Chapter 546: Five Nation Youth Competition
“Damn it! There is no need to be so ruthless, right?” Liu Suifeng said depressedly as he rubbed his face.
“Instructor Suifeng, is that person earlier really the White Robed Bladesman?”
“I heard that in the past he was weaker than you. Is that true?”
“How strong is he now? I just heard people saying that he single-handedly scared away five Biyun Peak elders.”
“That Biyun Peak’s Peak Master, Song Qianhe, could not even stand up before him.”
The girls all bombarded Liu Suifeng with questions. Anyone else would not have been able to bear it.
However, Liu Suifeng merely chuckled. He got the girls to gather around him and said calmly, “There is no need to rush. Ask your questions one at a time. However, before that, let me tell the story from the start first.”
At this moment, the news that Xiao Chen was back in Qingyun Peak had grown wings and quickly spread throughout the entire Heavenly Saber Pavilion.
Furthermore, the story of what happened to Biyun Peak’s Peak Master and how Xiao Chen scared away five Superior Grade Martial Kings had spread as well.
When the cultivators of Xiao Chen’s generation thought of the legend from two years ago and looked at the strength he exhibited today, they all sighed.
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Xiao Chen and Liu Ruyue leaned on a rock by a cliff in Qingyun Peak.
A waterfall in front of the cliff gushed endlessly. As the wind blew gently at them, Xiao Chen spoke of his encounters in the past two years in a soft voice.
He told Liu Ruyue everything that he experienced after he left the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, holding nothing back.
From the first moment Liu Ruyue saw Xiao Chen, she had known that his accomplishments would not be limited to the Great Qin Nation.
The Heavenly Saber Pavilion would not be able to hold him back. However, she had not expected Xiao Chen’s stage to be so big.
Xiao Chen was not very good with words. He related his originally exciting experiences in a very dull and calm manner. This was exactly in line with his reserved nature.
However, Liu Ruyue became very engrossed in Xiao Chen’s story, hanging on to his every word and smiling until her eyes were thin crescents. She was probably the only one who could feel the danger and thrill in Xiao Chen’s calm tone.
Time went by without the two realizing it. The wind and water sang in their ears. After a while, Xiao Chen shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “Let’s talk about you? What did you do in the past two years?”
The story that Liu Ruyue told was the same as Liu Suifeng’s. After Xiao Chen left, Qingyun Peak had developed very quickly in the past two years.
During this time, Liu Ruyue would bring Liu Suifeng to instruct the new disciples. Then, she would cultivate at night. She was very busy every day.
However, even with all the work, Liu Ruyue managed to advance to peak Superior Grade Martial King. This clearly showed her talent.
If it were not for the fact that Liu Ruyue was over twenty-four already, she would have no problem qualifying for the next Five Nation Youth Competition.
Liu Ruyue asked with some anticipation in her voice, “How long are you staying?”
Xiao Chen thought for a while before answering, “Probably about two months. The next Five Nation Youth Competition will start in six months. I still have to go to the Xiao Clan to settle some matters.”
Only when night fell did Xiao Chen and Liu Ruyue part unwillingly. Then, he returned to the courtyard that he used to stay at.
Late at night with the sky filled with resplendent stars, Xiao Chen practiced the Four Season Saber Technique in the courtyard, trying to comprehend the state for the fourth move.
Spring is primed by thunder, Summer is primed by fire, Autumn is primed by water. What should Winter be primed by? Xiao Chen could not think of an answer.
If Xiao Chen followed Bai Shuihe’s train of thought, Winter would naturally be primed by snow. He used a state of extreme cold to seal the world with ice.
Xiao Chen did not wish to imitate Bai Shuihe; he wanted to create his own Four Season Saber Technique. So he would definitely not use snow as the primer.
“Swish…! Swish…! Swish…!”
Xiao Chen’s saber intent inadvertently gathered all the fallen leaves in the courtyard into a ball in midair.
When he sheathed his saber, the ball of dead leaves immediately exploded.
The remnant saber intent lingered on the fallen leaves. They burst into frost, creating thousands of small holes in the surrounding ground.
The First Elder, Jiang Chi, happened to walked in just then. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, dull explosions came from the ground.
A great deal of sharp saber intent under the solid ground suddenly stirred up and worked together.
“Bang!” Right before the shocked eyes of the First Elder and his group, the ground of the courtyard exploded. A large cloud of dirt rose into the air.
The countless dead leaves hidden in the cloud of dust spun around and a drizzling of saber intent spread out. This made the saber in Jiang Chi’s hand buzz, vibrating without end.
“It really is saber intent!” First Elder Jiang Chi exclaimed. He gripped his vibrating weapon tightly as he watched the spinning leaves.
Jiang Chi had advanced to half-step Martial Monarch many years ago. Even by relying on the vast resources of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, he could not break through to Martial Monarch. Perhaps he no longer had hope of advancing to Martial Monarch.
However, despite being a half-step Martial Monarch, by relying on the vast resources to temper him, Jiang Chi was almost unrivaled.
If Xiao Chen had not comprehended saber intent, Jiang Chi had an eighty percent chance of defeating Xiao Chen. Now that Xiao Chen already comprehended saber intent, Jiang Chi did not even have a sixty percent chance of victory.
Something like saber intent was not reliant on cultivation realm. Instead, it only depended on comprehension. Some people might be able to reach Martial Sage but never be able to comprehend saber intent. Then, there were some who comprehended saber intent at Martial Saint.
