Chapter 169: Astonishing Skill

Jiang Fan shot a glare at Liu Qingxian, muttering, "Would you die if you didn't mention me?"

A mischievous glint appeared in Liu Qingxian's eyes. "Enough chatter. Aren't you going to accept the challenge?"

She knew, of course, that mentioning Jiang Fan would inevitably make him a target. But she did it on purpose. She even uttered the highly offensive phrase, "not as good as Jiang Fan." Why? Because each and every one of them looked down on Jiang Fan and slandered him. It was time for Jiang Fan to show them what he could do and make them eat their words. Given Jiang Fan's composed nature, he wouldn't care about these things unless he was forced into the spotlight. Hence, this whole situation.

Jiang Fan was speechless. He truly had no interest in putting on a public display. So he cupped his hands toward Ling Guihai and said, "My swordsmanship is merely average. I wouldn't dare make a fool of myself in front of a distinguished disciple of the Myriad Sword Sect. Please don't take Senior Sister Liu's words to heart."

But how could Ling Guihai just let it go? Liu Qingxian's words had made him lose face in public! If Jiang Fan didn't make a move, how could he counter that statement?

"Junior Brother Jiang, it's fine if you don't give me face, but are you going to disregard the face of the Azure Cloud Sect as well?" Ling Guihai said with displeasure, "The prodigies from all sects are here, representing the prestige of their respective sects. If you cower and refuse to fight, it will be the Azure Cloud Sect that loses face."

What a move! He clearly wanted to regain his own reputation, yet he dragged the sect into it. With words spoken to this extent, Jiang Fan had no choice but to comply. He reluctantly said, "A fight is unnecessary. My cultivation is shallow, so I'll just demonstrate some swordsmanship."

What Ling Guihai truly wanted, of course, was to thoroughly defeat Jiang Fan and display his absolute strength. However, doing so would be an unfair victory. After all, he was at the Core Formation stage, while Jiang Fan was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. It was also fine to let him demonstrate his swordsmanship. Everyone present was an elite from their respective sects, with excellent judgment. They could easily discern the quality of swordsmanship at a glance.

"Very well, please proceed!"

Left with no other option, Jiang Fan was forced to perform. He stepped onto the arena. He casually drew his black sword, holding it loosely in his hand. Since it was just a demonstration, he decided to show a simple trick without putting in his full effort.

This posture immediately drew numerous doubts. "He has no imposing presence even when drawing his sword. Will his swordsmanship be superior to Ling Guihai's?""He doesn't look like someone who practices swordsmanship.""Just now, when Ling Guihai drew his sword, he achieved the state of sword and man in unity. What about him?"

Ji Ruyue pursed her red lips, a look of disgust in her eyes. She said sarcastically, "Everyone, be careful. What if he can't even hold his sword and it flies off? That would be very dangerous."

Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. Ling Guihai also showed a hint of disdain. Could such a person possibly compare swordsmanship with him?

However, the laughter was suddenly swallowed by a burst of explosive sound. Jiang Fan had already begun performing his swordsmanship.

"Sword of Cleaving Light!"

Sword energy erupted from his body, striking the air in front of him, creating a rolling, muffled thunder. The private room was extremely well-sealed, causing the muffled thunder to reverberate endlessly, building up to an increasingly powerful momentum. In an instant, it completely drowned out the laughter. This froze the expressions on everyone's faces.

"What happened?""What made such a loud noise?""Is it a special attribute of that sword?""Or Jiang Fan's swordsmanship?"

As they wondered in shock, Jiang Fan unleashed his second sword technique.

"Sun Rising from the Ocean!"

This time, they saw clearly! A powerful sword energy, imbued with the magnificent aura of a dragon emerging from the sea, pierced through the air in front of him. The explosive sword energy burst forth like a thunderclap. It made their ears ring. The wall decorations inside the room were all shaken loose and fell. Even sitting on the floor, they felt the ground shaking, causing their entire bodies to tingle.

