At one end of the square, standing conspicuously at the forefront of thousands of disciples, were several dozen particularly eye-catching individuals. The seven or eight cultivators slightly ahead all possessed cultivation levels at or above Core Formation, exuding an air of calm composure, while the several dozen men and women behind them had cultivation levels at or above Foundation Establishment. These were the several heads and elders of the Hundred Crafts Academy, along with numerous stewards responsible for various duties.
“They’re here!” A sharp-eyed disciple suddenly spotted something and shouted excitedly. Immediately, all the low-level cultivators craned their necks to look. In the distant sky, flashes of light appeared, followed by a swarm of multicolored dots flying closer and closer.
“It’s the Ancient Sword Sect—they all fly on swords!” someone else exclaimed.
Hearing this, the crowd grew even more restless. Many pointed at the approaching dots, their expressions varying widely.
“Silence! What kind of behavior is this? Do you want the other two sects to laugh at our Hundred Crafts Academy?” A burly old man standing at the front of the crowd suddenly spoke coldly, his voice booming across the square. The disciples who had momentarily forgotten themselves immediately fell silent, and the vast square became quiet in an instant.
Seeing this, the burly old man’s expression softened slightly in satisfaction. The other Core Formation cultivators exchanged knowing smiles, as if this scene was nothing new to them.
By then, the cultivators of the Ancient Sword Sect had arrived above the square. Though not all of them were flying on swords, those who weren’t numbered only a few.
“Brother Fu, I never expected you and the others to personally come out to greet us. Jiang is truly flattered!” A short, elderly man in his fifties or sixties, flying at the front of the Ancient Sword Sect’s group, laughed heartily as he descended first.
Beside him were a green-robed scholar and a white-clad young woman, both smiling as they landed side by side, appearing to be a harmonious couple.
Meanwhile, the younger, low-level disciples of the Ancient Sword Sect also descended one by one on their artifacts.
“Since Brother Jiang Yun is leading the delegation this time, it’s only natural for Fu and the others to come out to welcome you. Moreover, we have the renowned ‘White Jade Twin Swords’ couple gracing us with their presence!” The burly old man clasped his hands toward the three, his expression unchanged.
“Enough of the flattery between us—lest the juniors laugh at us! It seems the Falling Cloud Sect hasn’t arrived yet. They’ve been showing less and less interest in the Sword Trial Conference lately. Could it be that their repeated last-place finishes have made them hesitant?” Jiang Yun’s tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, as if he held some disdain for the Falling Cloud Sect.
Hearing this, the old man surnamed Fu wore a bitter smile. Unlike the Ancient Sword Sect, the Hundred Crafts Academy couldn’t afford to casually echo such remarks. If word reached the higher-ups of the Falling Cloud Sect, it could stir up trouble.
Before Fu could think of a response, a middle-aged man in an emerald-green robe behind him suddenly interjected with a grin, “Brother Jiang, no need to be so impatient! I heard that the Falling Cloud Sect’s delegation this time includes Fairy Song from White Phoenix Peak—a rare beauty among our three sects. Unfortunately, she’s always kept a low profile, and few from our two sects have had the chance to see her. Today, we might finally fulfill our long-held wish!”
“Brother Shi, are you referring to the ‘White Phoenix Fairy’? I’ve long heard of her legendary beauty. If she’s indeed leading the delegation, waiting a little longer is no trouble at all.” Jiang Yun’s eyes sparkled with interest as he nodded.
The couple from the Ancient Sword Sect looked surprised at this. The green-robed scholar exclaimed, “I heard this White Phoenix Fairy possesses a Heavenly Spiritual Root and achieved Core Formation in less than a hundred years—a once-in-a-millennium genius in the cultivation world. To see her at this Sword Trial Conference is truly unexpected!”
“Indeed! Even as a fellow woman, I’m deeply curious about the famous Fairy Song. If I can meet her today, it would be a delightful occasion!” The white-clad young woman, though plain in appearance, had a melodious voice that was pleasing to the ear.
“This… Hmm! It seems the Falling Cloud Sect has arrived!” Just as the old man surnamed Fu was about to speak, he suddenly looked up at the sky and blurted out.
Hearing this, everyone nearby turned their gaze eastward, where a large black dot was gradually approaching.
“What’s that?” Jiang Yun’s expression shifted slightly, as if he recognized it.
As it drew closer, the others finally saw it clearly—an enormous, bizarre bird flying toward them at an astonishing speed. Crowds of figures stood on its back, suggesting many cultivators were aboard.
“Hmph! The Falling Cloud Sect only has this mutated Cyan Light Eagle to show off. And this bird is nothing special—just a fifth-tier demon beast that can change its size!” Jiang Yun remarked sourly as he watched the giant bird.
The old man surnamed Fu and the other Core Formation cultivators from the Hundred Crafts Academy pretended not to hear. However, the younger disciples present, who had never seen such a massive spirit beast, gasped in awe one after another, their eyes wide with amazement at the bird’s imposing figure.
The giant bird’s speed was indeed remarkable. With a few flaps of its cyan-glowing wings, it arrived above the crowd in moments. Its massive wingspan cast a vast shadow over part of the square, and a fierce, fishy wind swept through, causing some low-level disciples to stagger and turn pale.
