Looking at Jian Jiu Yang, who seemed so excited he was about to jump out of his skin, Luo Xiu was quite puzzled.
Even if I am handsome, it's not to the point where an old man should be fawning over me, is it?
So he asked, "Sir, may I know why you were looking for me?"
Jian Jiu Yang suddenly grabbed Luo Xiu's left wrist. "Of course, there is! And it's something major!"
Luo Xiu's expression turned strange. He tried to pull his hand back, but Jian Jiu Yang's eyes suddenly widened in shock. He let out a cry of disbelief as he stared at Luo Xiu.
He had used a bone-reading technique to determine Luo Xiu's age.
A Cultivator's age might not be apparent from their appearance, but the age of their bones could not be faked.
"Young man, you're only twenty-two?!"
Luo Xiu was momentarily speechless. He wasn't even sure of his exact age himself; after all, most Cultivators didn't bother keeping track of such details.
However, this current body was indeed about twenty-two years old, ever since he was reborn.
Luo Xiu withdrew his hand and said, "Sir, if you have something to say, please be direct."
Jian Jiu Yang stared intently at Luo Xiu, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Young man, were you the one who broke the Sword Intent I left on the Mighty Celestial Stone in Yunyang City?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Xiu frowned slightly and began to scrutinize Jian Jiu Yang in earnest.
So the Sword Intent within the Mighty Celestial Stone Inscription was left by this old man. To be honest, though, that Sword Intent was nothing special. It had something to it, but not much.
Luo Xiu nodded lightly. "I was."
At his words, Jian Jiu Yang suddenly fell silent. He then gripped Luo Xiu's shoulders tightly with both hands, as if afraid he might run away.
At this moment, more and more onlookers were gathering nearby. Without exception, every one of them looked at Luo Xiu with envy.
As for A Wei and Yu Han standing to the side, their expressions had frozen, their gazes on Luo Xiu growing complicated.
"Hahahaha... Remarkable, young man! You are the first prodigy in history to break my Sword Intent!"
Jian Jiu Yang's sudden laughter shattered the silence. The slight tremble in his voice was enough to prove just how excited the old Sword God was.
He was pure of heart and had dedicated his entire life to the Sword Dao. Now, with his lifespan nearly at its end, he had suddenly encountered a prodigy suited to inherit his legacy. How could he not be excited?
"On this point alone, none of the geniuses of this generation can hold a candle to you!"
Hearing Jian Jiu Yang's words, the surrounding crowd was shocked into disbelief.
How many people in the world could receive such high praise from the Sword God? Not even Zhu Yu or the Plateau Saintess had ever received such high praise from the Sword God!
Meanwhile, A Wei stood stiff as a board, hardly daring to look Luo Xiu in the eye.
He recalled how just yesterday he had publicly accused Luo Xiu of passing the test through cheap tricks and opportunism. His face burned with shame.
It turns out I was the clown who failed to recognize true genius.
...
Jian Jiu Yang stared at Luo Xiu with undisguised eagerness. "Young man, are you willing to take me as your master and inherit my mantle?"
Luo Xiu met Jian Jiu Yang's gaze calmly, saying nothing.
I could use this Jian Jiu Yang... The old man is a White Emperor, after all. He must hold an extraordinary and influential position on the Lingtian Plateau. If I can make good use of him, it'll save me a lot of trouble.
The onlookers, however, were burning with impatience, wishing they could step forward and accept on Luo Xiu's behalf!
To be taken as a disciple by the Sword God—and for the Sword God to make the offer himself! That was the kind of blessing that came once in eight lifetimes!
And this kid was actually hesitating! It was enough to drive a person mad!
But just as everyone expected Luo Xiu to kneel and accept, he unexpectedly shook his head and refused.
"I'm sorry, I already have a master."
He had ultimately dismissed the idea of using Jian Jiu Yang. He could see that this was a true Swordsman, one worthy of respect. That was why he refused so directly.
Hearing this, Jian Jiu Yang was stunned for a moment. Then, a pained look crossed his face as he forced a bitter smile. "It seems we are not fated to be master and disciple."
"Alas... Young man, may I ask the name of your esteemed master?"
