# Chapter 19: Gatherings from All Sides
Jian Wushuang stared wide-eyed at everything around him. Tens of meters away, everything was lush and verdant, yet only within this radius of a few dozen meters around him was it as barren as a land of death.
At this moment, Jian Wushuang finally understood why the Spirit-Seizing Secret Art was called "Spirit-Seizing."
What is seizing spirit?
Seizing the spirit of heaven and earth! Seizing the spirit of all things! Seizing the spirit of creation!
He also finally knew what that impure yet peculiar force that had continuously poured into his body was—it was none other than the vitality of all living things around him. This Spirit-Seizing Secret Art was a domineering technique that seized the strength of the living things nearby and turned it to one's own use.
"This secret art is far too terrifying. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I must never use it again," Jian Wushuang warned himself inwardly.
Having tried it once, Jian Wushuang didn't dare attempt it a second time, instead continuing to study the steps for performing the technique. Three days later, by a small stream at the very center of Nine Wolves Mountain, Jian Wushuang scooped up a palmful of stream water and took a drink, then rose to his feet.
"The month's end is here. Only two days remain until the competition. It's time to head back." Jian Wushuang gazed up at the endless expanse of sky above and smiled faintly, then with an incredibly light leap, headed toward the Sword Marquis Manor.
……
At dawn, as the sky began to lighten.
At the Sword Marquis Manor, when the first rays of red light from the distant horizon shone upon the land, the entire manor immediately stirred. Large numbers of Sword Marquis Manor disciples and clan members surged out from every direction of the manor, gathering at the training field at its very center.
Not only the Sword Marquis Manor, but the various powers and families of the entire Ba Shui Commandery also sent their experts toward the manor.
Today was the Sword Marquis Manor's annual Sword Marquis Token Competition. The so-called Sword Marquis Token was actually just a title—the title of the foremost among the younger generation. However, since every powerful figure rose step by step from their youth, the Sword Marquis Manor placed great importance on cultivating its younger-generation disciples.
And for every Sword Marquis Token Competition, the manor would invite various powers and families to attend and observe. As the invitation came from the Sword Marquis Manor, recognized as the foremost power of Ba Shui Commandery, few powers dared refuse to show face, especially since this year's competition carried extraordinary significance.
By now, everyone in Ba Shui Commandery knew that a super genius seen only once in a century had emerged from the Sword Marquis Manor—only sixteen years of age, yet already at the peak of the Hua Hai stage, and his swordsmanship was equally unfathomable. At such a young age, he was about to take command of the Sword Pavilion, a position of tremendous standing within the manor. Each of these achievements filled the experts of Ba Shui Commandery's various powers with curiosity and anticipation toward this peerless genius.
And this peerless genius was naturally the Sword Marquis Manor's beloved daughter of the heavens—Jian Meng'er!
Today was the day Jian Meng'er would reveal her edge before the experts of the various powers. It would be her battle to make a name for herself. After today, she would formally take command of the Sword Pavilion and become a towering figure of the Sword Marquis Manor.
The vast training grounds were already packed with a sea of people. At the top of the field stood two high platforms—one was the arena where the competing disciples would display their strength, and the other was the viewing stand. Jian Xinhong, the current master of the Sword Marquis Manor, sat upon a chair, chatting casually with several other great figures seated beside him.
To be seated side by side with the master of the Sword Marquis Manor, these great figures naturally all had impressive backgrounds.
"Look—surely that's Situ Qingyue, the matriarch of the Situ Family?"
"That's Ye Xiu, the patriarch of the Ye Family. The Ye Family also focuses primarily on sword cultivation, though compared to our Sword Marquis Manor, they still fall a notch short."
"And that's Lord Bai Chong, the mysterious supervisor of the Life-and-Death Arena—he actually came as well?"
Large numbers of Sword Marquis Manor disciples around the training field were discussing in hushed voices, their gazes drifting now and then toward the viewing stand, looking at those great figures they rarely had the chance to see.
Though families like the Situ Family and the Ye Family ranked a notch below the Sword Marquis Manor in status and power within Ba Shui Commandery, they weren't far behind. As for the Life-and-Death Arena, it was an even greater colossus—it simply held too lofty a position to participate in such struggles. And Bai Chong, the supervisor of the Life-and-Death Arena, was someone even the Sword Marquis Manor's master, Jian Xinhong, had to treat with great care.
"Sir Bai Chong, I never expected you would attend this year's Sword Marquis Token Competition in person. In past years, I believe it was always a gold-robed steward sent by your Life-and-Death Arena who came to attend," Situ Qingyue said with a smile, her expression clearly carrying a hint of flattery.
"For Sir Bai Chong to personally attend our Sword Marquis Manor's competition, our manor is deeply honored," Jian Xinhong said.
"This year's competition is different from previous ones, so it's only natural for me to come personally. I'm also quite curious to see just how much of a genius that peerless talent of yours—the one who appears only once in a century—truly is," Bai Chong said with a smile.
"Rest assured, you won't be disappointed," Jian Xinhong replied with a smile, clearly full of confidence in Jian Meng'er.
"Is that so?" Bai Chong raised his brow and smiled mysteriously, but said nothing more, instead letting his gaze sweep across the training field. At a single glance, he spotted Jian Wushuang in a corner of the field, leaning against a wall with his eyes slightly closed. The corners of Bai Chong's mouth curled up slightly.
"That little fellow is quite composed, isn't he? I wonder if his strength has improved after his trip to Nine Wolves Mountain?"
Because of his friendship with Jian Nantian, Bai Chong had always paid considerable attention to Jian Wushuang. He had even personally decided to give Jian Wushuang the opportunity of the Innate Spirit Liquid in that pool—a clear sign of the care he had shown the boy.
And the fact that he attended this competition in person was, to a large extent, also because of Jian Wushuang.
"We're about ready. Let's begin," Jian Xinhong said from atop the platform.
Jian Lan, standing beside Jian Xinhong, gave a slight nod, then stepped forward to the very center of the platform. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a resonant voice: "All disciples who have obtained a place in the competition, come forward."
As the Grand Elder of the Blood Martial Hall, Jian Lan was the one presiding over this Sword Marquis Token Competition.
The moment Jian Lan's words spread, the entire training field broke into considerable commotion, and soon the young disciples who had cleared the fifth floor of the Trial Tower within the past month and earned a place in the competition filed out to the center of the field. At a glance, there were dozens of them—all geniuses of the Sword Marquis Manor, including Jian Wushuang himself.
At that very moment, a stunningly beautiful figure in white walked slowly forward.
In an instant, the gaze of everyone on the training field was drawn to her—not just the disciples on the field, but even the great figures on the viewing stand above all cast their eyes toward that white-robed figure.
Jian Meng'er—the Sword Marquis Manor's beloved daughter of the heavens, seen only once in a century, and the goddess in the hearts of countless disciples of the manor. Her beauty, her cultivation talent, even her talent in the sword—all were near perfection. Such perfection made one look up in admiration.