Testing Moves

"How would you like to spar, Helmsman Chen?"

Wan Guiyun gripped his sword hilt, his tone laced with anticipation. He resembled a sharp blade about to be unsheathed; though the edge remained hidden, the sword intent was already piercing.

"Let's stop at a touch," Chen Xuan said. "You use your full strength, and I will only defend without attacking."

Wan Guiyun frowned.

Only defend without attacking?

That was far too condescending.

But upon second thought, Chen Xuan had killed Liu Feng, a third-stage Qi Casting expert, with a single strike. His cultivation was far above his own, so perhaps this wasn't just arrogance.

"Fine." Wan Guiyun took a deep breath, the surging emotions in his chest gradually calming, replaced by a dense intent to battle. He said in a deep voice, "Be careful, Helmsman Chen."

He pressed his right hand against the hilt and slowly drew his longsword.

It was a new precious sword, long and slender, silver-white throughout, emitting a cold, chilling gleam under the sunlight.

Silver-white qi flowed incessantly along the blade, sharp and fierce, as if it could slice through the very air.

In the past.

Wan Guiyun believed that a truly powerful swordsman was the same regardless of whether they used an ordinary sword or a fine weapon.

The sword was an extension of the arm, and what truly determined victory was the person holding it.

However, after his sword had been caught and snapped by Chen Xuan's two fingers, he realized the importance of a high-quality blade.

If he had been using a superior sword, the opponent would not have been able to break it so easily.

Therefore, Wan Guiyun had switched to a fine weapon.

What truly determines victory is the person holding the sword.

That statement was not wrong.

But at the same level of cultivation, having a fine weapon naturally amplifies one's combat power.

"This sword is named Shuangbai, a top-grade fine weapon," Wan Guiyun said. "Helmsman Chen, forgive me."

As his voice fell, he moved.

He thrust his sword, the light like a meteor falling to earth.

Meteor Sword Technique—Line of Heaven.

This superior sword technique was one Wan Guiyun had used during his match on the arena stage.

That day, he had executed it with Body Tempering realm cultivation; though the sword light was fast, it lacked true sharpness and was ultimately easily neutralized by Chen Xuan.

But today, using the same technique, it was entirely different.

The qi of the Taibai Sword Scripture surged within his body like a vast, fierce silver-white river. The silver-white sword qi erupted from the tip of the blade at a speed almost impossible for the naked eye to track, drawing a straight white line in the air, its sharp edge tearing through the atmosphere with a piercing whistle.

This strike was at least three times faster than when he was in the Body Tempering realm, and its sharpness was incomparable.

"Good."

A trace of appreciation flashed in Chen Xuan's eyes.

He did not draw his sword, nor did he dodge; he simply raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together, and met the fierce sword light.

Wan Guiyun's pupils constricted.

This scene was all too familiar.

Ten days ago on the arena stage, every time he used his ultimate sword techniques, they were caught by Chen Xuan's two fingers.

He would likely never forget that sight for the rest of his life.

His full-force strike had seemed like a child's play to the other man; that sense of powerlessness and despair had kept him awake for days.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of metal clashing echoed through the quiet courtyard.

The tip of Wan Guiyun's sword was steadily held by Chen Xuan's two fingers, the silver-white qi on the blade clashing with the pale golden light between Chen Xuan's fingers, emitting faint crackling sounds.

But this time, it was different from before.

Last time on the arena stage, once Chen Xuan's fingers caught the tip, Wan Guiyun's sword could not advance even an inch, as if it had struck an immovable mountain.

But this time, the silver-white sword qi exploded between Chen Xuan's fingers, actually causing him to feel a slight stinging sensation.

It felt like a gust of cold wind in winter; although it didn't even break the skin, it served as a real reminder.

This strike was not entirely useless.

Even though it still hadn't broken the skin, the indestructible sharpness was indeed many times stronger than it had been during his Body Tempering days.

"The Taibai Sword Scripture is truly extraordinary," Chen Xuan said, releasing his fingers. "Again."

A flash of excitement crossed Wan Guiyun's eyes. He shifted his sword stance, the blade tracing a strange arc in the air like a spirit snake emerging from its hole, thrusting toward Chen Xuan's side.

Where the blade passed, it left behind a trail of afterimages, making it impossible to distinguish which was real and which was illusory.

Spirit Snake Sword Technique.

This superior sword technique is known for its trickery; the sword moves are devious and impossible to guard against.

Driven by the True Qi of the Taibai Sword Scripture, the silvery-white sword energy twisted and shifted in the air like a real spirit snake, darting left and right, making its final strike completely impossible to predict.

Yet, Chen Xuan was not affected by these ever-changing trajectories. He did not dodge or evade, simply raising his hand to slap the blade.

