Chapter 671: The Pageant of Martial Arts Contest

Each participant had a seat that abutted one another to encircle Coliseum B.

When Zhang Ruochen located his seat and sat down, the man on his left gave a low and deep laugh. “You dare to participate in the Sword Martial Arts Contest for Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm at such a young age! Are you too proud of yourself or are you looking down upon us predecessors?”

Zhang Ruochen turned to look at him and found him vaguely familiar.

After thinking it over, he seemed to remember that this man was one of Qi Feiyu’s suitors and he had met him once at the foot of the Ancient Gods Mountains.

Zhang Ruochen checked the name on the wooden board hanging on the man’s seat. It said, “Xie Yunfan”.

Zhang Ruochen smiled. “It’s just a sword martial arts contest. You don’t have to fly into a rage over it.”

Xie Yunfan held a cyan knife in his hand and began shaving his mustache with it. The knife light was reflected onto Zhang Ruochen’s neck from time to time, leaving a white knife shadow.

He said, “Don’t get smug about your talents in the Tao of the sword and look down on Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm. When you are standing on the stage, you will realize how enormous the gap is between them and yourself.”

Faced with such a self-righteous person, Zhang Ruochen shook his head, closed his eyes, and shut his mouth.

The sword contest for Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm was rather important. It was a safe bet that whoever dared to sign up for it had the potential to become a Half-Saint.

Therefore, higher-ups in the Yin and Yang Sect took it very seriously and charged five Half-Saint Patriarchs to preside over the contest in the Zhiyu Sacred Mountain.

Lin Yue’s Master, Half-Saint Zixia, was one of them.

Rumor had it that somebody would attempt to kill Lin Yue onstage, so Half-Saint Zixia had volunteered to watch over it.

He was Lin Yue’s master, after all. Disappointed as he was with Lin Yue, he could not watch him be killed.

The five Half-Saints sat on top. Half-Saint Zixia was sitting on the left side. Purplish sheen radiated from his body. He looked at Lin Yue with his aged eyes and gave a long sigh.

He already knew that Lin Yue had scaled the Second Level Mountain of the Ancient Gods Mountains. He was ambivalent about the news, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.

Half-Saint Jing Lan smiled. “Among the participants, there are four people who mounted the peak of the Second Level Mountain. Each of them is an eminent talent, but Lin Yue is the most gifted among the four.”

Half-Saint ZIxia shook his head and sighed. “If we can lead him onto the right track, with his talents in the Tao of the sword he will be a sword saint of a new generation in all likelihood. Unfortunately, he is overly ambitious. The more gifted he is, the worse for him.”

“Young people! They tend to have a higher opinion of themselves than what is suitable. What if Lin Yue is powerful enough to compete with Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm?” Half-Saint Jing Lan said.

Half-Saint ZIxia gave a wry smile and said, “Have you ever known anyone who can engage with Monks of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm shortly after he broke through the Fish-Dragon Realm?”

Several other Half-Saints shook their heads, commiserating with Half-Saint Zixia.

A talent like a God’s favored son had finally emerged from the Sect with great potential to become a sword saint, but he had gone astray.

Any Master would feel heartbroken if such a thing happened to their disciple.

Half-Saint Jing Lan straightened himself and walked to the Coliseum, step by step on the void. He declared loudly. “Today is the first day of the grand sword contest. Now, I shall announce the rules.”

Below the stage, all disciples, indoor or outer, listened intently.

“There are three basic rules: First, the purpose of the sword contest purpose is so that you may learn from each other by exchanging sword techniques. Therefore, do not deliberately harm anyone.

“Second, participants can give in and abstain from the contest. Once someone gives in, the opponent must immediately stop attacking.

“Third, hidden weapons and poison are forbidden. Pills to improve cultivation are not allowed either.

“Whoever breaks these three rules will be punished severely.

“There are 368 people participating in the contest for Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm. The first round will be held today, and the top 100 Monks will be determined through match race.

“Now, all participants draw their numbers.”

“Swoosh!”

Half-Saint Jing Lan swung his sleeve and 368 light spots flew out of it like twinkling stars floating in the air.

All participants took their light spots one after another.

Using his genuine Qi, Zhang Ruochen conjured a big hand. He pounced on a light spot and immediately drew it into his palm.

When he opened his hand, the light spot diffused and turned into a very small Jade Token that bore the number 78.

Half-Saint Jing Lan said, “Those with numbers 1 to 92, go to Coliseum A.

“Numbers 93 to 184 go to Coliseum B.

“Numbers 185 to 267, go to Coliseum C.

“Numbers 277 to 368, go to Coliseum D.”

Four coliseums were set in the Zhiyu Sacred Mountain. According to his token number, he went to Coliseum A and began to adjust himself to the best state to prepare for the sword contest.

According to the rules, when the first match race was over, half of the participants would be eliminated, and only the top 184 would be left.

