Chapter 762: Chapter 761: Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain (Second Update, Asking for Monthly Tickets!)
As the Sword Evaluation Conference was about to begin, the Martial World was abuzz from all directions.
Swordsmen have always made up a large group within martial artists, where at least three out of ten martial artists are swordsmen. Even those who aren’t swordsmen are equally curious about the Sword Evaluation Conference.
They are eager to see who, in this world, is worthy of being ranked as a rated swordsman.
It should be noted here that swordsmen who have already gained a rating title can still participate in the Sword Evaluation Conference, and most of them would not refuse.
Firstly, only by matching skills with a master can one improve.
Secondly, despite the non-accumulative privilege of protection, one can elevate one’s own rating. And once the rating is elevated, not only would the reputation skyrocket, but they would also receive rewards from Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain, like swords and secret scripts.
Almost no swordsman could resist such a temptation.
Therefore, in the eyes of martial artists in the Flying Horse Dynasty, only the swordsmen who have received a rating on Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain are considered the crème de la crème of swordsmen, worthy of everyone’s recognition.
A month hadn’t passed since the news spread and countless swordsmen and martial artists had already flocked to the area where Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain was located.
Of course, most people were just there for the spectacle, because based on their skills, they simply didn’t qualify to watch the battle in person.
However, many swordsmen also came here with eager anticipation.
Although Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain is low-key, it doesn’t mean that they are complacent and unreasonable. A person in the Martial World always needs a few friends.
Therefore, every time a conference is held, Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain would arrange an extra venue for a limited number of people to watch the battles.
Like the recluse swordsmen and their disciples, the well-connected top-tier powers, and people who have old connections with the Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain.
...
Sword Evaluation Mountain, of unknown height, can be felt from afar as a majestic and fearless sharpness. And when people zoom out and look at the Sword Evaluation Mountain beneath the clouds, they will find that it looks like a sword hilt.
Around fifty miles from Sword Evaluation Mountain is a restricted area, where unauthorized intrusions will be subjected to attacks from unidentified Sword Qi. As for the intensity, it varies from person to person.
Even the peak Earth Immortals wouldn’t dare to break in casually.
From the southeast.
There is a ten-foot-wide road that leads straight to Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain, with deep forests on both sides.
Occasionally, some swordsmen would approach, pull out sword-shaped jade artifacts, establish a connection with each other’s breath, and then easily enter, provoking continuous exclamations from the crowd-loving people of the Martial World.
"Tsk, tsk, isn’t that Xiao Lingyun, the ’Cloud Piercing Swordsman’ from seventy years ago? I’ve seen his portraits. The last time he made a public appearance, he was at the Fifth Tier of the Divine Barrier Realm. I wonder how powerful he is now."
"Look, it’s Gong Thirteen, the ’Thirteen Swords’, ranking sixth on the Earth Immortal list. A solid Sixth Tier Earth Immortal, and he’s not even seventy years old. He’s definitely the top swordsman under the age of a hundred apart from the Young Dragon!"
Everyone knew that those invited to participate in the Sword Evaluation Conference were all like the supreme dragons among humans. But when the Martial World folks who had been waiting outside saw one after another well-known, elusive dragons of the Martial World, they were still overwhelmingly astonished, and their eyes were opened wide.
These people were so powerful.
These were either renowned seniors who had a reputation in the martial arts community or young talents showing great promise. They all possessed the demeanor of victorious individuals, like kings from various regions clashing, and it was destined to spark side glances.
"Gong Thirteen?"
Looking at the young man’s back, two figures revealed a solemn expression.
They were none other than ’Cloud Water Swordsman’ Liu Xuantong, who ranked ninth on the Earth Immortal list, and ’Thunderbolt Swordsman’ Sheng Xingzhi, who ranked fourteenth.
Both of them had also received invitations this time.
"I heard that the rating of Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain has nothing to do with our cultivation level. I’m curious to see how far I can go."
Seeing many fellow practitioners, Sheng Xingzhi was full of fighting spirit.
What he comprehended was the Thunderbolt Swordsmanship, so battling was his instinct. The stronger the opponent, the more excited he became.
"Don’t be too careless, it’s not so simple to get a rating."
Liu Xuantong seemed very sensible.
The Sword Evaluation Conference fifty years ago left many self-proclaimed brilliant swordsmen deprived of their reputations. Even if he had not experienced it, he could imagine the difficulty.
Each person was a top-tier swordsmanship genius. Like rushing rivers colliding, trying to stand out from these rushing rivers was almost as difficult as climbing to the sky.
But as hard as it might be, he, Liu Xuantong, would not be intimidated. Even if he couldn’t compete with the older generation of swordsmen, he was at least going to compete with the young swordsmen.
"Big Brother, will my favorite Young Dragon come?"
A young girl walking on the avenue asked an elegant young boy next to her, her face full of expectation.
"My good sister, you’ve asked this a thousand times... The Young Dragon fled overseas with the Saintess of Heavenly Snow Mountain; I guess he might not make it back."
The words of the elegant young boy made the young girl hum and stomp her foot: "Then I won’t watch it, let’s go back!"
Her favorite was a young swordsman who was not only handsome but also dared to defy everything for his beloved woman. Most importantly, his martial arts skills were so high that they had left the ordinary people far behind.
If there was no Young Dragon, she would not bother watching.
"My dear sister, even if there is no Young Dragon, there are a few notable young individuals in the younger generation. Moreover, there are other renowned swordsmen. I heard that even Galan Sword Emperor will appear."
