Chapter 26: The True Powerhouse

Projected sword energy!

The Daoist masters were visibly astonished.

Even Wang Sheng himself was slightly surprised. He glanced at the longsword in his hand and, after some contemplation, came to a conclusion that amused and exasperated him.

His mastery of the Dao of the Sword had long been capable of projecting sword energy! The Tai Chi sword he had been using—which was meant for square dancing—simply couldn't withstand his true essence infusion. Hence, he had never been able to unleash projected sword energy.

Wang Sheng shook his head and clasped his hands toward the stunned Shi Qianzhang. He then gracefully turned around and returned to the seating area designated for the Wudang delegation.

Just as he was about to sheathe the longsword, he noticed fine cracks on its blade. When he cautiously touched it, it shattered, scattering metal fragments to the ground.

Wang Sheng could only laughed awkwardly. With a somewhat embarrassed expression, he walked over to Zhou Yinglong and smiled wryly. "Senior Brother Zhou, when we get back to the mountain, I'll replace your sword with a new one."

"No need to be so modest, Junior Brother Wang. My sword served you well; it did not break in vain." Zhou Yinglong chuckled before lowering his voice. "Besides, it's just one of the swords issued by the mountain. It's not a treasured weapon."

Feeling slightly less guilty, Wang Sheng exchanged smiles with Zhou Yinglong before returning to his seat.

His senior sister sat calmly nearby, holding her phone with a faint smile. On her screen, a group of slender anime characters danced an energetic cheerleading routine. Clearly, she had been secretly cheering on her junior brother.

Had he drawn too much attention to himself today?

After a moment of reflection, Wang Sheng decided that showing off a little during this event wouldn't hurt, especially since he would be focusing on secluded cultivation in the mountains afterward.

In the arena, Shi Qianzhang squatted with a despondent look. He clutched one of his cloth pouches, which had been severed by sword energy. Inside, dozens of neatly stacked black talismans had been cut clean through. His jeans, however, remained untouched, demonstrating Wang Sheng's exceptional precision in controlling the sword energy.

Shi Qianzhang furiously stood up and stormed toward the Wudang delegation. The Wudang members immediately stood on guard. Even Mu Wanxuan revealed a hint of anger.

If that impulsive little Daoist insisted on challenging her junior brother again, as his senior sister, she would have to step in and clean up the mess.

Fortunately, fearing he would cause trouble, a few Daoist masters from the Longhu Mountains stepped forward and intercepted Shi Qianzhang before he could confront the Wudang delegation.

Everyone assumed that Shi Qianzhang—an arrogant sore loser—was struggling with the results of his two losses. To their surprise, however, Shi Qianzhang didn’t mention winning or losing. He simply stomped his feet in frustration.

"Brother Sheng! Big Brother! Why did you have to destroy my most expensive bundle?! My black talismans need ridiculously expensive materials. Making this set alone cost me over thirty thousand yuan—I had to use up all my savings!"

Wang Sheng responded with an embarrassed smile. The Wudang group exchanged awkward glances.

From the side, a foot clad in a cloth shoe swiftly kicked Shi Qianzhang to the ground. Through gritted teeth, a stern-looking Daoist master with sharp eyebrows shouted, "Enough! Stop embarrassing yourself here! When we return, the sect will provide you with double the materials to replace what you've lost!"

Shi Qianzhang immediately brightened. "That'll do."

He then scrambled to his feet, faced his martial uncle, and rubbed his hands together. "Could you also throw in a few dozen sheets of high-quality yellow paper?"

"Get lost! Even I don't use that paper! Go back to your seat and be quiet or I'll confiscate your artifacts!"

Shi Qianzhang hastily clutched the crescent jade pendant on his forehead. He was about to retort when the Daoist master grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back to their side.

While being hauled away, Shi Qianzhang managed to give Wang Sheng a thumbs-up. He shouted, "Brother Sheng, your swordsmanship is incredible! Let's exchange YouChat contacts after the event and grab a meal together!"

