"Hmm?"
Not only the cultivators of Guiwu Sword Sect, but also the woman in red sitting before the stone tablet and contemplating it, raised her eyes to look at Yun Ze. Even the sect elders on the eighth-tier high platform cast their gazes down!
The sword techniques on this stone tablet were not recorded in text. Instead, a sword dao master had practiced swordplay on it, leaving behind sword marks and sword intent. To comprehend them, one had to feel the sword intent through these marks and then deduce the sword techniques.
While recording techniques in this manner was cumbersome and difficult to understand, anyone who could discern the underlying principles could easily grasp its essence!
An ordinary person seeing this stone tablet would likely be bewildered, not knowing where the so-called sword techniques were.
Only cultivators with sword dao potential could glean sword techniques from it.
Under normal circumstances, comprehending thirty percent of the sword techniques within a quarter of an hour would signify considerable achievement in the sword dao, and only such cultivators would be qualified to join Guiwu Sword Sect.
If one could comprehend it in a single breath, then this person was a natural-born sword cultivation genius!
As long as their spiritual roots were acceptable, Guiwu Sword Sect would spare no effort, even exhausting its entire foundation, to elevate him beyond the Golden Core stage!
Sword cultivators primarily focused on combat!
A true sword cultivator's every thought and word was a blade!
Throughout the entire cultivation world, over eighty percent of the examples of fighting against adversity were achieved by sword cultivators!
This was why Guiwu Sword Sect could consistently maintain its position as the foremost immortal sect in the Northwest Tianxuan Abyss Realm!
The cultivator frowned, feeling that the young man before him might have misunderstood something, thinking that he could simply carve corresponding marks on the stone tablet with his sword.
Such an incident had occurred before; someone had done it, and now the grass on their grave was likely half a zhang high.
Therefore, he did not hand over his sword but kindly reminded him, "Fellow Daoist, these sword techniques are not something you can simply carve a few strokes on the stone tablet. It would be best for you to meditate and study for a while longer."
"...Yes, thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance."
After a few moments of contemplation, Yun Ze chose to sit down cross-legged, beside the woman in red, and begin to comprehend the stone tablet.
He had also sensed the gazes from the eighth-tier high platform.
He was here to kill people!
It was not ideal to attract too much attention. If his actions were too astonishing, it would be best to avoid them!
He still had time, and even if he wanted to become a disciple, it wouldn't take just a single breath.
Moreover, perhaps... this stone tablet wasn't quite what he imagined?
Seeing Yun Ze sit down cross-legged and continue to comprehend the stone tablet, most of the gazes from the eighth-tier high platform retracted, shifting to the others undergoing the trial.
Yun Ze mentally calculated the time. After waiting for about three-quarters of a quarter of an hour, the figure in his mind was still performing that set of sword techniques, and he had not discovered anything else related to sword techniques.
He assumed that the sword techniques on the stone tablet were indeed this set.
He opened his eyes again, stood up, and cupped his fists towards the Senior Brother once more, "Senior Brother, I am ready."
"...Good."
The cultivator from Guiwu Sword Sect casually tossed out an iron sword, "You only need to unleash a single sword strike towards the stone tablet. The sword body must not touch the stone tablet, and it must resonate with it to pass the trial."
This sword was not the one he wore at his waist, clearly indicating he did not hold high hopes for Yun Ze.
After all, it had only been a little over three-quarters of a quarter of an hour; what could he have comprehended?
This was one of the sword tablets of Guiwu Sword Sect!
Those truly destined for the sword dao would wish for more time to observe, so why would they voluntarily begin the assessment?
However, good intentions could not dissuade a fool. Since the young man was determined, he saw no need to persuade him further; it was better to be eliminated sooner!
Yun Ze was unaware of his thoughts. He simply accepted the iron sword, drew it from its sheath, and followed the posture of the figure in his mind.
He unleashed a sword strike!
The stone tablet remained unmoved!
Yun Ze frowned, while a smile of expectation appeared on the cultivator's lips.
