The next day, in the afternoon.
Lin Xiao, with a long saber at his waist, walked out of the wooden house.
He first went to the cemetery and stood before a grave in the center. The tombstone bore several gilded characters: "Tomb of Zhang Yuanhong, Fourth-Generation Sect Master."
At this moment, the entire cemetery had been meticulously cleaned by Lin Xiao, with no more disorderly weeds in sight.
After paying his respects to his master's tombstone, Lin Xiao turned and left, heading down the mountain.
Today, he was going to Star Sword City to watch the Sect Exchange Tournament.
As for the Azure Light Sect's team participating in the tournament, they had already set off in the morning.
"Greetings, Junior Granduncle Master!"
"Greetings, Junior Granduncle Master!"
"Hello, Junior Granduncle Master!"
On the way down the mountain, he encountered several disciples of the Azure Light Sect.
Whether they were Outer Disciples or Inner Disciples, they all respectfully greeted Lin Xiao as Junior Granduncle Master upon seeing him.
Although Lin Xiao's talent was mediocre and he had little presence in the Azure Light Sect, he was, after all, the Sect Master's only junior brother, so most people showed him respect openly.
Facing these disciples, Lin Xiao nodded with a smile.
"It seems like we haven't seen Junior Granduncle Master for a long time!"
"You don't know? The sect assigned Junior Granduncle Master to oversee the Back Mountain Cemetery!"
"Oversee the cemetery? How could someone of Junior Granduncle Master's status be sent to oversee the cemetery?"
"Heh, what use is status? Without martial talent, to put it bluntly, he's just a useless person. Overseeing the Back Mountain Cemetery is his final destination."
"You dare say such things? Last time, Senior Brother Feng Yuan called Junior Granduncle Master a waste and angered Senior Sister Ruoling!"
After Lin Xiao walked away, some disciples began to whisper among themselves.
However, Lin Xiao, now at the 6th Layer Meridian Opening Realm, had sharp senses and heard everything clearly.
He paid no mind to these discussions.
Soon, Lin Xiao left the Azure Light Sect. He channeled True Qi into his legs, and with a step, he shot forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
Lin Xiao's speed was swift, not inferior to that of a fine steed.
However, along the way, he stopped and started, even lingering in some towns, taking a full three days to reach Star Sword City.
Star Sword City was a small city located at the foot of the Star Sword Sect's mountain gate. Most of its residents were affiliates of the Star Sword Sect or family members of its disciples.
The Kingdom Chu Sect Exchange Tournament was a grand event held every three years, so at this moment, Star Sword City was teeming with people from various sects of the Kingdom Chu, as well as some minor sects and wandering martial artists, all gathered to watch, making the city bustling with activity.
The streets were lined with numerous vendors selling cloth and shoes, their cries filling the air, while martial artists with long sabers and sharp swords at their waists came and went in an endless stream.
Walking along the streets of Star Sword City, Lin Xiao looked around and soon arrived at the venue for the exchange tournament, the Bluestone Plaza at the city center.
However, the Sect Exchange Tournament was still two days away.
At this moment, a high platform had already been erected in the center of the Bluestone Plaza, with four simple stands built around it.
After surveying the area, Lin Xiao found a small inn in the city and temporarily settled in, waiting for the tournament to begin.
With nothing else to do, he entered the Creation Space and continued his cultivation.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Sect Exchange Tournament officially began.
Lin Xiao emerged from the inn, feeling invigorated, his cultivation now at the 7th Layer Meridian Opening Realm, comparable to an ordinary elder of the Azure Light Sect.
With such cultivation, he might not be able to run rampant in the Kingdom Chu, but among the younger generation, there was likely no one who could match him.
Soon, Lin Xiao arrived at the Bluestone Plaza.
By now, the plaza was a sea of people, with tens of thousands gathered to watch.
On the stands on all four sides, representatives from the Four Great Sects of the Kingdom Chu were already seated.
In the Kingdom Chu, the four most powerful sects were the Star Sword Sect, White Cloud Sect, Azure Light Sect, and True Yang Sect.
Although these Four Great Sects were minor forces on the Southern Region, they were top-tier sects in the Kingdom Chu.
Lin Xiao spotted the Azure Light Sect's contingent, including Sect Master Zhang Yunyi, seven or eight elders, and Inner Disciples and True Disciples like Zhang Ruoling, Peng Yue, and Ye Qiudie, totaling over a hundred people.
The True Disciples and Inner Disciples who came this time were only a portion, each one an outstanding figure among their peers.
Lin Xiao stood at the back of the crowd, to the side of the Azure Light Sect's line of sight, unnoticed by anyone.
