Showdown The Masterful Flowing Water Blade Technique

The moment Bai Hongtian finished speaking, Wang Xian felt a gaze as scorching as sunlight fixed upon him.

"..."

Seriously, was this necessary?

Truthfully, when Wang Xian first saw Cheng Wu, he had already guessed some of it.

He initially assumed the recognition would come afterward—maybe an award or something.

But he never expected it to happen now.

And for Bai Hongtian himself to announce it.

This left Wang Xian utterly baffled.

It was just one person.

Even if they wanted to use him as an example, did a seventh-realm grandmaster really need to phrase it like this?

Unless…

Wang Xian froze, as if realizing something.

But right now…

It wasn’t exactly a "moment of glory."

Every student in Class Four was staring at him, too stunned to speak.

Dude!

You’ve been hiding your skills all this time?

Let’s be real—aside from that last quiz, Wang Xian had always been a background character in Class Four.

Sure, he was decent-looking.

But in a top-tier high school, looks didn’t matter!

Who knew he’d pull off something this huge?

Like charging into a disaster zone to save lives?

And now a seventh-realm grandmaster was personally saying "please" to him.

This was way more impressive than a school-wide announcement.

Wang Xian sighed inwardly.

He hadn’t planned on going up at all.

But now that it had come to this, he wouldn’t back down.

He stood up.

The gazes locked onto him like GPS signals, tracking his every move.

This was even more shocking—and envy-inducing—than when the class representatives had taken the stage earlier.

Because this time,

everyone, boys and girls alike, had their eyes fixed solely on Wang Xian.

"..." Wang Xian remained expressionless, walking up to the platform with the same steady pace as if he were heading home or to class.

Once he reached the stage,

the stares from his classmates below were one thing,

but the looks from the dozens of class representatives were another.

Chen Yuting, for instance, had an especially complicated gleam in her eyes.

Hmph, no wonder you rejected me…

You knew you’d be called up here, didn’t you?

Wait… If the school had known, they’d have added you to the list… So even they were kept in the dark…

And of course, the school hadn’t known.

The moment Principal Xia saw Wang Xian step onto the stage,

he nearly choked on regret.

Damn it.

How could you keep something this big a secret, kid?

He shot a glare at Cui Guoliang.

Cui Guoliang felt the principal’s gaze and thought, How was I supposed to know?!

But honestly?

He couldn’t help but grin with pride.

See this?

This is my student!

Forget potential, grades, or talent!

Forget whether he’ll get into a top martial arts university!

His character and courage already outshine countless others!

Because let’s be real—

not a single student below,

not even a teacher like him,

would dare charge into a mutated beast disaster zone to save lives.

They simply lacked the guts.

In the crowd,

only Ye Miyue wasn’t all that surprised.

Because her shock

had already been etched into her heart

the moment she watched Wang Xian break from the crowd alone, vaulting over the barriers without hesitation.

Now, she just quietly winked at him.

"Wang Xian," Cheng Wu said with a hearty laugh, "hope it’s not too late to finally acknowledge you?"

Wang Xian shook his head.

Cheng Wu studied the composed young man before him and nodded in approval.

Judging by today’s reaction,

this kid hadn’t breathed a word about what happened that day.

Heroically saving lives without seeking reward, without flaunting his courage, without chasing fame—just living like an ordinary person.

That kind of mindset was rare.

And Cheng Wu admired it deeply.

Then, he glanced at Grandmaster Bai.

Bai Hongtian stepped forward, holding a prepared certificate of recognition, and said to Wang Xian:

"You’ve done exceptionally well, Wang Xian."

"To be frank, I wasn’t as good as you at your age!"

Wang Xian accepted the certificate and replied,

"A master need not surpass me, nor I the master."

"After all, the essence of martial arts can be realized at any time."

Bai Hongtian was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, nodding repeatedly.

Along with the certificate came a proper cash reward.

However, since it was issued by the Safety Bureau, the amount wasn’t substantial—just a few thousand dollars.

Its symbolic meaning outweighed its monetary value.

Wang Xian tucked the certificate away and prepared to step off the stage.

"No need to leave," Bai Hongtian said with a smile. "To someone who has grasped the essence of martial arts, in my eyes, your ‘talent’ is no less than theirs."

"Right?"

He glanced at Principal Xia behind him.

"Absolutely, absolutely!" Principal Xia wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Wang Xian possesses exceptional martial talent. As his homeroom teacher, I can vouch for that more than anyone!"

Regardless of whether Wang Xian had been a struggling student before or what his innate vitality was like,

in the eyes of the principal now,

Wang Xian was the brightest star in the school!

