Fitting In

After today, though, probably no one would mock him anymore. Because honestly... his loss had been fair.

He had assumed that his Foundation Establishment cultivation put him above Junior Brother Chen Zui. Even though he had seemed to take the match seriously, there had been a trace of carelessness in both his attacks and his counters. And because of that trace, he had lost.

At first, he had been unwilling to accept it. Now he was convinced.

Wen Xu panted like an ox. Controlling his sword so intensely had drained his strength fast. Blood dripped from its tip, some his own and some Chen Zui's.

The same was true of Chen Zui's blade.

Chen Zui was panting too. In truth, both of them were a sorry sight, drawing their last breaths before their strength gave out.

Victory or defeat would come down to one final sword stroke—or slash.

The next instant, they raised their weapons in unison. Blade-light and sword-shadow flashed in an arc, and the last wisp of spiritual energy in Wen Xu's body vanished. It was as though he could clearly see his sword catch the mischievous wind in midair. Tamed by his blade, it rushed straight toward Chen Zui's cutting edge.

Chen Zui answered with his fiercest, most unyielding slash. The two forces collided violently, then tore apart.

His strength spent, Wen Xu sank to one knee. He had given it everything he had.

But even so...

He had lost. By half a sword's length.

Fitting In

The match left quite an aftershock. Not just for the fighters—even the spectators discussed it excitedly for days. Whenever anyone brought it up, hearts still raced.

Disciples who had missed it that day cried out in regret. Fortunately, someone had recorded the entire fight with a Shadow Recording Stone, and