26: My Lord, command me...

Jun Lingxiao tried the Mortal Sword and found that although it was only Rank Three, it was indeed a good item.

Its strength lay in its Law-like mechanism; for a Mortal to reach such a level was truly remarkable, which was why he wanted to see that person's world.

There was nothing fancy about it, just a single Move of drawing the sword, a pure killing sword.

Moreover, the main point was that the sword light he unleashed would increase with his Realm, and it could also be imbued with the thunder light of the Undying Thunder Dragon. With the Torch activated, its power would double.

Of course, the most important thing was the sword might. Jun Lingxiao now, as long as he wasn't Cultivating, would be accompanied by a terrifying sword might. This wasn't a System authority, but rather a pure understanding.

After not Cultivating for half a day, the sword might on him already made him seem somewhat different. He couldn't imagine what it would be like after ten years.

During these two days that Jun Lingxiao was Cultivating, there was also no small disturbance within the Jun Family.

Whether it was the branch families, affiliated families, or some followers of the Dao Child, all were thoroughly investigated!

Daring to plot against the Divine Son of the Jun Family, this matter, as the Old Ancestor said, would not be left alone. First, they would find the internal troubles, then deal with external threats. For a time, everyone felt insecure. The Jun Family even dispatched a special internal organization, the Godslaying Division, to thoroughly investigate this matter. The scale of the commotion was simply unimaginable.

However, this had nothing to do with Jun Lingxiao.

He had been competing with the younger generation of Disciples of the Jun Family at the God Tablet Platform these past few days. Jun Hongxuan was also investigated, but of course, he was innocent and was back to his lively self the next day. It was just that the lineage behind him was thoroughly investigated, and all of them were detained and interrogated.

There were rumors within the Jun Family that the lineage of the Tenth Dao Child of the Jun Family had been almost hollowed out, and Jun Hongxuan probably wouldn't hold that position for much longer.

However, he himself still looked carefree, seemingly trusting his people, and even turned to comfort Jun Lingxiao, saying it was fine.

Perhaps out of guilt, he adamantly refused to let Jun Lingxiao intercede for him.

This person was quite interesting.

"Good, you've improved compared to yesterday. Next!"

On the vast God Tablet Platform, a tender voice with a hint of authority rang out.

That's right, it was Jun Lingxiao.

He had just defeated a Family Disciple and called out loudly, while the person he defeated picked up his sword, rubbed his head, then twirled his wrist and brandished the sword in his hand, as if thinking that his previous sword strike shouldn't have been executed that way.

"The Divine Son is even more powerful than yesterday. Is that person on the stage from the main Family? I remember he was able to exchange a few undefeated Moves with His Highness the Divine Son yesterday, but today he couldn't even block a single Move?"

"Indeed. Remember that Fat Man who went up before him? He was also one of the Sword Dao Geniuses of the main Family, a figure with nine rings on the sword heart stone. The day before yesterday, he defeated His Highness the Divine Son in ten Moves and was very prominent, but yesterday they fought to a draw. Today, the Divine Son defeated him in just five Moves, it's terrifying..."

"This growth rate is beyond our reach. The Divine Son is using us to practice his sword!"

Everyone was discussing, and someone who heard the last sentence immediately scoffed, "Then why aren't we also using the Divine Son to practice our swords?"

"Opportunities to spar with true Prodigies are rare. Most people only get one chance."

"Losing in a Family competition is tens of thousands of times better than being defeated by a Prodigy from another Family outside!"

The speaker, a burly figure who looked at least eighteen or nineteen, drew his sword and walked directly onto the stage, while loudly declaring:

"Your Highness the Divine Son, you said that anyone who defeated you the previous day could challenge first. You lost to me by several Moves yesterday."

"Of course, come."

Jun Lingxiao slightly raised his head, looking at the man without fear, his Battle Intent soaring.

