Unrivalled Stance

Unrivalled Stance...

"What does he want to do?" The question hung in the air as Qin Wentian's audacious actions left the onlookers in a state of shock.

Passing just one of the tests administered by the nine great sects was a remarkable achievement, and it caused ripples of amazement among the gathered crowd. These tests were notoriously challenging, designed to sift out all but the most exceptional talents. Yet, here stood Qin Wentian, who had nonchalantly breezed through two of them, as though they were mere child's play.

Dressed in black, the young man now strode confidently in the direction of the Violet Thunder Sect, fixing his gaze upon a statue within a lightning array.

"What a madman!" A bystander couldn't help but exclaim, "Is he planning to conquer all of the nine great sects' tests?"

Qin Wentian's actions were nothing short of astonishing. The expressions of the representatives of the six major powers darkened considerably. Their own demon-level geniuses struggled to pass a single test, yet Qin Wentian effortlessly surpassed them. It seemed almost poetic justice that their chosen disciples were outshone by him.

With a thunderous "BOOM," Qin Wentian stepped into the lightning array, and the statue within retaliated with a powerful punch. But Qin Wentian's expression remained unchanged as he pressed forward, taking five consecutive steps before letting out a faint groan of pain. The crowd marveled at his indomitable strength. Passing the tests of the nine great sects was no small feat, and the trial set by the Violet Thunder Sect was among the most formidable. Two more steps remained—the most challenging ones, as they unleashed the statue's most fearsome and devastating attacks.

Another earth-shattering "BOOM" resonated as Qin Wentian took the sixth step, clashing his sword technique with bolts of thunder. The resulting cacophony filled the air as shockwaves rippled out, engulfing him. Yet, his countenance remained as composed as ever. He took his seventh step, and at that moment, an overwhelming surge of killing intent swept over the surroundings.

The lightning statue punched out for the seventh time, its force colliding with Qin Wentian's storm of sword qi. Both attacks clashed fiercely, canceling each other's power. With a casual flick of his sleeves, Qin Wentian turned away from the test, as if the Violet Thunder Sect's trial was beneath him.

"He has already passed the tests of three great sects, such dominance!" someone exclaimed.

"This fellow's talent is absolutely terrifying. But haven't some disciples from the nine great sects already passed the Violet Thunder Sword-Drum Formation? Does he really intend to tackle the tests of the remaining six sects?"

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Qin Wentian seized the great axe provided by the Heaven Cleaving Manor and effortlessly cleaved through the array world. He passed the test in a truly domineering fashion, leaving everyone in awe of his prowess.

"What in the heavens is he planning now?" murmured a bystander, his eyes locked on Qin Wentian as he approached the test for the Divine Dragon Castle.

In a stunning transformation, Qin Wentian seemed to morph into a fearsome demon, slashing through phantom demonic dragons with brutal precision. The battleground was a chaotic spectacle of dragonfire and chaos, but Qin Wentian crushed them all. Finally, with an air of dominance, he shattered the formation and emerged victorious.

As he faced the test for the Blood Devil Palace, Qin Wentian could feel his blood bubbling with anticipation. He battled his way through a horde of devilish foes, channeling the power of his bloodline. It was as if his veins pulsed with ancestral strength. In the end, he sailed through the Blood Devil Palace's test with ease.

The crowd watched in disbelief as Qin Wentian took on the challenge of the Sky Poison Valley. It was as though he were immune to poison, handling the test with nonchalance and style. His confidence was infectious, and he breezed through this trial as well.

The test set by the Forgotten Immortal Tower was particularly daunting. Qin Wentian found himself in a world filled with countless heavenly beauties, a temptation that would have ensnared a lesser man in the web of desire. But Qin Wentian's heart had been forged in the fires of trials past. He had faced countless challenges in the royal tomb of Grand Xia, and the seductive illusions before him were no different than lifeless puppets. He remained steadfast, passing the test of the Forgotten Immortal Tower with flying colors. This marked his eighth consecutive success out of the nine tests designed by the great sects.

As he headed toward the Battle Sword Sect's test, the crowd held its breath. This test was known to probe the resoluteness of one's heart, with death as the consequence for the faint-hearted. Lin Shuai had made this clear when he introduced the challenge. However, Qin Wentian entered without hesitation, boldly advancing through a maze of sword lights. Millions upon millions of strands of sword qi pierced his body, yet his unwavering heart remained steadfast. With determination etched on his face, he took the final step, conquering the Battle Sword Sect's test.

The entire arena fell into a hushed silence. Qin Wentian had successfully conquered all nine tests set by the great sects, sending shockwaves rippling through the onlookers.

Before, those who had managed to pass just one of the great sects' tests were reveling in their accomplishments. But now, those feelings of self-satisfaction had evaporated into thin air. Compared to Qin Wentian's astounding feats, their achievements seemed insignificant.

"Is he completely insane?" Ji Xue muttered in astonishment, her eyes locked onto Qin Wentian. She had initially considered him audacious for daring to snatch all the constellation fruits right under the noses of the major powers' chosen disciples. Yet, his current actions transcended even her wildest expectations.

Xu Feng, his usually confident demeanor shattered, found himself in utter disbelief. He had always considered himself rather talented, but right now, he couldn't help but laugh at his own delusions. In the presence of individuals like Qin Wentian, he felt like a toddler trying to keep up with Olympic sprinters.

Even those who bore grudges against Qin Wentian were dumbfounded by his prowess. The faces of the experts from the six major powers of Xuan King City turned an ugly shade, their hearts brimming with increasing murderous intent.

Shang Yue's once haughty gaze froze as she locked onto Qin Wentian. She remembered their clash over the spatial brush. At that time, she had thought of him as a mere fool who didn't understand his place. How dare he challenge her for something she desired? Now, though, she felt nothing but shame for her past arrogance. This was a man who dared to point his halberd at Jun Yu, openly challenging the personal disciple of a Royal Sacred Sect elder. Everything Qin Wentian had done put her own bravery to shame.

Jun Yu's face twisted into a grotesque expression. He had tasted Qin Wentian's recklessness in Grand Xia, where Qin Wentian had been willing to sacrifice everything to execute a single stance of the Immortal Vanquishing Swordplay, which had ultimately led to the downfall of the Great Solar Chen Clan. But there was no room for hesitation when it came to mortal enemies. The more talented Qin Wentian was, the more imperative it became to end him. Jun Yu didn't want Qin Wentian to mature further and become a future threat.

Several experts from the nine great sects had maneuvered through the passageway formation, witnessing Qin Wentian's extraordinary strength firsthand. Yet, this didn't diminish their determination to acquire the Heaven Mending Pill. They knew they had to obtain it to enhance their chances of passing the Royal Sacred Sect's test and gaining membership.

They approached Qin Wentian cautiously, attempting to surround him rather than facing him one-on-one. The recent deaths of Shang Tong's three subordinates haunted their thoughts, making them unwilling to take any chances, even if it meant adopting a cowardly strategy. In this dire moment, their pride mattered little.

The leaders of most of the nine great sects felt a pang of regret deep within. They understood the extent of Qin Wentian's exceptional talent, and now they couldn't help but feel they had missed out on a rare gem. However, they couldn't dwell on this; they had no choice but to push forward. If they couldn't persuade him to join their ranks, then perhaps they would have to eliminate him. Failing that, if another great sect acquired this demon-level genius, Qin Wentian might evolve into a force capable of threatening them all.

In this situation, nine out of ten Qin Wentians would choose to join the Battle Sword Sect. After all, during his time of need, they were the only ones who had extended a helping hand.

Unperturbed by the approaching experts, Qin Wentian didn't even spare them a glance. After passing the Battle Sword Sect's test, he wore a playful smile as he directed his gaze at Lin Shuai. "I wonder, Junior, if my performance has satisfied the Battle Sword Sect enough for me to secure admission?"

The silence that followed was deafening, filling the entire space with an air of anticipation.

Without a doubt, Qin Wentian had made his choice—he was joining the Battle Sword Sect.

The experts from the Battle Sword Sect couldn't contain their smiles. Lin Shuai, in particular, wore a smile of satisfaction. His journey here had been solely for Qin Wentian. Even if Qin Wentian hadn't asked, Lin Shuai would have extended the offer. After all, Qin Wentian had already passed the Battle Sword Sect's test.

Lin Shuai recognized that Qin Wentian's decision to join their sect was a way of reciprocating the favor. That was why he had breezed through the tests of the other eight sects, displaying his talent for all to see and making it clear that he had chosen the Battle Sword Sect. As expected, the Battle Sword Sect instantly became the center of attention.