Praise him—he deserved it!

Cui Guoliang quickly nodded and briefly summarized Wang Xian’s background.

Bai Hongtian, however, waved his hand dismissively.

"No matter."

The crowd immediately understood—Grandmaster Bai clearly didn’t care about such details.

And why would he?

Grandmaster Bai had traveled far and wide, visiting every top-tier martial arts university.

What kind of genius hadn’t he seen?

To put it bluntly, before awakening their martial talents, the dozens of elite students on stage were practically indistinguishable in his eyes.

What he valued was Wang Xian himself.

This naturally stirred some discontent among the class representatives on stage.

They glanced at Wang Xian, their eyes burning with competitive defiance.

Sure.

You were fearless, saved lives heroically—we respect that.

You’ve earned your place on this stage.

But when it comes to everything else… that’s another story.

"I’ve wielded a blade for sixty years, mastering peak eighth-tier saber techniques. The martial talent I awakened back then was called ‘Tiger Spirit Divine Arm.’"

Grandmaster Bai took a step forward. "As for other disciplines—swords, staffs—I’ve dabbled, but only reached the third or fourth tier."

In short,

he excelled in the saber, while his skills in swords and staffs were merely intermediate.

"Today’s demonstration…"

"I’ll begin by showcasing my signature transcendent martial technique: ‘Tiger Spirit Overlord’s Slash.’"

"The Overlord’s Saber Intent within it—if you can grasp even a fraction of it in hindsight—will surely propel you to greatness on the martial path!"

The confidence in Bai Hongtian’s voice was unmatched.

Transcendent martial techniques

were innate skills that warriors gained upon awakening their talents, growing stronger alongside them.

Over time, they fused with the martial arts one cultivated.

Wang Xian’s gaze flickered slightly.

In the transition between old and new martial arts,

transcendent techniques were an insurmountable barrier for practitioners of the old ways.

Because old-school masters lacked the supernatural power of martial talents, they could never possess such techniques.

It was like being born without the strongest move in one’s arsenal.

As soon as Bai Hongtian finished speaking, he took a forceful step forward, his right arm gripping an ancient-looking greatsword.

The blade was sleek with technology, its surface etched with intricate patterns, and it was noticeably larger than a standard sword.

It was hard to imagine just how heavy it must have been.

Then, the sleeve of Bai Hongtian’s right arm retracted automatically, revealing a muscular limb.

A phantom image of a roaring tiger materialized on his arm, lifelike and vivid.

Through the illusion, one could even see a terrifying power surging from within his bones.

"Body-type talent…"

"Advanced grade or higher…"

Wang Xian observed silently.

Martial talents came in countless forms, but the most common were body-type talents—

innate gifts tied to one’s physique.

Those who possessed them typically excelled in corresponding martial disciplines, wielding far greater power than ordinary warriors!

This is the New Martial Era!

Especially this kind of innate talent—its compatibility with many saber techniques is simply unparalleled!

Though its manifestation is only at the Advanced level, its true potential rivals that of the King-tier.

"Tyrant's Slash!"

Bai Hongtian's eyes were as cold as ice, his arm gathering boundless power.

Like a colossal beast leaping into the sky, he swung his saber downward.

A furious howl erupted in an instant, reverberating across the entire campus and echoing for miles beyond!

The slash unleashed a crimson saber aura, visible to the naked eye, stretching hundreds of meters!

Every student present was left in awe!

In that moment, Bai Hongtian himself seemed to vanish, merging with his blade as if transforming into a soaring, roaring tiger.

BOOM—!

The once azure sky was split in two by the slash, forming vast seas of clouds stretching endlessly into the horizon.

Under such terrifying might, even the school administrators and homeroom teachers trembled uncontrollably.

Unable to stand, they quickly took their seats.

Countless students were forced to crouch or even lie flat by the overwhelming tyrannical intent contained within that single slash.

Xia Sichen gritted his teeth, legs shaking as he struggled to remain standing. After a moment, he finally had to brace himself against the railing with one hand.

He glanced around—as the top student of Seventh High, who among them could remain unaffected in the face of such a terrifying saber technique?

When his gaze landed on Ye Miyue, his pupils constricted.

Her posture wasn’t perfectly upright, yet she stood firm, unaided, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the slash.

Utterly fearless!

Seeing this, Xia Sichen clenched his jaw, released his grip on the railing, and forced himself to straighten up again.

Then his eyes shifted—this time to Wang Xian.

And his heart jolted in shock.

There the man stood, hands clasped behind his back, posture straight as a pine tree, his gaze sharp yet utterly calm as he observed the slash.

As if completely untouched by its pressure!

