Much to Wu Jian’s surprise, Zhang Fengtian actually went through the proper channels, found an elder willing to oversee their duel, and even selected a date. Wu Jian had received a missive early one morning from someone stating the time their duel would take place. It was set for one week from the day Zhang Fengtian had confronted him.
Word quickly spread about the new guy who picked a fight with someone from the Crimson Swords. Wu Jian had been subjected to rumors and stares whenever he visited Heavenly Sword City.
Fighting Zhang Fengtian wasn’t going to be hard. He had already taken his measure of the man and found him wanting, but humiliating him in a public duel would hopefully bring the ire of the Crimson Swords.
Wu Meiying had not come to visit him in a while, but he knew she couldn’t afford to pop in whenever she pleased. Here reputation within the Heavenly Sword Sect made it hard for her to visit anyone, much less some new guy who just showed up. That would draw suspicion. He also found out that a lot of young men were pining after her, including Zhe Fēnglì. While it wasn’t surprising that so many people lusted after her, it was annoying, even moreso because Wu Jian couldn’t tell everyone to back off.
When they were younger, Wu Jian could claim that Wu Meiying was his and no one would dare contest him. He could not do that here. Not only was he an unknown entity, but Wu Meiying had spread a rumor that her clairvoyance was related to her purity. That was the whole reason no one had touched her. The sect master had even forbidden people from attempting it. One young man had actually been stupid enough to not heed his warning and not only had Wu Meiying beaten the snot out of him, but he had been expelled from the Heavenly Sword Sect.
It was frustrating. Wu Meiying was so close and yet he could not touch her. It was like staring up at the full moon on a clear night sky. The moon looked so close, but that was only an illusion. When you reached out your hand to grasp it, all you caught was air.
There was nothing he could do about that right now, though, so he focused on his goal, which was to get stronger. Wu Jian spent most of his time training. He woke up early in the morning and played a game of “tag” with Youmei, then spent the next several hours swinging his sword. He always did one thousand sword swings with each hand. After his sword drills, he would journey through the Heavenly Sword Realm in search of a calming place to meditate.
The Heavenly Sword Realm was a place of immense beauty. Forests spread out as far as the eye could see, interspersed with lakes, rivers, and mountains. There were several caves located here and there. Some of them contained natural treasures, or the remains of them. Wu Jian once stumbled upon a cave that had once housed a unique liquid called Vitality Nectar. It was a natural elixir that reinforced the body when a person bathed in it. Sadly, the natural treasure had been all used up when he found it.
Húndàn Wang would sometimes join him when he practiced with the sword, and they would even spar whenever he showed up. The man had gotten much better. His movements were sharper, his strength more stable. Wu Jian could tell that his understanding of the Dao of the Sword had improved too because he was able to create sword ki, a type of energy specifically used in sword techniques.
According to him, the next step was to produce a sword aura using sword ki. This was an advanced manifestation of a cultivator’s mastery over sword ki and represented not only their skill but also their spiritual connection to their sword. Sword aura was a powerful and often invisible energy that surrounded a wielder’s blade, enhancing its cutting power, precision, and even reach.
It wouldn’t be wrong to think of sword aura as an external projection of a cultivator’s internal sword ki. When used, it create an ethereal energy that surrounded the blade, creating a palpable presence that could be felt by others.
The foundation of sword aura mastery lay in a profound comprehension of the Dao of thee Sword. This involved choosing or creating a blade that resonated with their energy. The sword became an extension of the body. Cultivators must then forge a deep spiritual connection with their sword.
Wu Jian had heard that some cultivators could perform this with even a basic sword. It happened when a cultivator used the same sword for decades if not centuries. The sword would eventually harmonize with them and allow them to perform hereto unheard of feats. He’d once read a book in which a sword even gained sentience after being used for several centuries by a Seeker Realm cultivator, though whether that was true or not, he didn’t know.
While it had taken a while, Wu Jian eventually found a technique that he thought suited him. It was the middle-grade spirit rank technique, Mountain Cleaving Strike, a formidable greatsword technique that, when mastered, supposedly enabled a cultivator to slice through mountains with unparalleled precision and power. It was a technique well-suited to Wu Jian, whose martial arts relied on his overwhelming physical strength.
Wu Jian trained in this technique every day during the evening. The essence of its use lay in the perfect alignment of the greatsword’s edge. Cultivators must master the art of honing the blade to a razor’s edge, ensuring it remained as sharp as the talons of a celestial beast. Once that has been achieved, the cultivator draws upon the earth’s energy, channeling it through their body and into the great sword, enhancing its cutting power. This supposedly was what allowed it to cleave through mountains.
He had yet to master the technique. Indeed, despite training in it every evening for several days, he could only produce a tiny blade that traveled barely a meter before sputtering out.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
And soon, the day came when he would battle with Zhang Fengtian.
