63: Chapter 63 The Sword Test Begins

Qingyun City's grandest triennial event had finally arrived.

In the early morning, before the sky had even brightened, the city was already a boiling cauldron of activity.

On every main street leading to the "Trial Sword Platform" at the city center, crowds surged, shoulders rubbing against shoulders.

There were scions of great families dressed in brocade robes and surrounded by attendants, and there were dust-covered Loose Cultivators with sharp gazes.

There were also commoners there just to watch the excitement.

The cries of street vendors, the clamor of horses and carriages, and the greetings of acquaintances intertwined into a vast ocean of noise.

The Trial Sword Platform, located in the center of the massive square in front of the City Lord's Manor, was an ancient stone platform about thirty feet high and a hundred feet wide.

The stone platform was mottled and covered with the marks of slashes from sabers and swords, witnessing the rise and fall of countless generations of Qingyun City's children.

At this moment, high spectator stands had already been erected around the stone platform, divided into several areas.

To the north were the seats for the City Lord's Manor and the envoys of the Tianyun Sword Sect, offering the best view and under heavy guard.

To the east and west were the areas for the three great families: the Lin, Wang, and Ye Families.

Further out were the gathering places for other small and medium-sized forces and Loose Cultivators.

Ye Chen and his group were mixed in with the flow of people surging toward the square.

He did not travel with the main Lin Family group, still maintaining a low profile.

Xiao Yu had been entrusted by Lin Qingxue to a trustworthy Lin Family Nanny and was not brought along.

At this moment, only Lin Qingxue, Scarface, Lin Dong, Liu Yiyi, and Chen Feng were by his side.

Lin Qingxue had changed into a water-blue long dress covered with light gauze, her face veiled by a thin cloth to hide her peerless beauty.

However, her cold and ethereal temperament still caused passersby to frequently glance her way.

Scarface and the others had also changed into clean, neat martial attire, their expressions solemn.

"There are so many people."

Lin Dong clicked his tongue as he looked at the dense mass of heads.

"I'm afraid more than half of the young talents in the entire Qingyun Prefecture have come."

Scarface said in a low voice.

"The slots for the Tianyun Sword Sect are too tempting. Besides those recommended by the three great families and the City Lord's Manor, many Loose Cultivators and children of small families who believe in their own strength have also come to try their luck. Today, I'm afraid blood will flow like a river."

Ye Chen remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the towering Trial Sword Platform ahead.

He then looked toward the northern stands at the few figures with profound Auras wearing the standard white robes of the Tianyun Sword Sect.

Are those the envoys of the Tianyun Sword Sect?

As expected, their Aura was extraordinary; even sensing them from a distance gave one the feeling of looking up at a towering mountain.

"Ye Chen, look over there."

Lin Qingxue suddenly reminded him in a low voice, gesturing for him to look toward the Wang Family's area.

Ye Chen looked over and saw that the atmosphere at the Wang Family's stands was oppressive.

Wang Mang and Wang Teng were dead, and the Wang Family's elites had suffered heavy losses in the Molten Fire Abyss and the subsequent pursuit.

The person currently in charge was a younger cousin of Wang Mang, whose cultivation was only at the Lunhai Realm First Level, and his face was gloomy.

Behind him stood several Wang Family Disciples, but most were dejected and their morale was low.

Tiger Wang had lost an arm and did not appear; it was said he died from incurable injuries.

The Wang Family's vitality was greatly damaged, and its glory was no more.

The Ye Family area also had a strange atmosphere.

Grand Elder Ye Rushan and Ye Hu were dead, and the Grand Elder's lineage had suffered a heavy blow; now, another neutral Elder of the Ye Family was temporarily in charge.

The gazes the Ye Family Disciples cast toward Ye Chen were incredibly complex, containing resentment, fear, and deep wariness.

The news of Ye Chen killing the Black Wind Fiend and rescuing Xiao Yu had already spread.

Now, among the younger generation of Qingyun City, he was already infamous, and no one dared to underestimate him.

