Divine Intent Sect, the grand guest reception hall.
The entire guest reception hall was built with immense grandeur, exuding an air of antiquity, stateliness, and majesty. At the apex of the grand hall, several soaring dragon statues exuded an oppressive dominance.
Inside the hall.
Ye Nantian was seated in the main seat, his face wreathed in smiles. Originally, since the other party had only sent one purple-robed elder, he would have dispatched one of his own to receive them, and that would have sufficed. However, this time, Sky Heart Swordsman Feng Piaoling and Xu Ruoyan, the Young Palace Master of Sky Void Palace, had arrived. He had to treat this visit with due seriousness.
Sky Void Palace was known as the second-largest sect in the Martial World and had always been somewhat overshadowed by the Divine Intent Sect. But now, the tables were turning; Sky Void Palace showed signs of becoming the foremost sect in the land.
"Haha, Elder Lv Meng, what wind brings you here? Why didn't you send word in advance? We've failed to give you a proper welcome!" Ye Nantian laughed heartily, his gaze soon landing on the purple-robed elder from Sky Void Palace.
The purple-robed elder, Lv Meng, smiled faintly, set down his teacup, and said, "How could we dare impose? We hope Sect Leader Ye won't blame us for arriving unannounced."
"Not at all, Elder Lv Meng. When Vice Sect Master Ye heard of your arrival, he personally came out to receive you," a Deacon Elder from the Divine Intent Sect also said with a beaming smile.
"That is truly an honor."
Lv Meng smiled and cupped his hands. "I, of course, have no personal business here. It is these two juniors of mine who have a matter to attend to."
"Oh?" Ye Nantian glanced at Feng Piaoliu and Xu Ruoyan with some surprise. "What brings my two young friends here from so far away?"
The two exchanged a glance, then Xu Ruoyan stepped forward and bowed. "I am here on my father's orders to study at the Divine Intent Sect for three months," she said. "And also to see my fiancé, Ling Chen."
Upon hearing the name Ling Chen, Ye Nantian's pupils contracted slightly. He then smiled. "Ling Chen, ah... I had almost forgotten about the betrothal between you and him. However, in my opinion, Ling Chen is merely an ordinary disciple of our Divine Intent Sect now. How could he possibly be worthy of you, the Young Palace Master of Sky Void Palace? It would be better to annul this engagement sooner rather than later."
"The matter of annulling the engagement does not require Vice Sect Master Ye's concern," Xu Ruoyan replied calmly. "Once I meet Ling Chen, things will become clear."
"Very well. I was merely offering a suggestion from an elder's perspective." Ye Nantian, having been subtly rebuffed, gave a dry laugh and then turned his gaze towards Feng Piaoliu.
"I have come this time hoping to spar with Young Master Wu Xiang of your esteemed sect." Seeing Ye Nantian's gaze turn towards him, Feng Piaoliu also bowed and stated his purpose.
"Challenge Wu Xiang Young Master?"
Ye Nantian looked taken aback, then fell into contemplation.
"Is there some issue, Vice Sect Master Ye?" Feng Piaoliu asked. If Ye Nantian disagreed, his trip might be for nothing.
"No, but this matter must have Nie Wu Xiang's personal consent."
Ye Nantian had no authority to decide for Nie Wu Xiang. The latter was the Big Disciple of the Divine Intent Sect, known in the Martial World as Wu Xiang Young Master. He ranked third on the Heavenly List, possessed limitless potential, and was undoubtedly a future pillar of the Divine Intent Sect. This affair depended on Nie Wu Xiang's own wishes.
"No need to ask. I accept the challenge!"
Just then, a young man in a white robe walked in from outside the hall, his voice ringing out with the answer.
"As expected of Wu Xiang Young Master! Such a refreshingly direct acceptance."
A flicker of delight appeared in Feng Piaoliu's eyes. It seemed this trip had not been in vain.
"We shall meet on the training field."
With a flicker, Nie Wu Xiang seemed to leave an afterimage in his place as he swept out of the grand hall. Feng Piaoliu immediately followed.
"This is going to be a good show."
Xu Ruoyan was also very interested in this battle. Feng Piaoliu and Nie Wu Xiang were both young talents ranked in the top ten of the Heavenly List. The match between them was bound to be a spectacular battle, like dragons and tigers contending.
...
Meanwhile, Ling Chen had arrived at the training field. He arrived just in time to see two figures facing each other on the martial arts platform.
Is that Nie Wu Xiang? And the person facing him... could it be Sky Heart Swordsman Feng Piaoling?
Ling Chen was astonished. Nie Wu Xiang is the Big Disciple of the Divine Intent Sect, ranked third on the Heavenly List! In the entire younger generation, few would dare to face him. And Sky Heart Swordsman Feng Piaoling is also a fearsome existence, ranked in the top five of the Heavenly List!
"So, you are Ling Chen? Five years have passed, yet you haven't changed much."
Just as Ling Chen was pondering the identity of the figures, a cool voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
"Are you... Xu Ruoyan?"
