As soon as the nearby disciples noticed their fellow disciple had entered deep meditation, they silently stepped aside, clearing enough space so no one needed to give an order.
Soon, others followed.
Wherever a disciple attained enlightenment, the surrounding disciples silently stepped back, careful not to disturb the rare opportunity before them.
The entire arena gradually fell into complete silence. Not a single unnecessary sound could be heard. Even the elders remained seated quietly, watching everything unfold without interruption.
Ji Hong likewise remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the disciples one after another.
Several minutes passed.
Then, a sharp sword hum echoed from the spectators' area. Everyone instinctively turned toward its source.
A young Brown-Rank disciple slowly opened his eyes. A faint yet unmistakable Sword Intent spread from his body.
Although still weak and unstable, it was genuine. He had crossed the final threshold.
For a brief moment, the young disciple simply looked around before an uncontrollable smile spread across his face.
He had succeeded.
The first person to awaken Sword Intent today. The surrounding disciples looked at him with unconcealed envy and admiration. Yet no one spoke.
Others were still immersed in meditation.
A few more minutes passed.
One after another, several disciples gradually opened their eyes.
Some smiled bitterly.
Some sighed softly.
Although they had failed to fully awaken Sword Intent, the invisible barrier before them had clearly loosened.
They had found a direction.
Among the Brown-Rank disciples who had entered meditation, two more ultimately succeeded in awakening Sword Intent.
Three successful awakenings.
Several others had taken an important step toward that same destination.
Not long afterward, another fluctuation spread through the arena. This time, it came from the Purple-Rank seating area.
Many disciples immediately looked over. A middle-aged disciple, around thirty, slowly opened his eyes.
Sword Intent flowed around him. The pressure was noticeably stronger than that of the Brown-Rank disciples.
He had also succeeded.
For several moments, he remained seated without moving. Then tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. They were not tears of sorrow. They were tears of joy.
His lips trembled slightly. "…It's been over fifteen years…"
Many disciples who heard those words unconsciously fell silent once more.
Fifteen years.
He had pursued this single step for fifteen long years.
Today, he had finally crossed it.
Several more moments passed.
Then the Sword Aura surrounding Sun Lei suddenly began to transform. Its fluctuations gradually stabilized before condensing into something entirely new.
A sword hum echoed softly across the arena.
A Sword Intent spread from his body.
Ji Hong smiled. "Another one succeeded."
Sun Lei slowly opened his eyes. The joy within them was impossible to conceal. With Sun Lei's breakthrough, five disciples had awakened Sword Intent today.
Only then did the silence finally break.
Thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena. Cheers echoed from every direction. Many disciples looked toward Li Yan with admiration.
Without his willingness to openly demonstrate Sword Intent, none of this would have happened.
The five disciples who had successfully awakened Sword Intent rose to their feet almost simultaneously.
Those who had gained insight, despite not breaking through, also stood.
One after another, they cupped their fists respectfully toward Li Yan.
"Thank you, Junior Brother Li."
"You've given me the greatest opportunity of my cultivation journey."
"I will never forget today's kindness."
"Thank you."
Their voices carried genuine gratitude. There was no trace of formality—only heartfelt appreciation.
Li Yan returned the gesture with a calm smile.
Before he could speak, Ji Hong slowly rose from his seat. The entire arena gradually quieted once more.
His gaze first swept across the five disciples who had awakened Sword Intent.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. "Congratulations."
His calm voice spread throughout the stadium. "From today onward, each of you has stepped onto a completely new path."
He paused briefly before looking toward those who had gained insight but had yet to awaken Sword Intent. "As for the rest of you…"
"…do not be discouraged. The barrier has already loosened. What remains is persistence."
Several disciples nodded respectfully.
Ji Hong then turned toward Li Yan. His expression softened. "Li Yan. On behalf of the Shadow Haven Sect…"
"…and on behalf of every disciple who has benefited from today's opportunity, I thank you."
The entire arena became quiet once more.
Countless eyes turned toward Li Yan.
Li Yan cupped his fists respectfully. "Elder Ji."
He smiled faintly before speaking. "The Shadow Haven Sect is my home. Everyone here is a fellow disciple—my family."
"If I can help my family become stronger, then there is nothing to thank me for."
His tone remained calm.
There was no pride. No attempt to impress anyone. He merely spoke what he truly believed.
For a brief moment, silence returned to the arena.
Many disciples looked at Li Yan with complicated expressions. Some smiled. Others lowered their heads thoughtfully. Without anyone realizing it, the respect they held for Li Yan quietly rose to an entirely new level.
Among the elders, several exchanged faint smiles.
Ji Hong nodded slowly, satisfaction evident in his eyes.
At that moment, Chen Zhi stepped forward once more. As he turned toward Sun Lei, he asked, "Sun Lei, do you want to continue your match?"
Sun Lei, however, shook his head and cupped his hands. "I forfeit."
Chen Zhi nodded as his voice, reinforced by Qi, echoed clearly throughout the arena. "The winner of the Azure-Rank…"
He paused briefly as his gaze settled upon Li Yan. "…Li Yan Tian."
Warm applause immediately spread across the stadium.
As Li Yan and Sun Lei stepped down from Arena Platform One, they returned to the spectator area together. Neither of them spoke much along the way. Sun Lei's mind was still immersed in everything he had experienced during the championship match.
Not long afterward, the Brown-Rank Final began.
Compared to the previous matches, the battle displayed a completely different level of strength.
