Chapter 243: 243. Non-Swordbearer Shines Again (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch “Wind Summer” for the 100k reward!)
The attitude of the Demon Sect disciples not only startled the challengers, but also scared the Demon Sect players.
Especially among the challengers, some of them were simply boasting…
Lu Xun was sitting on the high platform, his eyes swept over the angry Outer Sect disciples, then locked onto Ji Li.
Ji Li looked very angry, her chest heaving with rage, wave after wave.
If it was outside the sect, she might have already drawn her sword and taught them how to behave properly.
Were these mediocre folks even worthy of comparing themselves with my future husband?
After stewing in her anger for a while, she glanced up at the high platform and saw Lu Xun, who was exchanging pleasantries with Mao Nanbei with a smile on his face, seemingly unaffected.
The difference was clear.
In reality, Mao Nanbei declared she won the bet. Lu Xun agreed with a smile and promised to make her a dessert.
Perhaps, this is the price of doting on Mao Nanbei.
On the challenger’s stage, the rookie cultivator who had just vowed to challenge Lu Xun involuntarily shrank his neck, somewhat frightened by the grand scene.
Only one man, with deep wrinkles on his face and rough skin, did not back down. Instead, he took a step forward in the face of the Demon Sect crowd, slowly raising his long sword.
His sword was a bronze one, and it had no tip.
It didn’t look like the tip was broken, but rather that there had been no tip from the start, when the sword was forged.
Thus, it looked somewhat unique.
The man held the bronze sword horizontally in front of him, picking it up with both hands, his whole body bending down until he was at almost a ninety degree angle.
Seeing him through this action, Lu Xun was puzzled, but Shen Yan and the other Great Cultivators present were slightly taken aback.
Shen Yan conveyed to Lu Xun, “Uncle, this is the highest etiquette among sword cultivators from the Ancient Times, requesting your guidance. If you consent to duel with him, he will consider you his semi-master.”
“Of course, uncle, it is unilateral. You don’t need to fulfil any duties towards him as a master.”
“Unexpectedly, there are still young sword cultivators who understand the etiquette of the Ancient Times.” Shen Yan commented, “I wonder where he comes from.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Xun became somewhat interested.
The man, still holding up his bronze sword with both hands, spoke in a deep voice, “Marquis of Sword Pond, I request Elder Lu’s guidance!”
At this remark, a slight stir was caused on the high platform.
Many of the Great Cultivators began to communicate with those near them.
“Sword Pond?” Lu Xun was also taken aback.
He vaguely remembered it as a sacred place for sword cultivators during the Ancient Times, which gradually declined.
Later, players even obtained secret scriptures left behind by the Sword Pond in a secret realm.
Legend had it that the founder of Sword Sect had intricate links to the Sword Pond.
The Great Cultivators on the high platform who came to watch the ceremony were surprised that there was still a successor to the Sword Pond.
Wasn’t this sect already lost in the river of history?
Could it be a scam?
But the most stunned were guests from One Sword Mountain and Ten Thousand Sword Mountain.
Sword Pond was once a holy land for sword cultivators; One Sword Mountain and Ten Thousand Sword Mountain are currently holy lands for sword cultivators, a bit like old and new kings.
The elders from One Sword Mountain and Ten Thousand Sword Mountain used Divine Sense to examine the man named Marquis, who proclaimed to be the successor of Sword Pond, discovering that he was only in his fifth year of cultivation and just entered the Initial Realm.
They deemed his aptitude to be rather terrible.
The successor of Sword Pond?
Even if he was the real successor of Sword Pond, what then?
Nothing more than that.
Lu Xun didn’t reply immediately, causing the Marquis to remain in his gesture.
Shen Yan conveyed to him that according to the rules of the Ancient Times, the one giving respects must continue doing so until he receives a clear response.
Back then, some sword dao predecessors would observe the sincerity of the sword cultivators this way.
If they sensed sincerity, they would impart their teachings.
And for Sword Pond disciples, what they valued the most was honing their Sword Heart.
They seemed to be the ascetics among sword cultivators.
Lu Xun sat there, looking down and asked, “Are there any more sword cultivators who wish to challenge?”
Upon these words, the challengers below looked at each other and amazingly, no one instantly responded.
They were all startled by the actions of the Outer Sect disciples of the Demon Sect just now.
It took quite some time before someone stuttered out a response, and even their lines had changed.
“Junior…Junior would also like to seek Elder Lu’s guidance!”
Lu Xun nodded slightly and continued to speak loudly, “Anyone else?”
The voice, amplified by Spiritual Power, was heard throughout the field.
