"Hey, have you heard? The Holy Sword Sect is hosting a Great Sword Contest soon."

    In an inn in the wilderness, the diners at the drinking table talked animatedly. Several tables nearby attracted quite a few people interested in good stories. Upon hearing about such a significant event, one person was more excited than the next.

    Only in the corner, a man in a green shirt who had been drinking heavily showed no interest.

    "It's indeed been buzzing all over, I heard that not only in my Youzhou, but also many skilled people from other places in the Nine States have come."

    "You guys, what do you think? Why does the Holy Sword Sect propose to hold a famous sword convention at this moment?"

    "What could it be for? Nowadays, the land of Youzhou is under the rule of the Silent Sect, but the Holy Sword Sect is a hard nut to crack. They have been oppressed for so long and have many grievances in their hearts. Perhaps they are trying to take advantage of this opportunity to recruit some skilled people."

    "There are so many swordsmen in the world. If the Holy Sword Sect can use this opportunity to recruit top talents worldwide, it might truly be able to divide Youzhou into two with the Silent Sect."

    "That's the way it sounds, but can the Holy Sword Sect really get all the swordsmen to listen to them? Moreover, just because the Holy Sword Sect is holding a famous sword convention, it doesn't necessarily mean that all the formidable swordsmen will participate."

    "Ha, you don't understand, a thousand years ago, the famous sword god Li Zhengyi was from the Holy Sword Sect. And also, the current list of famous swords in the nine provinces is also determined by the Holy Sword Sect. It can be said that the Holy Sword Sect is the holy door of all swordsmen in the world. If they hold a famous sword conference, nearly all sword masters will come here."

    "A thousand years have passed, the world has changed, and things are different. The famous sword list that emerged a thousand years ago caused a stir throughout the world. Today, when the Holy Sword Sect holds another Famous Sword Convention, it is possible that they are doing so to create a new list of famous swords in the nine provinces. How could all swordsmen not flock to this event?"

    "Oh, do you think, who will win the championship in this Famous Sword Convention?"

    ...

    The diners in the inn were chatting animatedly, when suddenly a loud voice rang out from outside the inn.

    "As for the champion, it's naturally my Qinggang Ziyun sword."

    As soon as the words fell, a three-foot-long sword was taken out and stood vertically in the center of the inn.

    The hilt was greenish, and the blade was purple, gleaming with cold light. Just looking at it sent shivers down the spine.

    With the descent of the Qinggang Ziyun sword, everyone around the inn was taken aback, their expressions serious as they fixed their eyes on the vividly colored three-foot-long blade.

    "Qinggang Ziyun sword? That's not the famous sword of the Forging Pavilion, is it?"

    "It is said that nine out of ten of the heavenly weapons in the world come from the Forging Pavilion. And the Forging Pavilion, which has forged so many divine weapons, forged a legendary weapon that shook the world a few years ago, which is the Qinggang Ziyun sword."

    "Heard that the Qinggang Ziyun sword is an exclusive treasure of the Forging Pavilion and is not passed on outside. Now, it is in the hands of the young master Li Yijian of the Forging Pavilion."

    ...

    "Haha, thank you for recognizing the origin of my Qinggang Ziyun sword."

    As the crowd finished speaking, a young man suddenly walked into the inn from outside. He wore a long purple robe, carried a sword hilt at his waist, and crossed his hands behind him, exuding an air of commanding presence.

    The youth's waist hung a token, and on the token, there was a large 'sword' character engraved.

    Seeing the youth's attire and the token on his waist, it is not difficult to guess his identity.

    "You... you are the young master of the Forging Pavilion, Li Yijian?"

    The youth arrogantly smiled, "That's right, it's me."

    As soon as the words fell, Li Yijian, the youth in purple robes, casually lifted his hand. In an instant, the Qinggang Ziyun sword that had fallen to the ground returned to his grasp, and with a 'slap' sound, the blade was sheathed.

    "Just now, I heard you talking about how powerful the famous sword in the world is. Haha, my skills are nothing to boast about. If my Qinggang Ziyun sword were to be ranked second on the nine provinces' famous sword list, then there would be no first place in the world."

    Li Yijian slightly raised his eyebrows, looking contemptuous as he scanned the surroundings, slowly exuding a sense of arrogance.

