Chapter 848 - 845: Tit for Tat

After everyone raised no objections, the Sword Immortal spoke again: "This second matter is also something we decided after much deliberation!"

"That is, after this Sword Dao Conference and the subsequent Daoist Demon Battlefield, the top four disciples in the rankings will stay in the Sword God Temple to be trained, to take over from us four old geezers!"

"Who knows how much longer we four old geezers can live; once you’re old, you’re really not much use anymore!"

The Sword Immortal said humorously.

Everyone was delighted, because this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and also the first time in a hundred thousand years something like this had been done, so they all looked forward with eager eyes.

For them, this was indeed a very good opportunity.

It was just a pity there were only four slots, and everyone wanted one.

The Sword Immortal repeated: "This time, the sect rankings will be determined by the total of the Sword Dao selection results plus the Daoist Demon Battlefield results!"

The arena erupted again; this time the rules had really changed, and changed in a way they weren’t used to.

However, Ye Fan strongly agreed with this kind of rule; once implemented, such rules would have very strong binding force.

After saying this, the Sword Immortal left.

This time, the temptation of the top four in the Sword Dao Conference was enormous; for Ye Fan, wasn’t this exactly what he wanted?

What he wanted was to successfully enter the Sword God Temple.

Then, using the Divine Altar of the Sword God Temple, he could leave; just so happens, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—if he missed it, it would really be gone.

So no matter what, he had to get into the top four.

Only by becoming disciples of the four great Sword Dao Experts would they be allowed to sit on the Divine Altar and set foot on the path of return.

After returning to their living quarters, the Infinite Sword Ancestor spoke: "This time, the people you need to guard against are not only those Sword Dao geniuses."

"You also have to be wary of that Sword Master!"

The three immediately understood.

That Sword Master had a grudge with the Infinite Sword Ancestor; at this Sword Dao Conference, he would inevitably stir up trouble—this was indeed a headache.

The Infinite Sword Ancestor said: "Those Sword Dao geniuses also must not be underestimated, especially the top three Sects; their strength is far too unfathomable!"

For the Infinite Sword Sect, the pressure they had to bear in this Sword Dao Conference was also very great.

However, the Infinite Sword Ancestor still had great confidence in the three.

Ten days later, the thirty-six Sects gathered here once more.

This time, what shocked Ye Fan was that not only did the Sword Immortal appear, but the other three also came: the Sword Emperor, the Sword Saint, and the Sword Ancestor.

Especially the Sword Ancestor.

With just one glance, Ye Fan felt that he and the Sword Ancestor were simply not from the same world.

Not just him; even the other three Sword Dao Experts were the same—they were simply not on the same level as the Sword Ancestor.

No wonder the Sword Ancestor could command the thirty-six Sword Sects; with such strength, he indeed had the qualifications. It could be seen he was also a strategist with extraordinary wits.

A powerhouse like this could probably destroy a continent with his bare hands.

He and the Demon Ancestor faced each other in opposition, making both the Sword Dao and the Demon Path afraid to launch all-out war, because their strength had already surpassed the Heavenly Martial Continent.

In front of such a powerhouse, people probably didn’t even have the chance to tremble in fear, because he was too strong—so strong it was absurd.

Anyway, after seeing him, Ye Fan was truly scared.

He only didn’t know how the Sword Ancestor compared to those super races, the Heavenly Clan’s Heavenly Venerates; likely he wasn’t much weaker.

But when it came to cultivation, Ye Fan didn’t dare make random guesses. For example, before, he had guessed that the Gun God was probably not much weaker than the Netherworld Ancestor Realm.

Yet now, with his current strength, he could instantly kill the Gun God. It could only be said there is no "strongest," only "stronger," since cultivation is an endless road.

The Sword Saint was a one-armed powerhouse, also known as the One-Armed Sword Saint. It was said that back then, he personally ended the life of a Demon Clan Demon Lord.

The price was that his arm was severed by the Demon Lord’s dying counterattack; after being cut off it never regrew, but after years of tempering, the one-armed him became far stronger than when he still had both arms.

This was the deterrence of the One-Armed Sword Saint.

Then there was the Sword Emperor. The Sword Emperor truly lived up to his name, the Emperor among swords. The feeling he gave people was a kind of awe-inspiring presence that needed no anger, with the bearing of a monarch overlooking the world.

He was worthy of the title Sword Emperor; this imposing aura alone was unmatched.

As for the Sword Immortal, he was also called the Alcohol Sword Immortal, because he loved wine as much as his life. Because of this, in a drunken state he created a set of Drunken Sword, which shook the world.

The four great powerhouses each had their own strengths and characteristics, because they all stood at the absolute peak of the Heavenly Martial Continent.

At this moment, the Sword Ancestor said in a deep voice: "Sword Immortal, begin."

"Alright!"

The Sword Immortal nodded.

Then the Sword Immortal announced: "The Sword Dao Conference officially begins. You will draw lots, and those who draw red lots will fight those who draw black lots."

"After the first round ends, we will begin the second round!"