Gradually, a few more sword cultivators stood up to speak.
Surprisingly, the proportion of sword cultivators on the scene was quite high, at least half of them were sword cultivators.
As more and more people responded, those who were a bit timid also gathered up their courage.
Surprisingly, quite a number of sword cultivators present wanted to challenge Lu Xun, including the Marquis of Sword Pond, making up a total of seventeen participants.
The Marquis of Sword Pond, still cradling his sword and bending at the waist, stood at the very center of the stage.
Lu Xun had actually premeditated his move. If the circumstances allowed, he intended to enter the ring in order to save face for the Demon Sect.
With such a vast crowd in attendance and players live-streaming on the forum, proclaiming that the Demon Sect’s open competition today was the focus of public attention would be an understatement.
Therefore, if he managed to make a show of himself, it wouldn’t just mean earning a lot of Sect Reputation Value.
He speculated that Shen Yan’s eagerness to send him a voice message was certainly not just for the sake of explanation.
This bald man wanted to use him to create a striking effect for the Demon Sect!
Just like the saying “Bring glory to the school” often repeated by principals and teachers, they all hoped that Lu Xun could bring glory to the Sect.
No wonder he couldn’t stop grinning!
Ha, bald man!
Fortunately, Lu Xun didn’t mind taking action. Moreover, it served as a good start for the Outer Sect Disciples, boosting their morale and motivating them to perform well later.
Lu Xun laughed lightly, slowly stood up, then leisurely descended, landing on the stage where the Marquis stood.
The Marquis of Sword Pond continued maintaining his posture, remaining perfectly still.
Lu Xun walked up to him, keeping a certain distance, and then said, “You are free to attack me all together. If any one of your swords can get within three feet of me, I shall accept the challenge.”
Upon hearing these words, the audience burst into an uproar.
Frankly, the challengers present were at most roosters—they could contend against the tail feathers of a phoenix but definitely not against its head.
To have to top it all, this phoenix was a “Natural Sword Embryo”!
If we’re being honest, even together, they were uncertain of defeating Lu Xun.
But, even if they couldn’t defeat him, saying that none of their swords could get within three feet of him was a completely different concept!
That was something both impossible and unrealistic!
Even if you are a Natural Sword Embryo, it wouldn’t reach this extent.
On the high stage, Xiao Ran, seated next to Zhao Suihan, had her eyes light up involuntarily.
Lu Xun’s words just now resonated with her.
She was also very curious about where Lu Xun’s boldness came from.
She recognized that she herself was incapable of achieving this.
Could it be…was Lu Xun merely sifting through competitors?
Weeding out those not worth his time and keeping the ones who could at least get within three feet of him?
Well, it’s probable indeed.
“That isn’t a bad thing, being willing to accept challenges from any Tom, Dick or Harry could end up cheapening one’s self.” Xiao Ran thought to herself.
“This Uncle Lu is interesting.”
She sat next to Zhao Suihan, poised and dignified, seeming like a noble lady, but inside her, the flames of battle had already ignited.
I want to fight too.
Sitting here is so dull.
My two axes are already raring to go!
However, since she was a guest, it was inappropriate for her to enter the ring.
On stage, Lu Xun gave a slight smile, looking genteel and peaceful, devoid of any sharp intent.
He said, “You may begin.”
All the sword cultivators were still dumbfounded, yet the Marquis of Sword Pond had already made his move swiftly, not hesitating in the slightest!
But his sword appeared lethargic, moving at a speed comparable to that of ordinary martial artists; it certainly didn’t resemble a cultivator’s.
His bronze sword without a point attacked Lu Xun, his face, etched with deep lines, was filled with seriousness,
The other sword cultivators took longer to act, but their swords reached Lu Xun sooner than the Marquis’.
Some approached with sword in hand, others formed sword techniques with their fingers, casting the Art of Flying Sword.
Seventeen different kinds of swords, varied in length and width were all aimed at Lu Xun, still standing in the center of the stage.
Lu Xun, however, still holding his sword sheath, remained utterly motionless.
As everyone knew, Lu Xun, the incredibly impressive natural sword embryo, had never drawn his sword against anyone to this day.
Even Ye Sui’an hadn’t been able to force him to draw his sword.
The present moment was no different.
He just spun his sword sheath with his fingers, then held it tightly behind him.
He just cast a glance at the seventeen swords, making no unnecessary movements.
A mere glance.
In the next moment, the seventeen swords…
All came to a standstill!
(PS: Thank you “Wind Summer” for the ten thousand reward, becoming our new Alliance Hierarch. We are still 85 away from “100 Alliance Battle”!)