“Halt!” A man’s voice rang out from the bird’s back. The eagle folded its wings and hovered motionlessly in mid-air. Only then did the cultivators aboard begin descending on their artifacts.
“Oh? Isn’t this Brother Duan from Fire Cloud Peak? What a rare guest!” The old man surnamed Fu immediately recognized the red-robed elder at the forefront and stepped forward eagerly.
“Not at all! Since we parted in Yunzhou, I’ve often thought of you, Brother Fu!” The red-robed elder laughed heartily, his gaze sweeping over the others behind Fu.
“Brother Duan, are you looking for Elder Changzheng? Unfortunately, Junior Brother Chang is away on business. However, he should return by the later stages of the conference!” Fu replied nonchalantly.
“Is that so? Then it doesn’t matter. Whether we can reminisce depends on fate. This is Junior Brother Yu—no introduction needed, as everyone knows him. But as for Junior Sister Song, I believe this is everyone’s first time meeting her. Let me introduce her!” The red-robed elder showed a flicker of disappointment but quickly regained his composure, gesturing to the stunningly beautiful woman in blue beside him.
“The name ‘White Phoenix Fairy’ has been ringing in my ears these past years, Brother Fu! Now that I finally see her in person, the rumors do not do her justice!” Fu’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the woman surnamed Song, his expression briefly revealing admiration before he spoke in praise.
“Brother Fu flatters me. This humble woman hardly deserves the title of ‘Fairy’!” The blue-clad woman smiled gently, her voice soft and melodious. Her serene and charming demeanor made many of the low-level male cultivators nearby feel their hearts race, their expressions turning somewhat infatuated. Even the high-level cultivators, though more composed, couldn’t hide a flicker of admiration in their eyes.
At this point, the red-robed elder and the others noticed the Ancient Sword Sect members and went to greet them as well.
Jiang Yun responded with lukewarm politeness, but the white-clad young woman enthusiastically took the blue-clad woman’s hand and chatted nonstop, as if they were sisters.
The blue-clad woman remained graceful and composed in her replies, her refined and courteous demeanor leaving no room for criticism.
The rest of the proceedings were straightforward. After the Hundred Crafts Academy welcomed the two sects, they allocated two large residential areas for the Ancient Sword Sect and the Falling Cloud Sect to rest for the day before the official competition began the following morning.
The night passed without incident, and the next day, the fierce competition among the three sects commenced.
The matches were divided into three groups, with each sect selecting ten participants to compete against twenty disciples from the other two sects. Through successive matches, only the top four from each group would advance, after which the twelve finalists would draw lots for the final duels to determine the ultimate winner and the top ten.
With relatively few participants, the matches were held sequentially in a single arena rather than simultaneously across multiple venues. The order of matches was determined by a draw conducted by the leading cultivators of the three sects, leaving no room for dispute. As for the referees, they were selected from the third sect uninvolved in the match, ensuring fairness.
When the Hundred Crafts Academy disciples had densely packed the arena, a bald, burly man standing inside the protective barrier announced calmly, “First match: Falling Cloud Sect’s Han Li versus Ancient Sword Sect’s Yao Feng!”
As his voice faded, a disciple from each sect stepped forward. Upon seeing the opponents, the surrounding Hundred Crafts Academy disciples erupted in murmurs and whispers.
“Am I seeing this right? One is at the eleventh level of Qi Condensation, and the other is at the early stage of Foundation Establishment!”
“Their cultivation levels are worlds apart!”
The Ancient Sword Sect disciple, with two swords strapped to his back, looked at his opponent in surprise before a flash of disdain crossed his face. To him, defeating someone of such low cultivation would be effortless.
His opponent, a plain-looking young man in green robes, frowned deeply, seemingly troubled and confused.
Outside the barrier, the Core Formation cultivators of the three sects naturally didn’t mingle with the disciples. Instead, they gathered in a small, open area, chatting leisurely.
“Brother Duan, is the Falling Cloud Sect really giving up on this Sword Trial Conference? How could a mere eleventh-level Qi Condensation disciple pass your internal selection? Did you just bring him to fill a spot?” Jiang Yun couldn’t help but laugh mockingly when he saw the Falling Cloud Sect’s young participant.
“Eleventh level? Interesting! I recall this disciple was only at the tenth level during our internal selection. To advance so quickly is quite rare!” The red-robed elder replied calmly.
“What? Tenth level during selection? Brother Duan, you must be joking!” Jiang Yun’s expression turned incredulous.
This time, the red-robed elder only smiled without answering.
Jiang Yun, sensing something amiss, fell silent and turned his attention to the arena.
“Begin the match!” The bald man finally declared in a booming voice.
The young man reacted instantly, shrugging his shoulders to release two flying swords—one red, one blue—that hovered above his head. Simultaneously, green light flashed in his hands, forming a protective barrier around him. He then began rapidly forming hand seals to activate his swords.
But before he could complete his preparations, fifty or sixty blazing fireballs suddenly materialized before him, surging toward him with scorching heat.
“Ah!” Yao Feng paled in shock.
Despite his fright, his experience as a Foundation Establishment cultivator kicked in. Without hesitation, he abandoned his sword control and threw himself to the ground, letting the fireballs pass harmlessly overhead. Cold sweat drenched his back, but his anger flared. As he rolled to his feet, ready to retaliate, a black boot slammed mercilessly onto his forehead, plunging him into unconsciousness.
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