Impossible!

This was the transcendent martial technique of a seventh-realm Grandmaster!

How could he remain entirely unaffected?

And more than that—

Wang Xian’s eyes held a contemplative glint...

"He held back. But... he held nothing back in spirit."

After watching for a while, Wang Xian felt nothing but admiration for Bai Hongtian.

To demonstrate one’s ultimate technique without reservation—this was the most sincere form of martial display.

"This slash must be derived from the high-tier saber art, Tyrant’s Sundering Scripture."

"But the saber intent within it... I’ve never seen anything like it..."

In his past life, Wang Xian had never crossed blades with this Grandmaster, but he had fought other martial artists who practiced the Tyrant’s Sundering Scripture.

None of them had executed it as flawlessly as this.

Because this slash was a perfect match for Bai Hongtian’s innate talent!

Truly a transcendent martial technique!

Witnessing such an unreserved demonstration filled him with profound enlightenment.

For a moment, even his fingers itched with the urge to wield a blade.

His comprehension of saber techniques advanced by leaps and bounds.

He closed his eyes, immersed in reflection.

In his mind, countless phantom figures reenacted the profound mysteries of that single slash.

He even integrated it with the martial arts he himself had cultivated.

When he opened his eyes again, he had already grasped new insights.

"Saber technique has broken through to the peak of the second stage..."

Wang Xian exhaled inwardly, understanding dawning upon him.

Even the Flowing Water Saber Technique, which he had only recently mastered at a minor level, now felt as if it had reached perfection in his mind.

"A pity... constrained by the venue, his saber intent was laid bare, yet..."

"With so few genetic locks unlocked, he couldn’t unleash the full power of this slash."

"He likely only used a third of his strength."

Yet even that third was enough to leave the entire audience speechless for a long, long time.

Of course, they couldn't perceive just how much of his strength Grandmaster Bai had unleashed.

There was only awe.

This was a grandmaster capable of splitting mountains and parting seas with a single strike!

To put it bluntly,

if Rong City hadn’t had its defensive barrier, this slash would have cleanly cleaved the city in two.

A single stroke to shatter a city!

Such was the might of a seventh-realm martial grandmaster!

Honestly, demonstrating at a high school martial arts event was overkill.

At least, that’s how Wang Xian felt.

Because the students here were unlikely to grasp anything profound from it.

Except for him.

But then again, it didn’t matter if they didn’t gain any deep insights.

If it could ignite even a fraction more passion and determination for martial arts in these students, then it would still serve a purpose.

Bai Hongtian sheathed his blade and returned to his spot, a faint smile on his face.

It took a long while before the crowd finally settled.

Truthfully, Bai Hongtian knew it was unlikely any student would truly comprehend the essence of his strike.

These students were still at the most foundational stage of their training.

Still, if this inspired them to strive harder in their martial arts journey, that would be enough.

The school administrators standing behind him were practically trembling with excitement.

The homeroom teacher of Class Ten, a practitioner of fourth-stage blade techniques, was utterly spellbound!

Unfortunately, his comprehension wasn’t particularly high, so he could only glean the most superficial insights from that single slash.

"Next up are all of you..."

Bai Hongtian scanned the dozens of class representatives before him, pausing briefly before continuing, "At your current stage, you should still be mastering basic martial techniques."

"Very well. I have some experience with blades, swords, and staffs."

"Demonstrate what you’ve learned, and I’ll offer guidance where needed."

Principal Xia, standing at the back, was overjoyed.

Grandmaster Bai was truly a man of his word!

He was actually going to personally instruct them!

An opportunity to receive guidance from a grandmaster was priceless—something money couldn’t buy!

Initially, they had assumed Bai Hongtian might only pick one or two students to mentor as a token gesture.

But his words made it clear he intended to instruct each one individually.

This would be an immense boon for the students!

And since most of them practiced sword techniques...

This would be no trouble at all.

"Alright, let’s proceed one by one..."

And so, the class representatives stepped forward one after another, a mix of excitement and nervousness in their expressions.

Bai Hongtian proved remarkably patient in his instruction, his insight so sharp that a single glance was enough to pinpoint nearly all the flaws in a student’s technique.

Even though the majority practiced swordplay, he guided them with effortless mastery.

Every student who received his advice walked away with newfound understanding.

Even those watching from below, who finally grasped the explanations, had their own epiphanies.

"Oh? You practice the blade?"

After mentoring more than half the students, Bai Hongtian’s eyes lit up as he observed the young man before him—Pang Sandao.

Finally, a blade practitioner among so many sword users.

