As Xiu Qi's voice faded, a scroll slowly unfurled, revealing a landscape of mountains, rivers, and lakes—the secret realm known as the Mountain and River World.
The Mountain and River World was a secret realm created by Sky Abyss City using the body of a great demon, capable of simulating the four seasons and diverse terrains. It was an ideal venue for the Martial Arts Assembly, where cultivators could have their strength replicated by the realm's laws. Even if they died within, they could emerge unscathed.
Jiang Wen stood on the viewing platform, gazing at the Mountain and River Secret Realm slowly unfolding in the clouds.
Just as he was contemplating his next move, he heard a shout.
"Brother Taixu!"
Turning around, he saw Jiang Rong rushing towards him, a smile on her face as she approached him and asked with a grin, "Is Brother Taixu also participating in the Martial Arts Assembly?"
"You're participating too?" Jiang Wen asked, somewhat curious.
"Yes, I'm going to participate as well."
"Is that alright?" Jiang Wen asked with some concern. Although Jiang Rong possessed some strength, those who could compete in the Mountain and River World were definitely not ordinary individuals. If she went in, she would surely be bullied.
"Hmph, doesn't Brother Taixu believe in me? I'll definitely be able to win!" Jiang Rong declared confidently, not taking the other cultivators seriously at all.
"Brother Taixu, you just wait. Once I win first place, I'll retrieve the Heart-Questioning Sword and give it to you as a gift."
Jiang Rong spoke with great conviction, causing Jiang Wen to involuntarily gulp.
This little girl could have chosen any reward, yet she chose his former sword. To win back his own possession and then give it back to him—how bizarre did that sound?
Muttering to himself, Jiang Wen quickly tried to dissuade Jiang Rong, "I don't even know swordsmanship. If you retrieve this magical weapon, it won't be of any use to me."
"If you can win, you should choose the cauldron instead. This cauldron can refine pills and concoct medicine, and it can be used for both offense and defense. It's the most suitable magical weapon for you."
Jiang Rong was somewhat swayed by Jiang Wen's persuasion.
She felt that Brother Taixu was right; the cauldron was indeed better than the sword.
Just as she was about to nod in agreement, saying that she would definitely choose the cauldron if she won,
Xue beside her slowly spoke up, "Sword, suitable."
"Sister Xue, do you think the Heart-Questioning Sword is suitable for me?" Jiang Rong asked sincerely.
"Naturally," Xue said.
She looked at the Mountain and River Secret Realm in the sky and asked Jiang Rong a question, "Rong'er, do you know whose sword this is?"
"Swordsmanship?" Jiang Rong was somewhat bewildered.
"Naturally," Xue said softly. "Even though there are countless sword techniques in the world, my master's swordsmanship was unique. My master once used the Four Symbols Sword Formation to protect Sky Abyss City, and the city's formation is still his legacy."
"Four Symbols Sword Formation?" Jiang Rong repeated. "Sister Xue, why have I never heard of this?"
Jiang Wen, standing to the side, felt a little embarrassed.
Because the Four Symbols Sword Formation that Xue spoke of was actually just the most basic sword formation; it was just that he used it the most and was most familiar with it.
Xue loved the way of the sword, so Jiang Wen had taught her this technique.
Although he didn't know how well she had cultivated it over the years, Jiang Wen knew that this girl would definitely not be lacking.
"You naturally wouldn't know," Xue said slowly, with her hands clasped in her sleeves. "The Four Symbols Sword Formation is the most fundamental sword formation in the world. Once unleashed, few in the world can break it."
"And this Heart-Questioning Sword contains the sword intent learned by my master. If you obtain it, your future cultivation of swordsmanship will be twice as effective with half the effort."
"I see," Jiang Rong nodded, slightly excited. "Then I will do my best to retrieve this magical weapon."
"Mm. Go, do what you can. If it's impossible, then don't force it."
Xue nodded and gave Jiang Wen a fist bump for encouragement.
"Brother Taixu, Sister Xue, I will work hard!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wen instructed Jiang Rong, "You must be careful after entering, and don't force anything."
"I understand."
As they spoke, hundreds of cultivators from the Shennong Peak viewing platform soared into the sky, all flying towards the Mountain and River Secret Realm.
Jiang Rong looked up into the distance and transformed into a streak of light, flying away.
Jiang Wen, on the other hand, stood in place, looked at Xue for a moment, and nodded, "I'm going too. I'll talk after I get the championship."
"Mm, be careful."
After the two finished speaking, Jiang Wen flew towards the Mountain and River World. At the moment his body merged into the secret realm, memories of the past suddenly surfaced in his mind.
"Master, if you really leave, what will happen to Xue?"
"Jiang Wen, Sky Abyss City still needs you. I heard that beyond the Great Wilderness, there is also the Misty Immortal Land, which has immortal medicine. I will retrieve it for you to extend your life. I refuse to believe that I, the Lord of Sky Abyss City, cannot protect you."
"Master, Xiu Qi thanks you for your many years of nurturing."
… …
When Jiang Wen opened his eyes again, the dreamlike memories disappeared.
He looked at the endless desert before him and opened his palm.
A protective talisman lay in his palm. After placing the talisman close to his body, a radiant flying sword hovered beside him.
"I didn't expect to have so many memories after entering this secret realm."
Jiang Wen smiled softly, raised his eyes to look at the scenery in front of him, and saw only the sky filled with yellow sand, stirring up sandstorms hundreds of feet high.
A majestic figure of reddish-yellow appeared before him.
"I am the guardian here. Entry is forbidden ahead!"
"Let's try then."
He strode forward, lightning seemingly intertwined in his hand. The flying sword was unleashed, slashing towards the giant.
"Myriad Swords Technique!"
The world was dazzling and colorful, and countless flying swords fell.
… …
"Benefactor, he should be alright, right?"
Luo Ji looked at the images projected by the secret realm in the sky, searching for Jiang Wen's figure among the hundreds of cultivators.
These images were mirror images projected by the secret realm, capable of projecting the events that occurred within the secret realm.
They allowed people to see the situation within the secret realm and clearly observe the fighting and competition among the cultivators.
"It's alright, we should believe in him. I think he can do it, because he is very similar to my master," Xue said calmly as she watched the projection.
Hearing this, Luo Ji breathed a sigh of relief and continued to watch the mirrored projection in the secret realm.
In the picture, Jiang Wen used the Myriad Swords Technique to forcefully defeat the Earth-elemental Warrior, and the dense spiritual power amazed many Life-Fire cultivators.
Earth-elemental beings were usually not afraid of such sword techniques, and this warrior was even a late-stage Earth-elemental Life-Fire existence.
Jiang Wen's ability to defeat this warrior with swordsmanship showed that he had extremely high attainments in swordsmanship.
"I didn't expect Benefactor to be so powerful," Luo Ji praised in her heart.
It was only when she first met Benefactor that she saw his power, and there was nothing to compare it to later in Sky Abyss City. Now that she had received the praise of Xue, the Marquis of Sky Abyss City, Luo Ji understood how powerful Benefactor was. Perhaps she could really see the Heavenly King and tell him everything about the Luo people.
Just as she was thinking, she heard a burst of exclamations.
Luo Ji looked over and saw the white-haired girl from the Myriad Swords Sect cleaving a river with a single sword in the illusion.
"That is, the Immovable Bright King Swordsmanship of the Bright King clan?"
As if seeing something familiar, Xue frowned.
