Chapter 255: Discussion on the Swordsmanship Tournament

A young woman in a green dress, with delicate features, squatted down and spoke. A purple moon pattern on her sleeve clearly indicated she was a Yang family member. She was around twenty years old and at the third level of Foundation Establishment.

Wang Changsheng felt a surge of secret delight. Several Yang family disciples had previously approached him, offering to exchange other items, but he hadn't found anything appealing.

“Crafting a Grade 2 Mid-tier puppet beast isn't easy. Two hundred jin is too little; another thirty jin would be more appropriate.”

“I can only add ten jin at most. Nothing more.”

Wang Changsheng was satisfied with this price and nodded in agreement.

“Wait a moment, I don’t have enough Heaven and Earth Spirit Water on me. I’ll ask my brother to send some over.”

The young woman in the green dress took out a communication disk, cast a spell on it, and said, “Brother, do you still have that fifty jin of diluted Profound Nether Cold Water on you? You haven’t exchanged it, have you?”

“Yes, I do. What’s wrong?”

“That’s good. I need your fifty jin of diluted Profound Nether Cold Water. I’ll send Zi’er to find you, and you can just follow it back.”

After speaking, the young woman in the green dress patted the spirit beast pouch at her waist with her delicate hand. A clear cry sounded, and a purple sparrow with an unusually long tail flew out of the pouch.

“Zi’er, go bring my brother over.”

The young woman in the green dress flipped her delicate hand, and a green, round date appeared in her palm.

The purple sparrow swallowed the green date in one gulp, spread its wings, and flew into the distance.

Not long after, the purple sparrow returned, followed by a refined-looking young man. He had handsome features, a tall stature, wore a purple-gold robe, a golden hair crown, and a white jade belt. He was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.

Wang Changsheng was secretly astonished to see the young man in the gold robe. To be at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment at such a young age truly showed that there is always someone more capable, and a higher realm to reach.

The young man in the gold robe took out a blue gourd and handed it to the young woman in the green dress.

The young woman in the green dress took out a green gourd, poured the Profound Nether Cold Water from the blue gourd into it, and then handed it to Wang Changsheng.

After Wang Changsheng verified its contents, he handed the three Grade 2 Mid-tier puppets to the young woman in the green dress.

The young man in the gold robe swept his gaze over the items on Wang Changsheng’s stall. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. The other party was so young yet already at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment and had many Grade 2 items, clearly indicating he was not a rogue cultivator.

He approached the stall, cupped his hands at Wang Changsheng, and pleasantly said, “I am Yang Wenbin, and this is my younger sister, Yang Wenyue. How should I address you, fellow Daoist?”

“I am Wang Yang. It’s a pleasure to meet fellow Daoist Yang and Fairy Yang.”

Wang Changsheng did not dare to be negligent and promptly returned the greeting.

“May I be so bold as to ask, fellow Daoist Wang, to which sect do you belong?”

“I have no sect or affiliation; I am merely a rogue cultivator.”

Being in a foreign land, Wang Changsheng naturally wouldn’t easily reveal his true identity.

Yang Wenbin didn't seem to mind and smiled, saying, “If fellow Daoist Wang is interested, you can participate in tomorrow’s Sword Discourse Assembly. The third-place winner will receive thirty jin of undiluted Profound Nether Cold Water. Profound Nether Cold Water is an excellent Grade 2 material, whether for alchemy or artifact refining.”

“I will certainly attend.”

Yang Wenbin nodded and departed with Yang Wenyue.

Once they were out of earshot, Yang Wenyue quietly asked, “Brother, he definitely isn’t a rogue cultivator. Judging by his attire and demeanor, he doesn’t seem like one. How could a rogue cultivator be so wealthy?”

“I know. Many elite disciples from various powers have come to this Sword Discourse Assembly. This person might very well be an elite disciple from one of them. I simply wanted to make his acquaintance. If we meet again in the future, it will be much easier to befriend him. If we had just left after buying the items, like you suggested, it would be inconvenient to establish a connection if we encountered him again.”

“He’s only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, whereas you, brother, are already at the seventh. In a few decades, you might even advance to the Core Formation stage. What’s the point of befriending him? Next time he sees you, he might have to address you as Senior Yang.”

Yang Wenbin smiled faintly and said, “Forming a Core isn’t that easy. All right, I’ve arranged to meet two friends. You can take your time browsing.”

Early the next morning, hundreds of cultivators gathered in Bluestone Plaza. Ten circular platforms had been erected in the plaza, and a clean-shaven, pale-faced middle-aged man stood atop one of them.

“I am Yang Zongyan, and I will be presiding over the Sword Discourse Assembly. The rules are the same as before. Fellow Daoists wishing to participate must first sign a life-and-death waiver. Although combat is intended to stop at the appropriate point, accidents can inevitably occur. By signing the waiver, you assume full responsibility for your life and death. So, all fellow Daoists who wish to participate in the Sword Discourse Assembly, please sign the waiver first.”

“Fellow Daoists participating in the Sword Discourse Assembly, please come here to sign the life-and-death waiver.”

A Yang family disciple shouted loudly, standing in front of a green wooden table.

According to Wang Changsheng’s plan, he alone would participate in the Sword Discourse Assembly. However, Wang Ruyan insisted on joining, reasoning that a couple should accompany each other, depend on each other in life and death, and never abandon one another. Unable to dissuade her, Wang Changsheng had no choice but to agree.

Wang Changsheng crafted a magic artifact for Wang Ruyan every year. She possessed as many as five defensive artifacts alone, and as a Grade 2 Talisman Master, she had no problem defending herself.

Over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators participated in the Sword Discourse Assembly, with cultivation levels ranging from the third to eighth levels of Foundation Establishment.

“According to the usual rules, contestants must defeat a Yang family disciple to officially participate in the Sword Discourse Assembly. Now, fellow Daoists whose names are called, please step onto a platform: Li Jiang, Song Yong… Chen Xin.”

The Yang family dispatched ten Foundation Establishment cultivators to face the contestants. All ten of these cultivators were at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment.

This move by the Yang family was intended to filter out weaker Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Wang Changsheng stood below the platform, observing others’ combat.

The ten Foundation Establishment cultivators sent by the Yang family were all quite strong; weaker Foundation Establishment cultivators simply couldn't defeat the Yang family disciples.

The ten matches quickly concluded; the Yang family disciples won six and lost three.

Soon, another ten contestants stepped onto the platforms. This time, they faced different opponents, also ten fourth-level Foundation Establishment disciples from the Yang family.

The Yang family dispatched over thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators to take turns fighting the contestants.

After more than half an hour, Wang Changsheng stepped onto a platform. His opponent was a tall, thin young man in red robes, with a red jade pendant hanging from his waist.

Wang Changsheng had observed this person fighting before; he was skilled in fire-element spells and quite powerful.

“The match begins!”

As the referee’s declaration fell, a thick green light barrier appeared, enveloping the entire platform.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and a translucent blue light barrier, like glazed glass, appeared close to his body, protecting him entirely. In one breath, he summoned five Grade 2 Low-tier giant eagle puppet beasts.

Wang Changsheng could now simultaneously control twelve puppet beasts, but he didn’t want to appear too conspicuous. A fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator controlling five magic artifacts simultaneously was not unusual.

The five giant eagle puppet beasts flew up and simultaneously spewed dozens of green light swords, striking towards the young man in red robes.

The young man in red robes remained unhurried. He patted the red jade pendant at his waist, and with a flash of red light, a thick red light barrier appeared close to his body, enveloping him entirely.