The man calling him Feng Tiangsheng grinned down at Wu Jian, who could only stare up at him through his mask. Was he serious? He wanted to make Wu Jian his apprentice? Who even was this guy? Wu Jian had so many questions.

“… Why do you want to make me your apprentice?” asked Wu Jian.

“Bwa ha ha ha! Why are you asking something so stupid? You should just feel honored that someone as great as myself would deign to take you on as an apprentice.”

Wu Jian stared even harder at the man as he threw his head back and laughed. He looked away to study the hut once more. It was a nicely built hut and well-furnished, but it was much smaller than something he’d expect from an elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Speaking of, was this man even an elder?

“Fine. Then let me ask you this. Why should I be your apprentice?” Wu Jian decided to change his question.

“Hmmmm.”

Feng Tiangsheng crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. The way his massive arms flexed was impressive. Wu Jian was quite proud of his muscles, but he had nothing on this guy.

“Because I’m a badass?”

“Why are you answering me with a question?!”

Feng Tiangsheng wagged a finger at Wu Jian as though chiding him. “Look here, kid. I am one of the most badass swordsman you’ll ever meet. Any disciple worth their salt would kill to be my apprentice. You shouldn’t question me and just accept my offer.”

“I don’t know why I should accept the offer of a suspicious man I’ve never met before who refuses to answer my questions.” Wu Jian turned around. “If you don’t want to answer me, then fine, but I’m not going to apprentice myself under someone who hasn’t proven their worth learning from.”

“You’re a pretty rude brat, aren’t you? But fine. They do say that seeing is believing. All right. I’ll show you why you should apprentice under me. Come on.”

Wu Jian was iffy about following this strange man, but he wouldn’t deny his curiosity either. This man acted frivolous and carefree. However, Wu Jian could sense the strength he possessed. It wasn’t just his physique, which looked to contain explosive power, but the way he walked and the manner in which he held himself.

There’s also the fact that I’m at a deadend. The library only had the one technique, and while it’s not bad, it won’t help me sharpen my skills.

Wu Jian needed a teacher. He was beginning to realize that. If this man really could teach him, then it wouldn’t hurt to at least consider apprenticing under him. This was all under the assumption this man could teach, of course.

They traveled much deeper into the forest, to the point where the sun became blotted out by the thick canopy above their heads. Wu Jian glanced up at the foliage to find leaves bigger than his torso blocking out the sunlight. It was becoming much darker thanks to that. Were it not for his enhanced vision, he might have had trouble walking.

How does this man walk so easily in this darkness? Can he also see in the dark?

Feng Tiangsheng suddenly stopped and raised a hand. Wu Jian stopped beside him and frowned.

“Get ready, brat. It’s coming.”

“What’s coming?”

Wu Jian’s question was answered when a loud stomping sound echoed around them. The ground shook, the trees shook. Wu Jian picked out where the noise was coming from with his advanced hearing and turned just in time to see something smash apart several trees.

What emerged from a colossal reptilian magical beast that seemed to embody raw power. It stood at an imposing height and boasted a sinuous, serpentine body covered in thick, crimson scales that shimmered like molten lava. Even from a distance, Wu Jian could feel the intense heat those scales radiated.

“Would you look at that. It’s our lucky day. That’s a Pyroclasmic Drake. Perfect for my little demonstration,” Feng Tiangsheng said.

The Pyroclasmic Drake’s head resembled that of a dragon, with sharp, obsidian horns jutting from its skull. Its eyes blazed with an otherworldly fiery glow, and its gaping maw was filled with serrated teeth that could easily rend through metal. A pair of massive wings stretched out from either side, each adorned with flaming patterns that resembled an erupting volcano. A long, muscular tail ending in a mace-like club swayed behind it.

Wu Jian could not feel it’s cultivation at all.

This thing is at the Seeker Realm…

“Feng Tiangsheng! How dare you intrude upon my territory! Do you have a death wish?!” The magical beast roared.

Feng Tiangsheng grinned. “A death wish? That’s an interesting thing to say, considering you’re no match for me.”

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“You dare mock me by claiming that I am weaker than you?! Your arrogance knows no bounds! I let you go last time because I did not want to cause trouble with the Heavenly Sword Sect, but I’ll not stand for your arrogant attitude any longer!!”

The Pyroclasmic Drake opened its mouth. Heat gathered and turned into streaming flames that swirled around inside of its mouth, creating a sphere that continued to grow with every second that passed. Wu Jian grimaced. This heat was unbearable. It was almost as bad as when he traveled to the Realm of Sacred Flames. It was a good thing he had donned his Phoenix Armor, which hid underneath his normal clothes, or it might have actually harmed him.

“Watch closely now, brat,” Feng Tiengsheng said.

The man held out his hand as something massive appeared before him. It was a greatsword that struck fear into Wu Jian’s heart. So massive was it that he was certain this weapon had been forged for giants. The remarkable blade stood as a symbol of sheer power. He had seen a few greatswords in his time, but this one was easily the largest he had laid eyes on. Its blade was double-edged and slightly curved. The width of the blade was nearly half the length of his forearm, lending it an incredible weight and edge for cleaving through obstacles. The edge had been meticulously sharpened and looked capable of slicing through armor and bone with ease. A wide and intricate guard, adorned with ornate engravings of celestial motifs, lent the otherwise unwieldy weapon a heavenly appearance. The hilt was wrapped in supple leather for a secure grip.

