Martial Defiance Across Nine Thousand Realms

Tongtian Peak, Limitless Sword Sect!

Upon arriving, Ye Han beheld a peak that resembled a peerless heavenly sword piercing the skies, holding the heavens and earth at its ends.

Countless disciples gathered at the base of Tongtian Peak, each with endless devotion and yearning in their eyes.

The path of the sword cultivator, the strongest path, the invincible path!

Who could resist the freedom and ease of soaring through the heavens with a sword, defying the world?

"Three years, and I can finally withstand ten sword energies!"

Ye Han saw a disciple at the Second Layer of the Divine Power Realm, ecstatically dancing with joy ahead.

"Congratulations!"

"Withstanding ten sword energies allows you to enter the Limitless Sword Sect as a Sword Servant. If you contribute enough during this period, you may be promoted to a regular disciple!"

A man in white robes, carrying a long sword on his back and exuding an air of casual elegance, spoke indifferently.

"Alright, now I bestow upon you the Sword Token!"

The man in white tossed out a palm-sized sword-shaped token.

"Thank you, senior brother!"

The disciple at the Second Layer of the Divine Power Realm was overwhelmed with excitement, immediately kneeling on one knee and reverently holding up the Sword Token.

A crowd surrounded him, their envious gazes unmistakable: "Congratulations, after waiting three years, you've finally joined the Limitless Sword Sect!"

Watching this scene, Ye Han felt not the slightest bit of empathy.

In fact, he couldn't understand it.

Not far away, others were undergoing so-called assessments, withstanding sword energies unleashed by the masters of the Limitless Sword Sect.

Most failed the assessment, as bearing seven or eight sword energies was already their limit.

Yet even in failure, these people persevered, sitting cross-legged under Tongtian Peak, as if contemplating the Dao or gathering strength for the next assessment.

"Are they really this desperate?" Ye Han was speechless.

In his view, these people had lost their true selves in their eagerness to join the Limitless Sword Sect, even kneeling on the spot to receive the so-called Sword Token, displaying utmost devotion.

It was as if the Limitless Sword Sect was their lifelong belief!

Listening to the many voices, Ye Han quickly grasped the rules of the assessment here.

To join the Limitless Sword Sect, one must withstand ten sword energies without defeat. Of course, the strength of each person and the one releasing the sword energies varied.

However, after passing the assessment, one would only be a Sword Servant of the Limitless Sword Sect, needing to continue accumulating contributions to have a chance to become a true disciple.

The so-called Sword Servants were essentially followers, used by others to practice sword techniques and cultivate the sword path.

Plainly put, they had no status and were equivalent to the menial workers or servants under the command of the Limitless Sword Sect's masters.

"The requirements for joining the Limitless Sword Sect are as stringent as those of the Cycle Academy!" Ye Han was shocked.

He wondered who from the Academy had founded the Limitless Sword Sect? Perhaps it was someone of high status, like an elder?

"I wish to take the assessment!"

Ye Han approached the man in white from earlier.

"Oh?"

The man in white glanced at him: "A new face!"

"Yes, I've only recently entered the Cycle Academy," Ye Han replied.

"Name, realm!"

The man in white looked at Ye Han.

"Ye Han, Second Layer of the Divine Power Realm," Ye Han responded.

"Hmm, withstand my ten sword energies then!"

The man in white unsheathed the sword from his back and slashed decisively.

The cold sword energy shot out instantly, targeting Ye Han's chest.

Boom!!!

With a swing of his arm, Ye Han's blood surged, shattering the sword energy on the spot.

The second sword energy followed, even sharper and more ferocious.

Ye Han breathed steadily, meeting it with a punch.

Fist against sword energy!

With a loud crash, the second sword energy also shattered.

The third, fourth... the tenth!

The tenth sword energy came slicing through in an instant, and Ye Han thrust out his hand.

Fingers clenched into a fist, blood mixed with divine power surged out, and in an instant, the tenth sword energy was shattered as well.

Ten sword energies, easily handled!

His aura slightly retracted, Ye Han was very satisfied.

No matter where, strength was always paramount.

Although he was at the Second Layer of the Divine Power Realm, his vitality and divine power were extremely robust, capable of contending with masters at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Power Realm.

Passing this assessment was no problem for him.

Many envious eyes converged on him, some disciples even felt jealousy. They had never seen Ye Han's face before, indicating he was a newcomer.

To withstand ten sword energies and pass the assessment on the first try?

Such individuals were rare, only a handful each year.

"Assessment failed!"

The man in white glanced at Ye Han indifferently, then sheathed his sword.

"Huh?"

"Why did I fail?"

Ye Han's pupils narrowed, staring intently at the man.

"You used divine power to resist the tenth sword energy!"

After speaking, the man in white no longer paid attention to Ye Han and walked away.

"Then I'll retake the assessment!"

Ye Han immediately spoke up.

He had seen others using divine power to resist the sword energies without issue.

Why was it a problem when it came to him?

Even if he only used pure divine power to counter the sword energies, Ye Han was still fully confident.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

The man in white suddenly turned around, his gaze icy and his presence intimidating: "You lack sincerity. Come back for a second assessment after one year."

After one year?

That's too late!

Moreover, the earlier one starts cultivating the sword path, the easier it is to establish a foundation.

Those who embark on the sword path in their youth, even manifesting sword energy, often achieve great success in the sword path later on.

Ye Han, coming from a small place like Flame City, had never had the conditions to cultivate the sword path before.

Now that he had the chance, how could he not seize it?

"Brother, just accept it."

"The Limitless Sword Sect is like this. It's impossible to join without half a year's time. Even passing the assessment is useless; they'll always find an excuse to reject you."

A disciple from the Outer Sect came up to Ye Han and whispered a kind warning.

"Accept it?"

Ye Han looked at the man: "What do you mean 'accept it'? Isn't passing the assessment supposed to be enough to join?"

"That's the reality. The Limitless Sword Sect is so powerful and influential that they don't worry about people joining. It's said that even True Disciples find it extremely difficult to join the Limitless Sword Sect," the man said with a wry smile.

Glancing around, the disciple lowered his voice even more: "According to their explanation, passing the assessment is one thing, but what they want is devotion."

"Devotion?"

Ye Han looked at the man.

"Indeed, devotion to the sword path," the man immediately replied.

"Bullshit!"

Ye Han spat out two words decisively.

He turned abruptly and walked back to the man in white: "I want to retake the assessment now!"

"Scram!"

"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?"

Seeing Ye Han again, the man in white's eyes flared with intense anger.

Under Tongtian Peak, anyone wishing to join the Limitless Sword Sect had to be respectful.

Not just an Outer Sect disciple like Ye Han at the Second Layer of the Divine Power Realm, even Inner Disciples had to approach with humility.