9: Chapter 9 Two Slashes Shatter the Dream of a Genius: Sir, I'm Just an Ordinary Person

On the night of the full moon, by the banks of the Lan River.

Wooden piles, each thick enough for several men to wrap their arms around, were driven into the riverbed to serve as a foundation, upon which black-gold wooden planks were laid to construct a grand aquatic palace.

This was the famous Lancang Hall of the Liuyun Sect Outer Sect, a venue specifically used for banquets and entertaining guests.

Lin Yuan had heard of its reputation before, but upon seeing it in person, he realized its grandeur and scale exceeded the rumors.

The entrance gate alone stood over three zhang high, carved with Dragon and Phoenix motifs, showcasing the pinnacle of craftsmanship, with countless night-luminescent pearls embedded in the door frame, making it as bright as day even in the dark of night.

Walking inside, a melody suddenly resonated in his ears.

"May I ask, in the heavenly palaces, what year is it tonight..."

Myriads of lights floated above the water isle, brilliant like stars, glowing like furnace fires, blooming like fireworks, and resembling celestial stars falling into the great river.

The clear water reflected the brilliant light, making it feel as if one had stepped into a fairyland.

The massive main hall stood at the highest point, supported by two crimson pillars, with thousands of red lanterns hanging from the eaves; a mechanism channeled a stream of live water through the hall before it rushed into the river, where it struck rocks amidst the current, creating the rushing sound of waves.

In the center of the main hall was a main seat, with sixteen primary seats placed on either side of the flowing water, and hundreds of casual seats below.

Wang Yunshan's arrangement was very proper: one protagonist, sixteen supporting characters, and the rest a bunch of NPCs responsible for cheering from below.

When Lin Yuan arrived, it was neither early nor late; the host had not yet appeared, and while many people were seated in the casual seats, only eight were seated in the primary seats.

Among them, Lin Yuan only recognized three people.

Qin Hongwen, Huang Shaotian, and Li Yue.

They were all powerhouses who had stood out during the initial assessment and continued to be known as Geniuses thereafter.

They belonged to the top tier of this generation of Outer Sect Disciples.

To put it in simpler terms, these three had the potential to enter the Inner Sect!

The remaining five were Disciples from the previous generation, though certainly not the most outstanding ones.

But at the beginning of the Dao of martial arts, the power of time was unquestionable.

Having three more years meant they had more time to meditate and Cultivate Qi, hone their Martial Skills, and increase their combat experience.

Therefore, the weakest of these five had a cultivation of at least the eighth layer of Qi Refining, and they had mastered at least several Martial Skills.

Hence, even Qin Hongwen and the others only sat in positions near the middle section, without vying for the top seats.

As Lin Yuan walked into the hall, he immediately garnered the gaze of everyone.

Theoretically, he was the number one Disciple of this generation of the Outer Sect, with a cultivation level surpassing many old-timers.

But in reality, someone had long since dug up that his fundamental Cultivation Technique was the Qi Cultivation Art.

"Can something like the Qi Cultivation Art even be considered a martial art?"

"With a Realm but no combat power, after a while, once everyone's cultivation catches up, mere Lin Yuan will be nothing more than bones in a grave."

Feeling the slightly contemptuous gazes from the casual seats, Lin Yuan's mind was full of question marks.

"Are you guys kidding me?"

"I said the future belongs to you, you didn't actually take that seriously, did you?"

These were no longer ordinary Disciples; he had to strike hard.

Lin Yuan strode forward and sat brazenly in the first seat on the right at the head of the hall, a position of prestige second only to the main seat.

A flash of surprise crossed the faces of Qin Hongwen and the others.

"Lin Yuan, how does he dare?"

In the world of martial arts, strength is respected; sitting in a position one shouldn't without the strength to back it up only invites humiliation.

The remaining five looked at each other and revealed a subtle smile.

Judging by their expressions, they seemed to be waiting for a good show.

Lin Yuan ignored everyone's reaction and sat calmly, closing his eyes to rest.

