Chapter 7: One Against Seven?

Ji Wuyu sat to the side, holding a beast-head wine goblet: "Maybe Ji Yichuan is letting his son try early, after all, even if he fails, Ji Ning can try again in four years."

Ji Lie nodded.

"They have two chances, but we can't afford to lose even one." Ji Lie revealed a faint smile. "Fortunately, I adopted a righteous son 'Po' back then."

Then Ji Lie said to the attendant beside him: "Have Po come see me!"

"Yes, master." The barefoot maidservant bowed and retreated.

After a moment, a tall youth in golden fur strode in. His aura was intense, and his face was covered in a layer of golden fuzz, his eyes faintly tinged with gold. Unlike ordinary people, he also carried a dark straight saber on his back at all times.

As he strode in... at first glance, he seemed like a lean, human-shaped golden bear. Though only thirteen years old, he was slightly taller than Ji Lie.

"Father." Po called out respectfully.

"Po." Ji Lie looked at his adopted son and nodded with satisfaction. "The Golden Sword Ceremony is held once every four years. I will arrange for someone to register your name for this ceremony. I have only one requirement... win the Golden Sword!"

"Yes." Po's voice was low and deep.

"Mm." Ji Lie nodded approvingly. He had adopted many sons, but few satisfied him. Po was one who pleased him greatly. Sending Po to participate in the Golden Sword Ceremony to hinder Ji Ning, Ji Lie was fully confident.

Ji Lie continued: "This time, the one you need to be careful of is Ji Ning, the only son of Waterdrop Sword Ji Yichuan! Although he hasn't experienced real life-and-death combat, after all, he cultivates the most顶尖 techniques and skills of our Ji clan. What I have taught you, though also top-notch, is still slightly inferior compared to his."

Po nodded.

He understood. He was merely an adopted son. But Ji Ning? He was the only son of Waterdrop Sword Ji Yichuan, and the most promising heir to the prefecture lord. The gap in status between them was enormous. Ji Ning could easily obtain the most顶尖 techniques of the Ji clan, but an adopted son like him could never get the clan's strongest secret arts.

"Moreover, Ji Ning has just this year reached the stage of 'Man and Sword as One'." Ji Lie looked at his adopted son. "You must not be careless."

"I will surely win." Po said in a low voice.

...

The Golden Sword Ceremony began!

A large number of tribal youths fought continuously from the bottom, one by one being eliminated, leaving only the stronger ones. After more than a month of fierce battles, the eight strongest youths were finally selected. To be precise... seven youths were selected, and the eighth was Ji Ning, who was directly placed in the top eight without any trials!

Ji Ning, the only son of Waterdrop Sword Ji Yichuan! The genius youth of the Ji clan's Western Prefecture.

According to the official statement of the Ji clan's Western Prefecture, Ji Ning was very strong and didn't need to participate in the lower-level trials, directly earning a spot in the top eight.

Anger?

Resentment?

"Hmph, on the final day, when he faces the other seven opponents, this Ji Ning will definitely lose badly."

"Really unscrupulous!"

"Shame on the Ji clan!"

Some tribal youths muttered secretly. As for the news that Ji Ning had reached the 'Man and Sword as One' realm, very few of those tribal youths knew about it.

...

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~~" War banners fluttered in the wind.

The howling cold wind could not extinguish the fiery passion in countless hearts, because today was the final day of the Golden Sword Ceremony!

In the center of the martial arena's vast training ground stood a huge battle stage. Below the stage stood eight tribal youths, one of whom was Ji Ning, dressed in animal skins. Further out, a large number of Black Armored Guards surrounded the stage, preventing the tens of thousands of gathered spectators—tribal youths and citizens of the Western Prefecture City—from crossing the line.

"They're here."

"The Xiantian lifeforms are coming."

The tens of thousands of spectators grew excited. The Golden Sword Ceremony had lasted many days, but usually there weren't so many spectators. Only today was special! Because today was the final day, where the last eight would compete to determine the strongest and win the Golden Sword.

On the final day of the Golden Sword Ceremony, many legendary Xiantian lifeforms would also come to watch!

"That one riding the long-necked exotic beast is Skyfire Hammer."

"That one riding the white tiger is the best archer of our Ji clan's Western Prefecture!"

"That, that is Fire God Ji Lie!"

"Look, Waterdrop Sword! The one with the snow-white big dog beside him is Waterdrop Sword Ji Yichuan! The snow-white big dog beside him is the Xiantian divine beast 'Whitewater Marsh'."

"The Prefecture Lord!"

"Prefecture Lord Ji Youyang has also appeared."

"Why so many Xiantian lifeforms? Too many."

"So many Xiantian lifeforms!"

...

Uproar and frenzy.

The Golden Sword Ceremony was held every four years, and usually only a few Xiantian lifeforms came to watch. But this time, many legendary figures appeared, such as the always mysterious strongest of the Ji clan's Western Prefecture, Waterdrop Sword Ji Yichuan, and the arrogant Fire God Ji Lie!

All ten stewards came, not one absent.

Because this time, it wasn't just the Golden Sword Ceremony; more importantly, it was the trial battle for the heir to the prefecture lord! If Ji Ning won the Golden Sword, he would become the next prefecture lord. With such a major event concerning the succession, naturally most of the Xiantian lifeforms of the Ji clan's Western Prefecture were present.

