Who would have thought that Xiao Chen’s Sword Shadow Kill had, without anyone noticing, already reached the cusp of the Transformation Realm.
To remain so calm amidst danger, to consciously use Wang Hu to refine his Sword Shadow Kill in the heat of such a fierce battle… wasn’t that a bit too monstrous?
Even Cangyun and Canglong nodded to themselves, thinking that Xiao Chen was indeed impressive.
Just as the three were discussing this, the tide of battle suddenly turned.
Xiao Chen had finally grasped the opportunity for a breakthrough, and his Sword Shadow Kill naturally ascended to the Transformation Realm.
Once it reached the Transformation Realm, Sword Shadow Kill was more than enough to contend with Wang Hu’s Five Peaks Sword Technique.
Feeling the sudden explosion of power from the technique, Wang Hu’s expression changed drastically.
He stared at Xiao Chen in disbelief and said,
“How can this be?
Your Sword Shadow Kill…”
‘It was clearly at the Perfect Realm just a moment ago, so how did it suddenly break through to the Transformation Realm?
A breakthrough mid-combat?
That’s impossible!
Cultivating a martial art in the middle of a fight—is that something a normal person can do?’
Faced with Wang Hu’s astonishment, Xiao Chen simply smiled faintly.
“I have you to thank for this, Senior Brother.
If not for you, I couldn’t possibly have perfected my Sword Shadow Kill and broken through to the Transformation Realm.”
If it weren’t for the immense pressure from Wang Hu, Xiao Chen truly would have found it difficult to elevate his Sword Shadow Kill to the Transformation Realm in such a short time.
Hearing this, a surge of fury welled up in Wang Hu’s heart.
‘So this bastard was just using me for practice!’
Feeling utterly disrespected, Wang Hu let out a furious roar, his attacks crashing down like a tidal wave.
He was now using his full strength, but unfortunately for him, with his Sword Shadow Kill’s breakthrough, Xiao Chen no longer feared him.
The two were evenly matched, blow for blow.
Facing Wang Hu’s frenzied assault, Xiao Chen didn’t give an inch, meeting every strike head-on.
The tables had turned in an instant.
Seeing this reversal, the surrounding disciples were all struck with astonishment.
“This… How did Xiao Chen’s Sword Shadow Kill suddenly break through to the Transformation Realm?”
“Don’t tell me he was hiding his true strength all along?
That his Sword Shadow Kill had already reached the Transformation Realm?”
“How foolish.
Before the fight, Xiao Chen’s Sword Shadow Kill was indeed at the Perfect Realm.
But during the battle, he used the immense pressure from Wang Hu to forcibly perfect it, pushing through to the Transformation Realm.”
The Outer Disciples couldn’t understand how his Sword Shadow Kill had broken through, but the Inner Sect Disciples had seen it clearly.
Before the fight started, Xiao Chen’s Sword Shadow Kill had definitely not yet reached the Transformation Realm.
A mid-combat breakthrough, and by using the pressure from Wang Hu, no less.
Hearing this, the crowd of Outer Disciples was left speechless.
‘How the hell is that possible?’
Paying no mind to the crowd’s shocked expressions, Xiao Chen continued the fierce battle.
Wang Hu was still unable to defeat him.
In fact, relying on his superior understanding of fundamental sword techniques, Xiao Chen gradually began to gain a slight advantage.
Xiao Chen’s mastery over fundamental sword techniques had reached the pinnacle of transformation.
Wang Hu had not achieved such a state.
He had reached Extreme Foundation Establishment, but his techniques had not reached that pinnacle.
As Xiao Chen gradually pressed his advantage, Wang Hu grew increasingly anxious.
Finally, seizing a moment when Wang Hu was caught off guard, Xiao Chen successfully landed a blow.
With a flick of his sword’s tip, he left a gash across Wang Hu’s chest.
To be the first one injured after all this fighting…
The blow thoroughly enraged Wang Hu.
Whether it was intentional or not, a terrifying fluctuation of power suddenly erupted from his body.
He stopped suppressing his cultivation, his power instantly flaring to the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection.
Xiao Chen frowned upon sensing this terrifying aura.