"Yes, Grandmaster Bai," Pang Sandao replied, his sharp features bearing a faint resemblance to Bai Hongtian’s. "I train in the Eightfold Slash Blade... I’ve mastered all but the final technique."

There was a hint of pride in his voice.

"The Eightfold Slash Blade..." Bai Hongtian nodded slightly. "Among basic blade techniques, this one is particularly challenging. To have mastered all but the last move suggests considerable talent."

Pang Sandao couldn’t help but grin sheepishly at the praise.

"Show me."

Pang Sandao obliged, executing the Eightfold Slash Blade with practiced precision.

Wang Xian watched and immediately understood why the young man hadn’t mastered the final technique.

Lack of cohesion.

The Eightfold Slash Blade demanded eight consecutive strikes in a single, unbroken flow—any hesitation drastically weakened its power.

It wasn’t inherently difficult.

Just a matter of relentless practice.

Pang Sandao had the skill, but his gaze wavered slightly, his spirit unsettled.

His heart wasn’t aligned, his energy uneven.

And so, the final strike always eluded him.

Wang Xian thought that Pang Sandao was more suited for practicing the staff rather than the blade.

What a pity.

Bai Hongtian took just one glance and gave a slight nod before offering a few pointers and demonstrating briefly.

Then, he proceeded to instruct each student one by one.

Until it was Xia Sichen’s turn.

Bai Hongtian’s eyes brightened slightly.

“The Diàn Mò Sword Technique… not bad!” Bai Hongtian smiled. “Among the foundational sword techniques, this one’s difficulty is second only to the Two Forms Sword Technique. Most students only start dabbling in martial arts in their senior year of high school, yet you’ve fully mastered this set—your talent is remarkable!”

Xia Sichen immediately puffed out his chest with pride.

To receive such high praise from a grandmaster—he was probably the only one in the entire school!

Even the students below couldn’t help but look on with envy.

This was what true martial talent looked like.

And it made sense.

At this stage, Xia Sichen was likely the only one who had fully grasped a martial technique.

Bai Hongtian gave him a few brief corrections.

Though Xia Sichen had mastered it, it was clear he had only just done so—there were still many flaws.

Next up was Ye Miyue.

“Hmm—!”

The moment Ye Miyue began her stance, Bai Hongtian’s expression shifted slightly in surprise. “The Two Forms Sword Technique… this foundational technique is no easy feat.”

But as Ye Miyue executed the moves, Bai Hongtian’s eyes grew even more astonished.

Because—

By the time she flawlessly performed the final stance,

his expression had turned serious.

“You’ve already reached the threshold of mastery!” Bai Hongtian nodded slowly, his voice measured.

The moment those words were spoken,

the representatives all stared at Ye Miyue in shock.

There was a significant gap between merely mastering a sword technique and reaching the threshold of mastery.

The latter meant she had already gained some insight into the martial art.

She had truly stepped into a whole new realm of martial prowess!

The power of her techniques would now begin to transcend the ordinary.

Even the homeroom teachers at the back couldn’t help but glance at Ye Miyue’s homeroom teacher in surprise.

After all, they all had a general understanding of each class’s students.

Ye Miyue was from Class Nine.

“Well…” The Class Nine homeroom teacher wore a smug expression. “I didn’t expect this child to grasp this technique so quickly… Haha… must be my excellent teaching!”

“Haha…”

But inwardly, he was puzzled.

Just yesterday morning, he had checked in with Ye Miyue about her progress.

At that time, she was still far from mastering it.

How had she crossed the threshold in such a short time?

Something wasn’t right.

Something was very, very off.

Ye Miyue’s gaze flickered briefly toward Wang Xian’s direction before she quickly looked away.

Last night, she had secretly practiced and gained many insights.

She had even dreamed about it…

Now, as one of only two students in the school who had mastered a martial technique—

and at a higher level than Xia Sichen—she instantly became the center of attention.

Bai Hongtian only gave her a few minor pointers.

Once a martial technique reached the threshold of mastery, practical application mattered more than instruction.

Unless she hit a bottleneck.

But having just reached the threshold—equivalent to 1% proficiency—she wouldn’t need guidance for a breakthrough until she hit 99%.

So, for now, he could only offer a few tips to help her deepen her understanding of this stage.

Bai Hongtian finished instructing each student one by one.

Until finally, it was Wang Xian’s turn.

Bai Hongtian’s gaze held an unprecedented level of focus:

“Wang Xian, you haven’t mastered any martial techniques yet?”

“Whatever questions or difficulties you have, I’ll help you with them.”

From his tone alone, many could immediately sense—

this time, Bai Hongtian was paying special attention.

He was taking this very seriously.