Jade Dynasty: I am the master of the Burning Sword, my swordsmanship is unparalleled.

Chapter 15 Competition
Then, Qi Hao turned around and bowed to Tian Buyi and Su Ru, saying...

"Uncle Tian, ​​Uncle Su, you two are already aware of the Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament, so we will take our leave now!"

As Qi Hao spoke, he tried to pull Lin Jingyu, who was standing there in a daze, away, but Lin Jingyu shook him off.

Lin Jingyu stared at Zhang Xiaofan with slightly red eyes, seemingly filled with sorrow and resentment, and said in a deep voice.

"Let's have a contest. If I win, you'll come with me to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

Seeing Lin Jingyu's unwillingness, Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He didn't want Lin Jingyu to dwell on the past, because he was afraid that if he knew that his respected mentor, Cangsong Daoren, had not only fallen into the demonic path but was also one of the culprits who kidnapped him in Caomiao Village and caused the tragedy, he would be unable to bear the shock and suffer a mental breakdown.

But Zhang Xiaofan also knew that Lin Jingyu was strong-willed, proud and stubborn, and it would be difficult to persuade him with words.

Perhaps, this competition was destined from the start.

"If I win, promise me you will let this matter go and focus on your spiritual practice!"

"Hmph, wait until you beat me!"

Lin Jingyu snorted coldly, clearly feeling some dissatisfaction, or even resentment, towards Zhang Xiaofan's earlier statement about letting go of the past.

"Master, Master Wife!"

Zhang Xiaofan didn't say much, but turned around and bowed to Tian Buyi and Su Ru, calling out softly. Tian Buyi and Su Ru knew about what happened back then, so they didn't interfere and could only nod.

"When fellow disciples spar, remember to stop when you've made your point."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingyu turned and walked outside without looking back. Seeing this, Qi Hao had no choice but to bow apologetically to Tian Buyi and Su Ru.

Although Tian Buyi was dissatisfied, he did not show it. Su Ru then spoke up.

"Let's go and see it together."

The group followed Tian Buyi and Su Ru out of Shoujing Hall.

Outside Shoujing Hall, in an open space, Zhang Xiaofan carried a long sword on his back, while Lin Jingyu held a long sword at his side. The two stood facing each other.

With a clang, Lin Jingyu drew his divine sword from its sheath. The blade was clear as autumn water, with a faint, clear light attached to it.

"Draw your sword!"

Lin Jingyu said coldly, his eyes fixed on Zhang Xiaofan in front of him.

When Tian Buyi and Su Ru saw the divine sword in Lin Jingyu's hand, their pupils shrank and their expressions grew even colder.

Zhang Xiaofan stared blankly at the sword in Lin Jingyu's hand, his mind drifting back to the scene at the grass temple that day, when the masked man held this very sword.

(This book is based solely on the original text of Jade Dynasty; prequels and revised editions are not considered.)
(Anyone who has written online novels, or even just essays, knows that if a period of time passes, it's easy to forget your previous thoughts, and even if you remember them later, they are often inaccurate.)
(I am a loyal fan of the original novel "Zhu Xian". I am very grateful to Xiao Ding for writing this masterpiece. It brought me a great shock back then. I will tell you something that I am not afraid to admit. I read it as a classic back then. In my opinion, this book contains many unique philosophical ideas of Eastern fantasy.)
(I respect Xiao Da and the original work. Therefore, I will not refer to other sequels too much. This book also adheres to the original character settings. I will fill in some blanks or details that I think are reasonable.)
(Ordinary magical artifacts can change size and be retracted into the body, but the Nine Heavens Divine Weapon and special treasures cannot be retracted into the body, nor can they change size. This book is set up so that they cannot change size, and when Cangsong was in Grass Temple Village, he was carrying a sword.)
(Please feel free to point out any omissions or errors in this book.)
Zhang Xiaofan put away his thoughts, sighed inwardly, casually broke off two bamboo branches from the black bamboo beside him, and said to Lin Jingyu.

“When we were young, we used wood as swords. Today, let’s have a contest with these bamboo branches.”

