The name of Qin Wentian

The name of Qin Wentian

All eyes were riveted to the ninth platform at the Jun Lin Banquet, where a battle had just reached its shocking conclusion.

In this brief but intense clash, Jiang Xiu, the tenth-ranked among the top ten prodigies, had his arm severed by Qin Wentian's slashing strike. True to Qin Wentian's words, Jiang Xiu's name would never grace the list of top prodigies again.

Who had claimed that Qin Wentian was merely attending this Jun Lin Banquet to gain experience? He had fought only one battle, yet it seemed he was determined to announce to all of Chu Country that a year was too long to wait. This year's Jun Lin Banquet would be the stage for his brilliance.

With this battle, he had declared himself the undisputed ruler of the ninth platform.

The outcome left everyone flabbergasted. In this short confrontation, Jiang Xiu, a contender who had earned significant recognition, had not only been eliminated in the first round but had also lost an arm. The humiliation couldn't have been more evident.

Recollections of the past flashed in the minds of Emperor Star Academy's members. Jiang Xiu, during a previous gathering at Emperor Star Monuments, had openly belittled Qin Wentian, attributing his achievements solely to fortunate circumstances. As one of the top ten prodigies, he had looked down upon Qin Wentian's accomplishments.

Yet, in the span of just one month, the very individual he had scoffed at had severed one of his arms in a single battle, on Chu's grandest stage.

Was it possible that the reputation of being the top-ranked among Emperor Star Academy's new students was a mere facade? Many speculated that, from today onwards, Qin Wentian's talent would undergo a significant reassessment. Could the title of being the top-ranked among the academy's new students suffice any longer?

This glory, it seemed, was just the beginning.

Among the spectators, some influential figures discreetly analyzed the battle. To an extent, Jiang Xiu hadn't even had the chance to unleash his full potential before his arm was severed. Qin Wentian had expertly controlled the battle's rhythm at an astonishing pace, with virtually flawless execution. Despite Jiang Xiu taking the initiative to attack, the moment the Garuda Movement Technique was employed, the battle's outcome had been firmly grasped by Qin Wentian.

Although Jiang Xiu's sword technique was formidable, he had been denied the opportunity to employ it. The fight's rhythm had been entirely dictated by Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian displayed the instincts of a natural-born warrior. His sense of timing was exceptionally acute, enabling him to seize those crucial moments and secure victory. Such a talent was undeniably remarkable.

Yet, what puzzled everyone was the final sword strike Qin Wentian had executed. None of the powerful figures who had investigated him had ever heard of his proficiency in sword techniques. However, the precision and speed with which he had severed Jiang Xiu's arm could only be attributed to a sword-type innate technique.

In fact, Qin Wentian's ability to execute simple sword techniques wasn't a surprise when considering his profound understanding of Divine Inscriptions and the relationship between innate techniques and Divine Imprints. He possessed the knowledge to convert the Astral Energy within his body into runic outlines of a sword-imprint in an instant, unleashing power akin to sword-type innate techniques. What might seem unimaginable to others was incredibly straightforward for him.

Qin Wentian wasn't dwelling on the sword light he had displayed earlier. At this moment, he calmly observed Jiang Xiu, just as he had when he first ascended the platform – composed and unflustered, as if he had completed a mundane and insignificant task.

He knew precisely why he had joined this year's Jun Lin Banquet. Defeating Jiang Xiu wasn't something to boast about, especially considering it hadn't occurred when Jiang Xiu was at his peak.

"Is there any need for further combat?" Qin Wentian asked serenely. He had no intention of further humiliating Jiang Xiu; the sword light he had unleashed spoke more eloquently than words ever could.

Jiang Xiu's face turned ashen, and blood continued to flow from his remaining arm. He was Jiang Xiu, one of the top ten prodigies, and this Jun Lin Banquet was meant to be the stage for showcasing his dazzling talents. Yet, he found himself losing an arm during his only chance to battle on this year's Jun Lin Banquet stage.

Qin Wentian had severed his hand holding the sword because it had harbored killing intent. The disgrace was still fresh and shaking him to his core, especially when he met the calm and emotionless gaze of Qin Wentian. What more was there for Jiang Xiu to say? Did he even have the face to speak?

Jiang Xiu walked off the platform, the fire of eagerness and high-spirits with which he had started now extinguished. Only God knew how much he had anticipated this Jun Lin Banquet, and yet, he had fought only one battle.

Qin Wentian turned his gaze towards Jiang Xiu's retreating figure, a faint smile playing on his lips. He then cast his eyes upward, briefly acknowledging the sun dominating the sky before directing his gaze towards the person seated atop the Azure Jadeite Dragon Seat.

The crowd watched in stunned silence as Qin Wentian seemed on the verge of saying something.

"Sky Harmony City, Qin Residence, son of Qin Chuan. My name is Qin Wentian!"

With a radiant smile, Qin Wentian carefully enunciated each word. It was unclear who his intended audience was or why he had chosen to make this declaration.

He was Qin Wentian, the son of Qin Chuan from the Qin Clan.

This seemed like a proclamation of some kind.

