The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 1761: Chapter 1858: Trial of Sword Qi

Ask Sword Platform, a mountain peak with its summit entirely sheared off, is the true site for this Sword Head evaluation.

This Ask Sword Platform is situated at the center of various peaks, and standing on the surrounding mountains, one can see the happenings on the Ask Sword Platform clearly, avoiding the need for a crowd to squeeze onto the platform to watch the battles.

At sunrise, a figure gently descends onto the Ask Sword Platform, surrounded by sword qi that shakes the eight directions.

Heroes from various peaks gaze upon the figure on the Ask Sword Platform, with feelings ranging from awe and fear to admiration and hostility.

This is a slim young man with a heavy sword on his back, scars covering his face giving him a rather ferocious look.

Sealing Sword Pavilion Master!

Though a young man’s form, he possesses the strength to split the heavens and earth! A true contemporary peak powerhouse, revered by countless in both Martial Arts and Sword Tao.

The Sealing Sword Pavilion Master glanced around the peaks, with a slight smile and a voice echoing between heaven and earth: "Today marks the start of our Sealing Sword Pavilion’s new Sword Head evaluation. I’m delighted that so many of you have come from afar. Let’s keep it brief and explain the rules: First, a sword Tao competition among the younger generation, as before—whoever can stand on this platform the longest will have a higher rank on the Talent Sword Head List in the future. The platform is covered by an array, suppressing all competing swordsmen to the same cultivation level, allowing for quick recovery of exhausted energy and inner strength, so there’s no need to worry about being eliminated due to overexertion."

Heroes from the peaks nodded in agreement, finding these rules quite reasonable.

Especially the quick recovery array for energy and inner strength seems fair, preventing the talented from being preyed upon due to exhaustion after defeating many opponents.

Thus, individual strength is the only means to discern the best.

"Given the high number of participants, to avoid chaos, we’ll first eliminate some whose strength is lacking. As for the elimination method—all who wish to compete on the Talent Sword Head List shall ascend the platform, withstand my sword qi; those who fall are eliminated, and those who stand shall continue to participate," said the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master.

Upon hearing this, some young swordsmen hoping to go unnoticed showed faces of distress, having limited confidence in their strength and coming here with a fleeting hope to find some weaker opponents and make a name for themselves.

But with the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master’s declaration, those wishing to coast along have no choice but to brace themselves and ascend the platform.

In an instant, countless figures flew onto the Ask Sword Platform, all young swordsmen aiming for the Talent Sword Head List competition, most of whom were full of spirit, though some were understated, some breathtakingly sharp.

A glance revealed that there were at least tens of thousands standing on the Ask Sword Platform.

It’s no surprise, as this time the Sealing Sword Pavilion invited forces from the Nine Countries Seven Seas, increasing the number of swordsmen compared to past evaluations.

Were it not for the Ask Sword Platform being vast enough, it could hardly accommodate so many swordsmen.

Still, the platform was crowded, nearly shoulder to shoulder, filled with young swordsmen brimming with hostility toward their neighbors, with some proud ones displaying outright disdain.

From Sky Swallowing Palace, only Cao Xuesheng ascended the platform, and due to wearing the Wolf Head Mask, few dared approach him, since the holy beast’s mask symbolizes a Sky Swallowing Palace envoy, not someone commoners could dare approach.

The Sealing Sword Pavilion Master stood mid-air, gazing down at the plethora of young swordsmen on the Ask Sword Platform, without immediately unleashing his sword qi.

"You have an hour to each make preparations," said the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master.

Immediately, those young swordsmen earnestly prepared, adjusting their states to perfection.

"If the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master harbors a killing intent, few among these young swordsmen on the platform might survive," Fang Lin said to Dugu Nian.

"He’s hardly daring enough to do that," replied Dugu Nian.

Fang Lin nodded. Though it’s unlikely the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master would wipe out so many young swordsmen with one strike, Fang Lin kept a close watch to see what schemes this fellow might have.

An hour quickly passed, and the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master spoke no further, as an overwhelming sword qi condensed in front of him.

The young swordsmen on Ask Sword Platform all felt pressure; though the sword qi hadn’t yet descended, the oppressive sensation already made some of them uneasy.

The next moment, the sword qi arrived!

Instantly, sword qi crisscrossed the Ask Sword Platform, and many swordsmen fell, unable to withstand it.

"The Sealing Sword Pavilion Master’s mastery of sword qi is so unique; a bit stronger and there could be grievous injuries."

"Yet this sword qi is by no means weak; the Pavilion Master merely dispersed its power. Concentrate it and even the Long-lived Ones must retreat."

"Such is the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master’s strength! Truly worthy of being today’s foremost in sword Tao!"

"How many young swordsmen might withstand this trial?"

····

Though the sword qi didn’t last long, over half of the swordsmen on the Ask Sword Platform fell.

As the sword qi fully dispersed, barely fewer than ten thousand swordsmen remained standing; over ten thousand had fallen.

Cao Xuesheng, donning the Gray Wolf mask, stood there somewhat idly, with his strength easily resisting the Pavilion Master’s dispersed ordinary sword qi.

Not far from Cao Xuesheng, Cheng Jinhai’s new disciple Duanmu Feng stood as well, although he appeared more strained, face pale, body hunched, nowhere near Cao Xuesheng’s ease.

It’s understandable, as despite Duanmu Feng’s decent talent, his strength was only above average among these swordsmen; staying upright was already quite an accomplishment.

"Not bad, the nine thousand two hundred of you may continue competing on the Talent Sword Head List; those fallen have lost their qualification," said the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master, his tone plain yet filled with irrefutable authority.

The fallen ones sighed, having come with the hopes of making a name, yet were immediately eliminated, leaving them somewhat unsatisfied.

But such are the harsh realities of competition, with only those who prevail emerging as true sword Tao talents of the Nine Countries Seven Seas.

"Quite a few interesting people have emerged," Fang Lin remarked, watching the standing figures on the Ask Sword Platform with keen interest.

ps: Fourth update now, stepping out to check my phone, continuing tomorrow.

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