"The sword rises like the wind..."
"The wind moves, the sword follows..."
"The Sword That Chases the Wind..."
...
Xuan Tian was practicing his sword on the back mountain of the outer peak of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Since that special experience at the Hidden Sword Pool, Xuan Tian not only improved his cultivation by two realms and his strength skyrocketed, but his comprehension of swordsmanship also reached an unbelievable level.
If we divide swordsmanship training into ten levels: beginner, initial understanding, minor achievements, rapid advancement, enlightenment, significant gains, mastery, consummate skill, pinnacle, and divine mastery.
So, Xuan Tian's previous level was around the sixth level where he "gained great success," while now he is at the tenth level where he has "reached a state of divine mastery."
Xuan Tian felt that the sword was like his arm, as if it were connected to him as one.
"Perhaps it's because of the 'pure white sword' between my eyebrows, my sense of swords has become more than ten times more sensitive, just like my own arm. My understanding of swordsmanship has also improved more than tenfold."
"call..."
Xuan Tian swept his sword horizontally, and with a whooshing sound, a silver fir tree as thick as a bowl ten steps away snapped in two, its upper half falling to the ground.
"Hoo..."
Xuan Tian sheathed his sword, pressed down with two fingers in front of his chest, focused his energy in his dantian, and let out a long sigh.
Once his breathing had evened out, Xuan Tian's gaze fell on the silver fir tree that had been cut down to its waist ten steps away, and a look of joy appeared on his face.
In a few quick steps, Xuan Tian arrived in front of the broken silver fir tree, his hand stroking the smooth, mirror-like crack on the stump, a smile playing on his lips.
"Sword energy, sword energy that can only be released by a seventh-level martial artist. I am only a sixth-level martial artist, yet I can release it. At a distance of ten steps, the sword energy cut through a silver fir tree as thick as a bowl. My sword energy can travel at least twenty steps away."
"Unleashing sword energy is a hallmark of the seventh level of martial arts. However, the sword energy unleashed by a seventh-level martial artist can only reach a distance of ten steps. A sword energy that can reach a distance of twenty steps is probably only achievable by a eighth-level martial artist."
"What exactly is that sword shadow in the 'Hidden Sword Pool'? It not only raised my cultivation level by two realms at once, but also greatly increased my strength, making me almost comparable to the eighth level of martial artist."
"Furthermore, it has allowed me to reach the ultimate level of my understanding of the 'Chasing Wind Sword Technique,' to the point of being almost divine. This mid-grade Yellow Rank sword technique, when used, is no less powerful than a high-grade Yellow Rank sword technique, and it has even unleashed a sword aura attack."
Xuan Tian touched the area between his eyebrows, rubbing it slowly, and muttered to himself, his voice filled with surprise.
"My father didn't teach me the family's sword techniques and cultivation methods. My talent in the Heavenly Sword Sect wasn't outstanding, so I couldn't learn advanced sword techniques and cultivation methods. I originally thought that I would never be able to avenge my great hatred in this life. But now that I have this opportunity, revenge is no longer a distant dream. Xuanji and Yinji, you two dogs, wait for me. One day, I will appear in front of you and use my three-foot-long sword to take your dog heads."
Xuan Tian clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his heart filled with confidence.
"Senior Brother Huang—"
Just as Xuan Tian was recalling his past experiences and making a solemn vow, a shout came from down the mountain.
Xuan Tian looked down the mountain and saw Lin Dong about a hundred paces away, running towards the back of the mountain while shouting.
Judging from Lin Dong's anxious appearance, something serious must have happened.
With a leap, Xuan Tian covered ten steps in a single bound, as light as a swallow. In less than ten leaps, he flew nearly a hundred steps down the mountain and appeared in front of the panting Lin Dong.
"Junior Brother Lin, why are you in such a hurry to find me? What happened?" Xuan Tian asked as soon as he landed.
"Senior Brother Huang, something bad has happened..."
Lin Dong, panting heavily, said intermittently, "Senior Brother Huang Shi... he fought against Senior Brother Zhang Hu."
"What?" Xuan Tian asked urgently, "What exactly happened? Tell me as we walk."
Xuan Tian grabbed Lin Dong's arm and they ran down the mountain.
Zhang Hu has the cultivation of the peak of the fifth level of martial arts. Before Xuan Tian experienced the adventure of the Hidden Sword Pool, he had the cultivation of the fourth level of martial arts. When they fought Zhang Hu, they only lasted eleven moves before he was defeated. Huang Shi only has the cultivation of the third level of martial arts. He is far inferior to Xuan Tian. How could he possibly be Zhang Hu's opponent?
Within the Heavenly Sword Sect, the rules are strict. Fellow disciples are forbidden from fighting each other. If there is any conflict, they can challenge each other. As long as both parties agree to resolve the conflict through combat, the duel can be held under the witness of others.
With so many disciples in the Heavenly Sword Sect, conflicts between them are inevitable, making duels between them quite common.
To address this, the Heavenly Sword Sect specially built a dueling arena, providing a fixed venue for disciples to duel. The arena was built in a plaza that disciples frequently passed by, ensuring that duels between disciples were held in public places, thus preventing private infighting, which could lead to death, irreconcilable conflicts, and escalate into hatred.
In the mouths of the disciples, the dueling platform is the arena, and the duels between the disciples are called fighting on the arena.
A duel in the arena requires the consent of both parties; it cannot be forced. The challenged party may refuse the duel, but will be looked down upon by the other disciples.
Of course, there is one exception: when someone with higher cultivation level challenges someone with lower cultivation level, and the challenge is refused, they are often understood by others. After all, there is a big difference in strength between those who are just one realm lower in cultivation level.
When cultivation levels differ by two realms, the difference in strength becomes even more vast, like the difference between heaven and earth.
At this point, if someone with higher cultivation challenges someone with lower cultivation and the person with lower cultivation refuses, not only will they not be despised by everyone, but everyone will despise the person with higher cultivation, because if someone with higher cultivation challenges a fellow disciple whose cultivation is two realms lower than their own, it is clearly bullying.
The difference in cultivation level between Huang Shi and Zhang Hu was only two realms. Logically speaking, Huang Shi shouldn't have gone to the arena to duel with Zhang Hu, but the situation was completely the opposite, which surprised Xuan Tian.
With Xuan Tian pulling his arm, Lin Dong ran much more easily, his breathing becoming more balanced. He said, "Because Senior Brother Zhang Hu spoke ill of Senior Brother Huang, saying that Senior Brother Huang was unconscious in the Hidden Sword Pool because he was defeated by him and felt unworthy, wanting to commit suicide. Senior Brother Huang Shi said that Senior Brother Huang was unconscious because he was too tired from sword refining."
Senior Brother Zhang Hu said that Senior Brother Huang was... a piece of trash, that he could even faint while practicing swordsmanship, and that he was destined to be a waste for life. Senior Brother Huang Shi said that Senior Brother Huang wasn't a waste, and that one day he would surpass Senior Brother Zhang Hu. Senior Brother Zhang Hu laughed and said that the entire Huang family was trash, Senior Brother Huang was trash, and Senior Brother Huang Shi was the worst of the worst. He then easily beat Senior Brother Huang to a pulp with one hand.
Senior Brother Huang Shi said Senior Brother Zhang Hu was talking nonsense. Senior Brother Zhang Hu replied, "If you're not the worst of the worst, then fight me. I'll beat you to a pulp with just one hand." So, Senior Brother Huang Shi and Senior Brother Zhang Hu went to the ring to fight.
In one breath, Lin Dong recounted the entire reason and process of Huang Shi and Zhang Hu fighting on the stage.