Chapter 144: I, Xu Yan, the Sword God

Chapter 144: I, Xu Yan, the Sword God

After Xu Yan broke through to the Great Completion of the Innate Realm, he stepped out of his room and saw Leng Qiu practicing his sword skills. He watched for a moment before speaking up, "Your sword stance is too scattered and lacks ferocity. You must not hesitate when you draw your sword. Draw and strike without a second thought; do not ponder your next move before you've even made the first."

Having stayed in this place for a few days and saved up on a lot of spirit crystals, Xu Yan decided to give Leng Qiu some guidance.

Leng Qiu's spirit lifted at once. This was a true master of the sword path.

"Then how should I cultivate from now on?" Leng Qiu asked eagerly.

Xu Yan reached out and grabbed a tree branch that fell into his hand. He said, "I won't teach you too much, as the way of the sword is profound and you may not be able to comprehend it all at once. When you meet Brother Xie, you can seek his guidance."

"Today, I shall teach you a sword technique, one from your Sword Sovereign Cliff, the Ten Thousand Rivers Sword Technique improved by me." As he finished speaking, Xu Yan brandished the tree branch, and sword energy crisscrossed as he demonstrated the technique, explaining each move to Leng Qiu.

Leng Qiu watched solemnly, afraid to miss even the tiniest detail.

When Xu Yan was done demonstrating, he tossed the branch aside and said, "How much you remember and learn is up to you." With that, he turned and walked away.

"Where did Brother Xie go?" Leng Qiu asked in a hurry.

"To the Seventh Star Academy's Collection Pavilion," Xu Yan replied.

In the Collection Pavilion, there were countless ancient texts. He intended to browse through them, enriching his knowledge. A true warrior must not be a brute.

Xu Yan always kept his master's teachings in mind.

Not long after he left, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan arrived.

"Brother Leng Qiu, where's Xu Yan?" Xie Lingfeng asked impatiently.

"Brother Xie, you're finally here. He went to the Collection Pavilion of the Seventh Star Academy," Leng Qiu replied happily, his head still filled with the sword technique Xu Yan had taught him.

"Brother, did you really tell him that no matter what happens in the Inner Domain, he can report your name?" Leng Qiu asked curiously.

Xie Lingfeng's lips twitched, and he coughed lightly before answering, "The matter between Brother Xu and me is none of your concern."

"Let's go to the Collection Pavilion of the Seventh Star Academy!" Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan hurried off.

In the Ninth Layer of the Collection Pavilion of the Seventh Star Academy, Xu Yan was flipping through the remaining ancient texts. After finishing, he went down to the Eighth Layer and continued browsing.

The more he read, the more he sighed in admiration. "No wonder Master said not to be arrogant and complacent. There are so many martial arts techniques and secret techniques in the Inner Domain.

"Sword techniques, spear techniques, knife techniques, and countless others. There are biographies, cultivation insights, and strategies for dealing with powerful enemies—everything one could wish for.

"Although these techniques and secrets are relatively weak, they can be applied broadly, giving me new insights.

"Take the essence and integrate it into oneself, absorbing the myriad techniques as one."

After perusing the martial arts texts of the Seventh Star Academy, Xu Yan felt his horizons broadened, and he found it easier to understand the martial way taught by his master.

A figure walked into the Seventh Star Academy, a folding fan in his hand, chatting casually with an instructor.

"I never expected that Senior Brother Yin Hong would be the first to break through to the Grand Master realm," the instructor sighed.

"It was mere luck, thanks to the help of a noble patron," Yin Hong replied humbly. "I only broke through recently."

The Seventh Star Academy was as it had always been, with countless geniuses from all over the Inner Domain coming to study, hoping to gain the guidance of a famous teacher.

Yin Hong had once been a student here too. He had left after reaching the First-Ranked Realm, venturing into the Inner Domain and breaking through to the Master realm. However, he had failed to break through to the Grand Master realm.

