Chapter Thirty-Six: The Wind Rises and Clouds Gather

  Taiyi County, Taishi Mountain.

  Xu Qingcheng is in seclusion, as the first seed of this First Martial Arts Conference. Xu Qingcheng doesn't care about the preliminary round now, she only has one goal: to be in seclusion, cultivate and break through. She wants to stand at the peak with her best state, looking down on all geniuses.

  As the Holy Maiden of Taiyi Sect, she entered Tian Shen Academy and from young to old, Xu Qingcheng was always the first. But only after proving herself in the First Martial Arts Assembly would she truly be the first. So this time, she couldn't afford to lose.

  But Xu Jingcheng's closed door was interrupted, and the one who interrupted her was Taiyi Sect Master, her father, Xuchong Yi, known as the number one master in the mortal world.

  Lin Hu participated in the First Martial Arts Assembly.

  A few brief words and Xu Zhongyi knew that Xu Qingcheng understood his meaning.

  Xu Qingcheng's eyebrows rose, her elegant demeanor was refreshing, and she was extremely confident. "I know him. An alternative way to become a saint, now he has already obtained the position of Great Saint."

  "Not bad. Lin Xuan's one step to the sky, with a vast and profound background, I also can't see clearly. Although it is said that his One Body Six Paths are not yet complete, he is a pseudo-sage. But in any case, he has already attained sagehood. You are no match for him."

  Xu Qingcheng bit her lip, somewhat unwilling to accept it, and looked at Xu Zhongyi.

  "I'm giving you the Tai Shi Bell. With it, you'll be able to withstand the pressure of the sacred position and fight him head-on." Xu Zhong snapped his fingers, and a bronze bell appeared in mid-air, its surface adorned with intricate carvings of the Three Thousand Worlds, while the interior was engraved with the two characters "Tai Shi". The bell let out a soft clang as it swayed gently, causing Xu Qingcheng's entire body to tremble. Various epiphanies rose up in his mind, like a sudden enlightenment, and he made a significant breakthrough.

  Tai Shi Zhong Sheng Guang Yi Yan, Cong Xu Qing Cheng Tou Ding Zuan Ru, Zai Wu Sheng Xi.

  Xu Qingcheng remained silent, standing upright with a straight body, lost in contemplation, slender and elegant, like a goddess descending into the world.

  As if they had a telepathic connection, it was almost simultaneous.

  Two hundred candidates, many of whom are arrogant and unparalleled geniuses, have received divine artifacts and treasures from their masters. A flame has ignited in everyone's eyes, and their battle intent is soaring to the sky.

  Yu Tian stood expressionless outside the White Jade Capital, for three days and three nights, he didn't sleep or rest, completing each day's preliminary matches at the fastest speed possible, the remaining time was used to rush on the road, with the goal of reaching the White Jade Capital.

  Because Yuan Tiangao knew he could definitely make it to the finals and compete for a spot in the top 32. No, being among the top 32 was far from enough, his goal had always been just one - first place, championship.

  Can't be called a hero among peers, sweeping across the generation, what makes him worthy of fighting against Yuan Zhan who has been standing on the throne for thousands of years.

  With an expressionless face, he walked into the White Jade Capital. Suddenly, Yu Tian's complexion changed and the voice of the original war sounded in his heart.

  "I've got some good news for you. This martial arts tournament is going to have a guy who's obtained the Sacred Rank participating."

  Yu Tian's face was calm, his fists clenched tightly, his voice cold and stern, "What of it?"

  "Haha. This is the true son of my original war. Go ahead, defeat him, crush him. He's just a pseudo-saint, with an incomplete Six Paths technique. If you can't even beat him, I'll be very disappointed."

  "Haha. Xu Zhongyi and his gang of commoners, who dare to call themselves great saints, actually bestowed divine artifacts on their disciples. But I won't fight you. If you can't even beat a fake saint, what makes you think you can take me on?"

  The loud laughter faded away from Yuantian Geng's mind, his expression unchanged as he continued forward. "A fake saint? How nice, let me see the tricks of a saint. I will keep winning, including against you."

  Blade Boundary, Sealing Blade Mountain.

  Feng Dao is in seclusion.

