21 Holy Sword Saint
"Where are we going, master?"
"So far, we've only been fighting beasts and the like." Xiao Jiantian smiled as he approached the entrance of the Divine Sword Sect. "Now it's time to get some more experience against skilled profound practitioners. The very lowest of profound practitioners in the Divine Sword Sect are in the middle stages of the Spirit Profound Realm... with the supremely talented and most senior of disciples reaching the Emperor Profound Realm."
"..."
An Emperor Profound Realm disciple... that statement made everyone want to spit blood. Even the lowest of the low in this sect were comparable to geniuses in the Blue Wind Empire...
"I don't think this is the right place for us to train... hahaha..." Xiao Nan nervously laughed. "Maybe you should reconsider, Master?"
"One does not grow without challenge." Xiao Jiantian replied sternly, showing his mentor side. "If you can't handle the struggle, then you are not worth my effort."
"... Forgive his whining, Big Daddy Xiao, he's just a little scared of getting his ass beat!" Xiao Zhen laughed, slapping Xiao Nan's back.
"From what I remember, there used to be a well-organised battle system where everyone participating would have to register their names and profound strength along with other details. In some circumstances, battle prowess is also taken into account. From that, the host would create the most suitable match-ups. The best thing about it is that it's open to everyone, not just members of the Divine Sword Sect. A small fee is required to outsiders, of course... but that isn't a problem."
"How often do these battles occur?" Chu Yuelli inquired.
"Weekly. Just about enough for most participants to recover and play in the next round if they so wished."
"Even if there are a few disciples in the Emperor Profound Realm, surely it's only the very first stage?" Xiao Wuyi shrugged. "It would be an easy victor-"
"Ahh, don't worry about that." Xiao Jiantian's smile made Xiao Wuyi's smug expression vanish completely. "You thrones will be fighting me."
...
"Early Spirit Profound Realm?" One Divine Sword Sect laughed seeing Xiao Nan's profound strength. "What hole did that trash crawl out of?"
If this was a Xiao Sect disciple speaking, Xiao Nan would have the backing to make him regret his words... but here... well, it just wasn't the case. He had to grit his teeth and turn the other cheek. The Divine Sword Sect had long since outlawed all fighting outside of combat spaces and all those who defied that law would be punished accordingly. Though, that didn't mean trash talk was prohibited.
"This place used to be a lot worse." Xiao Jiantian smiled, looking rather proud of how he had changed things. "Well, you lads and lasses can go on ahead and register. Don't be too embarrassed if you lose."
~
'Huh...' While sneaking around in the Divine Sword Sect, Xiao Jiantian came across a very interesting room. It was a sacred ground for the sect, only allowing the Sect Master and the Grand Sect Master to enter. Within was a statue... one that he barely remembered. But the name inlaid on the stone foundations holding the statue brought him back.
"Jun Zhi, Seventh Generation Grand Sect Elder."
Below the foundations was a set of arrays that, once activated, displayed several lines of information.
"A man who started from the very bottom and rose up the ranks through sheer determination... one single goal steering him forwards; to change the ways of the Divine Sword Sect. In the end, he succeeded and brought even greater glory to this sect."
"It doesn't matter what the rest of the Grand Asura Kingdom... or well, Divine Phoenix Empire is told to believe about him. In my heart, I know he is the most righteous man in the world... and this truth will be remembered by all my descendants."
'There's more?' Xiao Jiantian noticed a locked array that required a special code to open. They once did share a number... but he didn't recall what it was right away. After some deep thought and unlocking old, sunken, memories... he remembered and unlocked the final array. 'It actually worked... was this meant for me?'
"I couldn't help you face the Divine Phoenix Sect, Zhi... that is the biggest regret in my life. I wish I were stronger... I wish that I could've lifted all that weight off your shoulders and helped you crush them all just like in that Nine Nation Ranking Tournament. But I couldn't. Am I a terrible friend for that? The shame... *sigh*, all I managed to do was help your son flee the very nation that was once his birthright. This is a... tragedy but as the Sect Master, I have to manage the Divine Sword Sect and ensure that it follows our shared vision. I can't just run out and die like that. You understand... don't you?"