Only by comprehending saber intent could a bladesman be called a true bladesman.
“First Elder!”
Xiao Chen leaped through the cloud of dust and arrived before Jiang Chi. He performed a cupped-fist salute and greeted Jiang Chi respectfully.
Xiao Chen felt a great deal of gratitude towards Jiang Chi, who had saved his life in the past. Even though he was now stronger than Jiang Chi, he was still very respectful of him.
Jiang Chi felt very satisfied when he saw Xiao Chen’s attitude. He carefully took Xiao Chen’s measure before sighing. “I’m old already. Two years ago, you were just a peak Martial Saint. However, in two years, you unexpectedly advanced to half-step Martial Monarch.
“Now, you are no weaker than me. Furthermore, you comprehended saber intent at such a young age. Your potential is immeasurable.”
Xiao Chen shook his head and said, “My saber intent is not worth mentioning; it has not even reached Small Perfection. If it had, the remnant saber intent on those fallen leaves earlier would have returned to my saber when I sheathed it.”
Indeed, when saber intent reached Small Perfection, it would be unleashed and pulled back as one wished. Xiao Chen was still far from that.
The First Elder, Jiang Chi, smiled slightly. Then, he chatted with Xiao Chen for a while. He cleverly did not mention the oath Xiao Chen had sworn.
“Xiao Chen, my purpose in coming here this time is because I have a presumptuous request. Can you represent the Heavenly Saber Pavilion in the Five Nation Youth Competition?”
After dragging the conversation out for a while, Jiang Chi finally stated his purpose.
The Heavenly Saber Pavilion also had a branch in Desolate City, although it was not as big as the other sects.
Thus, unlike the other disciples of the sect, Jiang Chi, as the First Elder, was aware of what happened after Xiao Chen left.
Jiang Chi was well-informed about Xiao Chen’s exploits in the Ancient Desolate Land; he knew that Xiao Chen was not inferior to the geniuses of the Great Jin Nation.
With Xiao Chen’s strength, he should not have any problems with entering the top fifty. If such a person was willing to fight for the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, it would bring them immeasurable benefits.
Xiao Chen thought for a while and made a decision. He nodded and said, “I’ll be pleased to do so. After all, I was from the Heavenly Saber Pavilion and First Elder had saved my life once. Since you regard me so highly, then I, Xiao Chen, will definitely do my best.”
When Xiao Chen answered so straightforwardly, Jiang Chi was stunned. It took him awhile to react. He smiled and said, “Good! Good! Good! Your sincere heart has not changed. Rest assured. While we, the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, cannot compare to those rich and powerful sects, the amount of resources we can provide you will be no less.”
Jiang Chi had laughed loudly and said good thrice. Clearly, he was in a good mood.
On the second day, Jiang Chi sent over three boxes. The first box had ten thousand Inferior Grade Spirit Stones. The second box contained ten thousand Medial Grade Spirit Stones.
When Xiao Chen opened the third box, a vast amount of Spiritual Energy immediately poured out. Unexpectedly, that box was filled with Superior Grade Spirit Stones. Furthermore, there were ten thousand of them.
Even Xiao Chen felt shocked. He was aware of the bottom line of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion. They bled themselves dry in taking out these ten thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and put away all these Spirit Stones. Although there were not a lot of resources, it was like delivering coal in snowy weather.
[TL note: Delivering coal in snowy weather means to provide help in the hour of need.]
Now, Xiao Chen was truly broke. He had spent all his resources in the Boundless Sea and was in urgent need of more.
However, Inferior Grade Spirit Stones and Medial Grade Spirit Stones were already useless to Xiao Chen. So he passed them all to Liu Ruyue at night.
Accepting these Spirit Stones meant that Xiao Chen could no longer regret his decision. Thus, after another day passed, the news that he would represent the Heavenly Saber Pavilion in the upcoming Five Nation Youth Competition spread.
Jiang Chi had manipulated the dissemination of this news on purpose. It spread throughout the entire Heavenly Saber Pavilion. When the disciples heard it, they all became very excited.
They had not expected that Xiao Chen, who had been forced out of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, would come back to help them.
Xiao Chen spent his days on Qingyun Peak, adjusting his mental state. During the day, he would keep himself relaxed and carefree, accompanying Liu Ruyue. Occasionally, he would help instruct the juniors of Qingyun Peak.
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, Xiao Chen had already been on Qingyun Peak for about a month. On this day, something major happened. Even Jiang Chi was startled.
The previous top genius, Murong Chong, returned as well.
The Five Nation Youth Competition was only a few months away. Furthermore, there was a possibility that the gates to the upper realms might be opened in the upcoming Five Nation Youth Competition.
There would not only be the geniuses of the five Great Nations—the Great Jin, Chu, Tang, Xia, and Qin Nations—there would also be those from the Ancient Desolate Land, the vast Boundless Sea, and the four barbarian tribes.
All the genius cultivators under this starry sky would be participating. This Five Nation Youth Competition would be an unprecedented grand occasion.
After this, the budding era of geniuses might no longer be budding; the era of geniuses might officially have opened.
All conflicts before this would be wiped away. Not only was this the chance for cultivators to stand out, it was also an opportunity for the various sects and powers.
At this crucial moment, Murong Chong returned as well. Naturally, the leaders of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion were very grateful.
Back then, Murong Chong had been titled the number one genius of Xihe Province. No one surpassed him. Three years ago, he was already a Superior Grade Martial Saint. However, because he lost to Xiao Chen, he went far away for experiential training.