Chapter 54 – Upgraded Version: One Sword Opens Heaven's Gate!

The next day, early morning.

Ningchuan City, Ningchuan Martial Arts Academy, Martial Arts Plaza.

“You’ve lost!”

A sharp shout exploded, echoing above the Martial Arts Stage.

A young man stripped to the waist stood at the center, his muscles bulging and black hair dancing in the wind, his wild and fierce aura enveloping the entire area.

Beneath his feet lay a handsome man in white training clothes, spitting blood, his life hanging by a thread.

The teachers and students watching from below were stunned, unable to believe what they were seeing.

“Even our Senior Brother has been defeated. We have no one left to challenge him!”

“Did you see that? The Grassland Sword Saint’s disciple only needed one strike.”

“What a monster. How could such a terrifying monster emerge from the Grasslands? It’s too frightening…”

Everyone looked at the fierce young man with deep fear in their eyes.

The one standing on the stage was none other than the disciple of the Grassland Sword Saint.

Huyan Jian!

The man lying at his feet was the Senior Brother of Ningchuan Martial Arts Academy, the top genius of all Ningchuan City.

Everyone had witnessed the entire match.

Huyan Jian had effortlessly dismantled the Senior Brother’s attack with just one strike.

It was unimaginable—how vast must the gap in their strength be?!

In an instant.

The world fell silent.

All eyes turned to Huyan Jian, their previous hostility shifting to reverence and profound fear.

He was simply too strong!

This world revered strength above all else.

And without a doubt, Huyan Jian could easily dominate the younger generation of Ningchuan City.

Even the teachers of Ningchuan Martial Arts Academy might not be a match for him.

With such a disparity.

The only impression he left on everyone was deep-seated fear and apprehension.

Sensing the gazes directed at him, Huyan Jian remained calm and walked alone out of the academy.

Those in his path quickly made way for him.

At this point, no one in Ningchuan Martial Arts Academy could compel Huyan Jian to draw his sword.

The challenge had come to an end.

……..

Huyan Jian left Ningchuan Martial Arts Academy and swaggered through the streets, heading toward the hotel where he and his master were staying.

Along the way, many passersby glanced at him, drawn by his rugged and fierce appearance.

But Huyan Jian paid no mind to their stares, instead reflecting on the earlier battle with a tinge of disappointment.

“Too weak.”

“Are all the students in the city at this level?”

Huyan Jian pondered silently.

He had once fought an Elephant King bare-handed on the Grasslands and had trained for years on the brink of life and death during Beast Tides. His strength had long surpassed that of his peers on the Grasslands.

He had ventured out with his master in search of stronger opponents.

In his original expectations, Huyan Jian had anticipated a thrilling battle.

But to his surprise.

The city students, coddled and privileged, were worlds apart from the ferocious Star Beasts of the Grasslands!

Throughout his journey, Huyan Jian had effortlessly crushed the so-called geniuses of every city he visited, without breaking a sweat.

“With strength this feeble, it’s time they woke up.”

“But then again… how could the academy teachers, who haven’t even reached the Innate Realm, possibly nurture any real talent?”Lost in thought, Huyan Jian walked briskly down the road and soon arrived at the hotel where he and his teacher were staying.

The hotel was located in the bustling city center, luxurious and dignified—the top-tier hotel in all of Ningchuan City, where a single night’s stay cost more than an ordinary person’s wages for several months.

But now, the Ningchuan City government was footing the bill, providing it free of charge for the master and disciple.

And this was the privilege that came with strength.

Huyan Jian entered the hotel, took the elevator to the top floor, walked down the lavish corridor, and soon reached the door of their room.

“Master, I’m back!”

He swaggered into the room and immediately saw his teacher standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Dressed in a silver-gray fur coat, his face was dark and weathered, with deep wrinkles carved by the harsh winds of the Grassland. Years of exposure to the elements had left him looking extremely weathered, like a herdsman who had toiled for decades.

And this was none other than the Grassland Sword Saint himself—

Yuwen Xuan!

“Why are you back so early today?”

Yuwen Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, calmly gazing at the neon-lit scenery below.

“It’s boring, Master. The people in this city are no good—not a single one worth fighting.”

Huyan Jian shook his head, found a plush sofa, and lazily sprawled on it. “Master, where are we heading next?”

“Jianghai City,” Yuwen Xuan said.

“Jianghai City?”

At this, Huyan Jian shot up from the bed, his face lighting up with excitement.

“Are you going for the Jianghai Sword God?!”

In recent days, the Jianghai Sword God had gained widespread fame on the internet.

He was well-known among the younger generation and held a highly revered status.

Even Huyan Jian had watched the video of the Thousand-Mile Flying Sword a hundred times.

The only thing that disappointed him was that there seemed to be no rumors about the Sword God having a disciple. Otherwise, given his nature, he would have surely paid a visit.

Now, hearing that his teacher intended to challenge the Sword God, he was beyond thrilled.

“Master, judging from the videos online, the Sword God seems incredibly powerful. He can even control a sword from a thousand miles away to kill his enemies!”

Huyan Jian exclaimed excitedly.

“Indeed, it is precisely for this reason that I must go and meet this Jianghai Sword God, to see what he is truly capable of.”

Yuwen Xuan’s eyes gleamed, a sharp edge flashing deep within them. A chilling killing intent instantly filled the entire room.

“Let’s see how many of my strikes he can withstand!”

…

Time flew by.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Library, the pace of life gradually slowed down.

Qin Yang, as usual, clocked in for work normally, occasionally stealing some time to read a couple of books on the second floor, enjoying the leisurely days.

“Today should be the day.”

Qin Yang calculated the time. Over the past few days, thanks to Xiaobai’s Illusion, he had secretly read quite a few books on the second floor.

Now, his accumulation in the Sword Dao had reached the threshold for a breakthrough.

“Tsk, come to think of it, I haven’t actually read that much.”

Qin Yang pondered for a moment. It seemed he had only memorized all the Sword Dao martial arts manuals on the second floor.

How could one call it stealing when it was a scholar’s pursuit?

Thinking this, Qin Yang smiled faintly, closed his eyes, and sank into the Enlightenment Space within his mind.

In his Sea of Consciousness, countless characters surged and swirled—a true ocean of knowledge to swim in.

“Martial Arts Space, merge for me!”

“Deduce: One Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate!”

At his command—

Boom!The next moment, all characters flipped over as if drawn by some invisible force, pouring entirely into Qin Yang’s comprehension of One Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate.

Ten thousand swords merged into one, fusing and connecting all schools of thought.

A short while later.

Qin Yang slowly opened his eyes, with Sword Intent swirling like a storm deep within his pupils.

The realm of One Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate, enhanced by numerous Innate Realm sword techniques, directly ascended to Grandmaster-level!

(End of Chapter)