The Lin Family area, by contrast, was relatively calm.

The Lin Family Head, Lin Zhennan, was personally present, sitting in the main seat with a steady expression, talking in low tones with several Elders beside him.

Behind him, Lin Dong and other Lin Family Disciples held their heads high, their Aura impressive.

Seeing Ye Chen and Lin Qingxue arrive, Lin Zhennan cast a gaze from afar and nodded slightly, his eyes carrying a hint of appreciation and expectation.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

Three earth-shaking drum beats suppressed the clamor of the entire venue.

An old man from the City Lord's Manor flew up onto the Trial Sword Platform, his voice like a great bell.

"The selection of Disciples for the Tianyun Sword Sect begins now! All participants, come onto the stage to draw lots! No shouting, no private fighting; violators will be disqualified and severely punished!"

As his voice fell, hundreds of young Cultivators who had been waiting below the stage surged onto the high platform, walking toward the stone box in the center to draw lots.

Ye Chen nodded to Lin Qingxue and the others, then also leaped onto the Trial Sword Platform.

As soon as he stepped onto the stage, several sharp gazes immediately locked onto him.

There was venomous resentment from the Wang Family, complexity from the Ye Family, and scrutiny and curiosity from other unknown Cultivators.

Ye Chen's face remained calm as he walked to the stone box and reached in to pull out a wooden tablet.

"Number seventeen."

He took a look, put the wooden tablet away, and retreated to the edge of the stage to wait.

His gaze swept through the crowd, spotting several acquaintances whose Auras were not weak.

Zhao Feng, that mysterious Young City Lord, was still dressed in black with a flat expression; he had also drawn a lot and stood alone in a corner.

There were also several Loose Cultivators he had met once in the mining area or Qingshi Town who were also in the lineup.

"First round, melee!" the old man on the stage shouted loudly again.

"All participants will remain on the stage until only fifty people are left! Those who fall off the stage, surrender voluntarily, or lose their combat capability are eliminated! Now, begin!"

A melee?!

Everyone was stunned, followed by an uproar! In previous years, it had always been one-on-one combat; why had it changed to a grand melee this year?

This was undoubtedly more cruel and a greater test of strength, cunning, and luck!

The weak might be cleared out instantly, and the strong might be besieged.

But the rules were set and beyond question.

"Begin!"

As the old man's voice fell, his figure had already drifted off the high platform.

The hundreds of Cultivators on the stage instantly fell into a brief silence and standoff. In the next moment—

"Kill!"

No one knew who shouted it, but the melee erupted with a bang!

The flashes of blades and swords, the crisscrossing True Qi, the angry shouts, screams, and the clashing of weapons instantly resounded throughout the Trial Sword Platform!

Figures flew about as people were constantly knocked off the stage or fell to the ground spitting blood.

Ye Chen was in no hurry to act.

His figure flickered as he used the "Mist Transformation Steps" to weave through the chaotic battle groups like a swimming fish, avoiding attack after attack.

He was observing, looking for opponents worth noting, and also saving his strength.

However, the tree wants to be still but the wind won't stop.

Soon, seven or eight Cultivators seemed to have reached a tacit understanding and formed a surrounding formation, closing in on Ye Chen!

These people were dressed differently, but their eyes were fierce and their goal was clear.

"Ye Chen! You killed my Elder brother (Junior Brother)! Give me your life!"

"Attack together! Cripple this kid first!"

Clearly, these people were either related to the Wang and Ye Families or had been bribed by the Black Wind Stockade.

Or they simply wanted to rise by stepping on a "famous person" like Ye Chen.

They saw that Ye Chen was a target of everyone and wanted to take advantage of the situation.

"Courting death." Ye Chen's gaze turned cold, and he no longer dodged.

Facing the first saber and sword to strike, he shifted his footsteps, his figure eerily cutting between the two, and flicked a finger of his left hand.

A condensed strand of cold qi precisely struck the saber-wielder's wrist; the man screamed, and his steel saber fell from his hand.

