Chapter 7: Delusional Fantasies?
In front of the Sword Pavilion, besides Jian Wushuang and Jian Lin, there were a large number of Sword Pavilion disciples present. They had all witnessed the scene just now, and each of them looked somewhat dazed.
"He actually forced Jian Lin back? How is that possible?"
"Jian Lin is at the peak of the sixth level of the Spirit Dao Realm. Even though he wasn't using his full strength just now, an ordinary person still couldn't have withstood him, let alone forced him back!"
"The third level—the cultivation of the third level of the Spirit Dao Realm!"
"This Jian Wushuang, he's actually condensed spiritual power and become a martial artist? And he's already reached the third level of the Spirit Dao Realm?"
Stunned. These Sword Pavilion disciples were all deeply shaken.
One must know that just ten days ago, Jian Wushuang had truly not yet condensed any spiritual power. But now, in a mere ten days, he had not only condensed spiritual power, but had also leapt straight to the third level of the Spirit Dao Realm.
Ten days—from becoming a martial artist to breaking through repeatedly and reaching the third level of the Spirit Dao Realm?
What kind of concept was that?
What they didn't know was that Jian Wushuang, who cultivated the Great Heavenly Creation Art, simply could not be judged by ordinary standards.
He was a reverse cultivator—one who defied the heavens by nature!
Ten days ago, although he had only just condensed his spiritual power, the Great Heavenly Creation Art was inherently faster in cultivation speed than ordinary methods. More importantly, he had been cultivating frantically inside the Human-Level cultivation chamber. Cultivating there, one day of Jian Wushuang's training equaled dozens of days for an ordinary person. Over ten days, he had broken through directly from the first heaven of the Divine Dao to the third heaven of the Divine Dao!
Of course, at present he had only just broken through to the third heaven. As for why Jian Lin believed him to be at the peak of the third level of the Spirit Dao Realm, it was because those who cultivated the Great Heavenly Creation Art possessed strength inherently greater than that of their peers at the same level.
"Young man, I'll admit it—I underestimated you. I never thought the day would come when you'd condense spiritual power. But it doesn't matter. You're merely at the third level of the Spirit Dao Realm. In front of me, you're still trash." Jian Lin stared at Jian Wushuang as surges of thick spiritual power rose from his palms—clearly, Jian Lin was now going all out.
Jian Wushuang's pupils contracted. The cultivation of a peak sixth-level Spirit Dao Realm expert was, no matter what, not something he could withstand at his current level.
At that very moment...
"What are you doing?" A low shout rang out, and then Elder Hong, dressed in a gray robe, walked out from within the Sword Pavilion.
"Elder Hong." The many Sword Pavilion disciples around hastily bowed respectfully.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Jian Lin's expression immediately changed. The powerful spiritual aura that had just surged from his body instantly withdrew, and he too bowed to the newcomer, calling out: "Elder Hong."
"Hmph." Elder Hong glanced at Jian Lin and snorted coldly. "You're Jian Lin, right? Peak of the sixth level of the Spirit Dao Realm—that's indeed rather good among disciples of your generation. But relying on your slightly higher cultivation, you come flaunting your power at the gates of my Sword Pavilion? Do you really think my Sword Pavilion can't deal with you?"
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Jian Lin shook his head hurriedly, cold sweat instantly beading down.
He knew very well that while the Sword Pavilion's standing in the Sword Marquis Manor had plummeted, the four great elders of the Sword Pavilion were all experts at the Sea Transformation stage, each one a pillar of the manor. This Elder Hong before him, in particular, ranked absolutely within the top three of the entire Sword Marquis Manor in terms of strength. Faced with such an expert, no matter how proud Jian Lin was, he dared not show anything but reverence.
"Get lost already." Elder Hong barked.
"Yes." Jian Lin agreed readily, but as he left, he shot Jian Wushuang a glance and said with a cold sneer: "Jian Wushuang, I heard that on the day Meng'er was appointed the new Pavilion Master, you went to see her, and shamelessly declared that in two months' time—at the annual Sword Marquis Token Tournament—you would challenge her face to face?"
Everyone around was stunned. They had only just heard of this matter, and for a moment, all eyes turned to Jian Wushuang.
