Chapter 481: The Origin of Ming Tai

The first match of the Golden Core Initial Stage group concludes, with rogue cultivator Zhuang Xuan declared the winner.

The gaunt referee announced the end of the first match. The winner was an unknown cultivator.

Whether from a large or small sect, disciples always receive their cultivation resources from their respective sects. Rogue cultivators, however, face a different reality. They often lack cultivation resources, making everything — wealth, companions, techniques, and suitable environments — scarce. Without the guidance of elders, their cultivation can easily deviate, making it incredibly difficult to correct. Consequently, the cultivation realms and quality of rogue cultivators are significantly lower than those of sect disciples. Therefore, the difficulty of defeating numerous sect cultivators, emerging from city-level and state-level competitions, and reaching the Wen Dao Sect, is considerable.

"Mark him down; he’s highly suspicious," Jiang Qun instructed the Luo Shui Guard. He reviewed Zhuang Xuan's previous combat records. Zhuang Xuan had dominated his way to the finals, consistently ending matches in five moves or less. Even in this first match of the finals, he defeated his opponent in just five moves. His strength was terrifying.

"Understood," the Luo Shui Guard replied, having already filled more than half a page with names.

"I'll definitely win our next bout!" the defeated cultivator exclaimed, full of vigor. Despite his loss to Zhuang Xuan, he wasn't disheartened and instead sought a rematch.

Zhuang Xuan cast a cold glance at his opponent and calmly uttered two words. "Boring."

"You!" The defeated cultivator's expression shifted slightly; Zhuang Xuan was far too arrogant.

Ignoring his opponent's reaction, Zhuang Xuan leapt from the stage, his eyelids drooping as he yawned idly. Had it not been for the competition's substantial rewards, he wouldn't have bothered to participate in what felt like a childish game with a bunch of kids. Winning felt meaningless; it offered no challenge whatsoever.

Soon, Zhuang Xuan's second match began. His opponent was a courteous sword cultivator who, by his demeanor, appeared to be a Confucian scholar practicing the Gentleman's Sword.

"I am Ming Tai of the Sword Tower. Please guide me," Ming Tai said shyly, holding his sword with both hands, its tip pointed downwards, as he bowed respectfully.

Zhuang Xuan still looked half-asleep. He held little regard for such polite cultivators, finding them utterly lacking in ferocity. They might be acceptable for skirmishes, but in a life-or-death battle on the battlefield, these were the first to fall. He had faced Confucian cultivators of the Integration stage multiple times. In his opinion, such cultivators belonged in imperial courts, debating subtleties, not charging into battle.

Whoosh—

A flash of azure sword light streaked past. Zhuang Xuan instinctively tilted his head back, but the azure light grazed his neck. A cool breeze followed, and a shallow sword mark appeared on his skin, quickly reddening with blood.

"He can cultivate a sword to such a level at this stage?" exclaimed a participating cultivator. Some, who hadn't witnessed Ming Tai's first match, now recognized him as a formidable opponent upon seeing his technique.

"To possess such swordsmanship at the Golden Core Initial Stage... he could contend with Old Man Buyu!" exclaimed an elder of the cultivation world. It had been a long time since the Central Continent had seen a swordsmanship genius comparable to Old Man Buyu.

"And this Zhuang Xuan is also extraordinary; he hasn't even used his full power yet," another elder nodded. "It's truly a grand competition. The initial rounds were already eye-opening, but in the Golden Core Initial Stage group, various prodigies are truly shining."

"This will be a fierce battle," a tall cultivator slowly remarked, his gaze as cold as ice. He had lost to Ming Tai in his own first match and had also studied Zhuang Xuan's fighting style. He believed that if these two were to face each other, it would undoubtedly be a spectacular clash. "What a shame my Turtle Breathing Technique has no use here!"

On the stage, a jade pendant fell from Zhuang Xuan's neck. The azure sword light had not only left a shallow cut on Zhuang Xuan's neck but had also severed the cord of his jade pendant. Zhuang Xuan bent down and solemnly picked up the pendant. His voice was low and hoarse, no longer betraying his usual listlessness.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuang Xuan, are you finally taking this seriously?" Ming Tai asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he looked at Zhuang Xuan.

Zhuang Xuan didn't reply directly, instead muttering to himself, yet his words seemed directed at Ming Tai. "This jade pendant holds profound significance. My master gave it to me on his deathbed. He told me I was an orphan, and when he found me, I was clutching this very pendant. It’s the only clue my parents left me, and I’ve always kept it close, never letting it touch the ground."

"You are the first to make it fall."

"Do you know, a dragon has a reverse scale? Touch it... and you die!"

A guttural, beast-like roar tore from Zhuang Xuan's throat, sending shivers down spines. He suddenly raised his head, glaring intensely at Ming Tai, his eyes like those of a wild beast that had lost all reason.

"His aura..." The Sect Master of the Imperial Qi Sect was slightly surprised. Zhuang Xuan's aura now nearly rivaled that of an early Nascent Soul cultivator. Yet, Zhuang Xuan was only at the Golden Core Initial Stage.

Zhuang Xuan went berserk, lunging at Ming Tai, radiating a chilling black aura. No one knew what technique this was, but it was clear that no one would want to face him as an opponent!

Boom—

Zhuang Xuan was swept away by a surge of sword energy, tumbling off the stage.

"Phew, that was really dangerous," Ming Tai exclaimed, still shaken, patting his chest. Once composed, he walked to the edge of the stage and bowed with his sword, looking at the still-stunned Zhuang Xuan. "A powerful aura does not always equate to high cultivation. Ming Tai has learned a valuable lesson today."

Zhuang Xuan blinked, still processing what had happened. Shouldn't he have unleashed his rage and torn Ming Tai apart? How did *he* end up losing?

"Where did your Sword Tower recruit this disciple?" Lu Baqian asked Elder Sikong, astonished. Others might not have seen it, but he, a dignified Grand Cultivator of the Tribulation Transcending Stage, saw it clearly: that sword strike contained profound cosmic principles and endless transformations, far beyond anything a Golden Core stage cultivator should be capable of. Even if a Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator could unleash such a move, they would be hailed as a genius!

Elder Sikong, seeing the usually boastful Lu Baqian display such an astonished expression, felt a satisfaction greater than eating ice in summer. "Heh heh, as I've always said, Ming Tai is the only one in my Sword Tower to have inherited the supreme legacy."

"That sword strike was impressive. My 'Slaying Word Technique' is only about that level," remarked Lu Yang from within his mental space, observing the battle on the stage through a small window left by the Immortal Fairy. Ming Tai's techniques were truly unexpected. If it weren't for Ming Tai, he might have forgotten he was a sword cultivator himself.

"This young one doesn't seem entirely human," the Immortal Fairy commented after a brief look at Ming Tai, quickly losing interest.

She might not have been interested, but Lu Yang was, and he quickly inquired what she meant. "It's as if a sword spirit developed true sentience and became a living entity. Then, someone created a body for it and invited it to inhabit it, merging spirit and flesh to make him a true human."

Lu Yang mused over this. He had the profiles of all participating prodigies, and Ming Tai's stated that he had received the Sword Tower's Supreme's recognition and inherited his legacy. "Could he be the Sword Tower Supreme's sword spirit, then?" That would explain everything.