Heavenly Sword Saint
Chapter 13 — The Spirit Gathering Pavilion
The next morning arrived earlier than usual.
Before the sun had fully risen...
The Jian Clan was already awake.
Voices echoed through the clan.
Young disciples hurried toward the eastern side of the clan, their expressions filled with anticipation.
Today was the day the Spirit Gathering Pavilion opened its cultivation spots.
For the younger generation...
This was an important event.
The Spirit Gathering Pavilion was built above a small spiritual vein.
Although the spiritual vein was insignificant compared with those in the Divine Realm...
Within Moonriver City, it was extremely valuable.
The spiritual energy inside the pavilion was several times denser than outside.
A cultivator who spent a month cultivating there could make considerably faster progress than someone cultivating in an ordinary courtyard.
But that wasn't the only reason the disciples fought for the ten positions.
The Jian Clan also rewarded those who obtained a cultivation spot.
Every disciple who successfully secured a position would receive a certain number of Body Tempering Pills from the clan.
These pills contained concentrated medicinal energy.
When consumed properly...
They could assist the body in absorbing spiritual energy and accelerate the tempering process.
For ordinary disciples...
Even a single Body Tempering Pill was valuable.
For those who obtained a position in the pavilion...
The combination of the spiritual vein and the pills could greatly increase their cultivation speed.
That was why the ten positions were so fiercely contested.
The stronger the disciple...
The greater the chance of obtaining both resources.
And the stronger they became...
The easier it would be to maintain their position.
It formed a cycle.
Strength brought resources.
Resources created greater strength.
And greater strength brought even more opportunities.
...
Inside the old courtyard.
Jian Chen slowly opened his eyes.
He had spent most of the night cultivating.
The two awakened meridians quietly circulated spiritual energy through his body.
Although the amount of spiritual energy was still tiny...
It was gradually becoming more stable.
His injuries had also improved.
He wasn't completely healed.
But he could now move without experiencing severe pain.
Jian Chen slowly stood.
He looked at his reflection in the bronze mirror.
His face was still somewhat pale.
His body was still thin.
Anyone who saw him would never imagine that this young man had once stood at the peak of the Divine Realm.
Jian Chen smiled faintly.
"Still too weak."
He wasn't disappointed.
This was only the beginning.
As long as he had enough time...
He could rebuild everything.
And perhaps...
Surpass his former peak.
He changed into clean clothes.
Then he looked toward the wooden sword resting beside the wall.
After a moment of thought...
He picked it up.
It was nothing more than an ordinary wooden sword.
There was no spiritual energy contained within it.
Yet Jian Chen held it naturally.
The weight.
The balance.
The shape.
Everything felt familiar.
His fingers lightly brushed against the wooden blade.
A faint smile appeared.
"My sword..."
"Will return eventually."
He placed it at his waist.
Then walked outside.
Xiao Yue was already waiting.
The moment she saw him...
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Youth Master."
"You look much better."
Jian Chen nodded.
"I feel better."
She glanced at the wooden sword.
Her expression became nervous.
"You aren't planning to fight today, are you?"
Jian Chen smiled.
"Perhaps."
Xiao Yue sighed.
"I knew it."
She turned toward the eastern side of the clan.
"Then let's go."
...
The closer they got to the Spirit Gathering Pavilion...
The louder the surroundings became.
Hundreds of young disciples had gathered around the martial arena.
Some were discussing the battles.
Others were talking about the rewards.
"I heard the ten disciples will receive five Body Tempering Pills each."
"Five?"
"That's right."
"Then the rewards this year are quite generous."
"Of course. The annual examination is approaching."
"The clan wants the younger generation to improve as quickly as possible."
Jian Chen quietly listened.
Five Body Tempering Pills.
His expression remained unchanged.
To an ordinary cultivator...
Those pills were valuable.
But to him...
Their true value wasn't the pills themselves.
It was the spiritual energy they could provide when used properly.
If he combined the pills with the Heavenly Sword Scripture...
Perhaps he could accelerate the awakening of his remaining meridians.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"The resources of this clan are limited..."
"But they are still useful."
