How did a bastard like him become an immortal?

"Young man, I see that you have extraordinary talent and unparalleled swordsmanship. Would you be willing to join my Sword Pavilion?"

Sword Maniac took out another bright red wine gourd from his storage ring and spoke on the platform. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Everyone looked at Li Muyun, their eyes filled with envy.

However, some of the people who were just next to Li Muyun were a little puzzled. This white-robed youth had never used any swordsmanship from beginning to end. How could they tell that his swordsmanship was superb?

Li Muyun smiled and bowed respectfully towards the stands, "Disciple Li Muyun is willing to become a disciple of the Sword Pavilion."

Sword Maniac nodded in feigned approval, took a sip from the wine gourd in his mouth, and with a flick of his wrist, the red gourd flew toward Li Muyun. "Having drunk the wine of Sword Pavilion, you have entered the sect. From today onwards, you are a member of Sword Pavilion."

A golden light flashed in his left hand, and the Golden Qi Mantra appeared. He caught the wine gourd in his hand, raised it to the sword maniac from afar, and took a big gulp.

However, the moment the wine entered Li Muyun's mouth, he felt a jolt. The extremely rich spiritual energy flowed down his throat and into his body. After just one sip, his whole body began to feel hot, and his true essence was circulating uncontrollably at high speed, as if he was about to break through to the Golden Core realm at any moment.

Hastily suppressing his restless true energy, a slight intoxication welled up in his heart, and Li Muyun gratefully bowed to the Sword Maniac, "Thank you for the fine wine, Senior!"

Sword Maniac smiled gently and said calmly, "Our teacher has taken in nine disciples in total. Today, I will accept you as the tenth disciple on behalf of our teacher. Perform well in the upcoming competition and don't disgrace our Sword Pavilion."

"Yes, senior brother!"

With a flick of his finger, Li Muyun sent the Wine Immortal Sword soaring into the air. He then leaped onto the third arena, sword in hand.

Immediately, everyone's attention turned to the third arena. They all wanted to see just how good the junior brother personally recruited by the renowned chief disciple of the Sword Pavilion, Sword Maniac, really was.

Lin Xiuan also leaped onto the arena, looking at Li Muyun with a gloomy gaze, "What kind of luck did you have to be chosen by the Sword Pavilion? However, this ends here."

When Lin Xiuan came on stage, many candidates recognized him, and many even breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's Lin Xiu'an, a retainer of the Lü family, known as the fastest swordsman under the Heavenly Profound Realm."

"So it's the famous Lin Xiu'an. I heard he even killed a Heavenly Profound Warrior."

"His sword is as fast as lightning. I heard that after entering the Marquis's mansion, he practiced even more advanced martial arts. His current strength is unfathomable."

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, all secretly relieved that they hadn't encountered him themselves, otherwise they would have been doomed to defeat.

On the stands, the Crown Prince shook his head with feigned regret, but a smile appeared on his lips. "Second brother, I think your Hall of Respect for the Worthy is about to disband. I've heard Lü Chengyu mention Lin Xiu'an before. He's the real fastest swordsman below the Heavenly Profound Realm, and he can even fight him for dozens of moves without being at a disadvantage. Li Muyun can't possibly be his match."

The King of Qin replied calmly, "Mu Yun has never disappointed me. What is the fastest sword under the Heavenly Profound Realm?"

"Oh? I didn't expect you to have so much confidence in him." The Crown Prince chuckled, then burst into laughter. "Haha, I wonder if he were facing a swift swordsman who had already broken through to the Heavenly Profound Realm, would you still have such confidence?"

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin frowned, a look of worry appearing in his eyes, and looked towards the third arena.

"You've been accepted as a disciple by the Sword Pavilion, and coincidentally, I also cultivate the sword. Today, I'll show you what a truly swift sword is!"

With a flick of his wrist, Lin Xiuan swung out a long sword as thin as a cicada's wing. With a surge of true energy, a gust of wind suddenly arose, revealing his mastery of the Heavenly Profound Martial Master realm.

The others forgot about their own matches and focused intently on the competition on the third arena. Qin Wuyang, seeing that Tianxuan had actually made a move, let everyone watch the match first.

