Chapter 7

Meng Chuan couldn't help but try again. In an instant, his body, mind, and technique merged as one, and he moved forward with the blade, leaving behind a series of afterimages and dazzling flashes of sword light in the training ground.

Fast! Flickering!

This was the characteristic of the secret technique 'Three Autumn Leaves.'

His movements were fast and flickering! His sword technique was also fast and flickering!

After performing it over ten times, Meng Chuan finally stopped, unable to suppress his excitement: "Three Autumn Leaves, one leaf falls, and three autumns pass! I finally understand! I finally understand!

"I have finally reached the first major realm of sword technique—the Unity Realm!"

"I, Meng Chuan, have the potential to become a divine being!"

Meng Chuan was truly excited.

At the age of eleven, he began practicing the Falling Leaf Sword.

Four years.

During these four years, he never slacked off, practicing with all his might because he knew very well that many excelled in the foundational stage of sword technique, and every Dao Academy had some. Combined, the eight major Dao Academies had even more. These excellent practitioners... nine out of ten would get stuck at the threshold of the Unity Realm for a long time, gradually becoming mediocre, and it would be a great achievement just to reach the Flawless Realm in their lifetime.

But this was never Meng Chuan's goal. He wanted to become a divine being! His hard work and dedication had only one goal—divine being!

He couldn't forget when, at the age of six, he was tied to his father's back, and his father fled while fighting the demon race. In a critical moment, his mother even took the initiative to attack, delaying the demons.

All for his son to escape!

On his father's back, he saw his mother being overwhelmed by more demons, and at that time, Meng Chuan cried his heart out. His father, tears streaming down his face, did not look back and fled desperately. Finally... Meng Chuan survived.

"Training must start as early as possible. Ordinary humans reach their physical peak at the age of twenty, after which they gradually decline."

Meng Chuan thought to himself, "The current first genius of Dongning Prefecture, Mei Yuanzhi, comprehended a secret technique at the age of fifteen. Just a month ago, at the age of twenty, he comprehended the 'Ice Momentum.' He can even live and practice in the Yuyang Palace."

Mei Yuanzhi, originally from an ordinary family in Dongning Prefecture, had a mother who was a maid and a father who was only at the Transcendent Realm.

But when Mei Yuanzhi comprehended a secret technique at the age of fifteen, it shocked the Dao Academy, which immediately provided him with strong support. The divine families also wanted to marry their daughters to him, but Mei Yuanzhi was devoted to his cultivation and was not tempted by the divine families... Finally, on the twelfth day of the first lunar month this year, Mei Yuanzhi comprehended the 'Ice Momentum.' He narrowly comprehended 'Momentum' at the age of twenty and now has a chance to strive for entry into the most ancient cultivation place, 'Yuanchu Mountain.'

According to the rules of Yuanchu Mountain, one must not exceed the age of twenty to participate in the entrance examination.

"I have reached the Unity Realm, but this is just the first step. There are still many thresholds to cross, such as 'Sword Momentum' and 'Condensing the Core.' I cannot slack off," Meng Chuan said to himself, looking around. The training ground was very quiet, with only him present, and the trees and flowers were already green.

"What a coincidence," Meng Chuan realized. "Today is February 27th, and I broke through the day before the internal selection of the Dao Academy."

Sometimes, things just happen to be so coincidental.

...

The next day, early morning.

Meng Chuan and Liu July were having breakfast.

Now, the entire Meng family was focusing on cultivating the younger generation, even inviting Flawless Realm cultivators from outside to train Meng Chuan. The Flawless Realm cultivator 'Meng Dajiang,' who had comprehended Sword Momentum, naturally had to play his part. He had been staying at the ancestral home recently, teaching a large number of young members of the clan. As for Meng Chuan... he had received so much guidance from his father that he was already familiar with his father's methods.

Liu July's father, 'Liu Yebai,' was very mysterious and spent most of the year outside.

"Ah Chuan, today is the internal selection of the Dao Academy, and it's also your turn today," Liu July said proudly. "I have already secured a spot."

"I will also secure a spot today," Meng Chuan said with a smile.

"Are you so confident?" Liu July laughed. "You haven't even perfected the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, yet you are confident of securing one of the top three spots in the Dao Academy?"

"What if I win?" Meng Chuan asked.

Liu July looked at Meng Chuan carefully and then laughed, "If you win, I will cook dinner for you for a month. But if you don't secure a spot, hehe, you have to give me your 'Horse Picture'! Dare to bet?"

Meng Chuan laughed.

His painting skills had long surpassed the best painters in Dongning Prefecture, partly due to the scarcity of painters.

