*Thud!*
Hearing the elder's words, Jiang Yue, who had already been taken far away by another elder, spat out blood.
"Even the revered elder has personally come down!"
"This great figure from the Ten Thousand Swords Sea, invited by Ye Tiance, how ironic this truly is."
"Look at his expression—as if he just swallowed a huge fly."
The onlookers could only stifle their laughter.
"Yun Xiao's Sword Soul level...what is it?"
In shock, the crowd's gaze fixed on the young man.
"For the elder to come down personally to test my Sword Soul, it is a great honor for our Blue Soul sect," Yun Xiao said, standing tall, his crimson robes shining with a quiet dignity.
"Young friend Yun?" The elder's golden eyebrows lifted slightly in question.
"Honored elder, I am currently still in the midst of the competition and need to complete the sword duel first. May I measure my Sword Soul after the battle?" Yun Xiao said, catching everyone off guard.
Everyone suddenly understood.
"Yes, the duel isn't over yet!"
"Indeed, Sword Pavilion and First Peak have yet to have their final showdown."
"The ownership of the Blue Soul Cauldron has not been decided!"
The elder chuckled, saying, "Young friend Yun Xiao, thank you for the reminder. I got caught up in the moment and nearly forgot. Indeed, the duel shall continue!"
"Thank you, Elder, for your understanding," Yun Xiao replied calmly.
But even as he spoke, his unmatched dominance had already made it clear to all that the Blue Soul Cauldron's rightful owner was now a foregone conclusion.
Yun Xiao's talent was undeniable, leaving no question.
Blue Soul had been shaken!
Jiang Yue had fallen, and Ye Tiance's face had been utterly slapped!
Measuring Yun Xiao's Sword Soul would only be the final flourish. The result had already been decided.
"Continue the competition!" Yao Manxue, with a blue and purple complexion, could only announce the resumption of the matches.
The elder returned to the observing stage.
"Honored Elder, regarding this…" Ye Tiance started to speak.
"Do not address me until Yun Xiao's Sword Soul level is revealed," the elder said coldly, casting Ye Tiance a disapproving look.
"Yes, sir..." Ye Tiance bowed his head, resentment surging in his eyes.
The sword competition resumed!
The Sword Peaks had to continue fighting for their rankings.
Although this was a grand spectacle of heated battles, with hundreds of swords flying, Yun Xiao's previous dominance left everything else feeling underwhelming.
The semi-finals proceeded.
Sword Pavilion faced Sixth Sword Peak!
All of Sixth Peak's disciples forfeited the match—over one hundred people surrendering to one!
This had never happened in Blue Soul's history!
The shouts of support for Yun Xiao rose again.
In a distant corner, Jiang Yue, blind and abandoned in the dust, lay in silence, listening to the resounding cheers. It felt like ten thousand swords piercing her.
At this moment, she wanted nothing more than death.
The Icy Moon Sword Soul trembled within her heart.
"Senior Brother Ye…" Her tears flowed uncontrollably.
For a long time, she dared not even think about ending her own life.
Suddenly, a white hand extended from somewhere and took hold of hers.
Jiang Yue smelled a faint, exquisite fragrance.
So fragrant.
She had met many beautiful women before, but none whose scent had been so subtly alluring.
Jiang Yue, as a woman, couldn't help but find herself enchanted.
"Who… are you?" Jiang Yue's voice trembled.
The white hand traveled up her arm and gently touched her face. The touch was soft and boneless.
"My name is Yuexian. We are both travelers passing through," the woman said softly.
She was veiled, mysterious, her status known only to a few like Ye Tiance. Jiang Yue had never noticed her before, unaware of Yuexian's hidden strength.
"Jiang Yue, I can sense your resentment. Such beautiful resentment," Yuexian purred, her voice delicate and enticing, sometimes even tickling.
"You…" Jiang Yue felt as if she were sinking into a misty, pink haze, her mind clouded by the woman's words. Her anger started to grow, her nostrils flared, and her rage began to burn hotter.
"Come find me at the Enchanted Marsh tonight, and I'll heal your eyes," the woman whispered in her ear.
"No, no, I don't even know you," Jiang Yue clenched her teeth, shaking her head. "My teacher will heal my eyes."
"Him? You've brought him such great shame. To him, you are just a stain now. Ye Tiance would rather see you dead than let you live. Didn't you know that?" the woman said, her voice like hot steam, filling Jiang Yue's heart.
"No…" Jiang Yue whimpered, shaken.
