Chapter 13: An Unremarkable Stone Stele — Enlightenment Achieved

The Outer Sect Trial was actually quite simple, divided into two stages.

In the first stage, every disciple participating in the trial had to leave a single strike on the Sword Testing Stone.

It could be Sword Qi, blade qi, a palm imprint — anything of that nature.

The Sword Testing Stone would then display a numerical value based on the strength of the attack.

Those ranked in the top one hundred would advance to the second stage.

"The Sword Testing Stone?" Lin Xiao muttered to himself.

He had no particularly deep impression of the thing in his memory.

While he was still puzzling over it, a black stone stele nearly two meters tall was carried out by several people.

The entire stele radiated an aura of ancient desolation and profound depth.

In particular, the single, extremely deep sword scar running down its center inspired a sense of reverent awe in all who saw it.

The moment Lin Xiao laid eyes on the Sword Testing Stone, the Sword Intent within him began to stir restlessly.

It was like a cat spotting a mouse — eager to pounce, brimming with excitement.

This…

A strange light flickered in the depths of Lin Xiao's eyes.

"Excuse me, Senior Brother — sorry to bother you, but may I ask you something?" Lin Xiao turned to an Outer Sect Disciple standing nearby.

The Outer Sect Disciple was startled when Lin Xiao suddenly addressed him.

After all, his own cultivation was only at the ninth stage of the Qi Refinement Realm, while the person in front of him had already reached the first stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

Being called "Senior Brother" was quite the honor.

"You flatter me, friend — I'm no Senior Brother of yours. Even though you're technically from a Servant Disciple background, after this Outer Sect Trial you're bound to soar. By then, I'll be the one calling you Senior Brother," the Outer Sect Disciple said hastily.

"That's a matter for later. Senior Brother, do you happen to know the origins of that stone stele? It strikes me as something quite extraordinary," Lin Xiao voiced his curiosity.

"Ah, that question — then you've asked the right person, friend. That Sword Testing Stone is definitely no ordinary object. Our Sect Master found it a hundred years ago in an ancient ruin."

"You see that sword scar on the Sword Testing Stone? They say it was left behind by an ancient Sword Cultivator in the moment of enlightenment — it carries immense power. Anyone who can comprehend its secrets is sure to gain an enormous benefit."

"Of course, that's just what people say. The Sword Testing Stone has been in our sect for a hundred years, and plenty of powerful figures from outside the sect have come to study it. In the end, it just became a testing tool."

The Outer Sect Disciple gave quite a thorough explanation.

Lin Xiao gave a slight nod and offered his thanks.

His gaze returned to the Sword Testing Stone.

An ancient Sword Cultivator, was it?

He believed it.

Soon, the participating disciples were sorted into groups and began stepping up to the Sword Testing Stone one by one.

The first disciple drew his longsword, gathered his Spiritual Energy over three breaths, then unleashed a full-force Sword Qi strike at the stone.

"Disciple No. 1, value 410. Next!" called the recording disciple stationed beside the Sword Testing Stone.

Then the second disciple stepped forward and likewise slashed a Sword Qi at the stone.

Within Sword Demon Sect, the vast majority of disciples used swords; only a small number chose other methods.

"Disciple No. 2, value 546. Next!" the recording disciple continued to call out.

Group after group of disciples moved through the test in rapid succession.

In the blink of an eye, over two hundred disciples had already been tested.

Lin Xiao was number 410.

He wouldn't have to wait too much longer.

Having watched for so long, he had a rough sense of what the values represented.

Broadly speaking, the power of someone at the ninth stage of the Qi Refinement Realm fell in the range of 600 to 800, while the Peak Qi Refinement Stage hovered around 1,000.

Breaking past 1,000 meant one had reached the first stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

"Whoa! Senior Brother Gu Shi is about to go up! He's publicly recognized as the second-strongest in the Outer Sect, right behind Senior Brother Shen Gao!"

"I heard Senior Brother Gu's goal this time is to defeat Senior Brother Shen and claim the title of Outer Sect number one."

"Senior Brother Gu's cultivation has broken through to the sixth stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm — I really want to know which of them is stronger."

"I think Senior Brother Shen is still the more powerful one."

"That's not necessarily true."

Amid the surrounding chatter, a figure of steady bearing slowly walked up to the Sword Testing Stone.

