Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 170 Clouds Hang Low, Dark Moon Shines, Madman Sharpens His Blade at Night
The crowd below the stage gasped again.

If the first time was a coincidence, and the second time was a crushing defeat, then this third time was nothing short of miraculous.

From beginning to end, this man with two daggers didn't even touch the hem of Chen Ye's clothes.

So what exactly is the origin of this Du Dao?
"Who else?" Chen Ye's hoarse voice rang out again.

This time, the silence from the audience lasted even longer.

Everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear.

No one dared to take the stage easily anymore.

Because this person's strength is obvious to all, it would be humiliating for an ordinary person to go up against him.

However, as time went on, some people couldn't resist going up on stage to challenge, and the result was naturally without suspense: Chen Ye won easily in every match.

And just like that, Chen Ye finally advanced!
He walked off the stage expressionlessly, and amidst countless gazes of awe, fear, and curiosity, he approached the elder in charge of registration.

The outer sect elder, Zhao Xin, gave Chen Ye a deep look, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Your name is Du Dao?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Yes."

"Your swordsmanship is quite unique. Who is your teacher?"

"I have no sect or school; I just stumbled upon this in the face of life and death," Chen Ye said calmly.

Zhao Xin remained silent.

Fumbling around aimlessly?

How could one possibly discover such unpredictable and mysterious techniques by haphazardly fumbling around?
What a liar!
But he didn't ask any more questions, and simply handed Chen Ye a white jade token that represented his advancement.

"The final selection will be held tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM) in the central square. The young master will be there in person. I hope you can stand out from the crowd."

"Thank you, Elder." Chen Ye accepted the token and turned to leave.

But this time, Chen Ye encountered trouble as soon as he stepped out of the square.

Some female cultivators approached Chen Ye to chat and invite him to dinner, while others subtly inquired about his sect. Some even tried to become his disciples, but Chen Ye rejected them all.

After finally shaking off these madmen and returning to the inn, Chen Ye didn't go anywhere. Instead, he prepared to sharpen his knife in preparation for tomorrow's battle.

At this point, Chen Ye and Jingzhe Dao were already of one mind, so this sharpening of the knife was more like a pre-battle adjustment with his partner.

Don't underestimate this point. When masters compete, they often fight over these details. Sometimes, even a tiny difference, such as the opponent's ability to clear their sword more often or their speed in drawing their sword is slightly faster than yours, can lead to a reversal of the outcome.

Chen Ye reached out and scooped up a handful of water from the basin beside him, poured it onto the blade, and then took out a fine-textured whetstone, beginning to sharpen the blade stroke by stroke.

A monotonous yet rhythmic rustling sound echoed in the quiet room.

As the sound accompanied it, the Jingzhe Blade grew brighter and brighter, and its blade became increasingly cold and menacing.

Moreover, the blade began to vibrate slightly, emitting a series of fine humming sounds, as if responding to its master's wishes and excited for the upcoming battle.

……

Meanwhile, Tianjian Manor was located deep within its territory in Qingzhou City.

Inside a training room filled with spiritual energy, Jian Wuchen was also cultivating.

His eyes were closed, and his body was surrounded by countless fine sword energies. These sword energies sometimes transformed into flying birds and sometimes gathered into ferocious beasts. They were extremely agile, yet contained an indestructible sharpness.

This is the Severing Thoughts Realm, one of the seven realms of sword cultivation.

The term "severing thoughts" means that a sword can not only cut through physical objects, but also extinguish empty thoughts and illusions.

Suddenly, Jian Wuchen opened his eyes wide, a glint of light flashing in them.

"break!"

A seemingly ordinary sword light slashed out, and the space in front of it suddenly distorted, as if an invisible mirror had been shattered in an instant.

Inside the training room, the originally abundant spiritual energy suddenly stagnated.

"Indeed, Wuchen, your swordsmanship has improved again. You are probably only one step away from the Realm of Soaring to the Heavens."

An aged voice rang out, and Elder Jian, dressed in elder's robes, stepped out of the shadows with a satisfied smile on his face.

