Chapter 18: The Team's Ace

Fang Lang stared at the shut door in surprise.

Clearly, he had been snubbed.

Although the boy from Beijiang Academy did not outwardly express it, Fang Lang could read between the lines. Song Qingyun was dismissive of him.

The Gathering of Swords attracted talented sword disciples from every academy—the average talent and core gathered here was expected to be superior.

Fang Lang was an odd ball here.

Fang Lang shrugged off the dismissal and entered his room. He shut the door firmly.

The room prepared by the Sword Guild was furnished with the basic utilities: teapot, table, chair and bed.

It reflected the Sword Guild's emphasis on hardship and hard work. This was not a place for luxuries and extravagant pleasures.

Fang Lang had no intentions of resting. The Imperial Examination loomed and he could not afford to rest and indulge.

He pulled out the spirit crystal and sat cross-legged on the bed. Switching to Ni Wen's cultivation mode, he began cultivating.

…

The sky was clear the next morning.

It was the grand opening of the annual Gathering of Swords.

Participants from academies all across the Tang Dynasty roused from their sleeping quarters. The night of rest had refreshed them and they readied themselves for a day of activity.

Chosen to represent their academies, they were the most talented sword disciples the academies had to offer. Every single one of them was fascinated by the Sword Guild—it was their dream to join the sect after the Imperial Examination.

On the plaza of Mount Shu, the students flocked to their respective mentors and stood in silence.

Fang Lang, Liu Bubai and Jiang Linglong gathered before Mentor Wen. The mentor was at ease.

There was a towering palace on the plaza.

A bright flash struck down from the sky, calling the attention of the audience. A young man with a shock of white hair stepped off the flight sword. He was dressed in a white robe and the sword he rode on reflected the colors of a rainbow. His descent from the clouds was effortlessly cool—blade energy radiated from his body.

The humming died down as he stepped onto the pavilion that oversaw the plaza.

His eyes scanned through the crowd of students.

A hushed murmur traveled through the audience.

"That's the vice leader of the Sword Guild, the White-Haired Sword Demon, Chao Xiaojian," Mentor Wen informed his students.

Other academy mentors were doing the same.

Chao Xiaojian delivered his speech from the pavilion like a master orator. The speech was short and sweet, and without further ado, he announced the opening of the Gathering of Swords. The competition was to begin with the team combat. Once the first round of lots were drawn by the mentors, Chao Xiaojian left as abruptly as he came.

Mentor Wen walked back to the group with a relaxed expression.

He showed them the result. "For team combat, the 200 academies are equally split into four groups: Heaven, Earth, Dark and Light. We're in the Dark group this stage, facing Xuzhou Academy. Among the 200 academies, they're considered below-average. Who will be fighting first?"

Mentor Wen smiled.

The easygoing tone of Mentor Wen suggested victory was imminent and Liu Bubai volunteered.

However, the mentor ignored Liu Bubai and set his sights on Fang Lang.

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"You'll do it, Fang Lang."

Fang Lang was shocked by his mentor's choice.

Immediately after Mentor Wen's declaration, Fang Lang heard the System chime.

'Ding! Target mission: Cultivation is not limited to training. It involves the bloodlust and mortality on the battlefield. Use your sword skills and defeat your opponent in the Gathering of Swords. Defeat 18 opponents and you will be rewarded with the Dual Sword Technique (Sword Mastery Specialty).

'Mission progress: (0/18)'

Liu Bubai was displeased with the mentor's decision. He argued, "Master! Why don't you pick me?"

Mentor Wen stared at the whining boy.

Fang Lang woke from his daze, eyes sparkling at the opportunity to start his mission.

The goal was 18 wins.

Fang Lang had to defeat 18 participants.

It was a mission of variable difficulty.

If Fang Lang was pit against a strong competitor, then the mission would fall through easily.

He had to pick and choose his battles, and this was an opportunity he would not give up.

"Old Liu, you're the ace of Luojiang Academy. Don't misinterpret our mentor's choice, the ace has to be kept hidden, not revealed in the first battle. You should conserve your energy for the strong opponents like Changan Academy, so the others underestimate us," Fang Lang explained with a smile.

"Let plain old me handle this."

There was a lull in the conversation after Fang Lang spoke.

Mentor Wen's lips twitched as he looked at Fang Lang. 'You don't really mean that, do you?'

Jiang Linglong hid a half smirk beneath the veil.

Realization dawned on Liu Bubai, his eyes wide.

Fang Lang was right—there was nothing he could argue.

Absolutely right!

Liu Bubai turned to Mentor Wen and saw an indecipherable look on his face. Then, the mentor nodded in agreement.

Liu Bubai took in a deep breath as he felt the weight of responsibility rest on his shoulders.

He had delivered the decisive strike that fell Mentor Wen.

He was the ace of the team.

"Understood. Old Fang, go ahead. I'll make sure we stay under the radar."

Liu Bubai patted Fang Lang on the shoulder while Fang Lang gave him a solemn nod. The two boys acted as if they were sworn brothers who bonded over battle.

