Chapter 1038 - 1037: Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage
At this moment, Chen Tianlong looked up and met Jian Wanli’s eyes. After a few seconds of looking at each other, Jian Wanli embarrassedly looked away. Chen Tianlong, however, gave her a slight smile and made a rather respectful bow.
"The martial arts tournament ceremony begins today. There is no need to register; simply go on stage to compete," Jian Wanli said with a faint smile.
Initially, this ceremony required registration before competing, but gradually, Jian Wanli met no opponents, and eventually cancelled those steps, directly setting up the arena—whoever can defeat her with a sword may marry her.
Originally, Chen Tianlong wasn’t interested in this matter, but heard that anyone who could spar with her for more than ten moves could freely choose a fine sword from the Hidden Sword Pavilion and take it as a souvenir.
Moreover, these swords were quite expensive, so many people had the mindset to give it a try and challenge. In less than ten minutes of Chen Tianlong and the others standing at the foot of the arena, four or five challengers had already suffered defeat, and very miserably.
Jian Wanli’s swordsmanship was indeed exquisite; generally, it wouldn’t take more than three moves to knock the opponent down. Chen Tianlong finally realized that this wasn’t a matter of strength—actually Jian Wanli’s strength was only one star, but even masters of the same level as him gained no advantage.
After all, when using the sword, one’s own strength couldn’t fully manifest, or it could be said that using the sword allowed Jian Wanli to be like a fish in water, and she didn’t worry; if someone could still defeat her under these conditions, it would mean the opponent’s strength was strong enough, and she wouldn’t complain about marrying them.
After a match, Chen Tianlong couldn’t help but say: "Miss Wan Li, is your rule real or fake?"
"Oh? What is real or fake, handsome, please clarify," Jian Wanli looked closely, and it turned out to be the guy she had locked eyes with for several seconds earlier, so she smiled and asked.
"I looked at your rules on the announcement—it says that anyone who can beat you with a sword can marry you. Does that mean, even if I already have a wife or look old and ugly, you still have to marry me?"
Chen Tianlong said somewhat playfully; originally today he was just accompanying his sister and Li Bingshuang out to play. If he stayed silent the whole time, how would it be different from staying at home?
"Hehe, to tell you honestly, I am such a person—as long as you can let me lose in a convincing manner, and you are willing to marry me, then what does age or appearance matter?"
Jian Wanli’s words instantly caused a commotion in the audience; they had this question too, thinking that she was a peerless beauty with excellent martial arts skills, and importantly the daughter of Hidden Sword Manor. If one were to win her hand, it would certainly be a fortune cultivated over past lifetimes.
"Oh, really, Miss, you are indeed generous, admirable." Chen Tianlong respectfully cupped his fists. After all, this was the common gesture among people of the martial world, and the lady was a martial artist, also a cultivator. Although her strength was only one star, she felt extremely challenging to deal with.
Chen Tianlong thought, if he didn’t rely on the Soul-Stealing Three Needles and two martial techniques, he might not be able to win easily. However, this time Chen Tianlong didn’t plan to have a match with her, but rather watched the drama from the sidelines.
As soon as he finished speaking, a fashionable-looking man with a demeanor of elegance and grace stepped onto the stage, accompanied by three followers—it was clear he was a son from a wealthy family.
But in the South Sea, he couldn’t possibly be unfamiliar—whether it was one of the four great families of South Sea City or the five major families of the Capital City, he essentially knew them all. Chen Tianlong genuinely didn’t understand who this person was.
"Miss, what you said earlier—is it true? For example, if I beat you, I can marry you and receive additional rewards?" The speaker was Xiao Jianteng, a young master from Sword Dao Sect, one of the four major sects near the Five Elements Mountain Range.
This time Xiao Jianteng came from Five Elements Mountain, and it was risky because he was a cultivator—he was on the list of the Cultivator Association with a strength of Celestial Dao five stars.
However, before coming, his father Xiao Changfeng repeatedly warned him not to display his strength, and at most only use up to ground seven stars, ensuring suppression; otherwise, if others found out his true strength and it reached the ears of the Cultivator Association, the Xiao Family would be in deep trouble.
Originally, among the three who accompanied him here, two were Celestial Dao three stars, and one was four stars, and casually any one of them could defeat Jian Wanli.
But what happens after defeating her?
What if she clings to them? Do they take her as a wife? It’d be fortunate if Sect Leader Xiao doesn’t smack them to death.
However, Xiao Jianteng was bold—even after much persuasion, he remained unmoved.
In the end, he could only let him go up on stage, Xiao Jianteng said his purpose was just to win over this woman and obtain corresponding rewards. This time, he came to South Sea City with a task—to come to Hidden Sword Manor and obtain a Divine Artifact.
This Divine Artifact had been in Hidden Sword Manor for many years, but outsiders were never allowed to enter until now, suddenly opening its doors, for specific reasons.
The Divine Artifact was the Dragon Slayer Sword—this Dragon Slayer Sword was said to have a history spanning thousands of years, left from ancient times, and passed down to the Xiao Family’s generation. The sword had been sealed, and no one knew for how many years.
It’s said this sword can slash heavenly gods and immortals above, and evil demons and ghosts below. The sword contains Spiritual Qi, and once it acknowledges a master, it can demonstrate its true power in the owner’s hands; other users only find it slightly sharper, otherwise akin to an ordinary weapon.
This is a Celestial Dao Weapon.
In recent months, for some unknown reason, the Dragon Slayer Sword began violently vibrating, regularly rattling itself. Manor Master Jian Wuming learned from the Sword Family elders that the Dragon Slayer Sword had sensed the presence of its master, indicating that soon, a mortal realm would appear with a strongman who could control this Divine Artifact.
Therefore, Manor Master Jian Wuming intentionally designated Hidden Sword Manor as a tourist area to find the destined one. Once the destined one appeared nearby, the Dragon Slayer Sword would have an even greater reaction.
"This... other rewards? I don’t know yet, but if you do beat me and become my husband, then make any conditions you desire, my dad will surely agree."
Jian Wanli looked at this handsome, charming man, feeling quite favorable towards him. If he can defeat her, it should make her father happy as well.
"Haha, I see, then... let’s begin." Xiao Jianteng said, then promptly opened his palm, Jian Wanli signaled for someone to present a sword.
Shortly after, a gleaming treasure sword was thrown over, and Xiao Jianteng casually caught it; the sword fell firmly into his grasp.
Chen Tianlong frowned upon seeing this, sensing the man’s formidable strength, yet he kept it suppressed. If it weren’t for him, probably only someone stronger could discern this.
However, Chen Tianlong was somewhat puzzled—if this person truly possessed such great strength, why engage in a competition for a girl in the mortal realm? Didn’t he realize that if caught, the consequences of cultivators running down privately were serious?