Chapter 638: Chapter 638: Inciting Public Outrage
Song Jian spent a full three days, exterminating all the bandits on the entirety of Blackwind Mountain. The few leaders possessed first-tier battle strength, and Song Jian relied on his stone figurine and surprise attacks to kill each of them. Especially during the fight with the head leader, he even used the passive skill “Enemy of Death God”. With the effects of ‘Enemy of Death God’, he suddenly experienced a pseudo-death and revival before dealing a severe blow to the head leader, killing him and taking his head. This was the toughest battle Song Jian had ever faced.
Now, however, each disciple, who were mostly at the eighth or ninth level and not exceeding the tenth, was giving him more points than twenty-level monsters. How could Song Jian not be thrilled?
Even without using any special skills, and just relying on physical strength, Song Jian was capable of mowing down every disciple with a single sword sweep, leaving them all flattened on the ground. If he wasn’t afraid of intervention by the examiners, he wouldn’t have even shown mercy.
Seeing Song Jian dominating the hundred-man team where no one could withstand a single move from him, surprise was written over all three examiners’ faces.
“I knew he was strong, but I did not expect him to be this strong!”
“What’s more, he seems to wield the sword by sheer brute force, with no sword skills at all. Yet the power he unleashes is so great…”
“No, although he is using brute force, traces of sword skills can still be discerned in the transmission of his power. He does know swordsmanship, it has been deeply embedded into his blood and bones. Even a casual swipe from him can convey the presence of Sword Intent.” Li Guiqing, the most accomplished in swordsmanship, was also filled with astonishment when looking at Song Jian.
“Sword Intent? Li, are you talking about Sword Intent? Am I hearing things?” Wang Hai turned sharply towards Li Guiqing with a tense look.
“How is that possible? He’s just a lowly servile pupil…” Qin Hua too, was looking at Song Jian with a shocked expression.
“What’s wrong with being a servile pupil? Don’t forget our Sect Leader was also a servile pupil before…” Li Guiqing looked around before murmuring quietly.
“This brat, how can he be compared to the Sect Leader…” Wang Hai’s eyes flickered uncertainly.
What a shock to him, if he had not used his sword talent earlier, how could he have ended up in the Sword Casting Hall, becoming an apprentice swordsmith?
“Sword Intent, huh… even among official Swordmasters, there aren’t many who can comprehend Sword Intent.” Qin Hua sighed and shook her head.
Li Guiqing’s mouth twitched a little—he was one of the official Swordmasters who had not comprehended the Sword Intent.
“Indeed, it is Sword Intent. But he has only just barely scratched the surface, it’s not yet what one would call true Sword Intent. However, given his age and talent, grasping the true Sword Intent is only a matter of time.” Even though Li Guiqing himself had not grasped the Sword Intent, his eyes were sharp enough to tell.
“Do you think it could be because he single-handedly wiped out Blackwind Village?” Qin Hua suddenly speculated.
Li Guiqing shook internally, thoughts whirling in his mind. “Should I also go eradicate a bandit camp or two to try and attain Sword Intent?”
As Li Guiqing gazed at the blood-covered Song Jian, a single sentence from Qin Hua had rooted itself in his mind, sprouting wildly like weeds.
In just the time it takes to brew tea, Song Jian had felled all the disciples around him. Most of them were unconscious, while quite a few had their bones broken by Song Jian, clutching their hands or feet in pain on the ground, moaning in pain.
“Alright, we have our winner. Have someone take the injured for treatment.” Li Guiqing frowned, sneering at the disciples rolling in pain on the ground and ordered.
“Bring Song Jian over. We ought to get closer to him. With his abilities, before long, he’ll catch the eye of the elder and perhaps even the Sect Leader, and become a direct disciple.” Li Guiqing muttered to the two people beside him.
Qin Hua and Wang Hai glanced at each other and subtly nodded. They were already plotting what kind of gift they should give this servile disciple—something that would be accepted yet not appear too sycophantic.
At that moment, much to their surprise, they saw Song Jian charge towards the scene of another hundred-man trial, mowing down the disciples around him with his wooden sword, like a tiger among sheep.
“What… what is he doing?” Qin Hua spoke, flabbergasted.
“Ahem, did he arrive too late and missed the competition rules, and assumed that he must defeat all competitors to pass?” Wang Hai coughed twice, offering an explanation.
“Maybe, just maybe?” Li Guiqing wore a stunned look, aware that Wang Hai was making excuses for Song Jian. That said, after having toppled so many competitors, how much energy must this kid have left? Wasn’t he tired? He was courting everyone’s ire!
When Song Jian burst into the second hundred-man team, the 70 or 80 members were quickly scattered, like the ones before, into unconscious or groaning heaps clutching their limbs.
After taking a look at his level, Song Jian found that he had soared to level thirty at 69%. The experience was freely gained without any effort—it was incredibly satisfying.
Most importantly, he wasn’t doing this for some qualification to join the inner sect. From start to finish, Song Jian’s goal was one and only—to clinch first place in this disciple trial. How could he secure the first position without defeating everyone else?
However, after defeating the second hundred-man competition team, Song Jian was panting a bit. When he turned his gaze to the third competing team, the remaining dozens of people actually stopped their fights unanimously and looked at Song Jian in unison.
Almost every disciple’s eyes were filled with fury. At this moment, it seemed as though Song Jian had truly become everyone’s enemy.
“Phew, damn, I’ve overdone it…” Song Jian looked at the remaining disciples, a bitter smile creeping onto his face.
Having already defeated more than a hundred trial disciples, even though their levels were much lower than Song Jian’s, it also drained him of a substantial amount of energy.
Seeing the remaining trial disciples unexpectedly stopping in unison, the three examiners glanced at each other. Not only did they not stop Song Jian, but they wore interesting expressions: “Heh heh, this is getting interesting!”
Song Jian’s strength had already received their recognition, but if he could not beat the remaining disciples, he would not be able to pass this trial test.
“If he fails, I’ll take him as my disciple!” Li Guiqing stroked his three strands of long beard, his face breaking into a smile. If Song Jian really passed the trial, with his talent, he would definitely be accepted as a disciple by an elder or possibly the Sect Leader. Then, he wouldn’t have any chance. At that moment, Li Guiqing found himself hoping that Song Jian would fail the trial.
“Come on!” With a wave of his wooden sword, Song Jian shouted at the remaining disciples.
Before the others could react, the thoroughly bloodstained Song Jian, his spirit still burning bright, plunged alone into the crowd, sword in hand.
…