He had stopped at the half-step Grand Master realm and settled on Canglan Island, becoming a formidable figure renowned throughout the Great Yue Nation.

After gaining the support of a noble patron, his last mission had ended in failure and retreat.

However, since it was Sword Sovereign Cliff's Xie Lingfeng who had intervened, his patron had not blamed him for the failure. Instead, he had been rewarded with a Sixth-Ranked spirit herb.

With this boost, he had finally broken through to the Grand Master realm.

He had come to the Seventh Star Academy this time to help his patron recruit exceptionally talented students.

It was also to maintain the relationship between the academy and his patron.

"I just arrived in Seventh Star City and heard that Xie Lingfeng of Sword Sovereign Cliff has passed the Ninth Layer of the Battle Stage. Has our Seventh Star Academy been surpassed by Sword Sovereign Cliff?" Yin Hong asked with a hint of resentment.

He was still smarting from his defeat at Xu Yan's hands and his embarrassing escape.

If not for his wariness of Sword Sovereign Cliff, he would have sought revenge on Xu Yan as soon as he broke through to the Grand Master realm.

However, Xie Lingfeng was a genius of Sword Sovereign Cliff, and he was merely a Grand Master. If he dared to bully the small, Xie Lingfeng could destroy him in an instant.

Even his patron couldn't protect him!

Xie Lingfeng was not just a genius of Sword Sovereign Cliff; he was the current Sword Master, the sole son of Xie Tianheng, a Grand Master ranked within the top five in the Inner Domain.

"There's nothing we can do about Xie Lingfeng's talent. Our Seventh Star Academy has no one to match him," the instructor sighed helplessly.

"Then what about the Palace Master and the others? Won't they do something?" Yin Hong asked, his voice heavy.

"Why would they get involved in matters concerning juniors? Besides, Grand Supervisor Fu has already intervened, so the matter is settled. Geniuses have their own rules, and our Seventh Star Academy has always nurtured geniuses rather than suppressing them," the instructor replied, giving Yin Hong a strange look.

This man seemed to hold some resentment towards Xie Lingfeng.

However, although Yin Hong had once been a student of the Seventh Star Academy, he was now independent and had no authority to interfere in the academy's affairs. Naturally, the academy wouldn't involve itself in his matters either.

Seeing this, Yin Hong didn't pursue the topic further. It was clear that trying to incite the Seventh Star Academy against Xie Lingfeng was impossible, and he felt a constant sense of grievance.

However, he could only endure it.

After all, Sword Sovereign Cliff was not someone he could afford to offend.

"Where is Xie Lingfeng?" Yin Hong asked curiously.

"In the Collection Pavilion. He's been there for two days now," the instructor replied with a smile.

"I once met him, and it's been a while since I last saw him. I'm curious to see the bearing of such a genius," Yin Hong said with a smile.

He made his way towards the Collection Pavilion.

On the other hand, Du Yuying and Cui'er were also heading towards the Collection Pavilion.

"Young Master, when will Xu Yan come out?" Outside the Collection Pavilion, a group of students from the Seventh Star Academy had gathered, all waiting for Xu Yan to emerge. Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan were in the crowd, waiting as well.

Ever since Xu Yan had entered the Collection Pavilion, access had been restricted to prevent the students from disturbing him. Even if they were allowed in, they could only stay on the first floor.

As outsiders who hadn't challenged the Battle Stage, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan naturally couldn't enter.

Moreover, even if they entered the Collection Pavilion, they wouldn't be able to meet Xu Yan, as he was on the eighth or ninth floor.

"Hu Shan, look at these geniuses of the Seventh Star Academy. They're all here because of Xie Lingfeng. What do you think would happen if I dared to reveal my name?" Xie Lingfeng asked, on the verge of tears.

"Young Master, they are not worthy of looking down on you. Although your strength is not as good as Xu Yan's, who among them can match you?" Hu Shan consoled him.

Xie Lingfeng nodded, feeling that Hu Shan's words made sense.

