Chapter 15: To Deal With You, I Don't Even Need My Sword

The mere thought of Old Geng sent a shiver running through Elder Chen's entire body.

If Elder Mu already seemed like an insurmountable peak to him, then Old Geng was something even more — a forbidden existence within Sword Demon Sect.

Aside from himself and a handful of the sect's top brass, no one knew what Old Geng truly represented.

Who would have thought this little brat could have such extraordinary luck?

"Forget it, kid — don't overthink it. Once the Outer Sect Trial is over, I'll go with you to find that old fossil." Seeing Lin Xiao hesitate, Elder Mu decided not to press him further.

After all, he had gotten carried away in the heat of the moment and blurted it out.

If he really went ahead and snatched this kid without asking first, what would he do when that old fossil came looking for a fight?

"Alright!" Lin Xiao let out a quiet breath of relief.

Taking on a master was no small matter in a world of cultivation — he didn't know the first thing about this person, so how could he even think about becoming their disciple?

Elder Mu gave a slight nod, took a few steps, and was already standing atop the high platform in the plaza.

Seeing this, Elder Chen turned to Lin Xiao with a notably courteous tone. "Lin Xiao, you may continue with the test."

Lin Xiao looked at the sword-testing stone before him.

He casually threw a punch at it.

A numerical value materialized in the air.

The sword-testing stone, from which he had absorbed all the Sword Qi, still functioned — but it was as though it had lost its soul, stripped of that sharp and menacing edge it once had.

The recorder beside it glanced at the value and announced the result.

"Disciple number 410 — value: 2,000. Next!"

It was a respectable score, second only to Shen Gao and Gu Shi.

But Lin Xiao had caused such a massive commotion that everyone had expected him to make another stunning impression.

No one anticipated it would only be 2,000.

"Only 2,000? I thought he'd catch up to Senior Brother Shen and Senior Brother Gu."

"Are you blind? Didn't you see he just threw a casual punch? If he'd drawn his sword and unleashed Sword Qi, he might actually have matched the two senior brothers."

"You think so? He's only at the first stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm — both senior brothers are already at the sixth stage."

"True. Even though the commotion just now was impressive, his cultivation level is what it is. Catching up to the two senior brothers is still a long way off."

Not only were the disciples buzzing with discussion, but Shen Gao had also walked over to Gu Shi's side, smiling as he asked, "What do you make of this person?"

Gu Shi shot Shen Gao a cold glance and replied, "Very strong. He must be concealing his true cultivation."

"Ha, so Junior Brother Gu noticed too. I heard this person only entered Pyre Heaven Sword Tomb as a Tomb Guardian half a year ago, and he's grown this much in just six months. Give him another half year, and he'll have left the both of us far behind." Shen Gao remarked with a sigh.

"A Tomb Guardian?!" A flicker of surprise crossed Gu Shi's otherwise expressionless face.

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Shen Gao said.

"It seems he possesses a rare physique." A trace of envy flashed through Gu Shi's eyes.

"Once he truly rises, things are going to get very interesting in our Sword Demon Sect." Shen Gao said with a grin.

"He might even defeat you this very round!" Gu Shi said with a cold laugh.

Shen Gao: "……"

One hour later.

The first phase of the Outer Sect Trial concluded.

Shen Gao placed first, Gu Shi second, Lin Xiao third…

A total of one hundred disciples advanced to the second phase.

The second phase consisted of head-to-head sparring matches.

Participants were grouped based on their rankings from the first hundred, then took turns on the stage to compete, with the final top ten ultimately decided.

After a brief period of grouping, the second phase began.

Disciples took to the stage one after another, each putting their full strength on display, eager to shine in the competition.

The atmosphere gradually built to a fever pitch, with cheers ringing out without pause.

Among those who had placed in the top ranks of the first phase, Lin Xiao was the first to take the stage.

His opponent was a disciple who had reached the Perfected Qi Refining Stage, ranked tenth in the first phase.

As the disciple stepped onto the sparring platform, his face fell — he looked like he was on the verge of tears.

