Chapter 298 - 44: Dark Clouds Veil the Moon, a Desperado Sharpens His Blade

Chapter 298: Chapter 44: Dark Clouds Veil the Moon, a Desperado Sharpens His Blade

The mirror reflected a sallow, haggard face. A pair of half-lidded eyes, murky and lifeless, stared back. Paired with his tattered clothes, he was the spitting image of a down-and-out Swordsman struggling at the bottom of society, his spirit crushed by the weight of life.

This was Du Dao, but it was also himself.

After staring for a moment, the corners of Chen Ye’s mouth lifted slightly, forming a cold smile. He then slung his long blade over his back, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Qingzhou City’s Central Square was vast, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people.

But now, it was already a sea of people, so crowded there was barely room to stand.

In the very center of the square, a massive arena over thirty feet high had been erected from giant stones. Behind the arena was a row of seats draped in brocade—the Observation Platform, clearly prepared for the big shots.

The thirty Loose Cultivators who had passed the first two rounds of selection, including Chen Ye, were gathered in a special area below the arena, awaiting the start of the final round.

Countless gazes from the crowd fell upon them, filled with envy, jealousy, curiosity, and more.

They were the elite who had distinguished themselves from thousands of Loose Cultivators, the main attraction of the day.

Chen Ye still had that same listless, half-dead look, standing in a corner with his head down as if he couldn’t care less about his surroundings.

But this appearance of his, paradoxically, drew even more attention.

"Look, that’s Du Dao!"

"That’s him? He looks so sickly. Is he really that strong?"

"Don’t judge a book by its cover, brother. I saw it with my own eyes yesterday. He defeated everyone on Arena Seven all by himself, and he didn’t even draw his blade from start to finish!"

"HISS... That’s insane!"

Amid the discussions, Chen Ye became the focus of many people’s attention. Some had even started taking private bets on how far he would go today.

Just as the atmosphere in the square was reaching a fever pitch, a sudden sound of tearing air came from the horizon. Then, dozens of brilliant Sword Lights were seen streaking across the sky, speeding toward the Central Square.

The Sword Light was dazzling, its momentum astonishing, causing countless people below to look up, their faces filled with shock and awe.

The leading Sword Light was especially brilliant and the fastest of all, arriving above the square in the blink of an eye.

The Sword Light faded to reveal a young figure in white robes, handsome and dashing.

He stood in mid-air, a longsword in hand. His black hair fluttered in the wind, and his eyes were aloof and cold, like one of the Deities from above the nine heavens looking down upon the mortal masses below.

It was none other than the Young Manor Master of Celestial Sword Manor, Jian Wuchen!

"It’s the Young Manor Master!"

"Such a powerful aura... Is this the might of an Inner Realm expert?"

Following closely behind were Elder Jian and the other disciples of Celestial Sword Manor, surrounding Jian Wuchen like stars orbiting the moon.

They did not choose to land gently. Instead, with an incomparably tyrannical aura, they descended from the sky and landed heavily on the high Observation Platform.

BOOM!

The entire stone Observation Platform trembled. An invisible pressure instantly swept through the venue, silencing the once-noisy square.

This was Celestial Sword Manor’s most direct way of demonstrating their power and dominance to everyone present.

Chen Ye raised his head, his murky, half-lidded eyes reflecting Jian Wuchen’s incomparably arrogant figure.

’He’s finally here.’

Yet, Chen Ye’s heart didn’t speed up in the slightest. He simply activated his Tribulation Eye.

In his vision, Jian Wuchen, up on the high platform, was enveloped in a layer of immense Energy so dense it was tangible. He was like a blazing sun, radiating a light and heat that no one dared to look at directly.

This was the power of the Inner Realm.

But deep within that immense Energy, Chen Ye could still see something else.

Some extremely fine, faint gray threads, protected by layers of power.

’Tribulation Lines.’

Although they were blurry, they were definitely there.

Seeing this, an unusual glint flashed in Chen Ye’s eyes. He then withdrew his gaze and lowered his head again.

After Celestial Sword Manor’s domineering entrance, the representatives from the Qingzhou City Lord’s Mansion and several other Sects also arrived one after another.

Although they were all influential figures in their own right, they seemed to pale in comparison before the powerful presence of Celestial Sword Manor.

One by one, they meekly found their seats on the Observation Platform, wearing fawning smiles as they initiated pleasantries with Elder Jian and the others, their attitudes extremely deferential.

Jian Wuchen paid them no mind. He simply sat in the main seat at the very center, picked up the fragrant tea offered by a Maid, and took a small sip, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

In his eyes, these people, like the tens of thousands of spectators in the square, were nothing more than ants.

Only when everyone who was supposed to be there had arrived did Jian Wuchen slowly put down his teacup and rise to his feet.

He didn’t speak, but simply swept his calm gaze across the entire square.

The entire square instantly fell silent.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the number one expert of Qingzhou’s younger generation to speak.

"The Immortal Ascension Ceremony is a ladder to greatness that my Celestial Sword Manor provides for the people of this world."

Jian Wuchen’s voice wasn’t loud, yet, amplified by his True Essence, it carried clearly into everyone’s ears.

He then addressed those below the stage who were waiting for the selection. "That you can stand here today is your good fortune, and it is a gift from my Celestial Sword Manor. I hope you will not disappoint me. Show me your full strength, and fight for your own future."

His words were brief and arrogant, filled with the condescending air of someone bestowing charity.

Yet, not a single person—neither the young men and women candidates nor the Loose Cultivators—found anything wrong with this. Instead, their faces were filled with excitement and gratitude.

In their eyes, receiving a personal word of encouragement from the Young Manor Master of Celestial Sword Manor was a monumental honor.

After speaking these few pleasantries, Jian Wuchen sat back down, as if saying one more word would be a waste of his time.

Zhao Xin, the Outer Sect Elder who had presided over the first two rounds, immediately understood his cue and walked onto the arena.

"The selection begins now!"