    Arrogance is something that needs capital. Fortunately, Li Yijian has this capital. Whether it's the sword or swordsmanship, he possesses both.

    The Forging Pavilion has forged countless divine weapons in the world, and the Qinggang Ziyun sword is a leading weapon among them. In addition, the Forging Pavilion's research in swordsmanship is only comparable to that of the Holy Sword Sect in all of heaven and earth.

    Li Yijian is the talented son of the Forging Pavilion. At such a young age, he has mastered swordsmanship to an amazing degree. No one in the entire Forging Pavilion can surpass him.

    "Who cares about the Forging Pavilion? My Tian Shan Xue is not inferior to your Qinggang Ziyun sword."

    Another voice echoed from outside the inn, and a man in sturdy attire, with a black and red giant sword hanging at his waist, suddenly drew the sword as his words fell.

    A sudden cold light swept across the entire inn, and the giant sword was inserted vertically in the center of the inn. An indistinguishable sword aura suddenly erupted, pushing back the bystanders around it with a force, sending them flying backwards dozens of steps.

    "Tian Shan Xue? That is the heirloom of Tian Shan Sect, and it is said to be ranked third on the famous sword list. I didn't expect to see it here."

    "Tian Shan Sect is mysterious and almost hidden away. I didn't expect a Holy Sword Sect's famous sword conference to bring them out of the shadows."

    ...

    Amidst the various discussions, Li Yijian raised an eyebrow, his expression full of disapproval as he glanced at the man, "You are..."

    "Very well, the young master of Tian Shan Sect, Luo Shan."

    The man spoke in a deep, booming voice.

    Li Yijian's expression darkened. "Is that comment you just made a challenge to the Forging Pavilion?"

    "You can think so. After all, in my eyes, you are just a group of blacksmiths. If we talk about the number one position on the famous sword list, it has to be the Tian Shan Xue of Tian Shan Sect."

    "Insolent, are you going to test the sharpness of my sword?"

    Li Yijian roared, drawing his sword and fixing his round eyes on Luo Shan with a stare. "My sword has never been dull."

    Luo Shan drew his sword, and as the two faced each other, the atmosphere became extremely tense. It seemed as though at any moment, they would engage in a sword fight.

    However, at that very moment, a cheerful laugh rang out.

    Both men hesitated and turned to look towards the laugh. They saw a man sitting in the corner of the inn, wearing a green robe, his beard scruffy and his appearance unrefined.

    His cheeks were flushed, and it was clear that he had been drinking. He occasionally filled his gourd with alcohol and drank it, and at the same time, he kept touching the long sword resting on the table with his hand.

    "What are you laughing at?"

    Luo Shan roared, but despite the man's disheveled appearance as a seemingly drunkard, an instinct told him that this man was not to be underestimated.

    The man in the green robe chuckled and said, "The world is not strengthened by swords, but by people... even the weakest branch picked up carelessly can become the number one sword master."

    As soon as the words fell, the man in the green robe drew his sword out of its sheath. The shining blade suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes.

    The sword is decent enough, but unfortunately, it's only half a sword.

    There is a neat cut on the center of the long sword, as if it was cut by someone with a sword.

    The man in the green robe carefully caressed the blade, and his drunken eyes grew tender.

    "Haha, you shouldn't think that just with this broken sword of yours, you can win the championship of this famous sword convention, should you?"

    Luo Shan scoffed coldly.

    The man in the green robe smiled slightly, looked up at the crowd, and said with a serious expression, "I have every intention of doing so."

    "Arrogant guy, let me try your swordplay."

    Luo Shan could no longer sit still. He drew his sword and a sudden burst of sword qi erupted.

    The man in the green robe laughed lightly, "Why don't you all join in?"

    So arrogant... Li Yijian, standing to one side, slightly furrowed his brow, his expression carrying a hint of dissatisfaction. After thinking for a moment, he also drew out his Qinggang Ziyun sword.

    "May I ask what is the name of your sword?"

    The man in the green robe stood up, holding the half-broken sword horizontally, "Third Young Master's Sword."

    "I like to call it 'In One Life, I Will Cultivate the Sour-Tempered Empress and Make Her a Madame with a Single Month to Live.' Please look forward to updates, which are the fastest in the whole network."