Chapter 4 - 4 2 Unsheathed

4: Chapter 2: Unsheathed 4: Chapter 2: Unsheathed “Whether Chu Xisheng is qualified or not, Shao Lingshan, it’s not your place to criticize,” Ye Zhiqiu didn’t want to argue with Shao Lingshan and turned to bow to Martial Master Lei Yuan. “Martial Master, I am willing to vouch for him with my reputation.” Shao Lingshan curled his lip disdainfully, “Martial Master, the young man behind me is named Long Sheng; he is the rightful heir of the Inner City Long Family and has been practicing martial arts since childhood with a deep foundation. Now only thirteen, his Martial Arts Primordial Skill has already reached the low end of Ninth Grade. If he can be admitted to the academy without taking the examination, he will surely bring glory and add luster to our Martial Arts Academy in the future.” “Admitted without examination? So, he isn’t even an Outer Disciple.” Ye Zhiqiu gave a cold laugh. “Martial Arts Primordial Skill has reached the low end of Ninth Grade, which means entering with a skill? Let me ask you again about the Nourishing Essence Skill, the Chasing Wind Saber, the Nine Palace Sword, and the Light Cloud Leap—our Formless Divine Sect’s Ten External Skills; which one has he learned?” “If he hasn’t learned them, he can still learn.” Shao Lingshan’s face was still smiling as he cupped his fist toward Martial Master Lei Yuan, seated above on the Grandmaster Chair, “Martial Master! The Long Family Head has said that if our Martial Arts Academy is willing to accept this child, he is willing to donate a ‘Gathering Essence Array’ to our academy.” Ye Zhiqiu’s Divine Thought was keen; she noticed a decidedly interested look on Lei Yuan’s face and couldn’t help but grow anxious, “Martial Master, I’m afraid this is against the rules!” Shao Lingshan shook his head and huffed, “How is it against the rules? The Inner Sect martial exams of our academy are meant to select talents for the country. If your Eastern Courtyard can’t nominate decent candidates, then it’s only right that we give this Inner Sect spot to the truly talented and fine gems. How about this, Coach Ye, if you truly believe that Chu Xisheng has exceptional talent, and his Chasing Wind Saber Skills have reached a refined level, then let them have a match. If this person can withstand Long Sheng’s saber for three bouts, not only will I take back what I’ve said, but I will also personally deliver a ‘Gathering Essence Array’ to the academy as my private donation.” Ye Zhiqiu’s complexion turned ashen; her hand rested on the hilt of her Yan Ling Saber, her eyes cold as ice. Chu Xisheng’s saber skills were only slightly stronger than those of an ordinary Outer Disciple. The key issue was his weak body and lack of Qi power; how could he possibly be an opponent for Long Sheng? They couldn’t compare; to do so would give them away. However, Martial Master Lei Yuan had already waved his hand lightly, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Chu Xisheng: “Chu Xisheng, are you willing to accept the challenge?” At that moment, thousands of gazes, from the stage and the audience below, were drawn to Chu Xisheng. Chu Xisheng’s expression, however, remained calm as usual. He glanced at Shao Lingshan and the young man standing behind him, then toward Martial Master Lei Yuan and Ye Zhiqiu. Finally, his gaze settled on the virtual screen in front of him. Looking at the ‘status’ column, the words ‘Six Yin Soul Revival Spell’ stood out. This Inner Sect spot was a matter of life and death for him. In order to reach this day, he and his siblings had been traveling day and night, scrambling to make money. For three whole months, they dared not eat a bite of meat, painstakingly saving up those eighty taels! And he still had to spend extra on medicine to cling to life. So, was it just money that he was offering? It was his life! Chu Xisheng was infuriated, he took deep breaths, his expression resolute as he cupped his fists: “I am willing to accept the challenge.” Ye Zhiqiu’s hand trembled slightly, her face bitter. ※※※※ A quarter of an hour later, Chu Xisheng stood in a corner of the stone platform, thoughtfully looking at the virtual screen in front of him. Chu Xisheng was staring at the ‘Martial Arts’ column. A segment of text suddenly appeared in his mind. “Please confirm, do you wish to use 3 Martial Arts Points to upgrade the level of Chasing Wind Saber Technique?” Chu Xisheng was certainly unwilling; although he had not yet closely examined the mechanism of using Martial Arts Points, it was clear that upgrading the Chasing Wind Saber wasn’t a cost-effective option. If he could train himself, why waste Martial Arts Points? He shifted his gaze to the ‘Primordial Skill’ column. Another segment of text appeared in Chu Xisheng’s mind. “You have not mastered the Second Level of Nourishing Essence Skill, and therefore cannot use Martial Arts Points to upgrade it.” Chu Xisheng also had no intention of spending his Martial Arts Points on Nourishing Essence Skill. Chu Xisheng then used Thought to open the ‘Martial Arts Treasure Vault’ and directly exchanged for the entry-level special talent—’Chasing Wind and Lightning Hand First Tier’. After his rough assessment, this seemed to be the most cost-effective choice for the moment. In that instant, the screen with the seal-script icons suddenly exploded with numerous spirit lights, which then merged into his hands and arms. What was strange was that the surrounding crowd was completely oblivious to this fantastical scene. Chu Xisheng was momentarily stunned; he felt a burning warmth circulating within his hands and arms. “I didn’t expect a complication to arise.” Ye Zhiqiu stood next to Chu