"Fellow Daoist, the stone tablet did not move, you have failed the trial. You may put down your sword and leave..."
Boom!
Before the cultivator could finish speaking, a deafening roar erupted from the stone tablet!
The sound reverberated throughout the entire Ascension Conference, and everyone turned their attention to the stone tablet. A cloud of white mist slowly dissipated, revealing a pile of lime on the ground!
The stone tablet... had shattered!
It had shattered so completely that not even a speck remained, only dust!
Oh dear!
Yun Ze's heart suddenly trembled.
Question: How much is a stone tablet inscribed with introductory sword techniques worth? If it's damaged, will I be hunted down? How much compensation is required?
Waiting online, urgent!!
The cultivator was instantly dumbfounded, frozen in place. The person in charge of Guiwu Sword Sect rushed over immediately.
He squatted on the ground, carefully examining the lime on the ground, before standing up and looking at Yun Ze and the woman in red beside him.
With the stone tablet shattered, the woman in red had already withdrawn from her state of contemplation. Seeing the other's gaze sweep towards her, she quickly dodged to the side.
"Senior, this has nothing to do with me! I was just comprehending, merely comprehending! That young man made the move just now! I don't know him!"
"Alas..."
Yun Ze also sighed helplessly and cupped his fists towards the person before him, "Senior, I am willing to bear all compensation. Please name your price!"
He wondered if the spirit stones in his possession were enough. If not, could he borrow some from Brother Yu?
"No rush for now."
The person in charge of Guiwu Sword Sect smiled, seemingly unconcerned about this stone tablet. He even reached to his waist and produced another stone tablet, "Girl, you may continue your comprehension. Young man, you will come with me to the next stage."
"This... I passed?"
"You passed."
The person in charge smiled, even walking up to Yun Ze and patting him on the shoulder twice, "Young man, you're doing well. There's only the final trial left. As long as you pass this one, you will officially be admitted into Guiwu Sword Sect.
You will be a disciple of Guiwu Sword Sect from then on!"
This was also acceptable!?
"By the way, what was your name again?"
The person in charge looked at Yun Ze, his admiration difficult to conceal.
Although not as excited as the old man from Youzhen Sect looked at Bu Bu, it was still considerable.
Shattering a tablet with a single sword strike!
This meant his mastery of this set of sword techniques had surpassed that of the person who inscribed it!
Such stone tablets were all inscribed by Foundation Establishment disciples practicing introductory sword techniques.
Only those with sword techniques at the Minor Accomplishment stage or above were qualified to leave sword marks on the stone tablet. This meant...
In less than a quarter of an hour, this young man had cultivated this set of sword techniques to Minor Accomplishment!
Such a sword dao genius could be described as rare in a century!
What about spiritual roots, souls, and the like, none of it mattered now!
As long as he could pass the final trial and join the sect, he would undoubtedly enter the inner sect in a short period, perhaps even become a true disciple!
"Reporting to Senior, this junior's name is Yun Ze. You may call me Xiao Yun." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Good, Xiao Yun. I am an Outer Sect Elder of Guiwu Sword Sect. You may call me Elder Ji."
Elder Ji's eyes crinkled with a smile as he led Yun Ze towards the seventh-tier high platform, "Xiao Yun, after entering the sect, you will need to find a master.
I feel a connection with you at first sight. If you are willing to take me as your master, I can guarantee that you will reach Foundation Establishment within three years!"
"Really!?"
A flicker of joy flashed in Yun Ze's eyes.
If he had a backer in Guiwu Sword Sect, his future revenge would be much simpler!
"Of course!"
Elder Ji turned and pointed behind him, "Look at the Senior Brothers testing you now; they are all my disciples.
Apart from Senior Brother Chen, whom you met first, they are all already at the Foundation Establishment stage. Your Senior Brother Chen is also close; three years ago, he was only at the second level of Qi Condensation.
After joining the sect this time, you will reach Foundation Establishment!"
Chen Xiao!
He... he was Chen Xiao's master?