"Good, you've reached the peak of the Hua Wu Realm in less than a year, just one step away from becoming a Time Weaver."
As the competition approached, Li Xuan also emerged from his secluded cultivation in the cave. Jian Nan Cang nodded with satisfaction after glancing at Li Xuan.
"Master flatters me. Ultimately, it's all thanks to the sword intent within this cave," Li Xuan replied with a smile, then cast a slightly regretful glance at the cave.
The sword intent within the cave had now completely vanished. For such powerful sword intent to linger again, another figure as formidable as the Ancestor Jian Wushuang would likely be needed.
"You needn't be so disheartened. If everyone could absorb it, the sword intent here wouldn't have remained for over ten thousand years to await your arrival," Jian Nan Cang said with a smile. His expression then turned serious.
"But is there a problem with the competition?" Li Xuan nodded, guessing something from Jian Nan Cang's expression.
Jian Nan Cang nodded with a complex expression and said, "Wu Hao Tian, the top disciple of the Martial Academy, is exceptionally gifted among the younger generation. It is rumored that he has already taken a half-step into the True Martial Realm. Furthermore, three months ago, Wu Hao Tian entered the Martial Academy's Asura Martial God Battlefield for trials."
"So, Master means that our biggest opponent from the Martial Academy this time is him?" Li Xuan asked. Though he didn't fully understand the True Martial Realm, anyone who could make Jian Nan Cang so cautious was undoubtedly no ordinary person.
Jian Nan Cang nodded slightly. "Our Sword Sect lost the previous three competitions because of this person. Your appearance this time is, in essence, the Sword Sect's only hope. If Wu Hao Tian breaks through to the True Martial Realm, even someone at the peak of the Time Weaver realm will not be his match."
"Master, what exactly is this True Martial Realm?" Li Xuan asked with some surprise.
Jian Nan Cang gave a wry smile and patiently explained, "The Martial Academy's cultivation methods differ from ours as sword cultivators, but they share similar principles. Their realm divisions, starting from Warrior Realm, Master Realm, Grand Master Realm, Sect Master Realm, King Realm, correspond to our sword cultivator realms."
"The lower realms aren't worth dwelling on. From the Void God Realm onwards, it's similar to the Incarnation Realm. After the Void God Realm comes the Martial God Realm, Heavenly God Realm, and God King Realm."
Jian Nan Cang paused and continued, "Initially, the Martial Academy was a self-contained system, as the one who founded it was a peer of our Ancestor. However, many disciples of the Martial Academy stagnated at the threshold of the True Martial Realm, which is why they later integrated the cultivation methods of Spirit Masters to create the Great Emperor of Time."
"What you need to understand is that once Wu Hao Tian breaks through to the True Martial Realm, the Martial Academy will reach a new height. The boost from the True Martial Realm alone is enough to allow Wu Hao Tian to fight three realms above his own."
Li Xuan couldn't help but gasp. The True Martial Realm was indeed that terrifying. However, fighting above his own realm wasn't something Li Xuan had never done. Moreover, the prospect of clashing with such a formidable opponent instantly ignited a powerful fighting spirit within him.
*Hum.*
As if sensing Li Xuan's fighting spirit, a sword hum erupted from within him, resonating with a deafening roar.
"Mid-grade Sword Qi!"
Seeing the sword intent surge around Li Xuan's body, Jian Nan Cang's pupils contracted sharply.
Li Xuan smiled, a look of intense confidence on his face. "The Ancestor's cave left behind a set of Sword Qi techniques. Though I haven't fully comprehended them, they are enough to make me invincible among those of the same level and allow me to fight three realms above my own!"
"Excellent!" Jian Nan Cang's face broke into a look of ecstatic joy. His gaze towards Li Xuan became even more pleased.
Originally, Jian Nan Cang had worried that Li Xuan might not be a match for Wu Hao Tian after his breakthrough to the True Martial Realm. But now that Li Xuan had grasped the Sword Qi techniques, Jian Nan Cang felt no lingering concern.
Though the Martial Academy's martial arts were formidable, sword cultivators were hardly weak. Moreover, a sword cultivator who had mastered Sword Qi was an incredibly terrifying existence.
Jian Nan Cang even had a fleeting thought that if Li Xuan were to unleash his Sword Qi techniques, even he, a Great Emperor of Time, might have to exert considerable effort.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh!*
Just then, accompanied by several whistling sounds, Jian Kai Cheng and others also appeared outside the cave.
"Sect Master, that aura just now… it sounded like the Sword Qi technique. Could it be that you've comprehended your own Sword Qi technique?" Jian Kai Cheng glanced around, then asked Jian Nan Cang with a hint of suspicion.
Jian Nan Cang smiled and then looked towards Li Xuan.
Seeing Jian Nan Cang's signal, Li Xuan moved his mind and immediately unleashed the Sword Qi technique. In an instant, Jian Kai Cheng and Jian Hong Da were enveloped.
Upon seeing this, Jian Kai Cheng and Jian Hong Da wore expressions of utter disbelief.
"Holy crap!"
"Ahem… I lost my composure for a moment there."
Jian Kai Cheng and the others coughed awkwardly, then looked at Li Xuan with glittering eyes. "As I said, how could this chosen one be ordinary? It seems that with this competition against the Martial Academy, our Sword Sect can finally regain some ground!"
Jian Nan Cang smiled and said, "This matter must not be leaked; it is one of Li Xuan's trump cards. Alright, everyone, go and make preparations. We will depart with the disciples participating in the competition tomorrow."
"Understood." Jian Kai Cheng and the others nodded, then disappeared with a move of their figures.