During the competition, there was a tacit understanding not to use sword Moves or similar techniques, but rather a pure competition of sword art. And precisely this basic sword art was the most important.

Jun Lingxiao welcomed all opponents. Whether they were his age, five years older, ten years older, or even fifteen years older, it didn't matter. If he lost today, he would fight back tomorrow. If not, he would fight back the day after. He might not always win, but he would always grow.

"..."

Below the arena, An Luoxin, holding a silk handkerchief, watched Jun Lingxiao, who was constantly moving on the stage, with her beautiful eyes flickering. Then she looked at his opponent and secretly sighed in her heart.

Jun Lingxiao was five years old this year, but his opponent was one of the Geniuses of the Jun Family. More importantly, he was already eighteen, an age where he had returned from training. His Realm, physical body, and insights were all above Jun Lingxiao's, yet such a disparate pair was now fighting back and forth, and the opponent's forehead was even starting to show beads of sweat.

She remembered that a few days ago, this person had defeated her Young Master in one Move, which angered her so much that she almost drew her sword and went up to ask him if he wouldn't show mercy? What if he got hurt? If you like fighting, then I'll fight you!

Not avenging this grudge was not her style. Angered, she secretly followed him that night and poisoned the ingredients and medicinal herbs he was growing in his spiritual field in his backyard. You grew so strong just to bully my Young Master, then go eat shit!

She was still thinking about whether to arrange a private lesson for this big idiot, but she hadn't expected this.

Look... she wasn't even ready, and her Young Master already no longer considered the person in front of him an opponent. The person who could defeat Jun Lingxiao in one Move was now far behind him in the blink of an eye.

Clang!

Suddenly, a sword cry pulled An Luoxin's gaze back to the stage. Jun Lingxiao, at a perfect and sharp angle, thrust his sword in, grazing the opponent's sword and aiming directly for his face, forcing the opponent to abandon his sword to defend.

If it were a real battle, the outcome would be unknown, but this competition was only about swords. If the sword dropped, he lost.

"Hahaha, the Divine Son is truly a Divine Being! My sword art is something I comprehended myself. Although it has few Moves, I thought it had no weaknesses, but I never expected the Divine Son to find such a weakness and deliver a decisive strike in just a few days. Amazing!"

The man laughed and bowed to Jun Lingxiao, looking completely convinced.

To find a weakness in his sword Move, this was a huge help to him.

"A sword is not like that. It's not about being faster the better. Loose Cultivators who aren't guided are afraid their sword is slow, afraid their sword isn't fast enough, not ruthless enough, afraid of the opponent's counterattack, afraid of losing. This is a sign of lack of confidence."

"Why do we Cultivate the sword? The Sword Dao is like the Great Dao, grand and majestic, neither rushed nor slow. This is what a Sword Cultivator is."

"It's good that you created your own sword art, but you also discarded the advantages summarized by our predecessors over a lifetime. This is the reason for your defeat."

After integrating various Sword Dao insights, Jun Lingxiao also had his own understanding of the two words 'Sword Dao', and could now articulate a thing or two.

"So reasonable! So reasonable! Your Highness the Divine Son, I have been enlightened."

The burly man dared not disobey the child so much smaller than himself, for after all, who told him he lost?

"Hmm, you lost today, so you'll have to queue up for the next competition."

Jun Lingxiao nodded in satisfaction at his understanding, then waved his hand for An Luoxin to come over with the silk handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

After the burly man stepped off the arena, he jokingly said to the crowd, "I thought I was still as strong as one and a half Divine Sons, but it turns out I'm only one."

"Hahaha! Be content, I'm only half as strong as a Divine Son!"

"When I'm practicing my sword, I can't find anyone, but then in a competition, everyone is stronger than me. I'm only a quarter of a Divine Son..."

During the days Jun Lingxiao was there, a unit of measurement gradually became popular among the people competing at the God Tablet Platform.

Half a Divine Son, one Divine Son, one and a half Divine Sons.