Ling Chen's eyes widened slightly. A flash of amazement crossed his face upon seeing her, but it vanished in an instant. He quickly averted his gaze. "Haha, five years indeed. You've certainly changed. You're no longer that little fatty from back then."
"You!" Hearing the words "little fatty," Xu Ruoyan's usually icy face suddenly lost its color, turning a shade of green from anger.
When she was ten, she had indeed put on a fair bit of weight from her love of food. That was a dark chapter in her past, something almost no one ever dared to mention to her face. To think this fellow would bring it up the very first time they met!
"Enough. We can talk later; the match is about to begin."
Just as Xu Ruoyan was about to say more, Ling Chen had already raised his hand to her lips, clearly uninterested in hearing more.
"Get your filthy hand away from me!"
Sweeping Ling Chen's hand aside, Xu Ruoyan's chest heaved with indignation. However, she couldn't be bothered to argue with Ling Chen right now; watching the match was more important.
At this moment, the two on the martial arts platform had begun to exchange blows.
True Qi suddenly erupted from Nie Wu Xiang. He cultivated the Great Wu Xiang Skill. A layer of dense, azure True Qi surfaced around his body. With a low shout, he surged towards Feng Piaoliu, his right palm striking out simultaneously.
His power arrived before he did, sending faint ripples through the air.
Nie Wu Xiang's expression was grave. He stomped, cracking the stone slab beneath his foot, then shot out like lightning to meet Feng Piaoliu's palm strike.
BOOM!
A transparent, spherical shockwave of air blasted outwards, sending stone fragments flying. Simultaneously, the two figures separated, each recoiling several steps.
So this is the Martial Teacher Level, capable of projecting True Qi externally. Their way of fighting is truly extraordinary, Ling Chen thought with a flicker of surprise in his eyes. The difference between a Martial Artist and a warrior is like night and day. Once True Qi can be projected externally, one's power undoubtedly multiplies. They can strike objects from afar, project sword qi, saber qi, fist energy, or palm force. Against a Martial Artist, a warrior, no matter how strong, would find it incredibly difficult to win. The Martial Artist need only stand still to attack someone seven or eight meters, even over ten meters, away.
"Naturally. However, you're only at the Seventh Realm of cultivation now, even further from the Martial Master Realm than before. As for me, I advanced to become a Second Realm Martial Artist just a few days ago."
Xu Ruoyan's lips curved into a slight smile. However, she immediately felt that remark was unnecessary. She wasn't one to show off her cultivation, but in front of Ling Chen, she couldn't resist the urge to pressure and belittle him.
"Don't forget, you're two years older than I am," Ling Chen retorted nonchalantly.
"Alright, alright. This is an exciting match; let's watch carefully. It will be beneficial for both of us. Who do you think will win this battle?" Ling Chen glanced at Xu Ruoyan, who looked like she was about to erupt again, and quickly gave a dry laugh, waving his hand dismissively. He then turned his gaze back to the martial arts platform, his expression serious.
"Of course, it will be my Senior Brother Feng Piaoliu. He came all this way to challenge Nie Wu Xiang because he is confident of victory."
Xu Ruoyan had great confidence in her senior brother.
"Perhaps. I'm also curious to see the true strength of this Tianxin Swordsman."
Ling Chen wasn't particularly interested in who won or lost. What interested him was whether the two would fight with their full strength. Only then would this match allow him to learn more.
"Sky Heart Sword Qi!"
Just then, Feng Piaoliu suddenly leaped high into the air. With a fierce swing of his sword, a crescent-shaped beam of sword qi instantly shot forth.
"Wu Xiang Formless!"
Nie Wu Xiang brought his palms together. The Sky Heart Sword Qi struck his body, appearing to slice him in two. Yet, in the next instant, Nie Wu Xiang's form abruptly dissipated.
WHOOSH!
The moment his form vanished, Nie Wu Xiang's figure reappeared, even closer to Feng Piaoliu, a palm knife slashing out horizontally.
Feng Piaoliu's eyes darted to the side. His Treasure Sword swung again, and then again, unleashing three successive crescent-shaped beams of Sword Qi.
Below the platform, Ling Chen's gaze moved rapidly, completely locked onto those beams of Sword Qi, his concentration absolute. Last time, when he watched Ye Nantian's Great Thousand Sword Array—another method of projecting external sword qi—he had barely understood anything. Ye Nantian's Great Thousand Sword Array was undoubtedly far more wild and overbearing; once unleashed, it produced dozens, even hundreds, of sword qi. Furthermore, the difference in realm between Ling Chen and Ye Nantian was too vast. It was difficult to discern much merely by observing. However, Feng Piaoliu was different. As a Martial Master Level expert, his True Qi was limited. Thus, the external sword qi he could emit was on a smaller scale. Compared to Ye Nantian, the gap between Feng Piaoliu and Ling Chen was much smaller. Consequently, Ling Chen could see and understand things more clearly.