679 A Holy Sword

Xu Changsheng said, "Don't you think it's weird? I mean, it's only been a few months since Lin Yue attained the Fish-Dragon Realm. How did he make such a big progress in such a short time?"

Fire Titan said quietly, "I can feel your strong hatred and jealousy, Xu Changsheng. It isn't healthy. It's a big world out there and strange things happen. Miracles can happen to anyone. Now, what's so weird about that?"

Xu Changsheng saluted Fire Titan with his hands folded. "Thank you for reminding me, Senior Sister. I shouldn't have let my jealousy cloud my judgment."

Fire Titan continued. "You know what? I think you should investigate Qi Feiyu. Based on what you've told me and on what I already know about her, her behavior is indeed rather odd."

"I will do that," Xu Changsheng replied.

"I should be able to release myself from refining soon. I'll go and meet Lin Yue in person to find out if he will pose a problem to us," Fire Titan said.

"Has Senior Sister completed her retreat and attained the Half-Saint realm?" Xu Changsheng asked, agitated and visibly happy.

"Well, not exactly.

"During my seclusion, I've focused on the Cloudy Sky Shattering Sword and have almost reached the Big Success stage. It's about time I release myself from refining," said the Fire Titan.

Xu Changsheng was quite surprised that it took his Senior Sister apprentice only one year to achieve the Cloudy Sky Shattering Sword, a Ghost Level martial technique. With her Innate Extreme Yang Body, she was indeed very extraordinary.

How many people in Kunlun's Field had managed this feat while still in the Fish-Dragon Realm?

The Fire Titan collapsed with a loud boom and then turned into plumes of fire, gushing back into the Ground-stove Valley like a crimson tide.

Xu Changsheng left the valley, ready to investigate Qi Feiyu.

After the many sword duels held over two days, 10 group winners of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm had emerged. They were: Qin Yufan, Qi Feiyu, Dao Xuanqi, Can Dong, Yuchi Hong, Xu Changsheng, Zhao Wuyan, Mo Xin, Yang Qi, and Lin Yue.

The final round of the challenge was reserved for the top 100 contestants. Each contestant was given a chance to challenge a group winner. If they succeeded, they would replace that person as a member of the top 10.

After several rounds of duels, everyone knew the group winners quite well. None of them was someone you could mess with.

Most people only dared to challenge either Mo Xin or Yang Qi.

Zhang Ruochen was also challenged twice, but he beat his opponents each time with a single move. They were easy victories.

No one else was brave enough to challenge him afterward.

During the challenge round, Half-saint Zixia invited Half-saint Yuanlong over to watch the duels together.

Half-saint Zixia sat beside Half-saint Yuanlong, smiling. "Half-saint Yuanlong, I seem to remember you promised to give Lin Yue a Holy Sword if he makes it to the top 10. Does my memory serve me well?"

Half-saint Yuanlong's dark face resembled the bottom of a charred pot. He stared coldly at Lin Yue below. "Lin Yue just broke through to the Fish-Dragon Realm a few months ago. How could he be so strong now?

"Besides, he did not reach the Ultimate Realm in any of the Four Realms of Martial Arts. Even supposing that he does possess a Treasured Body of Three Spirits, he couldn't have defeated a top fighter of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm. He's just of the Fifth Change! He's not Gai Tianjiao... he couldn't have crossed so many realms and defeated his opponents.

"I propose to dip him in the Decamouflaging Pool to reveal his true identity. Is he really Lin Yue?"

Half-saint Zixia's solemn eyes flashed with anger. "Old Yuanlong, you don't need to malign Lin Yue to renege on your promise! Patriarch Taiyi has already checked his identity and instructed me to nurture him carefully. Do you think that Patriarch Taiyi isn't cultivated enough to know his true identity?"

Half-saint Jing Lan, who was standing beside the two, was unhappy as well. "Yuanlong, what you've said is a bit too much. It's true that the Decamouflaging Pool can uncover an Immortal Vampire's disguise. "However, a normal person will sustain serious injury to his Meridians and his Martial Soul after he is dipped. He may never fully recover.

"Lin Yue has the potential to become a Sword Saint. If you dip him in the pool and injure his physique and Martial Soul, can you bear the responsibility?"

Half-saint Yuanlong had actually said it partly because he suspected Lin Yue's identity.

The other reason was that he wanted to go back on his word.

A Holy Sword was considered a Family Treasure in many Half-Saint families.

Although Half-saint Yuanlong possessed two Holy Swords, they were his greatest assets. He had braved immense dangers to bring them out of a medieval relic.

How could he let one of them go just like that?

His words had been calculated to humiliate Half-saint Zixia. He did not expect he would end up paying the price of his casual promise with his Holy Sword.

Half-saint Yuanlong's heart was bleeding. He was so angry with himself that he could have slapped himself twice on the mouth.

The five other Half-Saints stared at him. A Half-Saint must be both poised and magnanimous.

