Sect Hall.
Sect Master Zhang Yunyi sat high at the head, with several sect elders seated on the left below him.
Feng Yuan and his four junior brothers stood in the hall.
At this moment, Feng Yuan's wound had stopped bleeding, and apart from looking a bit pale, he was fine.
"So, you're saying the opponent was also at the 3rd Layer Meridian Opening Realm, using the Gale Saber Art, and defeated you with a single strike?"
Zhang Yunyi was somewhat astonished by Feng Yuan's account.
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Feng Yuan nodded.
Zhang Yunyi fell silent upon hearing this.
Being able to perform the Gale Saber Art of the Azure Light Sect clearly indicated the opponent was also a disciple of the sect.
However, Feng Yuan was one of the top Inner Disciples, ranking in the top five in terms of strength.
Which Inner Disciple of the same cultivation level could defeat Feng Yuan in one move?
Only a True Disciple at the 4th Layer Meridian Opening Realm or higher could manage that, right?
Zhang Yunyi looked at an elder in a brown robe, thin in stature, and asked, "Grand Elder, who do you think this person might be?"
The Grand Elder pondered for a moment before shaking his head, "There is no disciple with such strength among the Inner Disciples. The few who are stronger than Feng Yuan do not practice saber arts."
"That's strange!"
Zhang Yunyi murmured, looking at Feng Yuan, he frowned and asked, "Are you sure the opponent is a disciple of our Azure Light Sect?"
Although the Gale Saber Art is a unique skill of the Azure Light Sect, it is not impossible that it has been passed outside over the years.
"Sect Master, yesterday, I sparred with Junior Sister Ruoling in Feixia Valley, and only disciples of the Azure Light Sect could have witnessed it. The opponent claimed to have watched the battle yesterday, so they must be from the Azure Light Sect."
Feng Yuan said solemnly.
He wasn't worried that mentioning his spar with Zhang Ruoling would anger the Sect Master.
After all, the Sect Master would surely know about it.
Zhang Yunyi nodded slightly, already aware of the sparring match yesterday, initiated by that girl Ruoling challenging Feng Yuan.
Feng Yuan had shown great restraint, and Ruoling only suffered minor injuries.
Therefore, he wouldn't blame Feng Yuan.
That girl Ruoling being defeated and then motivated to improve might actually be a good thing.
At this moment, Zhang Yunyi was curious that there was a hidden genius among the Inner Disciples, someone who could defeat Feng Yuan with the same cultivation level in one strike, a talent not to be underestimated.
"Grand Elder, can you tally how many disciples went down the mountain today? Can we find out who this person is? I am very curious about the identity of this genius."
Zhang Yunyi looked at the Grand Elder again.
He didn't want to pursue the matter of this disciple injuring a fellow disciple; such a talented disciple was worth cultivating.
"Every day, hundreds of disciples go down the mountain; it would be difficult to investigate!"
"Moreover, many practice the Gale Saber Art within the sect, and investigating each one would be quite troublesome."
The Grand Elder said solemnly.
The Azure Light Sect had over three thousand disciples, with many businesses outside. Every day, at least four to five hundred disciples went down the mountain for various affairs.
The Gale Saber Art was a relatively common martial technique among the Inner Disciples; although not everyone practiced it, at least a third had learned it.
"Forget it!"
Zhang Yunyi shook his head, then looked at Feng Yuan and said, "This person has hidden their identity, and we cannot know who they are now. If we find out who they are in the future, they will surely face sect punishment!"
He said this merely to comfort Feng Yuan.
"Thank you, Sect Master!"
Feng Yuan, somewhat helpless, bowed and took his leave from the Sect Hall.
...
The news of Feng Yuan being defeated with one strike quickly spread within the Azure Light Sect.
It sparked curiosity among countless people, wondering who this hidden figure among the Inner Disciples was.
Such combat prowess could rival that of an average True Disciple.
Some even quietly investigated the identity of this person.
However, the matter soon faded and was forgotten.
Time passed day by day.
Lin Xiao diligently trained in the Creation Space, rapidly advancing his cultivation.
One day, Zhang Ruoling came to the Back Mountain again and found Lin Xiao.
"Junior Granduncle Master, I'm going to Star Sword City tomorrow!"
Zhang Ruoling said.
At this moment, Zhang Ruoling had fully recovered from her injuries, dressed in white, exuding an outstanding aura.
"Star Sword City, are you going to participate in the Sect Exchange Tournament of the Kingdom Chu?" Lin Xiao asked curiously.
He knew that the major sects of the Kingdom Chu held a Sect Exchange Tournament every three years, and this year's tournament was to be held in Star Sword City, under the Star Sword Sect.
"Yes, it might take seven or eight days to return. This time, my father will personally lead the team, along with several elders and over a hundred disciples."
Zhang Ruoling nodded.
"Well, I hope you can make a name for yourself and bring glory to the Azure Light Sect!"
Lin Xiao said with a smile.
"Junior Granduncle Master, you're teasing me again!"
Zhang Ruoling wrinkled her nose and laughed, "I know my own strength; there are too many stronger than me. This exchange is mainly about Senior Brother First Disciple and Senior Sister!"
"Haha, you're not inferior to them, just a few years behind in training. Given time, you might catch up to them." Lin Xiao laughed heartily.
"Yes, Junior Granduncle Master, you mustn't slack off either, strive to reach the 3rd Layer Qi Condensation Realm soon!"
Zhang Ruoling nodded earnestly.
"I will!"
Lin Xiao replied with a smile, his aura restrained, making it impossible for her to discern his cultivation level.
After a few more words, Zhang Ruoling took her leave.
"Sect Exchange Tournament!"
After Zhang Ruoling left, Lin Xiao rubbed his chin, feeling a bit tempted to see it for himself.
When he first crossed into this world, he was a street urchin, only eight years old, starving and freezing, nearly dying.
Then, he was taken in by the Old Sect Master Zhang Yuanhong and brought to the Azure Light Sect, where he had been for fourteen years.
In these fourteen years, the farthest he had been was the small town at the foot of the mountain, never having seen the wider world.
Now, with his cultivation at the 6th Layer Meridian Opening Realm, comparable to Senior Brother Peng Yue, he could venture down the mountain to see the world.
However, he didn't plan to travel with the Azure Light Sect but to go alone.
Moreover, he hadn't practiced saber arts in a while; before leaving, he intended to train the Gale Saber Art to Transcendent Mastery, which would significantly enhance his combat power.
Subsequently, Lin Xiao entered the Creation Space again to practice the Gale Saber Art.
Whoosh~~!
Swish, swish, swish!
In the Creation Space, fierce winds howled, the Gale Howl echoed, and the cold saber light crisscrossed, countless saber shadows flickering through the void.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Xiao stopped.
"The Gale Saber Art has finally reached Transcendent Mastery!"
Lin Xiao exhaled deeply, feeling that the Gale Saber Art at Transcendent Mastery was at least three times more powerful than at Perfect Mastery.
Because he discovered that upon reaching Transcendent Mastery, he could control a kind of 'force' when executing the saber art.
This Blade Force caused the power of the saber art to surge.
A martial technique reaching Transcendent Mastery and mastering Blade Force was something Lin Xiao hadn't anticipated.
At the very least, he had never heard of any disciple in the Azure Light Sect who had trained a martial technique to Transcendent Mastery.
Nor had he heard of any disciple mastering Blade Force or Sword Force; it seemed only the Sect Master had barely touched the threshold of Blade Force.