The Qingfeng Sword Competition was held once every three years and was extremely grand. From the Headmaster to the Outer Disciples, everyone was mobilized.
The Outer Disciples naturally did not have the qualifications to participate. However, some of them would be selected as temporary attendants to serve tea to the Headmaster and the Elders. At the same time, they would be able to witness this competition with their own eyes. To them, this was like being hit by a pie.
When Chu Mu and the others arrived at the inner sword training field, there were already close to two hundred people gathered here. They were all from the Main Hall.
The inner sword training field was naturally not as big as the outer sword training field, but it was still extremely easy to accommodate more than a hundred people at the same time.
Chu Mu slowly swept his gaze across. In the inner sword training field, there was also a circular sword platform with a diameter of twenty meters. In addition, about twenty meters away from the Sword Discourse Arena, at the four corners of the Sword Practice Field, there were four Sword Observation Platforms with a height of five meters and a diameter of ten meters. Their purpose was naturally to let people stay on top of them and watch the sword battle.
Behind each observation platform, there was a small staircase that connected to the ground.
"That is our Qingfeng Sword Sect's Headmaster, Luo Tianxiong." The Lingfeng Sect Master gestured to the tall and sturdy middle-aged man sitting on the chair in the middle of the observation platform. He whispered to Chu Mu, "Those beside him are the Elders of the Main Hall and the elite disciples who are going to participate in the Sword Competition."
Chu Mu took a deep look and nodded. He looked at the other three observation platforms. There were only chairs and tables on them, but there was no one.
"Sect Master, are these people not participating in the Qingfeng Sword Competition?" Chu Mu shifted his gaze and swept across the more than a hundred people in the sword training field who were twenty meters away from the center of the sword platform, and asked softly.
"Of course." The Lingfeng Sect Master swept a glance and smiled, "These are the Inner Disciples of the Main Hall. They are only here to watch." In the main palace, only the elite disciples are qualified to participate in the Qingfeng Sword Battle Festival. As for us, the strongest disciple is only at Stage Eight, so we are allowed to have two spots each time. "
"Each time, our three academies are just going through the motions." The Jadewater school head laughed.
"Monastery head, isn't this very unfair to our three courtyards?" a disciple of the Blue Water Courtyard asked softly.
"Fair? There is no such thing as fairness in this world. "A mocking glint flashed across Ming Lei's eyes as he sneered.
"You can't say that. Actually, the original purpose of the three inner courts was to share the pressure of the main palace, and at the same time, to form a kind of healthy competition within the sword sect." The Lingfeng sect master explained with a smile, "Simply put, although our three inner courts are independent of the main hall to a certain extent, we still have an inseparable relationship with the main hall. For example, when an inner disciple broke through to Stage 9, they would enter the main palace and become an elite disciple, receiving better training. In the end, whether it is the main palace or the three courtyards, there is only one purpose, and that is to strengthen the Qingfeng Sword Sect. "
"Although it is said that way, the nature of this has changed a little over the years. Originally, letting two disciples from each courtyard participate was to let them broaden their horizons and personally experience the difference between them and the elite disciples. This would allow them to have a clearer goal. " The Jadewater school head continued softly, a trace of worry on his face, "But now, every Qingfeng Sword Battle Festival is a nightmare for our three courtyards. We are always ridiculed by others, and the disciples who go on stage often receive all kinds of blows."
At this point, the four disciples from the Thunderclap and Jadewater Courtyards paled slightly. They clearly understood this.
Chu Mu looked pensive and didn't reply.
"Don't worry, this time, with Chu Mu here, he will definitely give the main hall a pleasant surprise. If they continue to ridicule, then Chu Mu's performance will be a fierce slap to their faces." The Lingfeng sect master said with a confident smile.
Surprisingly, the Thunderclap sect master didn't attack Chu Mu. The four disciples also looked at Chu Mu with sparkling eyes. The Jadewater school head said with a gentle smile, "Chu Mu, you have to perform well. Not only will you win glory for the Lingfeng Courtyard, but our two courtyards will also benefit."
"I will do my best." Chu Mu said softly.
"Let's go to the Sword Observation Platform first." The Lingfeng sect master said softly. Shortly after, he brought Chu Mu to the Sword Observation Platform of the Lingfeng Courtyard, while the Thunderclap and Jadewater school heads brought their two disciples to their respective Sword Observation Platforms.
Looking down from above, it was a different feeling.
At this moment, a large group of people rushed in from the outside, attracting everyone's attention. They walked towards the three Sword Observation Platforms, and the elders walked up one after another. They were all elders of the three courtyards.
"Chu Mu, long time no see. Your cultivation has improved a lot." Elder Lin greeted with a smile, as if he was treating Chu Mu as a peer.
The other two elders stared at Chu Mu with shining eyes, as if they wanted to see through Chu Mu.
"Chu Mu greets the three elders." Chu Mu saluted with his sword, then looked at Elder Lin and smiled, "This is the result of occupying the Sword Battle Arena for a few months."
"Oh, haha … No wonder. But with your sword skills, occupying the Sword Battle Arena for a few months isn't a difficult thing." Elder Lin suddenly understood and laughed.