"Let me say this first, in front of us four—if anyone dares to play little tricks, we will definitely not spare him!"

"You’d best not harbor any wishful thinking!"

After he said this, no one dared speak again. This time was truly different from previous years, because in the past, the so-called Sword Dao Conference had never been this serious.

It seemed the few powerhouses were taking this in earnest.

Ye Fan went up to draw lots; he drew a black lot, and it was even the first black lot to go on stage. It had to be said, this first bout was really serious.

Ye Fan didn’t waste words. Since he was the first to fight, he immediately leapt onto the arena.

Standing on the arena, Ye Fan still didn’t know who his opponent would be.

However, he soon found out—it was Zhui Xuan from the Silent Sea Sect.

The same gloomy man as before. Ye Fan hadn’t expected to run into this guy in his very first match; truly, enemies are bound to meet.

Zhui Xuan leapt up and stood opposite Ye Fan.

At this moment, the Ji Hai Sword Ancestor said coldly to the Infinite Sword Ancestor: "Truly the first group. This time, watch how my beloved disciple defeats yours!"

The Ji Hai Sword Ancestor was very pleased, because he had come fully prepared this time. He had been very dissatisfied that the Infinite Sword Sect had scraped a lucky victory last time.

But this time, he knew that with Zhui Xuan’s strength, defeating Ye Fan would be no difficulty at all.

Yet the Infinite Sword Ancestor said: "That’s exactly what I’m looking forward to. Your Silent Sea Sword Sect will always be suppressed by my Infinite Sword Sect."

...

On the stage, Zhui Xuan taunted Ye Fan: "Didn’t expect it would be you. Perfect, we can settle the score between our two sides. It’s just a pity this isn’t the Daoist Demon Battlefield, or I’d personally lop off your head!"

"But fine, this time I’ll just collect some interest first!"

Zhui Xuan was extremely overbearing, as if he had completely taken Ye Fan for granted.

Ye Fan simply said: "My head is right here on my shoulders. If you’ve got the ability, come take it. If you don’t, then stop putting on a show with your mouth!"

What he hated most were these guys who talked big before the fight. Was it really that hard?

At this time, Zhui Xuan said coldly, "I’ll oblige you!"

"Boom!"

He immediately unleashed the Jihai Sword Technique. The Jihai Sword Technique was a Swordsmanship created by the first-generation Sect Master of the Silent Sea Sword Sect, and had been constantly refined over the years.

It could be said that the Jihai Sword Technique could fully compare with the Infinite Sword Technique.

Once the Jihai Sword Technique was unleashed, countless Sword Qi instantly condensed into a gigantic Xuanwu. It was truly both offensive and defensive, charging straight at Ye Fan to kill.

Ye Fan responded by unleashing his self-created Swordsmanship, the Slaughter Heaven Eight Swords. Even facing the so-called offense-defense-in-one Jihai Sword Technique, he felt no fear or dread at all.

Seeing that overwhelming Jihai Sword Technique, everyone couldn’t help but gasp; it seemed Zhui Xuan’s strength could not be underestimated.

No wonder he was called the Ji Hai Sword Ancestor’s final disciple. In terms of talent, he was not the least bit weaker than the Ji Hai Sword Ancestor, and might even surpass him.

It seemed this time the Ji Hai Sword Ancestor had come fully prepared, and their opponent just happened to be a disciple of the Infinite Sword Sect—this would be interesting.

In many people’s eyes, the chief senior disciple of the Infinite Sword Sect was Xu Zun, yet they had sent some unknown disciple into the fight. Without a doubt, in this first battle, the Silent Sea Sword Sect would surely be defeated.

As for Lu Nianzong, Yang Jiuxiao, the Green-clothed Woman, and Hua Canglan, they all sat with eyes closed, conserving their strength, because they were all Martial Artists above Grade Three Ancestor Realm.

A battle of this level wasn’t even on the same tier as them. Their true opponents were among themselves, so they simply didn’t bother watching other people’s duels.

It wasn’t that they were arrogant; that was just how reality was.

Zhou Zhimei and Xu Zun had high expectations for Ye Fan, especially Xu Zun. He knew that if Ye Fan wasn’t even a match for Zhui Xuan, then he himself definitely wouldn’t be either.

Therefore, at this moment, they didn’t dare shift their gazes elsewhere; they kept their eyes fixed on the battlefield.

"Sharp Sword!"

Ye Fan shouted. The Jihai Sword Technique was famed for being offensive and defensive in one, especially its defense, using the phantom of the Xuanwu Divine Beast for protection—almost impossible to break.

Because of this, Ye Fan directly unleashed the razor-edged Sharp Sword, and combined it with the forceful, overbearing Overbearing Sword, striking straight at the Xuanwu Divine Beast phantom.

"Bang!"

The instant the two strands of Sword Qi collided, the four Sword Dao Experts in the audience all unconsciously opened their eyes and looked at the battlefield. At the clash of the two Sword Qi, Ye Fan was sent flying backward.