"Why not? You are still too young to understand how cold people can be. People's hearts are more complex than you realize," Yuexian chuckled softly.
"I still have Senior Brother Ye!" Jiang Yue said, gritting her teeth.
"He doesn't want you. You are just a low-level Kaiyang. Why would he ever look at you again?" The woman's eerie voice sank Jiang Yue deeper into that pink mist.
"Jiang Yue, wouldn't you like to have that arrogant young man kneeling at your feet, begging for your attention?"
"Yun Xiao?"
"Yes, that young man with whom you've tangled in resentment. He's rather handsome…" the woman's sweet voice trailed off with a smile.
"A man…"
"Yes, men. Don't you want them all to be at your mercy? Yun Xiao and Ye Tiance, fighting desperately, risking everything just to earn a glance from you?" The woman laughed, as if sensing the dark fire flickering within Jiang Yue.
The hand on Jiang Yue's face felt furry now, as though many tails wrapped around her.
But anger and desire already dominated her.
"Yes, I want every man to kneel before me!" Jiang Yue growled, her face twisted with determination.
"Then come find me tonight."
The woman's voice faded with a soft laugh, slowly disappearing into the distance.
Yet in the corner, Jiang Yue blinked, still confused.
"Was someone just here?"
The tip of her nose still held a trace of the fragrance, that subtle and lingering scent.
But she could only remember one place:
"Enchanted Marsh…"
As she muttered those words, the audience's cheers suddenly erupted again.
"Congratulations, Sword Pavilion! Once again, you have claimed Blue Soul after three long years!"
"Our talented Yun Xiao, wielding a single sword, has swept across all seven Sword Peaks, creating a new legend in Blue Soul!"
The crowd cheered wildly, marking the end of the competition.
The previous top three Sword Peaks—First, Third, and Sixth—had all lost their standings!
Wu Clan's Third Peak had been routed by Second Peak in a fierce battle as well.
From now on:
Sword Pavilion was first!
Second Peak, second!
Fifth Peak, third!
These rankings would dictate the distribution of Blue Soul's resources for the next year: spirit crystal mines, spirit herbs, spirit woods, monster bones, and more.
And most importantly, the Blue Soul Cauldron!
"Honored ancestor of Sword Pavilion, our disciple Yun Xiao has reclaimed the Blue Soul Cauldron, erasing past shames!" Elder Qin knelt facing Sword Pavilion's direction, his eyes brimming with tears.
In the crowd, Yun Xiao turned to look back at his fellow disciples.
That woman in black robes, her pale skin like white jade, her eyes slightly reddened, remained reserved. Even though her heart was in turmoil, she simply watched him from afar.
"Senior Sister Zhao, do we have any wine?" Yun Xiao asked, smiling through his bloodied appearance.
"In the evening, I'll buy plenty." Senior Sister Zhao smiled back.
Usually serious and stoic, her smile bloomed like a flower.
"Perfect, you'll be rich after all," Yun Xiao laughed.
6,666 spirit crystals. They'd probably end up making 300,000.
That money-loving fatty would no doubt be ecstatic.
His investment of 1,000 spirit crystals had turned into tens of thousands of spirit crystals!
A blood-soaked profit!
The competition had ended, and the result was decided.
No suspense remained!
Everyone knew Yun Xiao's talent was extraordinary.
The only question was, just how extraordinary?
Thus:
"Yun Xiao, approach the Sword Stone!"
"Boom!
In that moment, all the sword cultivators roared together, a scene unseen in ages.
"Yun Xiao's talent has opened our minds!" Yu Xuanzhou muttered with admiration in his eyes.
Yun Xiao raised his head.
An elderly man with golden hair, like a lion, stood near the Sword Stone altar, arms crossed, smiling gently at Yun Xiao.
Thump, thump, thump!
Countless hearts pounded in unison.
They all cleared a path toward the Sword Stone for Yun Xiao.
"Is this the path to greatness?" Yun Xiao's eyes sharpened.
He had no interest in pretending to be weak to surprise others; talent spoke for itself.
"Sword Soul Manifestation—what is there to fear?"
Life, first and foremost, depends on breath and energy.
Only a small-minded person is easily intimidated and shortsighted. How could such a person achieve the path to the heavens?
With this understanding, he walked confidently, crossing through the crowd, head held high, toward the radiant Sword Stone.
"From ancient times, the hero has always been young! With such courage, he's bound for greatness on the path of immortality!" an elder monk declared with open arms.
