He was Zong Wu, the Representative of Cangzhou Guanxuan Academy's Martial Department. He was half a demonic beast by nature.

A mysterious voice echoed in his mind, saying, "Interesting or not, it doesn't matter. Even if An Qinghan were in this competition, we'd still ensure that you'll become the champion."

Zong Wu asked respectfully, "Master, about An Qinghan…"

The voice replied coldly, "She's not a threat as she is now. A Martial God who hasn't yet matured can be crushed with ease. But she holds a special status, having shared ties with the Academy Master.

"It's best not to act against her recklessly. Had it not been for that connection, she wouldn't have made it so far, let alone become the Department Chief of the Martial Department."

Zong Wu nodded, and a glimmer of reverence flashed in his eyes, but his excitement shone the brightest. With the backing of that powerful clan, he was poised to rise to greatness.

The mysterious voice continued, "Once you become the champion and obtain some Great Dao Destiny, we will arrange for you to enter the Main Academy's Demon Department. As long as Lady Erya doesn't return, you'll become the Department Chief of the Demon Department over the next hundred years.

"Of the twelve departments in the Main Academy, six are already under our control—" The voice abruptly fell silent.

Zong Wu was left with his heart pounding, deeply shaken by what he had heard.

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