The elegant young boy obviously knew his sister’s temperament and deliberately kept this card up his sleeve: "I heard that although Galan Sword Emperor is old, he’s also a super handsome old man."
The young girl hummed, and her desire to leave noticeably diminishes.
"Let’s go, little sister, let’s just give it a try this time."
After coaxing and promising many benefits, the courteous young man finally convinced the young maiden to reluctantly agree, but a shrewd glint flashed in her eyes.
The location for the Sword Evaluation Conference was set up on the mountainside, eight thousand meters up Sword Evaluation Mountain.
You could see that it was walled on three sides, and stood six fighting stages, each one stretching for a kilometer.
In the only direction without a mountain wall, dozens of large gazebos were arranged, with many seats placed inside, clearly prepared for the participants and spectators.
As the day of the conference approached, more and more people gathered in the gazebos.
"Elder Ye, you from Dragon View Ridge sure have arrived late."
"Hehe, we got held up on the road, Elder Zhao, these must be your famous three heroes of the Blood Emperor Cave, they truly exude extraordinary demeanor."
To the common eye, these top forces would seem unattainable, but once you actually join that circle, you’d realize that they too can make small talk like regular people.
Among the Seven Sects of the Chaotic Era, people from the Blood Emperor Cave and Dragon View Ridge arrived first, followed by the Oblivion Assembly.
Beyond greeting each other, the young people who followed their elders couldn’t resist secretly comparing each other, sparks flying in their eyes.
Top forces have their own pride, so their elders reminded them not to lose their air upon arrival. To those young people, their competition was through the Sword Evaluation Conference, absorbing as much swordsmanship essence as possible from others.
Whoever gains the most benefits is the winner.
Observing the behavior of the three great forces, a few people in a gazebo on the other side smiled without uttering a word.
They were from the Divine Strategy Academy of the Red Dust Three Marvels, and were the first spectators to arrive here.
Soon after, the people from Shu Tang Sect arrived, six in total, two elders and four younger ones, all of them dressed luxuriously and behaving gracefully.
However, this made everyone present feel a chill.
Compared to the martial arts practiced in the open, the peculiar poisons and hidden weapons of the Tang Sect are undoubtedly more difficult to guard against, so for most people, they would rather offend a high-hand than displease a servant of Tang Sect.
The people from Black Tower also arrived.
Dressed in black, they exuded a mysterious aura, much like the impression the Black Tower gives to the outside world. As if due to being titled as the Red Dust Three Marvels, the people from the Black Tower and the Tang Sect masters sat close to each other, even nodding to each other.
Soon, with the arrival of a young man in golden clothes, everyone’s complexion changed, whether they were disciples of hidden highhands or top forces.
Even the leaders couldn’t help but throw him sidelong glances.
’Wild Lion’ Mu Ling.
Mu Ling may not be a swordsman, but all martial arts lead to the same path. Watching top swordsmen duel is also very beneficial to him.
"He’s the Jade Lion of the Five Great Evils, he’s good looking, but too wild, not to my taste."
A young maiden in a gazebo shook her head, causing some nearby people to silently gasp.
Who the hell was she? From the beginning, she was non-stop giving her opinions about people who arrived, always focusing on their looks as if being attractive was a requirement.
"Little sister, could you tone it down, please?"
The gallant young man couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, he didn’t want to be thrown out even before the conference began, although the possibility was slim.
"Duanmu elder sister, you really did come."
Half an hour later, people from Heaven and Earth Surprised Swan Castle arrived. Like with Mu Ling, Duanmu Keren once again shocked the younger generation.
The two had gone through the Blade Slaves Sect incident, and had evidently grown closer since then. Duanmu Keren took the initiative to sit next to Mu Ling and asked, "Little Shi should be coming too, right?"
Mu Ling twitched his lips and said, "There’s no way Old Shi would miss such a grand event."
The Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain invited top swordsmen. However, the so-called ’top’ is divided into stages, and does not solely depend on strength. Otherwise, they could directly invite old monsters.
Among the swordsmen who are under a hundred years old, Shi Xiaole surely did not rank in the top three, but he was definitely within the top five or six. So as per custom, Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain would not fail to invite him.
What annoyed Mu Ling was that while he referred to Shi Xiaole as ’Old Shi’, Duanmu Keren called him ’Little Shi’, making him feel demoted. This woman was definitely doing it on purpose.
During the last two days before the start of the conference, many people arrived.
From the Four Faces of the Holy Heaven Sect, Shaolin Temple, Wudang, and Pudu Peak, everyone came, and the elders of the major forces greeted each other. For a while, the scene was lively.
In the end, even the Jixia Martial Academy and the Martial Alliance from the Wild Double Currents were present, causing a great reaction at the scene. As for the loose cultivators and other experts who arrived during this time, they go without mention.
The two hundred and sixty-three invited swordsmen had all arrived even earlier. However, to avoid disturbing them, Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain temporarily arranged for them to stay elsewhere.
Until the day of the conference came.
"Lord Manor, please follow me."
Sword Nineteen walked into the cave, looked at Shi Xiaole, and smiled warmly.
"Is it starting?"
"Yes, I wish you a victorious start, Lord Manor."
Honestly speaking, Sword Nineteen was very curious to see how far Shi Xiaole could go given his reputation as the top prodigy.
Getting a rating? Not necessarily impossible, but there are several grades even within ratings. Even if he can make history, it’s probably going to be in the lowest grade, right?
