Supreme Sword Exalt

Within the mountain gates, a large crowd had already gathered on a few-dozen-zhang-wide greenstone arena. Such a grand event only occurred once every five years. Even though they knew they had no chance to participate, everyone still wanted to come and join the excitement.

In the arena, a Yuqing Sect elder was carefully explaining the rules of the qualification battle, “Same as before, we will use a rotation battle system. Victory is declared when no one else challenges. During the fight, if you feel that you’re no match, you can voluntarily admit defeat.”

His voice carried a hint of helplessness. After returning from the relic site expedition, most of the Yuqing Sect’s elders and seat elders were injured, and chose to go into seclusion. The remaining ones had no mood to manage this either. With everyone shirking responsibility, this task fell upon the elder’s shoulders.

After hearing the rules, everyone was eager to try. Maybe... Just maybe... What if there really was a chance?

Not far away, Yuan Gang watched the arena, with seven or eight people standing behind him. Three belonged to the Qingyun Pavilion. The rest were disciples of the seat elders and elders themselves, all of whom had submitted to Yuan Gang’s iron-fisted rule over the years.

Chu Kuang shifted, about to step onto the arena. “Senior Brother, I’ll go down and have some fun with them.”

Yuan Gang was a bit puzzled. “What?You’d really bother with something as trivial as this competition?”

Chu Kuang smiled. “Not really, but the participants are likely the elite disciples of various families. There might be one or two good seedlings that were overlooked. I’ll go test them out. If we really discover something, even if they can’t join the Qingyun Pavilion, they might still be of some use.”

Yuan Gang suddenly understood. “Aah, I see! You’re very thoughtful. It was my oversight.”

Chu Kuang said no more. With a flash, he appeared in the arena. Upon seeing him appear, some who had been itching to go immediately abandoned the idea of stepping onto the arena.

The elder furrowed his brow slightly. “Chu Kuang, you are—”

Chu Kuang grinned. “Elder Wang, I just broke through less than half an hour ago. I believe I am also qualified to participate in this competition. If you think it’s inappropriate, I can suppress my cultivation to the Essence Gathering realm. That way, it complies with the rules.”

Elder Wang glanced at Yuan Gang, somewhat hesitant. “I...”

He fell into contemplation as he couldn’t afford to offend the Qingyun Pavilion people, much less Yuan Gang.

“Alright then.”

After obtaining permission, Chu Kuang swept his gaze over the crowd. “Everyone, as you can see, I am suppressing my cultivation to the third stage of the Essence Gathering realm. If anyone can withstand three moves from me, I will yield the secret realm qualification to them!”

Instantly, whether they knew him or not, everyone’s minds were racing. Third stage of the Essence Gathering realm? Three moves?

If they didn’t step up now, they’d be real fools.

In the blink of an eye, a young man from the Murong family jumped up. “I’ll go! Three moves, right?!”

Chu Kuang merely smiled. “Of course! I always keep my word.”

Not far away, Yuan Gang wore a look of admiration. “Chu Kuang really is the future of the Qingyun Pavilion.”

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something. “By the way, what about Junior Brother Yang? Has he not returned yet?”

Someone behind him said respectfully, “It’s been a month since we last heard of Senior Brother. He seems to have disappeared without a trace.”

Yuan Gang turned cold. “So undisciplined. It seems I’ve been too lenient with him.”

***

At this moment, far away on top of a mountain peak, Murong Yuan’s face was full of coldness. “Rest assured after the competition concludes, I will personally go to those two families to demand an explanation!”

Beside him, a middle-aged man’s angry expression faded slightly. “That’s good then. This disciple is a treasure. Not only does he have the Extreme Cold Physique, but also, cough... Anyway, if you don’t go, I’ll go myself!”

This man was Lu Fang. He was Jiang Feng and Shen Xuan’s master, and one of the only four remaining seat elders of the Yuqing Sect.

Murong Yuan glanced at him. “But also what? Also possesses a Heaven-tier cultivation technique?”

Lu Fang’s heart skipped a beat. “Y-you know about it?”

Murong Yuan waved his hand. “Relax. I’m not like those two old relics, coveting the fortune of a junior.”

He was very calm. A Heaven-tier cultivation technique? I have one too! And it’s the refined kind that isn’t limited by physique or bloodline! Anyone can cultivate it!

As if remembering something, Murong Yuan asked casually, “By the way, what about Shen Xuan?”

