Chapter 1941: Shan Xiaotian's Birthday

Earlier, at the Divine Sword Hall, he had competed with Tianya.

The opponent's swordsmanship was like a divine dragon, its trajectory invisible. Though he knew it was strong, he could not tell where its strength lay.

That is, knowing the what but not the why.

But with this Shan Xiaotian wielding his sword, they could clearly see his intent and moves—each thrust struck at the flaws in Senior Brother Huo Jianghe's technique!

In just over ten breaths, he had thrust more than twenty times, leaving Senior Brother Huo unable even to resist...

Even true inner disciples could not match such swordsmanship!

This could no longer be described as merely terrifying!

"Is it Tianya?"

Unable to hold back any longer, the square-faced man asked.

He had never fought Tianya and did not know his moves or methods, but the others had fought him and might discern some clues.

"Once Tianya makes a move, we're dead... He never used ordinary moves, so we can't tell—unless... he uses that move, then we can be sure!"

Yun Feiyang said.

It wasn't that their eyesight was poor, but that move—throwing the sword—was simply too powerful.

Once it was used, the fight ended, revealing nothing of the user's strength. So now, with ordinary swordsmanship, they could not discern anything.

"In this situation, it seems... Senior Brother Huo can't even force him to use that move!"

Huang Tao said with a bitter smile.

The others fell silent.

Without using that move, he had already forced Senior Brother to retreat; even without using it, Senior Brother would surely lose. Thus, they could never confirm whether it was him or not.

"Actually, there is a way. Watch me..."

After a moment of silence, the square-faced man suddenly looked up and shouted directly ahead: "Senior Brother, use One Glance River!"

One Glance River was not only Huo Jianghe's nickname at the Divine Sword Hall but also his most skilled sword technique.

When executed, it was like a single glance at a river—endless and torrential, with awe-inspiring momentum.

Relying on this sword technique, Huo Jianghe had crushed all opponents in the outer sect, becoming virtually invincible, and thus earned his position as senior brother.

"Alright!"

Hearing the shout, Huo Jianghe understood his junior brothers' intent. With a long cry, he raised his sword, and as his true qi flowed, a wide river seemed to appear before him, with rocks piercing the sky and waves crashing against the shore.

Seeing the opponent's ultimate move, Shan Xiaotian did not hesitate. With a flick of his longsword, it immediately rose into the air.

His opponent stood across the river; to defeat him, he could only use the flying sword technique!

Whoosh!

A sword pierced the air.

He had practiced this move for an entire night, no less than a thousand times. The sword trembled, vanished from its spot, and reappeared at Huo Jianghe's throat.

"Damn..."

His pupils contracted. Huo Jianghe no longer dared to hold back; his full power exploded outward like a blast.

Saint Domain Fourth Layer: Shattering Void!

With his power restored, he barely managed to block the sword, breaking out in a cold sweat.

If they had been at the same level, he would have died from that move.

"It's him..."

Seeing this move, everyone was filled with excitement.

There was no need to guess anymore—this Shan Xiaotian was none other than Tianya!

Xue Qian's body swayed, and he collapsed to the ground.

Since returning last night, he had been wondering who that super expert named Tianya could be, never dreaming... it was this son-in-law he had despised and looked down upon!

Xue Qin was nearly going mad.

This guy was Tianya... didn't that mean she had already lost to him and become his maidservant?

She hadn't wanted to be his fiancée, but now she was a maidservant...

She wished she could gouge out her own eyes!

Such a great pearl had been treated as a pebble and casually discarded!

"Shan Xiaotian wins..."

Having watched the entire battle, Elder Lu Yun nodded with satisfaction and announced the result.

No wonder this young man hadn't directly agreed to join the Lingyun Sword Pavilion earlier—he was waiting for this moment, to thoroughly humiliate the city lord!

To make him repent for what he had done!

Young people, so hot-tempered...

But if one's family had been destroyed, who wouldn't do the same?

"Having successfully defeated Huo Jianghe, he will surely pass the inner disciple assessment with ease. With no sufficient resources, reaching the Great Saint Third Layer Great Perfection at sixteen, entering the sect, and advancing to Ancient Saint before seventeen should not be difficult!"

Looking at the young man, Elder Lu Yun grew more and more satisfied: "Now, I announce that you are specially admitted as an inner disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, with all the rights of an inner disciple..."

"Thank you, Elder!"

Shan Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief and knelt directly.

With this identity, even without concrete evidence, he could kill the city lord and avenge his parents and the others!

"What are you going to do? We are connected by marriage—I am your father-in-law..."

Seeing his gaze, Xue Qian's face changed, and he backed away repeatedly.

"Senior Brother Huo, please help me capture him. I want to avenge the ninety-seven lives of my family!"

Clenching his teeth, Shan Xiaotian's eyes blazed with killing intent.

When you killed my clan, why didn't you say you were my father-in-law?

When you plotted against me and nearly had me killed by bandits, why didn't you say you were my father-in-law?