How could his luck be this terrible?

Of all people, he had been matched against one of the three opponents he least wanted to face.

He would have rather fought Senior Brother Gu than face this mysterious newcomer.

"I look forward to your guidance, Senior Brother." The disciple said politely.

Within the sect, those with higher cultivation were addressed as senior brothers.

"Please." Lin Xiao replied calmly.

The moment the words left his mouth, the opposing disciple had already drawn his sword and charged.

The disciple's thinking was simple.

If he was going to fight, he'd end it fast.

His cultivation was already inferior to his opponent's — if he hesitated and dragged it out, the defeat would be all the more humiliating.

Swoosh!

His sword art erupted, sending three streaks of yellow Sword Qi slashing toward Lin Xiao from different angles.

The disciple was fully focused, unleashing his trump card from the very first move.

He kept his eyes locked on Lin Xiao, watching to see how his opponent would defend so he could follow up with his next attack.

But what he never expected was for Lin Xiao to simply stand there, watching him with a calm, indifferent gaze — without the slightest intention of defending.

Thud!

The next moment, all three streaks of Sword Qi sliced straight into Lin Xiao's body.

The disciple was dumbstruck.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

No one had expected Lin Xiao to be struck so easily.

"You let your focus slip during combat — you've lost." A calm voice suddenly rang out from behind the disciple.

The disciple jolted in shock.

But before he could even turn around, he felt a tremendous force crash into him, and the next instant he was sent flying off the sparring platform.

Lin Xiao withdrew his palm and strolled off the stage.

"What just happened? I didn't even see how he got there."

"I think he just used the Shifting Phantom Step movement technique."

"No way — that afterimage was so convincing, I thought it was real."

"At that speed, even I wouldn't have been able to react in time."

And you're telling me this person was a Servant Disciple?

The Outer Sect disciples were left utterly speechless at the thought.

The matches continued, and soon it was Senior Brother Gu Shi's turn to take the stage.

His opponent was the disciple ranked fourth.

After three exchanges, the disciple acknowledged he was outmatched and conceded on his own.

Lasting three rounds against Senior Brother Gu — he felt that was already something to be proud of.

The next match brought Shen Gao to the stage.

He was considerably more gracious, trading blows back and forth with his opponent for over a dozen exchanges before finally knocking the other disciple off the platform.

That gentlemanly bearing drew thunderous cheers from the Outer Sect disciples.

After a full round of matches, everyone had come to the same realization.

Shen Gao, Gu Shi, and the mysterious Lin Xiao — these three were in a class far above their fellow disciples.

Everyone was eager to know: if these three were pitted against each other, who would come out on top?

Especially Lin Xiao.

Through all his matches so far, he hadn't once drawn his sword.

Relying purely on speed and his fists, he had left every opponent helpless.

That gap in ability had everyone burning with curiosity.

Just how strong was he?

Finally.

After a few more matches had passed.

Lin Xiao was matched against Gu Shi.

Every Outer Sect disciple fixed their burning gaze on the stage.

The two stepped up.

"Junior Brother Lin, I look forward to your guidance." Gu Shi said.

"Likewise, Senior Brother Gu." Lin Xiao replied.

Up on the Outer Sect high platform.

"Little Chen, who do you think will win?" Elder Mu asked leisurely.

"Elder Mu, you flatter me with the question. Although Gu Shi is formidable, he's certainly no match for Lin Xiao, who has already grasped the embryonic form of Sword Intent." Elder Chen offered his assessment.

"But what if he doesn't use Sword Intent?" Elder Mu asked with a smile.

"Ah?! Without Sword Intent?"

Elder Chen paused briefly, then continued.

"If he doesn't draw on Sword Intent, then given the gap in cultivation levels, Lin Xiao would likely struggle to withstand several of Gu Shi's attacks."

"After all, Gu Shi cultivates the Raging Flame Sword Art, which is best suited for countering opponents who rely on speed."

Elder Mu shook his head without another word.

In his estimation, whether Gu Shi could even last three exchanges against Lin Xiao was already a question worth asking.