Upon hearing that he could become the Grand Instructor, Gai Nie was clearly moved.
Although this Grand Instructor might not wield military authority, the title carried significant weight.
Once Gai Nie became Grand Instructor, the matters he wished to attend to would become much more convenient.
At the same time, Gai Nie genuinely harbored a desire to spar with Lin Tian.
Therefore, upon hearing Lin Tian's words, Gai Nie responded directly.
"Alright!!"
"I have long heard that the Great General is known as the Sword God. I have long wished to spar with the Great General!"
"Since the Great General has so cordially invited me, I must have a good spar!"
Having said that, Gai Nie drew his sword.
The sword in Gai Nie's hand was a treasured blade named Yuan Hong.
It was precisely because of this treasured sword that Gai Nie could unleash his full strength.
And this sword of his had defeated countless swordsmen.
Of course, ordinary swordsmen were not worthy of Gai Nie drawing his sword; those people did not even qualify to die by his blade.
However, upon seeing Lin Tian, Gai Nie drew his sword without hesitation.
He knew Lin Tian's prowess, and he knew that any hint of underestimation could lead to his direct demise by Lin Tian's sword.
In a duel between swordsmen, every move was fatal.
Thus, from the very start, he committed his full effort.
The onlookers only perceived a flash of white light before Gai Nie had already arrived before Lin Tian.
The sharp sword tip directly pierced towards Lin Tian.
Wang Wu and the others had never witnessed such swift sword techniques before.
Especially as this sword strike was aimed directly at Lin Tian, it instinctively caused them to cry out.
"Great General, be careful!!"
"Stop! Do not harm the Great General!!"
Their cries were purely instinctive.
It was only when they perceived danger that they shouted to warn Lin Tian and to stop Gai Nie.
However, their words had no effect on Lin Tian and Gai Nie.
Lin Tian showed no sign of evasion.
Gai Nie's sword attack showed no hesitation.
The next moment, Lin Tian also drew his sword.
"Clang!"
The crowd only heard the sound of a sword being drawn, and immediately after, they saw Gai Nie sent flying.
Gai Nie, the Sword Saint, had come swiftly and gone just as quickly.
He flew more than ten paces before he managed to regain his balance.
However, at this moment, Gai Nie's right hand began to tremble uncontrollably.
Lin Tian's strike had delivered an incredibly powerful force.
He hadn't even seen how Lin Tian had drawn his sword before he was sent flying.
Fast! It was too fast, so fast it was dazzling!
This speed caused Gai Nie to ask in disbelief.
"What… what technique is this?"
"For now, let's call it, Sword Draw Slash!!"
In truth, Lin Tian rarely engaged in one-on-one duels. Ever since he joined the battlefield, he had dealt with enemies as if cutting vegetables, never having specifically conceived of any combat techniques.
However, just now, Lin Tian had a flash of inspiration, and the moment he drew his sword, he directly slashed at Gai Nie.
This slash was not only astonishingly fast but also condensed a significant portion of Lin Tian's spirit.
Therefore, the power unleashed by this single sword strike was tremendous.
For anyone else, a single "Sword Draw Slash" would have been enough to end their life.
Towards Gai Nie, Lin Tian had, to some extent, held back.
But it had to be said that Gai Nie's strength was considerable, allowing him to withstand Lin Tian's strike.
At this moment, even Lin Tian couldn't help but praise.
"Your strength is indeed commendable. You are fit to be the Grand Instructor of our army!"
"You may stay!!"
Hearing that he could stay, Gai Nie visibly relaxed.
He had come to find Lin Tian precisely because he hoped to remain by Lin Tian's side.
Whether he would be heavily relied upon was secondary; the ability to leverage Lin Tian's influence was sufficient.
Now that Lin Tian had agreed to let him stay, his objective had been met.
However, although Gai Nie had achieved his immediate goal, it did not mean he would cease his efforts.
"Thank you, Great General, for recognizing me!"
"However, this humble subordinate still wishes to spar with the Great General again, to witness the Great General's superb swordsmanship!!"
"Come!!"
At this moment, Lin Tian had no intention of holding back either. He was waiting for Gai Nie to attack.
Seeing this, Gai Nie naturally did not hesitate and charged towards Lin Tian once more.
However, after their initial clash of swords, he had already gained some understanding of Lin Tian's strength.
He knew that if he did not unleash his full power, he might not even be able to withstand Lin Tian's second strike.
Therefore, this time, he not only committed his full effort but also directly employed his ultimate technique.
Hundred Paces Flying Sword.
Of course, Gai Nie's Hundred Paces Flying Sword was not like the Hundred Paces Flying Sword in Xianxia novels, which could fly through the air and ascend with the sword.
Gai Nie's Hundred Paces Flying Sword involved launching a rapid sword strike with immense force within a hundred paces.
His sword was both fast and fierce, its power as formidable as a giant bolt fired from a ballista.
More importantly, his Hundred Paces Flying Sword could be unleashed at any moment, its agility far surpassing that of a crossbow bolt.
When Gai Nie employed his Hundred Paces Flying Sword, he could typically hit his target with precision, leaving his enemies with no way to evade.
In fact, with his Hundred Paces Flying Sword deployed, he didn't even need to see his enemy to know they were destined to die.
But this time, facing Lin Tian, he not only fixed his gaze on Lin Tian.
Simultaneously, he himself and his treasured sword shot forward together, charging directly at Lin Tian.
He was prepared for the possibility that if he couldn't kill Lin Tian with one strike, he would then seize Lin Tian with his sword in hand.
He knew that a powerful individual like Lin Tian could not be measured by ordinary standards.
In the eyes of others, Gai Nie and his treasured sword at this moment resembled two bolts of lightning, streaking towards Lin Tian.
Their speed was breathtaking.
However, Lin Tian's expression remained extremely calm.
To others, this sword strike was indeed incredibly fast, but in Lin Tian's eyes, it was nothing special.
As for the immense power contained within the sword, Lin Tian was confident he could easily withstand it.
Therefore, what appeared as an immensely dangerous Hundred Paces Flying Sword to others held little threat in Lin Tian's eyes.
Lin Tian casually swung his sword, precisely intercepting Gai Nie's strike.
Instantly, Gai Nie's treasured sword was sent flying hundreds of meters away by Lin Tian.
As for Gai Nie himself, he attempted to retrieve his flying sword.
But the sword had been propelled away with such speed that Gai Nie could not catch it.
This, in turn, left him weaponless and directly in front of Lin Tian, awaiting his judgment.
The next moment, Gai Nie felt a chill at his neck. A treasured sword had been placed at his throat.
Simultaneously, Lin Tian's calm voice rang out.
"Gai Nie, you are defeated!!"