True Martial Mountain.
Unprecedented bustle.
Countless martial artists in the Jianghu were drawn here, traveling from far and wide.
After all, this time was different from before.
The two strong contenders were both top-tier in the current age.
One was True Man Tianjian, who rose to fame like a meteor, showcasing his prowess one after another, and six months ago, he even killed the Heart Inquiry Sword, becoming renowned worldwide.
Everyone knew his strength far exceeded 14th on the Celestial Being List, some even claimed he was already fit to claim the top swordsman’s throne, though it was yet to be acknowledged, considering the Sun Chasing Sword King’s fearsome strength and longstanding prestige couldn’t be easily shaken. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
The other was the Blade Demon, who, twenty years ago, emerged and slew the then third-ranked on the Celestial Being List. After a twenty-year absence, he reappeared and stirred the world, defeating numerous Celestial Being List experts with his blade, without ever needing a second stroke.
The clash between these two unparalleled experts naturally garnered much anticipation.
This might be the Blade Demon’s greatest fight yet, with the future battles unlikely to rival its splendor.
Many have discerned the Blade Demon’s plan.
Through a series of battles, adjusting his essence, qi, and spirit to their peak state, then confronting the strongest opponent to elevate his Blade Path to unprecedented heights with external aid.
And this strongest opponent.
Some believe it to be the Sun Chasing Sword King, others think it’s True Man Tianjian.
True Martial City is in an unprecedented frenzy, with many arriving early, some even skipping prior battles to wait here.
For the True Martial Sect, it’s both beneficial and burdensome.
The downside is the crowd; it’s unpredictable if someone causes trouble, or if there are spies from the Demon Sect and the Southern Border, but the upside is undeniable, with world-class experts convening, accelerating True Martial City’s development, and bringing fresh blood to the True Martial Sword Stele and the Tower of Ten Thousand Paths.
Some strongmen inevitably wish to ascend the mountain to see these world-renowned places of enlightenment.
This provides nourishment for Ning Qi.
Ning Qi also knows about the Blade Demon’s impending challenge.
Yet his heart remains calm and undisturbed.
He is getting closer to the Celestial Human Realm, with breaking the realm just a couple of months away.
Even if the Blade Demon challenges him before he reaches the Celestial Human Realm, he is unafraid. With his current cultivation, no one in the Celestial Human Realm is a match for him. He is even somewhat eager for the encounter, having heard so much about the Blade Demon’s demonic single stroke he wishes to witness it firsthand.
This Blade Demon is undoubtedly a genius of the Blade Path, unparalleled in this world.
In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed since the Blade Demon last appeared.
Countless people await eagerly.
Their anxiety gradually grows.
"Why hasn’t the Blade Demon arrived yet?"
"Could we have speculated wrongly?"
"Do not fret, I’ve observed the Blade Demon elder’s challenge timings, it’s generally around half a month, but not strictly fixed. Perhaps the insights gained from the last battle took more time, or the journey itself had some delay."
Numerous speculations arise in everyone’s hearts.
Within the Seeking Tao Institute.
Ning Qi is condensing Great Refining Spirit with the Power of Heaven and Earth. Suddenly, his mind stirs, a strange light flickers in his eyes, and silently, he steps out and leaves True Martial Mountain.
In the distant mountain range from True Martial Mountain.
A barefoot, disheveled old man walks slowly, his eyes unfocused, seemingly lost in thought. His pitch-black pupils carry an indescribable demonic charm.
"Can everything become a blade? Leaves are blades, flowers and plants are blades, stones are blades, clouds can also become blades? It’s not the shape, but the spirit that matters; all things can transform into Blade Intent..."
The Blade Demon strokes the hilt of his blade at his waist, now slightly shorter.
Clarity returns to his gaze.
He has arrived within True Martial Mountain’s territory.
Just as he’s about to leap into action.
His steps halt suddenly.
Despite being separated by several thousand feet.
He catches sight of the Sword Stele.
The True Martial Sword Stele isn’t particularly grand, chosen casually by Ning Qi with a huge stone, merely several dozens of feet tall. Yet in the Blade Demon’s eyes, it shines bright like the moon among glowworms, dazzlingly resplendent. Even if only three inches high, it would be vividly visible to him.
The Blade Demon stops.
His pitch-black pupils deepen, becoming profoundly mysterious.
He’s observing the Sword Stele, or rather, sensing its Sword Intent.
A demonic Blade Intent whirls and ascends from the hilt at his waist, spiraling around him. If not for a restraining force, it might have soared into the sky, resonating with the Sword Intent in True Martial Sword Stele, confronting it from afar.
The Sword Stele several thousand feet away suddenly churns with waves.
The swordsmen who were just comprehending near the Sword Stele are startled, at a loss, unaware of what transpired as they gaze at the Sword Intent surging from the Stele, their minds are greatly shaken, churning with countless speculations.
"Could it be True Man Tianjian has gained another insight in Sword Dao?"
"It was said that when Heart Inquiry Sword visited True Martial Mountain, the Sword Stele also fluctuated. Could it be another great adversary approaches, is the Blade Demon here?"
Many considered this possibility.
One by one, they stood up, looking around.
But surveying heaven and earth, they saw no terrifying figure, leaving them even more bewildered.
The Blade Demon, if unwilling to be discovered, naturally no one could detect him.
He sensed the fluctuation of the True Martial Sword Stele earlier and now appears silently, his presence like silent void, watching the Blade Demon from the shadows.