The other two elders were even more curious. Their eyes had an eagerness of wanting to see Chu Mu's sword techniques.
At this moment, on the Sword Observation Platform of the main hall, a slender elder in his fifties with a sword on his back quickly stood up and leaped into the air. His sleeves covered the sky, and he landed on the circular Sword Battle Arena in a graceful and concise manner like a large bird.
"Welcome everyone to the triennial Qingfeng Sword Battle Festival. This is the thirty-third Qingfeng Sword Battle Festival." The main hall elder opened his mouth and said in a clear voice. His voice was like a bell, spreading all around and landing in everyone's ears. They couldn't help but be excited. "In these three years, there have been many talented disciples competing with each other. I believe that this year's Qingfeng Sword Battle Festival will be even more exciting than the previous one."
"The thirty-third Qingfeng Sword Sect. Each Qingfeng Sword Sect lasts for three years and ninety-nine years." Chu Mu thought to himself.
"Just like the previous years, the top three spots in this Sword Battle Festival will still be rewarded." The main hall elder said in a clear voice, "The rewards are the same as before. The first place can enter the Qingfeng Ancient Cave to comprehend the Qingfeng Sword Stele for three days, the second place can comprehend it for two days, and the third place can comprehend it for one day."
When the disciples heard this, they all became excited. Even the elders and sect masters revealed envious expressions. They were envious that they couldn't participate in the Sword Battle Festival and didn't have the chance to compete for the top three spots.
It could be seen how attractive the Qingfeng Sword Stele was to them.
"Now, disciples who are participating in the Sword Battle Festival, please come up to the stage and draw lots to choose your opponent for the first round." After the main hall elder finished speaking, two disciples walked over from the side carrying a lottery tube that was half the height of a person and stood beside the main hall elder.
"Go." The Lingfeng sect master said to Chu Mu.
At this time, the elite disciples on the main hall's Sword Observation Platform leaped up one by one. They were like big birds, bats, and fish as they displayed their movement techniques. Some were straight, some were swimming, some were drawing arcs, some were gliding, and some were taking in various postures. They freely breathed in mid-air as they flew towards the Sword Discourse Platform in the middle.
The last three suddenly shot out like three arrows that had left the bow. They were straight, fast, and sharp, giving people the feeling of a sword that could not be blocked. They didn't even need to breathe.
"Look, it's eldest senior brother."
"There's also second senior brother and third senior brother."
"The three senior brothers are indeed the most powerful disciples in our main hall. Their movement techniques are so sharp and swift that no one can compare to them."
"In my opinion, the top three of this year's Sword Battle Festival will definitely be the three senior brothers. I just don't know which senior brother will be able to get second, and which senior brother will be able to get second or third."
And at this time, Chu Mu and the four disciples of the Thunder Academy and the Blue Water Academy all leaped up from the Sword Observation Platform, landed, and then used their movement techniques to head towards the Sword Discourse Platform.
The four disciples weren't strong enough to support their leap from the Sword Observation Platform to the Sword Platform. Although Chu Mu's cultivation wasn't strong enough, he had thirty percent wind concept. With Wind Travel, he could easily leap onto the Sword Platform.
However, he did not do so, because Chu Mu did not want to attract so much attention.
"Hahahaha, did you see that? Those participating disciples of the three academies."
"I'm dying of laughter. Compared to the elite disciples of our main hall, they are like pheasants on the ground compared to phoenixes in the sky."
"They can't even fly from the Sword Observation Platform to the Sword Discourse Platform. They can't even breathe in the middle. What are they doing here? Are they here to make a fool of themselves? "
All sorts of discussions and ridicule rose and fell, and entered the ears of Chu Mu and the others. Chu Mu's expression did not change, and was not disturbed in the slightest, but the other four's expressions changed greatly, and they were a little alarmed.
"Don't panic, we're here to broaden our horizons." Chu Mu said softly, allowing the four of them to adjust their attitudes.
"Very good, there are a total of 31 people participating in this Sword Battle Festival." The Main Hall Elder swept his gaze across them and said, "Now, you all take turns to draw lots. One of you will draw a blank lot and directly enter the next round. Number 1 against number 30, number 2 against number 29. And so on. The two numbers added up to 31, which means that you two are opponents. Only by defeating each other can you enter the next round. Now, let's begin the drawing of lots. "
As soon as he finished speaking, all the disciples stretched their hands towards the cylinder, whereas, Chu Mu didn't move at all and didn't fight for it. The other four were now led by Chu Mu, and they followed Chu Mu.
At this moment, Chu Mu saw a familiar person walk over. It was Wenren Yun, and she had a disgusting cold smile on her face.
"It really is you. I guessed that your Towering Wind Courtyard would definitely send you out." Wenren Yun walked over to Chu Mu and faced Chu Mu with a lofty and arrogant attitude, and her voice was filled with threat. "You better pray that I'm not your opponent when you draw lots. Otherwise, your end will be very miserable. Junior Sister Luo will definitely see clearly that you're nothing."
After leaving behind these threatening words, Wenren Yun sneered repeatedly, and then she turned around and walked towards the cylinder. The four disciples were slightly terrified, whereas, Chu Mu had an indifferent expression.
Wenren Yun? Just an ant.