The next day, the Cloud Knight Martial Arts Assessment officially began.
As a grand military event held every five years, the assessment not only tested overall combat strength but was also the direct key to selecting new Vanguards.
Those who performed exceptionally well qualified for promotion to Vanguard; winning the championship in the martial arts assessment resulted in an immediate promotion.
Countless Cloud Knights were eager to try their hand, the viewing stands were packed, and both General Wind of Evil and the active Vanguards were present.
Shortly after the assessment began, individuals with extraordinary combat power emerged one after another on the arenas of each district.
The most eye-catching among them was a woman dressed in light armor, her ice-colored long hair tied into a high ponytail with a blue ribbon.
She had a cold and aloof temperament, possessing the air of a banished immortal who did not belong to the mortal world.
Of course, her outstanding appearance and temperament were not the main reasons she attracted so many gazes.
In the martial arts assessment, strength is ultimately what commands respect.
From the very first match of the preliminaries, Jingliu displayed an astonishing dominance.
There was no testing the waters, no prolonged struggle.
Her opponents could not even see when her sword left its scabbard before being knocked off the arena by the flat of her blade.
"Too fast... I couldn't react at all!"
"Whose subordinate is that? Why haven't I heard of her before?"
"One look and I can tell you're a recruit. That's the personal disciple of Cloud Knight Vanguard Lord Zhimu. It's said she fell into a deep sleep after that reinforcement campaign and only woke up recently..."
"I see."
A few decades was enough for many faces to change within the Cloud Knights.
Amidst the discussions, Jingliu advanced triumphantly.
Whether they were veterans skilled in close-quarters combat or elites proficient in weaponry, none could last more than a few moves against her.
Exchanging blows with fellow soldiers outside of the battlefield, the few who remembered her all felt a sense of newfound respect.
It turned out she had always radiated such a sharp edge that one dared not look at her directly.
This grand martial arts event lasted for several days, and even by the finals, no one had been able to find the limits of Jingliu's power.
The longest match lasted only a few dozen rounds, not even a minute.
"As expected of a descendant of the Qi Family, he really has a way with training disciples."
At the highest point of the viewing stand, a look of approval flashed in Wind of Evil's eyes as he smiled at Qi Zhimu beside him.
"It's hard to imagine what level of strength Jingliu would have reached by now if she hadn't been in a deep sleep for those decades."
Qi Zhimu shook his head slightly, his expression unchanged.
The finals were about to begin, and Jingliu and her opponent stepped onto the stage together.
Standing across from Jingliu was another favorite to win, Qin Huaimin.
Not only did this person have illustrious military achievements, but it was also rumored that he had cultivated True Qi through his elixir organ, possessing formidable strength.
Similar to Jingliu, he had also fought his way through obstacles to reach the finals.
"Please advise me."
Qin Huaimin held a longsword, his expression solemn.
He had watched every one of Jingliu's previous matches and knew full well how powerful this comrade of his was.
"Please."
Jingliu casually drew a standard-issue Cloud Knight heavy sword and held it with one hand.
The battle erupted in an instant.
Sword intent permeated Qin Huaimin's surroundings as he swung his heavy sword so tightly that not even air could pass, precisely blocking Jingliu's lightning-fast thrusts.
Their figures flickered as the sound of clashing metal rang out as dense as a rainstorm.
Unknowingly, the bluestone slabs on the arena shattered inch by inch as sword qi overflowed.
Qin Huaimin grew more alarmed as the fight progressed; his invincible sword techniques, which he took great pride in, failed to gain even the slightest advantage against Jingliu's violent offensive.
After dozens of rounds, he narrowed his eyes and decisively pulled back to create distance, controlling his sword to take to the air as his True Qi surged violently.
Before Jingliu could pursue, an ancient sword intent with an incredible sense of pressure rapidly spread out.
"Using the heart as a scabbard to nourish the sharp blade!"
The heavy sword in Qin Huaimin's hand seemed to awaken like a living thing. Sword intent and True Qi fused perfectly, the heavenly gates opened, and a massive ancient sword that covered the entire arena crashed down.
On the viewing stand, several Vanguards suddenly stood up.
"Taixu Sword Form?!"