What kind of sword is that?

Wu Jian didn’t think it was better than Pale Moon, but it was such an overbearing weapon that he could not help but feel awed.

[Molten Meteor]

The Pyroclasmic Drake finally released its techniques. A molten ball of flames nearly twice as the size of an adult male hurtled toward them. Wu Jian was glad for his armor. The heat was so intense, and yet, Feng Tiangsheng didn’t even seem to feel it.

Feng Tiangsheng took a deep breath as he slid his dominant foot forward and his other foot back, forming a solid stance that looked as unmovable as a mountain. He raised his greatsword high. He only used one hand. Wu Jian felt the hairs on his arms prickle as chi suddenly began pouring out of Feng Tiangsheng. It flowed like a river into his blade, which picked up a vibrant golden glow. Another breath. A single moment. Time stood still.

[Cleaving the Heavens in a Single Stroke]

Wu Jian had no idea what happened. Feng Tiangsheng brought his sword in a downward cleave that seemed to lack any form of elegance, and yet, the next thing Wu Jian knew, both the flaming projectile and the Pyroclasmic Drake behind it were sliced in half. It was like he had blinked and missed it.

Before he could even question what happened, however, a massive explosion of power erupted from the swing. Wu Jian was almost blasted away. He dug his heels into the ground and gritted his teeth. When the wind died down, Wu Jian peeked out from behind the arm he had raised--only to gawk at the massive trench that had somehow formed in front of Feng Tiangsheng.

I… don’t believe it. That wasn’t even his attack! It was just the aftershock, and yet, it formed such a large trench!

The trench started at where Feng Tiangsheng stood and traveled past the Pyroclasmic Drake’s corpse lay in two, going deeper into the forest. There was a mountain about one or two li from where they stood. It wasn’t the biggest mountain present, but it was of a modest size, and currently, it was split in two just like the magical beast.

Feng Tiangsheng turned around, impaled his greatsword into the ground, and crossed his arms as he grinned at Wu Jian.

“Well? Still believe I’m not worthy of being your teacher?”

Wu Jian only needed a moment to make his decision. He lowered himself until he was sitting on his knees, then lowered his torso. Hands on the ground, he kowtowed to the man before him.

“This disciple greets Master Feng Tiangsheng.”

“Bwa ha ha ha! Good! I am happy to see you’re not stupid! It seems you finally recognize my talents!”

“… Only a fool would not recognize your power after witnessing that display.”

“Indeed. Indeed. All right! From this moment on, you are now my apprentice. Come! We are going back to my place! I need to let everyone know that you are my apprentice.”

“Yes, Master.”

Wu Jian stood up and followed Feng Tiangsheng back to his hut, scarcely able to contain his excitement. Now that he was thinking about it, Wu Jian had never apprenticed under a master before, not even once. The closest he could consider an apprenticeship to was when he trained with Loong Chen… but that was more like the flood dragon would beat the crap out of him and he tried to fight back. He wasn’t properly taught anything.

When they made it back to the hut, Feng Tiangsheng had Wu Jian stand by the door while he rummaged through a chest. It took several minutes. During which time, Wu Jian imagined all the things he would learn. He did his best to ignore the man tossing objects to the floor as he pulled them from the chest.

“Where is it… not here… this isn’t it--oh! I thought I’d lost this! But it’s not what I’m looking for. Where… where… ah ha! Here it is!”

Standing back up, Feng Tiangsheng came back over to Wu Jian and held out his hand. Resting on the palm of his hand was a badge. Shaped like an oval, the polished bronze emblem had a dignified and timeless appearance, though it also looked quite old. In the badge’s center was a finely etched depiction of a majestic mountain range. Encircling it was a delicate pattern of interlocking greatswords, and inscribed around the outer edge were the characters for “Tiansheng School of Swordsmanship,” making it clear that Wu Jian was under Feng Tiansheng’s tutelage.

“You are to wear this at all times. Never take it off. Not even when you sleep.”

“I usually sleep naked.”

“… Never take it off except when you sleep.”

“What about when I’m in the bath?”

“…”

“Master?”

“Don’t get into semantics with me! Look, just wear this whenever you wear clothes, okay?!”

“… Yes, Master.”

Wu Jian took the badge and pinned it to his hanfu. It was heavier than he expected. The material looked like bronze, but maybe it was made from something else.

“It looks good on you.” Feng Tiansheng--no, Master Feng Tiansheng--said with a nod. “Okay! You may leave now. Come back tomorrow and we shall begin your training.”

“Then I shall take my leave, Master.”

Wu Jian offered the man a martial bow, then turned around and left the hut. He tried to contain his excitement. However, he couldn’t lie to himself. The move that man had shown him was incredible. Cleaving the Heavens in a Single Stroke was it? He wanted to learn it. Wu Jian wanted to learn how to cleave through mountains like that. He was excited just thinking about it.