Xisheng, her face exceptionally grave: “This time it was me who has implicated you. Shao Lingshan, that bastard, is targeting me; he deliberately wants to shame me! If you feel something is amiss later on, don’t force yourself; just concede. I will refund your money, and I guarantee you entry to the Martial Arts Academy within three months at most,” she said with anger manifesting on her face. “If I don’t avenge this insult, I vow I am not human!” Chu Xisheng’s eyebrows rose slightly. A smile appeared on his face: “I understand, Instructor.” At this moment, Chu Xisheng shifted his gaze toward the “talent” column on the luminous screen. The words “Fast Hand” had already been replaced with “Chasing Wind and Lightning Hand (First Tier)”. At the same time, another line of text appeared in his mind. Chasing Wind and Lightning Hand (First Tier) —— capable of allowing one’s hands to chase the wind, fingers to follow lightning, possessing double the hand speed and agility of an ordinary person. What Chu Xisheng particularly noted was the “double” in this segment of text. Three months ago, when he began practicing saber techniques, he knew he had a terminal illness, lacking in Qi power and stamina for prolonged battles. Therefore, he chose to specialize in the fastest moves of the Chasing Wind Saber Technique vowing to focus solely on attack with no defense, aiming for a one-strike overpowering attack, a decisive blow! The problem was that Chu Xisheng, with just three months of saber practice, could not be faster than Long Sheng no matter how fast he was. But the system before him gave Chu Xisheng a glimmer of hope. What if he could double his already existing sword speed? At this point, someone on the stage was already calling out loudly, “Outer Disciple Chu Xisheng and Long Sheng, please come forward,” Chu Xisheng immediately stepped forward, standing face to face with the youth named Long Sheng on the stone platform, five zhang apart. At that moment, the entire crowd at the grand drill ground was drawn over. Below the stage, there was a sea of people, numerous curious gazes shooting their way. Long Sheng, perhaps being the center of attention for the first time before so many people, the thirteen-year-old boy with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes blushed slightly, appearing excited. He glared at Chu Xisheng with a fierce, wolf-like gaze. “I heard you haven’t fully learned the Chasing Wind Saber Technique? Someone like you is no match for me. Wouldn’t it be better to admit defeat honestly? Since you were foolish enough to step onto the stage, I won’t show any mercy,” he said. Chu Xisheng couldn’t be bothered to respond, as he concentrated all his energy and spirit, observing every move of his opponent, while tightly grasping the hilt of his waist saber with his right hand. The referee, a middle-aged martial master whom Chu Xisheng did not recognize, simply took out a Copper Coin, “Pay attention, you may only make a move once the coin touches the ground.” The martial master tossed the Copper Coin into the air, letting it rise to a height of three zhang before it started spinning rapidly back down. At this instant, an eerie silence fell over the platform and the crowd below, all eyes fixated on the Copper Coin. It wasn’t until the coin hit the ground with a ‘ding’ that their eyes shifted back to Chu Xisheng and Long Sheng. But at that moment, all they could hear was the ‘clang’ of a piercing sound, and all they could see was a flash of lightning-fast white light on the platform. Immediately after, Long Sheng let out an ‘ah’ of pain; his saber had already dropped to the ground, and he was pressing his left hand painfully against his right wrist. Shao Lingshan, who had been smug and smiling, instantly glared with fury and disbelief. He swiftly leaped forward, rushing to Long Sheng’s side. While stopping Long Sheng’s bleeding, Shao Lingshan bellowed at Chu Xisheng, “You vicious fellow! It was just a match, was there any need to go so far?” “Enough!” said Martial Arts Academy head Lei Yuan, appearing in a flash, “He didn’t mean it, he just couldn’t control his saber. He already eased his force by the time the blade landed.” Lei Yuan spoke while looking reproachfully at the martial master in charge of refereeing. The referee’s face turned as red as blood, filled with immense shame. Had he been fully focused, he could have stopped it. But who could have expected Chu Xisheng’s saber to be that fast? It was shockingly astounding! Below the stage, a buzzing noise arose. “What just happened? Did you see it clearly?” “Such a fast saber! Was that the Draw Sword Style ’empty wind’ of the Chasing Wind Saber? Long Sheng’s saber was only halfway drawn.” “Just one strike, merely one strike! The level of this sword technique must be more than just Ninth Grade,” they murmured. “Even a Ninth Grade might not be able to block it. He truly is someone Master Ye values, indeed a man of rare talent!” seaʀᴄh thё ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chu Xisheng, however, was staring at his hands, lost in thought. He thought back to the information about his talent — hands capable of chasing wind, fingers that can follow lightning! Could his hands truly be that fast? In a flash, the virtual screen in Chu Xisheng’s eyes exploded with another burst of fireworks. He concentrated and noticed another change in the prestige column. The original “Ninth Grade Lower (Virtual)” had turned into “Ninth Grade Lower (Solid)” The ‘1’ Martial Arts Points had also turned into ‘7’. A puzzled look appeared in Chu Xisheng’s eyes. From “Ninth Grade Lower (Virtual)” to “Ninth Grade Lower (Solid)”? What was the reason for this?