After Being Reborn, I Refuse To Be The Holy Son Of The Sect Anymore

Chapter 26:

A month remained before the Northern Territory’s once-in-sixty-years Grand Competition. The Azure Sun Sword Sect decided to hold an internal competition to determine its representatives for the event.

When Sect Master Jiang Qitian announced the internal competition, the entire sect was in an uproar. However, Xiao Yang felt only disdain when he heard the news.

Upon uncovering the sect’s shocking conspiracy, whatever respect he had left for his master, Jiang Qitian, vanished completely. Who would have thought that the dignified sect master of Azure Sun Sword Sect was nothing more than a hypocrite?

Countless disciples within the sect had been thoroughly deceived by their sect master.

While the younger generation of disciples eagerly prepared to shine in the upcoming competition, Xiao Yang quietly returned to the Azure Sun Secret Realm.

With Song Qiang guarding the Holy Son’s residence, Jiang Ting and her group wouldn’t dare covet it any longer.

“You brat, why are you back so soon?”

The Sword Guardian Elder’s face lit up with joy upon seeing Xiao Yang. Since Xiao Yang’s departure, there had been no one to spar with or drink with, leaving the elder utterly bored.

“Because I missed you!” Xiao Yang replied with a grin.

“Yeah, right! I don’t believe a word you say.”

The elder scoffed, knowing better than to trust Xiao Yang’s teasing.

“Let’s fight first!” Without hesitation, the elder thrust his sword directly at Xiao Yang.

The sharp sword light tore through the void, reaching Xiao Yang’s chest in an instant.

“Good timing!” Xiao Yang shouted, raising his right hand to form a sword finger, then pointed forward.

His sword finger accurately intercepted the elder’s sword light.

A resonating hum echoed as the clash of their sword energies erupted. The elder was forced backward, while Xiao Yang took several steps back as well.

“What is this…?” The elder stared at Xiao Yang, a sword rainbow spiraling around him. The sharp light pierced through the void, emitting a whistling sound.

“This doesn’t quite seem like the Azure Sun Sword Technique!” the elder said, puzzled.

“It’s my own sword path!” Xiao Yang replied with a smirk. Then, he stomped the ground, launching himself into the air, and appeared above the elder’s head in an instant.

“Your sword path?” The elder was stunned. Could it be that Xiao Yang, at such a young age, had already forged his own path? How was that possible?

He knew how difficult it was for someone to carve out their own path in cultivation.

“Nine Suns in the Sky!”

Xiao Yang unleashed the ultimate technique of the Azure Sun Sword Technique with all his might.

With a resonant sword cry, nine radiant sword lights appeared in the sky. Under his guidance, the nine sword lights pressed down toward the elder below.

The surging sword energy rippling from the nine lights caused the surrounding void to tremble like transparent waves.

“Here we go again!” The elder laughed, waving his right hand to conjure nine sword lights of his own.

A thunderous explosion ensued as the two forces collided. Everything within a ten-zhang radius was shredded into countless fragments by the erupting sword energy.

The two engaged in a fierce battle, moving swiftly across the area. Xiao Yang went all out, pushing his limits to their fullest.

After the fight, his cultivation finally broke through, reaching the pinnacle of the Sky Martial Realm.

With the Heavenly Overturning Sword Technique and his perfected tenth-level sword intent, he was nearly invincible among his peers.

The elder, who had suppressed his cultivation to the Sky Martial Realm, couldn’t match Xiao Yang’s power.

Despite this breakthrough, Xiao Yang didn’t plan to stay in the secret realm for long.

How could he miss such a grand event as the sect’s internal competition?

“You brat, you’re truly astonishing.”

After the intense battle, the two sat at the base of the Sword Platform, drinking to their hearts’ content.

The elder had somehow procured a whole lamb and prepared a roasted feast. With large bowls of wine and chunks of meat, there was only one word to describe the scene—”satisfying!”

“Brat, we’re not leaving until we’re drunk!” The elder’s happiness was palpable.

“Old man, take care of yourself,” Xiao Yang muttered, hesitating before letting out a sigh and saying no more.