In two months, Jian Wushuang was going to challenge Jian Meng'er?
What kind of joke was this?
"There are many stupid, arrogant people in this world, but this is the first time I've seen anyone as stupid and arrogant as you. A mere third-level Spirit Dao Realm cultivator like you thinks he'll defeat Meng'er—someone who has already reached the Great Completion of Sea Transformation—in a head-on fight in two months? Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter!" Jian Lin walked straight off, but his unbridled sneering echoed and reverberated before the gates of the Sword Pavilion.
Jian Wushuang stood where he was, his expression indifferent. Countless gazes fell upon him—gazes full of sighs and lament, and many of them, just like Jian Lin's, brimming with mockery and disdain.
Even Elder Hong looked at Jian Wushuang with rather complicated feelings.
In two months, challenging Jian Meng'er?
Based on Jian Wushuang's current third-level Spirit Dao Realm cultivation?
These Sword Pavilion disciples all believed Jian Wushuang was indulging in delusional fantasies.
After Jian Lin left, Elder Hong gave Jian Wushuang a meaningful look, and the two of them promptly went to the inner hall of the Sword Pavilion.
"Young Pavilion Master, congratulations. After four years of effort, you've finally become a true martial artist." Elder Hong smiled first. He had seen everything that happened outside the Sword Pavilion, and had naturally witnessed the scene of Jian Wushuang forcing Jian Lin back.
"Mm. But merely becoming a martial artist isn't enough." Jian Wushuang said in a low voice.
Elder Hong looked at Jian Wushuang solemnly and asked: "Young Pavilion Master, at the Sword Marquis Token Tournament, do you truly intend to fight that Jian Meng'er?"
"Yes. That battle is unavoidable." Jian Wushuang said firmly.
Hearing this, Elder Hong secretly shook his head. "Young Pavilion Master, you should know that the further one progresses in a martial artist's cultivation, the harder each breakthrough becomes, and the more time it requires. In a mere two months... As far as I know, the greatest rate of progress achieved within two months in the entire Sword Marquis Manor belongs to the Pavilion Master—your father!"
"In his youth, the Pavilion Master spent two months breaking through directly from the second level of the Spirit Dao Realm to the sixth level of the Spirit Dao Realm—a breakthrough of four consecutive levels. That was the most heaven-defying feat. And the reason he achieved it: first, the Pavilion Master's cultivation talent was extremely high; second, he had the support of large quantities of pills from the Sword Marquis Manor; and most importantly, during those two months, the Pavilion Master stayed inside the Life-and-Death Arena, participating in life-and-death battles almost every day. Only by experiencing life and death through those deadly combats was his rate of progress so astonishing!"
"And yet even the Pavilion Master only broke through from the second level of the Spirit Dao Realm to the sixth level of the Spirit Dao Realm." Elder Hong stared at Jian Wushuang.
But Jian Wushuang's heart was not shaken in the slightest.
Of course he knew what Elder Hong meant. His father had spent two months breaking through from the second level of the Spirit Dao Realm to the sixth level—something already beyond belief. But what he intended to do now was far more difficult still.
"Jian Meng'er has long since reached the Great Completion of Sea Transformation. I must at least reach the seventh heaven of the Divine Dao. Only then, relying on the miraculous power of the Great Heavenly Creation Art, my sword arts, and the secret technique Heaven Seizing, will I have any hope of fighting her on even terms!"
"And from the third heaven of the Divine Dao to the seventh heaven of the Divine Dao—although it is likewise a breakthrough of four levels, it will be no less than ten times harder than going from the second level of the Spirit Dao Realm to the sixth level of the Spirit Dao Realm!"
"But... I am a reverse cultivator to begin with. My every step defies the heavens; my every step is different from the common path!"
"What others cannot do—I, Jian Wushuang, may yet accomplish!"
Jian Wushuang had already made up his mind, and his gaze grew ever more resolute.
Seeing this, Elder Hong couldn't help but ask: "You truly want to try?"
"Of course. Not only will I try—in two months, I must defeat her." A shocking fierceness burst forth in Jian Wushuang's eyes.
"Very well. Since that's the case, I'll say no more. I have an item here that may be of help to you." Elder Hong took a jade box from his robes and opened it. Inside the jade box lay two milky-white pills.