Jing Bao, a master of the "Shunshi Sect," also taught by Yan Chuan in "Tai Chi Divine Skill." Combining this with his own skills, he brings together the endless strength of Tai Chi Boxing and the elegance of Long Boxing, alternating speed and slowness, balancing hardness with softness, swift yet orderly, slow yet unbroken, hard yet not stiff, soft yet not weak, creating a unique style. Together with Yu Jinpeng of "Yan’s Four Talents" in "Tai Chi Boxing," they have been dubbed the "Tai Chi Double Pride," creating a memorable tale.

Wang Ge, practices "Seven Injuries Fist," where one punch brings seven injuries, harming all seven. He also practices "Yin Yang Mill" and "Xuanming Divine Palm," defending the arena alone, with no one daring to engage him for more than ten rounds.

Fu Yunzhan, with swift swordsmanship, fast body technique, and even faster embroidery needle, wearing a brocade robe and jade face, exuding a chilling aura. Be it swordsmanship, movement, or power, in just one year, Fu Yunzhan rose during the first Sword Discussion, and in this second one, he already stands firmly as the top Heavenly Pride at the peak.

Ma Hongniang, during the first Sword Discussion, gained fame early on relying entirely on the exotic treasure "White Bone Banner," but by the end had already been able to contend with the Absolute figures. In this edition, after a year, Ma Hongniang’s strength has changed dramatically, becoming indestructible like Vajra, even at the peak state, a Heavenly Pride can’t harm her in the slightest.

"Peng Fannian, pure as a saint!"

"Ban Xianfu, demon!"

"Jing Bao, natural!"

"Wang Ge, sinister!"

"Fu Yunzhan, eerie!"

"Ma Hongniang, indestructible!"

The six veteran Heavenly Pride of the first tier, each with their own uniqueness, everyone is curious: "If these six were to face off, who would have the last laugh?"

Is it the most specialized Peng Fannian?

Or the highly demonic Ban Xianfu?

Is it the "smooth, flowing, and natural" Jing Bao?

Or the "one punch seven injuries, all seven harmed" Wang Ge?

Is it the "as electric flash, as thunderous strike, as ghostly as elusive, floating like light smoke" Fu Yunzhan?

Or the "indestructible" Ma Hongniang?

All six have displayed invincibility, without a real fight, it’s impossible to tell who would truly come out on top.

These six, stand alone in one tier!

Below them, Liu Xin, Guo Xi, Zhuge Zhen, Cai Ru’an, and Chi Gao form another tier. They have joined Tan Valley Royal City, following Yan Chuan, regularly listening to Yan Chuan’s martial teachings. Over the past year, they’ve all progressed further, at least mastering the Sixth Realm Absolute Skill, and they rank in the higher Sixth Realm.

Sixth Realm Absolute Skills.

In the first Sword Discussion these could be deemed "Absolute," a domain involving top talents like Situ Fei, Wei Lingshan, Yan Chuan, and others. During the forty-nine days of the entire first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, those who finally attained Absolute—

"Knife Technique Absolute" Ban Xianfu.

"Body Technique Absolute" Ding Xiang.

"Defense Absolute" Wei Lingshan.

"Finger Skill Absolute" Peng Fannian.

"Shovel Technique Absolute" Jing Bao.

"Four Symbols Absolute" Lu Yuru.

"Three Absolute Skills" Situ Fei.

The first edition, only these seven achieved Absolutely.

At most, one more could be added, "Leg Technique Absolute" Ying Jifeng, but he only broke through in the leg technique in the later stage of the Sword Discussion, and immediately after, a scandal broke out with his sister Ying He, leading him to flee in disgrace and disappearance.

What is "Absolute"?

Peak cultivation + Absolute Skill achieved mastery!

Only those meeting these two conditions could be counted as "Absolute."

Lacking any one of these wouldn’t count.

For example, at the time, Tan Dou.

His cultivation was more than enough, not just one peak, but his mastery of Absolute Skill was slightly lacking, delaying his entry into the Sixth Realm, thus he couldn’t be considered Absolute, weaker by comparison.

