The sky was tightly shrouded in thick, dark clouds, dim and gloomy, as if rain were about to fall.
An open-air training ground stood in the Demon Suppression Bureau.
It was already afternoon. Several black-robed officers were sparring in the courtyard, drawing a dozen or so colleagues nearby to stop and watch.
The Demon Suppression Bureau never forbade its members from fighting among themselves.
As long as nobody was killed, and the outcome didn't affect their future missions, they could do as they pleased.
Thus, the training ground was almost always occupied. People came either to practice their martial skills or to watch the spectacle, making it the liveliest place in the Bureau after the Foreign Affairs Hall.
When Gu Cheng and Chen Fengyi entered the training ground, they immediately caught the attention of the onlookers.
Even the officers who had been sparring stopped their match for the time being, quickly cleared the area, and hurried aside to watch in full force.
"Hey, hey, that guy with the silver-white hair—could he be an heir of Famous Sword Villa?"
"I know him! His name's Chen Fengyi. He's one of this year's specially recruited newcomers, and he ranked fourth in the final assessment."
An officer with a good ear for news whispered:
"I heard that kid's a famous genius of Famous Sword Villa. His Lineage has carefully trained him since he was little, and even at such a young age, he's already reached the Seventh Level of Mortal Transformation.
"His family's Sword Control Technique is so masterful that he can even split his attention and control two spirit swords at once.
"With the power of Famous Sword Villa's spirit swords, even an Innate Grandmaster who's a little weaker would probably have to avoid their edge!"
"Huh? He's that impressive?" Several onlookers turned their heads in surprise.
"But if Chen Fengyi's so strong, why did he only rank fourth?"
"Are you stupid? The assessment results were based on the merits earned on missions. There were too many unpredictable factors.
"If you're lucky enough to stumble across a Dragon Turtle in the Innate Realm, then even if you're weak, couldn't you still luck your way into the top spot among the newcomers?"
The officers burst into laughter.
At the same time, they grew even more curious about the black-robed young man in the middle of the training ground who dared to spar with Chen Fengyi.
Nearby, Tang Lingyu and Young Monk Huiguang had also stopped to watch.
Just then, a small white figure silently flew over and landed on Huiguang's head.
It was none other than the little bird demon servant remotely controlled by Venerable Ling Que.
"Well, well! Is this a fight? Young people these days really do love showing off their strength more and more..."
The little white bird glanced at the two figures facing off in the middle of the training ground, sounding rather excited.
"Lingyu, Huiguang, who do you think will win?"
"This... This little monk doesn't know."
The young monk pressed his palms together and respectfully addressed Venerable Ling Que above him:
"Three days ago, this little monk was fortunate enough to spar with Master Chen. His Purple-Green Twin Swords were incredibly powerful. Even with my physical defenses, I struggled to withstand them."
"I haven't seen Chief Gu fight, but since he dared to accept the challenge and even raised the stakes, he must have something to rely on, right? It's hard to say who'll come out on top..."
"Gu Cheng will definitely win," Tang Lingyu replied without hesitation.
"Oh? You have that much faith in his strength?"
Venerable Ling Que glanced at Tang Lingyu with a knowing smile.
Perhaps the young monk's bald head was too slippery, because it flapped its wings and flew back to perch on the short-haired woman's head.
"No. I trust my instincts."
Tang Lingyu pressed her lips together, but didn't stop the mischievous little white bird. She explained softly:
"My master has always warned me: 'An overconfident army is doomed to lose; to underestimate the enemy is to invite ruin.'
"Chen Fengyi is far too arrogant. He stubbornly sees Gu Cheng as a lucky nobody who doesn't deserve his position. He's bound to pay dearly for it."
"Is that so..."
Venerable Ling Que nodded slightly and turned its gaze toward the training ground.
Two black Armory Secret Tokens lay quietly on a raised platform beside the training ground, the stakes for the match.
Chen Fengyi stood in the center of the courtyard. He glanced at Chu Yuntian, waiting outside, then looked toward the black-robed young man opposite him and lifted his chin arrogantly.
"Listen... can we get started already? Once I'm done with you, I still have to deal with that big idiot."
"Sure. You can make the first move."
Gu Cheng nodded slightly, his expression calm.
"I'm very curious about Famous Sword Villa's Sword Control Technique. But if I make the first move, I'm afraid you won't get the chance to show it off."
"Hmph! All talk..."
The silver-haired young man's expression darkened. He was used to being arrogant, but this was the first time he'd met someone even more brazen than himself.
"Let's hope your hands are as tough as your mouth!"
Whoosh—
Chen Fengyi flicked his sleeve.
A three-foot-long blue spirit sword shot out from within it and hovered in midair.
A brilliant glow swirled around its blade, and it radiated a forceful Sword Qi. At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary weapon.
Chen Fengyi formed a hand seal and made a sword incantation.
The blue spirit sword split into two, then four... In an instant, it became more than thirty sword phantoms, their razor-sharp tips aimed directly at the black-robed young man.
Then, like a violent storm, they shot toward their overconfident opponent!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
The sword phantoms tore through the air, letting out shrill whistles that made one's teeth ache!
The Sword Qi spilling from that fierce attack made the black-robed officers watching from afar catch their breath.
The distance of less than fifty paces vanished in an instant.
Facing the terrifying rain of swords hurtling toward him,
Gu Cheng didn't flinch. His figure blurred, suddenly turning into a series of afterimages.
His ghostly, nimble footwork let him dodge every incoming sword phantom. He seemed so relaxed that he hadn't even used his full strength!
"Hmph. You're pretty quick on your feet..."
Chen Fengyi narrowed his eyes. Chief Gu's abilities had surprised him a little.
But impressive footwork alone was nowhere near enough to beat his Sword Control Technique!
The silver-haired young man formed a sword seal with one hand.
The blue sword phantoms Gu Cheng had dodged immediately changed direction, sweeping back toward their target with piercing whistles.
Gu Cheng responded as before, using Fox Shadow Traces.
Just as he blurred into afterimages and used his ghostly footwork to dodge the sword rain filling the sky,
the flagstones beneath his feet suddenly shifted...
Poof—
Dirt flew, and shattered stones scattered.
A long spirit sword, gleaming with a faint violet light, suddenly burst out of the ground!
Moving several times faster than the blue spirit sword, it stabbed viciously toward Gu Cheng's back!
The timing of this sneak attack was impeccable.
Gu Cheng was focused on dodging the blue spirit sword's countless phantoms. He had no time to watch for the violet sword that had suddenly joined the fight!
"Hmph! You've at least managed to make me use both swords. You're not completely useless!"
"Too bad... The gap between our levels is simply too great."
As the black-robed young man was about to be struck by the violet spirit sword,
a cold glint flashed in Chen Fengyi's eyes.
They were both clearly on the same team, so why had his younger sister been badly injured while this kid had lucked his way into becoming Chief?
There had to be something fishy going on!
The more Chen Fengyi thought about it, the more furious he became. He immediately formed a sword seal, intending to cripple one of Gu Cheng's hands and vent his anger on his behalf.
But in that split second,
a slender hand darted out like lightning.
It clamped around the violet spirit sword, gripping it firmly in its palm.
No matter how its master tried to control it, the sword couldn't move an inch!
Before you continue