Half-saint Yuanlong took a deep breath and forced himself to smile. "Since Patriarch Taiyi has examined Lin Yue in person, I'm sure there's no problem with him. "Such a sword genius has emerged here, we must develop Lin Yue seriously. What I'm giving him is just a Holy Sword. I will present it to him no matter what."

The challenge round ended but the positions remained unchanged. The group winners continued to occupy the top 10 positions.

It only proved that their strengths were indeed amazing—far exceeding those of most Monks of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.

According to the pre-tournament rules, the top 10 combatants would each receive a Glaze Pellet.

A Glaze Pellet was a ninth-class pill. It was so valuable that no one outside the Sect could purchase it.

If a Monk in the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm took a Glaze Pellet, he would cultivate a Glazed Treasured Body and break into the Ninth Change within a very short period of time.

The ten Monks approached Sunset Palace and bowed to the six Half-Saint Patriarchs sitting above them. They chanted in unison. "Our greetings to the Half-Saint Patriarchs."

They were about to receive a Glaze Pellet each. All of them awaited their prize eagerly.

Half-saint Jing Lan nodded and praised them. "Not bad. You are the top 10 of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm. We have high hopes that you can all become Half-Saints.

"To put it succinctly: continue to practice hard. Strive to be able to sit at my table in the near future."

Half-saint Jing Lan then distributed the pills. Ten Ice Jade Boxes, each the size of a fist, were handed out to the Monks.

Zhang Ruochen was looking forward to his Glaze Pellet as well. He opened the Ice Jade Box immediately upon receiving it.

A colored glazed light shone out from the box. There was a strong herbal scent. After he inhaled the scent, Zhang Ruochen's bone joints crackled loudly.

The same thing happened to all the other Monks.

Half-saint Zixia coughed dryly and gazed over at Zhang Ruochen. He smiled. "Lin Yue, Half-saint Yuanlong really admires your gift in the Tao of the sword, so he has prepared a special gift for you."

Zhang Ruochen's lips curved into a smile. He immediately understood what the special gift was.

Half-saint Yuanlong nearly made Half-saint Zixia cough out blood during their last encounter. Now, it was Half-saint Zixia's turn to exact revenge after Zhang Ruochen clinched a top 10 spot.

Zhang Ruochen certainly would not be overly polite. He stepped forward and saluted Half-saint Yuanlong with folded hands. "Thank you for your present, predecessor."

Half-saint Yuanlong tried hard to make himself look nonchalant. He grudgingly took out an ancient white sword and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.

He said, "This Holy Sword was unearthed in a medieval relic. I almost died trying to recover it.

"Now I give you the sword.

"I hope it can help you progress in your cultivation in the Tao of the sword, making you the next Sword Saint from the Yin and Yang Sect."

Half-saint Yuanlong spoke sincerely and meaningfully. It almost looked as if he had really pinned great hopes on Lin Yue.

The other Monks all looked on enviously.

A sword in the Holy Weapon class was so much more valuable than a Glaze Pellet. Many Half-Saints would fight one another for one.

Half-saint Yuanlong continued. "This Holy Sword is a relic from the Middle Ancient Times. Its sword spirit is still in a coma. You have to wake its spirit up so that it can emanate the power befitting its Holy Weapon class."

Half-saint Yuanlong had chosen to give this sword to Zhang Ruochen because he had not been able to awaken its sword spirit after obtaining it.

A Holy Sword with a sleeping sword spirit is just a dead sword. Its power would at best be better than a twelfth-level Genuine Martial Arm. It could never rival a true Holy Sword.

Zhang Ruochen unsheathed the Holy Sword and gave it a once over. Its blade was very rusty, and the Holy Qi emanating from it was very weak.

After examining it closely, Zhang Ruochen immediately shook his head. This Holy Sword was defective—it could not even rival a Golden Snake Divine Rapier.

Such a worn Holy Sword and Half-saint Yuanlong had given it to him like it was a peerless treasure. Zhang Ruochen was disappointed.

However, the sword was still a Holy Sword. Shouldn't a Monk in the Fish-Dragon Realm be ecstatic when presented with one? So he immediately knelt and kowtowed to show his gratitude.

Zhang Ruochen's dismissive look made Half-saint Yuanlong's blood boil. He was so enraged he wanted to grab the Holy Sword back.

Even if the Holy Sword was defective, Zhang Ruochen could not return it to him.

Zhang Ruochen sheathed the white Holy Sword and nonchalantly said, "What an excellent Holy Sword! Thank you once again, predecessor."

Half-saint Yuanlong ground his teeth. Still, he managed a zombified smile and nodded at Zhang Ruochen.

Half-saint Yuanlong's pained reactions made Half-saint Zixia's day.

Zhang Ruochen soon retired and Half-saint Jing Lan stood up to make another announcement. "The qualifying round will be held in one month. I hope all of you would have reached the Ninth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm by then. The qualifying matches will take place at the same time as the qualifying matches for the Ninth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm."