Seeing Hidden Peak, everyone naturally understood who Bao Yuanqiang was talking about—Jiang Yun!
The battle between Jiang Yun and Zheng Yuan that day deeply impacted everyone who witnessed it. A Tongmai Realm cultivator fighting a Blessed Land Realm cultivator and almost killing the Blessed Land Realm cultivator—such strength made people truly anticipate his challenge of the Five Peaks.
"However, after that battle, Jiang Yun hasn't appeared for over half a year now. He must be trying to break through to the Blessed Land Realm, so he probably won't come out at this time to challenge the Five Peaks, right?"
"What's more, he became famous after that battle and should have already been taken as a Disciple by some Peak Master or Elder, or even the Sect Master. Why would he still need to challenge the Five Peaks?"
Everyone spoke animatedly, and the disdain on Bao Yuanqiang's face grew stronger. He curled his lip and said, "Tsk, I told you you were ignorant, but you wouldn't admit it! Who told you he's already at Nine Levels of Vein Opening!? Who told you he's trying to break through to the Blessed Land Realm?"
"He said it himself! And he even defeated Senior Brother Zheng Yuan, so it wouldn't be possible if he wasn't at Nine Levels of Vein Opening!"
Bao Yuanqiang pointed at each person who spoke and said, "You all just follow the crowd! You believe it just because he said it himself? Then I'll say I'm at the Ninth Level of the Blessed Land Realm, do you believe me? What evidence did he show? As for defeating Senior Brother Zheng Yuan, hmph, there's a hidden story there too."
Everyone's curiosity was immediately piqued, and they eagerly asked, "What hidden story?"
Bao Yuanqiang deliberately lowered his voice and said, "According to Great Master Xiao, Jiang Yun must have consumed a Medicinal Pill with extremely potent effects that day, which put the Spiritual Qi in his body into a terrifying state. That's why he was able to unleash such Divine Might. However, this also caused significant damage to his body. The reason he hasn't appeared for so long is most likely because he's recovering from his injuries."
Upon hearing the three words "Great Master Xiao," all the Disciples immediately showed reverence, because Great Master Xiao was the only Second-Rank Alchemist in Wen Dao Sect!
Naturally, this increased the credibility of the hidden story Bao Yuanqiang revealed. While they might dare to doubt Bao Yuanqiang, they would absolutely not dare to question Great Master Xiao.
"So that's how it is! I wondered how someone could Cultivate from a Mortal to Nine Levels of Vein Opening! in just ten months. So he took a Medicinal Pill!"
"I also heard a Senior Brother say that Jiang Yun's state was a bit strange that day. So that's what happened!"
"I even thought of him as a role model, but I never expected him to be a big liar!"
"Hmph, then I'm quite looking forward to him challenging the Five Peaks, so we can see his true strength!"
At once, all these Disciples turned their gaze towards Hidden Peak, their faces showing disdain.
Watching everyone's reaction, Bao Yuanqiang couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for Jiang Yun in his heart, thinking, "Jiang Yun, oh Jiang Yun, don't blame me. Fang Ruolin made me say these things. Who told you to provoke her!"
It turned out that after the battle between Jiang Yun and Zheng Yun, Jiang Yun's reputation soared, even showing a tendency to rival Fang Yuxuan.
Fang Yuxuan was still in Sword Cave and naturally wouldn't know about these things, but his younger sister, Fang Ruolin, couldn't sit still. No matter what, she couldn't tolerate a Young Man who had once humiliated her gaining such power. Therefore, she fabricated these words and spread them through Bao Yuanqiang's mouth, so that everyone would continue to suppress and ostracize Jiang Yun.
Clearly, from the reactions of these Disciples, it was not difficult to see that her goal had been achieved!
And at this moment, besides these Disciples, Dao Tianyou was also looking towards Hidden Peak!
No one knew that the reason this challenge of the Five Peaks was opened early was actually so that Dao Tianyou could open it again for Jiang Yun when he came out of seclusion!
"I wonder how Jiang Yun is doing now, but at least no accident should have happened! This damned Gu Bu Lao, what exactly is he planning? He even restricted me from entering Hidden Peak! Just you wait, I'll keep my word this time. As long as I have a chance, I'll definitely ask for a different Dao Protector!"
Just as Dao Tianyou was complaining, a Sword Qi suddenly shot up from Sword Dao Peak, appearing in the air, revealing two figures.
One of them was Wei Zhengyang, and the other was a Young Man with an arrogant expression.