"Clang!"

The sword body vibrated violently, forcing Wan Guiyun to retreat several steps, his hand tingling.

But he did not stop, and his sword stance shifted once more.

Nine-Fold Mountain Sword Technique.

This is a top-tier sword technique; it seeks neither speed nor finesse, only power.

Wan Guiyun gripped his sword with both hands and slashed down. The silvery-white light on the blade surged, descending upon Chen Xuan's head with the momentum of Mount Tai collapsing.

This strike was heavy and powerful, several times stronger than the previous Meteor Sword Technique and Spirit Snake Sword Technique.

Chen Xuan raised his hand to block.

"Boom—"

The sword edge struck his forearm, emitting a dull, thunderous sound.

Chen Xuan did not move an inch, but his sleeve was torn by the sword energy, revealing the skin beneath, which shimmered with a pale golden luster.

"Good sword technique," Chen Xuan praised. "The True Qi of the Taibai Sword Scripture is indeed far stronger than the internal energy of the Body Tempering realm."

Wan Guiyun sheathed his sword and stood still, offering a bitter smile. "Branch Leader Chen, I've exhausted all my tricks and still couldn't even break your skin. How is this sparring supposed to continue?"

His voice carried helplessness, but no frustration. He knew this wasn't because his sword wasn't sharp enough, but because his opponent's defense was simply too terrifying.

"You've already done quite well," Chen Xuan said. "Being at the first level of the Zhuqi Realm and managing to make me feel a hint of stinging pain—there are few in the same realm who could achieve that."

He was speaking the truth.

The Vajra Technique is a top-tier hard-body cultivation method. With the Vajra True Qi of the fifth level of the Zhuqi Realm combined with an indestructible Vajra body, his defensive power was terrifying to the extreme.

For Wan Guiyun to make him feel a sting while using superior and top-tier sword techniques at the first level of the Zhuqi Realm was already an astonishing feat.

If it had been any other martial artist at the first level of the Zhuqi Realm, a full-force strike against him wouldn't have even counted as a tickle.

"Your True Qi has strong properties," Chen Xuan noted. "It is indestructible and extremely sharp. If you were fighting someone in the same realm, few would be able to block your sword energy. Once you cultivate the Taibai Sword Scripture to a higher level, you will be invincible among your peers."

Wan Guiyun nodded.

The Taibai Sword Scripture he practiced was one of the unique skills of the Ten Thousand Sword Villa. It did not focus on the body or defense, but solely on sword energy, pursuing the ultimate in offensive power.

This technique was extremely difficult to master and had absurdly high requirements for comprehension. In the hundred years of the Ten Thousand Sword Villa, only a handful of people had managed to even enter the threshold.

That he could cultivate the Taibai Sword Scripture to the first level of the Zhuqi Realm at seventeen was entirely due to his exceptional comprehension of the sword path.

"By the way, you have a unique skill sword technique, why not use it?" Chen Xuan asked. "If you used your unique skill, you should be able to break my skin. I want to see what a unique skill sword technique at the Zhuqi Realm level looks like."

Hearing this, the corner of Wan Guiyun's mouth twitched.

Unique skill True Qi combined with a unique skill sword technique just to break Chen Xuan's skin... If anyone else had said this, Wan Guiyun would have taken it as a blatant mockery, a victor sneering at the defeated.

But coming from Chen Xuan, it was simply a matter-of-fact statement. Through their recent exchanges, he had personally experienced the terror of his opponent's physique.

Beneath that pale golden skin seemed to hide a fortress forged of Vajra—indestructible. Forget breaking the skin; even leaving a white mark on Chen Xuan would require him to exhaust all his True Qi.

Therefore, Wan Guiyun could only offer a bitter smile. "Branch Leader Chen, I have only just broken through to the Zhuqi Realm. My unique skill sword technique is still at the Body Tempering level. I need time to cultivate and integrate my True Qi with the sword technique before I can execute the Zhuqi chapter of the unique skill. When that time comes... I will definitely come to seek your guidance again."

"I see." Chen Xuan nodded. He wasn't disappointed; instead, a hint of anticipation appeared in his eyes. "Then I shall wait. Once you have mastered the unique skill, we shall fight again."

With that, he turned and walked toward the courtyard gate.

"Branch Leader Chen, are you heading out?"

Wan Guiyun noticed that Chen Xuan had changed into clean clothes and had ordered his subordinates to prepare fast horses.

"Yes," Chen Xuan nodded. "I have a private matter to attend to and will be gone for a few days. I leave the affairs of Baishui Town to you."

"Rest assured, Branch Leader Chen," Wan Guiyun bowed. "I will keep a close watch on the branch."