Chapter 48: The Great Swordsman

  Outside the courtyard of Zilingyun, thirty-two disciples of Yunlai Sword Sect had gathered at some point, among whom Qin Yuyan, Xiao Sumiao, Tang Liang and Jiang Caiyin were all present.

  Even the almost crazy training of the forgotten days in the solitary city is no exception.

  Thirty-two people were all outside the courtyard, but each of them did not make any sound, quietly waiting for the moment that would determine the future of Yunlai Sword Sect to arrive.

  Night falls, quietly and silently descending.

  The day's time has passed very quickly.

  However, the many Yunlai Sword Sect disciples waiting outside the courtyard did not have a single trace of impatience. Each and every one of them stood calmly and quietly, with some even closing their eyes to regulate their internal energy, constantly circulating and refining it, unwilling to let go of even a single moment of cultivation time.

  "Hahaha!"

  At this moment, a burst of laughter like the roar of a tiger and the howl of a dragon suddenly came from the courtyard, the sound of laughter was like thunder, filled with a piercing power, even though every Yunlei Sword Sect disciple present had cultivated to the middle level of swordsmanship, they still felt their blood and energy shaken, their brains buzzing.

  "It's broken through!?"

  Although the disciples of intermediate swordsmen were more or less affected, these disciples did not have a hint of resentment in their hearts, but instead showed an ecstatic expression.

  "What a powerful lung power! An 8th-level swordsman, even a 9th-level swordsman's true energy and five organs and six viscera cannot be mobilized to this extent! Breakthrough! Qi Chang Lao must have broken through!"

  "Great Swordsman! Has Elder Qi broken through to the Great Swordsman realm? That's great, our Yunlai Sword Sect has finally got a Great Swordsman to preside over it. From now on, our Yunlai Sword Sect can be considered a true second-rate sect."

  Even Jiang Caiyun and Tang Liang, who were relatively more stable compared to other disciples, couldn't help but show their joy.

  "Whoosh!"

  A burst of sound pierced through the air from a distance.

  It was Qin Tianyi who heard this whistle.

  "Did Qi Elder break through?"

  Qin Tianji spoke up and asked.

  Although this is not a problem, Qilingyun's state of mind has undergone a transformation. After swallowing two more Beast King Zhudao Dan, breaking through the Great Swordsman boundary was a natural process, but when this moment truly arrived, he could still feel the anticipation in his heart.

  "It must be, it must have broken through."

  "If it wasn't for the breakthrough, Qi Lao's laughter wouldn't be powerful enough to shake the blood and energy of a sixth-level swordmaster like me."

  Jiang Caiyun and several others hastily nodded in agreement.

  At this time, Qilingyun's voice also came from inside the courtyard.

  "Are you all outside the yard? Come in."

  "It is Elder Qi."

  "Come on, let's go in and take a look."

  "It's been three years since Yunle Jianzong had a great swordsman of this level again."

  All the disciples were excited and quickly went to Qilingyun's courtyard, and soon they all gathered outside Qilingyun's quiet room.

  While Ziling Yun also happened to walk out of the quiet room where he had been in seclusion.

  "Qī Lǎo Zǐ, nǐ..."

  Seeing Ziling Yun, Qin Yuyan hastily stepped forward and asked in a slightly trembling tone...

  Zi Lingyun naturally knew what she wanted to ask, and nodded slightly. He then pointed at the ground with a virtual hand, and a visible aura appeared on his finger, quickly condensing into a seal. It seemed like an extending sharp sword that made a slight mark on the solid marble floor, leaving behind a trail.

  "Refine your energy into a vortex! Only a strong Sword Master can grasp the Refining Energy Vortex!"

  "Great Swordsman! He's really a Great Swordsman! Qi Changgong has broken through to the Great Swordsman realm!"

  "This is absolutely the best news for our Yunlai Sword Sect in all these years, we should set up a grand banquet and invite other sects from Wanxia County to come and congratulate us."