The 'Horse Picture' was Meng Chuan's greatest achievement, a long scroll painting of a hundred horses in various postures, which took him over a year to complete. Liu July had been eyeing it ever since she saw it once. Even Yun Qingping, after seeing it once, offered to trade it for 3,000 taels of silver and two pieces of jade. Meng Chuan was unwilling to trade it.

"If I lose, I have to give up the 'Horse Picture,' and if I win, you only cook dinner for a month. Isn't that a bit unfair?" Meng Chuan hesitated.

"A month! Do you dare?" Liu July stared at Meng Chuan.

"Normally, it's hard to get you to cook once, so fine, let's bet this time," Meng Chuan said, gritting his teeth. "If I lose, don't regret it."

"You won't regret it either!" Liu July put down her chopsticks and stood up, "I'm going to the Dao Academy. Don't be scared and not come back by noon."

"Don't worry," Meng Chuan said, leisurely drinking his porridge. How could he refuse if July was willing to cook for him for a month?

After eating for a while, Meng Chuan wiped his mouth and leisurely walked to the Dao Academy.

******

Jinghu Dao Academy.

After Meng Chuan arrived at the Dao Academy, he found that many disciples had gathered at the arena.

"Senior Brother Meng will definitely win."

"Senior Brother Meng, you will definitely secure one of the top three spots."

Many junior disciples were very excited. They knew today was the internal selection, and the Dao Academy also wanted them to watch the matches of the senior disciples from the Shanshui Tower. Because some senior disciples occasionally gave guidance, many junior disciples supported Meng Chuan.

"Although I also want Senior Brother Meng to win, to be honest, in the past matches of the top ten Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples, Senior Brother Meng has no advantage. It's really hard for him to secure one of the top three spots."

"Senior Brothers Wan Mang and Bai Guan, in the recent matches of the top ten disciples, the first place was always decided between them. They will definitely secure the spots." Many junior disciples were discussing, some blindly supporting and others analyzing rationally. But they all shared a common point—they were all looking forward to the start of the matches.

The area around the arena was cordoned off, and the watching disciples were not allowed to approach.

Meng Chuan and the others arrived and waited, with instructors checking their weapons to ensure they were not sharpened.

A thin man with a wine jar and a strong smell of alcohol walked over.

"Dean."

"Dean."

All the disciples were very respectful, and the twenty-two disciples of the Shanshui Tower also bowed respectfully. This was the dean of the Jinghu Dao Academy, Ge Yu. Ge Yu had a bad reputation, being greedy and fond of alcohol, and acted without restraint.

"Good, everyone is here," Ge Yu said, his face flushed and the smell of alcohol strong, but all the disciples were well-behaved, and the instructors and assistants did not dare to murmur. The first fastest sword in Dongning Prefecture was a real achievement.

"There are only six Transcendent Realm disciples, so the selection will be quick," Ge Yu said. "You six will compete first, and the top three will be selected."

"Report to the Dean."

A young man bowed, "I and Brother Zhang have only recently reached the Transcendent Realm and are still in the early stage. We admit our shallow abilities and will not participate in this competition."

"Report to the Dean, I have already challenged last night and lost all three matches," a strong, dark-skinned young man said.

"Oh?"

Ge Yu nodded, understanding the disciples' abilities. "Good, since that's the case, the three who will attend the Yuyang Palace Demon Slaying Festival are Wu Qi and the Wei brothers."

"Yes," the three Transcendent Realm disciples, Wu Qi, respectfully responded.

Wu Qi was at the perfected Transcendent Realm.

The Wei brothers were also at the later stage of the Transcendent Realm, and their advantages were indeed significant.

"There are sixteen Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples in the Shanshui Tower," Ge Yu looked at Meng Chuan and the others. "Each of you can compete. I will explain the rules: those who are confident can directly step onto the arena and face challenges from other disciples. Win five consecutive matches, and you will secure a spot. Also, if you lose twice, you cannot participate in the competition anymore."

"Good, let's start now," Ge Yu said, taking a big sip from his wine jar.

The sixteen Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples fell silent.

Step onto the arena and win five consecutive matches to secure a spot? Then, the first one to step onto the arena is at a disadvantage!

If two spots are decided, and the two strong opponents are eliminated, the chances of winning the remaining spots are much higher.

"Who will be the first to step onto the arena?" Most of the Shanshui Tower Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples looked at two people, one was the strong and smiling 'Wan Mang,' and the other was the cold and stern 'Bai Guan.' In the matches of the top ten disciples, the first place was usually decided between them.

"Will you step up?" Wan Mang asked, smiling at Bai Guan.

"If you want to, you can," Bai Guan said coldly.

At that moment—

A figure stepped onto the arena, and it was Meng Chuan.

Meng Chuan glanced at the somewhat surprised fellow disciples below and said, "The first spot will be mine."