Entry: I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

22: Chapter 22 The True Martial Arts Tournament!At the hour of the snake, inside the Preaching Pavilion, the Taiyi Dao Sect’s weekly lecture began as scheduled.

Gu Yan and Lin Wei found a seat towards the back and sat down.

Elders from the three peaks took turns on the stage, and the three-hour lecture passed in the blink of an eye.

As the class was about to end, Elder Daoxuan slowly stepped to the front of the stage, but he did not dismiss the class as usual.

”Everyone, the Taiyi Dao Sect’s True Martial Assembly, held once every fifty years, will commence next month.”

Elder Daoxuan’s gaze swept across the audience.

”Any Inner Sect Disciple may sign up. While this assembly is not mandatory, those who place in the top ten will receive generous rewards.”

A faint commotion stirred within the pavilion.

The young Disciples’ eyes lit up as they exchanged excited glances with one another.

The True Martial Assembly is a place for Inner Sect Disciples to compete and make a name for themselves.

The winners not only receive grand rewards from the Sect but may also be noticed by an Elder and taken as a personal Disciple.

Elder Daoxuan flicked his sleeves, and three attendant Disciples stepped forward, each holding a sword case.

The moment the sword cases were opened, three beams of cold light burst forth.

The three longswords lay quietly in the cases, their blades shimmering with a starlike luster.

”These three swords are all forged from extraterrestrial meteorite iron; their sharpness is unparalleled.”

”The top three of this assembly may each claim one.”

Gu Yan’s gaze lingered on the three swords for a moment.

They certainly looked good, but unfortunately, they were ultimately just mortal weapons.

To a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Realm like him, they were not much different from ordinary iron.

The surrounding Disciples, however, could no longer contain themselves and began whispering.

”That azure one, did you see the patterns on the hilt? Truly extraordinary!”

Beside him, Lin Wei leaned in slightly and asked in a low voice, ”Junior Brother Gu, do you intend to participate in the True Martial Assembly?”

Gu Yan shook his head, ”No. The swords are good, but they are useless to me.”

Lin Wei blinked, not surprised by this answer.

But she noticed the brief moment Gu Yan’s gaze had lingered on the swords.

”I see... I thought Junior Brother would be interested,” Lin Wei said softly.

”However, I would like to try. Thanks to your guidance and the Medicinal Pill, I have reached the Third Transformation Stage Middle Stage. I heard that no Fourth Transformation Stage Disciples are participating this time, so I might be able to compete for the top three.”

Gu Yan nodded, ”Senior Sister’s cultivation is advancing rapidly; you should be able to achieve a good ranking.”

”Then... will Junior Brother come to watch the matches?”

Gu Yan was silent for a moment, then said, ”I will naturally be present for Senior Sister’s matches.”

The corners of Lin Wei’s mouth curved up slightly, and she said nothing more.

Elder Daoxuan then announced the registration details.

Registration is open for half a month starting from today, and the competition will officially begin one month later at the Martial Arts Plaza of Cloud Mist Peak.

The rules are simple: one-on-one elimination. The top ten will be decided in seven days, and the final rankings will be determined on the last day.

After the class ended, the Disciples left in twos and threes, the sound of their discussions still ringing in the air.

For the next few days, Lin Wei went into seclusion to cultivate.

Gu Yan was happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.

However, this peace did not last long.

On the afternoon of the fifteenth day, Lin Wei came to Gu Yan’s small courtyard.

”Junior Brother, Senior Sister Liu from Cloud Mist Peak is hosting a banquet and has invited Inner Sect Disciples from various peaks... would you like to go with me?”

”When?”

”Tonight, at the Liuyun Pavilion on Cloud Mist Peak.”

Gu Yan thought for a moment, then shook his head, ”The True Martial Assembly is imminent; such banquets are mostly occasions for testing each other’s strength. I am not participating, so going would only likely invite trouble.”

”However, if Senior Sister wishes to go, feel free to go on your own.”

Hearing this, Lin Wei immediately said, ”Then I won’t go either. Instead of wasting time dealing with social situations, I might as well practice my sword techniques a few more times.”

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the True Martial Assembly arrived as scheduled.

On the giant wooden board at the gate of Cloud Mist Peak, the names of over two hundred registered Disciples were densely listed.

Gu Yan glanced at it as he passed by and saw Lin Wei’s name.

He also saw the names of familiar people like Ye Chen and Xu Gang.

