Chapter 310: Oh, the Embarrassment! Here He Comes, Sword in Hand

Chapter 310: Oh, the Embarrassment! Here He Comes, Sword in Hand

An unprecedented bustle filled the front of the Thousand Martial Sect's mountain gate, with all the powerful cultivators of the Thousand Martial State converging upon it.

The mighty figures of the Three Kingdoms, Seven Clans, and Eight Noble Houses were especially solemn, encircling the mountain gate and deterring other cultivators with their presence to maintain order.

Cui Huayu yawned and muttered, "Either Xu Yan is dead, or he's given Thousand Martial Sect a swollen face. Though, the chances of him being dead are pretty high.

"Those guys from the Thousand Martial Sect won't just swallow this insult, even if Xu Yan wins today, he won't live long.

"They say the Thousand Martial Sect is the most shameless, and they've done plenty of underhanded things in secret. Not just against lone cultivators, but even against those from the Superlative Spirit Sect, they've played dirty."

Cui Huayu felt that Xu Yan would probably only shine momentarily before fading into obscurity.

"I wonder if anyone from the Alliance will show up."

Cui Huayu craned his neck, scanning the surroundings.

So far, there had been no indication that Xu Yan was a proud disciple of the Alliance, but since he was a lone cultivator, the Alliance should send someone to keep an eye on things.

After all, they had to be prepared in case the Thousand Martial Sect decided to play dirty.

"How did the Thousand Martial Sect swallow their anger the last time?"

Cui Huayu was also a bit puzzled.

Given the Thousand Martial Sect's temperament, they should have sent a powerful expert to suppress Xu Yan the last time he blocked their gates.

But they didn't!

Could it be that they didn't want to lose face in front of so many witnesses, fearing it would damage their reputation?

"There must be some other reason," Cui Huayu smiled.

Not spotting anyone from the Alliance, he was about to withdraw his head when he suddenly turned to look at the sky, his expression slightly startled.

"Why is she here?"

A veiled woman, her face hidden behind a thin layer of silk, had quietly appeared and stood on a large tree not far from him.

"Someone from the Ethereal Sect would join this commotion? Even if they did, it should be a disciple, not her."

Cui Huayu was astonished.

The woman was none other than Ya Rong, a disciple of Xin Mengrou from the Ethereal Sect!

"She's at the pinnacle of the Divine Sense stage, and a disciple of Xin Mengrou, too. We can't underestimate her," Cui Huayu thought to himself as he retracted his head into the palace, awaiting Xu Yan's arrival.

Time passed until the day of the appointed half-month period arrived.

Everyone was eagerly anticipating Xu Yan's appearance.

At the mountain gate of the Thousand Martial Sect, a group of proud disciples gathered, their expressions cold and stern. The Sect Master's gaze was indifferent as he, too, waited for Xu Yan.

"What's going on? Has Xu Yan backed down?"

"It's possible. After that battle, even though he won, he was probably badly injured. That's why he asked for a half-month period—to recover."

"Makes sense."

As the crowd noticed Xu Yan's absence, they began to discuss among themselves.

"Do you think there's a possibility that Xu Yan asked for a half-month delay to stall the Thousand Martial Sect, while he escaped and hid somewhere?"

"Now that you mention it, that could be true!"

Seeing that Xu Yan hadn't shown up, many cultivators believed that he had suffered significant injuries in the previous battle and needed the half-month period to heal.

Some thought his injuries were too severe, and he hadn't recovered even after half a month, which was why he hadn't appeared as promised.

Others speculated that Xu Yan had requested the half-month period to deceive the Thousand Martial Sect and had used the time to flee and hide.

As more people joined the discussion, even the Thousand Martial Sect began to doubt themselves.

Their faces turned gloomy.

They had worked tirelessly, using various resources and secret techniques to enhance their proud disciples' strengths and cultivate their killing intent. They had prepared for this moment to crush Xu Yan, but had he fled while they waited?

Were they being played for fools by Xu Yan?

The longer Xu Yan stayed away, the more the Sect Master felt that this might be the case, and his face grew darker with killing intent. He wanted to devour Xu Yan alive.

The elders of the Thousand Martial Sect wore equally unsightly expressions.

The proud disciples who had prepared themselves for a life-or-death battle exchanged glances, unsure what to make of the situation. They had spent the last half-month readying themselves, even preparing secret techniques for mutual destruction, all in anticipation of facing Xu Yan.

But now, it seemed like he had run away?

A small part of them felt relieved that they wouldn't have to risk their lives, and they were grateful for the opportunity to become disciples of the Thousand Martial Sect. It was a significant gain, and they owed it all to Xu Yan.

Even though Xu Yan hadn't shown up, their status as disciples of the Thousand Martial Sect was now solid, and their strength had genuinely improved. This was a massive opportunity for them.

Just then, a figure sped across the sky towards them.

The crowd fell silent, their eyes following the figure, only to be disappointed once again.

It wasn't Xu Yan!

"Is that someone from the Alliance?"

"That person is strong! A mighty cultivator from the Alliance, for sure."