Wang Sheng's face twitched. He really didn't want to have any further dealings with Shi Qianzhang.

How could a cultivator act so much like a street vendor, casually throwing around phrases like "Brother Sheng"?

Now that Wang Sheng had thought about it, though, the nickname wasn't that unpleasant to hear.

***

The three high-level matches had captivated the cultivators in attendance, leaving them thoroughly impressed.

The talismanic arts of Mount Mao and Longhu Mountains had their unique strengths, while the swordsmanship of the Wudang Mountains proved undeniably extraordinary. The three sects had truly demonstrated the essence of their Daoist heritage.

Wang Sheng technically wasn't a Wudang disciple since Qing Yanzi was just affiliated with the Wudang Mountains. However, outsiders were unaware of the distinction, and since the Wudang disciples weren't discussing it, Wang Sheng naturally represented Wudang's Daoist heritage.

As the sun set, disciples from various mountains began challenging each other, showcasing all kinds of Daoist techniques.

Although the heritage and foundations of the sacred mountains were only partially revealed, today's exchange meeting turned out to be dazzlingly brilliant.

Many also glanced at Wang Sheng, but no one dared to challenge him. After all, most cultivators had enough sense not to seek out unnecessary defeat.

Clarity in swordsmanship, projected sword energy, late-stage Spirit Convergence Realm... With all those attributes tied to him—a young Daoist priest who seemed no older than twenty—most young cultivators dared not approach him.

Wang Sheng's earlier exquisite footwork technique, paired with the nearly flawless Seven-Star Sword Formation, also served as a significant deterrent.

Even the Seed Formation Realm Daoist masters who were curious about his clarity in swordsmanship or sword energy thought twice about challenging him. They feared the possibility that the Seven-Star Sword Formation would defeat them and tarnish their reputations.

Although they could just shrug off personal embarrassment, bringing shame to their sect was a serious matter.

For now, Wang Sheng enjoyed the peace. Sitting with his senior sister, he observed the other sects’ Daoist techniques and used them as opportunities to reflect on his own understanding of the Dao.

This was what an exchange meeting should be like.

Only young disciples initially participated in the sparring matches, but some middle-aged Daoist masters eventually entered the arena, unable to resist the urge to spar. They generally had high cultivation levels, ranging from late-stage Spirit Convergence Realm to Seed Formation Realm.

Mu Wanxuan had thought that she could relax, confident that her junior brother had already brought enough honor to Wudang. However, a Seed Formation Realm Daoist master from Mount Lao approached Wudang's delegation, seeking a match.

In response, Li Shiwu hurriedly requested Mu Wanxuan—who was often underestimated as a mere decoration—to accept the challenge, thrusting her into the spotlight.

Wang Sheng was more nervous about his senior sister's duel than his sparring match with a high-level opponent earlier. He first secretly reminded his senior sister to be mindful of her strength and avoid injuring anyone. Then, he bowed to the Daoist master from Mount Lao to offer his apologies.

"My senior sister means no disrespect, Senior. She’s just not very talkative. I hope you forgive her."

The Mount Lao Daoist master had originally come to spar with a peer from the Wudang Mountains, but Li Shiwu had arranged for him to duel with a younger participant instead. Though initially displeased, his mood softened upon hearing Wang Sheng's earnest plea. A kind smile stretched across his wrinkled face.

His smile soon disappeared, though.

With a light tap of her foot, Mu Wanxuan seemingly floated over ten meters into the arena. She then gracefully adopted a Tai Chi stance, her Daoist robe flowing gently around her. Her long hair swayed slightly, and faint streams of primal qi enveloped her.

The primal qi within a hundred meters around her turned calm and orderly, seemingly falling under her complete control.

Much to his dismay, the Daoist master from Mount Lao realized that manipulating the primal qi in the area had become extremely difficult. It was as though he had fallen into a force field that he could not escape from.

From an aerial perspective, it would appear that the primal qi within a hundred-meter radius had started flowing and gathering into the shape of a yin-yang diagram. With Mu Wanxuan at its center, it repeatedly faded in and out.