  Yunlai Jianzong, as a second-rate sect, naturally had detailed records of the Great Swordsman Realm in its classics. When Qi Lingyun revealed this move, all the disciples cheered up.

  "This is Typhoon."

  Qin Tianyi looked at Qi Lingyun's seal of energy drawn on the ground and quickly had Number Two record this power.

  The aura is not a new energy, its essence is still true energy.

  It's like the true energy passing through a sharp sword, swordsmanship, shooting out to form a sharp energy, sword energy, it is a means of using true energy.

  Although the true energy has already been refined into reality, it is ultimately just a kind of energy. Although it exists, it is extremely difficult to see it with the naked eye. Those powerful cultivators can only sense the true energy but cannot see it.

  But the aura...

  To some extent, it has truly possessed quality.

  Like the move Zilingyun just revealed, with a sword condensed into a seal, it's not to mention that these mid-level and high-level swordsmen can see clearly, even ordinary people who have never cultivated and don't know what true energy is can see it with their naked eyes.

  This is the difference between true qi and false qi.

  The majestic aura of the Great Swordsman stage is still somewhat mediocre in power, but if it reaches the Sword Master realm, the true energy transforms into yuan, and the majestic aura's power can rival that of divine artifacts.

  If we say that the true energy of a Sword Master is water, then the Frozen Energy would be equivalent to ice. Although it has lost its unpredictable nature, its attack and defense capabilities have been greatly enhanced.

  A strong swordsman who has cultivated his aura to permeate his entire body, forming a protective aura around himself, can remain unscathed even if attacked by countless arrows.

  "Gentlemen!"

  Many disciples suggested spreading the news, but Qin Yuyan suddenly said: "The promotion of Qi Chang to the great swordsman is not to be spread out for now, as the sect's ranking competition is about to begin. This time, in the sect's ranking competition, we will definitely make those who bully our Yunlai Sword Sect and dare to take advantage of us pay a heavy price."

  All these years, Qin Yuyan has been in charge of Yunlai Sword Sect, enduring countless grievances. Now that Yunlai Sword Sect finally has the qualifications to hold its head high, she naturally wants to take advantage of the opportunity to vent her emotions thoroughly.

  "Right! The secret should be kept, and it will be a shocking revelation at the time of the sect's grand competition!"

  "Qin Shijie was right, according to the rules of the sect's grand competition, those defeated sects must contribute half of their income to our Yunlei Sword Sect. Although we now have a great swordsman in charge, our foundation is slightly inferior to those second-rate sects. This time, it's just right to replenish our vitality."

  "Qin shi jie, don't worry, we understand what's at stake."

  The disciples present hastened to respond in unison.

  Seeing the disciples nodding in agreement, Qin Yuyan nodded and glanced at Qi Lingyun, saying: "Elder Qi has just broken through to the Great Swordsman realm and needs time to consolidate his cultivation. Everyone, don't disturb Elder Qi anymore, go back and cultivate well, strive to make our Yunlai Sword Sect shine brightly in the upcoming sect ranking competition in a dozen or so days, and let those who looked down on us back then understand what it means to look at us with new eyes after three days."

  "Yes!"

  All the disciples responded with enthusiasm, their faces filled with pride. For the original sect ranking competition that had made them extremely worried and fearful, at this moment, they even secretly looked forward to it.

  "Who would have thought that in less than half a year's time, our Yunlai Sword Sect could recover to this extent?"

  Xue Ziyi's expression was rather melancholic when she said this.

  "Yes, more than five months ago, many of our disciples thought that Yunlai Sword Sect would definitely decline and might even disband. They all seemed to be escaping from a disaster and betrayed us one after another... In the end, haha, they will probably all be disappointed."

