Chapter 396: Ten Swords, Eleven Swords
Duanmu Xingling's sparkling eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen as she asked in a sweet voice, "What about you?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "I suppose I've reached Great Perfection."
"All thirteen swords have reached Great Perfection?" Duanmu Xingling asked in astonishment.
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Although Zhang Ruochen hadn't demonstrated the sword techniques, Duanmu Xingling didn't doubt his words at all. Still, she felt quite unwilling to accept it. She stomped her foot and spat coldly, "Freak."
Just then, Zhang Ruochen's gaze shifted to the training stage, where a familiar beautiful woman appeared at its center.
Seeing that woman, Huang Yanchen's eyes turned cold. "What a narrow path for enemies. I didn't expect her to come to the Sword Dao Department too."
The woman who had just stepped onto the training stage was none other than Xue Yingrou.
Xue Yingrou possessed exceptional talent and remarkable comprehension. She had actually succeeded in mastering five swords, drawing exclamations of admiration from the other students.
"What a beautiful woman. She'll probably become the department belle of our Sword Dao Department."
"Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but her comprehension and cultivation are also outstanding. If I could win her favor, even losing ten years of my life would be worth it."
...
Zhang Ruochen nodded. Xue Yingrou's comprehension was indeed very high.
Back then, he had only given her a few pointers, and she had managed to make up for the shortcomings in her sword techniques, elevating her Sword Dao cultivation to another level.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen staring at Xue Yingrou on the training stage and even nodding, Huang Yanchen felt very displeased. She let out a cold snort and leaped directly onto the training stage as well.
In terms of pure beauty, Huang Yanchen and Xue Yingrou could be said to be evenly matched. When she appeared, all the students below brightened up.
Another department-belle-level beauty had appeared.
After Huang Yanchen finished demonstrating five sword techniques, another wave of commotion erupted below.
"Five swords again, and another top-tier beauty. Is this year's Sword Dao Department going to produce two department belles?"
"I have to give it my all. No matter what, I must pass the three rounds of assessment and become a saint of the Holy Academy. Not for anything else, just for the two department belles."
...
After Huang Yanchen left the training stage, Xu Hai shot a glance at Xu Canglan, signaling him to make his move.
Xu Canglan was the second-best genius of this generation from the Xu Holy Clan. At just twenty-eight years old, he had already reached the Small Extreme Position of the Heavenly Extreme Realm. He stepped onto the training stage steadily, exuding great composure.
"Whoosh!"
The long sword left its sheath. Xu Canglan extended his arm and thrust out a swift sword strike.
Like flowing clouds and moving water, he wielded his sword techniques. In the span of a single breath, he had already demonstrated ten sword techniques and sheathed his sword.
Xu Canglan bowed respectfully toward the two Half-Saints. "This student's talent is limited; I can only cultivate ten techniques."
The students below had already seen Xu Canglan demonstrate ten sword techniques, so they were mentally prepared and not shocked, only feeling deeply inferior.
One student who had demonstrated five sword techniques sighed. "I was considered the top genius at the Martial Market Academy in Stone Dragon Commandery, and even the Palace Master praised me many times. But now that I've come to the Holy Academy, I realize how insignificant my former glory was. Compared to Xu Canglan, I'm still far behind."
Another student who had also demonstrated five sword techniques let out a long sigh. "Give me three more days, and maybe I could cultivate ten swords."
"My so-called talent is utterly insignificant before Xu Canglan."
It wasn't just the students. Even Ling Shu Half-Saint, seated on the jade lotus platform, was slightly startled. She carefully examined Xu Canglan and said, "I didn't expect the Xu Holy Clan to produce such an extraordinary proud son of heaven. To cultivate ten sword techniques in three days—even I couldn't do that at the Heavenly Extreme Realm. However, his sword techniques are still a bit raw and lack depth. He's still far from the realm of Sword Heart Illumination."
Of course, Ling Shu Half-Saint didn't know that Xu Canglan had received the mental cultivation method for the Thirteen Soul-Chasing Swords seven days in advance. She only thought Xu Canglan possessed incredible comprehension.
Originally, Ling Shu Half-Saint had come to observe mainly to see Zhang Ruochen's performance. Xu Canglan was already an unexpected surprise.
Although Ling Yuan Half-Saint had a rough idea of what was going on, since the test questions had been leaked by him, he naturally couldn't speak up.
He said, "The talent of this year's students is very high, surpassing last year's. Last year, there was no genius of Xu Canglan's caliber."
Ling Shu Half-Saint nodded as well.
Hearing the two Half-Saints praise Xu Canglan, Xu Hai felt secretly delighted. It seemed that the Sword Heart Pill was as good as his.
Duanmu Xingling snorted coldly, not believing at all that Xu Canglan's comprehension could be that high.
So, after Xu Canglan left the stage, she immediately stepped onto the training stage and began demonstrating her sword techniques.
Eleven techniques.
Duanmu Xingling actually executed eleven sword techniques directly, and her speed was even faster than Xu Canglan's. One could barely see a blur of figures.
Finally, the eleven figures merged into one, forming Duanmu Xingling's body.
"Boom!"
The entire venue shook again.
"I can't go on. This is too demoralizing! How old is she? She can participate in the Holy Academy assessment and even execute eleven sword techniques."
The genius student who had demonstrated five sword techniques earlier had already been crushed by Xu Canglan. Now, being crushed again, he couldn't accept the reality and nearly fainted.