Seeing the Young Man, many older Disciples immediately exclaimed, "It's Senior Brother Wang Jian! He, he's still in the Sect!"
Bao Yuanqiang, who had expected this, smiled slightly and said, "Wang Jian is one of the two veteran Outer Sect Disciples I mentioned. He's been dormant for four years, and today he's going to make a splash!"
At this point, no one doubted Bao Yuanqiang's words anymore.
Wang Jian's name was not unfamiliar to them. The reason he was famous was because four years ago, he was noticed by Wei Zhengyang, who wanted to take him as a Disciple, to become Fang Yuxuan's Junior Brother. However, Wang Jian personally refused.
His reason was that he wanted to be like Fang Yuxuan, challenging Sword Dao Peak before becoming Wei Zhengyang's Disciple!
But since then, Wang Jian had disappeared. He didn't even appear for four consecutive challenges of the Five Peaks. Everyone thought he was either sent out by the Sect to perform a mission, or he had already left the Sect. But they never expected that after four years, he would appear again with Wei Zhengyang!
Dao Tianyou's gaze also shifted from Hidden Peak to Wang Jian. He frowned slightly and shook his head, saying, "Wei Zhengyang, how many Disciples do you intend to harm!"
In the sky, Wei Zhengyang, with a smile on his face, nodded to Wang Jian and said, "After today, you should be my Disciple. Go!"
Wang Jian bowed to Wei Zhengyang. Before he could straighten up, a blue Dao Thunder Sword Qi suddenly flew out from his body, condensing into a treasure sword shining with lightning, carrying him down from the air and landing at the very front of all the Disciples preparing to challenge the Peak at the foot of Sword Dao Peak.
"Heavens, he actually cultivated Dao Thunder Sword Qi!"
"Dao Thunder Sword Qi is extremely difficult to Cultivate, but once successful, its power far surpasses those of the same realm."
Both Wei Zhengyang's attitude towards Wang Jian and the Dao Thunder Wang Jian had just displayed immediately ignited everyone's emotions. Wei Zhengyang also reined in the smile on his face and spoke loudly, "Please, Zhan Tian Sword!"
As his voice fell, Wei Zhengyang stretched out his hand and grabbed at Sword Dao Peak from the air.
"Boom!"
The towering Sword Dao Peak trembled under Wei Zhengyang's grasp, emitting a massive roar. Immediately after, a hundred-zhang long illusory golden sword shadow slowly rose from the belly of Sword Dao Peak, suspended in the air.
This sword, like the soul of Sword Dao Peak, was pulled out by Wei Zhengyang.
Although there was no Sword Qi or Sword Light swirling around it, and it was merely a sword shadow, everyone involuntarily held their breath just by looking at it.
Especially the many Disciples who cultivated the Dao of the Sword, their faces and eyes showed fanatical expressions.
This sword was named Zhan Tian!
It was named so because it had truly once cut the heavens.
Just imagine, holding such a sword, cutting the heavens with one strike—how domineering, how majestic that would be!
"Descend!"
Wei Zhengyang roared again. The hundred-zhang long Zhan Tian Sword shadow immediately descended from the air, and as it descended, its size rapidly expanded, from a hundred zhang to ten thousand zhang, obliquely piercing into the foot of Sword Dao Peak.
The hilt was at the bottom, and the blade was like a golden Dao, thrusting diagonally into the sky. Even with the utmost effort, the tip of the sword could not be seen.
Strictly speaking, the blade of this sword was nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine zhang!
The first nine thousand zhang, every thousand zhang was one-tenth of the blade, and the last nine hundred and ninety-nine zhang was the final one-tenth of the blade.
Walking the entire length of the blade meant successfully passing Sword Dao Peak.
"All Disciples challenging the Peak, immediately step onto the hilt!"
At Wei Zhengyang's command, Wang Jian was the first to step onto the hilt, and the nearly two hundred other Disciples also quickly followed.
As all the Disciples stepped onto the hilt, Wei Zhengyang smiled slightly and said, "I don't need to explain the rules, do I? Within three hours, no matter what method you use, try to walk as much of the Zhan Tian Sword's blade as possible. Those who complete it, I will take them as Disciples. Now, the challenge begins!"
"Clang!"
A crisp sword cry rang out. All the Disciples on the hilt immediately unleashed their strength in unison, rushing towards the blade of the Zhan Tian Sword.
At the same time, a loud sound suddenly came from the waterfall of Hidden Peak, but it was not a sword cry, but thunder!