***
The Heavenly Sword Sect Arena was a breathtaking sight, a grand testament to the martial prowess and spiritual dedication of the sect. Set amidst the serene backdrop of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s mountainous realm, this arena was a fusion of beautiful architecture and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
The arena was encircled by towering pillars, each adorned with carvings of swords. These pillars were colored a deep red and gold. At the heart of the arena stood the Pagoda of the Soaring Crane, a towering multi-tiered structure. Its eaves curved gracefully like the wings of a crane in mid-flight. A sumptuous pavilion with crimson and gold lacquered beams overlooked the arena. It was reserved for honored guests, sect elders, and dignitaries. To access the arena, disciples and competitors crossed a series of serpentine bridges the stood over tranquil lotus-filled ponds.
Wu Jian stood on the dueling platform, a circular platform located in the heart of the arena. At the center of this arena, with its intricately painted tiles, was its most distinctive feature--a massive sword embedded hilt deep into a stone pedestal. It was known as the Heavenly Sword and represented the sect’s core philosophy.
He was not alone. Zhang Fengtian was also present. The arrogant young man stood on the other side of the platform, smirking like his victory was a foregone conclusion. Wu Jian was going to greatly enjoy wiping that smirk off his face. Between them was an elder, though you’d never guess from looking at him. He didn’t look a day past thirty.
They were not the only people present, as dozens of people sat in the arena stands to watch the spectacle about to take place. News of this duel had spread far and wide. It was all bad news. According to Húndàn Wang, the rumor that “some idiot who did not understand the immensities of heaven and earth” had challenged a member of the Crimson Swords to a duel. Most of these people were expecting him to lose.
But that was fine.
He had come to enjoy surprising people.
Murmurs eventually erupted from the crowd. Wu Jian at first thought they were talking about him, but he soon discovered that was not the case. Someone quite famous had walked into the arena’s stands. It was Zhe Fēnglì, the man who coveted Wu Meiying. Wu Jian did not blame him, of course, nor did he hate the man, but he still wanted to let Zhe Fēnglì know that Wu Meiying was off the market.
The many people in the stands looked most surprised. Wu Jian had excellent hearing, but even he couldn’t hear what they were saying right now. However, an even greater surprise was yet to come. The murmurs soon turned into gasps of shock when a beautiful figure whose face remained hidden by a veil appeared in another section of the arena. Though she wore the same robes as other disciples, they seemed a much snugger fit, covering her womanly figure like a second skin and emphasizing her assets. She looked like the incarnation of lust despite her outfit being quite modest.
It was Wu Meiying.
***
Wu Meiying knew she would draw attention by appearing to watch the duel between Zhang Fengtian and Wu Jian. That was the reason she had come. By letting everyone see that she “favored” Wu Jian, she gave him enemies to fight and overcome. Some would be drawn by curiosity, others by their jealousy.
“It’s her.”
“Wu Meiying.”
“It’s the Lady Oracle. What is she doing here?”
“I heard a rumor that she favors Jian Wu. My friend said he saw her walking around Heavenly Sword City with him. Do you think it’s true?”
“It’s gotta be. Why else would she be here?”
She smiled beneath her veil. Her presence here injected an extra layer of drama into this duel, as onlookers contemplated the implications of her interest. Humans loved drama. Whether they were normal people or cultivators, this fact never changed.
“BIG SISTER!!”
“Oh my.”
Wu Meiying blinked once in surprise as a tiny figure leapt from her shadow and slammed into her. She was strong enough that the “attack” didn’t budge her. Looking down to find Youmei clinging to her, she smiled beneath her veil and gently pat the magical beast’s head.
“I see you are as energetic as always. Have you been staying out of trouble?”
“Un. Youmei has been good.”
“That’s good. You can’t trouble your master.”
The people talking became even more fever-pitched.
“Hey! Isn’t that the little girl who’s always with Jian Wu?!”
“It is! I saw her with him in Heavenly Sword City!”
“She’s calling the Lady Oracle Big Sister. That must mean all the rumors about Wu Meiying favoring Jian Wu are true!”
Well, this didn’t quite go as planned, but this works fine.
Wu Meiying avoided using her powers of clairvoyance when she stepped out of her pagoda, which had a powerful barrier that kept her enemies from knowing when she used her powers, so she had not seen this coming… but it would work in their favor.
“I did not expect to see you here, Meiying.”
Resisting the urge to click her tongue, Wu Meiying smiled at Zhe Fēnglìs. “I sensed something momentous happening and became curious.”
Zhe Fēnglìs nodded like he understood. “Well… I don’t blame you since you also watched the tournament.”
“And what about you? I’m surprised such a small duel was enough to pull you away from your training.”
“Ah, well. Like you, I saw Jian Wu’s fights during the tournament. He’s very strong. I was curious to see how he fared against someone from the Heavenly Sword Sect.”
Liar.
Wu Meiying merely smiled. “I see. I’m much the same. His fights during the tournament were quite exciting, so it will be interesting to see his fights here.”
Turning back toward the arena, as though to announce an end to their conversation, Wu Meiying looked at Wu Jian. She kept her face completely passive. It was a skill she had learned during her first life. Her expression was like a still lake even as she stroked Youmei’s hair. Yet, deep within her chest, her heart beat rapidly.
Show everyone what you can do, Jian.