Jian Wuchen sheathed his sword and landed on the ground, his arrogance undiminished.

"Elder Jian, you flatter me. I have only gained a little. Moreover, the bottleneck of the Severing Thought Realm is more solid than I imagined."

"You're only a few years old, yet you've already achieved so much, making you the first person in Qingzhou in a hundred years. Why be in such a hurry?" Elder Jian stroked his beard and continued, "The path of cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation. As the host of tomorrow's Ascension Ceremony, you can relax your mind and perhaps gain some unexpected benefits."

When the Ascension Ceremony was mentioned, a hint of disdain curled at the corner of Jian Wuchen's mouth.

"A bunch of mortals and rogue cultivators, what could they possibly be worth looking forward to? It's just a formality to silence the gossip of the world."

He paused, as if remembering something, and asked again, "I heard that Qingzhou Prefecture is also sending people to observe the ceremony, and they want to interfere in the selection of disciples?"

"That's true." Elder Jian nodded. "The City Lord's Mansion feels that our Heavenly Sword Manor is too dominant and is resentful. They want to get a share of the pie, but they only dare to pick a few out of the mediocre ones that we've rejected. They can't cause any trouble."

"Hmph, a bunch of overconfident fools." Jian Wuchen snorted coldly, clearly not taking the so-called City Lord's Mansion seriously. "It's none of their business to tell me what my Heavenly Sword Manor is going to do."

Elder Jian simply smiled upon hearing this and did not reply.

"It's getting late, young master, you should rest early and conserve your energy. I won't disturb you any longer." Elder Jian cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave.

Jian Wuchen grunted in response and then closed his eyes again to continue comprehending his swordsmanship, without even offering a word of thanks.

Elder Jian didn't care about this at all and turned to leave the training room.

A night breeze blew by, carrying a hint of coolness.

Elder Jian looked up at the night sky, intending to check the time, but upon looking at it, his brows involuntarily furrowed.

Because something seemed off about the night sky.

A bright moon hung high in the sky, but it was tightly bound by several thick, dark clouds like chains, making the moonlight hazy and giving off an indescribable sense of oppression.

The clouds hang low, obscuring the moon; this celestial phenomenon is a warning.

An inexplicable palpitation rose from the depths of Elder Jian's heart without warning, making him feel somewhat uneasy.

what happened?

Elder Jian stopped and stood in the courtyard, carefully sensing this sudden premonition.

Having reached his level, although he only managed to break through to the False Core stage with the help of pills, he had ultimately touched the threshold of the Core Formation stage, and his perception of the secrets of heaven was far more acute than that of ordinary cultivators.

Therefore, such a sudden premonition is by no means unfounded and often foreshadows something big that is about to happen.

What could that be?
Elder Jian's mind raced.

Could something go wrong at tomorrow's ascension ceremony?

He rejected the idea as soon as it popped into his head.

What a joke.

Tomorrow's central square will not only be presided over by him, a Core Formation Realm expert, but also by the young master Jian Wuchen, a top expert in the Inner Realm, as well as powerful figures sent by Qingzhou Prefecture and other major sects.

Every prominent figure in Qingzhou Prefecture was present; it was a gathering of experts, and the security was extremely tight.

Who has the guts and the strength to cause trouble right under the nose of Tianjian Manor? Wouldn't that be courting death?

But if it weren't for this matter, where would this ominous premonition come from?

After much thought, Elder Jian still couldn't come up with a solution.

But to be on the safe side, he decided to proceed with caution.

"Someone come here," Elder Jian called out in a deep voice.

A disciple from Tianjian Manor immediately appeared silently behind him.

"Pass on my orders: for tomorrow's Ascension Ceremony, double the number of guards at the central square, tighten all checks at all entrances and exits, and keep a close eye on any suspicious individuals!"

"Yes, Elder!" The disciple accepted the order and disappeared into the night in a flash.

After doing all this, Elder Jian's unease subsided somewhat.

Whether this premonition is true or false, it's never a bad thing to be prepared.

……

In a small alley south of Qingzhou City.