Among the watching cultivators, someone recognized the newcomer. "It seems to be Tian Ji, one of the Alliance's Great Protectors."

"Yes, it is him. I didn't expect the Alliance to send someone of his caliber. What a pity that Xu Yan has backed down."

Tian Ji hurriedly arrived, his figure landing on a large tree without approaching the Thousand Martial Sect too closely. His expression was solemn as he looked towards the stage, and he was taken aback.

Where is he?

Upon receiving the news, Tian Ji had rushed over, fearing that the shameless disciples of the Thousand Martial Sect would take advantage of the situation.

But now, where was Xu Yan?

Had he arrived too late, and Xu Yan had already been killed?

"Where is Xu Yan? You despicable fellows from the Thousand Martial Sect, how dare you violate the rules of the proud disciples' confrontation!" Tian Ji was furious.

He raised his hand, and the large halberd that was slung behind him flew into his grasp.

This was one of the Alliance's divine artifacts—the Myriad Mountains Halberd!

Each strike of this halberd carried the weight of myriad mountains, and its power was astonishing.

"Wow! So powerful!"

As Tian Ji's aura burst forth, the crowd of cultivators watched with grave expressions.

Indeed, he was worthy of being one of the Alliance's Great Protectors. His strength was extraordinary, and he had even brought a divine artifact with him.

However, Tian Ji seemed to have misunderstood the situation. The Thousand Martial Sect hadn't made a move yet; Xu Yan had simply backed down.

The Sect Master and the elders of the Thousand Martial Sect were livid.

"How dare you! Does our Thousand Martial Sect look so pathetic in your eyes?" The Knife Elder of the Thousand Martial Sect roared in anger. "Tian Ji, watch your words! Our sect is highly respected and would never stoop to the level of a lowly lone cultivator. It's Xu Yan who backed down and didn't show up!"

Tian Ji was taken aback. Xu Yan had backed down and didn't come?

He looked at the surrounding spectators, and their reactions confirmed what he feared.

For a moment, his face turned red with embarrassment.

"Damn!"

He silently sheathed the Myriad Mountains Halberd back behind him and cleared his throat. "Young people these days are so unreliable, always dragging their feet. Now look at the mess they've made!"

The crowd fell silent.

Of course, they weren't surprised by Tian Ji's reaction, given the Thousand Martial Sect's reputation for underhandedness...

The faces of the Sect Master and his companions darkened.

Cui Huayu's mouth twitched as he inquired about the time of Xu Yan's departure from a cultivator who had also witnessed the previous confrontation.

The cultivator, without thinking too much, told Cui Huayu the time.

"Why is everyone in such a hurry?

This time, he was sure there wouldn't be any surprises.

"It's over. There's no show to watch, no history to witness. I came all this way for nothing, and now Xu Yan has probably found a place to hide after slapping the Thousand Martial Sect in the face." A warrior said in disappointment.

Hearing this, the rest of the warriors nodded in agreement.

"The Thousand Martial Sect has made a mistake. Xu Yan came to their door to shame them, becoming the first person in the Spirit Realm to do so, and now he's probably hiding somewhere, making it hard for the Thousand Martial Sect to find him."

"The Thousand Martial Sect will become a laughingstock!" another warrior added with a smile, enjoying their misfortune.

But his joy quickly turned to sorrow.

Criticizing the Thousand Martial Sect at their own gate was akin to seeking death.

Boom!

A powerful attack was launched from the Thousand Martial Sect's mountain gate, instantly killing the warrior who had spoken out. The rest of the warriors were petrified, falling silent as the cold reality of their situation sank in.

They dared not show any signs of pleasure at the sect's embarrassment.

At that moment, they realized that the Thousand Martial Sect was, after all, the Superlative Spirit Sect, and they couldn't just badmouth and mock them because of Xu Yan's actions.

The strong cultivators from the Three Kingdoms, Seven Clans, and Eight Noble Houses glared at the other warriors, their killing intent palpable. Anyone who dared to speak out of turn would face their wrath.

Some warriors quietly retreated, realizing that the fun was over. With the Thousand Martial Sect in a vengeful mood, it was best to leave before becoming their punching bag.

After all, solitary cultivators often bore the brunt of such anger.

"It's past sunset, and Xu Yan hasn't shown up. Send out a command to all the spiritual sects in the Spirit Realm to apprehend Xu Yan! He's broken his word and disregarded the rules. He must be punished! The rules of the Heaven's Pride Confrontation do not apply here!" The Sect Master of the Thousand Martial Sect turned away, his face dark with anger.

"Yes, Sect Master!" the elders of the Thousand Martial Sect replied, their faces grim.

They had been ready to strike back after being humiliated, but now their target had slipped away!

Had their faces been slapped for nothing?

This was a source of great shame for the Thousand Martial Sect, and they knew that countless warriors would mock them behind their backs.

"Is it almost time?" Cui Huayu wondered aloud, poking his head out to scan the surroundings. He felt anxious, worried that his guess was wrong and that Xu Yan had indeed backed down, choosing not to show up.

Tian Ji found himself in an awkward situation, unsure whether he should leave or not.

