"Not bad for my Captain of the Guard in Ten Thousand Sword City; come, Xuan Hu, I toast you." Xuan Hu raised his wine, brimming with excitement. Ji Jingtian was originally his confidant, so it was only proper to boost morale before a journey, and moreover, this move would allow Cang Long to see his intentions clearly, thus overlooking another person—the other pawn he had hidden among the crowd: Zhan Fengyue.

Ji Jingtian drank the wine but did not immediately sit down. Far from it; he arrogantly gazed at Ye Xiu, saying, "Forgive my ignorance, Young Hero Ye, but while your swordplay with Jian Hongchen today was undeniably powerful, it was ultimately just elaborate window dressing. If that is truly all you possess, tomorrow I fear I will be your superior."

"Oh? Guard Ji is so confident," Ye Xiu was not intimidated by his words. "Too many unpredictable things happen on the arena stage. Perhaps tomorrow, once we engage, it won't take long for Guard Ji to fall beneath my sword. Heh heh."

Wan Jian Cang Long had no interest in this verbal sparring; what concerned him was Ji Jingtian's true skill. "Since Guard Ji entered Ten Thousand Sword City, I have never seen you wield more than three swords. Rumor has it that Guard Ji is the inheritor of the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn. Should not the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn involve seven identical treasured swords?"

Ji Jingtian bowed sincerely and spoke smoothly, "Your subordinate is indeed the inheritor of the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn. During routine patrols and sparring, three swords are more than sufficient. However, tomorrow I shall allow everyone present to witness the true might of the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn."

"So, seven swords. How formidable can that be?" Although Ye Xiu was calculating every move internally, his tongue remained sharp. "Guard Ji, I implore you, do not hold back in tomorrow's battle, or I shall find it dreadfully dull."

"As Young Hero Ye wishes. I will exert my full strength," Ji Jingtian offered no concession either. His confidence in his swordsmanship even surpassed Ye Xiu's.

"Haha! With such eagerness to fight, Cang Long wishes all heroes swift victory and great success!" Wan Jian Cang Long was particularly thrilled—it was the passion of a swordsman. He knew Ji Jingtian had concealed his true strength for years; tomorrow's fight would surely be a spectacle.

East wind, war drums, surging crowds. Upon the Terrace of Ten Thousand Swords, Cang Long, Xuan Hu, Qing Lin, and Shen Ying sat upright, each burdened by private thoughts. Every gaze was fixed on the center of the arena, and the roar of the spectators could not drown out the palpable tension in the air. Ye Xiu carried Heng Chen resting on his shoulder; he seemed not to have fully digested breakfast. He hummed a little tune while waiting for Ji Jingtian’s arrival.

"The first match: Ye Xiu versus Ji Jingtian. Please, Ji Jingtian, take the stage." Yuan Wencheng's voice was undoubtedly Ye Xiu's worst alarm clock; every time he heard that shrill cry, his teeth ached with unbearable irritation.

"Whoosh..." A gust of dust blew from some unknown source onto the stage. With two heavy thuds, a massive sword-casket shot out, coming to a firm stop in the center of the platform. Then, clad in his white guard uniform, Ji Jingtian descended from the sky, landing with one foot atop the casket, staring down menacingly at Ye Xiu.

"Wow! It’s the sword-casket! I heard this Ji Jingtian is the inheritor of the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn." It seemed not only were there uninformed riffraff in the audience, but many possessed some experience in the martial world.

"I suppose Guard Ji's swords are all stored in that dilapidated casket," Ye Xiu again raised his arm, spinning Heng Chen between his fingers, showing off while openly scorning Ji Jingtian. "It should be nearly winter this time of year; why mourn the autumn still?"

"Heh heh, why say more, Young Hero Ye." With a leisurely step, Ji Jingtian drifted down to the ground. He carried no weapon in his hands, suggesting all seven swords remained within that colossal casket.

Jokes aside, Ye Xiu could now distinctly feel the killing intent emanating from Ji Jingtian—or perhaps it shouldn't be called killing intent. He distinctly sensed an aura of melancholy in Ji Jingtian's eyes, an oppressive, heavy feeling.

Ji Jingtian's brow twitched. He tightly pressed his index and middle fingers together on both hands, then casually traced a few lines in the air before roaring, "Out!" Immediately, the sword-casket sprang open, and two long swords shot out, striking directly toward Ye Xiu.

"Isn't this the legendary Sword Control Technique?" Ye Xiu scoffed, lunging forward, sweeping Heng Chen toward Ji Jingtian, aiming to take his head. Things, of course, did not proceed so smoothly. Ji Jingtian continuously twisted and dodged Ye Xiu’s attacks while simultaneously directing the two swords toward Ye Xiu's rear. Clang, clang, clang... After a barrage of impacts, Ye Xiu, needing to both attack and defend, clearly felt his strength falter, while Ji Jingtian on the opposite side moved with fluid ease.

"Out!" At this moment, two more sharp blades danced out from the sword-casket, rushing toward Ye Xiu. Ye Xiu had intended to block the two swords and find an opportunity to pierce Ji Jingtian, but he never anticipated the sudden reversal of fortune. Four swords now besieged him from four directions in the air. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he somersaulted backward rapidly, evading one strike, then braced one hand on the ground and swept sideways to dodge another. Unfortunately, before he could stabilize himself, the remaining two swords attacked simultaneously. He instantly planted both feet, lunging horizontally into the air, bringing Heng Chen sweeping back with force, stabbing out precisely to knock one sword aside. However, he was a step too slow to counter the final sword, which pierced him, knocking him sprawling to the ground.

"Ah..." The audience watching the preceding sequence of movements had been nearly struck dumb. Only when Ye Xiu fell, injured, did someone finally dare to release their held breath, letting out gasps of amazement.

"Ji Jingtian’s Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn live up to their name. That was only the fourth sword, and Ye Xiu already seems unable to cope," Wan Jian Xuan Hu clapped his hands in applause.

"Young Master Ye," Shen Ying looked slightly anxious, her hands clenched tightly as she silently cheered for Ye Xiu.

"Heh, how will you handle this?" Wan Jian Cang Long was greatly impressed by Ji Jingtian's power, yet he held even greater faith in Ye Xiu. "It is said the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn allow one person to control seven long swords. Although it resembles the Sword Control Technique, it is far more ingenious."

"Big Brother knows so much; can you enlighten us?" Qing Lin remained rather relaxed. Though Ye Xiu was his hidden ace and the situation looked disadvantageous, he felt no worry because he knew Ye Xiu's true power, his combat experience that even Jian Hongchen could not rival—it was this endless accumulation of battle knowledge that had allowed him to survive until now.

Cang Long closed his eyes, his mind forming a strategy. "Legend says the Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn—the name implies seven swords—is not simply about attacking with seven blades. When the seven swords unite, they can form a whip, or coalesce into a sword formation; they can separate, merge, break, or establish. Although I myself have never witnessed the true Seven Swords of Sorrowful Autumn, I know they are the nightmare of all who encounter them."

Ye Xiu rose, panting heavily. That single strike had severely wounded his thigh, but compared to the injuries he sustained on Ghost Trace Island, this wound was negligible. He wiped the cut and declared arrogantly, "Guard Ji's swords are indeed multifaceted and astonishing, I must admit, however..."