The scene gradually left the spectators incapable of reacting. On one side was Xiao Jinhan's swordsmanship, growing faster and more frantic with every move. On the other side was my calmness, absurd to such a degree that it made people question reality itself. The feeling was no different from someone desperately struggling through a final examination while the person opposite him looked as though he had already seen the answers beforehand.
One disciple beneath the stage unconsciously muttered, "Is this even still a duel? Why does it look more like a one-on-one swordsmanship tutoring session?"
On the high platform, the cold-faced peak master's expression had completely changed. The smugness from before had vanished without a trace, replaced by gravity and unconcealable shock. Elder Su and the other elders were also staring fixedly at the arena below without blinking. No one still believed Shen Xinghan was merely an ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivator anymore.
Below the stage, the vast martial arena gradually became silent. Only the sound of sword winds tearing through the air and waves of spiritual energy collisions echoed throughout the sky.
The longer Xiao Jinhan fought, the more horrified he became. He discovered that every time he thought he had cornered me into a dead end, that figure would always appear in the safest possible position. It was as though I had already seen through every one of his sword paths beforehand. His previously steady state of mind finally began to waver.
At last, he could no longer hold back and shouted coldly, "Senior Brother Shen was personally appointed by the sect master as senior brother. Could it be that you only know how to dodge?"
The instant those words rang out, I opened my eyes.
The eyes that usually carried a warm smile were now as still as a deep lake in the middle of the night. Not sharp, not oppressive, yet they still made the other party unconsciously feel a chill down his spine.
I raised my right hand and pressed two fingers together into a sword gesture. The movement was so light it looked as though I were merely brushing dust away casually. Then a translucent sword image, condensed purely from spiritual energy, appeared before my fingertips.
At that instant, the cold-faced peak master atop the high platform suddenly shot to his feet. The stone chair behind him emitted a heavy sound. His eyes were filled with shock.
"Void-severing sword intent. Perfected mastery."
That cry of shock exploded across the hall like a thunderbolt.
Xiao Jinhan did not even have time to react. That strand of sword intent seemed to cross spatial distance itself. It appeared beside his neck in an instant. The icy sensation that reached him caused his entire body to stiffen. If it had advanced even one inch further, his head likely would have fallen onto the arena long ago.
The entire arena became deathly silent. No one spoke. No one dared breathe loudly. Some disciples even remained frozen with their mouths hanging open, forgetting to close them.
If earlier everyone had still thought this was an evenly matched exchange, then at this moment the outcome had become so obvious that no further explanation was needed.
I withdrew the sword intent, and the familiar gentle smile once again returned to my face, as though the person who had just stunned the entire arena with sword intent was not me at all. I lightly cupped my hands and said, "Many thanks." My voice was calm, carrying not the slightest trace of triumph.
Xiao Jinhan stood there blankly. He lowered his head to look at the sword in his hand, then looked back at me. Countless complicated emotions surged within him. Shame, shock, unwillingness, yet more than anything else, there was admiration rising from the depths of his heart.
In the end, he took a deep breath. He sheathed his sword and solemnly cupped his hands in salute. "Senior Brother's cultivation is profound, and your sword Dao has reached the mysterious depths. I, Xiao Jinhan, am wholeheartedly convinced."
This time, there was no trace of arrogance left in his voice.
I stepped forward and helped him up, smiling. "Junior Brother's swordsmanship has an extremely solid foundation. In the future, you will surely achieve greatness. This match was merely an exchange. There is no need to take it to heart."
Only then did the judge seem to recover from the shock. He hurriedly raised his voice and announced, "Main arena stage. Shen Xinghan wins."
In the brief instant afterward, the entire martial arena erupted like a volcano. Cheers, gasps, and heated discussions exploded everywhere. The gazes the disciples directed toward me had completely changed. If before, they respected me because of my ability to handle administrative affairs and my reliability, then now something else had appeared within those eyes. Genuine awe toward true strength.
Xiao Jinhan stood atop the arena listening to the cheers below. His face burned hot. He finally understood that beyond the heavens there were still greater heavens, and beyond people there were always greater people. The talent he had always been proud of still fell far short when placed beside those who truly stood at the summit.
I softly reassured him with a few more words. Then I signaled for the tournament to continue before leisurely returning to the high platform. It was as if the duel just now had merely been a small piece of background music inserted into the middle of ordinary work.
Yet obviously, to everyone else that background music had directly become the grand finale of the entire day. Some disciples even whispered in amazement that they had originally come to watch the minor tournament, only to end up witnessing the limited edition version of the future sect master.
The matches that followed were still exciting. But under the lingering impact of the previous battle, they all seemed far duller in comparison. The competing disciples still gave it their all. Yet from time to time their gazes unconsciously drifted toward the high platform. It seemed that as long as they saw me still sitting there, the atmosphere of the entire sect would naturally become several degrees more stable.