Battle Sword Sect

Battle Sword Sect...

As the old man's departure became evident, Qin Wentian finally breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but ponder the peculiar temperament of that powerful stranger. Indeed, the old man was exceptionally strong, and his little trick of reverse psychology had surprisingly worked. His bold speech at the end was partly intended to provoke the old man into leaving and partly a reflection of his own self-confidence – he genuinely believed in what he had said.

From the beginning of his cultivation journey until now, Qin Wentian had yet to encounter anyone whose astral souls surpassed his own. On the same level, he had never encountered an opponent who could stand on equal footing with him.

While he couldn't claim that there would never be a peerless talent like him in the world, he held unwavering confidence in his abilities. This was his conviction.

Refusing to let this encounter disturb his state of mind, Qin Wentian resumed his halberd practice. Despite the earlier shock, he wouldn't allow anything to disrupt his cultivation. Currently, he was at the peak of the third level, with all his Mandates at the Transformation Boundary of the second level. Moreover, he sensed that he wasn't far from reaching the fourth level. Cultivation could be a tedious and monotonous endeavor, but with a resolute heart, even the most arduous tasks could be pursued with unwavering passion.

Unbeknownst to Qin Wentian, even though the old man had vanished from his sight, he hadn't truly left the vicinity. Far away, he sat atop a snowy mountain peak, closely observing every move Qin Wentian made.

"At first, I had something important on my agenda, but who would've thought I'd encounter such an intriguing young fellow along the way? Ignorant and audacious, attempting to provoke me? I'm curious to see the extent of your abilities," the old man muttered to himself, a sense of frustration tainting his thoughts. The youngsters accompanying him remained silent, sharing in his despondence. That white-clad youth had actually... The number of cultivators who aspired to be disciples under their sect ancestor was practically incalculable, yet this young man had unceremoniously rejected him without a second thought!

Their sect ancestor had a peculiar temperament – despite his age, he possessed a youthful and carefree spirit, doing as he pleased and caring little about how others perceived him. He followed his own desires, accountable to no one but himself.

However, today, he had been met with vehement words and rejected by a junior. When had their sect ancestor ever faced such rejection before?

This peculiar episode lasted for a full thirty days. The old man observed many things during this time, things he had never witnessed before. Although watching others cultivate was even more tedious and uneventful than cultivation itself, the old man sat there in silence, devoid of complaints.

During these thirty days, he witnessed the profound bond between the young man and his demonic beast. The genuine warmth was evident in the young man's smile. He also saw how significant the young man was to the beautiful lady. Despite her own cultivation efforts, her unwavering attention was always directed towards the young man. Such a degree of protectiveness left the old man slightly astounded. Just who was this young man, and how had he managed to earn the devotion of such a stunning maiden?

He saw determination and unwavering resolve.

Each halberd strike, every sword slash bore the young man's unyielding spirit. He could continue tirelessly, as if fatigue were a foreign concept.

Every time the young man encountered failure during his breakthrough attempts, he displayed no signs of dejection. Instead, he gritted his teeth and began anew, undeterred.

He had no knowledge of who this young man was or what experiences had shaped him. However, his unyielding character and persistence gradually weighed on the old man's mind.

Throughout his life, the old man had encountered countless individuals. When he assessed someone, he didn't solely consider their talent. Back when he had declared that this world was governed by strength to Qin Wentian, it was a test of character. He wanted to gauge Qin Wentian's response, and ultimately, Qin Wentian's words had intrigued rather than angered him. It was because Qin Wentian's words were in harmony with his true nature. If not, regardless of Qin Wentian's talent, he wouldn't have bothered to invest so much time observing this intriguing young man.

The reason he had spent a full month atop the snowy peak was simple – he wanted to see the real essence of Qin Wentian.

Over this month, although the actions of the white-clad young man appeared exceedingly simple, involving nothing more than relentless cultivation and repetitive halberd practice, they resonated deeply within the old man's heart. Performing a movement a hundred times, or even a thousand times, was no great feat. Ten thousand repetitions of the same motion could be considered dedication. But what if a person persisted in repeating a single movement over a hundred thousand times, moving on to the next stance only after achieving perfection? Such unwavering determination, combined with his inherent talent, indicated that even if the young man didn't aspire to greatness, he would undoubtedly achieve it.

Despite the young man's seemingly arrogant words, the old man could discern the authenticity behind them. His arrogance was underpinned by genuine talent and relentless effort.

"This young one is truly a promising talent," the old man remarked, his eyes gleaming briefly before he closed them, returning to a state of contemplative silence.

Meanwhile, in a distant region far removed from Xuan King City, where experts were as numerous as clouds, an ultimate power known as the Royal Sacred Sect held sway.

The origins of the Royal Sacred Sect stretched back into the annals of history, controlling a vast territory encompassing the nine great sects and three empires. Gifted individuals from these regions were dispatched to the Royal Sacred Sect, where they would undergo rigorous trials and experiences, their brilliance gradually polished until they emerged as leaders within the sect, provided they survived.