This was also a test of strength, not involving any Martial Skills, only testing sword art.

Jun Lingxiao wiped his sweat, watching everyone joke and play.

In fact, his victory was not simple. The force coming from the opponent's sword alone was not of the same Rank. He had to fully deduce to win.

And he didn't dare to use things like the Mortal Sword; it was somewhat Heaven-Defying, and drawing blood would not be good.

Without activating the Torch, although he was a Sacred Body, he was actually just a five-year-old body.

"Who are those people?"

Jun Lingxiao asked as he looked around and suddenly saw a circle of people gathered a bit further from the arena.

Their eyes were on this side, but it seemed they didn't dare to approach?

"People who want to challenge Young Master."

An Luoxin replied after a glance. As she spoke, she saw Jun Lingxiao wiping his sweat very perfunctorily, as if holding back a breath. After watching for a while, she finally couldn't resist taking the silk handkerchief from his hand and helping him wipe, which finally relieved her.

It was too agonizing to watch. Wipe it properly! The sweat was almost flowing into his eyes.

It would be uncomfortable.

"Then why don't they come over?"

"I don't think I've ever seen them go on stage?"

Jun Lingxiao asked again, but An Luoxin's answer was beyond his expectation.

"They are all from branch families, collateral branches, or affiliated families."

"They don't have the qualification to be on the same stage as the Divine Son."

"Perhaps they do, but to compete with Young Master, you have to queue, and they are always behind the people from the main Family."

"And, the previous incident of affiliated Family spies also had no small impact."

"Hmm?" Jun Lingxiao turned his head in surprise to look at her. Seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, he pondered for a moment and then understood what was going on.

Internal Family Ranks exist in every Family, and the Jun Family is no exception.

One Divine Son, ten Dao Children, then the main Family's ranking battle, then the branch families, and finally the affiliated families.

This was a complete chain of contempt.

As the Divine Son, overt exclusion of fellow clansmen would certainly not happen in front of him, but anyone could tell with their toes that such things definitely existed.

Thinking this, Jun Lingxiao pondered for a moment and then said, "Is there a way to solve it?"

As the Divine Son, he didn't want such divisions to exist within the Jun Family. Of course, this wasn't being a saint; concepts like 'everyone is equal' were nonsense. He just felt that only with unity from top to bottom could the Family truly prosper.

He didn't dare to ask for anything else. He only wished that in his generation, the Jun Family would become strong, incredibly, incredibly strong. For this, unity from top to bottom was necessary, and he wanted to, to a certain extent, erase this division.

An Luoxin frowned slightly, looking over there with some distaste, but still said:

"Yes."

"From now on, those who wish to compete with Young Master will register with me, and I will allocate the daily challenge slots. This way, everything will be mixed up, and there will be no distinction between main Family and branch families."

"And the cost?"

"I will officially become Young Master's external representative. In the eyes of outsiders, I will be the Divine Son's proxy, enjoying special privileges, and..."

"And, if you wish, you can take the opportunity to form factions, allowing whoever you want to approach me to do so, right?" Jun Lingxiao completed her sentence.

He tapped his fingers lightly, appearing deep in thought.

To be honest, he was indeed afraid that An Luoxin would come up with some elaborate scheme again, but if you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use them, don't doubt them. It was troublesome.

"If it is Young Master's command, I dare not disobey. As long as my master speaks, I dare not have any disloyalty."

"So, Young Master, command me..."

An Luoxin said, then knelt down, just as she had when they first met. Her fair, slender neck was raised high, and the dark eyes looking at him flickered with the flames of anticipation, while the bright red slave mark on her chest also lit up with a vivid and eerie red light.

It was like some kind of ritual, devout and fervent... but Jun Lingxiao simply didn't follow the script. He had a more superior way of speaking.

"Go do it."

He said with downcast eyes, neither sad nor joyful, then he directly stood up and walked towards the Disciples in the outer circle.