"- Your sworn brother, Tao."
Xiao Jiantian felt like crying.
'You did what you could, Tao... I can't hate you for that. If you had died because of me, I wouldn't have forgiven myself either...'
~
From the first round of battles:
-Xiao Nan held out for some time but eventually got pummelled by a middle stage Spirit Profound Realm disciple.
-Xiao Zhen defeated his opponent through sheer determination and spirit in a long-winded battle.
-Xiao Kuanglei, Shui Wushuang, Wu Xuexin and Chu Yueli all finished up their opponent in good time.
-Xia Qingyue won instantly.
...
After observing that they were pretty good against profound practitioners around their profound strength, Xiao Jiantian raised the difficulty a bit and made them register for stronger opponents. Meanwhile, he put his three thrones through constant sparring practises with himself... pushing them to their very limits each time.
Eventually, after having to go against a late-stage Earth Profound Realm opponent, even Xia Qingyue had tasted defeat. Though, she made use of the resources she gained from Xiao Jiantian to grow past that hurdle rather swiftly.
...
Two months later, all of his subjects had benefitted from the experience and grown considerably.
"Alright." Xiao Jiantian gathered them all in a massive palace he had simply bought. "So, you've all went through some hardships and defeats. Defeat is a natural part of growing stronger... I know from personal experience, having lost on many occasions in the past. The one thing that pleased me most was your determination... no matter how hopeless a fight seemed, you all learned to bring the most out of what you had."
"... and so, it is only natural for this King to reward you all for fighting so hard."
He granted all eight of them with one drop of his divine blood essence, resulting in a great change to all of their bodies. This singular drop was more ferocious than multiple drops from the divine spirits of True Gods and so, Xiao Jiantian had to personally ensure that none of them exploded from the aftermath.
But... once he was done, all of them displayed far stronger physique which allowed Xiao Jiantian to pass another thing down onto them. He made them all strictly focus on comprehending the Great Way of the Buddha and before long, with his great teaching, they all got the hang of it.
~
Five months passed.
Xiao Jiantian expanded his portfolio greatly, opening up over a dozen well-praised restaurants in the Divine Phoenix Empire. His reputation skyrocketed since he made himself known on countless occasions. He settled disputes between sects, healed countless people from illness all the way to 'permanent wounds' such as loss of vision or broken profound veins and assisted many aspiring disciples who did not have plenty of resources.
From all of this, he was named the 'Holy Sword Saint' who defies all logic.
Despite Xiao Jiantian rejecting the title, people named him as such because of his deeds.
On the side, he always played around with Laws as per usual.
Meanwhile, his students were making the most out of his blessing. Both their profound strength and battle prowess increased dramatically, giving them the strength to fight opponents who were several levels higher. The geniuses of the Blue Wind Empire were no longer in their sights... no, they had surpassed them already. They were looking towards higher and higher skies.
...
He decided it was time for a nice little vacation from all the cultivation, heading for the western coast at the very edge of the Divine Phoenix Empire. A splendid beach with shimmering blue water and soft sand with very few rocks in between... the majority of people in the Profound Sky Continent and Primal Chaos Dimension as a whole were not too fond of going to the beach to relax. They were either too busy meditating or didn't see the point... after all, you could clean yourself with just profound energy.
Xiao Jiantian was a little different, being a man who enjoyed the simple comforts of mortal life. He recalled in his first life how the beach was flooded with hot chicks in bikini's, all of whom he was too shy to confront...
Now, in the Primal Chaos Dimension? There was no one in sight and his confidence couldn't be any higher...
Ever since they left the Divine Phoenix City, Xiao Jiantian noticed a few people following from a good distance. He did not pay them much heed, allowing the stalkers to gain more confidence.
