Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

"What... what kind of sword intent is this?!"

The middle-aged man's hands trembled slightly as he looked at Xia Jin, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.

The fat man watching from the sidelines also involuntarily twitched at the corner of his eye.

"Such a strange, such pure sword intent..."

"Logically speaking, how could someone in the Dragon Transformation Realm comprehend such terrifying sword intent? It seems that what that kid said earlier about the sword exchange meeting being a waste of his time wasn't entirely untrue."

The other onlookers also exchanged bewildered glances.

"Did you feel the sword intent on that black chess piece just now? That sword intent actually contained... an aura of destruction."

"When did the Glazed Sword Sect acquire such a terrifying sword technique?"

At the same time, the Zen Master, who was playing against Xia Jin, focused his gaze on the three shattered white pieces, and his cloudy old eyes lit up.

"Interesting." The old Zen master's voice suddenly held a hint of interest. "Young friend, your sword intent is quite remarkable. I haven't encountered such an opponent in many years."

He reached out and picked up a white piece, placing it back on the chessboard.

This time, the sword intent contained in the white pieces was even more intense.

The Zen Master is serious.

Xia Jin felt the pressure, but showed no sign of backing down.

He placed another black piece, and the sword intent of annihilation erupted once more, swallowing and shattering two more white pieces.

But whether it's swordsmanship or chess skills, Master Chan's foundation is something that Xia Jin, a newcomer, cannot challenge.

His white pieces began to avoid the direct impact of Xia Jin's Annihilation Sword Intent, instead flanking and encircling from the sides and rear. Although the black piece containing the Annihilation Sword Intent was domineering, it could not withstand the encirclement from all sides and was gradually surrounded by the white pieces, losing its ability to continue expanding.

After making a few more moves, Xia Jin finally stopped.

He looked at the black piece surrounded by many enemies on the chessboard, and finally smiled.

"I lost." Xia Jin put the black chess piece that she hadn't yet placed back into the chess box, looked at the Zen Master opposite her, and said, "This game has taught me a lot. Thank you for your guidance, Zen Master."

He stood up and bowed to the Zen master with clasped hands.

He's not the kind of person who can't accept defeat.

Being able to fully integrate the sword intent of annihilation he had gleaned from the Wusheng Sword Sutra in such a game was already a great achievement for him.

The way the onlookers looked at Xia Jin changed.

This young man is no ordinary person; he has survived so many moves under the Zen Master's control and even managed to defeat several of the Zen Master's pieces.

What a pity! How could such a prodigy end up in the Glazed Sword Sect, a sect full of female sword cultivators? Otherwise, they could have recruited her into their own sect.

The old Zen master looked at Xia Jin with a smile, his eyes filled with admiration: "Young friend, would you like to play another round?"

Xia Jin was about to get up when he heard this, so he shook his head, stretched, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Elder Chan: "Elder Chan, I won't be playing. With your superb chess skills, that last game already stumped me. If I'm no match for you now, no matter how many more games we play, I'll still be the one who loses in the end!"

"Young friend, you certainly know how to talk!"

"Alright then." The Zen Master nodded. "If you are interested in the future, young friend, you are welcome to come to the Taixu Sword Sect to play chess with me anytime. I always have this chessboard ready for you."

"Thank you, Elder Chan. I will remember this." Xia Jin did not refuse the other party's kindness.

After all, the old man in front of them, called Elder Chan, was clearly a man of considerable importance in the entire Taixu Sword Sect.

After saying that, Xia Jin turned around, greeted the onlookers, and then turned and left gracefully.

After watching Xia Jin's figure disappear, the Zen Master withdrew his gaze, glanced at the few people still standing around, and waved his hand: "Alright, everyone disperse. Today's game is over."

Upon hearing this, the sword cultivators, though still somewhat unsatisfied, dared not disobey Elder Chan's wishes and bowed to take their leave.

Before long, only the Zen master and the middle-aged man remained.

The middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the dignified air of someone long accustomed to a position of power. He was the current sect leader of the Taixu Sword Sect, and his cultivation was unfathomable.

The old Zen master turned around, glanced at Ji Lingchen, and a glint of light suddenly flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

"Ling Chen," the Zen Master's voice wasn't loud, "if there's an opportunity in the future, you can get to know this young brother better."

Upon hearing this, Ji Lingchen frowned immediately. He looked at Elder Chan, a hint of confusion and even a hint of barely concealed resistance flashing in his eyes.

Given his status and position, he was second only to the leader in the Taixu Sword Sect. How could he be expected to "get close" to a junior like Xia Jin? What kind of talk would that make?

"Master Chan," Ji Lingchen asked after a moment of silence, "Do you really think so highly of this kid? He only showed a bit of sword intent on the chessboard. Among the younger generation of Gu Xuzhou, there aren't many who can do that, but they are not nonexistent. Besides, he is, after all, a member of the Glazed Sword Sect."

The Zen master's gaze fell on the black pieces on the chessboard, and he gently shook his head.

"Ling Chen, haven't you realized yet? This kid didn't use his full strength when he played against me just now."

Ji Lingchen looked at the Zen Master: "You didn't use your full strength?"

"That's right!! When he made his move, although his sword intent was sharp, he always left room for maneuver. Rather than saying that he was competing with me for victory, it would be more accurate to say that he was using my sword intent to hone his own wisp of annihilation sword intent."

The Zen master narrowed his eyes slightly, "Besides his cultivation, this child's mind and comprehension are also extraordinary."

"Ling Chen, now I understand why that brat Wushuang made an exception and allowed this kid to join the Glazed Sword Sect."

Upon hearing this, Ji Lingchen's expression suddenly stiffened.

"Master Zen, what do you mean...?"

The old Zen master stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the rolling clouds in front of him. "I have a feeling that a hundred years from now, the new leader of swordsmanship in our ancient Xuzhou will very likely fall to this young man."

Kendo Master!

These few simple words caused Ji Lingchen's expression to change drastically.

"The master of swordsmanship?" Ji Lingchen's expression turned extremely serious. "Elder Zen, even you back then were just one step away from this title! You overestimate him."

Ji Lingchen's words were not an exaggeration.

Since ancient times, the swordsmanship community of Guxuzhou has been known as the "Sword Master". Every thousand years or so, the swordsmanship sects of the entire Guxuzhou would jointly elect a recognized number one swordsman.

This title is not just an honor, but also signifies that one is qualified to lead the swordsmanship of Guxu Prefecture.

When Zen Master was at the height of his power, his swordsmanship was unparalleled, and he was regarded by countless people as the undisputed leader of the swordsmanship. However, in the end, he was defeated by another person, a peerless swordsman born in the ancient Xuzhou, but regarded as a "madman" by the entire Mirage Cloud Realm.

Now, Zen Master says that Xia Jin may become the new leader of swordsmanship a hundred years from now.

"Hahaha!!" Zen Master suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter revealing no trace of disappointment, but rather a sense of carefree ease.

"The reason I was defeated by that madman back then wasn't because I was incompetent, but because that madman was too strong!"

As he said this, a hint of reminiscence flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

"Even looking at the entire Mirage Realm, that madman definitely deserves to be ranked in the top ten."

"That guy's swordsmanship has completely surpassed the realm that ordinary people can understand. I am completely convinced of my defeat by him."

"So many years have passed, that madman's strength has probably improved even more." Zen Master sighed softly, a hint of nostalgia in his tone. "I wonder if I will have the chance to fight him again in my lifetime."

Looking at the old monk's expression, Ji Lingchen was filled with mixed emotions.

"Very well," Ji Lingchen took a deep breath and slowly nodded, "Since Elder Chan values ​​this boy so much, Lingchen will naturally keep an eye on him."