What Meng Chuan had just done left the other Marrow Refinement Stage disciples of Shanshui Tower astonished. In the tower, Meng Chuan was not particularly conspicuous—he was younger than most, and although his father was the next Meng clan head, Meng Chuan carried no arrogance. His fellow disciples generally liked him, yet this time he had boldly stepped onto the arena first, declaring, "The first spot goes to me."
It was as if he didn't consider them at all.
"Senior Meng went up?"
"How did he go first?"
"Wouldn't it be fine to wait until two spots are decided?"
The juniors watching from a distance murmured in shock.
Even Dean Ge Yu, usually relaxed with his wine, was momentarily surprised. Greedy and fond of drink as he was, he had gained substantial benefits from Meng Dajiang, the owner of Dongning Prefecture's top tavern, and he liked Meng Chuan for more than just his calm demeanor and lack of arrogance—Meng Dajiang's generosity certainly helped.
"Hurry, whoever wants to challenge Meng Chuan, step forward!" Ge Yu urged.
"I will."
The stern-faced Bai Guan stepped onto the arena in a flash. His eyes, cold as steel, fixed on Meng Chuan. He sneered, "Meng Chuan, if you want the first spot, you must first get past me."
Bai Guan had often taken first place among the top ten Marrow Refinement Stage disciples, only once defeated by Wan Mang. Within Shanshui Tower, only Wan Mang, with his innate divine strength, gave him pause; all others were beneath his notice. Meng Chuan stepping up first could be ignored—but declaring, "The first spot goes to me," demanded a lesson.
"Please," Meng Chuan said calmly.
"Straightforward, I see," Bai Guan muttered.
He drew two long swords from his back. Both blades were unsharpened, as was customary in friendly matches.
Holding a sword in each hand, Bai Guan fixed Meng Chuan with a sharp gaze. "We've sparred seven times before. Not once have you lasted ten moves against me."
"Dual sword technique is impressive," Meng Chuan acknowledged.
Bai Guan's skill was such that even Wan Mang had only narrowly defeated him once—thanks entirely to the dual sword technique. True dual sword mastery required simultaneous focus, each blade acting as if controlled by a separate expert, cooperating perfectly. Facing such a swordsman was like facing two coordinated fighters at once, leaving all other Marrow Refinement Stage disciples of Shanshui Tower defeated.
"You dare go first—I admire your courage. But I will use my finishing move, Heartbreaker, and ensure your defeat is complete," Bai Guan declared, confident. To teach Meng Chuan a lesson, he would crush him with his ultimate strike.
"Go ahead," Meng Chuan replied without haste. Having comprehended the secret technique to a new level, he saw no need to strike first. Let his opponent unleash the full move.
Whoosh.
Bai Guan moved.
He surged forward, dual swords flashing. Even with confidence, he gave his all. His movements were strange, sometimes left, sometimes right, impossible to pinpoint.
In the blink of an eye, he was directly in front of Meng Chuan.
"Strike!" Bai Guan grinned, unleashing Heartbreaker with both blades, confident that even unsharpened, Meng Chuan would be cut.
Two sword lights sliced toward Meng Chuan from opposite sides.
"Huh?" Bai Guan's eyes widened in disbelief—he had struck nothing.
Then a chilling sensation grazed his neck.
Turning, he saw Meng Chuan standing behind him, blade in hand, pressing the tip against Bai Guan's throat.
"How… how can this be so fast?" Bai Guan stammered. "I didn't even see it!"
He didn't know what had happened. The enemy he had been facing was now behind him, blade at his throat. Killing him seemed as effortless as slaughtering a chicken.
Dean Ge Yu, who had been leisurely drinking, froze. His eyes widened in disbelief, the wine jar slipping and shattering on the ground, spilling its contents. Yet his gaze did not stray from Meng Chuan.
"Secret technique Three Autumn Leaves… I, Ge Yu, have finally trained such a disciple?" he murmured. Fifteen years as dean, yet he had never produced a potential godfiend.
The instructors and assistants were equally stunned. With their keen eyes, they immediately recognized the technique and understood its significance.
"It's the secret technique Three Autumn Leaves!"
"The Fallen Leaves Blade's secret technique Three Autumn Leaves! Our Mirror Lake Dao Academy has a disciple who has comprehended a secret technique—at just fifteen years old!"
"Our academy produced a fifteen-year-old who has mastered a secret technique!"
Shouts of excitement erupted from the instructors, who had devoted their lives to the academy with the ultimate goal of nurturing a true genius capable of becoming a godfiend. Now that genius had appeared in their midst, and the instructors could not contain their exhilaration.
The thousands of students watching went completely wild.
"My heavens!"
"Did I see that correctly?"
"There are… two Senior Mengs? One in front, one behind Bai?"
"The secret technique Three Autumn Leaves! It's the Fallen Leaves Blade's secret technique! The dean demonstrated it in class!"
"It's Three Autumn Leaves! It's really real!"
Excited chatter erupted, even among Shanshui Tower disciples. Everyone, from dean to ordinary student, understood the significance of a fifteen-year-old comprehending a secret technique.
Whoosh.
Among the crowd, a Meng clan disciple suddenly dashed off.
"Yes, hurry back to the clan and report this!"
"Quick! Deliver the good news!"
Many Meng clan disciples at the academy followed suit, using their lightness skills to rush back to the family. Pride, honor, and rewards awaited those who brought such incredible news.
On the arena, Bai Guan, who had failed to see what happened, pieced it together from the surrounding commotion. Meng Chuan had indeed unleashed the secret technique Three Autumn Leaves.
"You've comprehended the secret technique?" he asked, his expression complex.
"Stuck at the bottleneck for two years… finally," Meng Chuan nodded.
Bai Guan felt a mix of jealousy and admiration. He too had been stuck at a bottleneck, capable of dual-sword combat beyond his peers, yet unable to break through to mastery. He longed for the secret technique.
"No wonder you stepped up first. Indeed, you are completely different from us now." Bai Guan gave a self-deprecating laugh and stepped down from the arena.
At this moment, no one paid him any attention. All eyes were on the seemingly youthful fifteen-year-old, Meng Chuan. The Shanshui Tower disciples were both shocked and envious, including the six Rebirth Realm disciples—they had yet to comprehend any secret technique. Most Rebirth Realm disciples never would, stuck in that stage for life. Only through mastering a secret technique could one achieve the Wu Lou Realm.
"Ha ha ha!" Dean Ge Yu, soaked with spilled wine, laughed loudly. "Teaching you the Fallen Leaves Blade was indeed the right choice. Wu Qi!"
Wu Qi froze, then respectfully responded, "At your command, disciple."
He was the undisputed strongest among the six Rebirth Realm disciples, nineteen years old, Complete Rebirth Stage.
"You, go up and fight Meng Chuan!" Ge Yu's eyes gleamed as he issued the order.
"Me… fight Wu Qi?" Meng Chuan glanced over. Wu Qi was Complete Rebirth Stage—the academy's strongest disciple, the current senior brother.