Chương 29: War God — Chapter 29 - Martial Demonstration! Perfected Mastery of the Flowing Water Blade

The moment Bai Hongtian finished speaking, Wang Xian felt gazes as scorching as sunlight.

"......" Seriously, was this necessary? Actually, when Wang Xian saw that Cheng Wu, he'd already guessed some of it. He'd assumed it would be after everything ended, the other party would seek him out, give him an award or something. He never expected it would be at this moment. And spoken by Bai Hongtian personally. This left Wang Xian baffled. It was just one person. Even if they wanted to hold him up as a role model, did a Seventh Realm Great Grandmaster really need to use that kind of tone? Unless...

Wang Xian froze. He seemed to have guessed something. But at this moment... It couldn't quite be called the focus of thousands of eyes. Class Four, every student was now looking at Wang Xian. Too shocked to speak for a moment. Bro, seriously! You usually keep such a low profile, and you're this incredible? To be fair, aside from the last quiz, Wang Xian was basically a background nobody in Class Four. Sure, he was kind of good-looking. But this was a key high school. Whether you're handsome or not didn't matter!

Who would have thought he could pull off something this huge? And it was the kind of thing like charging into a disaster zone and heroically saving people! A Seventh Realm Great Grandmaster personally speaking up and saying "please." That was far more impressive than any school-wide announcement. Wang Xian felt a bit helpless inside. He really hadn't planned on going up. But now that it had happened, Wang Xian wouldn't shrink back either. He stood up.

The gazes gathered on him locked on like tracking devices, following his every move. This was even more shocking and enviable than when those class representatives went on stage earlier. Because this time, whether male or female, their gazes were all on Wang Xian.

"......" Wang Xian. His expression didn't change at all. As if he were just going home or heading to class, his steps steady as he walked onto the high platform. Once on stage, leaving aside the gazes of the students below, the gazes of those dozens of class representatives were different now. For one, Chen Yuting's eyes were extremely complicated.

'Hmph, no wonder you rejected me...'

'Seems you knew all along you'd be going on stage...'

'No... logically if the school knew about this, they would have added a slot... seems the school didn't know either...' The school certainly didn't know. The moment he saw Wang Xian go on stage, Principal Xia in the back was already kicking himself with regret. Damn it. Something this big happened, and you didn't say anything sooner, kid? He glared at Cui Guoliang. Cui Guoliang felt the principal's gaze and thought, I didn't know either! But, you know what. A proud smile spread across his face. Look.

This is my student! Never mind his potential, his grades, his talent! Whether he can get into a top martial arts university or not! His character and courage have already surpassed countless others! Because, forget the students below, even as a teacher, he wouldn't dare charge into a beast disaster zone to save people. He simply didn't have that kind of courage. In the crowd, probably only Ye Miyue wasn't particularly surprised.

Because her shock had long since been etched deep into her heart, from that moment when she watched Wang Xian, alone, rush out from the crowd and vault over the railing. Deeply carved into her heart. She just secretly blinked at Wang Xian.

"Wang Xian, classmate." Cheng Wu grinned heartily.

"Coming to find you only now, not too late, is it?" Wang Xian shook his head. Cheng Wu looked at Wang Xian before him and nodded with great satisfaction. From how things looked today, this kid hadn't spread word of that day's events at all. Heroically saving people without seeking riches or fame, not flaunting his courage, not broadcasting his name, just acting like an ordinary person. It showed his heart naturally had no desire for those things. Such a calm and unflappable mindset, he admired it greatly.

Then, Cheng Wu glanced at Grandmaster Bai. Bai Hongtian personally took out the prepared award certificate and walked up to Wang Xian:"Wang Xian, classmate, you've done very well!"

"Frankly speaking, at your age, I was not your equal!" Wang Xian accepted the certificate and said:"The Grandmaster need not be inferior to me, nor am I comparable to the Grandmaster."

"After all, it's never too late to grasp the true essence of a martial artist." Bai Hongtian paused, then laughed heartily and nodded repeatedly. He received the certificate, along with a proper cash reward. But this kind of reward, representing the Security Bureau, wasn't much, only a few tens of thousands. The symbolic meaning was greater. Wang Xian put away the certificate and prepared to step down.

"You don't need to go down." Bai Hongtian smiled.

"Someone who can grasp the true essence of a martial artist, in my eyes, your 'talent' is no less than theirs."

"Right?" He glanced at Principal Xia behind him.

