Soul Emperor Martial God

"Shiyi, this is your personal sword, and you are giving it to Xiao Yi, how is that different from cheating?"

The Fourth Elder was nearly exploding with anger.

Though Elder Yi had taken Xiao Yi's Blood Slaughter Sword, his own personal sword was also a High Grade Spiritual Artifact.

"What now?" Elder Yi glared at him, "You're allowed to give Starlight Stone to Guu Changkong, but I can't give Xiao Yi my sword?"

Within the entire Sky-splitting Sword Sect, only two people possessed High Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

One was the Great Elder, and the other was Elder Yi.

"Shiyi, this really isn't right," the Great Elder said gravely.

"Tomorrow's examination tests the disciples' personal strength; we shouldn't meddle unnecessarily."

Elder Yi didn't say a word, choosing to ignore him.

The Great Elder gave a forced laugh and looked towards Xiao Yi, saying, "Xiao Yi, do you think I'm making sense?"

He knew that the only one who could make Elder Yi change his mind was Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi smiled inwardly and said, "The Great Elder is wise."

"Just that, the lad now has no sword on hand and needs to go to the Outer Sect Treasury later to exchange for one."

His only two swords, one being the Blood Slaughter Sword given to Elder Yi, and the other, the Purple Cloud Iron Sword, had shattered in the previous battle.

"No need," the Great Elder said with a smile, pulling out a sword from his Qiankun Bag he always carried with him.

He continued, "This one, named Unrivaled, although it doesn't compare to Shiyi's personal sword, nor does it compare to your High Grade Spiritual Artifact,"

"but it is one of the Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts, and I'll gift it to you for the fight tomorrow."

Xiao Yi was about to refuse by shaking his head.

With his current strength, using a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact wouldn't make much of a difference.

Elder Yi interjected quickly, "You're giving it away?"

The Great Elder smiled sheepishly, "It's a gift, you don't need to return it."

"That's more like it," Elder Yi immediately took the Unrivaled Sword, saying, "Lad, let's go."

Xiao Yi followed.

...

Nightfall, inside the Outer Sect Treasury.

Elder Yi and Xiao Yi were sitting opposite each other.

Elder Yi handed the Unrivaled Sword to Xiao Yi.

Taking it, Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Elder Yi, you didn't really plan on giving me your personal sword today, did you?"

"Smart," Elder Yi smiled faintly, "Tomorrow's battle is about individual strength. If you were to use a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, it would only amount to an unworthy victory and attract idle gossip."

"I know your character; you wouldn't want that."

Xiao Yi gave a wry smile; Elder Yi was right.

"But I can't always let you lose out; you deserve some advantage."

"The Great Elder's Unrivaled Sword—can't pass up a freebie."

"Hehe," Xiao Yi laughed.

Today, the reason he acknowledged the Great Elder's point was also because he had guessed Elder Yi's intentions.

At that moment, Xiao Yi asked, "Elder Yi, what exactly is happening with tomorrow's examination?"

Elder Yi thought for a moment and started to explain.

"Every major sect-wide competition, the initial examination's topper, if they aspire to become the sect-wide Chief,"

"must overpower all disciples in the final examination, including the joint forces of the ten chiefs from the Inner Hall."

"This is a significant challenge."

"The sect thus provides you with an opportunity to understand the strength of the ten Inner Hall Chiefs firsthand."

"That's what tomorrow's battle is about."

"If you win, you'll receive a hefty reward; if you lose, it won't affect you—it's seen as providing you a chance to fail."

"I see," Xiao Yi nodded.

"No wonder there hasn't been a sect-wide Chief for so many years; opposing ten, such difficulty truly isn't minor."

"Hehe," Elder Yi chuckled softly, "You boy, you know fear too?"

"In fact, is it only you who faces this difficulty? Others do not."

"What do you mean?" Xiao Yi was taken aback.

Elder Yi explained, "According to past traditions, normal disciples who wish to become the sect-wide Chief only need to defeat three Inner Hall Chiefs cooperating together."

"However, disciples who have comprehended the Extreme Boundary Stele are an exception."

"Comprehending more than 50% of the Extreme Boundary Stele means you need to face a higher difficulty; you need to defeat five Inner Hall Chiefs cooperating together."