Or for example, Yan Chuan at the time.

His body technique, finger skill, boxing, swordsmanship, etc., many Absolute Skills had almost reached the Sixth Realm, but the cultivation was lacking, not at the peak, not counting as "Absolute."

Others like Wang Zhengyi, Chen Ze, Wang Ge, and Fu Yunzhan were all lacking in cultivation.

Chen Ze even cultivated "Jade Maiden Pure Heart Swordsmanship" to the Seventh Realm, reaching Divine Transformation, surpassing Absolute level in terms of Absolute Skill. But due to the drag of cultivation, he had more losses than wins against Absolute figures, not counting as Absolute.

The first session!

By full count, eight Absolute.

But this round?

Only among the first tier six of Peng Fannian and others, second tier five of Liu Xin and others, plus Gao Changyi, who was once pointed out in the Sword Discussion by Yan Chuan, finally advanced a step further, attaining Spear Technique Absolute.

Also, Shi Qingke, who returned after a failure to prove Dao, and Situ Fei’s friend "Fire Immortal" Shen Xia.

Six plus five plus three.

Thus there are fourteen, far surpassing the first session.

These are still the "old oil men" of the first round.

There are also the new talents of the second session—

Yu Jinpeng of "Tai Chi Boxing."

Jin Yutang of "Baji Fist."

Yu En of "Nine-Clawed Dragon King."

Lu Wanwan of "River Flying Flower."

Guli of "White-Clothed God Ear."

Yu Shengyan of "Linglong Jade Hand."

Wan Yiming of "Little Mountain God."

Mo Yunjian of "Floral Saber."

Currently exhibiting eight "Absolute" newcomers.

In total, that’s twenty-two Absolute.

Peng Fannian and others of invincible Absolute first tier.

Liu Xin and others of ordinary Absolute second tier.

There are also some whose cultivation may be a shortcoming or Absolute Skills are slightly weaker, but who also qualify to battle Absolute, totaling about a dozen, categorized into the third tier.

First, second, third tier!

Thirty to forty people!

In the first Sword Discussion—

First tier ravaging.

Second tier invincible.

Third tier top-notch.

But in this round, with so many top Heavenly Prides, twelve arenas can’t even fit them, and even without strange weapons and treasures, more than one Absolute figure has occasionally been overturned and thrown off the stage, even Absolute figures can’t secure a spot.

This round!

Too strong!

...

"What a pity."

Treasurer of the Thirteenth Ministry of Revenue on the "Heavenly List" Linghu Gan looked at this session of emerging Heavenly Prides, the more they saw, the more they sighed, "Without City Lord Yan, this Sword Discussion feels a lot quieter."

Indeed!

In the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, Yan Chuan was constantly pointing and commenting, with no arena not under his guidance.

However, this time, the first few days saw some people imitating Yan Chuan, only to be beaten, and now on the fourteenth day, as the Sword Discussion heats up, the stage grows more silent and oppressive.

There is no longer anyone to lecture.

Eighteenth Mountain and Sea Department Director on the "Heavenly List" He Hao also felt regret, "In the last session, more than half of the eight Absolute Heavenly Prides were guided by Yan Chuan."

Innate Master?

No, no, no!

During the last Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, Yan Chuan was more often called—

Absolute Master!

Ding Xiang, Lu Yuru.

Peng Fannian, Jing Bao.

Even Ying Jifeng’s breakthrough in leg technique could not be separated from Yan Chuan’s martial teachings and guidance.

Five of the eight Absolute in the first session were trained by Yan Chuan.

So.

In this round?

If Yan Chuan were present, based on the current twenty Absolute Heavenly Prides, if he were to explain, teach, and guide, how many could finally break through, how many could reach Absolute level?

Double?

Forty-four?

Unimaginable, unpredictable.

What a pity!

It’s a pity Yan Chuan is not here.

"The second session Sword Discussion admired by the Fifteen States he didn’t attend, yet he went to the Black Hawk Sect in Mu State to teach the people of Black Hawk Territory martial arts, I really don’t know what City Lord Yan is thinking!" The Twenty-fourth Archaeology Department Director on the "Heavenly List" Wan Songling felt helpless.

