A single sword strike had forced Li Yang to stop suppressing his cultivation, and had still knocked him back.
Seeing this, the surrounding Disciples from the First Courtyard gasped.
Li Yang had recognized the Sword Qi Xiao Chen just used, and now, so had the others.
As Disciples of the First Courtyard and Sword Cultivators themselves, they were naturally no strangers to Sword Qi.
It was no exaggeration to say that Sword Qi was something every Sword Cultivator dreamed of, as it was the gateway to Sword Intent.
Only by comprehending Sword Qi could one ever hope to touch upon Sword Intent.
Sword Qi was vital to a Sword Cultivator, but comprehending it was incredibly difficult.
In the entire First Courtyard, only three people had managed to do so: the previously mentioned three great prodigies who, like Xiao Chen, had also achieved Extreme Foundation Establishment.
Now, besides those three prodigies, there was another—Xiao Chen had also comprehended Sword Qi.
At this realization, the surrounding Disciples could no longer remain composed.
They could accept Xiao Chen’s talent, and they could even accept his Extreme Foundation Establishment and Extreme Transformation Realm.
But they found it difficult to accept that he had comprehended Sword Qi at the age of eighteen.
It was simply too shocking.
Talent like that probably couldn’t even be described as ‘genius’ anymore…
“Is he really only eighteen?”
“Is the First Courtyard about to have a fourth prodigy?”
“It used to be a triumvirate, but I’m afraid it’s about to become a contest between four powerhouses.”
Staring blankly at Xiao Chen, many Disciples murmured in shock.
Just as they were whispering, the defeated Li Yang, his face livid, was about to attack again but was stopped by Elder Mu.
“That’s enough.
At the same realm, you are no longer Xiao Chen’s match.”
Elder Mu stopped Li Yang and then strode over to stand before Xiao Chen.
A smile finally broke across his face, which had been as placid as an ancient well this entire time.
He said a single word three times.
“Good, good, good.
To comprehend Sword Qi at eighteen… such talent is a rarity in this world.
From this moment on, you are a Disciple of the First Courtyard.”
There was nothing left to say.
Faced with such talent, Elder Mu naturally brought him into the First Courtyard without a moment’s hesitation.
For a genius like this, what other Sword Institute would dare to take him?
Accepting him elsewhere would be a criminal waste of talent.
Paying Li Yang no mind at all, Elder Mu was all smiles.
Seeing this, Li Yang clenched his fists tightly.
He originally intended to teach Xiao Chen a harsh lesson, but who could have known that his plan would backfire so spectacularly?
In the end, he had only served to build up Xiao Chen’s prestige.
Feeling utterly disgraced, Li Yang seethed with silent fury.
But just as he did, an old man dressed in coarse white robes walked on air, crossing the sky in just two steps to land outside the First Courtyard’s main hall.
Walking on air—a feat only possible for experts who had surpassed the Celestial Human Realm.
Upon the old man’s arrival, every Disciple of the First Courtyard was visibly excited, as if merely seeing him was a blessing of the highest order.
The old man’s name was Cangxuan.
He was the Head Dean of the entire East Sword Pavilion’s Outer Courtyard and also served as the Dean of the First Courtyard.
In the Outer Courtyard—no, in the entire East Sword Pavilion—he was an expert who ranked among the top three.
He and the current Pavilion Master of the East Sword Pavilion were fellow disciples.
No wonder the First Courtyard Disciples were so excited to see Cangxuan.
It made sense, considering his status.
Why would someone like him appear so casually on a normal day?
Some Disciples who had been in the Outer Courtyard for several years were seeing Cangxuan in person for the very first time.
“Greetings, Dean…” It wasn’t just the Disciples who were astonished; even Elder Mu was stunned.
Once he came to his senses, he hurriedly bowed respectfully to Cangxuan.
Giving Elder Mu a faint nod without saying much, Cangxuan fixed his gaze directly on Xiao Chen.
The light emanating from his murky eyes seemed powerful enough to see right through him.
‘It’s like I’ve fallen into a black hole.’ This was the first time Xiao Chen had faced an expert of this level; he couldn’t even think of resisting.
After what felt like an eternity, Cangxuan finally spoke slowly.
“You’re Xiao Chen?”
“Yes,” Xiao Chen replied with a nod.
“Release your Sword Qi.
Let me see it,” Cangxuan said.
Though he didn’t understand Cangxuan’s intentions, Xiao Chen did not refuse.
He manifested his Sword Qi right in front of the dean.
Instantly, streams of invisible Sword Qi raged around Xiao Chen, cutting numerous marks into the Qingshi floor.
Seeing the Sword Qi so tangibly, the crowd grew even more astonished.
Cangxuan, however, merely smiled and nodded faintly.
“Not bad, not bad.
Though it has only barely reached the entry stage, it is indeed Sword Qi.
To comprehend it at eighteen years of age is truly remarkable.”
Like cultivation realms, Sword Qi was divided into stages: Entry, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, Minor Perfection, and Great Perfection.
Only after one’s Sword Qi reached Great Perfection did they have a chance to perceive the existence of Sword Intent.
Xiao Chen’s Sword Qi was currently only at the Entry Realm, a great distance from Great Perfection.
Even so, comprehending Sword Qi at the age of eighteen was an extremely difficult feat.
Among a million Sword Cultivators, perhaps not even one could achieve it, yet Xiao Chen had done it.
To be praised by Cangxuan in person…
upon hearing his words, the other Disciples were filled with envy and jealousy.
This was the Head Dean of the Outer Courtyard, and one of the top three experts in the entire East Sword Pavilion!
They had never heard of Cangxuan personally praising anyone before, but today, Xiao Chen had earned that very honor.
Merely catching Cangxuan’s eye was enough to prove that Xiao Chen was extraordinary.
It also meant that, in the future, cultivation resources would likely be tilted in his favor.
That was just how things were for geniuses.
As long as the sect valued you, resources would naturally flow your way.
The more capable you are, the more you get—that was the survival law of the East Sword Pavilion.
No one doubted how high Xiao Chen’s status in the Outer Courtyard would become.
With resources funneled to him by the sect’s higher-ups, combined with his own innate talent, his speed of improvement would surely far surpass that of the other Outer Courtyard Disciples.
They felt resentful, even jealous, but what came next was even harder for them to accept.
Just as Cangxuan finished speaking, he paused for a moment and then continued.
The moment he spoke, everyone around them looked as if they had been struck by lightning, standing frozen in a stupor.
“Xiao Chen, I have a mind to take you as my disciple.
What do you think?”
‘Take him as a disciple?
Cangxuan wants to take Xiao Chen as his disciple?
Is this some kind of joke?’ Upon hearing this, the crowd was completely petrified, each person thinking they must have misheard.
One even slapped himself in the face, trying to wake up.
He had just entered the Outer Courtyard and had already alarmed Cangxuan.
That would have been one thing, but for Cangxuan to actually want to take him as a disciple… ‘What the hell is this?
The comparison is just infuriating…’