At the same time, the ice scar sword in his right hand parried with a backhand stroke, and the sword tip followed through with an upward flick, hitting the other person's Jianjing acupoint.

That person's half-body instantly went numb, and he staggered back.

Resolving the two took no more than a spark of flint.

Ye Chen did not stop; like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, the ice scar sword turned into streaks of blue lightning, weaving through the crowd.

His sword was fast, precise, and ruthless; every strike aimed directly at vital points, yet he showed restraint.

He only heavily injured and repelled them, without dealing a killing blow.

After all, this was just a selection; there was no need to create too many mortal enemies.

But even so, Ye Chen's eerie movement technique and sharp swordsmanship left the attackers terrified.

In just over a dozen breaths, those seven or eight Cultivators had all been struck down or knocked off the stage, wailing in pain.

Having easily dealt with the first wave of trouble, Ye Chen's breathing was steady as he stood with his sword, and an empty space immediately opened up around him.

Many who were originally itching to move saw this scene and secretly swallowed their saliva, extinguishing their thoughts of coming forward to provoke him.

This Ye Chen indeed lived up to his reputation; he was not to be trifled with.

Ye Chen's gaze swept across the venue. The melee had entered a fever pitch, and the number of people on the stage was rapidly decreasing.

Over on Zhao Feng's side, no one dared to provoke him either.

Relying merely on a set of eerie movement and finger techniques, he easily repelled anyone who approached him, appearing to handle it with ease.

There were also several Loose Cultivators with powerful Auras who used their own methods to hold their ground in the melee.

The melee lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The number of people on the stage finally decreased to below fifty.

When the fiftieth person was punched off the stage, the old man from the City Lord's Manor leaped back onto the high platform and shouted loudly.

"Stop! The first round of the melee is over! The remaining forty-eight people on the stage advance to the next round!"

Everyone on the stage breathed a sigh of relief, stopping their hands and beginning to regulate their breathing.

This round alone had eliminated over eighty percent of the participants; it was incredibly cruel.

"Those who advanced, rest for half an hour. After half an hour, the second round of drawing lots for duels will take place!"

The old man announced.

Ye Chen walked down from the Trial Sword Platform and returned to the Lin Family area.

Lin Qingxue and the others immediately went to meet him.

"Brother Ye, impressive!"

Lin Dong said excitedly; he had seen Ye Chen's performance in the melee very clearly.

"Young Master Ye, are you injured?" Liu Yiyi asked with concern.

Ye Chen shook his head.

"I'm fine. The true experts haven't really made their move yet."

He looked toward the northern stands; those two envoys from the Tianyun Sword Sect had been watching below with calm expressions from start to finish.

Occasionally they whispered to each other, seemingly not showing much interest in this melee.

Half an hour later, the second round of drawing lots began.

The opponent Ye Chen drew was a Ye Family branch Disciple at the Peak of the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm named Ye Qing.

This person's performance in the melee had been mediocre; his advancement was more due to luck and caution.

The two of them ascended the arena. Ye Qing looked at Ye Chen, his expression shifting, until he finally gritted his teeth and cupped his fists.

"Cousin Ye Chen, please advise me."

He didn't dare to be careless and directly drew his long sword.

"Please." Ye Chen nodded, and the ice scar sword was unsheathed.

The match began.

Ye Qing took a deep breath and performed the Ye Family's "Greenwood Sword Technique"; the sword light flashed, possessing quite a bit of power.

But facing Ye Chen, whether it was speed, power, or sword technique Realm, the gap was too wide.

Ye Chen only used three moves, striking his wrist with a "Profound Ice Stab," causing the long sword to fall.

Then he followed with a palm strike to the chest, knocking him off the arena cleanly and efficiently.

"Ye Chen wins!"

Ye Qing's face was ashen as he clutched his chest and walked down the arena, completely convinced of his defeat.

The gap was just too large.

The second round of matches had no major setbacks.

