The Sword Discussion Grand Competition was the Proud Sword Sect's annual grand event. At this time every year, it was the moment for the younger generation within the sect to compete in the way of the sword and prove themselves. The entire Proud Sword Sect, from top to bottom, consisted of soul masters with sword-type martial souls. They were famous on the continent for their unparalleled offensive sword skill competitions.
The Proud Sword Sect's Sword Discussion Grand Competition not only gathered all the members of the sect but also attracted many elites from other sects to observe and exchange pointers.
As a reclusive sect, the Proud Sword Sect was built among a range of mountains. The vast main peak had been horizontally sliced in half by the number one swordsman of the current generation, becoming a natural competition stage.
And that fierce man, known as the number one sword under heaven, was precisely the Sect Master of the Proud Sword Sect, Chen He. His martial soul was the Seven Killings Sword, which had been passed down for ten thousand years. It was rumored that his ancestor had been inseparable from the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect back then, ten thousand years ago, and had witnessed the scene of the Sea God being invincible on the continent.
Presiding over the grand competition today were the three renowned elders of the sect: Jian Ren, Jian Huo, and Jian Bi.
The three old men looked down at the scene of over ten thousand people, and a look of gratification couldn't help but appear on their old faces. The Proud Sword Sect's legacy, passed down to their generation, could be said to have reached an unprecedented peak. The three of them were all at the level of level eighty-nine Soul Douluo, and each of them, with the strength of their sword path, could contend with an ordinary Titled Douluo. Their Sect Master was a level ninety-four Titled Douluo, only one step away from advancing to Super Douluo.
"Why haven't I seen that kid Yifan yet?" Jian Ren frowned slightly. He had been keeping an eye on the crowd below but had not seen Wu Yifan's shadow at all.
"I guess that kid overslept in some beauty's boudoir again." Jian Bi shook his head and sighed softly. As the chief disciple of the Proud Sword Sect, Wu Yifan's talent and aptitude were naturally beyond question, but that kid was particularly keen on matters between men and women and didn't focus much of his energy on the path of the sword.
"Yifan is eighteen years old this year and has already reached the Soul Emperor cultivation level. He's not inferior even when compared to those students from Shrek's inner court. The path of cultivation emphasizes a balance between work and rest. That kid knows how to handle himself." Jian Huo stroked his beard and said with a smile.
Just as the three sword path elders were conversing, experts from other sects began to arrive one after another with their outstanding juniors to show their support. Among them was the current Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Yunyuan.
"Three elders, it's been a while." Ning Yunyuan was a middle-aged man with a refined temperament and a humble appearance. His cultivation was at the seven-ring Soul Sage level, and he was the continent's number one support-type tool soul master.
Beside him, a tall, red-haired man stood with his arms crossed, his robust muscles exuding a dangerous aura. The three elders all recognized this man. He was the guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Wu Jie, one of the few Super Douluo in the world today.
"Sect Master Ning has graced us with your presence. We old men have failed to welcome you from afar, failed to welcome you, hahaha!"
Although Ning Yunyuan only had the cultivation of a Soul Sage, the higher-ups of the Proud Sword Sect did not dare to be negligent towards him. Not to mention the long-standing good relationship between the two major sects, his support ability alone was enough to increase Wu Jie's combat power by more than double.
"Huh, why didn't Sect Master Ning bring that little girl Ning Tian over? She should be sixteen this year, right?" Jian Huo's gaze swept over the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind Ning Yunyuan, and he couldn't help but ask in confusion.
"Alas, a family misfortune, a family misfortune indeed..." Hearing the other party mention his daughter, Ning Yunyuan couldn't help but sigh. He then recounted the matter of Ning Tian going to Shrek Academy to study but choosing to follow the Demon King Huo Yuhao.
When Ning Yunyuan mentioned this, although there was a trace of displeasure on his face, a hint of gratification could be seen deep in his eyes.