"This... is this swordsmanship?""What kind of swordsmanship has such astonishing power?"

Yet, immediately after, the third sword technique was unleashed.

"Stars Falling from Heaven and Earth!"

An even more terrifying and incomparably powerful sword energy, far surpassing the previous two moves, surged forth. Experienced martial artists' faces changed drastically, and they cried out, "Open the windows! Quickly open the windows! Otherwise, we'll all be deafened..."

Several martial artists near the windows frantically pushed them open. Just at that moment, an earth-shattering thunderous explosion resounded. Everyone felt a sharp pain in their ears and their bodies trembled. The powerful thunder destroyed their hearing, leaving them with only incessant, piercing ringing in their ears. After a full ten breaths, their hearing gradually returned.

Looking around, large sections of tiles had been shaken off the roof, and the wall decorations lay scattered on the ground. The arena itself was riddled with massive cracks from the impact of the exploding sword energy. In the blink of an eye, the private room was a mess. And this was still because the windows had been opened in time, mitigating the impact of the thunderous explosion. Otherwise, everyone present would surely have been injured!

They gazed at Jiang Fan in shock, their faces filled with disbelief. This swordsmanship was far superior to Ling Guihai's, not just by a little bit! The two were completely in different leagues!

"The Azure Cloud Sect actually possesses such formidable swordsmanship?""Even the Myriad Sword Sect, which specializes in swordsmanship, might not have such profound ultimate techniques!""This is insane! Is this Jiang Fan truly a disciple without a spiritual root?""The power of this swordsmanship could rank among the top across the Nine Sects!""If he had sufficient cultivation, defeating Ling Guihai and seizing the ninth spot on the Golden Ranking with this set of swordsmanship would be a certainty!"

After this demonstration, everyone looked at Jiang Fan in a new light. No one dared to view him as merely a "disciple without a spiritual root" anymore. Ling Guihai's face showed disbelief. This set of swordsmanship was far stronger than his own.

What shocked him and everyone else even more intensely was this: After Jiang Fan returned to his seat, Liu Qingxian playfully punched him with her small fist, complaining, "Why didn't you go all out?"

The shock that was just about to subside among the crowd surged anew! So, what they had just witnessed was merely Jiang Fan performing casually, without being serious? Recalling his loose grip on the sword, no one doubted Liu Qingxian's judgment.

Ling Guihai's expression turned somewhat grim. So Liu Qingxian's words were true after all! He was not as good as Jiang Fan!

Ji Ruyue, on the other hand, bit her red lip slightly. Her earlier sarcasm felt like a boomerang that had come back to hit her in the face. This made her quite exasperated and embarrassed. She said in a sarcastic tone, "He just happens to know a formidable swordsmanship technique, that's all. The martial arts world values overall strength. Swordsmanship is just one part of it."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Although Jiang Fan's swordsmanship was astonishing and far surpassed Ling Guihai's, no one would think that Jiang Fan's status was higher than Ling Guihai's. The latter had earned his ninth spot on the Golden Ranking through sheer strength! What about Jiang Fan? He was unknown—no, wait, he was the well-known "disciple without a spiritual root" across the Nine Sects. In terms of status, he was simply not comparable to Ling Guihai. Therefore, after a brief shock, everyone continued to lavish praise on Ling Guihai.

Liu Qingxian couldn't help but sneer, "A bunch of pragmatists! Just wait until Jiang Fan's strength improves. Let's see what you'll say then."

However, she spoke these words without much confidence. No matter how much he improved, Jiang Fan's status wouldn't catch up to Ling Guihai's in the short term. Ling Guihai's fame was firmly established. How could Jiang Fan compare?

But just then, a waiter from downstairs rushed over, saying, "Honored guests, do any of you happen to know a fairy named Xia Chaoge? She's looking for someone called... called..." He momentarily forgot who the person was looking for.

But inside the room, everyone erupted in a commotion! Xia Chaoge? She had come as promised?