Chapter 21: The Proud Daughter of Heaven
"Master." Jian Meng'er called out respectfully, and this single word "Master" fully revealed the relationship between her and the newcomer.
"Mm." Shui Hanxin gave a slight nod, her gaze turning toward the viewing stands. "I didn't expect Mr. Bai Chong to be here as well."
"Elder Shui, it's been many years. I trust you've been well." Bai Chong responded, though his tone was rather stiff.
"Haha, with Elder Shui of the Tianyuan Sword Sect gracing us with her presence, our Jianhou Manor is truly bathed in glory." Jian Xinhong rose to his feet with a face full of smiles, and the other several great figures on the viewing stands also rose one after another to welcome her.
The illustrious status of being an Elder of the Tianyuan Sword Sect compelled them to show humility. Only Bai Chong, his eyes flickering as he looked at Shui Hanxin, showed no intention of rising to greet her.
"You're all too kind." Shui Hanxin smiled faintly, then swept onto the high platform. The Jianhou Manor immediately prepared a seat for her, while the cold-faced young man following behind her quietly stood at her side.
"Elder Shui, is that little girl your disciple?" Bai Chong asked casually.
"That's right." Shui Hanxin nodded. "I accepted her as my personal disciple two years ago. The reason I've come this time is, in fact, to bring her back to the Tianyuan Sword Sect to cultivate."
"Personal disciple?"
"Bringing her to cultivate at the Tianyuan Sword Sect?"
Everyone on the viewing stands secretly drew in a cold breath.
That was the Tianyuan Sword Sect, after all. To be able to cultivate within a sect of that caliber, and moreover to be accepted as a personal disciple by an Elder—this destined Jian Meng'er to have a boundless future, never mind the fact that her talent was already so freakishly monstrous.
The training grounds also stirred into an uproar.
"The Tianyuan Sword Sect!"
"Jian Meng'er was actually accepted as a personal disciple by an Elder of the Tianyuan Sword Sect!"
"Jian Meng'er was already incomparably monstrous, and now she can even cultivate within the Tianyuan Sword Sect. Her future achievements will be immeasurable!"
"It seems that before long, another super powerhouse will emerge from our Jianhou Manor! One who will likely surpass even the Manor Lord!"
Countless gazes converged upon Jian Meng'er, making the already dazzling girl shine even more brilliantly.
Previously, Jian Meng'er's own talent had already left people in despair, and now, coupled with her identity as an Elder's disciple of the Tianyuan Sword Sect, she had become even more perfect. No one dared to question the heights she would reach in the future.
The true proud daughter of heaven.
"The Tianyuan Sword Sect?" Jian Wushuang's pupils contracted slightly, but he said nothing.
"Let today's competition begin." Jian Lan on the viewing stands declared, his face brimming with high spirits.
The annual Sword Hou Token competition had begun.
This competition consisted of two rounds in total. The first round tested martial techniques, while the second tested one's level of spiritual power cultivation.
Of course, this kind of contest was not a head-to-head duel; it was enough to simply display one's strongest martial technique and spiritual power cultivation on the stage.
"According to the order you all drew by lot, come forward one by one." Jian Lan's voice boomed. "First, Jian Lin!"
Everyone's attention on the training grounds immediately focused on Jian Lin.
"Jian Lin is first, yet I'm actually last." Jian Wushuang looked at the number thirty-eight he had just drawn. There were exactly thirty-eight young disciples participating in this competition, so he would be the last to take the stage.
Jian Lin, watched by everyone, took a deep breath and slowly walked forward.
"Display your strongest martial technique—or rather, the technique you believe yourself most skilled in and most proficient at." Jian Lan said.
"Yes." Jian Lin nodded, then immediately began to execute his martial technique.
"ROAR~~~"
Accompanied by a tiger's roar, a giant tiger formed entirely of condensed spiritual power lunged forth, pouncing toward the empty space ahead.
Tiger Roar Over Mountains and Rivers!
Jian Lin's most proficient and strongest move—incomparably swift and fierce, and extremely imposing when executed.
"How powerful!"
"What a savage strike!"
Exclamations of amazement rang out from around the training grounds.
"Hm, not bad. You may step down." Jian Lan glanced at Jian Lin, who was slowly withdrawing his technique, and gave the command.
Jian Lin nodded, then slowly walked back down under everyone's gazes. Along the way, his eyes couldn't help glancing at Jian Wushuang below, and upon seeing that Jian Wushuang still wore an expressionless face, the corner of his mouth couldn't help twitching.
He was rather satisfied with the technique he had displayed today, but a month ago, when he had used this technique against Jian Wushuang, it had been shattered by a single strike of Jian Wushuang's sword, so it had left a bit of a shadow in his heart.
"Next, Jian Qiu!"
……
One manor disciple after another stepped forward, displaying their proudest martial techniques before the crowd. Most of them performed sword techniques, and their swordsmanship was fairly decent—at the Lingdao level, such sword techniques could indeed be considered quite good—but they could hardly catch the eyes of those great figures on the viewing stands.
"Next, Jian Meng'er!"
When Jian Lan called out his own daughter's name, his voice deliberately became somewhat impassioned.
The entire training grounds immediately burst into commotion. Even the several great figures on the viewing stands immediately cast their gazes over. Everyone was filled with anticipation for this proud daughter of heaven.
Jian Meng'er, dressed in white robes, walked onto the high platform. She first bowed respectfully to those on the viewing stands, then began her sword technique demonstration.
Shwish!
The blade left its sheath, and a piercing sword hum slowly rippled out around the training grounds. This sword hum faintly carried a trace of baleful aura—that trace of baleful aura was inherent to the Three Kill Swords, the foremost killing sword of the manor.
Whoosh!
The sword light danced, yet it appeared exceedingly gentle, making one feel as if sinking deep into the vast sea.
"This is... the Stacking Waves Sword Art!"
As soon as Jian Meng'er's sword technique began, it was immediately recognized.
"Interesting. Of the eighteen first-rate sword arts of the Sword Pavilion, she chose to demonstrate this one. It seems she's quite confident?" The corner of Bai Chong's mouth curled up as he said with a smile.
"Mr. Bai Chong seems to be quite familiar with this sword art?" Shui Hanxin remarked casually.
"I know a fair amount about it, I suppose." Bai Chong said. "Although this Stacking Waves Sword Art is merely a first-rate sword art, if one can execute it to its completion, its power is comparable to even those rare supreme-grade sword arts."
"Oh?" The others on the viewing stands also grew interested.
"Jian Xinhong, you're the Lord of the Jianhou Manor. You should know this sword art better than anyone. Why don't you explain?" Bai Chong tossed the topic to Jian Xinhong.
"Haha, Mr. Bai Chong is correct." Jian Xinhong immediately began explaining. "Although this sword art is merely one of the eighteen first-rate sword arts of the Sword Pavilion, because the art itself is quite special, if it is truly executed to its completion, its power is indeed no less than those legendary supreme-grade sword arts."
"The Stacking Waves Sword Art is called 'Stacking Waves' precisely because it can continuously accumulate the power of the sword art as it is being executed. In the truest sense, this sword art actually consists of only a single move—the cleaving sword technique, a very simple downward slash.
But during the slashing process, the force continuously overlaps and stacks, which means that with each cleave, the power increases by a substantial margin. Accumulating in this manner, the power of the sword art naturally grows stronger and stronger, ultimately reaching a level comparable to a supreme-grade sword art."
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