Both disciples had already reached the Qi Harmonization Realm (Stage-Peak). Every collision between their weapons produced powerful shockwaves, while Mortal-Tier High-Level techniques clashed repeatedly across the platform, forcing even experienced cultivators to watch with complete attention.
The battle continued for nearly an hour before the victor was finally decided.
As the dust gradually settled, Chen Zhi stepped onto the central platform. His voice, reinforced by Qi, echoed clearly throughout the arena.
"The winner of the Brown-Rank Competition…" His gaze settled upon a young man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties. "Qiao Ren."
Applause immediately spread across the stadium.
Chen Zhi waited for the cheers to subside before continuing. "Congratulations to the champions of all four ranks."
"With this, this year's Annual Competition officially concludes."
Another round of applause erupted.
He continued calmly. "All participants shall report to the Sect Core Hall tomorrow morning to receive their respective rewards."
His gaze briefly swept across the four champions. "As for the champions of each rank, you will report directly to the Sect Leader to receive your special rewards, including your opportunity to enter the Ancient Techniques Hall."
The crowd erupted into cheers once more.
Li Yan, Zhong Li, Yi Qin, and Qiao Ren all cupped their fists respectfully toward the elders' seating area.
Ji Hong and the other elders nodded in return.
Soon afterward, the arena gradually emptied.
The spectators made their way toward the teleportation portal. Before long, everyone returned to the Sect's assembly area.
After exchanging a few brief words with several fellow disciples, Li Yan began walking toward his residence.
He had only taken a short distance when someone called out behind him. "Junior Brother Li."
Li Yan stopped and turned around. Walking toward him was the same Purple-Rank disciple who had awakened Sword Intent during the championship match. He had long brown hair and black eyes.
The man arrived before him and respectfully cupped his fists. "My name is Ke Lin."
His voice carried obvious gratitude. "Junior Brother Li… I truly don't know how to thank you."
Li Yan smiled faintly and shook his head. "Senior Brother Ke, there's no need. I've already said it. The Shadow Haven Sect is my home."
"And every disciple here is part of my family. If my actions helped my family become stronger, then that's more than enough."
Ke Lin smiled bitterly before slowly shaking his head. "Junior Brother Li, you don't understand how I feel right now."
His eyes unconsciously drifted toward the sword hanging at his waist. "I've stood before that final threshold for more than fifteen years. I tried everything I could think of. I sought guidance from elders. I secluded myself countless times."
"I challenged experts inside the Sect." He let out a slow breath. "And still… I couldn't take that final step. I even left the path of Swordsmanship and am already practicing Array mastery."
His expression gradually softened. "Today, after witnessing your Sword Intent, everything suddenly became clear. It was as though someone had removed the fog that had covered the road before me."
He looked directly at Li Yan. "You didn't simply help me awaken Sword Intent. You gave me a future that I had almost begun to believe was impossible."
Li Yan remained silent for a moment before smiling. "Senior Brother Ke. Sword Intent may have shown you the direction, but you were the one who walked the path."
"If your foundation hadn't been solid enough, no amount of demonstration would have helped."
Ke Lin laughed softly. "Perhaps."
"But opportunities are just as important as talent." He cupped his fists once more. "Regardless, I owe you my gratitude."
Li Yan returned the gesture. "If you truly wish to repay me, then continue growing stronger. The stronger our Sect becomes, the happier I'll be."
Ke Lin looked at him for a long moment before smiling. "I will, Junior Brother Li."
After exchanging their farewells, the two departed in different directions.
Li Yan soon returned to his residence. After entering his room, he let out a quiet breath. The day's competition had finally come to an end. He bathed first, washing away the dust accumulated during the battles.
After changing into clean robes, he returned to his bedroom and sat cross-legged upon the bed.
Closing his eyes, he focused inward. The surrounding world gradually faded. Moments later, his consciousness appeared within his Spiritual Consciousness.
Yan Tian was already waiting. The young boy immediately stood up inside the glass-like seal upon seeing Li Yan.
A bright smile appeared on his face. "Brother Li."
Li Yan smiled faintly. "You've been watching the competition. Do you like it?"
Yan Tian nodded repeatedly, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes. "I watched everything."
His gaze carried obvious admiration. "Brother Li… you were amazing." He lowered his head slightly before continuing. "When I first met you, I never imagined my body could become this strong."
His voice grew quieter. "Or… that my name would one day be known throughout the Sect as big as this one."
Li Yan looked at him calmly. "That isn't only because of me." He smiled faintly. "There is a lot of help and guidance from Yao Fuhuo and the elders of the Sect."
Yan Tian shook his head immediately. "I know that's only part of the reason." He looked directly at Li Yan. "The one who trained every day was you. The one who risked his life in the Hunting Grounds was you. The one who earned everyone's respect was also you."
A brief pause followed. Then he smiled. "I'm happy. Not because everyone knows the name Li Yan Tian…"
"But because you're the one carrying it."
Li Yan was silent for a moment before saying, "Don't think too much. There is still a long road ahead."
"The Shadow Haven Sect is only the beginning."
Yan Tian nodded earnestly. "I'm looking forward to it, Brother Li."
A faint smile appeared on Li Yan's face. "Good."
"I still have to do something; we'll talk later."
Yan Tian nodded immediately. "Then I won't disturb you anymore."
Li Yan nodded slightly. His figure drifted on the Spiritual Sea.
Moments later, he arrived before the towering entrance of the Sword Tower.