Lin Xiao glanced at him once and then looked away.

The aura on this person was just average, he supposed.

Swish!

Gu Shi swiftly swung his sword, sending a streak of cyan Sword Qi slashing into the Sword Testing Stone.

A dull thud rang out.

A value surfaced on the Sword Testing Stone.

"Disciple No. 242, value 3,489. Next!"

Wow!

Everyone let out a collective gasp.

This was the highest value recorded so far — the previous record had been just over 1,200.

Gu Shi's single strike was nearly three times that.

And judging by how effortlessly he had done it, he clearly hadn't used his full strength.

If a casual strike was already that powerful, what would his full power look like?

Before anyone could speculate further, the crowd let out another wave of exclamations.

Because the person stepping up after Gu Shi was none other than his rival — Shen Gao.

The one publicly recognized as the Outer Sect's number one.

Unlike Gu Shi's stiff expression, Shen Gao wore a relaxed smile, nodding to those around him and giving a casual wave.

He exuded complete confidence.

Beside him, Gu Shi's brow furrowed slightly at the sight.

The moment Shen Gao stepped in front of the Sword Testing Stone, he moved.

But he didn't draw his sword. Instead, he flicked his right hand, and a streak of Sword Qi shot out, striking the Sword Testing Stone.

A value appeared.

The recording disciple quickly looked over.

When he did, his expression turned distinctly peculiar.

"Disciple No. 243, value 3,490."

Everyone who heard the number was momentarily stunned.

This… this was only 1 point higher than Gu Shi's score.

Goodness!

That level of control — it was absolutely extraordinary.

And Senior Brother Shen Gao hadn't even touched his sword.

Who was stronger and who was weaker was now plain for all to see.

"Hmph! Showing off!" Gu Shi let out a cold snort, turned on his heel, and walked off to the side.

Seeing Gu Shi storm off in irritation, Shen Gao smiled, gave a small shrug, and stepped down from the platform.

With those two focal figures done, the rest of the tests held little interest.

Another hundred or so disciples were tested.

The strongest among them struck a score of 1,750.

The others were entirely unremarkable.

"Disciple No. 409, value 0. Next!" the recording disciple announced.

Lin Xiao stretched his limbs and walked toward the Sword Testing Stone.

Finally, it was his turn — and it hadn't been easy waiting. He had been standing in line for over two hours.

Lin Xiao's appearance drew quite a few curious gazes.

After all, a Servant Disciple emanating the cultivation fluctuations of the Spirit Gathering Realm was an exceedingly rare sight even within Sword Demon Sect.

The Tomb Guardians from Pyre Heaven Sword Tomb all looked his way, and several of them called out words of encouragement.

Up on the high platform, Elder Chen stared at Lin Xiao with wide eyes, his mind full of questions.

"A Tomb Guardian? First stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm??? Going from no cultivation at all to the first stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm in just half a year — that speed is truly remarkable. What kind of Fortuitous Encounter did this kid stumble into?" Elder Chen murmured to himself in curiosity.

By now, Lin Xiao had already stepped up to the Sword Testing Stone.

But he didn't draw his sword. Instead, he extended his right hand.

This left the onlookers puzzled.

What was this? Was he trying to imitate Senior Brother Shen and project Sword Qi directly with his bare hand?

Don't be ridiculous — with a first-stage Spirit Gathering Realm cultivation, going all out would easily put him in the top thirty of the Outer Sect. But if he was going to court disaster and fail to crack the top hundred, getting eliminated outright, that would be quite the spectacle.

However.

Lin Xiao's next action left everyone even more baffled.

He didn't project Sword Intent. He didn't unleash any martial technique.

Instead, he gently reached out and touched the Sword Testing Stone.

What was going on?

What was this person doing?

Was he going to test or not? If not, hurry up and let the next person go — there were still plenty of people waiting.

Just as many in the crowd began to grumble — in the very next moment, a towering, razor-sharp aura erupted from Lin Xiao's body.

This aura seemed to warp the very fabric of space and shake the vault of heaven.

And Lin Xiao closed his eyes, sinking into and merging with that immense force.

Up on the high platform, Elder Chen had already risen from his seat.

His eyes went blank, and the words escaped his lips in a stunned cry: "En— enlightenment! He's achieved enlightenment!!!"