Now you want to say it—too late!

Huo Jianghe and the others acted together. Although Xue Qian was strong, Yun Feiyang, Huang Tao, and the others were no weaker. As Sword Pavilion disciples with superb swordsmanship, they easily subdued him.

"I do not kill the innocent. Here is not only evidence of your dealings against the Shan family but also the evil deeds you have committed over the years!"

Taking out another jade token, Shan Xiaotian infused it with true qi, and a large block of text flew out, clearly listing the other's crimes.

"He was behind the Autumn Grass Plains incident? I always thought it was the work of bandits..."

"He plundered the Liu family, and their forty-plus members suffered miserably!"

"The young lady of the Chen family was violated before her death. And he had the nerve to blame it on a lecherous thief. As city lord, to commit such heinous acts..."

"It's ridiculous that I always took him as my idol, thinking he was an upright city lord. I never imagined he was so corrupt behind the scenes..."

...

Seeing the text clearly, the crowd erupted in uproar.

City Lord Xue Qian had done much to maintain his image over the years and enjoyed great prestige in the city, but his secret deeds were appalling!

Now that everything was exposed, everyone felt a sense of upheaval.

"Do you have anything to say?"

Seeing Xue Qian's face turn pale at the sight, Shan Xiaotian could no longer hold back. He approached with his longsword in hand; with just a thrust of the blade, he could easily pierce the other's throat and finally take revenge.

"I..."

Xue Chen trembled and could not speak.

Although he had hidden his deeds well over the years, now that everything was exposed, a detailed investigation would surely uncover traces.

If the other party were an ordinary person, he could have covered everything up, but now that he was an inner disciple, there was no chance of recovery.

"You cannot kill my father..."

Just as he was waiting for death, Xue Qin rushed over like a madwoman, screaming.

"Cannot kill?" Shan Xiaotian's eyes narrowed.

"That's right. You are not qualified to be an inner disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, so naturally you cannot pass judgment on my father..." Xue Qin gritted her teeth.

"Not qualified? Do you mean my assessment was unfair?"

Before Shan Xiaotian could speak, Elder Lu Yun's face darkened.

He had conducted the match in front of so many people, and Huo Jianghe had used his full strength. How could she doubt him?

"I wouldn't dare..." Xue Qin looked up: "Elder Lu just said that to become an inner disciple requires two conditions. The swordsmanship assessment just now was fair and just—I have no objection. But... reaching Ancient Saint before seventeen, which is the first condition the Elder mentioned, I do not accept!"

"Oh?"

Elder Lu Yun looked at her.

"I was engaged to this Shan Xiaotian, so I know his birth date and time. His birthday is today at the hour of Shen! That means after the hour of Shen, he will be seventeen."

Xue Qin clenched her fists: "Now there is only a little over an hour until the hour of Shen. He is only at the Great Saint Third Layer Great Perfection. How can he reach the Ancient Saint level before seventeen? If he cannot, then he is not qualified to become an inner disciple, is he?"

"This..."

Elder Lu Yun was taken aback. He looked at Shan Xiaotian, who blushed.

"My birthday is indeed today at the hour of Shen..."

Shan Xiaotian said awkwardly.

He had wanted to mention it earlier but was interrupted by Elder Lu.

He thought that for the sake of revenge, he could overlook such details and work hard later. He never expected Xue Qin to bring it up.

Seeing him admit it, Elder Lu Yun couldn't help but look at the nearby sundial. The sun was already slanting, and noon was more than half over—meaning there was less than an hour and a half until his seventeenth birthday!

In such a short time, to advance from Great Saint Third Layer Great Perfection to Ancient Saint...

It was virtually impossible!

If he could not reach Ancient Saint by seventeen, he would not be qualified to become a Lingyun Sword Pavilion disciple, and naturally, he would not be qualified to execute the city lord.

Thus, his revenge would become a joke.

"It seems this is fate..."

Elder Lu Yun shook his head with a wry smile.

He had thought he could recruit an inner disciple, but such a twist had occurred.

"But don't worry. Even if you cannot become an inner disciple now, go back and cultivate diligently. If you reach Ancient Saint Fourth Layer before thirty, you will still have a chance..."

Inner discipleship was not a one-strike rule; otherwise, Huo Jianghe and the others would have no chance either.

As long as one reached Ancient Saint Fourth Layer before thirty and passed the swordsmanship assessment, one could still enter.

However, by then, revenge would certainly be impossible.

As an elder, he could report the city lord's misdeeds, but by the time the Sword Pavilion sent an investigation team to look into the matter, who knew how long it would take.

During that time, whether something unexpected would happen, no one knew.

"Yes..."

His eyes reddening, Shan Xiaotian clenched his fists.

He had thought he could avenge his family today, but he never dreamed that in the end, he would fail at the final step.

Just then, a faint voice rang out.

"There is still an hour and a half. Who says... you cannot break through to Ancient Saint?"