Yun Heqing, hiccuping from drinking, staggered out of an inconspicuous little tavern.

He had a lucky day, earning over ten taels of silver by selling talismans and telling fortunes, so he came here to have a good drink.

"Hiccup... This liquor is strong!" He shook his head, about to find a corner to relieve himself, when he looked up and saw the strange phenomenon in the sky.

The moon, hidden by dark clouds, instantly sobered him up considerably.

"Holy crap, this is... Cloudfall Dark Moon?"

Yun Heqing's drunkenness vanished instantly, because he remembered a line of poetry clearly recorded in the physiognomy book.

Clouds hang low, obscuring the moonlit sky; a madman sharpens his knife in the night.

This is not a good omen; it foreshadows impending bloodshed and violence!
"Damn it, tomorrow is the Ascension Ceremony, all the big shots in the city will be gathered together, and this kind of celestial phenomenon happens at this critical moment..."

Yun Heqing's heart was pounding.

He had a strong premonition that something big was going to happen tomorrow!
No, I can't go join in the fun!
But... Yun Heqing felt an itch in his heart, like being scratched by a cat.

Such a big event, if we don't see it with our own eyes, wouldn't it be a wasted trip to Qingzhou?
"Ugh, this is killing me..."

Yun Heqing hesitated for a long time, but finally gritted his teeth and decided that he still had to go and check it out tomorrow. However, he had to stay far away and find a safe place. If he found anything wrong, he would run away immediately.

Having made up his mind, he shrank his neck, tugged at his faded Taoist robe, turned around and disappeared into the alley next door.

Chen Ye, inside his inn room, was completely unaware of the unusual celestial phenomena happening outside.

When he felt that the Jingzhe knife in his hand had been polished to its best condition, he stopped, took out a clean towel, and carefully wiped the blade until there was no water left on it.

At this moment, the Jingzhe Blade gleamed with a cold light under the hazy moonlight, and its blade exuded a chilling aura, as if it could even cut through the air.

Chen Ye extended his finger and lightly flicked the blade.

"Om-"

A clear and melodious sword cry rang out, like a dragon's roar, echoing in the room for a long time.

At the same time, Chen Ye could feel that his heart had been completely integrated with the Jingzhe Blade through this long process of refinement.

He withdrew his hand and quietly looked at the long sword in front of him. The tension and excitement he had felt earlier because of the upcoming decisive battle had vanished at this moment.

His heart was like a freshly sharpened blade, cold and clear.

Chen Ye then sheathed his knife, placed it beside his pillow, and lay down fully clothed.

He fell into a deep sleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.

Chen Ye slept soundly and didn't even have a dream.

As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window, Chen Ye opened his eyes precisely on time.

After a good night's sleep, Chen Ye felt better than ever before, both physically and mentally at their peak.

After getting out of bed and quickly washing up, Chen Ye walked to the somewhat blurry bronze mirror in the room.

The mirror reflected a sallow and haggard face, with half-closed eyes that appeared cloudy and lifeless. Coupled with his tattered clothes, he looked exactly like a down-on-his-luck swordsman struggling at the bottom of society, his spine crushed by life.

This is Du Dao, but it is also myself.

After staring for a moment, Chen Ye's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile. He then slung his long sword over his shoulder, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The central square of Qingzhou City covers a vast area, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people.

But now the place is packed with people, and it's almost impossible to find a place to stand.

In the very center of the square, a huge arena, more than three zhang high, made of massive stones, was erected. Behind the arena was a row of spectator seats covered with brocade, clearly prepared for important figures.

Thirty independent cultivators, including Chen Ye, who had passed the first two rounds of selection, were placed in a special area below the arena, waiting for the final selection to begin.

Countless gazes were cast upon them, filled with envy, jealousy, curiosity, and a variety of other emotions.

They are the best among thousands of independent cultivators, and the protagonists of today's attention.

Chen Ye remained half-dead, standing in the corner with his head down, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.

But his appearance only made him more eye-catching.

"Look, that's Du Dao!"

"Is that him? He looks sickly, is he really that good?"