Suddenly, a warrior exclaimed, "Look over there! What's that?"

Everyone turned to look, and their eyes widened in shock.

In the distance, one tree after another was rising into the air, transforming into a giant sword that hung in the sky, emitting a sharp sword aura.

A figure approached, stepping on each sword as it rose. With every step, another tree took to the air, becoming a part of the giant sword formation.

As the figure neared the Thousand Martial Sect's mountain gate, the giant swords formed a circle, connecting to each other and piercing into the original stage around it, creating an enclosure.

The young man, handsome and proud, had arrived. It was Xu Yan!

Silence fell.

The crowd of cultivators was stunned. They had never seen such a display—turning trees into swords and walking on them.

"I knew Xu Yan was a man of his word!" Cui Huayu muttered to himself.

Xu Yan's entrance left everyone in awe.

Those who had claimed that Xu Yan would back down and hide now felt their faces burning with embarrassment, forcing themselves to remain calm and denying that they had ever said such things.

"Xu Yan, as expected of the first Heaven's Pride of the Spirit Realm. Who said he would retreat? I knew he would show up! I was right to recognize his true nature!" one cultivator exclaimed.

"Weren't you the one saying that Xu Yan would hide?" another cultivator asked.

"You're talking nonsense! I said that Xu Yan would never hide!" came the indignant reply.

"I remember Xu Yan left around this time during the last confrontation. He's really punctual!" a cultivator remarked.

Tian Ji's heart raced as he witnessed the scene before him. There were countless rumors about Xu Yan, each one more incredible and unbelievable than the last.

But now, seeing Xu Yan in person, he realized that some of those rumors might not be so far-fetched after all.

Xu Yan's mastery of the sword was beyond anything he could have imagined.

The Sect Master of the Thousand Martial Sect, who had just left, returned to the mountain gate, his expression grave. From Xu Yan's entrance, it seemed that his strength had increased even further.

The Thousand Martial Sect's Heaven's Pride felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. Xu Yan had actually come!

This meant that they would have to fight with all their might.

Xu Yan's appearance, surrounded by the giant sword formation, had shocked everyone. His strength and profound sword techniques were truly unimaginable.

In a normal battle, they stood no chance against him.

They would have to resort to using their life-risking moves, and even then, they weren't sure if they could take Xu Yan down. As for their own survival, the odds were slim.

However, since Xu Yan had shown up, they had no other choice.

Ya Rong stood on a large tree, watching the young man. Her heart secretly admired him.

"No wonder he has captured the hearts of those two girls. Such a peerless young master is truly extraordinary." Ya Rong suddenly felt curious about Xu Yan's master, wondering what kind of person could have taught such an impressive disciple.

"He's too young and reckless, openly challenging the Thousand Martial Sect at their mountain gate. He wants to trample the sect, but it won't be that easy. Even if the sect doesn't use their status to bully a solitary cultivator, they still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves." Ya Rong shook her head inwardly, feeling that Xu Yan's actions were too impulsive and arrogant.

Xu Yan stood on the stage, gazing at the Thousand Martial Sect's mountain gate. This time, he was determined to trample all the sect's Heaven's Pride underfoot.

"I've reached the Divine Sense stage. Ordinary Refining God and peak Human stage cultivators are nothing special. I hope the Thousand Martial Sect's Heaven's Pride can offer some challenge." Xu Yan thought to himself.

While he had reached the initial stages of the Divine Sense realm, he knew that he wasn't strong enough to suppress the Superlative Spirit Sect just yet.

"After this battle, whether the elders of the Thousand Martial Sect decide to take action or not, I will travel throughout the Spirit Realm and challenge the world." Xu Yan made up his mind.

Having broken through to the Divine Sense stage, he wanted to explore the Spirit Realm, challenge powerful opponents, and gain a deeper understanding of the mysteries of martial arts.

"Within ten years, I will break through to the Spirit Connection stage." Xu Yan set a goal for himself.

Martial arts cultivation became more challenging as one progressed, requiring more time to reach new heights. But Xu Yan was confident that he could achieve the Spirit Connection stage within a decade.

"Once I enter the Spirit Connection stage, I will be unmatched in the Spirit Realm!" Xu Yan couldn't help but feel excited as he thought about his master's display of the Spirit Connection technique, 'Heaven and Earth as One.' He wondered what kind of Spirit Connection technique he would manifest when he reached that stage.

"I, Xu Yan, the Sword God, challenge the Heaven's Pride of the Thousand Martial Sect." Xu Yan declared proudly.

On the mountain gate of the Thousand Martial Sect, the Knife Elder signaled to one of their Heaven's Pride to step forward and face Xu Yan.

"The Heaven's Pride of the Thousand Martial Sect is not someone you can challenge whenever you please. You must get past me first." A figure holding a knife leaped from the mountain gate and landed on the stage.

"Will it be a battle to determine the winner, or a fight to the death?" Xu Yan asked calmly, leaving the choice to his opponent.

"A fight to the death!" the opponent replied coldly. He had no other option but to choose death for both of them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end