214: On the eve of the Sword Show Grand Competition

At Divine Sword Peak, the Sword Showcase Grand Competition was about to begin.

Sword Dao prodigies from various regions gathered here, waiting for the competition to commence, hoping to shock the world in one fell swoop.

When Shen Lian and the other two arrived, Divine Sword Peak was filled with bustling crowds as far as the eye could see.

“So this is the Sword Showcase Grand Competition.”

Su Mengyao looked at the competition venue, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Shen Chuyun patted her shoulder and whispered, “Don't be nervous. Believe in yourself. You will definitely become famous throughout the world in this battle.”

“I... I'm afraid I can't do it. There are so many people at this Sword Competition, and they must all be quite talented in the Sword Dao...”

Su Mengyao's voice was full of self-doubt.

Shen Chuyun explained, “Don't overthink things. Just do your best. I believe you will definitely achieve good results.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Lian lightly shook his Folding Fan and walked in front of Su Mengyao, looking up at the cloud-piercing Divine Sword Peak with a deep trace of disdain on his lips.

“This so-called Sword Showcase Grand Competition is nothing more than a performance where a group of ants pleases another group of ants while achieving self-satisfaction.”

The moment these words were spoken, the previously lively scene instantly quieted down, and everyone turned to look at Shen Lian.

However, Shen Lian did not shrink back at all; instead, his attitude became even more arrogant than before.

“Look at this group of ants. Their eyes are full of greed and extravagant hopes for power. All I see is utter garbage,

Their Sword Dao Realm will likely be stagnant for their entire lives. Their so-called Sword Intent in the future will just be the pitiful result of using cultivation to make up for their shortcomings.”

Having finished speaking, he put away his Folding Fan and said to Su Mengyao, “If you can't win the Sword Champion title this time, then stop practicing the sword.

After all, if you can't even beat these ants, you will have wasted my instruction during this period, and there will be no need for you to ever hold a sword again.”

Su Mengyao stared at Shen Lian in disbelief, wanting to speak, but unable to utter a single word.

“How utterly arrogant!”

Suddenly, a black-clothed youth in the crowd could no longer tolerate it and stepped forward, pointing at Shen Lian.

“Your Excellency seems to hold this Sword Dao grand event in too low regard. Everyone who came to participate in the Sword Showcase Grand Competition today is a fellow practitioner confident in their Sword Dao attainment,

We are here to meet friends through the sword and simultaneously confirm our efforts over the past decade. What qualifications do you have to criticize us?”

“Qualifications?”

Shen Lian's eyes turned cold.

The next moment, that swordsman was instantly sealed in his meridians by an invisible Aura Pressure, unable to move even a fraction.

“You ask me for qualifications? This is the answer. ants lack awareness, daring to shake the heavens before they have even grown. What kind of courage allows you to challenge this untouchable peak?”

“...”

The black-clothed swordsman couldn't utter a single word, and even found his breathing becoming increasingly difficult.

“Fellow Daoist, please stop.”

Just then, another white-browed old Daoist quickly walked up to Shen Lian and gave a polite bow.

“I am Bai Mei, an Elder of the Jade Void Palace. I ask this Fellow Daoist to grant this humble Daoist some face and not trouble yourself with these juniors.”

“Hmph.”

Hearing this, Shen Lian immediately retracted the trace of Aura Pressure he had emitted.

The black-clothed swordsman instantly slumped to the ground as if exhausted, his gaze toward Shen Lian filled with terror.

“You don't need to beg. I have no interest in killing a common ant; he doesn't even qualify to die by my hand.”

Afterwards, Shen Lian's gaze turned cold as he looked at Bai Mei and slowly opened his Folding Fan.

“You, however, possess the qualifications.”

Bai Mei heard this and replied with a smile, “Fellow Daoist truly loves to joke. Now that the Sword Showcase Grand Competition is about to begin, I hope your esteemed Disciple achieves results that everyone will envy tomorrow.”

“Hypocrite.”