Beside them, Jiang Linglong rolled her eyes.

Mentor Wen cracked a smile.

"Fang Lang, Bubai is right. Give your all. It's fine if you lose, the team will back you up," Mentor Wen said with humor, side-eyeing Jiang Linglong.

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…

The Dark group was assigned to the seventh battle ring.

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The teams from Xuzhou Academy and Luojiang Academy gathered at opposite ends of the battle ring.

In the fight zone, there was an umpire—a disciple of the Sword Guild. The man was a highly-skilled third-class sword master who could easily restrain the participants should the need arise.

Xuzhou Academy sent out their representative.

Fang Lang took the steel sword presented to him by Mentor Wen and entered the ring.

It was a battle of sword skills and techniques.

This was not practice but an actual battle. There was no room for hesitation. The Gathering of Swords did not permit murder but anything else was allowed.

"Xuzhou Academy, Sun Ming, ninth-grade sword disciple."

The opponent was a tall and well-built lad with a broadsword.

Fang Lang was dressed in his green academy robes. He cupped his fist with his other hand and greeted, "Luojiang Academy, Fang Lang, sixth-grade sword disciple."

The reaction from his opponent was similar to that of the Beijiang Academy student Fang Lang ran into the day before—surprise followed by disappointment.

Sun Ming's expression was laced with mirth.

The boy was sure he would win this fight.

Although their cultivation grades did not matter in the Gathering of Swords, achieving a higher grade boosted one's physical prowess.

A person with a stunted cultivation likely meant their sword skills were subpar.

"Luojiang Academy sent a sixth-grade sword disciple? Is this an act of self-destruction? Free points for me, I guess."

Sun Ming gripped the steel broadsword and cackled.

Then, in a flash, he hauled the broadsword and lunged. The air crackled as the sword cut through with speed and strength.

Fang Lang was unperturbed by the taunts. He gripped his steel sword and moved with the Spirit Step, his body blurred into motion.

Sun Ming struck out multiple times with the broadsword but none connected with Fang Lang.

Suddenly, Fang Lang appeared behind Sun Ming. Their backs faced each other.

The sword tip was pressed against Sun Ming's waist and blood spread from the wound.

"Yield."

Sun Ming was too slow to keep up with Fang Lang's Spirit Step and agile strikes.

However, the boy refused to yield. A flash of red crossed his eyes as he swung his broadsword around.

Fang Lang leaped away from the incoming danger but the blade tore through his robe. Some blood was spilled.

If he had been half a second slower, he would have been cleaved in half.

The strike shook Fang Lang but he recovered swiftly.

"Are you testing my compassion?"

Fang Lang took a deep breath.

This was an actual battle, not a playfight. In the battlefield, there was no room for mercy.

At that moment, Fang Lang learned something meaningful about cultivation.

In a battle between cultivators, one's intent dictated the outcome. Showing mercy could easily lead to one's downfall.

Deaths were common when cultivators fought. Fang Lang did not want to die, he had only recently received the System's blessing. He wanted to become strong so he had to be merciless here.

The battle continued.

Fortunately, Fang Lang had the advantage when it came to skills and techniques.

Swords clashed!

Time seemed to stop for a moment.

Fang Lang and Sun Ming crossed paths. Then, Fang Lang appeared behind Sun Ming. This time, he stabbed the unyielding boy without hesitation. Blood ran down the length of his steel sword.

"Yield!" Xuzhou Academy's mentor shouted from below the ring.

The umpire quickly declared the match results as Fang Lang retrieved his sword.

Sun Ming was carried away by his teammates. Fortunately, the Sword Guild had recovery pills on standby.

Fang Lang remained in the battle ring. As blood dripped from his sword, he said, "Who's next?"

'Mission progress: (1/18)'

Another student from Xuzhou Academy stepped into the ring, enraged and vengeful.

He only mentioned the name of his academy before charging forward.

Fang Lang smiled and activated his Spirit Step. He moved like an illusion.

A few strikes later, the second participant from Xuzhou Academy was taken down with a blow to the thigh. The bone broke and blood sprayed.

He was transported away from the ring.

The third participant entered the ring. He was the ace of Xuzhou Academy and the sight of his injured teammates made his blood boil. He started the match without uttering a word.

His anger roared like an inferno.

Fang Lang took a calm step back and assumed the sword-drawing position.

On the sidelines, Mentor Wen was surprised by the continuous battle. 'Fang Lang aims to take down all three participants?'

Mentor Wen did not interfere. He wanted to see the boy's potential.

Faced with the third opponent's hidden sword technique, Fang Lang did not use his Spirit Step. Instead, he went for the Sword Draw Technique.

One with the wind, one strike to end it all!

Whoosh!

The third student from Xuzhou Academy saw his sword sail through the air, clattering a distance away. He had been disarmed.

One strike to end the enemy—it was the ultimate technique for a sword disciple.

"Yield!" shouted the Xuzhou Academy mentor, his dismay evident.

He did not want to risk Fang Lang's cruel streak and see another student stabbed.

Luojiang Academy was a terror in the battle ring!

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