Luo Xiu replied, "It is not convenient to say."
Jian Jiu Yang was still unwilling to give up. He cupped his fist and said, "I am Jian Jiu Yang. May I have your name, young friend? Even if we are not fated for me to be your teacher, we can still become friends despite our age gap and discuss the Sword Dao together."
Luo Xiu returned the gesture. "Bai Haoran."
Jian Jiu Yang laughed. "Friend Haoran, would you care to adjourn somewhere for a drink and a chat?"
"The Sword Forest Rankings are here—!"
Just as Luo Xiu was about to refuse, a voice that sounded rather like a squawking drake echoed from above the town.
Everyone looked up to see a giant Celestial Crane diving down from the sky, landing in the small square in front of Wangjian Inn.
The voice, it seemed, had come from the crane itself. It held a scroll in its beak.
"Look, it's the Sword Forest Rankings!" a Cultivator in the crowd suddenly exclaimed.
"Does that mean someone has already cleared the Sword Forest so quickly?"
"It must be. Why else would the Celestial Crane deliver the Rankings?"
...
After delivering the Sword Forest Rankings, the Celestial Crane spread its wings and flew away.
In the air above the small square, the scroll unfurled horizontally, and a line of shimmering golden characters gradually appeared on it.
[Zhu Yu, cleared the Sword Forest in three days.]
As the golden text appeared, the crowd immediately erupted.
"Heavens, he cleared the Sword Forest in only three days! Is Zhu Yu even human?"
"Of course! He's the Yu Emperor now, the world's youngest Profound Emperor!"
"It's not so surprising for something this incredible to happen to Zhu Yu."
"True. It's said that back when the Azure Emperor was the Yu Emperor's age, he hadn't yet entered the Emperor Realm."
...
The crowd buzzed with astonished and admiring discussion.
Just then, a second line of golden characters appeared on the Sword Forest Rankings.
[Luo Xier, cleared the Sword Forest in four days.]
When this line appeared, the crowd erupted once more!
"Incredible! To clear the Sword Forest in only four days!"
"I know! What kind of demon takes only one day longer than the Yu Emperor!"
...
In the crowd, Jian Jiu Yang stroked his beard. He looked at the second line of golden characters with a face full of admiration, sighing to himself that the little witch was truly something special.
Suddenly, he remembered something. He turned sharply toward Luo Xiu and said, "Friend Haoran, according to the schedule, you should have entered the Sword Forest today. How is it that you're already..."
"Sigh!"
A Wei sighed from beside them.
I can't miss this rare opportunity to speak with the Sword God. What if he takes a liking to me, too?
"Grandfather Sword God, you may not be aware, but it's a terrible shame... Haoran forfeited his spot!"
Upon hearing this, Jian Jiu Yang's expression grew somber. He looked at Luo Xiu, a hint of regret in his eyes.
Although the time it took to clear the Sword Forest wasn't a perfect measure of a Cultivator's true talent, Jian Jiu Yang believed that with Luo Xiu's ability to break his Sword Intent, clearing it in ten days or so would have been no problem at all. After all, he himself had attempted it years ago and taken more than ten days to emerge.
"Alas, Friend Haoran, why did you give up?"
Jian Jiu Yang's face was a mask of frustration and regret. The more he thought about it, the more of a pity it seemed.
Just then, A Wei walked up and, with an air of great familiarity, clapped Luo Xiu on the shoulder. "Haoran, don't be disheartened," he consoled. "No matter what, you've earned the admiration of Grandfather Sword God. Even if you can't participate in the sword competition this time, there will be other opportunities in the future."
Yu Han nodded and added her own comfort. "That's right, Little Brother Haoran. Earning the Sword God's admiration is an honor for all of us from Yunyang."
Luo Xiu had a strange look on his face and was about to explain, but just then, fresh cries of surprise came from the crowd.
"Look, look! There are more words! Could a third person have cleared the Sword Forest today?"
Luo Xiu looked up and saw a third line of golden characters materializing on the Sword Forest Rankings.
After a moment, as the third line of golden characters fully appeared, the entire square fell instantly silent.
[Bai Haoran, cleared the Sword Forest in less than an hour.]
...