Obtaining the cultivation position had become even more important.
...
The Spirit Gathering Pavilion soon appeared before them.
It stood on top of a small hill.
The three-story stone building looked ancient.
Faint spiritual energy could be felt even from outside.
Jian Chen's awakened meridians reacted almost immediately.
His eyes flashed.
"So that's the spiritual vein."
Even from this distance...
He could sense spiritual energy gathering beneath the ground.
It wasn't particularly dense compared with the Divine Realm.
But compared with his courtyard...
The difference was enormous.
Jian Chen silently calculated.
"If I cultivate there..."
"The speed at which I awaken my meridians should increase considerably."
Then his gaze moved toward the pavilion.
"And with the Body Tempering Pills..."
"I might be able to progress even faster."
He didn't need much.
He only needed a starting point.
Once his foundation became strong enough...
The speed of his cultivation would naturally increase.
...
They entered the martial arena.
Hundreds of disciples were already gathered.
Several elders sat on a high platform.
At the center sat the Clan Master, Jian Tianyu.
Beside him sat the Great Elder, Jian Wuchen.
Jian Chen briefly glanced at the Great Elder.
Then his eyes moved away.
He had no interest in provoking him.
Not yet.
His current strength was still too weak.
At the moment...
He needed resources.
He needed time.
And he needed to remain unnoticed.
...
Jian Hu soon arrived.
Several disciples surrounded him.
He looked extremely confident.
After all...
He was one of the strongest members of the younger generation.
When Jian Hu noticed Jian Chen...
His expression immediately changed.
"Cousin."
His voice carried across the surrounding area.
"You actually came."
Several disciples turned around.
Whispers quickly spread.
"Isn't that Jian Chen?"
"The useless young master?"
"Why would he come here?"
"Could he actually be thinking about challenging someone?"
Jian Hu laughed.
"You're not seriously thinking about competing for a position, are you?"
Jian Chen looked at him calmly.
"Why?"
Jian Hu sneered.
"Because you would only embarrass yourself."
Jian Chen didn't respond.
He simply walked past him.
Jian Hu's expression darkened.
He didn't understand.
Why was Jian Chen no longer afraid of him?
Before...
A single glance from him was enough to make Jian Chen lower his head.
Now...
Jian Chen treated him like air.
Jian Hu clenched his fists.
"Just wait."
Jian Chen stopped.
He glanced over his shoulder.
"I am."
Then he continued walking.
Jian Hu's face became ugly.
...
At that moment...
An elder stepped onto the arena.
His powerful voice spread throughout the entire square.
"Everyone, listen carefully."
"There are ten cultivation positions in the Spirit Gathering Pavilion."
"Each defender must protect their position."
"Any disciple below eighteen years of age may issue a challenge."
The elder paused.
Then his expression became serious.
"But remember."
"Only disciples at the same cultivation stage may challenge one another."
"The clan will not permit stronger disciples to deliberately target weaker ones."
"If the challenger wins..."
"They will obtain the cultivation position."
"If they lose..."
"They cannot challenge again today."
The elder's gaze swept across the crowd.
"Furthermore..."
"The ten disciples who successfully obtain the positions will each receive five Body Tempering Pills."
The moment those words were spoken...
The entire square erupted.
"Five pills!"
"That's enough to save months of cultivation!"
"The clan is really generous this year!"
Jian Chen remained silent.
His eyes became slightly deeper.
Five Body Tempering Pills...
Combined with the Spirit Gathering Pavilion...
This was indeed a worthwhile opportunity.
The elder raised his hand.
The noisy crowd gradually quieted.
"Now..."
"Let the challenges begin."
For several breaths...
Nobody moved.
Then...
A young disciple stepped forward.
"I challenge the ninth-ranked disciple!"
The crowd immediately became excited.
Jian Chen remained at the edge of the arena.
His eyes settled on the two figures stepping onto the stage.
He didn't move.
He didn't rush.
He simply watched.
Because before he challenged anyone...
He needed to understand his opponents.
And perhaps...
Today would be the first time the Jian Clan discovered that the young master they had ignored for sixteen years...
Was no longer the same person.