Zhao Feng also easily defeated his opponent. Several Loose Cultivators with stronger strength also advanced one after another.

On the Lin Family's side, Lin Dong fought a hard battle and narrowly won, while Chen Feng unfortunately lost.

Liu Yiyi's strength was slightly inferior, and she had already lost during the melee.

Finally, the top twenty-four were decided.

The third round, the top twelve battle.

The opponent Ye Chen drew was a Loose Cultivator at the Lunhai Realm First Level named "Mad Blade" Li Shan.

This person used a Thick-Backed Mountain-Cleaving Saber; his saber technique was violent, and his strength was astonishing.

In the first two rounds, he had crushed his opponents with absolute power, and his momentum was at its Peak.

"Kid, you have quite a reputation, but unfortunately you met me!"

Li Shan shouldered his great saber and grinned hideously.

"I'll let you know that between the Meridian Opening Realm and the Wheel Sea Realm, there is an insurmountable chasm!"

Ye Chen couldn't be bothered with nonsense and just looked at him calmly.

The battle began.

Li Shan was indeed violent; with one saber strike, the saber qi whistled with immense force, as if it were going to split the arena in two.

Ye Chen did not dodge or avoid it, raising his sword to meet it.

"Clang!"

Saber and sword met; Ye Chen's figure swayed slightly, and he took half a step back.

Li Shan stood firmly in place, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes: "Just this much strength?"

However, the disdain on his face soon froze.

An eerie force was transmitted from where the saber and sword met.

That force was half bone-chillingly cold, as if it were going to freeze his Meridians, and half unbearably hot, like flowing lava.

The two diametrically opposite sensations intertwined, making his blood boil and leaving him in extreme discomfort!

Furthermore, a contradictory Concept of destruction and rebirth impacted his mind.

"What kind of ghostly True Essence is this?!"

Li Shan was terrified in his heart and wanted to withdraw his saber to change moves, but he found that Ye Chen's sword was like a maggot on a bone.

It stuck tightly to his saber, and Ice Fire True Essence surged in continuously!

A cold light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes, and the ice-fire vortex in his body vibrated slightly, increasing his power by another thirty percent!

The ice scar sword twisted with the momentum!

"Break!"

"Crack!"

The Thick-Backed Mountain-Cleaving Saber in Li Shan's hand was actually forced into a crack!

He himself was hit as if by a heavy blow, spraying a mouthful of fresh blood and staggering backward.

He sat down on the ground with a thud, his face pale, no longer able to hold the saber.

"You..."

He looked at Ye Chen in horror, as if he had seen a ghost.

A Lunhai Realm First Level was actually suppressed in strength by someone in the Meridian Opening Realm?

How was this possible?

"I win." Ye Chen sheathed his sword and said flatly.

"Ye Chen wins!"

The referee also froze for a moment before announcing loudly.

Below the stage, there was an uproar!

A Meridian Opening Realm participant had head-on defeated a Wheel Sea Realm expert!

Even though it was only the Lunhai Realm First Level, this undoubtedly once again refreshed everyone's perception of Ye Chen's strength!

Is this kid really only in the Meridian Opening Realm?

On the northern stands, those two Tianyun Sword Sect envoys who had always had flat expressions.

At this moment, they finally were slightly moved; their gazes fell on Ye Chen, and they began to talk in low voices.

"A bit interesting... cultivation of both ice and fire? It seems to also contain a trace of a special Concept..."

"A solid Foundation and combat power far exceeding his Realm; he's a good seed. He can be focused on."

Ye Chen felt those two scrutinizing gazes, but his heart was calm.

He knew that he had already caught the attention of the Tianyun Sword Sect.

But this was not enough; he needed to go further and stand higher.

The top twelve were born.

Besides Ye Chen and Zhao Feng, there were also several Loose Cultivators and Family Disciples at the first and second levels of the Wheel Sea Realm whose strength was not to be underestimated.

The true battle between dragons and tigers was about to begin.

And Ye Chen's goal was only one—First Place!