"I'll just do it myself, haha!" Qing Lin saw the situation was a bit awkward, poured himself a drink, and sat down to keep Shen Ying company.

"Third Brother, you can't drink much yourself, why force it? Come, let's have a few more rounds with everyone." Xuan Hu was quite skilled at making friends, though this was limited to drinking buddies only. "I heard that Yi Tiannan of the Wing Clan and Lang Taotian of the Water Clan have also sent two masters. I wonder if we can call them out for a meeting."

Naming names again, Xuan Hu once more spotted two famous figures. In his eyes, these two were undoubtedly the ears and eyes of Cang Long. It could be said that among everyone present, only these four could be considered recognized masters of the Three Swords. Jian Hongchen had always been a solitary and unrestrained figure, unlikely to be here for any royal status; Zhan Fengyue and Ji Jing Tian were his own men. Calculating this way, the other three became his biggest threats, while that fellow named Ye Xiu, though wielding a single sword, was just an unknown hunter, hardly worth fearing.

"Actually, Xuan Hu has an announcement for everyone here: the order of tomorrow's duels." Wan Jian Xuan Hu's words immediately startled many, and even Qing Lin beside him felt a jolt.

"Second Brother, wasn't it supposed to be decided by drawing lots?" Qing Lin felt a bit unsettled; his own calculations were perfectly laid out in his mind, but Xuan Hu’s statement threw him into disarray.

"This was Big Brother's idea too. To ensure fairness in the competition, tomorrow's matchups will be determined by your current seating arrangement. Look at the person opposite you—that is your opponent for tomorrow. You chose this yourselves." Wan Jian Xuan Hu himself didn't favor this method, but he had informed Ji Jing Tian beforehand to ensure those two were separated.

"Ha..." The people below began to murmur, but it seemed everyone’s gaze had landed on Ye Xiu, and Ye Xiu himself was stunned along with the crowd.

"Heh heh, it seems Brother Ye, your opponent is me," Jian Hongchen smiled slightly, unnervingly peculiar. "I wonder if you still recall my Sword Color Flowing Light?"

"I..." Ye Xiu was speechless, unable to stop himself from glancing up at Qing Lin. At this moment, Qing Lin paid him no attention at all.

"A tough fight ahead, Brother Ye," Lang Taotian patted Ye Xiu’s shoulder and said quietly. "Don't be fooled by Jian Hongchen's usual demeanor. When he has his sword in hand, he is completely different. Sword Color Flowing Light isn't a swordsmanship technique; it's a method of controlling airflow. Did you sense it just now?"

Ye Xiu nodded. He felt a touch of gratitude toward Lang Taotian for the reminder. He had already sensed the killing intent when Jian Hongchen drew his blade earlier. However, facing a rumored master of the Three Swords realm in the very first match actually sparked a bit more interest in the martial arts competition for him.

Last night, under the green trees in the west wind, heroes from all sides feasted and drank to their hearts' content, feeling unrestrained. Today, under the bright sun, the participants for the first round of duels stood firmly on the martial arts stage.

Ye Xiu never imagined that his first battle in Wan Jian City would be so tragically one-sided. In terms of fame and strength, Jian Hongchen, the expressionless Soul-Drawing Boy, far surpassed him.

"What's wrong, Brother Ye? Your mind seems cluttered," Jian Hongchen, despite his renowned name, was not much older than Ye Xiu. "I want to see what you are truly made of today."

Ye Xiu knew the opponent meant business, but from his late-night chat with Lang Taotian, he had gathered much information about Jian Hongchen. "I heard the Soul-Drawing Boy Swordsmanship is bizarre. After slaughtering over a hundred fellow martial artists, you vanished. Why re-emerge into the martial world today?"

"Brother Ye, you are too naive. How can you believe all rumors in the martial world? That slaughter was merely combat, just like what you and I will do today. The difference is that we might stake our honor, but you merely stake your life." Jian Hongchen's tone remained as arrogant as ever.

"The martial contest begins!" At this moment, above the Wan Jian Pavilion, the three City Lords and the County Princess had all taken their seats. Yuan Wencheng once again roared the start of the match with his piercing voice. The surrounding Blade Guards promptly struck the drums to cheer for those on stage, while all the spectators below raised their hands, shouting endlessly for their heroes.

"Hah..." Jian Hongchen was indeed no incompetent fighter. As soon as the fight started, he concentrated his full internal energy, gathering all the airflow into his palm. Instantly, a rosy glow shot straight up, forming a whip-like beam of light before him.

"It is truly my great fortune to witness the Sword Color Flowing Light today." Ye Xiu swiftly drew Heng Chen, throwing the scabbard directly toward Jian Hongchen, who was still gathering energy.

Jian Hongchen paid little attention to Ye Xiu's attack. The light beam in his hand could be controlled freely; with just a slight wave, he sent the Heng Chen scabbard flying away. "It seems Brother Ye’s force is lacking."

"Heh heh, how about this?" Ye Xiu held his sword across his chest, forced into using the Ghost Step right at the start. Instantly, his figure vanished from the martial arts stage.