"Indeed, indeed!" Principal Xia wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Classmate Wang possesses very high martial talent. On this point, as his homeroom teacher, he has more authority to speak than I do!" Never mind whether Wang Xian was a poor student before, or what his innate life force was like. Now, in this principal's eyes, Wang Xian was the brightest star in the school! Praise him, he must be praised! Cui Guoliang quickly nodded and briefly explained Wang Xian's situation. Bai Hongtian, however, waved his hand:"It doesn't matter."

Seeing this, everyone could tell at a glance that Grandmaster Bai clearly didn't care about that. And why would he. Grandmaster Bai had traveled far and wide. What top martial arts university hadn't he visited? What genius hadn't he seen? To put it bluntly, before awakening martial talent, these several dozen top students on stage probably didn't differ much in this Grandmaster Bai's view. What he valued was Wang Xian himself. This clearly left some class representatives on stage feeling unconvinced.

They looked at Wang Xian, their eyes carrying a clear unwillingness to concede. The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Yes. You're not afraid to die, you heroically saved people, we respect that. On this stage, you've earned the right to stand here too. But when it comes to other things... that's a different matter.

"I have wielded the blade for 60 years, my blade technique at eighth-dan peak. The martial talent I awakened back then was called: 'Tiger Soul Divine Arm.'" Grandmaster Bai took a step forward.

"As for other arts, sword and staff, I have some experience in each, but no more than third or fourth dan." In short, he specialized in the blade, while his sword and staff techniques were also at third or fourth dan.

"Today's martial demonstration..."

"I will first reveal to everyone my signature transcendent martial technique: 'Tiger Soul Tyrant King Slash.'"" The Tyrant King blade intent within it, if in the future you recall it and can grasp even a fraction, you will surely achieve something on the martial path!" The confidence in Bai Hongtian's words was unmatched. Transcendent martial technique. It is a technique that martial artists naturally gain after awakening their talent, strengthening alongside their talent.

In the process, it also fuses with the martial arts they've cultivated. Wang Xian turned his gaze slightly. In the transition between Old Martial Arts and New Martial Arts, transcendent martial techniques were a barrier Old Martial Arts could never cross. Because Old Martial Arts experts had no transcendent power like martial talent, and could never possess such techniques. It was equivalent to being born without the strongest moves that others had.

As Bai Hongtian's words fell, he suddenly stomped forward, his right arm gripping an ancient-style great blade. The great blade was full of technological feel, the blade body bearing special patterns, and it was three or four parts larger than a normal blade. It was hard to imagine how heavy this great blade must be. Then, the sleeve on Bai Hongtian's right arm automatically retracted, revealing a section of powerfully muscled arm. On that arm, a tiger-shaped phantom roared, vivid and lifelike.

Through the phantom, one could even see a terrifying power flowing out from within the bones.

"Body-type talent..."

"High-level or above..." Wang Xian took a look. Martial talents came in many varieties, the most common being body-type talents. That is, talents on the body itself. Those with such talents generally cultivated corresponding martial arts with greater power than normal martial artists! This was the New Martial Arts era! Especially this kind of talent, its compatibility with many blade technique martial arts was simply too high!

Though the talent's manifestation was only high-level, its actual potential was no less than king-tier.

"Tyrant King Slash!" Bai Hongtian's eyes were cold as ice, boundless power converging in his arm. His entire being leaped like a giant beast, slashing a blade strike toward the sky. A fierce howling sound spread across the entire campus in an instant, the lingering echo reaching several li away! Under that one slash, a red blade aura spanning several hundred meters was visible to the naked eye! Every student present was stunned!

In that moment, even Bai Hongtian himself seemed to disappear, merging completely with that blade, as if transforming into a soaring giant tiger roaring at the sky. BOOM! The originally azure sky was split by this slash into two vast seas of clouds. Looking out into the distance, there was no end in sight. Under such terrifying might, even the school leaders and homeroom teachers behind were trembling all over. Unable to stand steady, they hurriedly sat down.

Countless students were also shaken by the Tyrant King blade intent contained within that slash, forced to crouch down one after another, only able to watch with their heads raised. Some students were even lying flat. Xia Sichen endured the pressure, legs trembling as he barely managed to stay standing in place for a while, before finally reaching out a hand to brace against the railing. He looked around. As the best student of No. 7 High, in the face of such terrifying blade technique, who could remain unaffected?

Seeing the state of the others, and then looking at Ye Miyue, his pupils contracted. Ye Miyue's gaze was focused, her posture not particularly straight, yet she still stood in place, without any external support, her eyes watching that blade strike with unwavering determination. Fearless! Seeing this, Xia Sichen gritted his teeth, let go of the railing, and forced himself to stand firm again. His gaze shifted once more, suddenly looking toward that Wang Xian. This time, his heart shook violently!

