The disciples of the Sacred Lands in the audience also noticed Xuan Qingming's situation. They never expected that the dignified Lord of a Sacred Land would be unreservedly gnawing on a braised pork knuckle in front of everyone, which was truly unbelievable. Rather than calling Xuan Qing the Lord of a Sacred Land, it was more fitting to describe him as a spectator who reveled in chaos.
In this moment, the other four Lords of the Sacred Lands were at a loss for words regarding this fellow. Now, Wan Guimang was convinced that Xuan Qingming truly didn't care about the combat performance of his Sacred Land disciples. Everyone was also seeing such an unconventional Lord of a Sacred Land for the first time.
The next duel suddenly commenced at this point. "Xiao Di of Shenxiao Palace versus Li Jianxing of Zangjian Pavilion!" the referee elder's voice echoed throughout the venue. After waiting for so long, it was finally time for disciples from Shenxiao Palace and Zangjian Pavilion to compete. Of the five great Sacred Lands in the Chaoren True Domain, Shenxiao Palace was undoubtedly the most powerful, and Zangjian Pavilion ranked second only to Shenxiao Palace among the five. The battle between the disciples of these two great Sacred Lands was absolutely the focus of everyone's attention. The spectators intently watched the two disciples on the Xianwu Stage.
"Li Jianxing!" Upon hearing this name, Xin Ci and Mu Qingqing both froze. Could it really be the Li Jianxing they knew? The two of them fixed their gazes on the man representing Zangjian Pavilion on the Xianwu Stage. Li Jianxing, clad in a white, form-fitting attire, stood tall with his eyes slightly closed, his hands clasped around his sword on one side of the Xianwu Stage. Wasn't that stern face precisely that of Senior Brother Li Jianxing from the Four Symbols Academy? Xin Ci and Mu Qingqing were both surprised. Li Jianxing was actually participating in the Sacred Land Martial Meet, appearing as a disciple of Zangjian Pavilion.
At this moment, Li Jianxing's True Essence realm had also reached the Five-star Heavenly Venerate. The entirety of him stood there like a sheathed sword, and once he opened his eyes, it would be as if the blade was drawn, cleaving through the heavens. Just by him standing there, Xiao Di on the opposite side felt immense pressure. Although the opponent was merely an ordinary disciple, the pressure Xiao Di felt from Li Jianxing was even more terrifying than that of an Elder of the Sacred Emperor within Shenxiao Palace. However, now standing on the Xianwu Stage, he could not retreat or show weakness first, lest he lose the face of Shenxiao Palace.
On the main platform, Wan Guimang narrowed his eyes as he observed Li Jianxing. To possess such powerful sword intent comparable to a Sword Saint at such a young age was remarkable. What piqued his interest even more was that he had never heard of Zangjian Pavilion having such an outstanding disciple. A sharp glint flashed in Wan Guimang's eyes as he asked Ji Juekong, "Holy Lord Ji, this disciple of your Zangjian Pavilion can be considered exceptionally gifted, but why have I never heard of him?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Juekong replied unhurriedly, "That young man is named Li Jianxing. I discovered him three years ago while traveling in Dongzhou. At that time, Li Jianxing was only at the peak of the Lower Realm, but he possessed a natural sword bone and had an extremely high comprehension of the sword. I then took him as my disciple and brought him back to Zangjian Pavilion. This young man did not disappoint my expectations. In just three years, his True Essence realm broke through to the peak Heavenly Venerate, he successively defeated numerous disciples of Zangjian Pavilion, mastered the supreme true meaning of Zangjian Pavilion, the Burial Sword Technique, in one month, and became the Sword Son of Zangjian Pavilion."
Sword Son! The other four Lords of the Sacred Lands were somewhat surprised to hear Ji Juekong's high praise for Li Jianxing. Wan Guimang was even more curious, "I recall your Zangjian Pavilion already has a Sword Son named Lin Yexing, and now there's another. Could it be that these two are the 'Twin Stars' recently rumored in Zangjian Pavilion?!"