Huo Yuhao's decisive battle with Shrek three years ago and his thrashing of the Dragon God Douluo Mu En were widely known. For Ning Tian to choose to be with such a monstrous talent, perhaps it was a good thing for the future of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
The Demon King Huo Yuhao was not only the number one of the younger generation on the continent, but his personal strength was also probably the number one on the continent.
"The emergence of this Huo Yuhao has indeed made all the young people of the continent pale in comparison." Jian Ren nodded. Whether it was the heir of the Proud Sword Sect or any other sect on the continent, they probably couldn't hold their heads high in the face of Huo Yuhao's achievements.
"As long as we don't provoke that kid, just let him do his thing." Jian Bi waved his hand, signaling to change the topic, completely unaware that the Demon King they were talking about was at this very moment making his way towards his Proud Sword Sect step by step.
The three elders led Ning Yunyuan to a seat of honor and sat down, preparing to watch the upcoming Sword Discussion Grand Competition. An alluring voice suddenly caught their attention.
"What wind blew you here, to actually bring Sect Master Ning?"
In the private seating area, a slender and beautiful woman slowly stood up. Her whole body exuded an alluring mature charm. A tight-fitting outfit outlined her exaggerated curves, and a faint smile hung on her gorgeous but not vulgar face.
Ning Yunyuan recognized this woman. She was the master of the Earth Dragon Gate, Nan Shuishui of the Rouge Dragon martial soul. The beautiful young girl beside her was naturally the current heir of the Earth Dragon Gate, Nan Qiūqiū.
The Rouge Dragon's most proficient ability, apart from its terrifying annihilation attribute, was its long-range attack methods.
Although Nan Shuishui only had an eight-ring cultivation, coupled with the annihilation attribute of her martial soul, she could be said to be one of the most difficult experts to deal with below the Titled Douluo level.
"So it's Gate Master Nan. It's been some years since we've met. Your charm truly hasn't diminished with time." An undisguised fervor was reflected in Ning Yunyuan's eyes. He had once pursued Nan Shuishui back in the day, but he hadn't expected Nan Qiūqiū's father to succeed in the end.
Of course, that man's final end was very tragic. He was assassinated by an evil soul master who was an admirer of Nan Shuishui, whose love had turned to hate. It was said that not even a complete corpse could be found.
"Sect Master Ning is joking." Nan Shuishui smiled gently at him, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "This daughter of mine is always spoiled and willful in the sect. No one in the younger generation can handle her, so I brought her here today to see the world."
"Mom, how can you talk about your own daughter like that?" Nan Qiūqiū stuck her tongue out at Nan Shuishui. "Those guys in the sect are just too weak. They can't stand up to my messing around at all!"
Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but laugh.
This continent had never lacked for geniuses. Even though Nan Qiūqiū was just a Soul King now, with that unique annihilation attribute, she could still fight against most Soul Emperors.
—
On the open road, a young man and woman walked slowly. The cloth bag in his hand had been stained red with blood, looking extremely eye-catching. From the occasional passing carriages on the road, astonished gazes would be cast. But to these gazes, Huo Yuhao and Die Qiu seemed completely oblivious.
The killing intent also gradually climbed to its peak with each step the young man took. He was in no hurry. Although his figure appeared thin, it exuded a wild and unrestrained air that made people turn their heads.
When the sun that had broken the bonds of the horizon slowly climbed high into the sky, Huo Yuhao and the other finally stopped. Standing on a slope, they looked at the vast foot of the mountain at the end of their line of sight. At the foot of the mountain, huge sect-style buildings rose and fell on the flat grassland. Looking through those pavilions, one could vaguely see some disciples practicing their martial arts.
"It's just as the passersby said. The Proud Sword Sect is on this Ten Thousand Sword Mountain..." Withdrawing his gaze, Huo Yuhao shook his head, descended the slope, and followed the main road, slowly approaching the foot of the mountain.