He had his own pride.

"Although I'm not as good as Xu Yan, I'm still the number one young swordsman in the Inner Domain. There are very few who can match my strength!" Xie Lingfeng straightened his back as he thought of this.

Hu Shan followed Xie Lingfeng's gaze and saw a plain-clothed woman with a scarf covering her face, obscuring her features. Beside her stood an elderly woman, a Grand Master!

"Young Master, do you know her?" Hu Shan asked curiously.

"It's the one from Wushuang Pavilion!" Xie Lingfeng replied in a low voice.

At this moment, the plain-clothed woman exuded no aura of allure; she merely appeared as a delicate and charming lady, her face hidden from view, nothing more.

However, Xie Lingfeng held a deep sense of wariness towards her. In the Inner Domain, among his peers, this woman was one of the few who could make him feel cautious.

Just then, a shrill scream pierced the air: "Miss, miss, it's him! It's that evil thief pretending to be Young Master Xie!"

Xie Lingfeng: !!!

He turned to see the maid from Duke Du's mansion, her eyes glaring furiously at him. Beside her stood another veiled woman.

Du Yuying's eyes held a chilling glint as she glared at Xie Lingfeng. This despicable thief was going to pretend to be Young Master Xie again and tarnish his reputation, wasn't he?

"May I ask why you are impersonating Young Master Xie?" Du Yuying took a step forward, her voice cold.

Beside her, a middle-aged woman followed, a peak realm Grand Master.

Whoosh!

All eyes in the room turned towards them, filled with shock. This man had dared to impersonate Xie Lingfeng? How audacious!

Not far away, the plain-clothed woman approached with a curious expression in her eyes. This man had once pretended to be Young Master Xie?

Xie Lingfeng's jaw clenched, and he thought, 'I'm the real Xie Lingfeng, damn it!'

Hu Shan's face was covered in cold sweat as he felt the intense pressure in the room.

It was as if flames were about to erupt and engulf the two of them.

"Young Master, should we leave?" Hu Shan transmitted his voice.

"If we leave now, wouldn't it seem like we're admitting guilt? We must wait for Xu Yan to come out!" Xie Lingfeng gritted his teeth.

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Why are you impersonating Young Master Xie?" Cui'er demanded, hands on her hips.

"This is a misunderstanding..." Xie Lingfeng replied helplessly.

"What misunderstanding? Aren't you called Xie Yan?" The plain-clothed woman's probing gaze fell upon him.

Xie Lingfeng felt a tremendous amount of pressure as everyone stared at him, as if they were ready to explode with curses and spit at any moment.

Of course, if they were allowed to take action, they would probably swarm him.

"Young Master, it's a good thing that the Seventh Star Academy doesn't allow fighting here!" Hu Shan said with relief.

Just as Xie Lingfeng was feeling overwhelmed, a figure appeared at the entrance of the Collection Pavilion.

"Oh, Brother Xie, you're here?" Xu Yan immediately spotted Xie Lingfeng and hurried over excitedly.

As for Du Yuying and the plain-clothed woman, he completely ignored them...

Xie Lingfeng heaved a sigh of relief. He grabbed Xu Yan's hands and said with excitement, his eyes glistening with tears, "Brother Xu, you're finally out! If you had stayed in there any longer, I wouldn't have been able to hold on!"

Everyone present was stunned. Brother Xu?

Wasn't he Xie Lingfeng? Du Yuying and the plain-clothed woman were equally taken aback.

"Brother Xie, your name is really useful. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to get to the ninth floor." Xu Yan said happily.

"It's fine as long as it's useful!" Xie Lingfeng replied with a relieved smile.

"Young Master Xie, you... you're not..." Cui'er was dumbfounded, her eyes wide with shock.

"Miss Du?" Xu Yan seemed to notice Du Yuying for the first time and greeted her. "It's been a while. Are you a student of the Seventh Star Academy?"