"Ah! What happened? Where did he go? Did he run off?" The spectators below cried out in surprise. They could hardly imagine someone disappearing into thin air under the gaze of thousands.

"What is this warrior called? How can he possess such astonishing speed?" Wan Jian Cang Long, though his martial cultivation was extremely high, found it impossible to fathom Ye Xiu's movements at this moment.

Yuan Wencheng flipped through the record scroll and loudly reported, "This person is named Ye Xiu, a mere hunter from the outskirts of Wan Jian City. He belongs to no sect or school, wielding a bronze treasured sword named Heng Chen."

"What's wrong, Big Brother? Are you interested in him?" Xuan Hu gazed at the stage, but his mind was focused on Cang Long. "With my cultivation, I can no longer discern his traces. I wonder if Big Brother can?"

Wan Jian Cang Long's eyes were sharp, constantly moving around the fighting arena. Finally, he lowered his head, unable to sustain the effort. "This person’s speed is too fast; even I cannot track his whereabouts. Truly a prodigy."

Wan Jian Qing Lin was inwardly delighted, realizing he hadn't misjudged Ye Xiu; his speed could indeed be called the best among the Three Swords realm. "Shen Ying, what do you think of that Ye Xiu?"

"Heh heh, Third Brother jokes too much. I've only met Young Master Ye once, sharing a cup of wine. Seeing how surprised Big Brother and Second Brother are, this Ye must indeed be an extraordinary person." Shen Ying smiled sweetly and offered no further comment.

In the center of the arena, Jian Hongchen manifested the Sword Color Flowing Light, tightly wrapping it around his body, while he strolled around slowly. "I truly cannot match Brother Ye's speed, but merely disappearing like this won't allow you to get close to me. What will you do?"

Ye Xiu certainly knew the energy drain of the Ghost Step, but Jian Hongchen was indeed a veteran of the martial world, calmly engaging in conversation at this moment. In desperation, Ye Xiu instantly flashed behind him, intending a surprise attack from the rear. "Ha..." Jian Hongchen clearly sensed the anomaly in the airflow behind him but didn't turn quickly to counter. At this moment, Ye Xiu was overjoyed, intending to strike immediately with his sword, but he never expected Jian Hongchen's Sword Color Flowing Light to inadvertently wrap around his waist and then suddenly constrict.

" Puchi..." Ye Xiu quickly leaped high into the sky, but his ankle couldn't escape, catching a swipe of blood from the light beam. This trail of flying blood was seized perfectly by Jian Hongchen, and another wave of colored light shot toward him. Ye Xiu tried to block with his sword, placing Heng Chen before his chest, but the light beam, which had been clearly visible, suddenly scattered and vanished without a trace. Before he could react, a sword stream formed behind him and pierced through. Instantly, blood mist scattered across the entire plaza.

"Ye Xiu, you can't lose like this!" From the crowd, Ah Jiao's voice sounded particularly sweet. At this moment, Ye Xiu, instantly struck, had no capacity for complex thought. His body fell straight down from the sky. Upon landing, he did not forget to flip, driving the Heng Chen treasured sword fiercely into the ground, barely managing to stay upright.

"How about it, Brother Ye? With just this one move, you are already finished. I haven't even used my full strength," Jian Hongchen said proudly, letting his sword qi surround his body as he slowly walked toward Ye Xiu. In his eyes, Ye Xiu was truly a nobody—a fellow with nothing but speed and no proper sword techniques to speak of.

"The Soul-Drawing Boy lives up to his reputation," Wan Jian Cang Long stared intently at the plaza, deep in thought. "What a pity for this single-sword martial artist. One can imagine that in the entire Wan Jian City, besides the Imperial Clan, no one dares to fight with an ordinary sword, unless they can break through the tenth level of the Ten Thousand Sword Art."

Xuan Hu chuckled in surprise. "In Wan Jian City, apart from my two brothers and myself, all soldiers practice the Ten Thousand Sword Art, differing only in level and attainment. But that fellow Ye Xiu hasn't displayed any discernible sword technique yet; it’s truly perplexing."

"Watch further," Cang Long coldly stated, waving a hand toward the stage. In his view, Jian Hongchen's reappearance was already an unusual event. This person had never cared for fame or profit, nor would he likely serve Wan Jian City. The reason for his reappearance this time was unknown.

"Hoo... hoo..." Ye Xiu knelt halfway on the martial arts stage, using his sword for support. He had now truly experienced the taste of the Sword Color Flowing Light. Jian Hongchen's horror lay not in the sword's long, flexible whip-like reach, but in the fact that his sword had no fixed form. Only those who could use air as a sword could be called true masters.

"Brother Ye, please display any techniques I haven't yet seen. I have waited long enough," Jian Hongchen said, completely unharmed, a wide smile on his face. "If you have nothing else, then it is my turn to attack."

"Swoosh..." Ye Xiu stood up, swiftly putting Heng Chen back into his waist sheath. He stood perfectly still, showing no expression. What was he preparing to do?