CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 96 CLOUD BLADE_1

"I understand." Ling Chen nodded. This was undoubtedly a test for him.

In the Divine Intent Sect, there were at least four to five hundred Inner Disciples, including numerous elite talents. There were only a few dozen slots for True Disciples, many of which were already occupied by young prodigies. Therefore, the number of True Disciples only increased by three each year.

This did not significantly impact the total number of True Disciples. When True Disciples reached the age of thirty, they were either promoted to the rank of Elder or, if their abilities were insufficient, dispatched to outer regions. Of course, True Disciples were the core disciples of the Divine Intent Sect, and eliminations from their ranks were extremely rare.

However, this meant many talented Inner Disciples were held back, some of whom had already demonstrated strength comparable to that of certain True Disciples.

"So, that’s all I have to say. I have other business to attend to. I will leave now." Zi Yun True Immortal waved his hand and turned to depart.

"Safe travels, Uncle Master."

Ling Chen watched Zi Yun True Immortal depart. A fierce struggle would likely erupt in five days.

He also needed to intensify his comprehension of swordsmanship and fully master the fifth form, "White Dragon Breath," of the Dragon Seeking Sword Technique.

「...」

News of the True Disciple Trial swept through the Divine Intent Sect disciples like a storm, stirring restless anticipation among many Inner Disciples.

For a time, disciples throughout the Sect discussed nothing else.

True Disciples stood at the apex of the pyramid, above thousands of Divine Intent Sect disciples. It could be said that every disciple of the Divine Intent Sect dreamed of becoming a True Disciple. This upcoming trial was undoubtedly an opportunity for many.

Some disciples, who usually trained far away, traveled thousands of miles back from desolate mountains and wildernesses to participate.

「Aqua Country, Northern Lake.」

An endless expanse of water stretched to the horizon, meeting the sky. At the bow of a sailboat, a young man in grey clothes stood, wearing a Dou Li, his hands clasped behind his back.

The vessel was approximately a hundred feet long, moving forward steadily at a moderate speed.

Besides the grey-clothed young man, there were about thirty to forty other people of various sorts on board.

Suddenly, deafening war cries thundered from all directions. Seven or eight fast boats appeared out of nowhere, completely surrounding the sailboat. Combined, these boats carried well over a hundred men.

"The water bandits are here!" a woman on the sailboat shrieked, fainting from fright at the scene.

"It’s the notorious water bandits of Aqua Country! We’re done for, we’re all going to die!"

"There are even high-rank Martial Artists among these water bandits? Heavens, someone save us!"

Many on board had already sunk into despair.

However, the grey-clothed young man at the bow remained motionless, standing as firm as a rock.

"Hahaha, plenty of fat sheep on this boat! Looks like this is big business!" The water bandit leader, a Fourth Realm Martial Artist, roared, his eyes gleaming at the sight of the wealthy passengers and women on the large sailboat.

"Kill! Kill them all, plunder everything, and take the women!"

The water bandits yelled excitedly as their bandit boats closed in on the large sailboat. They were already preparing to throw grappling chains and board.

WHOOSH!

At that very moment, the grey-clothed young man moved. He leaped off the large sailboat and, to everyone’s astonishment, landed in the water. Then, he began to cross the water, stepping lightly on the surface, skimming towards the small boat carrying the water bandit leader.

SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!

Each time his feet touched the water’s surface, it kicked up spray, yet the grey-clothed young man traversed the water with incredible stability, as if walking on solid ground.

"Such amazing Light Skill!"

The onlookers gasped in admiration.

The merchants, who had been engulfed in despair, felt a spark of hope in their eyes. Could he be a martial arts expert? They might have a savior after all!

Within twenty breaths, the grey-clothed young man had crossed several dozen meters of water. Then, with a leap, he landed steadily onto the small boat.

"Kid, you’ve got guts, coming to die alone!" The water bandit leader gestured, and over ten elite water bandits stepped forward. The weakest among them were warriors of the Nine Heavy Realm.

Without a word, the grey-clothed young man, with a swift movement, drew a gleaming treasure blade from his waist. The entire blade emanated a pure, reddish glow.

CRACK!

The head of the nearest water bandit flew off, blood gushing out like a waterfall.

"Kill him!"

The water bandit leader drew a short sword and roared. The other bandit boats rapidly closed in, and some water bandits even jumped into the water, swimming over.

Instantly, blood-red blade light danced across the water, cleaving through bodies wherever it passed. Blood sprayed, and none could stand against the grey-clothed young man. No, they couldn’t even withstand a single exchange; even elite water bandits at the Martial Artist level couldn’t endure half the might of the young man’s blade.

"So terrifying! Who is this young man?"

"Ah, I know him! He’s ’Cloud Blade’ Bai Ruhui, an Inner Disciple of the Divine Intent Sect! Run!" The water bandit leader, recognizing something in the grey-clothed young man’s blade technique, paled in shock. He dove headfirst into the water and fled.

A hint of mockery flashed in the grey-clothed young man’s eyes. Trying to escape? He leaped into the air and then suddenly inverted himself mid-air. As if not even looking, he slashed his blade fiercely down towards the water.

SPLASH!

Water splashed high as the blade light erupted, carrying with it a shower of blood. The next moment, the water bandit leader’s corpse floated to the surface. His face was a mask of terror; clearly, he had never dreamed that the penetrating power of the grey-clothed young man’s blade light could be so terrifyingly strong as to kill him directly while he hid underwater.

"The leader is dead?"

The water bandits turned pallid, their faces etched with panic. Their leader, a Fourth Realm Martial Artist, had been killed so easily?

"Haha, you rats, all of you, go die!" The grey-clothed young man laughed arrogantly, his killing intent soaring to the heavens. His blade flashed like a harbinger of death; with every strike, a man fell, and the water surface was rent with ghastly blade marks.

A river of blood flowed; nearly all of the hundred-plus water bandits were slaughtered.

Except for a few who managed to escape, all the others became souls lost to the grey-clothed young man’s blade.

The bright red of blood dyed the surrounding waters. Severed limbs, heads, and even entrails floated everywhere. The potent stench of blood filled the air, almost suffocatingly.

"Boring, so boring."

The grey-clothed young man turned and leaped back onto the large sailboat, startling the merchants on board. He then shook his head. "I hope the True Disciple Trial will offer me some amusement."

With that, he flicked his robes and walked towards the ship’s cabin.