Xiao Jiantian gave a spatial ring to all of his companions containing suitable clothes for a vacation at the beach. He would be lying if he didn't look forward to the ladies dressing up... and his little brother would say the same. Due to his status as their great mentor that they all revered, none of them complained much about the clothing he had provided.
Without worrying much, he set down a nice warm blanket right beneath the sun and laid down on his own. He put on some sunglasses and entered a state of pure meditation... sun-gazing, to be more precise. Xia Qingyue and Aria eventually joined him, both boasting extremely sexy bikini's that brought out their attractiveness to the very pinnacle.
Xiao Jiantian kept his eyes closed, though he could very well 'see' everything. "Aria, do you know how to massage a man?"
"Hmm... I take it that you are asking for one?"
"More or less." Xiao Jiantian grinned as he admitted, revealing his perfect white teeth.
"I'm not well-versed in this art, but I'll see what I can do."
"That's what I wanted to hear." Xiao Jiantian took a deep breath and relaxed, immersing himself.
"Qingyue, why don't you help me?" Aria, realising that Xia Qingyue was left out, proposed. "He's your man, after all. You have to know how to please him in more ways than one."
Xia Qingyue blushed a little before nodding. "I'll try."
Having his body softly caressed by two beauties he liked... this was the life.
Eventually, they became braver and Aria towards his pillar, though she stopped when a rather beautiful young man approached. His eyes damn-near shined and popped out with overflowing lust as he took a few glances at the two women at the sides of Xiao Jiantian.
"Sexy women you have there... heh, I see that the heavenly genius Xiao Jiantian has splendid taste." Ye Xinghan, Young Master of the Sun Moon Divine Hall, grinned. "I've come a long way to see you but I am greeted with two more surprises... how very fun."
Xiao Jiantian took off his sunglasses, handing them to Xia Qingyue. He stood up at a relatively slow pace, his suffocating aura chaining those who interrupted his massage. "You better have a good fucking excuse for coming here... or I will make sure those eyes never see a thing again."
"... Even if you are a Sword Attendant's direct disciple, your master isn't here... an-"
"So?" Xiao Jiantian's cold voice sent chills down Ye Xinghan's spine, making him have to remind himself of the difference in their profound strength.
'I'm a late-stage Overlord... he's an early Throne...' Ye Xinghan managed to look decently confident, shrugging off Xiao Jiantian's aura as false bravado. "So I can do whatever I want here and no one will stop me."
"Tch..." Xiao Jiantian chuckled, the azure glow in his eyes turning yellow. Even his grin seemed devil-like... the grin of a devil welcoming battle with open arms.
"Try me, pussy."
~
"Is now the time?"
"It seems so. He is in a deep state of meditation, completely defenceless..."
"Are we sure about this? If escapes, a war unlike any other would begin."
"Then we simply have to finish him quickly."
...
An ordinary-looking man floated above a mountain, his body solely focused on meditation. The land beneath him was desolate of human life, swarming with countless dangerous beasts. None of them dared to approach him, however, as his aura was simply too terrifyingly powerful to confront.
... Then a flaming sword burst into the scene and straight towards his chest.
Xuanyuan Wentian's eyes burst open as he reacted quicker than lighting, deflecting the flaming sword to the side.
"Ye Meixie? What is the meaning of th-"
BOOM.
Huangji Wuyu, the Saint Emperor of the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary, sent Xuanyuan Wentian flying straight into the mountain with a mighty strike from above.
"The Mighty Heavenly Sword Region's fall starts with your 'accidental' death, Sword Master Xuanyuan."
Ye Meixie smiled, looking down on Xuanyuan Wentian.
Seven level ten Monarchs encircled him from all directions, all seeking to kill him as swiftly as possible.
Xuanyuan Wentian stood up and cut through the entire mountain with a single slash of his sword. He was supremely calm, even with the current circumstances. This greatly irked all seven of the Monarchs...
With the Mighty Heaven Collapsing Sword and his predecessor's strength with him, Xuanyuan Wentian did not feel a shred of fear.
"Mark my words into your very souls... this day is the beginning of the end for your wretched Sacred Grounds."
