Chapter 1967: Ten-Mile Sword God

At the same cultivation level, Zhang Xuan was almost invincible. Even if his opponents, like a sect leader or an elder, were suppressed to the same Ancient Sage One realm, it was uncertain if they could defeat him!

Given this, he could easily seek them out for a good thrashing. These individuals surely possessed many valuable items and a wealth of information. By defeating them, he could inquire thoroughly. Perhaps this would lead to clues about Luo Ruoxi. It seemed that once he arrived at the sect, he would need to quickly find a suitable Tong Shen Jade Token to access their system, and then... specifically seek out the sect leader or the highest-ranking elders to beat them up!

Thinking this, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but slap his thigh and stand up. "Excellent! That's what I'll do!"

"Do what?" Elder Lu Yun looked over, a suspicious expression on his face.

"I just warned you that you'd meet the sect leader and elders... What are you so excited about? Is this guy an idiot?" He had previously considered recruiting Zhang Xuan into the Sword Pavilion, but after spending a few days with him and seeing him occasionally act like a madman, that idea gradually faded.

"Uh, nothing... just talking to myself!" Zhang Xuan scratched his head awkwardly and chuckled.

Shan Xiaotian covered his face.

The flying sacred beast soon landed on a tall mountain peak. After dismounting, Elder Lu Yun arranged a residence for them.

"You rest here first. Shan Xiaotian, come with me; I'll take you for your assessment!" After settling Zhang Xuan, Cao Chengli, and Old Yi, Elder Lu Yun spoke.

"Assessment?"

"My previous assessment only confirmed your qualification to become an inner disciple. To truly enter the inner sect, you still need to undergo a sword test at the Sword God Hall!" Elder Lu Yun explained.

"Sword God Hall?"

"It's where disciples are assessed. Whether a miscellaneous disciple wants to join the inner sect, or an inner disciple wishes to become a direct disciple, they all need to be tested there. It's similar to my earlier request for you to spar with Huo Jianghe, but the tests here are more standardized and better reflect one's true ability than a direct battle." Elder Lu Yun explained with a smile, "In combat, factors like one's state, mindset, and on-the-spot reactions can create discrepancies, but the Sword God Hall assessment won't. As long as your comprehension of sword techniques is sufficient and reaches the required level, it will be easily measured."

Shan Xiaotian understood.

"Let's go!" Elder Lu Yun finished speaking and was about to leave with Shan Xiaotian.

"Elder Lu, I'd like to observe as well, if that's permitted?" Zhang Xuan walked over. The Sword God Hall could actually test one's comprehension of the Way of the Sword. He also had a certain understanding of sword arts, so it would be a good opportunity to see it.

"This..." Elder Lu Yun hesitated for a moment, then said, "Very well!" Normally, outsiders were not allowed into the Sword God Hall. However, both miscellaneous and inner disciples could be assessed there. Although Zhang Xuan was not a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, he was Shan Xiaotian's friend, so there was no harm in letting him observe.

They once again mounted the beast's back, flew for a while, and arrived at another tall mountain peak. In the center stood a building shaped like a towering longsword, plunged into the ground.

"This is the Sword God Hall. Every day, many miscellaneous, outer, and inner disciples come here for assessments!" Upon entering the main gate, they indeed saw many people standing inside, all with longswords on their backs, their sword qi faintly discernible. Most of them were surprisingly no weaker than Zhang Xuan in terms of strength.

"As expected of one of the Six Major Powers of the Firmament, there are indeed many experts here..." He couldn't help but marvel. He had thought his strength, at the peak of early Ancient Sage Four, was quite good, but unexpectedly, here he couldn't even be considered among the top. These were merely individuals who came to try their luck or be tested. One could only imagine how many true experts were in seclusion, and what their capabilities were.

"There are rooms everywhere here, and each room contains a Sword God Platform. By providing enough Sword Pavilion Coins, you can open a room and enter for a test!" Knowing it was their first day and they were unfamiliar with the Sword God Hall, Elder Lu Yun continued, "Of course, the first assessment is free; subsequent ones require payment!"

"Oh!" Both exhaled in relief simultaneously. They had just arrived at the Sword Pavilion and didn't even know what Sword Pavilion Coins looked like. If they had to pay, they wouldn't have any.

"I'll open a room for you that allows two tests. Shan Xiaotian will go first. Little Brother Zhang Xuan, if you also wish to try, please wait until he comes out. The Sword God Platform can only test one person at a time; more would interfere with the collection of sword intent!" After the introduction, Elder Lu Yun walked over and, a short while later, led the two to a room. "Once inside, grasp the longsword and immediately release the sword intent within you, channeling your comprehension of the Way of the Sword... If your sword intent extends beyond one meter, you can become a miscellaneous disciple; ten meters, you can become an outer disciple; and thirty meters, you qualify as an inner disciple! Your goal now is to exceed that distance!"

"Thirty meters?" Shan Xiaotian nodded, puzzled.

"Thirty meters represents your comprehension of the Way of the Sword, not sword qi. With your cultivation, sword qi couldn't possibly extend that far..." Elder Lu Yun chuckled.

