Bo Qingtan turned out to have been accepted as a disciple by an elder in the Martial Council. It did shock the people, but what shocked them was the move he had just used against his enemy. He just swapped positions with Yalan Suri in a blink, and the other person did not even have the time to figure out what happened.
Yalan Suri was subjected to bear the full burn of his attack. The saber master raised his blade and slashed it right against the white beam of light. This time, the attack was made with the energy of a black sword. The two attacks collided, and they restrained each other.
Soon, both the attacks vanished. The people gasped because they watched the attacks cancel out the impact on each other. The pillar surface was left scorched. Bo Qingtan said, "You sure are good, Fellow Daoist. Now, my turn."
The young man in white hanfu raised his sword and said, "Void Dragon Slash."
The sword intent from his blade let out a high-pitched whistle, and everyone sensed their swords tremble. Sovereign Mandala commented, "Unity with the sword. Impressive."
Unity with the sword was a doormat to the realm that every sword master craved for, the sword fairy. If Bo Qingtan managed to comprehend the deeper meaning of his Dao path, he could control as high as a thousand swords with his thoughts. They would submit to the refined sword intent he emits.
Sovereign Amethyst said, "You need to focus on the attack he just exhibited. Why do I feel that it is not yet complete?"
Old man Yanshu chuckled and spoke while stroking his beard, "Indeed, Lady Amethyst, this attack is not yet completely developed. Xiao Tan used a basic understanding of the void flash and integrated it with his attack, Dragon Slash. He has been trying to improve the attack but has never found a rival to squeeze the best out of him."
...
On the pillar, Bo Qingtan's slash cut the void like a layer of window paper, and a dragon appeared from the cut. The dragon was made of wood and proceeded towards Yalan Suri with great force of destruction around it. The latter was forced to defend, and that too, desperately.
The people were stunned because suddenly, another dragon tore through the void and charged at Yalan Suri. Bo Qingtan was dancing, slashing at the void quickly and repeatedly.
Shi Lang looked at the attack and clenched his fists. Yun Xue noticed this and chuckled, "What happened to you?"
Amelia said, "He just wants to fight someone after seeing that attack. I place my bet on Bo Qingtan."
Yun Xue nodded and chuckled. Shi Tao commented, "Why does it feel like he never grew up? I remember him beating up the class because one of us managed to pull up a cool trick."
Amelia laughed, and Yun Xue said, "Well, he beat me thrice before the tournament began to prepare for it because I had a breakthrough in my technique."
His body was already covered with a few slash wounds from the sword intent, and he found that his saber intent was failing him. Yalan Suri coughed up blood and fell to his knee as he said, "I give up."
He may appear strong and cool, but he feared death. Mandala waved his hand and dispelled the sword intent around him. Bo Qingtan was announced as the winner. Yalan Suri stood up from his spot and asked, "You said you would tell me why your intent was stronger than mine. Why?"
Bo Qingtan replied calmly, "You use your weapon as a tool. You follow the path of fights to gain fame, and your intent of saber does not protect your beliefs but is to guard your vanity."
Yalan Suri was defeated, but that did not mean he would let someone humiliate him. He said, "How dare you mock me?!"
Bo Qingtan replied, "I am not mocking you. I do not have the time to do that. However, do you realize why you hold that weapon now, and why did you hold it for the first time? If you do not recall the roots of your cultivation path, then no matter how much you progress, you will not improve."
Yalan Suri was enraged and did not notice that many people, including the Sovereigns, nodded at this statement. He clenched his fist and said, "I wield my sword to fight for justice. What else."
Bo Qingtan smiled and replied, "Are you sure? How many people have you killed in the past battles? How did you decide that they were guilty?"
Yalan Suri was shocked, and he could not reply at all. It was true; he had not been fighting with the sense of justice he had in the initial days. These days, he had been fighting to make a name for himself. The people he killed were all weaker than him, and he did not even listen to their defense.
Bo Qingtan looked at his opponent and said, "Look deep in your heart and ask yourself if what you pursue is still the sense of justice. If I can tell this much about your blade by exchanging blows with you, then you should have greater self-awareness."
Everyone was focused on the two people and completely ignored Shi Lang, who was getting restless with every passing moment. Yalan Suri stood silently in his spot, and the others seemed to be waiting for him. The Terran took a deep breath and said, "Old man Tian Long, are we here to guide the misled? I did not know if this place was a tournament or a rehabilitation center."
Tian Long glared at him and said, "Do you know where you are?"
Shi Lang replied sarcastically, "At the centurion tournament, we are fighting to attain a top rank. Did you lose your memory?"
The sovereigns all looked at Tian Long with an amused expression while the crowd was shocked. Tian Long spoke through his teeth, "Do you wish to enrage me so much? I will beat the hell out of you."
Shi Lang raised his brow and asked, "Do you think I am scared of you? Do not get too cocky. Come down to my realm and see who will beat whom, alright? Now, do your job and announce the next fight. I want to beat people."
Shi Lang ruined the moment, but the people liked his cockiness.