Chapter 3: Swordsmanship Competition

Gao Hu let out an angry roar and swung his heavy sword for another fierce strike, but Lin Xuan remained calm and unhurried, evading Gao Hu's attacks with precision every time. Then, with a swift movement, he retaliated by striking at Gao Hu with his sword.

The spar between Lin Xuan and Gao Hu had entered a heated stage. Although Gao Hu's strength was immense, his heavy sword obviously slowed him down, while Lin Xuan, relying on his agile body movement and superb swordsmanship, gradually gained the upper hand on the stage. The disciples watching from below stared intently at the sword platform, and those who had previously underestimated Lin Xuan began to reconsider their earlier judgments.

"Clang!"

Another loud noise rang out as the blades collided. The moment Gao Hu's heavy sword met the Zixiao Sword, sparks flew. Lin Xuan used the momentum to retreat, his feet landing lightly and his breathing still steady, while Gao Hu, on the other hand, was clearly panting, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"This kid is actually holding on this long!" The disciples below murmured, many showing expressions of surprise.

Gao Hu could feel his strength gradually depleting, and his inner restlessness began to rise. Lin Xuan's swordsmanship was hard to predict; each strike carried a sharp edge, yet was also filled with agility. In comparison, his heavy sword seemed increasingly clumsy.

"No, I can't drag this out any longer!" Gao Hu thought anxiously, gritting his teeth as he tightly gripped the heavy sword. Suddenly, he gathered all his spiritual energy and launched a final strike at Lin Xuan. This blow was as powerful as thunder, as though it would tear the air apart, its momentum formidable.

Lin Xuan's expression grew serious when he saw the attack. He knew that this was Gao Hu's ultimate move, and if it hit, he would have no chance of surviving. He took a deep breath, his spiritual energy flowing through his entire body, and the Zixiao Sword in his hand emitted a faint glow. This was the resonance between his sword intent and the Zixiao Sword.

"Come on!" Lin Xuan whispered, bending his legs slightly, his body tensing like a leopard. He gripped the Zixiao Sword tightly and struck quickly and accurately. The sword light flashed as it met Gao Hu's heavy sword in mid-air.

"Boom!"

A tremendous collision sound rang out, deafening. The disciples below the stage felt a rush of air and quickly stepped back a few paces. The figures of the two combatants were enveloped in light, and no one could see the outcome.

As the light gradually dissipated, Lin Xuan stood firm, the Zixiao Sword held high, his breathing steady, while Gao Hu staggered back a few steps. The heavy sword in his hand had lost its shine, and he appeared extremely fatigued, his face pale.

"I... lost..." Gao Hu managed to say, his heavy sword falling to the ground with a dull thud. He then knelt on one knee, unable to stand.

A wave of astonishment erupted from the disciples below, all eyes were fixed on Lin Xuan. No one had expected that this seemingly one-sided duel would end with Lin Xuan's victory.

Lin Xuan sheathed his sword and walked over to Gao Hu, offering a hand to help him up. "You're not bad," he said softly. "But your heavy sword relies too much on power and neglects flexibility. If you improve your swordsmanship, you'll become even stronger."

Gao Hu panted heavily, nodding. Although he had lost, he no longer harbored any resentment towards Lin Xuan. Instead, he now admired him. He realized that this former unremarkable outer disciple was no longer the person others could mock.

After the spar, Lin Xuan's name began to spread among the outer disciples. Many realized that his swordsmanship was not a fluke but the result of long-term training and dedication.

Recruitment for the Inner Sect

After the competition, Lin Xuan's performance caught the attention of the sect elders. Soon, an elder from the inner sect sent a message, inviting Lin Xuan to participate in the inner sect's assessment. This was a great opportunity for outer disciples. If one passed the test and entered the inner sect, they would receive more resources and guidance, and their cultivation would progress rapidly.

Lin Xuan felt little emotional change in his heart. He understood that while entering the inner sect was important, the key to cultivation lay in one's own comprehension and perseverance. Though indifferent on the outside, he still accepted the invitation.

The inner sect of the Qingyun Sect was completely different from the outer sect. Outer disciples mostly gathered at the foot of the mountain, while the inner sect was located halfway up Qingyun Mountain. The spiritual energy there was much denser, and each disciple had a private cave dwelling for their cultivation. The treatment for inner disciples was far superior to that of outer disciples, which is why so many outer disciples yearned to join the inner sect every year.

The moment Lin Xuan stepped into the inner sect, he felt a wave of spiritual energy enveloping him. The entire area seemed to be shrouded in mist, and the clouds in the sky appeared purer than before. Everything contrasted sharply with the outer sect.

The inner sect elder was an old man named Mu Qing. His face was kind, but his deep eyes carried an unexplainable authority. Elder Mu Qing personally received Lin Xuan, observing him for a moment before nodding slightly. "You are Lin Xuan? Your performance was good. Being able to stand out in the outer sect competition shows that your swordsmanship has reached a certain level."

Lin Xuan cupped his hands in respect, "Thank you for the compliment, Elder. I am just doing my best."

Elder Mu Qing smiled and waved his hand. "Modesty is a good thing, but you needn't belittle yourself. Entering the inner sect is not easy. Every disciple must pass a rigorous test. Whether you can become an inner sect disciple depends on your comprehension and perseverance."

Lin Xuan nodded, but there was no sign of hesitation in his heart. He knew that he had come this far, and no matter how the test went, he would not give up easily.

The inner sect's test consisted of two parts: the test of cultivation and the test of swordsmanship comprehension. Elder Mu Qing led Lin Xuan to the inner sect's training grounds, where several inner sect disciples had already gathered. They were the examiners for this test.

"The rules of the test are simple. You just need to pass through this sword formation within the time limit," Elder Mu Qing said, pointing to a complex formation in the center of the arena. The formation emitted a strong sword intent, almost exuding a murderous aura.

Lin Xuan stared at the sword formation, feeling a hint of shock. This sword formation was clearly extraordinary. It was not just a simple test, but more like an ancient trial ground. Each sword light seemed to carry different variations, as if it were connected to the mysteries of the sword path in the world.

"I understand," Lin Xuan took a deep breath and nodded.

Elder Mu Qing smiled slightly, "Go ahead, and remember, the sword path relies on the mind. Do not let external distractions disturb you."

Lin Xuan stepped into the sword formation, and the air around him became heavy. The sword intent within the formation seemed to awaken instantly, pressing down on him with immense pressure.

The first sword light cut through the air, striking toward Lin Xuan. His eyes narrowed, and the Zixiao Sword unsheathed. In the blink of an eye, it blocked the sword light. He moved swiftly, evading the attacks in the formation while seizing the opportunity to strike back, severing the spiritual energy within the formation.

However, the sword formation's attacks grew increasingly intense. As Lin Xuan progressed further, the sword lights became even more bizarre and rapid, each containing a different mystery of the sword path. Lin Xuan's forehead began to sweat. He knew that the real test had just begun.

Just as he neared the center of the formation, a huge sword shadow fell from the sky, overwhelming and terrifying, as if it would tear apart the entire space. Lin Xuan could feel the power of this attack and realized the danger, but he did not retreat. Instead, he gathered all his spiritual energy and raised the Zixiao Sword above his head to meet the sword shadow.

"Boom!"

A huge explosion echoed, and the sword light scattered. Lin Xuan was sent stumbling back a few steps, blood trickling from his mouth. But he did not fall. Gritting his teeth, he held firm, his gaze as determined as ever.