Middle-stage Seed Formation Realm!

In terms of cultivation level, he was half a stage below Mu Wanxuan. His true essence was also less refined, his spiritual consciousness was not as powerful, and the Dao Seed he had formed was not as perfect as that of Mu Wanxuan. To make matters worse, the Daoist arts he used couldn't even break through Mu Wanxuan’s Tai Chi Diagrams.

After just a few simple exchanges, Mu Wanxuan sent the Daoist master from Mount Lao flying with a light palm strike, easily defeating him.

The arena fell so silent that the audience could even hear a pin drop.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Shi Qianzhang had been busy repairing his broken talismans and bag on the sidelines when the scene completely stunned him. His jaw hung open for some time before he managed to close it.

Everyone had assumed that the fair-skinned, graceful Kun Daoist had only gotten to come to the exchange meeting by riding on Wang Sheng's coattails. Who would have thought that the bright-eyed celestial maiden was the real expert? Compared to her, Wang Sheng seemed nothing more than a young sword cultivator taking shelter under a great tree.

"

Mm.

"

Mu Wanxuan gracefully cupped her hands toward her opponent. She then turned around and returned to her seat. Her flowing hair and the hem of her robe swayed gently, her celestial presence and radiant beauty leaving an unforgettable impression on many onlookers.

As she walked back, the young Daoist priests along the way couldn't help but stand and move aside, afraid to even brush against a corner of her robe.

"That was impressive, Senior Sister," Wang Sheng softly complimented, giving her a thumbs up.

Mu Wanxuan's previously tense expression immediately melted into a smile. After a relieved exhale, her eyes curved with delight as she sat down beside her junior brother. Her pride was on full display. Compared to her earlier ladylike demeanor, she now carried an air of authority befitting an expert.

Unfortunately, while trying to relax, Mu Wanxuan noticed the continued attention directed toward her. Finding it impossible to ignore, she couldn’t help but tense up and clear her expression once more.

The constant stares made Wang Sheng consider putting up a sign beside his senior sister that said, “Stay away, strangers. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact her junior brother.”

Wang Sheng, the newly emerged "future sword immortal," had already brought admiration and respect to Wudang Mountain's Daoist heritage. Mu Wanxuan's celestial aura and cultivation level—second only to a few Daoist masters—elevated the sect's prestige even further.

Li Shiwu sat straighter than ever, barely able to suppress his grin. After years of secluded cultivation in the mountains, they had finally gotten their most gratifying moment.

***

At twilight, the exchange meeting came to a close.

All the sects felt that they had gained something. Most importantly, they now had a clearer understanding of their respective paths, the state of Daoist sects, and the foundations of the sacred mountains.

The events that transpired that day made it easy to foresee the upheaval and turmoil that would arise in the next five, ten, or twenty years.

As long as the primal qi of heaven and earth continued to exist, a golden age for cultivation would undoubtedly return. Human history could go in an entirely new direction. Unfortunately, no one could say how long their era of peace would last.

Daoist sects could discipline their disciples, but what about the Daoist heritages that had been scattered across the world for thousands of years? Moreover, the beasts nurtured by primal qi would only grow fiercer, gradually develop spiritual intelligence, and embark on the path of becoming fiends.

Wang Sheng now understood why his master often stood atop the courtyard wall gazing into the distance, occasionally heaving a long sigh with a trace of worry etched into his brow.

Though the path of cultivation could become easier in the future, the conflicts of the mortal world would only intensify.

"

Hmm?

"

Mu Wanxuan tugged at Wang Sheng's sleeve curiously, snapping him out of his thoughts. It turned out that several Daoist masters had already risen to announce the conclusion of the exchange meeting.

Wang Sheng smiled and cast aside his stray thoughts.

"Work within your limits. If the sky falls, let me bear it first."

With his master's words in mind, he resolved to do whatever it took to walk the path of cultivation with integrity.