  Suddenly, the sword was sheathed and a blaze of flames erupted in the mountains, triggering the Guardian Mountain Array. Heavenly fire descended upon the world, while earthly fire surged forth, as if to destroy everything. A figure with an untamed aura appeared in mid-air, its body engulfed in flames that transformed in multiple ways. In the blink of an eye, there were Red Lotus Karma Fire, Great Sage Holy Fire, Heavenly Tribulation Thunderfire, Nine Underworld Earthfire, Mahāyāna Heavenly Fire, Doomsday Catastrophe Fire, Crimson Radiant Fire, and Dark Phantom Black Fire rising up, transforming.

  If anyone saw it, they would surely be shocked to the extreme. Each of these flames is unparalleled in the world, only one level lower than the legendary Nine-Colored Divine Flame and Seven-Colored Sacred Flame. Obtaining any one of them can make one a king or overlord, sweeping across the land and achieving great things.

  But now they have all been refined and can change at will.

  "Sheathe your sword. I heard that the Mortal Realm has produced a False Saint. How interesting. It will be delightful to hunt and kill them. Haha, my Ten Fire Divine Technique is now complete, and I was worried that I wouldn't find an opponent worthy of me. Hand over your Seed quota to me."

  "Ten Fire Ao Ren. If you want the seed quota, come and take it yourself." Sealing Sword Horizontal Sword in hand, he raised his head, with each word like a knife, tearing through the void, appearing before Ten Fire Ao Ren.

  Shi Huao's expression solidified as he carefully examined the words that seemed to have been born from thin air, each one domineering and unparalleled, containing a strong and overbearing knife intent.

  Shi Huo Ao Ren nodded slightly and turned around to leave, "Your sword intent is already complete. If we were to fight, both of us would suffer injuries. It's not worth it."

  "This is Mount Jian, the mountain where I sheathe my sword. How can you come and go as you please? You think you can just leave?" Jian's tone was cold and overbearing, his words a sharp blade cutting down the retreating figure of Shi Huo.

  This knife, silent and soundless, seemed to cut through the air like a gentle breeze, yet it was as if ripples spread across the surface of a lake, soft and light, but suddenly bursting forth with ferocity, like a raging mountain torrent, instantly tearing apart the Tenka's arrogant defense, the blade not stopping until it had killed its target.

  Ten fires burst forth, each step igniting flames. The Red Lotus Industry Fire, the Great Sage Creation Fire, the Heavenly Tribulation Thunder Fire, the Nine Underworld Earth Fire, the Sun Heaven Fire, the Doomsday Catastrophe Fire, the Crimson Light Illuminating Fire, and the Dark Abyss Black Flame one by one rose up to block this sword, while he himself was like a startled swan, disappearing without a trace.

  The sword's edge was expressionless, with a drop of fresh blood on its tip, which suddenly ignited into flames and melted the sword's tip.

  This knife, Shi Huao Ren left a drop of blood, and also damaged the knife in his hand.

  But they share the autumn colors equally, without distinguishing between the strong and the weak.

  With a reverse grip and one slash, the sword was cut off directly. The severed sword was casually tossed to the foot of the mountain, where it split open a terrifying seam with a single slash. Returning to his closed quarters, he stretched out his hand and grasped a plain, unremarkable but enormous knife that appeared in his hand, as large as a door plank.

  This is Tiān Dāo, the legendary knife of the Knife God that shattered the void and was used in the battle that made him a god.

  The knife is now in the hands of the one who sheathes it.

  With his sword across his knees, he continues to meditate in seclusion. What false sages, what geniuses of the Ten Realms, have anything to do with him? He only believes in his own sword. With one sword in hand, who can stop him? No one can stop him!

  Human Realm Sword Pavilion

  "The winds rise and clouds gather, it's a world of great turmoil. Tian Jian Hou. You come with me."

  Tianjian Hou followed respectfully behind Jian Ge's leader and soon saw a sword.

  A sword that doesn't seem to be from the mortal world. This sword is about 7-8 feet long, without a blade, and it's more like an iron rod with a hilt attached to it than a sword. It's stuck in the stone wall behind the Palm Teachings Hall, as if it grew out of the stone itself.

  A bloodline connection rose from Tianjian Hou's heart, and he couldn't help but say, "This is my sword."

  "Not bad." Jian Ge Zhang Jiao nodded, looking at Tian Jian Hou, "That day you came with this sword, the Heavenly Sword is unpointed. Because when Heaven wants to kill someone, why would it need a point? Go, take back your sword. Take back your honor."