"Qin Huaimin actually mastered it? You know, his old man practiced this move for a full two hundred years."
"It looks like the winner has been decided; Jingliu probably won't be able to block it."
"Not necessarily; her expression is still calm."
"...Actually, she's always had that expression..."
Discussions rose and fell. Whether they recognized the move or not, the Cloud Knights present were all filled with shock.
Qi Zhimu sat calmly next to Wind of Evil, his expression tranquil, but his gaze closely followed his disciple's back.
Above the arena, Qin Huaimin changed the sword seals in his hands.
"Three feet of water can intercept the clouds!"
The giant sword crashed down, the air being compressed into a piercing whistling sound.
Jingliu looked up, not a hint of fear in her eyes, only her usual coldness. With a flick of her wrist, the ordinary standard-issue longsword in her hand rose to meet the attack.
Crack—
Ordinary iron ultimately could not withstand the power of Taixu Sword Qi; the longsword shattered into pieces the moment it touched the giant sword.
Boom!!!
The giant sword's momentum remained unchecked as it slammed heavily onto the arena.
The entire arena was instantly reduced to ruins, as if it had been hit head-on by a falling meteor.
A terrifying shockwave erupted, dust filled the sky, and stone fragments turned into bullets, shooting out in all directions.
"I didn't expect the finals to end so quickly..."
Someone sighed, believing Jingliu had lost and was perhaps even seriously injured.
However, when the dust cleared, countless spectators seemed as if they were being choked, unable to make a sound.
In the center of the ruins, Flying Swords were packed densely, forming a massive spherical sword formation that firmly held the seemingly invincible Taixu Sword Qi at bay.
The sword formation slowly dispersed, revealing Jingliu standing alone and unscathed within.
One blade, two blades... a hundred blades... many people counted, growing more alarmed with each number.
"S-Six hundred blades?!"
An experienced Cloud Knight cried out in shock.
"Good heavens! She can actually control six hundred Flying Swords? Her divine sense didn't crumble on the spot from the immense burden?!"
"...You're blind. Haven't you realized by now that Jingliu is one of the few lucky ones who has cultivated True Qi?"
"You can't envy that; it really depends on talent. Some people can't cultivate it in their whole lives, so what can you do?"
The entire venue was in an uproar.
Jingliu's expression was calm, her gaze not wavering in the slightest.
Qin Huaimin, however, had a solemn face.
He had also cultivated True Qi, but controlling two hundred Flying Swords was currently his limit.
Even with the enhancement of the Taixu Sword Form, he could not achieve what Jingliu had done...
The winner had not yet been decided, and Qin Huaimin did not show any cowardice. With a shake of his shoulders, he summoned two hundred Flying Swords.
With a thought from Jingliu, the six hundred Flying Swords turned into streaks of light, pouring toward Qin Huaimin.
Qin Huaimin tried to resist, but the numbers were too lopsided, and his Flying Swords were quickly scattered.
After only three rounds.
When a sword light stopped three inches before the center of Qin Huaimin's forehead, a helpless, bitter smile appeared on his face.
"I lost."
After a brief silence, an explosive cheer almost blew the roof off the Martial Arts Field.
"Six hundred Flying Swords, truly terrifying. I'm afraid many veteran Vanguards don't have this kind of strength."
"If the disciple is this powerful, just how strong must Lord Zhimu be as her master?"
"In that war decades ago, Lord Zhimu was the one who killed the most Abominations. What do you think?"
"..."
While the spectators were discussing fervently, General Wind of Evil stood up from the high viewing stand with a laugh, his voice echoing throughout the venue.
"I announce that the winner of the 427th Cloud Knight Martial Arts Assessment is—Jingliu! From this day forward, she is promoted to Cloud Knight Vanguard."
Under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, glory was bestowed upon her.
In the midst of the deafening cheers, Jingliu seemed as if she were detached from it all.
She did not look at the cheering crowd; after giving a bow to the General, she immediately turned her head to look at the figure beside him.
As her eyes met her master's, the light in her eyes flickered.
There was expectation, longing, and a sense of filial devotion, like a child waiting for a parent's praise after getting a perfect score.
But there was no expression at all on Qi Zhimu's face.