"The Buddhist sect is honored to offer guidance to one as talented as you on your immortal journey!"
The crowd erupted with cheers, though in the distance, Ye Tiance and Yao Manxue wore dark, scowling expressions.
Their fists clenched and trembled under their sleeves.
Yun Xiao glanced coldly at the elder monk.
"On this road of cultivation, there's always someone eager to ingratiate themselves with the powerful," he sneered.
Strength attracts admiration—nothing else needs to be said.
Arrogance and power are straightforward.
Thump, thump!
Yun Xiao advanced step by step until he stood before the Sword Stone.
"If my Sword Soul surpasses all here, then the name Yun Xiao will carry weight across the land!"
No need to strive to rescue the weak, nor to display mercy—his power would compel others to tremble and submit before him.
This thought filled him with clarity.
"Come!" the monk elder said with a smile, stroking his long beard.
"Come!"
Yun Xiao stepped forward.
As he summoned his Heaven-Burying Sword Soul, silence fell over the crowd, and all eyes turned toward him.
"A talent like this—unparalleled here!" the elder monk announced excitedly.
The Blue Soul disciples' eyes filled with awe.
As Yun Xiao raised his sword, Mount Dingshan fell into complete silence.
Suddenly!
A thunderous voice shattered the calm at Dingshan.
"A message from the Ten Thousand Swords Sea has arrived!"
The voice, loud as a lightning strike on flat land, halted Yun Xiao's momentum.
Countless heads turned, eyebrows knitted in confusion.
Shiiiing!
Four beams of sword light pierced the sky, and four sword-wielding figures descended upon the crowd.
Swish!
The crowd parted, opening up a clear path toward Yun Xiao.
Thud, thud, thud.
The four figures landed firmly on the ground.
Yun Xiao looked over.
Leading them was a woman clad in purple battle armor!
Her figure was curvaceous yet muscular, her legs long, and her waist slender. Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and a sharp eagle-like nose added to her fierce beauty.
A beautiful woman, but fierce and untamed, one who was not easily subdued.
Judging by her age, she was only a few years older than Yun Xiao.
"Ziyan!" Ye Tiance called out with a stern tone as he stepped forward.
"Father, what's going on here?" Ye Ziyan's cold gaze swept across the scene, sensing that something was off.
Yun Xiao quickly recognized her identity.
Ye Tiance's eldest daughter.
She was his prized disciple, often referred to as the "Blue Soul Wild Horse Ye Ziyan."
Fierce, wild, and untamed, she was known to hold her own against men...
Among the Blue Soul disciples, her strength and influence ranked just below Ye Guying and Zhao Xuanran.
As for her peers, she stood above Ye Tiance's other disciples.
This meant that all of Ye Tiance's thirteen disciples, except those few who harbored ambitions for power, were present.
"Did they bring news from the Ten Thousand Swords Sea?" the crowd murmured.
The elder monk, somewhat displeased, said, "Step aside, please."
Ye Ziyan raised an eyebrow.
"Monk Elder, Ye Guying has just accomplished something momentous at the Ten Thousand Swords Sea!" she announced.
"Momentous?" The elder monk sneered. "It doesn't affect the birth of a Tianquan-level Sword Soul here!"
With that, he looked back toward Yun Xiao with approval.
Ye Tiance's smile faded, and he bit his lip in anger. "Elder monk, listen to what Ziyan has to say."
"I'll keep it brief!" Ye Ziyan said with confidence. "What I have to say will make the elder monk rush back to the Ten Thousand Swords Sea to greet Sword King Ye in person."
The elder monk's eyes widened in surprise.
She seemed so confident?
"Speak," the elder monk said, his voice measured.
"First!" Ye Ziyan scanned the crowd with a wild glint in her eyes and spoke loudly, "Sword King Ye has shattered the Ten Thousand Swords Sea record, inheriting the 'Ten Levels of Azure Kites'—his Sword Soul has evolved on the spot, reaching Tianquan level!"
These words set off an explosion of astonished whispers throughout Dingshan.
"Ten Levels of Azure Kites?"
"A breakthrough in Sword Soul grade?"
"The Tianquan level! This level of Sword Soul can command respect at the Ten Thousand Swords Sea!"
Shock spread across the faces of the countless sword cultivators, who stared at Ye Ziyan with wide eyes.
"Well done! He has exceeded all expectations!" Ye Tiance cheered, clapping excitedly.
This was his trump card!
Ye Guying did not disappoint.
To achieve greatness within the Blue Soul was remarkable, but to do so within the Ten Thousand Swords Sea?