Lu Fang was full of anger. “Him? I don’t know where he ran off to. The secret realm is about to open, and he’s still idling outside. Huh? Could it be that your family’s—”

“Forget about her! It’s up to her whether she wants to go to this secret realm.” Murong Yuan sneered, staring off into the distance. “Chu Kuang is indeed a rare talent for the Yuqing Sect in decades! It’s a shame that he just had to join the Qingyun Pavilion!”

Lu Fang hesitated for a moment. “Supreme Elder, how are the sect master’s injuries?”

The Yuqing Sect Master didn’t appear during the relic site expedition, which clearly meant his injuries hadn’t healed.

Murong Yuan shook his head. “He’s not well. Wushuang’s strike was too ruthless. He will likely never have a chance to fully recover in this lifetime.”

Lu Fang sighed. “Looking at Chu Kuang’s performance, he really lives up to the title of Heavenly Pride. I’m afraid he’ll be another Luo Wushuang in the future.”

Murong Yuan shook his head. “Him? He’s far from it. Although his performance is indeed stunning, it’s possible to find someone who can rival him.”

Lu Fang was stunned. “Rival him? Who?”

Murong Yuan grinned. “A little rascal with a black heart!”

***

In the arena, Chu Kuang casually waved his hand, sending yet another person flying off the arena. In just half an hour, over a dozen people had already lost to him. None could withstand even one move.

Chu Kuang seemed disappointed. “What? No one else?”

The crowd remained silent. They had learned the hard way that Chu Kuang was simply and outrageously strong, far beyond everyone’s imagination.

The disappointment on Chu Kuang’s face deepened. “Forget it! Perhaps I expected too much from all of you!”

With that, he left the arena without looking back. Not far away, Yang Lin and Meng Xing exchanged a glance, a hidden trace of killing intent flashing in both their eyes.

Elder Wang shook his head. “Since that’s the case, this slot belongs to Chu Kuang! Who will come up first for the remaining two slots?”

Among the Yang family, a young man jumped onto the arena. “Me! Yang Lei, nineteen years old, eighth stage of the Essence Gathering realm!”

Everyone’s hearts dropped. This person’s level was so high, yet he deliberately avoided Chu Kuang. His strategy was undeniably good.

Yang Lei swept his gaze around. “No one? If there’s no one—”

Before he could finish, someone jumped up. “Yuqing Sect, Liu Rang, fifth stage of the Essence Gathering realm!”

After all, Yang Lei wasn’t Chu Kuang. Even though his strength was considerable, many still wanted to seize this opportunity. Liu Rang was quickly and predictably defeated. Following that, new opponents came one after another. As time passed, more and more people lost to Yang Lei. Fewer and fewer dared to step onto the arena, until finally, no one dared to challenge him anymore.

Elder Wang subsequently announced, “Good. The second slot belongs to the Yang family’s—”

Suddenly, a clear female shout came from the crowd. “Wait! I challenge him.”

Accompanied by a waft of fragrant breeze, Meng Qian walked onto the arena.

Her? Everyone’s brows instantly furrowed. They could see that Meng Qian’s cultivation level was only at the fifth stage of the Essence Gathering realm, which was quite a gap from Yang Lei. Moreover, not only was the Meng family’s young mistress pampered, she had no special physique or bloodline, and had very little combat experience. No one believed for a second she could defeat Yang Lei.

Not far away, Yuan Gang seemed to have guessed the intentions of the two families, his brow knitting together. “Huh? These two families truly have no shame!”

Chu Kuang smiled. “It’s fine. They’re just clowns. You need not pay them mind.”

In the arena, Elder Wang had clearly also thought of something. “You really want to challenge him?”

Meng Qian taunted arrogantly, “What? Is it against the rules or something?”

Knowing where they were going with this, a trace of anger colored Elder Wang’s tone. “Fine. Then... begin!”

Yang Lei suddenly shook his head. “There’s no need for a match. I am no match for Young Lady Meng. I admit defeat.”

Elder Wang’s face turned very gloomy.

The crowd was in an uproar.

“This is blatant cheating!”

“Yes, completely shameless!”

“Haa... What can we do? Both families are powerful. We can only watch.”

“But she’s breaking the rules. Won’t Elder Wang intervene?”

Everyone fell into an animated discussion, brimming with great dissatisfaction.

Elder Wang was cold. “This match does not comply with the rules...”

Yang Lin laughed out loud. “Rules? You just said, if you feel that you’re no match, they can voluntarily admit defeat. Yang Lei considers himself no match for her, so he admits defeat. Which part of that doesn’t comply with the rules?”

Meng Xing returned the coldness. “Weren’t the rules set by you? Are you going against your own rules?”

Elder Wang was furious. “You’re just being unreasonable!”