A Foundation Establishment Peak Immortal versus a Heavenly Profound Grand Martial Master – this is a rare duel!

Li Muyun sized up Lin Xiuan and had to admit that the moment Lin Xiuan held the longsword, his aura underwent a sudden transformation. Now, Lin Xiuan was like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, its edge fully revealed.

"Buzz!"

Lin Xiuan flicked his thin sword and stomped his foot. The slender sword shot through the air at lightning speed.

With a tremor, Li Muyun gripped his sword and thrust forward, releasing his true essence to create a three-foot-long sword beam as he pierced straight ahead.

Just then, Lin Xiuan flashed, his speed so fast that it left afterimages, dodging Li Muyun's sword light. Immediately afterward, his thin sword, as thin as a cicada's wing, came from all directions like a rain of pear blossoms, the sound of it cutting through the air was incessant, and the sharp sword wind whistled.

"You little bastard, no one in the same realm can match my sword speed, and no one can stop me. You, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, what can you possibly use to defend against me?"

"Block? Why should I block?"

Faced with the sky full of sword shadows, Li Muyun let out a low shout. Golden light flashed and the Golden Gang Incantation appeared. Then, the true essence of the Wine Immortal Sword surged. Li Muyun's hand holding the sword suddenly turned, and the terrifying sword light surged out like a surging river!

"A single sword strike, and the finest wine intoxicates the great river!"

The surging sword light instantly tore apart the countless sword shadows in the sky. Lin Xiu'an's movement and swordsmanship were very fast, but they were not martial arts skills after all, so how could they withstand this immortal technique?

Using brute force to overcome skill—that was Li Muyun's approach. If it came down to swordsmanship, how could his less than six months of training possibly compare to Lin Xiu'an's childhood cultivation? He was an immortal, not a martial artist; to compete with a Grandmaster like Tianxuan in agility and swordsmanship was idiotic.

"This is just the appetizer; let's get serious next."

Lin Xiuan, who had shattered the sword shadow, merely sneered. His slender sword erupted with true energy once more, making him even lighter. He then shot out, transforming into four afterimages that rushed from all directions. The sword peaks were covered with true energy, as sharp as needles and swords, exuding a chilling killing intent!

"Mid-grade Spirit-level Martial Skill - Fourfold Shadow Killing Sword!"

The four afterimages were almost tangible, with four slender swords flying up and down like maggots clinging to bones, possessing extraordinary power and unparalleled speed.

Li Muyun's Wine Immortal Sword barely managed to block, but its speed was far inferior to Lin Xiu'an's. He could only unleash the Golden Gang Spell with all his might. Every time Lin Xiu'an's slender sword slashed across the Golden Gang Spell, it would produce a piercing metallic friction sound, causing the golden light to dim slightly.

As expected of the Heavenly Profound Swift Sword, its strength is truly extraordinary.

Li Muyun nodded inwardly. If this man weren't acting as Lü Chengyu's lackey, he would have wanted to recruit him into his own ranks.

"Haha! You little bastard, is that all the strength you've got? You couldn't even fight back after I beat you. I'm going to humiliate you in front of everyone! High-grade Spirit Martial Skill—Ninefold Shadow Killing Sword!"

Under everyone's horrified gaze, Lin Xiuan's afterimages suddenly multiplied into nine, sword shadows filling the sky, suppressing Li Muyun like a storm, rendering him unable to move.

Everyone was shocked. Who could withstand such a fast sword strike? The speed was terrifying! Li Muyun would probably die under the chaotic sword strikes in less than ten breaths.

As the Golden Qi Mantra gradually dimmed, a golden light flashed in Li Muyun's eyes. He showed no fear whatsoever; instead, a slight smile appeared on his lips. The Golden Qi Mantra had reached its limit for a long time, and no matter how he cultivated, he could not advance any further. But this time, it seemed that he had found an opportunity.

Lin Xiuan grinned and brandished his sword rain when he suddenly saw a golden light, followed by Li Muyun's eyes. His body trembled violently as he launched his frenzied attack!

Those were golden eyes that were burning fiercely like a furnace!