Ten arenas had already been set up on the Martial Arts Plaza, and each was surrounded by a bustling crowd.

On the high platform, the Elders from each peak sat upright, their auras as deep as the sea.

Gu Yan saw Lin Wei’s Master, Elder Qingquan, at a glance.

This female Elder looked to be only in her thirties, but in reality, she was over sixty years old.

Her Fourth Transformation Stage Late Stage cultivation allowed her to maintain her youthful appearance, and her temperament was as calm as a clear spring on a snowy mountain.

Seeming to sense Gu Yan’s scrutiny, Elder Qingquan’s gaze swept over lightly and lingered on him for a moment.

Then she turned to Lin Wei, who was preparing in the distance, and sighed almost imperceptibly.

Gu Yan naturally understood the meaning behind that sigh.

It was probably the feeling of one’s own fresh cabbage finally being... ahem.

Gu Yan withdrew his gaze with a calm expression and chose an inconspicuous corner to stand in.

He came today only to watch Lin Wei compete.

Before long, Lin Wei walked out of the crowd, scanned the area, and her eyes lit up slightly when she saw Gu Yan.

Gu Yan nodded in response.

”First round, seventh arena, Lin Wei versus Zhao Yan!”

The attendant Disciple announced loudly.

Lin Wei leaped onto the arena. Opposite her was a male Disciple from Sword Perching Peak, holding a heavy sword, with a steady aura, and strength around the Second Transformation Stage Late Stage.

”Please offer your guidance, Senior Sister Lin.” Zhao Yan cupped his hands.

”Please.”

As the gong sounded, Zhao Yan took the initiative to attack.

He knew his Realm was inferior, and only by seizing the initiative would he have a glimmer of a chance to win.

The heavy sword was powerful, whipping up a whistling gale.

Lin Wei did not take the blow head-on; her figure drifted like the wind, and her sword light suddenly transformed into three phantom images, stabbing at Zhao Yan’s upper, middle, and lower paths.

This move was exactly The Flowing Light Splitting Shadow Sword that she had passed on to Gu Yan back in the Outer Sect.

During this time, through Gu Yan’s occasional pointers, she was already able to execute all three sword strikes at once.

Zhao Yan barely managed to block two of the sword phantoms, but the third sword had already tapped his wrist.

The heavy sword slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground.

”I accept your concession.” Lin Wei sheathed her sword, her breathing steady.

Zhao Yan smiled bitterly and cupped his hands, ”Senior Sister’s sword technique is exquisite; I am impressed.”

The entire match took no more than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Although the Sword Perching Peak Disciples below the stage sighed, no one questioned the fairness.

After all, although the draw for the competition depended on luck, this luck itself was also a part of one’s strength.

After stepping off the stage, Lin Wei walked straight to Gu Yan with a faint smile on her face, ”Junior Brother, how did Senior Sister perform just now?”

”Clean and efficient.” Gu Yan gave a four-character evaluation.

The two talked briefly, and then Gu Yan turned and left.

Lin Wei only had this one match today; tomorrow would be the second round.

For him, watching matches of this level was difficult to find much interest in.

In the following days, Gu Yan appeared on time every day, and left immediately after watching Lin Wei’s match.

Lin Wei fought her way through, winning match after match, and successfully advanced to the top sixteen.

Her Third Transformation Stage Middle Stage cultivation was already among the best in the Inner Sect, and with The Flowing Light Splitting Shadow Sword becoming increasingly proficient, she rarely met an opponent.

At the same time, another person’s name began to circulate among the Disciples.

Ye Chen.

This Disciple, who was only at the First Transformation Stage Early Stage in the Outer Sect a few years ago, had his cultivation advance by leaps and bounds to the Second Transformation Stage Middle Stage after joining Sword Perching Peak.

What was even more shocking was his combat ability.

In the second round, he defeated a Senior Brother at the Third Transformation Stage Early Stage by leaping across a Realm; his sword technique was ruthless and sharp, yielding not an inch.

”I heard he obtained a secret Legacy from some Senior...”

Various discussions occasionally drifted into Gu Yan’s ears, but his expression remained as usual.

He was all too familiar with Ye Chen’s path of rise.

Genius rising, Legacy bestowed, emotional entanglements, fighting across Realms... absolutely the protagonist template.

But what did all this have to do with him?

He only wished to be a quiet observer; occasionally giving a push to those around him was enough.