Time passed little by little, and the attending Martial Artists arrived one after another, filling all sixteen primary seats, of which only six were new Disciples.

The hundreds of casual seats were also filled; they were not just bloodthirsty spectators here to watch the fun, but because the Martial Arts Tea Party genuinely offered benefits.

Every late arrival did the same thing: casting inquiring gazes in Lin Yuan's direction.

A Genius who reached the Peak of Qi Refining in one month, and an idiot who cultivated the Qi Cultivation Art.

Both evaluations belonged to the same person; the contrast was maxed out.

"For such a person to sit at the head, does he not understand the rules? Or does he have something to rely on?"

"I'm really looking forward to this!"

The moon was high in the sky, the guests had assembled, but the host had yet to appear.

Just when everyone was puzzled.

Suddenly, a large ship came from the river, riding the wind and breaking the waves.

Standing at the bow was a tall young man in white robes, holding a feather fan, with his hair tied in a golden crown, looking spirited as he glanced around.

This person was none other than Wang Yunshan!

When the ship was still thirty zhang away from the shore, he swooshed into mid-air, spread his arms like a Great Roc spreading its wings, glided across the river surface, and stood steadily on the shore.

It was incredibly relaxed and comfortable, worthy of the evaluation that he had the potential to enter the Inner Sect.

There were many others on the ship, but they did not possess Wang Yunshan's lightness skills and had to wait until the ship docked to disembark.

This group consisted almost entirely of Wang Yunshan's followers and subordinates carrying a large chest; only one person, looking imposing and arrogant, followed behind Wang Yunshan with a swaggering gait.

Entering the main hall and seeing Lin Yuan sitting at the head, he paused, then revealed a playful smile and quickened his pace to walk forward.

"There's a good show to watch."

Someone muttered in a low voice.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on one spot.

The arrogant man was named Liu Sheng, Wang Yunshan's Junior Brother, known as the Undying Bird of the Outer Sect.

This did not mean he possessed any special Physique, but was a compliment to his exceptionally strong vitality.

After entering the sect three years ago, he displayed astonishing combat talent; during the year-end Hidden Dragon Ranking competition, almost every person on the ranking list had to ask for his consent first.

Although he agreed every time.

But one must never underestimate him; being spun like a top by twenty experts frequently, yet remaining alive, uninjured, and unbroken, was enough to demonstrate his strength.

Three years later, his strength had improved further, and he could even survive in the hands of a True Aperture Realm expert!

If he were to return to three years ago now and fight against the Hidden Dragon Ranking experts, the outcome would be unknown.

Liu Sheng walked up to Lin Yuan, looking down at him: "Get lost, this is not a position you should be sitting in."

Lin Yuan opened his eyes, but without wasting words, he gripped the hilt of his blade with one hand.

"Yo? You're a tough guy, huh? What, you want to fight me?"

Liu Sheng laughed loudly, but his expression changed abruptly the next moment.

"You death-seeking thing!"

Accompanying this was a pressure fluctuation like a tidal wave.

A Yellow Rank top-tier Cultivation Technique, "Boundless Ocean Art."

The True Qi cultivated carried the momentum of ocean waves, and small fry couldn't even stand straight in front of him.

"Heh."

Lin Yuan smiled indifferently, and with a clatter, a blade light like a cold moon illuminated the hall.

With just one strike, he broke through the tide and slashed toward Liu Sheng's head.

Liu Sheng's face changed slightly, his footsteps shifted, and he retreated half a step, causing Lin Yuan's slash to miss.

"Not bad blade technique, but that is all. Your blade is not fast enough, nor is it ruthless enough; to make an enemy of me is to court death!"

Liu Sheng shouted sharply, his True Qi circulating, with a faint blue light wrapping around his body, and he threw a vicious, unparalleled strike forward.

"Azure Wave Fist!"

Lin Yuan's expression remained unchanged, his blade momentum shifted, and he slashed out again, the speed surprisingly several times faster than before!

"The first slash announces my arrival, the second slash announces your departure!"

"The number one blade master of the Outer Sect, reporting for duty!"