Ten sword trials, ten stunning moments.
Shen Zhao wielded his sword with unrestrained grace, displaying a free and easy demeanor.
With a single "breaking" move, he won ten matches in a row, becoming the most dazzling beauty in the world.
"So, have I advanced?"
Shen Zhao stood with one hand behind his back, his disdainful gaze sweeping over the entire room.
The swordsmen participating in the sword test all turned their heads away the instant Shen Zhao's eyes flashed with excitement.
They witnessed the most exquisite scene of their lives.
Having witnessed how dazzling and magnificent the path of swordsmanship is, I felt utterly ashamed and inferior.
Finally, Shen Zhao's gaze fell on Yuan Suiyun, who was the emperor.
"good!"
After a long silence, Yuan Suiyun slapped the dragon throne.
"Well done, Ren Piaomiao. The rest of the competition is unnecessary."
"I hereby appoint you as the First Sword Master of Huayang, granting you the highest level of service. You may immediately enter the Imperial City to await orders."
"Sword Sect" is the highest honor bestowed by the Great Feng royal family upon surrendered swordsmen, representing a special status and position.
Even though the dynasty is now corrupt and decadent, and nine out of ten people working in the city's various government offices are related by nepotism, those who have the title of "Sword Sect" are still very few and far between.
Although Yuan Suiyun knew almost nothing about swordsmanship, the magnificent sword moves displayed by Shen Zhao and the powerful aura emanating from him truly impressed him from the bottom of his heart.
He decided to take a gamble, betting that Shen Zhao was neither Dong Zhongying of Xiliang nor an informant of the Xu family of Bashu.
If we can bring "Ren Piaomiao" under our command, we will have leverage to deal with the power of the maternal relatives.
At the very least, it can guarantee the continuation of the Great Feng Dynasty.
Just as Shen Zhao was about to sheathe his sword and accept this honor, an untimely voice rang out in front of the sword-testing platform.
"Wait!"
Dong Chao was the first to stand up and shouted.
"Ren Piaomiao is unworthy of this honor."
Xu Shuyu immediately chimed in, "That's right, Ren Piaomiao isn't qualified."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xuanji, sitting inside the float, had a hint of murderous intent flash in her charming eyes.
Yuan Suiyun was immediately annoyed: "Why not?"
Ren Piaomiao has passed the sword test and can be directly selected for the position of Imperial City Sword Guard.
Why are you stopping me?
Dong Chao angrily said, "Your Majesty, Ren Piaomiao is the one who murdered the son of the Nanshan Sword Sect Master!"
"How could Xue Jianren, the murderer, be selected as a sword protector of the imperial city?"
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Suiyun was immediately startled.
"Is what you're saying true?"
It was completely unexpected that "Ren Piaomiao" was the murderer.
Xu Shuyu: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely true. All the swordsmen of Tianqiong Pavilion have witnessed it with their own eyes."
Yuan Suiyun immediately asked Shen Zhao, "Is what they said true?"
Shen Zhao nodded slightly and replied frankly, "Indeed, I was the one who killed him."
Upon seeing Shen Zhao admit it, Yuan Suiyun secretly felt a pang of regret.
I thought I could find a reliable person, but it turns out that Ren Piaomiao is the murderer who killed Xue Jianren.
If I were to forcefully protect him, it would inevitably strain the relationship between the royal family and the two powerful maternal relatives, Xu and Dong.
Unless Ren Piaomiao has a higher value, in order to maintain the Yuan family's status, even if he still wanted to give Ren Piaomiao an important position, he would have to give it up now.
After much deliberation and weighing the pros and cons, he said helplessly, "Alas, I originally intended to grant you wealth and honor, a worry-free life, and to serve my Great Feng."
But you have violated the laws of the dynasty. Even if I cherish talent, I cannot show favoritism. So, alas…
He sighed again: "But this is a matter of the martial world, and it should be resolved by you martial people yourselves. All I can do is not interfere, that's all."
After saying this, Yuan Suiyun got up and, with the help of the eunuch, walked directly out of the sword-testing platform.
Prince Yuan Yue also traveled with them.
As soon as the emperor left, the situation became unpredictable and volatile.
Xu Shuyu and Dong Chao's eyes were filled with murderous intent, which they no longer concealed.
Only Dong Wen hesitated at this moment.
"Ren Piaomiao, now, who do you think can save you?"
Dong Chao roared, his bright silver spear already held horizontally in front of his chest.
"Ren Piaomiao, you've offended both the Bashu Prince's Mansion and the Xiliang Prince's Mansion. How many lives do you have left to live?"
A gleaming short knife appeared in Xu Shuyu's hand.
As soon as the two finished speaking, nearly a thousand assassins instantly appeared from the void, standing below the sword-testing platform and surrounding Shen Zhao.
"These ignorant fools dare to lay a finger on my man?"
Seeing this scene, Yu Xuanji, who was in the float, was already secretly planning to make a move.
On the stage, Shen Zhao quickly scanned his opponents, finally focusing on a few special individuals and paying them extra attention.
"Holding the Blood Droplet, at the sixth level of the Selfless Realm."
"A pair of iron claws, the ninth rank of the Selfless Realm."
"Two swordsmen, both at the eighth level of the Selfless Realm."
"Holding a soft whip, at the third rank of the Supreme Realm."
"Indestructible Vajra Body, Supreme Realm, Fourth Grade".
"Apart from that, there is nothing to worry about."
"It seems there's no need to reveal my full strength yet; the ethereal sword aura is enough to handle it."
He quickly devised a plan to break the deadlock, and his expression became calm and composed.
"What are your last words?"
Dong Chao roared angrily.
"ha……"
Shen Zhao smiled calmly.
"What makes you think I'm going to die here today?"
"Arrogant!"
Xu Shuyu immediately raised the short knife in his hand forward.
"Wait a moment!"
Just as the encirclement and killing were about to begin, Dong Wen suddenly stopped them.
"Ren Piaomiao, you are doomed in this round, but I still want to give you a chance."
"If you're willing to admit your mistake and say 'I was wrong' to me, I'll let you off this time!"
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