  Qin Tianyi glanced at Qin Yuyan and the others, saying: "We have enough Washing Marrow Dan. From now on, if we recruit disciples again, talent and potential are secondary, the key is temperament and morality. Those who abandon their sect as soon as they encounter difficulties, even if they are extremely talented, our Yunlai Sword Sect will never accept."

  "It's as it should be."

  This statement has been unanimously endorsed by Qin Yuyan, Qi Lingyun and others.

  "Huh?!"

  At this time, Qi Lingyun's gaze fell on Qin Tianyi again, and he suddenly let out a cry of surprise. At the same time, his face also showed a hint of doubt.

  A moment later, he seemed to have thought of something, and a look of shock mixed with surprise suddenly appeared on his face: "Tianji... I felt that you were somewhat unusual when I saw you this morning... You, have you already broken through to the 9th level of Swordsmanship?"

  "9th level swordsman?"

  Qin Yuyan, as well as Jiang Caiyun, Xue Ziyi, Tang Liang and Gu Cheng who were still present, heard Qi Lingyun's words and simultaneously paused, then shifted their gaze to Qin Tianyi.

  "Uh, in the Sunset Mountains, there were some strange encounters. I obtained a total of three Fierce Beast Inner Cores, one of which I have already consumed, and successfully advanced to Sword Master 9th level. Moreover, I am confident that within the next dozen or so days, I will be able to refine the medicinal properties of this Fierce Beast Inner Core and advance to the peak of Sword Master 9th level in one go."

  "Three Evil Beasts' Inner Elixirs!"

  "Only a Lord-level ferocious beast can condense and form a ferocious beast inner dan!"

  Upon hearing Qin Tianyi's words, several people present couldn't help but take a deep breath of cold air.

  "Fierce Beast Inner Dan! A Lord-level Fierce Beast, even a Sword Master of the same realm wouldn't dare to provoke them. And yet, three Lord-level Fierce Beast Inner Dans... even a top-notch Great Sword Master might not necessarily possess one... This is truly a heaven-sent opportunity!"

  "No wonder, no wonder how Shao Zong could cultivate to the 9th level of Swordsmen in one breath, it turns out that he had consumed a fierce beast's inner elixir."

  At this time, Ziling Yun seemed to have thought of something and hurriedly said with a serious face: "Tianji, in the future when taking the fierce beast's inner dan, you must be more careful. Even if it is a strong swordsman at level 9, if you don't prepare well and take a fierce beast's inner dan rashly, you may be impacted by the thick life essence of the fierce beast's inner dan and die from explosion. At that time, your cultivation was only at level 8, taking such a great supplement as the fierce beast's inner dan was simply nine deaths and one life. Don't be impulsive again in the future."

  Qin Tianyi nodded slightly.

  Swallowing the inner dan of a fierce beast to upgrade is indeed very dangerous. On that day, he was a fifth-level swordsman who swallowed the inner dan of a tenth-level fierce beast. If it weren't for his extremely strong spiritual cultivation, he would have died on the spot.

  However, it was precisely because of his strong spiritual cultivation that he dared to directly swallow the fierce beast's inner dan without needing to combine it with other medicinal materials and refine it into a dan.

  "Wait!"

  At this time, Jiang Caiyun seemed to have thought of something and hastily exclaimed: "Tianji is now a ninth-level swordsman, and he still has an inner elixir in his hand that can refine four beast king Zhudao Dan... Doesn't that mean that when Tianji's cultivation reaches the peak of the ninth level of swordsmanship, our Yunlai Sword Sect..."

  "Could it be that a second great swordsman is born?!"

  Xue Ziyi's voice trembled slightly as she took over the sentence.

  "Not just second place."

  Qin Tianyi smiled slightly, with an extremely strong confidence in his tone: "Don't worry, our Yunlei Sword Sect will soon have a third, fourth, fifth, and even tenth, twentieth, thirtieth great swordsman... As long as we are united and work together, I believe that Yunlei Sword Sect becoming a top sect again is absolutely not an extravagant hope!"