Top Sixteen

"His opponent in the seventh round was a Divine Intent with an exceptionally powerful body, from Black Rock Star," Lin Jianyi said. "That man's physical strength was roughly eighty percent of Bater of the Bearfolk Clan. Ye Yixin broke through it with a single sword strike."

"He did not break it with technique. He simply cleaved it apart by force with sword intent. That sword intent has advanced far too much compared to a few years ago. He is likely already among the top ten, perhaps even the top five, supreme experts of the True Dragon Star Realm."

He paused and looked at Xu Wuyi.

"Eight years ago, when I saw him draw his sword, I could still see the path of his sword intent. Now I cannot. That sword intent that severs all things no longer needs a trajectory. Wherever his thoughts reach, the sword intent arrives."

Lin Jianyi's voice was calm, as though he were stating an objective fact.

"I am not his match."

Xu Wuyi looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"The martial arts system of the True Dragon Star Realm is completely different from ours," Lin Jianyi said. "They are a civilization of pure sword cultivators. Every sword cultivator practices only one sword from childhood, day after day for centuries, honing that one and only sword to the utmost limit."

"Ye Yixin's sword that severs all things is the result of over a hundred years of honing. This path has its limitations, but it is terrifyingly effective in a duel. They have no superfluous moves, no needless flourishes. Just one sword."

Xu Wuyi understood what Lin Jianyi meant. The Federation's martial arts placed greater emphasis on all-round development: the physical body, rules, weapon use, tactical thinking—everything had to be trained.

The sword cultivators of