Chapter 695

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Chapter 695: A Battlefield Without Gunfire!

Upon spotting these figures, Su Yi’s brows knitted tightly.

Among the five figures, four were young disciples—three boys and one girl—ranging in age from fourteen to twenty. However, one of the young men seemed slightly older, around twenty-three or twenty-four.

All four of them wore identical badges, the same as Su Yi’s—the insignia of the Divine Sword School. Among them, Su Yi recognized a young man clad in a brocade robe.

The young man’s name was Si Xiuyuan. He was an alchemist with commendable strength. However, during the Grand Swordsmanship Competition at the Divine Sword School, he failed to reach the final round due to an insufficient number of Sword-patterned Stones. Nevertheless, he managed to enter the Divine Sword Valley.

Leading the group was an elderly man whose presence made Su Yi’s gaze flicker with a hint of coldness. It was none other than Elder Bai Mingshan. This confirmed that the group belonged to the Divine Sword School.

Xi Wuqing noticed the subtle shift in Su Yi’s expression but chose not to react outwardly.

“I didn’t expect to run into Elder Jian and Elder Suyun,” Su Yi remarked.

Bai Mingshan descended, casting a glance at Jian Wannian from the Tianxuan Sect and Elder Suyun from the Qingyun Sect. He subtly averted his gaze, as though surprised and not entirely pleased to encounter the Tianxuan Sect and the Qingyun Sect at this moment.

“So it is Elder Bai from the Divine Sword School. I heard your direct disciple, Yun Lingfeng, has received immense benefits from the Divine Sword School and even inherited a divine weapon from its ancestors. Congratulations on such a talented disciple.”

Upon seeing Bai Mingshan, Elder Jian greeted him, though his smile appeared somewhat forced.

“I wonder where Elder Jian heard such news. He is quite well-informed!” Bai Mingshan was momentarily taken aback but soon relaxed at the mention of his disciple, Yun Lingfeng.

“I also heard that Elder Bai’s disciple is a Soul Tamer. I wonder if that disciple is here?” Elder Jian inquired, his eyes scanning Si Xiuyuan and the others with interest.

“Well… my disciple did not come to the Central Region this time.” Bai Mingshan’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.

If not for Su Kuangge stirring up trouble, his disciple would not have been punished. This Saint Martial Assembly was Yun Lingfeng’s prime opportunity to make a name for himself in the Central Region. It was the perfect chance to earn recognition and prestige.

Now that this opportunity was lost, the next Saint Martial Assembly wouldn’t take place for another thirty years, by which time Yun Lingfeng would be ineligible to participate.

“Oh, I see…” Jian Wannian said, with a hint of regret in his tone.

“It’s getting late. Let’s proceed with the test first.” Elder Suyun spoke with a slight smile and led four young disciples from the Qingyun Sect up the steps. They bypassed the queue and were granted immediate entry after presenting something at the door.

Jian Wannian followed closely behind.

Bai Mingshan hesitated briefly, his expression unnatural. It seemed as though he was reluctant to proceed with the Tianxuan Sect and the Qingyun Sect, yet he had no alternative.

Others might not have realized it, but Bai Mingshan himself was fully aware.

This time, he had brought along a young Soul Tamer, two promising young alchemists, and a weapon refiner. Though these disciples were among the most outstanding in the Divine Sword School, Bai Mingshan had observed that the young talents from the Tianxuan Sect and Qingyun Sect appeared to possess even greater potential.

The Saint Martial Assembly, held once every thirty years, served as a grand stage for competing factions. Over the years, the preliminary testing conducted by Yutian Palace had evolved into an invisible battlefield among the major forces.

The significance of alchemists, weapon refiners, and Soul Tamers to the various factions was undeniable. Before the Saint Martial Assembly, many sects took the opportunity to bring young alchemists and weapon refiners of appropriate age to Yutian Palace for testing. This practice had gradually solidified into an unwritten rule and had become an essential part of the Saint Martial Assembly’s preparatory phase.

If someone could outshine their peers in the Yutian Palace test, their performance would, to some extent, reflect their potential standing in the Saint Martial Assembly. While not an absolute predictor, it was often an indicator of the final ranking for alchemists and craftsmen.

After all, alchemists and craftsmen were highly valued in various factions. For instance, a fourth-grade alchemist or craftsman was enough to attract numerous Yuan Emperor Realm cultivators.

Few were willing to offend an alchemist or craftsman since no one could predict when they might require their services in the future. Particularly in critical moments, an alchemist’s expertise in healing could prove indispensable.

Moreover, both alchemists and craftsmen commanded considerable influence and often had powerful connections. Many owed them favors, and even a strong cultivator could find themselves in dire straits if they inadvertently crossed one. Offending an alchemist or craftsman was akin to disturbing a hornet’s nest.

For sects, the importance of these specialists was undeniable.

However, despite their prestige, alchemists and craftsmen were not without limitations in combat. Alchemy, weapon refinement, and martial arts—each of these paths was arduous. The higher one climbed, the steeper the path became.

Achieving mastery in alchemy or craftsmanship demanded extensive effort and experience. Unless one was exceptionally gifted, progress in these fields often came at the expense of martial cultivation. Compared to pure warriors, alchemists and craftsmen undeniably faced greater challenges.

Of course, there were always rare prodigies who excelled in both fields. But such individuals were extraordinary exceptions rather than the norm.

Among them, Soul Tamers held a special status. Discovering a remarkable alchemist or craftsman was significant, but it did not necessarily determine the final outcome of the Saint Martial Assembly.

However, if an exceptional Soul Tamer emerged, their presence often signified a strong contender for the highest rankings. Alchemists and craftsmen were already rare, but Soul Tamers were even rarer.

The prerequisites to become a Soul Tamer were stringent, making their numbers scarce. Their immense power alone was enough to instill fear in cultivators of similar ranks. They were truly formidable beings!