“What did you say?” The elder gave him a puzzled look.

“Nothing. Drink up!” Xiao Yang clinked his bowl against the elder’s and downed it in one go.

“Good!” The elder gave him a thumbs-up and followed suit, finishing his drink in one gulp.

“Another round!”

With frustration in his heart, Xiao Yang sought solace in the wine, drinking until he was thoroughly intoxicated. The elder, too, seemed burdened with thoughts.

Before long, both were visibly drunk.

When Xiao Yang left the secret realm, he was brimming with confidence. His cultivation had successfully advanced to the peak of the Sky Martial Realm.

Past adversaries now seemed like mere ants in his eyes.

As the sun rose and its golden rays illuminated the peak of Azure Sun Mountain, the sound of a bell echoed through the mountains, signaling the start of a new day.

The Azure Sun Mountain quickly bustled with activity as countless disciples gathered at the Azure Sun Grand Hall at the mountain’s summit.

In front of the hall, the sword competition platform had already been raised. Sect Master Jiang Qitian, Elder Cang Xiao, and Law Enforcement Elder Lei Lie were seated in the prominent seats.

Apart from the three major leaders, the sect’s other elders and their disciples were also present, including Elder Fang Tang of the Miscellaneous Hall, Elder Qinglian of the Spiritual Herb Valley, and Elder Gufeng of the Library Pavilion. These were the five great elders of Azure Sun Sword Sect.

When Xiao Yang arrived, the square was already teeming with disciples, all brimming with excitement.

After all, the internal competition was their chance to shine.

“Greetings to my master and esteemed elders!” Xiao Yang bowed to Jiang Qitian and the elders before taking his seat at the Holy Son’s designated spot beneath the sect master’s throne.

Jiang Qitian then announced the start of the competition.

The disciples were eager but hesitant to step onto the stage. The competition’s rules were simple: victory in two consecutive duels would allow a disciple to rest before continuing. Losing two consecutive matches meant elimination from the competition.

Using underhanded tactics was strictly forbidden. 

With so many elders watching, who would dare resort to foul play?

As the disciples hesitated, a figure boldly stepped forward.

It was Lin Wangchuan, the senior disciple of Elder Gufeng of the Library Pavilion.

Lin Wangchuan was an odd character in the sect, resembling a perpetually playful child. He spent most of his time roaming the mountains and rarely trained.

His master, Elder Gufeng, let him be, allowing him to cause mischief in the mountains.

Now, Lin Wangchuan leaped onto the competition platform, drawing surprised looks from the crowd. This was the sect’s grand competition, not a place for him to fool around.

“Come on, who wants to fight me?” Lin Wangchuan called out, hands on his hips, challenging the disciples below.

Many disciples viewed him as a joke, a mischievous fool who played with birds and beasts in the mountains rather than focusing on cultivation.

“I’ll take you on!” A booming voice came from the crowd as Wang Ao leaped onto the stage.

Wang Ao had been humiliated by Li Xingyao during her challenge on Azure Sun Mountain. Determined to redeem himself, he had trained hard and was now on the verge of breaking into the Half-Step Sky Martial Realm.

Defeating Lin Wangchuan would be a trivial task—or so he thought.

But was Lin Wangchuan truly as weak as everyone believed?

Xiao Yang smiled faintly, knowing Wang Ao was about to have a tough time.

The battle began without unnecessary words. Sword energy filled the stage as Wang Ao’s flaming sword transformed into a fiery bird, diving toward Lin Wangchuan.

This technique, sword energy manifestation, was a powerful ability usually reserved for peak Divine Ability Realm cultivators. It required vast amounts of vital energy and couldn’t be sustained for long.

If Wang Ao advanced to the Sky Martial Realm, he could channel the world’s spiritual energy, amplifying his sword techniques tenfold while reducing the strain on his vital energy.

“Ha! Sword energy manifestation? I can do that too. Come forth, tiger!” Lin Wangchuan laughed.

A shadowy tiger erupted from Lin Wangchuan’s body, leaping toward the fiery bird.

Sword energy surged wildly, radiating an unparalleled aura.