Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

Suishan Sword Sect, Outer Gate, Training Ground.

"Stop! What are you doing?"

As soon as Gu Shuxian and the others gathered at the outer edge of the training ground, an outer disciple maintaining order stopped them. His gaze swept over their coarse linen clothes, and his brows furrowed.

"From the servants' quarters? There are too many people and too many eyes in the training ground now, so you servants should stay out of trouble."

Qian Le became anxious: "Senior brother, those wandering martial artists can come and go as they please, so why are we, the disciples of our sect, being kept out? What kind of logic is this!"

"That's right!" Xu Ergou chimed in.

"We heard someone was challenging our sect's swordsmanship, so we came to see!"

Zhang Tieniu scratched his head: "Senior brother, although we are menial servants, we are still disciples of the sect. Can't we come and take a look?"

"It's not that I don't want you to come in, but these martial arts practitioners are unpredictable. You untrained handymen will be the first to suffer..."

The outer disciple tried to explain, but then paused, realizing that he himself didn't feel good about it.

Why are outsiders allowed to roam freely while our disciples face numerous restrictions?

He hesitated for a moment and then said, "Alright, I'll lead you around to watch from a distance. Stay close to me and don't wander off."

Everyone nodded and thanked him, then followed the outer disciple into the crowd, arriving at a secluded corner in a less-than-ideal location.

The visibility was poor, but fortunately there were a few bluestones on the ground. When everyone stepped on them, their eyes could see over the crowd of people and onto the arena.

At this moment, the battle on the arena was coming to an end.

A young man from out of town flashed his sword down at an angle, so fast it was almost invisible.

The Suishan disciple who was facing him swung his sword to block.

The two swords clashed.

A crisp clang!

The longsword in the hand of the Suishan disciple suddenly flew out and fell to the ground with a clatter.

He clutched his right shoulder, blood seeping between his fingers, his face full of resentment, and was helped away by others.

The audience erupted in a buzz of excitement.

"That's the third one!"

"This is already three defeats in a row. Could it be that this person really intends to defeat the younger generation of the Suishan Sword Sect with just a sword?"

"Hmph, what's the rush? Our true masters from Suishan haven't even shown up yet!"

The servants watching from afar changed their expressions and asked the outer disciple who was leading the way:

"Senior brother, who is this person? What's his background?"

The outer disciple's expression was solemn: "Shen Jianyi, the chief disciple of Qingping Sword Sect, is nineteen years old this year and is said to be a once-in-a-century sword genius."

Qian Le gasped, "Qingping Sword Sect? That's the one..."

"Yes, yes, that's the one." The outer disciple nodded. "You've heard of it too?"

Qian Le's expression changed slightly, and he explained to the bewildered crowd:

"I heard some things from those wandering martial artists before. Although Qingping Sword Sect can only be considered a mid-level sect, Shen Jianyi is a prodigy. It is said that he started learning swordsmanship at the age of seven, could exchange a hundred moves with his master without being defeated at the age of nine, defeated his fellow sect members with his swordsmanship at the age of thirteen, and traveled the martial world at the age of seventeen, challenging his peers without ever being defeated."

"W-That's amazing?" Deng Shifan exclaimed in surprise.

Compared to these menial servants, this person's resume is incredibly impressive!

"What's there to be afraid of!" Zheng Da puffed out his chest. "Our Suishan Sword Sect definitely still has experts!"

Upon hearing this, the outer disciple leading the way nodded and said dismissively, "No matter how powerful Shen Jian is outside, he's really ignorant of his own limitations to challenge our Suishan Sword Sect. Even the strongest senior brothers and sisters in the outer sect haven't made a move yet."

At this moment, on the arena.

Shen Jian stroked his sword and said loudly:

"I have long heard of the Suishan Sword Sect's 'Flickering Shadow' sword technique, which is light and graceful, with continuous moves, like swallows chasing shadows or butterflies flitting through flowers, and has the speed to chase light and shadow. Today I have witnessed it for myself..."

He shook his head and sighed with regret.

"Could it be that I misunderstood? This sword technique can only be used to brush against flowers?"

The audience erupted in uproar!

"Arrogant!"

A figure leaped onto the arena; it was a disciple of Suishan in his early twenties, his face ashen, as he drew his sword.

"Outer disciple Meng Heyu, I'd like to learn from your superior skills!"

Before he finished speaking, the sword had already been thrust out.

The sword tip trembled, transforming into three points of cold light that pierced Shen Jianyi's throat, heart, and lower abdomen respectively.

The sword strike was swift as lightning, clearly demonstrating the full force of his inner strength.

Gu Shuxian watched.

Now he can also analyze the strengths and weaknesses of sword techniques.

Meng Heyu's swordplay was conventional, but his foundation was solid, and with the infusion of internal energy, ordinary cultivators would probably not be able to withstand it.

However, Shen Jianyi simply turned slightly to the side and narrowly avoided these fierce sword moves.

But Meng Heyu changed his move very quickly, and when his sword strike missed, he swept it horizontally.

Instead of retreating, Shen Jianyi advanced, his foot slipped, and he brushed against the sword's edge as he entered, flicking his longsword.

Meng Heyu felt a force coming from the sword, his tiger's mouth trembled violently, he lost his grip on the hilt, and the longsword flew out of his hand.

Immediately afterwards, Shen Jianyi's sword tip came to rest firmly on Meng Heyu's throat.

"I lost..."

"Thank you for your concession."

Shen Jianyi sheathed his sword, stood calmly, and said slowly:

"My sect is small and insignificant, and I cultivate the inferior Guiyuan Inner Strength. It is far inferior to the Zixia Inner Strength of the Suishan Sword Sect, which is more advanced and pure. In terms of inner strength cultivation, I am naturally no match for this senior brother, but fortunately..."

"In swordsmanship, he has a slight edge."

Upon hearing this, Meng Heyu blushed. Shen Jianyi had said before setting up the arena that he would only fight with sword moves and not with internal energy. He had already broken the rules, and he still hadn't won. He was extremely ashamed and angry, and left without even picking up his own sword.

The disciples of Suishan below the stage also turned ashen-faced.

Other martial arts practitioners were also discussing it.

"I remember that Young Master Shen's rule was not to use internal energy, right? But what's wrong with these Suishan disciples? They started using internal energy right from the beginning?"

"The internal strength of the Suishan Sword Sect is naturally far superior to that of our small sect. That disciple probably wanted to gain an advantage, but unfortunately..."

"This is this person's personal behavior and has nothing to do with our sect!"

The servants watching the battle also looked grim.

The outer disciple leading the way also had a complicated expression: "Shen Jianyi didn't even use his internal energy from beginning to end. Meng Heyu's commotion has given us a pretext to criticize him..."

Qian Le's expression was complicated as he whispered, "Is there really no one in our sect who can surpass him in swordsmanship?"

"Of course there are..." The outer disciple wanted to say something more, but thinking of Meng Heyu's previous behavior, he shook his head and remained silent.

Among the crowd, a middle-aged man in a light blue robe stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

This man is called Yue Songting, Shen Jianyi's master.

His gaze fell on the figure on the arena, his thoughts a mix of emotions.

More than twenty years ago, he was young and full of vigor, confident that his swordsmanship was unmatched among his peers. Hearing that a new swordsmanship sect had emerged in the Suishan area, he sought instruction from the younger generation of this sect.

However, in that battle, he didn't even climb the mountain before being defeated by a passing Suishan disciple, who beat him so badly that he lay in the mud, unable to even hold his sword.