"Right!" Shan Xiaotian looked embarrassed. Based on his understanding of sword techniques, the sword qi he could release would only reach two or three meters; thirty meters was certainly impossible. So-called 'sword intent' must not be like that.

Creak! Shan Xiaotian pushed the door open and walked in.

Seeing him leave, Zhang Xuan looked over with curiosity. "What's the maximum sword intent length for inner disciples?" If thirty meters qualified them, then what was the upper limit?

"Normally, if one's sword intent reaches a hundred meters, they qualify as a core disciple! However, many inner disciples have already surpassed this distance. The most elite ones have even exceeded two hundred, three hundred meters, or even further!" Elder Lu Yun stated.

"Three hundred meters?" Zhang Xuan gasped. Although he didn't know how this 'sword intent length' was calculated, for a normal inner disciple, even thirty meters was difficult. The fact that some could reach ten times that distance was truly astonishing.

"Indeed, but some core disciples are even more powerful, exceeding five hundred meters. Those who surpass that distance can be called 'Sword Gods'! This is why titles like 'One-Li Sword God' or 'Two-Li Sword God' exist... It's said that the most prodigious talent in the Sword Pavilion's history once extended his sword intent to ten li, earning him the title 'Ten-Li Sword God'!" Elder Lu Yun's eyes gleamed with admiration.

"Ten-Li Sword God?" Zhang Xuan was astonished. While ordinary people struggled with mere dozens of meters, this genius managed ten li... The thought alone was incredible.

"I wonder... how far can Elder Lu's sword intent extend?" After his shock subsided, Zhang Xuan was filled with curiosity.

"Me?" Hearing the question, Elder Lu Yun gave a wry smile. "My talent isn't good. When I was young, I couldn't even pass the inner disciple assessment. I only reached my current cultivation through diligent effort over time, securing a position as an outer elder... Although I've practiced sword for many years, I still haven't managed to break a hundred meters; even now, it's only ninety-seven meters!"

"Ninety-seven meters? That's already very impressive..." Zhang Xuan nodded, then instinctively looked towards the room door before them... This disciple had only learned sword techniques from him for one night, merely memorizing the moves, and his comprehension of the Way of the Sword and sword intent wasn't deep... How many meters could he reach, he wondered?

Upon entering the room, Shan Xiaotian immediately saw a small circular platform before him, with a longsword plunged into its center. This must be the so-called Sword God Platform. Ahead of him was an open, empty field. So, this room had no walls. No wonder sword intent could extend for dozens of meters. Otherwise, constructing such a large, empty room that couldn't impede sword intent would have required an immense amount of effort.

He stepped onto the platform, drew the longsword, held it in his palm, and took a deep breath. Shan Xiaotian concentrated intensely, circulating the power within his body. So-called sword intent was his personal comprehension of sword techniques. He had practiced sword from a young age, diligently training for over a decade, and had long since developed his own understanding and connection to sword techniques. With the longsword in his palm, he immediately felt a sense of perfect integration, as if it were an extension of his arm.

Sensing his artistic conception, the longsword emitted a soft hum. A pure white light, under the operation of the Sword God Platform, slowly gathered and extended forward. He narrowed his eyes, continuously channeling his power.

The sword intent extending forward stopped. Seeing the clear distance, Shan Xiaotian's face stiffened.

"One chi? That's... one-third of a meter?" He had used all his strength, yet his sword intent only extended one-third of a meter... Didn't that mean his comprehension of the Way of the Sword wasn't even enough for a miscellaneous disciple? "Impossible... Huo Jianghe wasn't my match at the same level..." Feeling bewildered, Shan Xiaotian felt his head might explode. Elder Lu Yun kept saying how fair the Sword God Hall was. He had personally tested his sword techniques, and Huo Jianghe couldn't withstand him at the same level. How could he not even reach one meter during this test?

"I defeated Huo Jianghe by throwing my sword. Let me try that move..." After pondering for a moment, he suddenly remembered his most powerful move. He took a deep breath and lightly flicked his finger. The longsword flew from his grasp and floated.

Rumble! The moment the longsword left his palm, a mighty sword intent immediately erupted from him. The entire room filled with countless white mists, surging wildly like a hurricane.

"This..." Shan Xiaotian's mouth twitched, and he stared in a daze. Just now, his sword intent, even with full strength, only extended one-third of a meter. Now, using the 'throwing sword' technique taught by his teacher, it was so fierce even before the sword fully left his hand. How powerful would it be when the move was fully unleashed? The technique taught by his teacher and the one he had developed himself... there couldn't be such a huge difference, could there?

"Go!" His face showing embarrassment, he pointed his finger, and the longsword flew straight forward.

Boom! The white sword intent surged rapidly and, in the blink of an eye, vanished from sight, leaving no trace. This... Shan Xiaotian blinked. His own sword intent maxed out at one chi, but when he used his teacher's sword technique, it flew out of sight... invisible to the naked eye... This clearly exceeded thirty meters, fifty meters, or even a hundred meters, didn't it?

"Still flying?" After waiting a while, the sword intent seemed to still be flying without end. Shan Xiaotian was utterly at a loss. If it kept flying, did that mean he wouldn't get a score?

Just as he was looking utterly distraught, the side wall flickered, and a result appeared.

"499 meters!"

499 meters, one step away from a Sword God!