And this was only the first revelation his daughter shared!
"Second!" The elder monk's hands trembled as he took a step toward Ye Ziyan, momentarily turning away from Yun Xiao.
Ye Ziyan's demeanor turned more serious. She took a deep breath and shouted in a loud, clear voice, "Sword King Ye's success with the Ten Levels of Azure Kites is due to the awakening of his true dantian talent! After evaluation, the Ten Thousand Swords Sea has officially recognized that he possesses a Tianquan-level talent! His twin dantians have awakened, transforming into the 'Nine Dragons Dantian,' rumored to grant him multiplied power and swift boundary advancement!"
The crowd erupted with gasps of astonishment at this revelation.
"A Tianquan-level talent?"
"The Nine Dragons Dantian!"
Everyone was flushed with excitement, nearly breathless.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Ye Tiance laughed heartily, his eyes red with excitement.
"Too powerful! I always knew that his dantian held incredible potential! Far more than Sword Soul talent, it's his true power source!" Yao Manxue said, her eyes welling with emotion.
"Elder monk!" Ye Tiance raised an eyebrow at the golden-haired elder, his expression mocking.
"Indeed! I always knew Ye Guying was exceptional, so I sent him to the Ten Thousand Swords Sea! Persistence has paid off, and his true dantian bloodline has awakened!" The elder monk clapped and laughed, taking a step closer to Ye Tiance
He turned his back on Yun Xiao entirely.
Other than them, the crowd could barely speak.
It was as if a stone had lodged in their throats.
Even Yun Xiao was stunned.
"Little Lan, what's going on?" Yun Xiao muttered under his breath.
"You're in luck!" Lanxing replied.
"What do you mean?" Yun Xiao asked, puzzled.
"The fortune he absorbed is far greater than mine! This time he's challenged the limits, unlocking all his latent potential!" Lanxing explained.
"So-called 'talent' is actually a Seed of Creation!"
Yun Xiao hadn't considered that this solitary practitioner might have such a rare Seed of Creation level.
He had previously assumed Ye Guying's Kaiyang Seed of Creation was powerful.
Now, it had reached Tianquan level!
With the awakening of his dantian talent, he could inherit the Ten Levels of Azure Kites, even allowing his Sword Soul to evolve.
Sword Soul evolution is rare!
Most people will never advance their Sword Soul grade in their lifetime.
"Is the Nine Dragons Dantian very powerful?" Yun Xiao asked, frowning slightly.
"In the mortal world, it's a top-tier Seed of Creation, which means it could spawn nine 'Primordial Ruins' within your law of creation!" Lanxing said with a sharp tone.
"Is this really lucky?" Yun Xiao asked, feeling conflicted.
"Nonsense!"
"But no matter how strong he is, his potential is still greater." Yun Xiao noticed a sense of suppression, as though his own potential was dwindling.
The Blue Soul environment seemed to be realigning back to the First Jianfeng level.
"Powerful?!" Lanxing sneered.
"If we consume him, it'll save us years of effort!" Chiyue replied, grinding her teeth.
"True!" Yun Xiao nodded.
"You devour the dantian, I'll drink the energy! This time, you can't hog everything!" Chiyue scolded playfully.
"Ye Guying is also a man!" Yun Xiao covered his face.
However, he quickly thought it through and regained his composure.
The stronger Ye Guying was, the greater the reward would be.
At this moment!
"Ziyan, what is the third?" the Buddhist elder asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Everyone held their breath once more.
The first two announcements had been shocking; a third was bound to be even more astounding.
Ye Ziyan relished being the center of attention!
Although the achievement wasn't her own, she delivered the news confidently.
She smiled and looked at the Buddhist elder, who was visibly startled. "Please, go on," he said.
Ye Ziyan smiled broadly, sweeping her gaze over the crowd, and then, with a clear, resounding voice, declared:
"The Taboo Tower—Sword King Ye has broken through to the fontanel realm! From this moment, he is among the ranks of the Taboo Tower!"
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Mount Dingshan shook as if responding to the revelation.
"The Taboo Tower! The fontanel has been opened!"
Countless people stared, stunned and speechless.
The Taboo Tower.
The disciples of the Sword Pavilion turned deathly pale upon hearing this.
Ye Tiance and Yao Manxue were dumbfounded, barely able to believe what they had heard.
"Ziyan, the Taboo Tower?" Ye Tiance asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes! The Taboo Tower!" Ye Ziyan emphasized each word distinctly.