Duanmu Xingling looked like a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl, so everyone assumed she was under twenty.
Too young!
Many genius students felt deeply ashamed and even wanted to flee the Holy Academy immediately, believing they were unworthy of entering.
Among them, the most crushed were naturally Xu Hai and Xu Canglan. They had always regarded Zhang Ruochen as their greatest threat but never expected Duanmu Xingling to suddenly appear out of nowhere.
The Sword Heart Pill, which had been within their grasp, was now snatched away by Duanmu Xingling.
Murderous intent flashed in Xu Hai's eyes. He wished he could tear Duanmu Xingling into pieces.
How infuriating. How hateful.
Xu Canglan could demonstrate ten sword techniques because he had known the test questions in advance and had been practicing the sword techniques for ten days, not three.
Aside from Xu Canglan, the best student had only demonstrated seven sword techniques. That student was a scion of a Saintly Clan, already famous and listed in the *Eastern Region Wind and Cloud Report* as an outstanding talent.
Who was Duanmu Xingling?
Her name had never been heard before. Where had she come from?
Both Half-Saints' eyes lit up as their gazes converged on Duanmu Xingling.
Ling Shu Half-Saint said, "Her comprehension is very high. Her realm in the Sword Dao far surpasses Xu Canglan's. She's probably not far from Sword Heart Illumination. If she takes the Sword Heart Pill, she might have a chance to break through to that realm."
Although Xu Canglan had demonstrated ten sword techniques, his realm in the Sword Dao couldn't fool a Half-Saint-level expert. One glance was enough to see the vast gap between him and Duanmu Xingling.
After seeing Duanmu Xingling's sword demonstration, Ling Shu Half-Saint's eyes showed a hint of suspicion. She felt that Xu Canglan's ability to demonstrate ten sword techniques was very unreasonable. Could someone have leaked the test questions in advance?
Since this matter involved a Half-Saint, Ling Shu Half-Saint didn't dare report it lightly and could only suppress her doubts.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior Sister Duanmu has hidden her abilities well. Such comprehension is not something an ordinary person could achieve."
If Zhang Ruochen hadn't reached the realm of Sword Heart Illumination, he wouldn't have dared to claim he could do better than Duanmu Xingling.
In terms of pure comprehension, Duanmu Xingling and he were almost evenly matched.
Huang Yanchen also nodded lightly. Suddenly, she felt that Duanmu Xingling had become somewhat unfamiliar, as if she had never truly known the real Duanmu Xingling.
After Duanmu Xingling left the stage, Zhang Ruochen stepped onto the training stage.
As he brushed past Duanmu Xingling, Zhang Ruochen said in a low voice, "Senior Sister Duanmu, perhaps I've already guessed your identity."
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, Duanmu Xingling's delicate body trembled slightly. A complex expression appeared in her eyes—fear, struggle, relief, and worry.
She didn't know if Zhang Ruochen had truly guessed her identity. If he already knew, how would he treat her from now on?
Zhang Ruochen certainly wouldn't report her to the Holy Academy. Duanmu Xingling was sure of that.
But could they still maintain their current relationship?
Until this moment, Duanmu Xingling finally felt a sense of loss and regret. She really should have told him the truth earlier.
For some reason, she cared deeply about what Zhang Ruochen thought.
In an instant, she imagined countless outcomes. In the end, her face had turned extremely pale, as if she had suffered a severe illness.
Zhang Ruochen stepped onto the training stage.
After the battle on the Saint-Ascent Heavenly Stairway, Zhang Ruochen had become a celebrity. Many people recognized him and knew he had reached the realm of Sword Heart Illumination.
"What do you think? How many swords has Zhang Ruochen successfully cultivated? Can he surpass Xu Canglan and Duanmu Xingling?"
"Big brother, that's Sword Heart Illumination. How many people have achieved Sword Heart Illumination at the Heavenly Extreme Realm? I think he's cultivated at least ten swords, maybe more."
"I'm not so sure. Zhang Ruochen might not have reached Sword Heart Illumination through high comprehension. I heard he obtained the Buddha Emperor's inheritance. Maybe he took the Dragon Relic to reach that realm."
...
Zhang Ruochen stood at the center of the training stage and announced his name. Then, he pressed his index and middle fingers together and began circulating his true qi.
"Soul-Severing Seven Kills."
Zhang Ruochen slowly raised his arm, using his hand as a sword. With an extremely slow motion, he thrust his finger forward.
"Shush, shush!"
Streams of sword qi gathered around his arm, taking shape as seven invisible sword shadows that shot outward.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's slow speed, the students below were very puzzled.
"Executing sword techniques so slowly—how can he kill enemies?"
"Does this count as reaching Great Perfection?"
"Sword Heart Illumination—could it be that it's not living up to its reputation?"
Countless questions arose.
There was no helping it. Zhang Ruochen's movements were simply too slow, so slow that they didn't seem like sword techniques at all.
If someone observed carefully, they would notice that every movement Zhang Ruochen made was perfectly standard, without any flaws. It seemed even more perfect than the original sword technique forms.
But ordinary people simply didn't have the eyes to see that.
Only the two Half-Saints and Xu Hai, who had reached the first transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, could discern some clues.
"Could it be... the Realm of Perfection?"
Xu Hai's expression changed, and an incredulous look of shock appeared in his eyes.