He saw that guy, hands clasped behind his back, posture straight as a pine, gaze bright as a torch, just looking at that blade strike with utter calmness. As if he was completely unaffected! Impossible! This was the transcendent martial technique of a Seventh Realm Great Grandmaster! Under that slash, how could he show not the slightest effect? Even... the other's gaze held a thoughtful look...

"He held back. But... truly held nothing back in demonstration." Wang Xian watched for a while, inwardly feeling admiration for Bai Hongtian. Revealing his ultimate skill without the slightest reservation. This was the most sincere martial demonstration.

"That slash should have evolved from the superior blade technique, Tyrant King Cliff-Breaking Art."

"Only the blade intent within it... I've truly never seen before..." In his past life, Wang Xian had never crossed blades with this Grandmaster, but he had fought other martial artists who practiced the Tyrant King Cliff-Breaking Art. Only none had come as flawlessly perfect as this slash. Because this slash was simply too perfectly matched with Bai Hongtian's talent! As expected of a transcendent martial technique! Now, watching this unreserved display, his heart felt greatly enlightened.

For a moment, even his hands itched with the urge. Along with it, his understanding of blade techniques advanced by leaps and bounds. He closed his eyes and contemplated for a long time. In his mind, countless figures seemed to be repeatedly demonstrating the profound mysteries of this slash. Even merging with the martial arts he himself cultivated. When he opened his eyes, he had already grasped something.

"Blade technique broken through to second-dan peak..." Wang Xian exhaled inwardly, his heart clear. Even the Flowing Water Blade Technique he had just broken through to small success, in the process of practicing and contemplating it in his mind, already showed signs of perfected mastery.

"Pity, limited by the venue... though his blade intent was completely unreserved..."

"He only opened a few talent gene locks, the full power of this slash wasn't fully unleashed."

"Probably only used a third of his strength." But this one-third of his strength had stunned the entire crowd into long speechlessness. Of course, they couldn't tell how much strength this Grandmaster Bai had used. Only shock. This was a Great Grandmaster who could split mountains and sever seas with a single move! To put it bluntly, with that one slash, if Rong City didn't have a defensive shield, it could have been directly split in two. One slash to destroy a city! This was a Seventh Realm Martial Grandmaster!

Honestly, coming to a high school for a martial demonstration was completely using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. At least, that was how Wang Xian felt. Because the students here basically had no chance of grasping anything. Himself excluded. But well, not grasping anything didn't matter. If it could increase the students' desire and drive for martial arts by a few degrees, then it still served some purpose. Bai Hongtian sheathed his blade, returned to his original position, a smile on his face.

Only after a long while did the scene barely recover. Indeed, Bai Hongtian knew it was unlikely any student could truly grasp something from this slash of his. Because these students were still at the most basic stage. He merely hoped that in the future, they would strive a bit harder for martial arts. That would be enough. The school leaders behind watched with hearts pounding. The homeroom teacher of Class Ten, who possessed fourth-dan blade technique, watched with utter fascination!

Only, his comprehension wasn't high, so he could barely glean a superficial hint from this slash.

"Next is you all..." Bai Hongtian looked at the several dozen class representatives, pondered for a moment, and said, "At your stage, you should still be trying to grasp basic martial arts."

"How about this, I have some experience in blade, sword, and staff."

"You demonstrate, and I'll give some pointers as appropriate." Principal Xia behind him listened with wild joy. Grandmaster Bai was truly a straightforward person! He was actually going to personally give guidance! One had to know, a chance to receive a Grandmaster's guidance was worth more than gold! He had thought this Grandmaster Bai would at most pick out one or two students and give symbolic pointers. The meaning in these words was clearly individual guidance.

This would be of immense benefit even to the students below! And besides, most students practiced sword techniques, so... no difficulty at all.

"Then, one by one, let's begin..." And so, each class representative, in order, stepped forward, some excited, some nervous. Bai Hongtian was quite patient in his guidance, and his eye was extremely sharp. Basically with just one look, he could see through 70 to 80 percent of the problems a student faced in their martial cultivation. So even though most students practiced sword techniques, his guidance remained effortlessly competent. Every student who received pointers mostly gained some insight.

Even many students below, because they could finally understand what was being said, also gained some insight.

"Oh, you practice the blade?" After more than half had gone, Bai Hongtian looked at the young man before him named 'Pang Sandao,' his expression showing some delight. Among so many students, there was finally one who used the blade.