"Today is the final day of the Golden Sword Ceremony." A clear, cold voice rang out. A long-haired woman with a blue glow stood on the battle stage. "Now, please invite the eight youths onto the stage."

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Eight figures leaped onto the battle stage one after another.

Ji Ning glanced around and noticed that almost all of the other seven opponents were staring at him. Obviously, as the only one among the top eight who was directly appointed without going through the lower-level battles, he had earned the resentment of these seven opponents.

"Do you think I wanted this?" Ji Ning curled his lip. Being directly placed in the top eight was entirely decided by Prefecture Lord Ji Youyang. "But these seven guys are all quite tall. Even the shortest girl is about 1.7 meters. They're all a bit taller than me... Hmm, that big clumsy guy must be over 2.3 meters."

Although they were all youths, each had achieved some cultivation, and most were nearly sixteen years old. Only Ji Ning was ten, so naturally he was the smallest.

"The eight of you will fight one-on-one. The loser steps down, the winner stays. Determine the top four. Then determine the top two, and finally the strongest." The long-haired woman said.

Ji Ning and the other seven youths listened.

Suddenly—

"Stop!" A cold voice rang out.

The tens of thousands of watching tribal youths and citizens of the Western Prefecture City all looked toward the source. Even the long-haired woman frowned and looked back. After all, she was a Xiantian lifeform of the Ji clan's Western Prefecture, only presiding over the final day. Who would interrupt at this moment? When she turned her head... the speaker was a cold man in white animal skins.

The long-haired woman trembled.

"It's Waterdrop Sword Ji Yichuan."

"Waterdrop Sword."

"Waterdrop Sword standing there is like a huge iceberg; I feel a chill in my heart." Many among the tens of thousands of spectators had excitement in their eyes. Every Xiantian lifeform was like a demon god, and Ji Yichuan was the most dazzling existence on this land, a legendary figure.

Ji Yichuan sat there, saying coldly: "The final day of the Golden Sword Ceremony is to determine the strongest among these eight and win the Golden Sword. In my opinion... let Ji Ning fight all seven of them at once!"

"One against seven?" The long-haired woman was stunned. "This, this..."

"What!"

"One against seven? The other seven are all the most talented youths."

"This!"

Shock all around.

Even Prefecture Lord Ji Youyang, sitting next to Ji Yichuan, was slightly taken aback. But the venomous snake-like old man Ji Lie, sitting on the other side of Ji Youyang, laughed heartily: "Good, one against seven. Ji Ning is a very talented youth of our Ji clan's Western Prefecture. Even if he fails, it's a kind of training. But Yichuan... if your son fights one against seven and loses, what then?"

"If he loses, he will naturally concede and forfeit the Golden Sword!" Ji Yichuan said calmly.

"Good." Ji Lie nodded.

Ji Youyang looked at Ji Yichuan with confusion, then spoke: "Let it be as Yichuan says."

"Yes, Prefecture Lord." The long-haired woman nodded upon seeing this. Since the two major factions of the Ji clan's Western Prefecture had both agreed, she naturally wouldn't say more. She could only sigh inwardly that Waterdrop Sword Ji Yichuan was too arrogant.

"You eight."

The long-haired woman looked at the eight youths. "Choose your weapons from these. After choosing... listen to my command. When I give the order, Ji Ning will fight the seven of you. The battle ends when Ji Ning is defeated, or when all seven of you are defeated."

"Whoosh." The long-haired woman waved her hand, and suddenly a large pile of weapons appeared on the battle stage, all kinds, the only commonality being that none were sharpened!

"Choose." The long-haired woman said.

Ji Ning and the other seven youths stepped forward and quickly selected their weapons. Ji Ning chose a tough black longsword weighing about fifty jin.

The tens of thousands of spectators below buzzed with discussion. Many of them were seeing 'Waterdrop Sword' Ji Yichuan for the first time, and they felt he was like a ten-thousand-year iceberg, chilling their hearts: "Ji Yichuan is too aloof, even to his son. One against seven? Even if that Ji Ning is really stronger than the other seven, how can he possibly win when facing seven attackers at once?"

"Really crazy."

"That Ji Ning is said to be only ten years old, and his father orders him to participate in the Golden Sword Ceremony and fight one against seven. How pitiful."

Many spectators began to sympathize with Ji Ning. After all, among the eight youths on the stage, Ji Ning was the smallest and youngest. He had a delicate appearance... a small, delicate youth, with a father known far and wide for his cold severity. They could easily imagine how harshly this youth was usually treated by his father.

"Have you chosen?" The long-haired woman looked at the eight youths.

Seven youths stood on one side of the battle stage, some using curved sabers, some spears, some straight sabers, some swords. All stared at Ji Ning.

On the other side of the battle stage stood Ji Ning alone.

Ji Ning held his sword, calmly looking at the opposite side.

"Since you've all chosen." The long-haired woman waved her hand, putting away the pile of unsharpened weapons, and said, "Then begin."

The moment the words fell.

Swish! Swish! Swish! The seven figures on one side of the battle stage all dashed out swiftly, charging at Ji Ning on the other side.