Before long, on the northern stand, a middle-aged man in a purple robe from the Star Sword Sect stood up.
He surveyed the surroundings and said in a loud voice, "Let's begin, following the usual rules."
As soon as he finished speaking, a short and stout young disciple beside him leaped down from the stand and, with a single bound, landed on the central high platform.
"I am Liu Shan, an Inner Disciple of the Star Sword Sect, at the 1st Layer Meridian Opening Realm. Who will challenge me?"
The stout disciple looked around and spoke loudly.
Whoosh!
From another stand, a young man took a few steps and leaped onto the high platform.
"Yang Qing, Inner Disciple of the White Cloud Sect, at your service!"
A disciple from the White Cloud Sect had entered the fray.
The two quickly began to fight.
Liu Shan of the Star Sword Sect wielded a long sword, each move fierce, the sword light dancing.
However, Yang Qing of the White Cloud Sect was no slouch, wearing a pair of Vajra gauntlets, his fists like dragons, clashing head-on with the opponent's sword.
The two were evenly matched, exchanging blows for over thirty moves, until Liu Shan finally struck Yang Qing off the platform with a sword.
"Junior Brother Liu Shan is mighty!"
"Senior Brother Liu Shan won the first battle, today our Star Sword Sect is invincible!"
"Haha, Junior Brother Liu Shan's swordsmanship is truly exquisite!"
Since this was the Star Sword Sect's territory, the surrounding crowd, filled with many Star Sword Sect disciples, erupted in cheers upon seeing Liu Shan's victory.
Subsequently, Liu Shan continued to challenge.
A disciple from the Azure Light Sect took the stage, and after over twenty moves, the Azure Light Sect disciple won.
The battles continued.
The Four Great Sects each had their victories and losses.
Soon, disciples at the 2nd Layer Meridian Opening Realm took the stage, and the battles became even more intense.
Zhang Ruoling, at the 2nd Layer Meridian Opening Realm, practiced the Soft Water Sword Technique, which was quite powerful, defeating a disciple from the True Yang Sect, but in her second match, she was defeated by a disciple from the Star Sword Sect.
The battles continued throughout the day, and by evening, they were nearing their end.
At this moment, the battle on the platform was between Peng Yue, the Senior Brother First Disciple of the Azure Light Sect, and the Senior Brother First Disciple of the Star Sword Sect.
Previously, Peng Yue had defeated the Senior Brother First Disciple of the White Cloud Sect.
And the Senior Brother First Disciple of the Star Sword Sect had defeated the Senior Brother First Disciple of the True Yang Sect.
So this battle was the final showdown.
Peng Yue's strength was formidable, his Blazing Sun Blade Technique practiced to Major Mastery, nearing Perfect Mastery.
Each of his strikes was fierce, the platform filled with saber energy, sweeping in all directions.
Moreover, his speed was extremely fast, having practiced a powerful footwork technique, his skill not low.
However, the Senior Brother First Disciple of the Star Sword Sect was also extremely strong, his swordsmanship seamless and versatile, both offensive and defensive.
"Footwork is a good thing, it's my weak point!"
Watching the battle, Lin Xiao thought to himself that he needed to learn a footwork technique when he returned.
Otherwise, if he encountered someone with superior footwork, he wouldn't even be able to catch up, let alone fight.
Having watched the battles for most of the day, Lin Xiao learned a lot of combat knowledge.
Although none of these disciples from the Four Great Sects could withstand a single strike from him, many of their battle experiences were worth learning.
Finally, after a while.
Peng Yue and the Senior Brother First Disciple of the Star Sword Sect fought over a hundred moves before Peng Yue defeated him, leaving him spitting blood and collapsing.
"Senior Brother First Disciple is mighty!"
"Haha, Senior Brother First Disciple is indeed formidable!"
"The first in the Kingdom Chu, the leader of the younger generation!"
Immediately, all the disciples of the Azure Light Sect cheered, each one excited.
Peng Yue stood on the platform, listening to the cheers, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, seeing countless eyes filled with admiration and reverence, he slightly raised his head, his heart filled with pride.
A strong sense of pride surged from his heart.
"Hahahaha!"
Zhang Yunyi laughed heartily, feeling greatly gratified.
His disciple had become the first among the younger generation in the Kingdom Chu, bringing great honor to him as a master.
"Senior Brother First Disciple is amazing!"
Zhang Ruoling was also excited, for this was her senior brother, the first among the younger generation in the Kingdom Chu.
"Heh, what a joke, calling this rabble the leader of the younger generation?"
At this moment, a cold sneer echoed.
The voice wasn't loud, but it was amplified with True Qi, spreading throughout the entire venue.