However, before Wang Hu could even act, Cangxuan, from his seat on the high platform, made a casual gesture.
A giant palm of Spiritual Power slammed down, completely suppressing Wang Hu.
Mercilessly suppressed by Cangxuan, Wang Hu’s eyes burned with furious flames.
He had never imagined this would be the outcome.
‘I am the number one disciple of the Outer Sect!
To be defeated by Xiao Chen at the same cultivation level…
It is an utter disgrace.’
“Wang Hu, you broke the rules of a fair duel.
One month of confinement in the Sword Prison.” Ignoring Wang Hu’s rage, Cangxuan announced coolly from the high platform.
As Cangxuan finished speaking, two Stewards immediately stepped forward and forcibly dragged Wang Hu away.
Wang Hu would be spending the next month in the Sword Prison.
As he was being forcibly led away, Wang Hu shot a cold glare at Xiao Chen.
It was clear that because of today’s defeat, Wang Hu now harbored a deep grudge against him.
‘Sigh, so petty.
He can’t accept his own defeat, yet he blames it on me…’ Xiao Chen sighed helplessly, knowing this wasn’t the end of the matter.
Still, he didn’t dwell on it.
‘By the time Wang Hu gets out, I’ll be Cangxuan’s disciple.
What can he possibly do to me then?’
After Wang Hu’s defeat, more than a hundred breaths passed with no one else daring to step forward and issue a challenge.
It was a foregone conclusion.
Even Wang Hu had lost.
Looking across the entire Outer Sect, who else could possibly defeat Xiao Chen at the same cultivation level?
There was no one left in the Outer Sect.
Only an Inner Sect Disciple could possibly defeat Xiao Chen.
But of course, the Inner Sect Disciples wouldn’t step up.
It would be shameful even if they won; they had no reason to enter the ring.
With no more challengers, the rest was simple.
Following procedure, Xiao Chen began the discipleship ceremony.
First, he paid his respects to the patriarchs of the East Sword Pavilion.
Then, he performed the rites to formally become Cangxuan’s disciple.
The series of rituals took nearly an hour, but at last, Xiao Chen completed the entire ceremony.
The discipleship ceremony concluded without a hitch.
Thanks to the power and talent Xiao Chen had displayed, no one dared to cause trouble.
Although some were still jealous, the crowd had largely come to accept the outcome.
After all, if even Wang Hu wasn’t Xiao Chen’s match at the same level, then there was nothing wrong with Xiao Chen becoming Cangxuan’s disciple.
From this day forward, he was officially Cangxuan’s third disciple, and also his final Closed-door Disciple.
A smiling Cangxuan looked at Xiao Chen, retrieved a cyan longsword from his Storage Ring, and presented it to him.
“You are new to my tutelage, and as your master, I don’t have much to give you.
Besides, with your current cultivation, there are some things you wouldn’t be able to use yet.
This sword is called the Cyan Cloud Sword.
I gift it to you…”
The Cyan Cloud Sword.
Upon hearing Cangxuan’s words, Cangyun and Canglong, who were standing to the side, were both stunned.
They clearly hadn’t expected Cangxuan to give the Cyan Cloud Sword to Xiao Chen.
‘Though the Cyan Cloud Sword was no Divine Soldier—merely a Profound Soldier—it was the very sword their own master had gifted to Cangxuan all those years ago.
For Cangxuan to now bestow it upon Xiao Chen… the meaning behind this gesture was profound…’
Taking the Cyan Cloud Sword from Cangxuan’s hands, Xiao Chen was unaware of its history.
All he knew was that it was a Profound Soldier.
To possess a Profound Soldier while still in the Yellow Extreme Realm… For a moment, Xiao Chen couldn’t contain his excitement.
Weapons were graded according to their power into four tiers: Mortal Soldiers, Profound Soldiers, Earth Soldiers, and Celestial Soldiers.
Profound Soldiers corresponded to Martial Artists at the Xuanyuan Realm.
To possess a personal Profound Soldier while still in the Yellow Extreme Realm…
one only had to look at the eyes of the Outer Disciples below—brimming with envy, jealousy, and resentment—to know how much they coveted his position.
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