Shen Lian gave him a cold glance and turned to walk out of the venue.

Shen Chuyun and Su Mengyao quickly followed.

Watching the three leave, the smile on Bai Mei's face slowly faded as he thoughtfully stroked the long beard on his chin.

“Revered Master!”

A young swordsman wearing a white Daoist robe came up behind Bai Mei.

He was Bai Mei's Disciple, Xiao An, twenty-three years old, already a Cultivator at the first stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, and the most promising candidate to win the Sword Champion title in this competition.

“Revered Master, the inn has been arranged. We should go rest now.”

Bai Mei slowly nodded and couldn't help but sigh, “An'er, I'm afraid there will be unforeseen changes in this Sword Showcase Grand Competition.”

Hearing this, Xiao An asked curiously, “Revered Master, why do you say that?”

Bai Mei: “I originally thought your biggest rival for the Sword Champion title would be Yan Beichen. But now it seems that woman just now, with her nimble Sword Heart, is not much worse than you or Yan Beichen in terms of Sword Dao attainment.”

“Is that so?” Xiao An frowned. “I will follow Revered Master's arrangements.”

Bai Mei: “In short, you must win the Sword Champion title this time. Only then will you have a chance to gain the recognition of the Heavenly Sword.”

“Recognition of the Heavenly Sword? What is that?”

Xiao An was somewhat confused.

Bai Mei: “You will know when the time comes. Just remember this: no matter what means you use, you must win this Sword Showcase Grand Competition.”

“Yes, Disciple will certainly not disappoint you.”

...“We need rooms.”

“I apologize, honored guest, but the inn is fully booked. Please try looking elsewhere.”

Snowflame City, ten miles away from Divine Sword Peak, had been overcrowded for a month already.

Shen Lian and the other two searched six inns in a row, all of which were full.

By the time they reached the seventh inn, Shen Lian's patience was completely gone.

Upon hearing the waiter say there were no rooms, he immediately grabbed and lifted him up.

“I'll ask you one more time: are there any rooms left?”

“Oh, honored guest, there really are no rooms! How would this lowly one dare to deceive the three of you?”

“If there aren't any, then your inn shouldn't be open.”

Throwing the waiter down, Shen Lian shouted directly at the guests eating in the lobby, “Starting now, this inn has been reserved by me! Everyone irrelevant, get out!”

The moment he finished speaking, two people immediately jumped up.

“Where did this lunatic come from, daring to act wildly here?”

“Exactly! We booked two rooms here a month ago. When did you reserve the whole place? Why don't we know about it?”

Shen Lian's lips curled into a slight smile as he slowly walked toward the two men... Ten breaths later... “Waiter, we're checking out.”

The two men, pale-faced and bruised, completed their check-out procedures.

Shen Lian lightly shook his Folding Fan, watched the two figures flee the inn in embarrassment, and then sneered.

“If there are no conditions, then create them yourself. No one should ever think of changing something Shen Lian has decided.”

Su Mengyao couldn't help but say, “Revered Master, we really didn't need to go to such great lengths. We could have just stayed outside the city.”

“A Cultivator who only wants to suffer hardship is destined to fall into depravity.

Su Mengyao, remember this: as my Disciple, Shen Lian,

First and foremost, you must not lose to anyone in Aura. You can tolerate anything, except being taken advantage of.

If I hear such disheartening words again, you can directly get lost.”

“Yes, Revered Master. Disciple has noted it.”

After speaking, Su Mengyao asked again.

“Then, Revered Master, how should the two rooms be allocated?”

Shen Chuyun quickly interjected, “You are participating in the Sword Showcase Grand Competition tomorrow, so naturally, you need a good rest tonight. This room is definitely reserved for you.

Your Revered Master and I have lived together since we were young, so sharing one room is fine.”

“Hm?”

Hearing this, Shen Lian's brows immediately furrowed.

The next moment, he spread open his Folding Fan: “I won't be staying in the inn. You two take one room each.”