"Indeed," Ji Juekong nodded slightly. Wan Guimang's expression immediately changed. If Li Jianxing truly possessed strength not inferior to Lin Yexing, then his Shenxiao Palace disciple Xiao Di might not be his opponent. Ji Juekong's eyes fixed on the two on the Xianwu Stage and said calmly, "This Sacred Land Martial Meet is Li Jianxing's first battle. He will not disappoint me."
"Then let us wait and see." Wan Guimang could perceive Li Jianxing's formidable strength, but he did not believe that the disciples of Shenxiao Palace would be inferior to the disciples of Zangjian Pavilion.
On the Xianwu Stage, Xiao Di stood in a corner, gripping his top-grade True Artifact, the Nine Dragon Golden Pattern Cudgel. His expression was solemn, and he did not choose to attack first. This was because his opponent, Li Jianxing, had shown no flaws since stepping onto the stage. He simply maintained the posture of holding his sword with both hands and with his eyes closed, standing motionlessly in place. Xiao Di had a premonition that if he initiated the attack, he would surely be the one to lose.
Time ticked by, second by second. Half an incense stick of time had already passed on the Xianwu Stage, and the two remained motionless. Xiao Di's heart began to feel flustered. Large beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, and he felt increasingly irritable, his body unable to remain still. Li Jianxing, however, maintained his posture, his expression unchanged.
The disciples of the Sacred Lands in the audience were growing restless. "It's been so long, are these two still going to fight?" "Yeah, ever since they stepped onto the Xianwu Stage, I haven't seen either of them move." "This is too boring." These disciples of the Sacred Lands whispered amongst themselves, and the disciples of Shenxiao Palace also felt bewildered. Their Senior Brother Xiao Di's strength was second only to Changyang Gushuo, making him the second strongest in their Shenxiao Palace's representative team. Yet, unexpectedly, Senior Brother Xiao Di was being suppressed by the disciple from Zangjian Pavilion to the point where he dared not make a move.
Just then, a shocking sword intent surged into the sky, and the clouds above the Xianwu Stage were instantly torn in half. A vast sword light emanated from Li Jianxing, stirring a fierce sword wind on the Xianwu Stage. Li Jianxing also opened his dark and deep eyes at this moment, and his aura more than doubled. Only then did everyone understand that Li Jianxing had been meditating on Zangjian Pavilion's sword art with his eyes closed. The fact that he dared to meditate on the Xianwu Stage indicated that Li Jianxing had no fear of Xiao Di's attack whatsoever.
Xiao Di now realized he had been underestimated, and anger surged within him. He could no longer tolerate this. He then let out a cold snort, "I'd like to see just how much weight these Twin Stars of Zangjian Pavilion truly carry!" As soon as the words fell, Xiao Di gripped the Nine Dragon Golden Pattern Cudgel and, with a single step, appeared before Li Jianxing. The gleaming golden cudgel, carrying destructive power, descended directly towards Li Jianxing's head. The nine ferocious, roaring golden dragons inscribed on the cudgel seemed to come alive at that moment. Their sharp claws tore through the void, aimed directly at Li Jianxing's face.
The disciples of the Sacred Lands were all stunned by Xiao Di's strike. The power of this move was so terrifying that only a Sacred Emperor could withstand it. Everyone anxiously awaited how Li Jianxing would react. Facing such an astonishing cudgel strike, Li Jianxing's expression remained as calm as water, with not a trace of panic in his eyes. The moment the Nine Dragon Golden Pattern Cudgel was about to strike, he casually placed his long sword horizontally in front of him, easily blocking the fierce blow. The onlookers' eyes widened. Such a powerful strike was blocked so effortlessly? Moreover, Li Jianxing's long sword had not even been drawn from its sheath. This astonished many.