Wu Jian had not seen Húndàn Wang since the Three Sects Tournament. He studied the older man, who didn’t look like he had changed at all physically. However, even though he looked the same, he didn’t feel the same. The power inside of him had grown much more. Wu Jian recognized the signs of someone at the peak of the Deva Realm. How hard must he have worked to gain such strength?

“Húndàn Wang, it’s been a while. It looks like you’ve been well,” said Wu Jian.

Húndàn Wang smiled. “So it is you. I had a feeling, but I couldn’t be sure.” He paused for a moment. “You’ve become a lot stronger. You were only at the Asura Realm, but now you’re at the Deva Realm. That’s amazing.”

“The benefits of hard work, I guess. You’ve been working hard, too, I see.”

“Well… I’m doing my best.”

Húndàn Wang felt a lot more mild and calm compared to how he used to act. He had never been arrogant, but he had been stubborn. The difference in his personality was subtle but noticeable--at least to Wu Jian.

“Oi, oi, oi. Do you really think it’s wise to ignore us?” asked Zhang Fengtian. Húndàn Wang and Wu Jian turned as one to the man, whose face had grown red with anger and humiliation. He looked like he’d spent too much time out in the sun and gotten a sunburn.

“You’re still here? We’ll have our duel later. Go find a master who will be willing to oversee it and let me know when the duel is. I’ll be there,” Wu Jian said.

“Do not think you can get away with talking to me like this!!” Zhang Fengtian growled.

“You’re the one who needs to think,” Wu Jian snapped, fed up with this man now. “I’m busy. Get lost.”

Húndàn Wang started to laugh but covered it with a snort that caused some of Zhang Fengtian’s lackeys to look his way.

Zhang Fengtian’s ears burned a vibrant red. His cultivation stirred as chi began emitting from his hands, which he used to grab a sword sheathed at his side.

“You! How dare you speak to me this way! You’re courting death!”

Zhang Fengtian set himself in a stance that Wu Jian had never seen before. He had placed his feet shoulder-width apart, with his feet aligned perpendicular to each other, creating a stable base. His posture was perfectly upright with his back straight. Meanwhile, his left hand rested lightly on the scabbard while his right hand had grasped the hilt of his sword. A strong pressure emanated from him. Wu Jian sensed the killing intent, which caused him to tense. Youmei, standing beside him, began growling.

“What do you all think you’re doing?”

The tension that had filled this floor faded when someone dressed in the elaborate robes of an elder walked over to them. It was a stern-faced man with long black hair, black eyes, and pale skin. He was glaring at the group.

Zhang Fengtian looked like he was going to snap at the elder, but he quickly removed his hands from his weapon and stood back up. The deadly sensation like that of a sword being drawn and held at Wu Jian’s throat disappeared.

“We’re not doing anything. I was just showing him my quick draw stance since he was so curious,” Zhang Fengtian made an excuse on the spot.

I suppose he wants me to go along with it… too bad that’s not the kind of person I am.

“This moron got upset when I told him I wasn’t going to duel him right now and tried to intimidate me with his quick-draw technique,” Wu Jian stated.

Zhang Fengtian snarled. “You…!!!”

The elder wore a stern look as he gazed at them. “You know that duels are forbidden outside of the arena. If you want to duel someone, you need to go through the proper channels. You first need an elder who is willing to referee the duel. I will be willing to do that since you almost got into a fight in my library. However, it will cost you merit points. Are you okay with that?”

“Tch!” Zhang Fengtian clicked his tongue. “I’m not gonna waste my merit points fighting against some no-name loser.” He glared at Wu Jian. “Consider yourself lucky.”

“I am lucky. Lucky I don’t have to waste my time fighting a weakling,” Wu Jian said back.

Zhang Fengtian’s glare could not have been more fierce, but with an elder present, he dared not try anything again. The man walked toward the stairs, bumping into Wu Jian on the way. He and his lackeys soon disappeared. Once he was gone, the elder turned to him.

“You should learn not to provoke people so callously.”

Wu Jian shrugged. “I didn’t provoke anyone. They came to provoke me. I’m not going to meekly back down when someone like that comes after me.”

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I’ve seen newbies like you. They always think they’re hot stuff until they mess with the wrong person and learn some humility. Well, far be it from me to stop you from getting yourself injured or worse. It’s your funeral,” the elder said before walking off.

He used to be bullied by his older half-brother when they were younger. Ever since overcoming Wu Yong all those years ago, Wu Jian had promised himself that he would never back down or let himself be bullied again. He especially wasn’t going to let some random punk who was jealous of his closeness with Wu Meiying pick a fight without consequences. Anyone who wanted to mess with him should expect to get wrecked.

Wu Jian no longer felt like looking for a sword technique, so he left the library with Húndàn Wang. Several women squealed and waved at the swordsman as they walked by. Húndàn Wang smiled as he waved, and the girls squealed. Their voices were so loud and obnoxious, like nails on a chalkboard, that Youmei had to cover her ears.

“That child… who is she?” Húndàn Wang suddenly asked.

“This is Youmei. You’ve actually met her before. She’s the black panther that was always with me.”

“The black--ah, I see. I can sense that she’s also at the Deva Realm. That makes sense. I was wondering how such a young child can be so powerful. Now I understand why.”