"Yes." Du Yuying's emotions were mixed as she replied softly, "Du Yuying thanks Young Master for escorting me safely. May I ask how I should address you?"

It was now clear that this person was not Xie Lingfeng from Sword Sovereign Cliff.

"Umm..." Xu Yan scratched his head, unsure if he should reveal his name.

Everyone present was shocked. This exceptional young man, who had passed the ninth layer of the Battle Stage, was not Xie Lingfeng from Sword Sovereign Cliff?

He had used Xie Lingfeng's name to enter the Collection Pavilion.

And the real Xie Lingfeng didn't seem to mind; he had used his own name instead.

Xie Lingfeng was afraid that Xu Yan would continue using his name. If Xu Yan continued to build a reputation with it, he, Xie Lingfeng, wouldn't be able to handle the consequences. So, he quickly said in a low voice, "Brother Xu, with your strength, wandering in the Inner Domain, how can you have no reputation?

"Why not take this opportunity to spread your name far and wide, just like me, Xie Lingfeng? I, too, have a little reputation. Some people call me 'Sword Hero Xie Lingfeng.' For this reputation, I've killed quite a few evil cultivators from the Demon Path."

Xu Yan thought that this made sense. Since he had already reached the Great Completion of the Innate Realm, even a Grand Master couldn't do anything to him. How could he have no reputation after coming to the Inner Domain?

"My master said that I have the demeanor of a Sword God, and I will surely become one!"

With this thought, Xu Yan's spirit lifted, and he bowed deeply. "I am Sword God Xu Yan!"

Xie Lingfeng: ...

Everyone: ...

As always, he was so arrogant! Sword God?

What would Sword Sovereign Cliff think of this?

"So it's Young Master Xu," Du Yuying said softly, her eyes complex.

The plain-clothed woman's expression was strange. This young man was not from Sword Sovereign Cliff, so where did he come from? He was so arrogant that he had already declared himself a Sword God!

Even Xie Tianheng, the current Sword Master of Sword Sovereign Cliff and a Grand Master ranked within the top five in the Inner Domain, did not dare to call himself a Sword God!

As everyone was filled with mixed emotions, a sudden voice rang out.

"How dare you impersonate someone else and sneak into the Collection Pavilion? Are you looking down on the Seventh Star Academy?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback.

Indeed, if he was not Xie Lingfeng but had used his name to enter the ninth layer, he was deceiving the Seventh Star Academy.

Xu Yan followed the voice and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, it's you, half-bucket of water. Hey, you've actually broken through? That's not easy!"

Yin Hong was furious when he heard this.

He had been holding back his anger, afraid to seek revenge due to his wariness of Sword Sovereign Cliff.

But now, to his surprise, the person was not Xie Lingfeng at all but an imposter who had used his name to enter the Collection Pavilion. He had been hoping that the strong cultivators from the Seventh Star Academy would step in to uphold the rules, but instead, his attempt was met with disdain.

Half-bucket of water?

"You dare to insult a Grand Master? You're asking for death!" Yin Hong's aura exploded, and a mighty pressure akin to heavenly might burst forth.

"This is the Seventh Star Academy!"

Suddenly, a voice rang out, and the pressure emanating from Yin Hong was immediately suppressed.

Yin Hong's heart trembled, and he quickly restrained his aura, bowing respectfully. "My apologies, Grand Supervisor Fu."

Fu Yun Tian looked at Xu Yan with a complex expression. He had thought that he had guessed correctly, that this was the pride of Sword Sovereign Cliff, but it turned out that he was an imposter! How dare he!

"Grand Supervisor, this man..." Yin Hong pointed at Xu Yan and said in a deep voice.

"You half-bucket of water are so arrogant! How dare you point your finger at me? If I can't knock you out with one palm strike, I, Xu Yan, will bear your surname!" Xu Yan snapped.

Yin Hong was furious. How dare this imposter try to intimidate him?

Did he have a death wish?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end