Beneath the Royal Sacred Sect were the nine great sects and the three royal empires of Grand Xia, Grand Shang, and Grand Zhou. Among the nine great sects, the Battle Sword Sect stood out as one of the most peculiar. Not only that, but it also boasted the fewest number of experts.

Hence, there was a saying: Among the nine great sects, the Battle Sword Sect may have appeared to be in decline, but no one had ever dared to underestimate them. While their numbers were few, they produced world-shaking geniuses every few years. The personalities of their members were wild and untamed, like free-spirited swordsmen wandering the world beneath the heavens. Despite their small numbers, no one dared to provoke them. Each member of the Battle Sword Sect possessed combat prowess that could rival several opponents of the same level.

Currently, in a grand building within the Battle Sword Sect, a group of exceptionally powerful experts had gathered. Their auras were extraordinary, and one glance was enough to discern their outstanding status. Although their expressions were solemn, they radiated deep respect. Every head was bowed reverently, as if they were in the presence of someone immensely important.

In reality, the object of their reverence was merely a statue. At present, a shimmering light screen appeared above the statue, displaying a scene to this group of esteemed experts.

"Master, you have extended your will quite far. Do you have something important to convey?" The man leading the group possessed a countenance as sharp as a sword. He respectfully addressed the statue. The person currently utilizing this statue was none other than their master, who had long chosen to wander the Royal Sacred Region, doing as he pleased. Normally, meeting him was a rare occurrence; even he, a personal disciple, hadn't seen his master in many years.

Thus, the fact that his master was now actively using the statue to communicate with them indicated that something of the utmost importance was transpiring. Otherwise, with his master's character, he would never willingly squander so much time and effort conversing with a group of sect members.

The scene within the shimmering light screen became increasingly distinct. It featured none other than Qin Wentian, sitting cross-legged in meditation.

"This person is currently cultivating in the Heavenly Mountains outside Xuan King City. I want him to grow and mature within our Battle Sword Sect. In the future, when the Royal Sacred Sect recruits disciples, I want him to join them with my highest recommendation," declared the voice emanating from the statue. The words rendered everyone present silent as they stared at the projected image of the young man in white.

"We hear and shall obey Master's orders," the man leading the group declared, bowing to the statue and acknowledging the instructions.

"Remember, this matter is of utmost importance. Handle it with the utmost care," the statue admonished once more. The shock in the hearts of those present deepened. They understood their master's character well, so why was he investing so much effort and placing so much importance on this young man?

"Understood," replied the sect leader, who happened to be the man in the lead. He nodded resolutely as he added, "I will personally oversee this matter and ensure its success by any means necessary."

"One more thing," the statue continued, "Generate as much publicity and attention around your plans as possible. He must never discover my involvement. Ideally, he should willingly choose to join us." The sect leader nodded once again, understanding the importance of secrecy.

"Alright, I have to get going," the voice declared, and as it faded, the radiance of the statue dimmed. A strange gleam filled the eyes of everyone present, particularly the sect leader. A fleeting expression of confusion crossed his face as he struggled to comprehend why his master was going to such great lengths for a young man.

After a while, the sect leader led the others out of the grand hall and promptly issued a notice, informing the nine great sects and the royal clan that the Battle Sword Sect intended to hold a disciple recruitment event in Xuan King City.

This announcement stirred up a significant commotion within the sect. It marked the first time the Battle Sword Sect had ever organized such an event, actively seeking to recruit disciples. In the past, prospective disciples had always sought out the sect of their own accord; the Battle Sword Sect had never actively recruited individuals to bolster their power. The sect's members were known for their free-spirited and unconventional natures, doing as they pleased without concerning themselves with the opinions of others.

Thus, when the notice was disseminated, everyone was greatly surprised. Why had the sect leader made such an unusual decision?

However, since the sect leader had made up his mind, the sect's members could only ensure that his orders were carried out to the letter.

Unbeknownst to Qin Wentian, a storm of commotion was brewing in Xuan King City due to his mere presence. Likewise, when the news eventually reached the city, no one could have anticipated that the young man in white cultivating in the mountains was the catalyst for this recruitment event.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian continued to fervently absorb astral energy. His Yuanfu throbbed, and his astral novas emitted a resonating hum. Vigorous waves of energy surged from him, intensely powerful. He was on the brink of a breakthrough.

This intense scene persisted for half a day until the earth quaked with a series of rumbles. Qin Wentian's bone structure and meridians underwent further refinement, his Yuanfu expanded, and his astral nova became even more radiant. At this moment, he finally stepped into the fourth level of Heavenly Dipper.

Opening his eyes, a radiant smile graced the face of the young man in white.

The celestial maiden guarding him atop the snowy peak also smiled.

Far away, in a location hidden from Qin Wentian's view, the old man finally rose to his feet.

"Ah, the cocky brat thinks he can slip through my fingers? Well, let's see how much of a ruckus he can stir up first," the old man chuckled. But in the next moment, his expression shifted dramatically. "Blast it, I've wasted too much time here."

With those words, he transformed into a gust of wind, whisking himself and the youngsters away in an instant. His speed was so astonishing that it seemed as if he had never been in that place at all.