"Don't judge a book by its cover, brother. I saw him fight his way through ring number seven all day yesterday without even drawing his sword!"

"Hiss... This is so weird?"

Amid the discussions, Chen Ye became the focus of attention for many, with some even starting to place bets privately on how far he could go.

Just as the atmosphere in the square was getting more and more heated, suddenly, a whooshing sound came from the sky, and then dozens of dazzling sword lights were seen slicing through the sky and rushing towards the central square.

The sword light was dazzling and its momentum was astonishing, causing countless people below to look up in awe and admiration.

The leading sword light was particularly dazzling and the fastest, arriving above the plaza in the blink of an eye.

The sword light dissipated, revealing a handsome young figure dressed in white.

He stood in mid-air, long sword in hand, his black hair fluttering in the wind, his eyes aloof and indifferent, like a god from the heavens looking down upon the masses below.

It was none other than Jian Wuchen, the young master of Tianjian Manor!
"It's the young master!"

"Such a powerful aura... Is this what a powerhouse at the Inner Realm is like?"

Following closely behind were Elder Jian and the other disciples of Tianjian Manor, who surrounded Jian Wuchen like stars around the moon.

They did not choose to land lightly, but instead descended from the sky with an overwhelming momentum, landing heavily on the high viewing platform.

boom!
The entire stone viewing platform trembled, and an invisible pressure instantly swept across the entire area, silencing the once noisy square.

This is Tianjian Manor demonstrating their power and domineering nature to everyone in the most direct way.

Chen Ye raised his head, and in his half-closed, cloudy eyes, he saw Jian Wuchen's arrogant figure.

finally come.

But at this moment, Chen Ye's heartbeat did not quicken at all; he simply quietly activated his Eye of Calamity.

In his view, Jian Wuchen on the high platform was enveloped by a layer of dense, boundless energy, like a burning sun, radiating light and heat that made people afraid to look directly at him.

This is the power of inner vision.

But deep within that vast energy, Chen Ye still saw something.

Some extremely fine, pale gray threads, protected by layers of force.

The line of robbery.

Although they are vague, they do exist.

Upon seeing this, a strange light flashed in Chen Ye's eyes, but he immediately withdrew his gaze and lowered his head again.

After the domineering arrival of Tianjian Manor, representatives from Qingzhou City Lord's Mansion and several other sects also arrived one after another.

Although they were all prominent figures, they paled in comparison to the powerful aura of Tianjian Manor.

One by one, they obediently found a seat in the audience area, their faces bearing a few fawning smiles, and took the initiative to exchange pleasantries with Elder Jian and the others, keeping a very humble posture.

Jian Wuchen ignored this completely. He simply sat in the central seat, picked up the fragrant tea offered by the maid, took a small sip, and didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

In his eyes, these people, like the tens of thousands of onlookers in the square, were nothing more than ants.

Once everyone who was supposed to be there had arrived, Jian Wuchen slowly put down his teacup and stood up.

He didn't speak, but calmly scanned the entire room.

The entire square fell silent in an instant.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the first young person in Qingzhou to speak.

"The Ascension Ceremony is a stepping stone for advancement provided by our Heavenly Sword Manor to all people in the world."

Jian Wuchen's voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly transmitted to everyone's ears through the enhancement of his true essence.

He then addressed the people waiting to be selected below the stage: "It is your good fortune to be able to stand here, and it is also a blessing from my Heavenly Sword Manor. I hope you will not disappoint me. Show your full strength and fight for your future."

His words were brief and arrogant, full of condescending condescension.

But none of the young men and women who were candidates or these independent cultivators felt anything was wrong; on the contrary, they all showed expressions of excitement and gratitude.

In their view, receiving personal encouragement from the young master of Tianjian Manor was already an immense honor.

After saying these few polite words, Jian Wuchen sat down again, as if saying another word would be a waste of his time.

Zhao Xin, the outer sect elder who had presided over the first two rounds of selection, immediately understood and stepped onto the arena.

"The selection process shall begin now!"

(End of this chapter)