Wang Yufan felt quite pleased looking at the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon in his hand. He hadn’t expected that old man Baishan would put this martial art here. If it was so difficult to practice, why would he put it under his butt? Wang Yufan felt that the old man must have secretly practiced it himself.

Wang Yufan placed the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon on the table and then slowly sat down.

Wang Yufan opened the first page, which read: "The Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon is a martial art that combines swordsmanship and martial arts. Upon obtaining it, I, the undersigned, studied it, but could not grasp this method. Finally, I realized that to practice this technique, one must possess extraordinary talent. I, the undersigned, gave up. I hope that future practitioners who see this sword canon will cultivate it diligently. For such a cultivation method to exist between heaven and earth, I judge that a similar crisis must also exist.

Therefore, I, the undersigned, once again warn future generations: think carefully before practicing. The saying ’With great power comes great responsibility’ is no joke. —Baishan."

When Wang Yufan saw Baishan’s name at the end, he felt a bit speechless. That old man was truly something; if he couldn’t learn it, he should just put it away, not even press it under his own butt. Wang Yufan shook his head and continued to flip through the sword canon.

However, when Wang Yufan flipped further, he found that there wasn’t a single word on the pages. Inside the sword canon, there was only a small golden sword drawn in the book.

Wang Yufan quickly flipped through the other pages and found that every three pages of this sword canon had a small sword drawn, for a total of 9 pages.

Wang Yufan was also a bit confused. If this was a sword canon, why were only a few small swords drawn? Wang Yufan turned the sword canon in his hand back to the first page.

Wang Yufan stared intently at the small golden sword. Slowly, the golden sword, originally etched into the book, seemed to come alive, twisting and transforming, finally becoming a golden orb of light. Wang Yufan watched, mesmerized. He knew that advanced martial arts usually had this kind of characteristic. Just as Wang Yufan was in a daze, the golden orb of light directly drilled into his mind, and at that moment, Wang Yufan’s consciousness also entered his spiritual space with the orb of light.

Internally observing his spiritual space, Wang Yufan initially didn’t feel anything, but slowly, he noticed that his consciousness space began to blur. What was blurring his spiritual space was the golden light emitted by the small golden sword from earlier.

Wang Yufan didn’t make any significant moves; he didn’t know if this was a necessary part of the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon.

As time passed little by little, Wang Yufan watched as his spiritual space seemed to be coated with a layer of golden film.

Just as Wang Yufan was in a daze, a sudden voice echoed in his ears.

"What is a sword? Why do you cultivate? Everyone cultivates for their own purpose. Since you are here to inherit the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon, you must state your answer."

Hearing these words, Wang Yufan was slightly stunned, then he spoke: "I’ll answer your second question first: why do I cultivate? My purpose in cultivating is not simply to dedicate myself to some great cause. I cultivate mostly for myself. This isn’t selfishness. In this world where strength is respected, if a person wants to live with dignity, they must strive to increase their own value, and my value is to cultivate higher martial arts.

As for what you said about what a sword is? I don’t think there’s anything to ask me about that. Even a fool knows that a sword is a weapon for killing, but it depends on the wielder. If it’s an evil person, then the sword in their hand is for slaughter. If it’s a righteous person, then the sword in their hand is a sword of protection. For me, I can’t say I’m perfectly righteous, but I’m not evil either. I only do what needs to be done and kill those who deserve to be killed.

That is my answer." After Wang Yufan finished speaking, his eyes were fixed on the golden light not far from him. He knew this must be a test of the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon, but it was too simple, wasn’t it? Wang Yufan didn’t think that old man Baishan couldn’t cultivate it.

Just as Wang Yufan was wondering, the golden light not far from him directly transformed into countless iron chains that bound Wang Yufan.

"Your answer did not satisfy me, and from your answer, I heard the selfishness I least wanted to hear. Therefore, people like you should die sooner." The voice echoed again in this golden spiritual space.

Wang Yufan looked at the chains swarming from all directions and showed no panic.

"Ridiculous! Humans will have emotions and a selfish side. No one is not selfish; it’s just that they can control the desires in their hearts. And for you intelligent beings, humans have far more emotions. The only difference is that sometimes there will be a scumbag. And I feel my answer just now was perfect. If you insist that my answer is incorrect, then I won’t accept this so-called inheritance. Your aggressiveness makes me feel that this test is not a test at all, but merely a facade."

Wang Yufan spoke all his thoughts in one breath.

Then, the Feng Ling Sword appeared in his hand. Looking at the chains surging from all directions, just as he was about to use Chaotic Swordplay, the chains froze in mid-air. Wang Yufan knew he had answered correctly.

The next second, the golden chains slowly retreated and disappeared.

Three golden pages floated in the golden light.

Wang Yufan slowly walked towards the three golden pages. Looking at the densely packed characters inscribed on them, Wang Yufan knew this was the first part of the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon. He also knew why that old man Baishan couldn’t pass it.

If he had made a move at the very end, it would have been considered a failure.

Just as Wang Yufan was about to reach out and touch the three golden pages, they transformed into a stream of light and entered Wang Yufan’s mind. Information was imprinted in Wang Yufan’s mind, one after another.

At this moment, Wang Yufan, sitting in the cultivation room, slowly opened his eyes, a slight smile appearing on his face.

Because he already knew that what he currently mastered was the upper, middle, and lower sections of the first layer of the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon. Wang Yufan decided to master these three sections of the first layer before the Genius Grand Competition began.

Based on this, Wang Yufan felt that the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon should only have three layers in total, with each layer consisting of upper, middle, and lower parts.

As time passed bit by bit, Wang Yufan’s time in the Nine Absolutes Tower flew by. Wang Yufan also finished practicing the upper and middle sections of the first layer of the Taiqing Demon-Slaying Sword Canon. After cultivating, Wang Yufan also understood why it was difficult to practice. Indeed, the requirements for a person were very strict.

When cultivating, Wang Yufan found that some parts of the cultivation method required people with special physiques to practice; ordinary people would not be able to continue. As a Chaos Dao Body, everything was relatively easier for him. Even so, Wang Yufan still spent about a week to learn only the upper and middle sections.

Wang Yufan calculated the time; the Genius Grand Competition was set to begin tomorrow.