As he spoke, Zhang Xiaofan tossed one of the bamboo branches to Lin Jingyu, who caught it and then sheathed his divine sword.

After waving the bamboo branch in his hand and getting used to it for a moment, Lin Jingyu looked up and stared at Zhang Xiaofan. The next moment, he flashed and attacked Zhang Xiaofan, the bamboo branch in his hand slashing down like a sharp sword.

Zhang Xiaofan, equally unyielding, swung his bamboo branch to meet the attack. Instantly, gusts of wind arose, and on the open ground outside Shoujing Hall, the two figures clashed repeatedly, their bamboo branches becoming afterimages. For a time, they fought fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand.

Lin Jingyu was greatly surprised. He was a proud and ambitious person. After entering the sect, his master, Master Cangsong, praised him lavishly. In addition, he was a genius and made rapid progress, which was unmatched by his peers.

As a result, although he appeared humble, he was actually arrogant. Even senior uncles like Tian Buyi harbored resentment, regarding him as just like their senior brother, only that he had been cultivating for decades or even centuries longer.

But the current confrontation has left Lin Jingyu utterly astonished.

In Lin Jingyu's mind, Zhang Xiaofan was of average talent and not particularly intelligent; in fact, he was somewhat dull. Although they were old friends and he cared about Zhang Xiaofan, he secretly felt that Zhang Xiaofan was superior to him and did not think that Zhang Xiaofan could be compared to him.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaofan, whom he considered mediocre and somewhat foolish, was able to match him in swordsmanship.

Lin Jingyu found it hard to accept the youthful spirit and pride in his heart.

"We've already compared our techniques, so let's compare our magical power!"

Lin Jingyu shouted, then his eyes narrowed, and he poured his magic power into the bamboo branch in his hand, waving it at Zhang Xiaofan. With the magic power, the bamboo branch was like a sharp sword, slashing down with fierce sword momentum.

Zhang Xiaofan's expression remained unchanged, a faint light flickering in his hand as he swung his bamboo to meet the attack.

"boom!"

The two magical forces collided, and instantly, the two bamboo branches exploded, while Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan each took several steps back.

A fierce glint flashed in Lin Jingyu's eyes. He reached out and placed his hand on the hilt of the divine sword. With a 'clang,' he drew the divine sword from his hand once again.

As magic power was infused into the sword, auspicious energy rose from the clear, autumn-water-like blade, and streaks of emerald green sword light were released from the edge.

"Xiao Fan, I once heard Master mention that you have an unparalleled divine sword. It just so happens that when I broke through to the realm of controlling objects, Master gave me the Dragon Slayer Sword. Let me see whether your sword is superior or I am stronger!"

Zhang Xiaofan looked at the young man who had drawn his sword, his eyes slightly lowered, and his deep voice slowly entered Lin Jingyu's ears.

"Even if you're going to attack, you shouldn't be pointing this sword at me!"

Tian Buyi frowned slightly, sensing that Lao Qi's words seemed to have a hidden meaning.

Qi Hao, standing to the side, turned serious. He knew Lin Jingyu's strength well, so it was clear that Zhang Xiaofan, who was rumored to have mediocre talent, seemed to be very confident. Could it be that his master had also misjudged him back then?

Song Daren and his fellow disciples, along with Tian Ling'er and Su Ru, were all staring intently at Zhang Xiaofan. They had only seen the Burning Sword before, but had never witnessed its power.

"Let me see how much skill you've learned from Uncle Cangsong."

Zhang Xiaofan suddenly looked up, took a step, and his whole body transformed into a streak of light and flew away.

While still in mid-air, he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, and the next moment, Fenji was unsheathed with fierce force.

"Wow!"

The moment the long-dormant, deadly sword was drawn, a high-pitched and ferocious phoenix cry resounded throughout the entire Dazhu Peak.

A dark red, malevolent aura surged forth from the sword, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a phantom, crimson, ferocious bird in the air.

As the longsword slashed down, the ferocious bird stretched out its claws and lunged forward.

(End of this chapter)