"60%, beat six together; 70%, beat seven together. And so on."

"You comprehended 100% of the Extreme Boundary Stele, so you need to defeat ten Chief Disciples of the Inner Hall to become the Chief of the entire sect."

"For hundreds of years, you are the first to receive this treatment," Elder Yi said with schadenfreude.

The Extreme Boundary Stele hadn't been fully comprehended by anyone in hundreds of years.

Xiao Yi gave a wry smile.

He finally understood.

Elder Yi continued, "Put simply,"

"Those disciples who have comprehended more than 50% of the Extreme Boundary Stele have already gained great benefits."

"If we don't increase the difficulty, if they can't complete it, what right do they have to become the Chief of the entire sect?"

"That's true," Xiao Yi nodded.

"However," Elder Yi suddenly frowned and said, "As far as I know, those disciples in history who have comprehended more than 50% of the Extreme Boundary Stele, each one of them had a significant increase in their Cultivation."

"Some even jumped five or six layers of Cultivation, directly breaking through into the Mystic Breakthrough Realm."

"What about you?"

"You've fully comprehended it, yet your Cultivation only increased by two layers."

"Uh," Xiao Yi touched his nose awkwardly.

His Qi Spring was much larger than others'.

Others, who comprehended 50 or 60% of the Extreme Boundary Stele, were enough to break through to the Mystic Breakthrough Realm.

He, having comprehended 100%, absorbed only enough Mist Energy to fill 20% of his Qi Spring.

Xiao Yi said awkwardly, "Perhaps, those disciples, oh, no, the seniors, had better innate abilities than me..."

"Stop kidding," Elder Yi interrupted, "I don't want to hear your nonsense."

"I have to tell you that others when they comprehended the Extreme Boundary Stele, although the challenge to become the Chief of the entire sect became tougher, their own Cultivation also increased significantly."

"So, even though the difficulty is increased, it's justifiable."

"But you, having fully comprehended it, didn't get a corresponding leap in Cultivation, yet the difficulty has been maxed out for you."

"So, your battle tomorrow doesn't look promising."

"I'll ask you again, are you confident?" Elder Yi spoke gravely.

"Yes," Xiao Yi nodded affirmatively.

Elder Yi was silent for a moment, then said, "Good, I believe you."

With that, Elder Yi took the Blood Slaughter Sword out of the Qiankun Bag and returned it to Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi looked puzzled and asked, "Wasn't it supposed to be returned to me after the competition tomorrow?"

"No need now," Elder Yi waved his hand, "I'm sure you'll win tomorrow, and returning it now or tomorrow makes no difference."

"Oh? Elder Yi, you're that confident?" Xiao Yi teased.

"It's not that I'm confident in you, but that you're very confident," Elder Yi said.

"I can tell that in today's fight with Guu Changkong, you didn't use all your strength."

"Moreover, in tomorrow's battle, you just need to hold on against the combined effort of the ten Chief Disciples of the Inner Hall for ten minutes."

"After ten minutes, no matter what, you win."

"You only need to defeat them completely during the final assessment."

Elder Yi explained tomorrow's battle to Xiao Yi.

Soon after finishing the explanation, he said, "Alright, you can go back and rest now, prepare for tomorrow's battle."

"Ah?" Xiao Yi said, "It's still early, can't we talk a little longer?"

"There's nothing much to talk about," Elder Yi shook his head indifferently.

"Perhaps, we could talk about some interesting stories from your younger days when you traveled," Xiao Yi ventured to ask.

Actually, he wasn't worried about tomorrow's competition at all.

He just wanted to chat with Elder Yi about the old days.

"That's possible," Elder Yi unexpectedly agreed.

"But, it's a long night. Have you prepared some tea and snacks?" Elder Yi's aged fingers tapped on the table.

"Wait for me, Elder. I'll prepare them now," Xiao Yi smiled and quickly turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, he had just walked a few steps away from the Outer Sect Treasury.

Behind him, with a 'bang,' the door to the Outer Sect Treasury was shut.

"Uh," Xiao Yi was startled and then stomped his foot, muttering, "Damn, I've been played."

...

...

First update.