The sword master’s gaze shifted to the elders below.
To be frank, these few individuals were more outwardly reserved than he was. He used to believe all the elders were paragons of virtue, only to discover after becoming sect leader that each one was more flamboyant than the last.
These elders had practiced swordsmanship for centuries, often adopting an air of superiority. Yet, deep down, they were mostly coy. This was the case for most elders in the Ten Thousand Sword Sect.
After all, practicing the sword inevitably suppressed one's emotions, making them appear like swords themselves: aloof, straight, and unyielding.
But not everyone was born with a natural affinity for the sword; it was an acquired habit and personality. Their true nature, however, lay suppressed beneath the sword techniques they cultivated.
Jian San finally understood. He had practiced swordsmanship for hundreds of years, and only now did this realization dawn upon him: they were not cultivating the sword itself, but another self.
Anyone who cultivated the path of the sword was essentially cultivating another self.
This time, however, he encountered an anomaly – Yang Tiankui.
The first time he met Yang Tiankui, the man's immense killing aura had shaken him for a long time. These were peaceful times, and no major wars had erupted on the Myriad Spirit Continent. With such a formidable aura, he couldn't believe Yang Tiankui hadn't slaughtered hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
"Alright, they should all be at the martial arena by now. It's a competition. We will maintain order in the early stages, and we cannot allow these matters to disrupt the fundamental order of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect," Jian San said, arranging tasks for the elders below while his mind wandered.
The elders below, upon hearing their sect leader finally speak, showed an imperceptible hint of joy. They had practiced the sword for centuries, day in and day out, and were utterly fed up with it. Practicing the sword was nothing compared to the thrill of watching a spectacle.
After all, the innate human desire for entertainment was deeply ingrained.
Furthermore, for a sword sect like the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, there were virtually no recreational activities. Thus, whenever grand competitions occurred, the elders were overjoyed. Their sword practice yielded little improvement, and the constant training, along with other duties, was incredibly tedious.
Their swordsmanship had reached its limit; further practice yielded no further breakthroughs. It would be better to enjoy themselves sooner, but the sect's nature offered little in the way of true enjoyment.
After a lifetime of arduous sword practice, they found themselves with no leisure activities. This was why they were so invested in these spectacles.
Alas, their daily lives were simply too monotonous.
Jian San, looking at the elders below suddenly filled with excitement, sighed. There was nothing he could do; life in the Sword Sect had been this way for years, and even he, the sect leader, felt the tedium.
Even if he wanted to change things, he had no ideas on how to do so. He could only maintain the status quo.
After bowing to Jian San, the elders turned and departed the great hall. Jian San sat on the main seat, his heart filled with indecision. He, too, wanted to watch, after all, it was a spectacle. However, as the sect leader, a shred of his dignity prevented him from immediately following.
But as he heard the sounds emanating from the martial arena, his heart twitched with an insatiable longing, like a kitten's claws.
No, no, he had to go and see. He truly couldn't bear it. If he didn't even join in on such a spectacle, what meaning would his life hold? Without a wife, what was the point of embracing a sword day in and day out?
Thus, with a sword-finger gesture, his body transformed into a beam of sword light and vanished from the grand hall.
By this time, the martial arena was already a sea of people, and disciples continued to flock in from all directions.
Yang Tiankui, looking at the crowd, sighed inwardly. It seemed his popularity here was truly lacking.
But there was no other way. If he didn't fight these matches, how could others respect his position as the Peak Master of Blood Slaughter Peak?
With a flash, Yang Tiankui appeared in the center of the arena, surrounded by the throng.
Seeing the disciples of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect on all sides, Yang Tiankui cleared his throat and raised his hands. The surrounding crowd, seeing the main protagonist arrive, gradually quieted their discussions until they were barely audible.
"Everyone, I know you do not accept my position as the Peak Master of Blood Slaughter Peak. A month ago, I said anyone who disagreed could challenge me. However, this was limited to individuals of the same cultivation realm."
"Due to personal reasons, I delayed this until now. Today, we will settle this matter. If any of you defeat me, I, Yang, will cede the position of Peak Master. If none of you can defeat me, please refrain from criticizing me henceforth."
"How about it? Any objections? If not, then let us begin." Yang Tiankui surveyed the crowd, and seeing no one speak, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
A large stack of challenge slips appeared in Yang Tiankui's hand. He smiled and addressed the surrounding crowd, "These are the challenge slips some of you have submitted to me over the past month. I will now call out names, and those called will ascend the stage to fight me. Is that acceptable?"
Jian San, along with several elders, silently appeared directly above the arena. Their immense power went unnoticed by the disciples below.
"Sect Master, do you think this Yang Tiankui can endure?" one elder quietly asked Jian San, wanting to understand the sect leader's opinion of Yang Tiankui.
Hearing the elder voice his own query, the other elders subtly turned their gazes towards Jian San.
After all, as elders, they also wished to know. They were unsure of Yang Tiankui's strength, and their curiosity could not be suppressed.
Jian San smiled mysteriously and looked at the first elder who had spoken. "I believe Yang Tiankui will win completely."
"Really? Sect Master, you have such great confidence in Yang Tiankui? Do you not believe in our disciples of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect at all?" the elder asked, surprised that their sect leader placed such strong faith in an outsider.
"You will see as we continue. It's not that I have confidence in Yang Tiankui; it's that he is too monstrous. I dare say, among those in the Dharma Aspect realm in our Ten Thousand Sword Sect, none can compare to Yang Tiankui," Jian San sighed, his eyes holding a strange glint as he gazed at the confident Yang Tiankui below.
"Sect Master is so certain. Then I must watch closely to see what means Yang Tiankui possesses to overshadow a generation of our Ten Thousand Sword Sect."