As soon as Sword Master Eric Cui finished speaking, the qi-condensed longsword in his hand suddenly flared with a streak of sword light.
Everyone saw Sword Master Eric Cui take a step forward, his sword gleaming, stabbing straight at Evan Lin. The air shimmered with a chill of sword intent, and the onlookers, frozen in shock, were all shoved aside by an invisible force.
Under Sword Master Cui’s feet, the ground instantly shattered into countless fragments, like a rampaging Vajra beast, radiating an unstoppable, razor-sharp battle intent.
In the blink of an eye, that transparent sword qi was right in front of Evan Lin.
"Let you have three moves? I could cut you down with a single sword!"
Sword Master Cui snorted coldly, his Daoist robe swirling as his sword slashed through the sky!
Seeing this, Melissa Mu's pretty face changed drastically, and Sam Su and the others beside her were all shaken to the core.
"Sword Master Cui hasn’t left seclusion in over ten years. Today, he comes out just to cut you down. Kid, you can count yourself lucky to die at his hands!" Henry Lin sneered from the side, as if he already knew how things would end.
In the eyes of the crowd, Sword Master Cui’s sword was already right in front of that young man, yet Evan Lin stood unmoving, neither dodging nor flinching, as if he hadn’t even noticed the deadly blade before him.
His long hair was lifted by the sword’s edge, but in those clear, dark eyes, there was no trace of joy or sorrow.
"First move."
The teenager murmured to himself, stepped forward indifferently, and shifted slightly to the left.
Sword Master Cui’s fierce first strike swept past Evan Lin, but Evan had already stepped forward, driving his right shoulder solidly into Sword Master Cui’s left shoulder!
Bang!
A crisp sound rang out.
Sword Master Cui’s expression changed dramatically. He’d been certain of victory, but now he felt a surge of overwhelming force slam into his left shoulder. In the blink of an eye, he lost control of his stance and staggered back two steps.
The qi-condensed sword in his hand was still there, but it had lost its initial sharpness and sword intent—at a glance, it now seemed somewhat flimsy.
"How is that possible!"
Henry Lin’s smile froze on his face, and he couldn’t help but cry out in shock.
He’d thought that teenager would be crushed by Sword Master Cui’s strike, but unexpectedly, not only did Cui fail to gain any advantage—he’d actually been outplayed!
Master, you're incredible!
Beside him, Sam Su’s face had been hopeless, but suddenly lit up with hope; he looked at Evan Lin and couldn’t help shouting out.
The spectators all stared in shock, still unable to process what had just happened.
"What just happened? Why did Sword Master Cui fall back?"
Someone looked around in confusion and asked the people next to them.
But most people hadn’t seen clearly what happened in that split second.
It all happened in a flash.
Martin Mu’s face was grim, and he was secretly growing restless.
Leon Lin’s face was ashen; gritting his teeth and bearing the pain, he shouted, “Sword Master! You can’t let this guy go—please, you have to stand up for me!”
"You still have two moves left."
Evan Lin stood there with his hands behind his back, speaking calmly.
From start to finish, Evan had only taken half a step forward—he hadn’t made any other move at all.
Yet with just that simple movement, he’d perfectly dodged Sword Master Cui’s deadly edge!
Sword Master Cui’s eyes flickered and he frowned. “You only managed to exploit a flaw in my sword just now. You do have some talent, but I’ve already stepped into the Vajra Realm. If you think you can keep using tricks, little schemes, or luck to spar with me, you’ll never get away unscathed.”
“However, my Southriver Sword Sect has always valued talent. If you’re willing to join us, I’ll overlook your offense today. How about it?”
As soon as Sword Master Cui said this, Henry Lin’s expression changed, and Leon Lin was stunned for a moment, then filled with jealousy.
The people around them were even more shocked when they heard this.
“Sword Master Cui is personally recruiting someone into the Sword Sect?”
“Usually, people fight tooth and nail for a spot in the Sword Sect. What kind of insane luck does this kid have to actually get Sword Master Cui’s attention?”
“That move just now was pure luck—otherwise, he’d probably have been cut down by Sword Master Cui already. Now that Cui’s interested in him, I guess it’s a blessing in disguise.”
The crowd was full of admiration, and many looked on with envy.
“Sword Master! Didn’t you say this year’s spot in the Southriver Sword Sect was reserved for my son Nathan?” Henry Lin couldn’t wait to speak up. “Nathan will soon reach the late stage of Internal Strength! With that kind of talent, a little polish in the Sword Sect and he’ll be destined for greatness!”
The Southriver Sword Sect only offers a few spots each year. If Sword Master Cui recruited Evan Lin now, that would mean Nathan Lin might be pushed aside and discarded!
“There’s no comparison.” Sword Master Cui shook his head. “Nathan is indeed gifted, but compared to this young man, he’s outmatched.”
“If he joins the sect, Nathan Lin can wait until next year.”
Sword Master Cui’s words caused another uproar in the crowd.
Henry Lin’s face was drained of color, and even many in the crowd had their expressions change.
Nathan Lin of the Lin family was a famously gifted youth.
Even though the teenager before them had just shown unparalleled skill, Nathan Lin’s reputation was still greater.
But with Sword Master Cui’s words, it was clear—comparing Nathan Lin to the boy before them, Nathan was completely outclassed!
A young genius even stronger than Nathan Lin!
"Well? What do you say?"
Sword Master Cui looked at Evan Lin. “As long as you join my sect, you can walk anywhere in South Capital with impunity—go wherever you wish, and no one will dare stop you!”
“Become one of us, and you’ll stand above all of South Capital. No matter the family, they’ll bow down to you!”
Sword Master Cui’s words were utterly domineering, but no one present dared refute him.
What he said was the truth.
The Southriver Sword Sect of South Capital—now that’s true power!
Beside him, Sam Su’s expression was complicated. If Evan Lin agreed to join the Southriver Sword Sect, in some ways, he might become Sam’s rival.
Everyone’s eyes turned to Evan Lin.
Waiting for his answer!
Not interested.
Evan Lin spoke those three words calmly, and the whole crowd was stunned.
"What do you mean by that?" Sword Master Cui’s face darkened—no one had ever refused his invitation before.
"Nothing much. It’s just that all of you are pretty boring."
Evan Lin sighed. “Can’t beat me, so you try to recruit me? You’re just like those losers from Medicine King Valley—really not interesting at all.”