"Yes, Senior Bai." Pang Sandao's face was sharp as a blade's edge, and in appearance, he bore two or three parts resemblance to Bai Hongtian.

"I practice the Eight Slash Blade... aside from the last move which still lacks a bit, I've fully mastered the rest." After speaking, he had a touch of pride.

"Eight Slash Blade..." Bai Hongtian nodded slightly.

"Among basic blade techniques, this one is relatively difficult to master. That you've trained to the point of only lacking the last slash shows you have considerable talent in blade techniques." Receiving praise, Pang Sandao couldn't help showing a shy, simple grin.

"Demonstrate it for me to see." Pang Sandao nodded and immediately performed a set of Eight Slash Blade. Wang Xian watched and saw at a glance why this guy hadn't mastered it. No qi flow. The Eight Slash Blade emphasizes executing eight slashes in one continuous flow. If anything is off by even a bit, the power drops drastically. It's neither difficult nor easy. You just need to keep practicing.

This Pang Sandao had enough practice repetitions, but his eyes always had a hint of avoidance, his heart wasn't upright, his qi wasn't smooth. That's why he always fell short on the last slash. Wang Xian actually felt this Pang Sandao was suited for the staff, not the blade. A pity. Bai Hongtian only glanced once, nodded slightly, then gave a few pointers and even briefly demonstrated. Then, he continued giving pointers in order. Until Xia Sichen. Bai Hongtian's eyes brightened slightly.

"Ink-Dot Sword Technique... not bad!" Bai Hongtian smiled.

"Among basic sword techniques, this one's training difficulty is second only to the Yin-Yang Sword Technique. Most students only start gradually coming into contact with martial arts in senior year. For you to have fully mastered this sword technique... very high talent!" Xia Sichen immediately puffed out his chest and raised his head. To receive such praise from a Grandmaster, he was probably the only one in the entire school! Even the students below watched with envy. This was martial talent! Indeed.

At this stage, it was probably only Xia Sichen who could master an entire martial art. Bai Hongtian gave simple pointers. Though the other had mastered it, it was clearly just recently mastered, with quite a few issues. Then, it was Ye Miyue's turn.

"Eh!" The moment Ye Miyue began her starting stance, Bai Hongtian showed slight surprise.

"Yin-Yang Sword Technique... the training difficulty of this basic sword technique is no ordinary matter." But as Ye Miyue's sword technique unfolded, the surprise in Bai Hongtian's eyes grew. Because, until the other fully executed the final move, his expression turned serious.

"You've already glimpsed the threshold!" Bai Hongtian nodded and said slowly. The moment these words came out, the many representatives all looked at Ye Miyue in astonishment. From just mastering a sword technique to glimpsing the threshold, there was a considerable distance. Glimpsing the threshold meant one had already gained some insight into this martial art. It meant truly stepping into an entirely new realm of martial arts! The power of the martial art when executed would also gradually become transcendent!

The homeroom teachers behind were also looking at Class Nine's homeroom teacher in surprise. After all, they roughly understood the situation of each class's students. Ye Miyue was from Class Nine.

"This..." Class Nine's homeroom teacher wore a face full of pride.

"I didn't expect this child to learn this sword technique so quickly... haha... must be my excellent teaching!"

"Haha..." However, inwardly he found it strange. Because just yesterday morning, he had asked Ye Miyue about her progress. Ye Miyue still had some distance to go before even mastering it. How long had it been, and she had already glimpsed the threshold? Not right! Ten parts out of ten, nine parts not right! Ye Miyue glanced from the corner of her eye toward Wang Xian's direction... then quickly withdrew it. After returning home last night, she had secretly practiced a bit and gained much insight.

Even in her dreams at night, she dreamed of... Now, as one of only two people in the school who had mastered a martial art, her level was even higher than Xia Sichen's, instantly drawing the gazes of countless students. For this, Bai Hongtian only gave simple pointers. Generally, once a martial art enters this stage, practical combat matters more than guidance. Unless one encounters a bottleneck.

But having just glimpsed the threshold, equivalent to 1% proficiency at the glimpsing threshold stage, even if there were a bottleneck, it would need to reach 99% before there'd be a chance to break through with guidance. So, he could only give simple pointers to improve the student's familiarity with this stage. Bai Hongtian finished giving pointers one by one. Until the last one to step up, Wang Xian.

In Bai Hongtian's eyes was an earnestness he had never shown before:"Wang Xian, classmate, you haven't yet mastered any martial art?"

"Whatever problems or difficulties you have, I will help you!" From his tone, many could instantly sense it. This time, Bai Hongtian was especially attentive and serious. ➤ Next: Shock the Entire School!