They soon found a teahouse to sit down in. Soft music filled their ears as they entered. The melodies invoked a sense of harmony and contemplation. A young woman dressed in a delicate pink and white hanfu sat on a stage, playing a guqin. This instrument was often referred to as thee “father of string instruments.” Its use dated back thousands of years. It was a seven-stringed zither-like instrument known for its elegant and refined sound.

Adorned in various sword motifs and decorations, the teahouse featured elaborate sword displays, both ornamental and functional, which were mounted on walls, showcasing the sect’s reverence for the Dao of the Sword. There were jeans, daos, and even more ancient swords being used as decor. Intricately carved wooden sword racks were placed throughout the teahouse, holding practice swords, which cultivated a sense of discipline. Their arrangement was meticulous and meant to symbolize order.

Wu Jian, Youmei, and Húndàn Wang sat on floor cushions at a low sitting square table made from rich, dark hardwood. He couldn’t tell if it was mahogany or ebony. The wood’s natural beauty was enhanced by the detailed carvings of swordsman in various forms of practice. The Heavenly Sword Sect must have hired a master artisan to create these tables.

They both ordered a tea, and Wu Jian also ordered some sweets for Youmei. The young woman who served them smiled, though it was mostly directed at Youmei and Húndàn Wang. Wu Jian noticed she practically ignored him, but, well, he was used to that. The mask made it hard for people to look at him.

“You really should be more careful,” Húndàn Wang suddenly said, parroting what the elder had told him. “I’m not going to tell you not to stand up for yourself, but you need to pick and choose your fights wisely. Zhang Fengtian isn’t that powerful, but he has the backing of powerful people. Not only is his family one of the most influential in the Heavenly Sword Sect, but he belongs to the Crimson Swords Faction. They are led by Luo Feng. He is a Core Disciple apprenticed to Elder Zhang Zhou.”

According to Húndàn Wang, the Heavenly Sword Sect had seven factions, each led by a Core Disciple and specializing in a unique sword and cultivation method. There was the Azure Moon led by Lan Xiu, the Crimson Swords, Crystal Lotus led by Mei Ling, Thunderstrike Brotherhood controlled by Lei Jin, the Astral Serpents ruled by Yue Lan, the Silent Shadow and their mysterious leader Wei Ying, and the Iron Mountain Battalion that was controlled by Gao Shen.

“The Crimson Swords practice the Flameblade Quickening Cultivation Method,” Húndàn Wang continued. Their tea soon arrived, but he ignored it in favor of continuing to talk. Wu Jian listened intently as Youmei scarfed down the sweets. “Disciples of this faction are masters of Quick-Draw Techniques. Their cultivation method enhances their reflexes and speed, allowing them to unsheathe their blades and strike with unparalleled swiftness. They’re also known for their fiery temperament and flashy combat style. Out of all the people in the Heavenly Sword Sect, they are the first ones to pick a fight.”

“Do they not get punished?” asked Wu Jian as he sipped his tea. The herbal blend was quite soothing.

Húndàn Wang shook his head. “Why would they? It’s not like they do anything that goes against the rules. Zhang Fengtian normally doesn’t act out like that because nobody would dare to stand against him. I doubt he’s ever had someone talk back to him like you did.”

“I guess if someone is used to getting their way, it would be galling to have someone suddenly stand up to you--not that I care.”

“You should. Zhang Fengtian is low on the totem pole as far as status is concerned, but reputation means everything to these factions. Messing with one of them is like slapping the entire faction in the face. They won’t take that lying down.”

“Master… Youmei is still hungry,” Youmei tugged at Wu Jian’s sleeve. He smiled and ordered another round of sweets. Fortunately, he had been awarded enough merit points that he could afford to splurge a little.

“So you’re saying that picking a fight with Zhang Fengtian is the same as picking a fight with the Crimson Swords?” asked Wu Jian.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I am saying.”

“Good then. That’s just what I want.”

“Excuse me?”

Húndàn Wang looked at Wu Jian like he was crazy, but this was all a part of his plan. What Wu Jian needed was trials and hardships. Only by fighting and overcoming strong opponents could he grow stronger, especially because what he wanted to do at the moment was increase his technical skills. He had power in spades. However, he lacked many techniques to compliment that strength. What he wanted now was to find techniques that matched his fighting style and master them by competing against strong opponents.

Zhang Fengtian was a loser. Fighting him wasn’t worth anything. However, if by fighting him, Wu Jian could take on the entire Crimson Swords, then it was well-worth the effort of provoking the man.

When Wu Jian told this to Húndàn Wang, the older man shook his head and smiled helplessly. “Is this the kind of training you do? If so, it’s no wonder you’ve become so strong.”

“I haven’t done anything quite like this before… but it is true that I’ve always gone up against cultivators more powerful than me.”

The best way to grow stronger was to fight people stronger than yourself. It was a saying with profound meaning to cultivators. It encapsulated the fundamental principle that to reach one’s full potential, they must constantly challenge their limits and step out of their comfort zones. Wu Jian was the embodiment of this saying. He had been pushing his limits ever since he was eight years old. That was how he had become as strong as he was today.

I can’t wait until I get to challenge the Crimson Swords, Wu Jian thought with a smile.