"There's no rush. Miss Miyabi, please have a seat and watch first. I still have a trial with my disciple today."
"Alright."
After calming herself, Hoshimi Miyabi silently walked over and sat down on a chair to the side.
She glanced at the tea set on the stone table.
Silently, she poured herself a cup of tea.
Holding the teacup in both hands, she looked toward Fu Hua and Cui Ji ahead.
"Cui Ji, are you ready?"
"Yes, Master. Come at me."
Fu Hua gave her hand a slight squeeze.
A Xuanyuan Sword appeared in her hand.
She tossed the sword to Cui Ji.
"Use this one."
Discarding her wooden sword, Cui Ji reached out and caught the Xuanyuan Sword flying through the air.
"Alright, Master."
The moment it landed in her hand, the Xuanyuan Sword gave off a faint glow.
Cui Ji's gaze froze.
This sword... is adapting to me?
"Miss Miyabi, please help us time one minute."
"Certainly, Miss Fu Hua."
The timer began.
Around Fu Hua, one treasured sword after another condensed into existence.
The sight left Hoshimi Miyabi, seeing it for the first time from behind, somewhat astonished.
"Last sixty seconds, Cui Ji."
As soon as she spoke, the swords around Fu Hua shot toward Cui Ji like arrows.
Seeing this, Cui Ji gripped her sword tightly and darted about at high speed.
The Xuanyuan Sword sliced through the air as she continuously spun it around herself in defensive flourishes.
Unfortunately, not only were Fu Hua's condensed swords numerous, they were also incredibly powerful.
Every time her sword collided with one of them, Cui Ji felt her arms go numb.
In less than ten seconds, Fu Hua knocked her weapon from her hand.
Countless swords aimed at her from every direction.
"8.78 seconds."
Hoshimi Miyabi hurriedly announced the result.
"Mm, not bad. Cui Ji, your progress has been acceptable."
"Haa..."
The swords around her vanished, and Cui Ji let out a breath.
"Master, this is way too difficult."
"This is merely a simple test to determine whether you possess unity of sword and self."
"When you can last a full minute, it will be about time."
Picking up the Xuanyuan Sword from the ground, Cui Ji bowed.
"This disciple will remember."
"Mm. Go rest first."
Watching such a challenging test, Hoshimi Miyabi tightened her grip on the demon blade in her hand.
Unity of sword and self?
"Teacher, may I try this test as well?"
"You may. Cui Ji, start the timer."
"Yes, Master."
Hoshimi Miyabi slowly rose to her feet and walked to stand opposite Fu Hua.
She slowly tightened her hand around the hilt.
Her other hand waited by the fingerprint lock, ready to unlock it.
As the timing began.
Fu Hua formed a hand seal, and countless treasured swords condensed before flying toward Hoshimi Miyabi.
As expected of a Void Hunter.
She moved like a serpent, slipping past countless swords.
The demon blade in her hand slid free.
Clang, clang, clang—
The sound of metal striking metal rang out, echoing through the mountain gate.
She's incredible, Miss Fu Hua.
Can I achieve unity of sword and self?
As she thought this, blue flames began to appear on Hoshimi Miyabi's blade.
Though they were flames, their frigid temperature, cold enough to radiate frost, proclaimed their uniqueness.
After ten seconds, Fu Hua increased her output once more.
The swords accelerated, wrapped in sword qi.
Caught off guard for a moment, Hoshimi Miyabi had several tears cut into her clothes.
Her focus sharpened further.
Sweat appeared on her forehead.
The demon blade in her hand swung even faster.
Time slowly passed.
The instant it reached twenty seconds.
All at once, countless swords condensed around Hoshimi Miyabi.
Above her, a massive sword began gathering power, preparing to smash down.
Her pupils contracted.
She lowered her stance slightly and sheathed her blade.
Holding her breath, she focused her mind.
Shing—
The instant the demon blade was drawn, icy blue slashes filled the space around Miyabi, blocking the swords stabbing toward her.
Then Hoshimi Miyabi began gathering power as well, sending a blue slash toward the giant sword rapidly descending from above.
Screech, screech, screech—
The sound of metal being torn apart rang out.
A shower of sparks burst from the demon blade and the treasured sword.
As Fu Hua's giant sword was split in two.
The attacks around her paused for an instant as well.
She lowered her head to look at the hand gripping her blade. It was trembling nonstop.
The numbness nearly filled her entire arm.
So heavy. Every strike from Miss Fu Hua is so heavy, like I'm cutting into a thousand-pound cauldron.
Twenty-one seconds.
Whoosh, whoosh—
Countless giant swords like the one from before condensed around Miyabi. Fu Hua lightly flicked her fingers.
They ruthlessly stabbed toward Hoshimi Miyabi.
Seeing this, she concentrated once more. Blue frostflames gathered on her blade as she swung it with difficulty.
This continued all the way until the forty-fifth second.
Her face covered in sweat, Hoshimi Miyabi panted heavily as she looked at the giant swords.
However, they stopped attacking and dissipated.
Fu Hua clenched her hand, condensing a longsword. Then she shot toward Miyabi like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Hoshimi Miyabi reacted quickly, hurriedly raising her blade to strike.
Clang—crack—!
The instant they collided, the longsword in Fu Hua's hand shattered.
But Hoshimi Miyabi was sent flying as well.
She hurriedly adjusted her angle and had just landed.
When Fu Hua condensed another longsword behind her and thrust it toward her.
After turning to evade, she swung another slash.
Fifty seconds.
Fu Hua's longsword gathered sword qi and slashed rapidly toward Hoshimi Miyabi.
In the end, unable to withstand it, Hoshimi Miyabi dropped to one knee. The longsword pressed directly against her throat.
"50.01 seconds."
Seeing this, Cui Ji quickly called out the result.
As soon as her voice fell, Fu Hua casually waved her hand, and the longsword dissipated.
Fu Hua nodded calmly.
"Miss Miyabi truly possesses astounding strength. To achieve such a result during your first attempt at this kind of trial is remarkable."
Fu Hua stepped forward and slowly extended a hand to help her up.
"Th-thank you, Teacher."
A faint fragrance lingered at Hoshimi Miyabi's nose. She looked up at the girl before her.
The other's natural bearing was so captivating. So overwhelmingly imposing.
"However, there seems to be a problem with your blade..."
After steadying herself, Miyabi drew her blade.
"This is the demon blade passed down through the Hoshimi Family."
"Is that so? Although you wield it quite skillfully now, there is still a barrier between you and it."
"You cannot unleash its greatest power."
Hoshimi Miyabi paused.
"Is that so..."
"Mm. I cannot offer much more help regarding the specifics."
"After all, it is your weapon. Its owner should be the one to subdue it personally."
"I understand, Teacher."
Waving her hand, Fu Hua turned and sat back down on the stone bench.
She picked up her tea.
"Cui Ji, did you see what you will have to face next?"
"Yes, Master."
"Train hard."
"I will."
Although Cui Ji was shocked by the test just now, since even a Void Hunter had failed to pass it.
She was not afraid, because she knew Fu Hua would not set a test that had no solution from the outset.
Besides, if she broke through this trial, wouldn't that mean she possessed Void Hunter-level combat strength as well?
Then she would be able to protect Anby properly.
And when she brought up that sort of thing with Anby, Anby would only be able to...
Hehe.
Fu Hua frowned at Cui Ji, somewhat unable to understand what she was grinning about.
"Ahem. Miss Miyabi, go wash up first. Cui Ji, take her there."
"Yes, Master."
Before you continue