Forty-third Minister of War on the "Heavenly List" Huang Ye, however, conceived an idea, "City Lord Yan teaches martial arts in the Tan Valley Realm, instructing the thirty thousand Tan Valley Army, and now he goes to teach in Black Hawk Territory. Since he loves teaching martial arts so much, why not invite him to teach in the military, our Great Yan’s million troops are eagerly awaiting!"

Thirty-fourth "All-Knowing" Tian Jing on the "Heavenly List" also suggested, "It’s rumored that after City Lord Yan’s teaching in Black Hawk Territory, he will publicly teach on Suanzao Mountain, and news of this has spread for half a month, a million martial artists are flocking to Jian Province, and almost all the martial artists from the Southwest States have been drawn in, with even armies and academies organizing soldiers and disciples to head to Suanzao Mountain in Jian Province overnight, just to hear City Lord Yan teach. Since he can teach in Jian Province, why not do so throughout the Fifteen States of Great Yan?"

Tian Jing is indeed a good brother!

Playing to Yan Chuan’s preferences.

If Yan Chuan were here and heard this, he would definitely be overjoyed.

National tour of lectures?

If backed by the court, nothing could be better!

...

"Too many experts!"

Yu Jinpeng sat in a corner of the Hai Character Arena, watching as Jin Yutang struggled to defend himself with Baji Fist, unable to hide his fatigue. Looking around at the other eleven arenas—

Xu Character, Mo Yunjian!

You Character, Yu Shengyan!

Shen Character, Shi Qingke!

Wei Character, Shen Xia!

Wu Character, Liu Xin!

Si Character, Jing Bao!

Chen Character, Wang Ge!

Mao Character, Fu Yunzhan!

Yin Character, Ma Hongniang!

Chou Character, Ban Xianfu!

Zi Character, Peng Fannian!

...

The six arenas of Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si are unassailable.

Thus the competition for the remaining Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai is becoming increasingly fierce, and in the fourteen days, even though both Yu Jinpeng and Jin Yutang guarded the arenas as Absolutes, they were still pushed off twice, regained it later, but unable to hold on for long.

Too intense!

Too exhausting!

And among them—

"Peng Fannian, Ban Xianfu, Jing Bao, Wang Ge, Fu Yunzhan, Ma Hongniang."

"Liu Xin, Guo Xi, Zhuge Zhen, Cai Ru’an, Chi Gao, Shen Xia."

"All were hand-taught by my master."

"There’s also Gao Changyi and Shi Qingke, who were also guided by my master in the last Sword Discussion."

"Just wonderful!"

"Masters’ve trained these guys knowing full well we, the ’Yan’s Four Talents,’ are the only four inner chamber disciples under master’s tutelage, yet when they meet us on the arena, they come at us even harder!"

Beside Yu Jinpeng, Wei Quan felt utterly wronged.

He held many exotic treasures, and after breaking his limit at the end of last year, expected to shine in the second Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, but this session prohibited strange weapons and treasures, leaving Wei Quan dumbfounded.

So be it.

Tagging along with the senior and second brothers could let him get by, but as it turned out, the second Absolute peak states couldn’t claim any absolute advantage either, sporadically getting beaten or blown away.

For instance, in this match—

"Guo Xi!"

"This guy’s grandfather and brother have both pledged allegiance to the Tan Valley Realm, all three of them under master’s command, yet he fights the second brother so viciously!"

Wei Quan covered his eyes, unable to watch.

He saw his second brother Jin Yutang wielding the Six Harmonies Spear against Guo Xi, who also used a spear, but Guo Xi’s "Eight Mother Pear Blossom Spear" was obviously superior, pressing Jin Yutang all the way from start to finish. There was a clear gap between them, and from Guo Xi’s "Eight Mother Pear Blossom Spear" one could see traces of "Xingyi" and even "Baji" methods—

Guo Xi knew "Baji Fist" and Jin Yutang inside out.

But Jin Yutang knew very little about the "Eight Mother Pear Blossom Spear."

Both were Absolute.

This was a mismatch.

...