After the second match race, another half would be eliminated, and the top 92 would be left.

It did not mean that those who failed in the first two matches would have no chance at all. They could still take part in a third match to vie for the remaining eight openings.

The top 100 Monks would then enter the second round.

“I just need to win two battles to pass the first round and enter the top 100.” Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.

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Participants from 1 to 92 all went down to Coliseum A.

Looking around, Zhang Ruochen caught a glimpse of Xu Changsheng while the other popular frontrunners were nowhere to be found.

Xu Changsheng looked back at Zhang Ruochen and his facial expression became weird as if he was smiling, but actually not.

No. 1 and No. 2 participants were ready on the stage.

“Yan Yunbei, from Law Enforcement Yard.”

“Han Zhang, from Mokong Yard.”

After they introduced themselves, the fight began.

Yan Yunbei was a very gifted 60-year-old Half-Saint disciple, but he looked like he was only 27 or 28—very young among other Monks.

Han Zhang was a Cyan-robed Elder at the advanced age of 120.

Though there was a big age gap between them, they were equally matched.

In the end, Han Zhang used a mid-class Ghost Level sword technique and flung 37 consecutive movements to finally rout Yan Yunbei.

“He lives up to his position as a superior of the older generation. His fighting experience and control of power have already reached perfection.” Half-Saint Zixia smiled.

Half-Saint Zixia was Han Zhang’s elder brother. When he saw Han Zhang win the battle, a joyful smile appeared on his face.

“Yan Yunbei had also practiced a mid-class Ghost Level sword technique and was very likely to win. Unfortunately, his sword technique was not as good as Han Zhang’s.” Half-Saint Jing Lan shook his head gently.

After all, young people were not prudent and sophisticated enough.

Zhang Ruochen watched the next battles carefully in order to learn how to engage with masters.

There was always something to learn from Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm whether they were superior or inferior to one.

Xu Changsheng was number 55 and his rival was number 56, a 100-year-old Cyan-robed Elder.

With a single move, Xu Changsheng pierced through the Cyan-robed Elder’s divine body shield and threw him off the stage. He won the battle with such ease.

The audience was wowed by Xu Changsheng’s performance. There was silence for a while.

When he stepped down from the Coliseum and passed by Zhang Ruochen, Xu Changsheng stopped and looked at him. “I guess you now know exactly what the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm is?”

Xu Changsheng left immediately after speaking.

Zhang Ruochen looked at his back and smiled faintly and then continued watching the battles on the stage.

Zhang Ruochen’s understanding of Tao of the sword became deeper with each battle.

“Master says ‘the essence of Sword One is yourself, and only when you completely perceive the relationship between the sword and yourself can you cultivate to the tenth realm—the Completion of Sword One.”

Unwittingly, Zhang Ruochen’s Heart of the Sword turned into a small human and began to practice sword movements in his Qi sea.

As each Monk performed sword movements on the stage, the Heart of the Sword would follow them and perceive the essence of the Tao of the sword.

The next battle is between number 77 and number 78.” Half-Saint Zixia announced.

Xie Yunfan mounted the coliseum with a white short sword in hand. After he bowed down in deference to Half-Saint Zixia, he straightened up and posed, ready to fight.

His number was 77.

Nunmber 78 did not make an appearance. A din broke out off the stage.

“Who is number 78? Why hasn’t he showed up?”

“Xie Yunfan is the conqueror of the Pure Jade Palace and is very powerful. Number 78 is probably too scared to fight him.”

“How could it be? The participants are all top masters. They won’t balk at the contest?”

…

Half-Saint Zixia frowned and spoke with his voice full of holy Qi, “The next battle is between number 77 and number 78.”

Zhang Ruochen, who was in a state of comprehending swordplay, was finally awakened by the voice.

Zhang Ruochen’s eyes recovered vitality and he sighed. After glancing at the white Jade Token, he murmured. “Number 78. I am number 78.”

Under the watchful gazes of the audience, Zhang Ruochen moved to the Coliseum quickly.

“It turns out number 78 is Lin Yue.”

The indoor disciples all shot strange looks at Zhang Ruochen. They did not believe that any participant would flee from battle, but Lin Yue was an exception.

After all, Lin Yue had just recently become a Saint’s disciple. Just a few months ago, he had been a warrior at the Heaven Realm.

Most people could not understand why he had recklessly signed up for the sword contest for Monks of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.

Now, he was slow to show up on the stage. He definitely must have been stunned by the gripping fighting scene and finally realized the gap between himself and Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.

He was greeted with loud boos from the audience.

Even Half-Saint Zixia’s eyes became darker with disappointment.

If he had merely been a little arrogant, he could be led onto the right track with proper guidance and teaching.

However, if he was too timid and would dare not stand up to a stronger rival, he would amount to nothing even with good luck.