"Hmph, as expected," the lead representatives from the other eight great sects grumbled to themselves. Qin Wentian had indeed chosen the Battle Sword Sect. In that case, they felt justified in their own decisions.

"Naturally," Lin Shuai chuckled. He continued, "Now that you're a member of my Battle Sword Sect, I genuinely want to see who would dare to lay a finger on you."

"Killing so many innocents, he's nothing more than a crazed murderer. It's absurd for you to think he can leave here unscathed today. Lin Shuai, I'm afraid that even with you here, you won't be able to protect this brat," Jun Yu's icy voice interjected. There was no way they'd let Qin Wentian exit safely with the Battle Sword Sect.

"Though this young man is exceptional and has passed the Battle Sword Sect's test, the matter of him killing those innocents remains unresolved," an expert from the Violet Thunder Sect added, attempting to pressure Qin Wentian into staying.

"Killing innocents?" A cold grin spread across Lin Shuai's face. "Only those with thick skin and shameless hearts would dare to accuse him of such a thing. Are you suggesting he should have stood there and let those 'innocents' kill him at their whim?"

"Many sixth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns joined forces but still met their end at his hands. Now that you've mobilized disciples from the eight great sects to kill him, do you even have any honor left?" an old man from the Battle Sword Sect sneered, utterly exasperated by their actions.

"Hehe, no matter what, now that so many experts have taken the stage, they can't just disperse without a showdown, can they?" An expert from the Qinghua Mountain laughed, his words igniting a spark in Qin Wentian's eyes. It appeared that the Qinghua Mountain's lead representatives held a grudge after his two refusals to join them.

But at this precise moment, Qin Wentian's gaze shifted, his eyes widening with astonishment as they fixed on the direction of the Violet Thunder Sword-Drum Formation. A lone figure was making its way through the formation, moving toward him with measured steps.

"Qing`er." Qin Wentian's voice caught in his throat as he gazed at the approaching silhouette, which resembled the icy lotus perched on a snowy mountain.

Qing`er continued to walk forward until she stood beside Qin Wentian. Her presence drew the attention of most of the onlookers.

"What a stunning beauty."

"Why does she exude such an icy aura, like a goddess amidst a snowstorm? Where did she come from? Shang Yue from Xuan King City is undoubtedly beautiful, but when compared to this woman, it's like comparing the feeble light of a firefly to the radiant moon."

Many people found themselves entranced by Qing`er, their eyes unwilling to stray. Even the experts from the nine great sects were similarly captivated.

Shang Tong's golden eyes gleamed with admiration. The path of cultivation was long and challenging, and he had encountered countless beauties in his journey. He had never been one to pass up the opportunity to enjoy their company. It was why he had requested Shang Yue as his consort from the Xuan King's Manor. But now, as he laid eyes on Qing`er, he found himself losing interest in Shang Yue.

"Excuse me, miss. May I have the honor of learning your name? Would you consider joining my Shang Royal Clan?" Shang Tong couldn't help but be moved by her beauty. However, Qing`er didn't even spare him a glance, utterly ignoring his words.

Qin Wentian glanced at Shang Tong, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Then, he turned his attention to Qing`er and asked in a soft voice, "Why are you here?"

"I've come to assist you," Qing`er's melodious voice rang out. Her eyes, which had ensnared the souls of many, now bore a steely resolve as she stared at the experts closing in on Qin Wentian.

Stepping forward, Qing`er unleashed a formidable spatial storm that engulfed the entire battle stage. Those who had been advancing toward Qin Wentian suddenly felt their bodies restrained by an invisible force as the spatial storm swept over them. Their faces turned an ashen hue.

"Such power! How can she be this strong?"

The representatives of the nine great sects stood up, their eyes gleaming with sharpness. "Peak of the sixth level, yet her Mandate of Space has already reached the Perfection Boundary of the second level?"

Qin Wentian was equally astonished by Qing`er's strength. She was at the sixth level of Heavenly Dipper, and her Mandate of Space had reached Perfection. On this battlefield, she was an invincible force.

"Qinger." Qin Wentian's heart trembled. Qinger was a force to be reckoned with, both domineering and powerful!