Chapter 299 - 45: Blade, an Extremely Fast Blade

As he finished speaking, the thirty finalists, who had long been ready, ascended the tall arena built from giant stones, one by one, in the order determined by the lots they had drawn earlier.

The rules for the final selection were simple, even a bit informal.

There were no duels, no examinations of specific Cultivation Techniques. Instead, each person was to take the stage and showcase their greatest strengths.

These could be Martial Techniques, Magic, or even auxiliary skills like Alchemy and Talisman crafting.

Then, the Elders of Celestial Sword Manor, Young Manor Master Jian Wuchen, and representatives from other Sects and the Qingzhou Prefecture, all seated on the viewing stand, would score them collectively.

The ten with the highest scores would become High-level Honored Guest Elders of Celestial Sword Manor or receive a lucrative Outer Sect position.

For the vast majority of Loose Cultivators present, this was undoubtedly an opportunity to soar to new heights.

Thus, the first man to take the stage gave it his all. He was a Body Forging Martial Artist who specialized in strengthening his physical body, with a build as burly as a bear's.

He took a deep breath, his muscles suddenly bulging as his skin took on a bronze sheen.

"Hah!"

With a deafening roar, he slammed his fist into the floor of the arena.

BOOM! With a tremendous crash, he left a fist-print half a foot deep in the hard stone of the arena, sending a web of cracks spreading outward.

"Incredible!"

The crowd below erupted in cheers.

After all, the arena wasn't built from ordinary stone. It had been reinforced with Curse Techniques, making its hardness rival that of refined steel or meteoric iron.

The power behind that punch was truly extraordinary. A direct hit would likely leave an ordinary Sea Condensation Realm Cultivator with broken bones and torn tendons.

Several of the Elders on the viewing stand nodded slightly, each jotting down a few notes.

However, Jian Wuchen, who sat in the seat of honor, didn't even raise an eyelid. He continued to sip his fragrant tea, as if the performance on stage had nothing to do with him.

After displaying his strength, the Body Forging Martial Artist launched into an incomparably fierce Fist Technique. His movements were powerful and imposing, drawing constant cheers from the crowd below.

But the more effort he poured into his performance, the more indifferent Jian Wuchen became.

By the time he finished his performance, bowed, and left the stage, Jian Wuchen had still offered no comment, not even deigning to give him a proper look.

The burly man's heart sank with disappointment, but there was nothing he could do.

After all, the other man was the lofty Young Manor Master of Celestial Sword Manor, the number one expert of Qingzhou's younger generation. It was only natural for his standards to be high.

One by one, the other finalists took to the arena.

Each one showcased their unique abilities, pulling out all the stops.

One demonstrated a masterful Fire Control Technique, conjuring a lifelike fire dragon out of thin air that coiled and danced above the arena.

Another took out a stack of Talismans and, muttering an incantation, called down heavenly thunder, sending dazzling bolts of lightning crashing into the center of the arena with terrifying power.

A Female Cultivator played a Jade Flute, and its melodious tune caused several potted plants at the edge of the arena to grow and blossom at a visible rate, filling the air with a peculiar, vibrant life force.

To ordinary people, these abilities were the stuff of Immortals, drawing successive gasps of amazement from the plaza and sending waves of excitement through the crowd.

The representatives from the Minor Sects and the officials from the Qingzhou Prefecture on the viewing stand also watched with keen interest, nodding in appreciation from time to time.

"Not bad, not bad at all. The quality of this year's Loose Cultivators is very high."

"Indeed. Especially the one using the Thunder Technique. He's already grasped some of its true essence. With a bit of cultivation, he'll have a promising future."

"That Female Cultivator's Sound Rhythm Technique is also quite unique. It might have miraculous effects if used on a battlefield."

They murmured amongst themselves, their gazes filled with admiration as they watched the contestants on stage.

The only exception was Jian Wuchen, who still looked utterly bored.

'He was, in fact, bored. If it weren't for maintaining Celestial Sword Manor's image of providing a path of advancement for the world's Cultivators, I couldn't be bothered to waste my time at an event like this.'

'In my eyes, no matter how hard these people try, their achievements will be extremely limited. They aren't even worth a second glance.'

Time trickled by, and soon, more than twenty people had already performed their demonstrations.

Finally, Elder Zhao Xin's voice rang out again.

"Next, number twenty-seven, Du Dao!"

At the sound of this name, the once-noisy plaza fell considerably quieter.

Under the countless gazes, Chen Ye walked onto the arena at an unhurried pace, the long saber wrapped in ragged cloth still on his back.

He still had that same sallow, haggard appearance, his eyes cloudy and dull.

Yet, the moment he stood in the center of the arena, an invisible aura began to emanate from his gaunt frame.

It was an icy killing intent, one honed through countless life-and-death battles.

Though he did his best to restrain it, those standing nearby still felt an inexplicable chill, as if a blade were pressed against their necks.

The clamor in the plaza subsided.

Everyone held their breath, watching him in silence.

Even Jian Wuchen, who had closed his eyes to rest, seemed to sense something. He slowly opened them, his gaze falling upon the arena.

Unlike the others, Chen Ye did not rush to display his strength or his Magic. He simply stood there, as still as a lifeless statue.

The seconds ticked by, and an eerie silence fell over the plaza.

The people in the crowd exchanged confused glances, wondering what he was doing.

"Hey, what's this guy playing at? Let's see what he's made of already!"