Chu TianJiao felt Qin Wentian's gaze settle upon him, his expression as calm as still water. Was Qin Wentian attempting to convey something to him?

Through the Jun Lin Banquet, Qin Wentian sought to prove himself and ensure that no one would dare to recklessly harm Qin Wu and Qin Chuan.

Weakness, insignificance, and silent endurance would not command attention or respect. Only through great talent and power could others be made to fear you. Strength and talent also attracted powerful allies, such as Emperor Star Academy and the Divine Weapon Pavilion. However, it was a double-edged sword, as it could also make you a target for hidden threats and challenges.

Qin Wentian gracefully left the platform. Although he had fought only one battle on the grand stage of the Jun Lin Banquet, he had allowed others to reevaluate him, reminding them of his true identity—the youth who had once stood resolute in the midst of a snowstorm.

"When did you learn that sword-type innate technique?" Luo Huan inquired with a smile as she observed Qin Wentian, admiration shimmering in her eyes.

"I've known that technique since the moment I was born," Qin Wentian replied with a casual shrug.

Luo Huan's smile grew radiant. Her junior brother had achieved incredible feats in just one year. When she had saved him in Sky Harmony City, she could never have foreseen the remarkable success he would achieve.

"Wentian, although your movement technique is impressive, you got too close to that sword. Be more cautious in future battles," Qin Yao advised with concern. While she acknowledged Qin Wentian's remarkable movement technique, she couldn't help but worry. The sword lights in Jiang Xiu's meteor shower held lethal power, and close combat at such proximity was exceptionally risky.

"Don't worry, sister," Qin Wentian assured her, his hand gently cupping her cheek. His words on the stage had warmed her heart.

"Where's Fan Le?" Qin Wentian suddenly inquired, realizing that Fan Le was absent.

"He went to Drunken Wonder to place bets on you," Luo Huan replied with a playful blink. Fan Le, always full of ideas, had immediately rushed to the branch of Heaven's Wonder, Drunken Wonder, to wager on Qin Wentian's victory when he saw him defeat Jiang Xiu.

"What a genius," Qin Wentian mused, rolling his eyes. Fan Le was indeed one of a kind.

The battles on the nine platforms continued, and there was ample resting time between them. The competition couldn't progress until all contestants on each platform had fought. The judges had some discretion in selecting contestants for battles but had to consider the frequency of a contestant's appearances on stage. Deliberately targeting one contestant for repeated battles would undermine the fairness of the competition.

Sikong Mingyue, the 2nd Sword, 3rd Sword, and the 5th Night from the Snowcloud Country, displayed their prowess and remained undefeated. They likely reserved part of their strength, making it challenging to gauge their true combat abilities.

After witnessing Qin Wentian's stunning victory against one of the ten prodigies in the first round, the crowd gained a deeper appreciation for the battles on the nine towering platforms. The ninth platform, initially perceived as the easiest, had actually hosted the most intense battles, with many hidden elites waiting to shine.

While many contestants on the 9th platform still remained shrouded in mystery, it was highly likely that Qin Wentian, the conqueror of Jiang Xiu, would be one of the two remaining participants.

The 7th Night, despite being a female, displayed formidable martial prowess, easily dispatching her opponent in a striking manner.

Luo Cheng, representing the Asura Faction, used just a single move to sever his opponent's arm, leaving spectators silently awed by his ferocity.

Besides them, the 9th platform hosted other formidable contenders. Luo Kaiyang, hailing from the Divine Wind Academy, exhibited exceptional combat skills by defeating an opponent of notable recognition with ease, leaving a lasting impression on the crowd.

Ultimately, only two would stand victorious on the 9th platform. This meant that sooner or later, these contenders would face off against each other, with the weaker one being eliminated.

Standing amidst a crowd, Luo Kaiyang was accompanied by a charming young lady who flashed him a smile. "Kaiyang, with your strength, you should have a good chance."

"Don't worry, little Yue. Unless I have to face Qin Wentian, the 7th Night, or Luo Cheng, I'm confident. I'll work hard to secure one of the two victories," Luo Kaiyang assured. The two opponents he hoped to avoid were Qin Wentian and the 7th Night.

Qin Wentian had defeated Jiang Xiu, while Luo Kaiyang had no knowledge of the 7th Night's capabilities.

"Mm," Lin Yue nodded with a smile. Lin Yue, the stunning young lady from the Divine Wind Academy, was one of Sky Harmony City's four great beauties. As she neared 17, her beauty and charm had grown even more captivating. She was currently in a relationship with Luo Kaiyang, the young genius from Divine Wind Academy.

"The judges are starting to select the next contestants," Luo Kaiyang remarked, scanning the platforms. Soon after, on the 9th platform, a judge's voice resounded loudly.

"On the 9th platform, we have Qin Wentian versus Luo Kaiyang."

As the judge's voice faded, the crowd was left in disbelief, followed by smiles on some faces. Was this judge intentionally seeking to increase the 9th platform's visibility, or did he hold an intense grudge against Qin Wentian?

Lin Yue and Luo Kaiyang's expressions froze. Luo Kaiyang's second opponent was none other than Qin Wentian!