There's No Mistaking a Nickname

Seeing the stunned looks on Lu Yuan and Gu Qiu'er, Jing Ziyan spoke from the side. "You two, please don't mind him... That's just how this guy is, hehe..."

"It's fine..." Lu Yuan said.

"I just didn't expect Brother Ji to look so cold and taciturn, yet be so straightforward."

"That's simply his personality," Jing Ziyan said. "He's only interested in things related to swords. Whenever he sees someone using a sword or something connected to swords, he gets like this."

"I understand, I understand. It's only human. I'm the same..."

Lu Yuan said with a smile.

Hearing that, Ji Juechen's eyes lit up. "So, Brother Lu, does that mean you've agreed to spar with me?"

"Well..." Lu Yuan said. "Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate? I'm already a Soul Emperor. What rank are you, Brother Ji?"

"I'm no better. I'm also a Soul Emperor!"

"I've always been pursuing something. Brother Lu, when I saw your twin swords just now, perhaps I can gain some inspiration from you!"

Ji Juechen spoke earnestly.

Lu Yuan smiled. "Brother Ji, you flatter me. Your swordsmanship is much stronger than mine. Besides, my twin swords are different from yours, so I'm afraid I won't be much help."

Ji Juechen shook his head. "No, you definitely can!"

"Please, Brother Lu, you must spar with me!"

His persistence left Gu Qiu'er, standing nearby, dumbfounded.

She turned to Jing Ziyan and asked softly, "Is he always like this?"

Jing Ziyan nodded, then leaned close and whispered, "He has a nickname at our academy: Sword Maniac!"

Jing Ziyan did not mention that they actually worked at Mingde Hall. They had only just met Gu Qiu'er and Lu Yuan, so there was no need to reveal too much.

Gu Qiu'er nodded slightly. "Sword Maniac? That does suit him rather well!"

Jing Ziyan nodded approvingly and smiled faintly.

There were only mistaken names, never mistaken nicknames!

Lu Yuan also wanted to exchange a few moves with Ji Juechen, but Xiao Xiao was still competing, and Gu Qiu'er's match had not begun yet.

"Brother Ji, my friends still have their soul fights. It might have to wait a while."

"That's fine, Brother Lu," Ji Juechen said. "I'll wait for you!"

Lu Yuan felt that there was something strange about those words, but he could not put his finger on what it was.

A short while later.

Xiao Xiao's soul fight ended.

Wielding the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, which was even bigger than she was, she had smacked her opponent senseless.

Xiao Xiao had even smashed several of her opponent's Soul Tools. Feeling that he simply could not continue the soul fight, her opponent had no choice but to concede.

With a brilliant smile on her pretty face, Xiao Xiao returned to Lu Yuan and Gu Qiu'er.

"Xiao Xiao, well done!"

"Not bad at all!"

The two praised her at the same time.

"Hehe."

Xiao Xiao chuckled and returned to her seat.

She looked at Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan curiously. "Who are you?"

Jing Ziyan smiled. "Hello, I'm Jing Ziyan, and he's Ji Juechen. He and Lu Yuan have arranged a spar."

Ji Juechen nodded at Xiao Xiao.

A trace of surprise appeared on Xiao Xiao's little face.

"Hello, I'm Xiao Xiao!"

"Xiao Xiao? You're as adorable as your name," Jing Ziyan praised.

"Hehe~"

Xiao Xiao smiled a little shyly, then returned the compliment. "Sister Ziyan, you're very pretty too!"

Jing Ziyan nodded with satisfaction. "Of course I am!"

"It's just that someone can't see it."

As though he had not heard her, Ji Juechen closed his eyes to rest, eagerly anticipating his battle with Lu Yuan.

Before long, Gu Qiu'er's soul fight ended as well.

Her opponent was also a Soul King and a Soul Engineer. He was extremely proficient in using Soul Tools.

It gave Gu Qiu'er, who favored close-quarters combat, quite a headache, but she still won in the end.

After all, the Golden Dragon Martial Soul, known as the ancestor of strength, had not earned its reputation for nothing.

The only troublesome part was the endless stream of Soul Tools.

Even as Gu Qiu'er walked back, she complained, "These Soul Tools are so annoying! They either explode or fire lasers, and there are all those shields and things! I could have killed him in one strike!"

Looking at her, Lu Yuan said, "Didn't we buy Soul Tools today? Besides, the reason we came here in the first place was to test how effective they were."

"You have so many Soul Tools on you. If he uses them, then use them too! Using Soul Tools here isn't against the rules."

Xiao Xiao chimed in as well. "Exactly! Sister Qiu'er, you were being too conservative!"

Gu Qiu'er puffed out her cheeks, clearly dissatisfied.

Pointing at Lu Yuan, she said, "It's all because of you! Would I have forgotten about using Soul Tools if it weren't for you?"

"Me? What does that have to do with me?!" Lu Yuan said innocently.

Gu Qiu'er snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you hadn't fought first and used your own swords, would I have forgotten about Soul Tools? You were the one who started it!"

Lu Yuan: "..."

Gu Qiu'er then glared at Xiao Xiao. "And you!"

Xiao Xiao shrank back nervously.

"You little brat. I spoil you so much normally, and now you're even criticizing me!"

Xiao Xiao immediately surrendered, throwing herself into Gu Qiu'er's arms and acting cute.

"Sister Qiu'er~ I was wrong. Don't be angry, okay? You're the best!"

"Sister Qiu'er~ Please forgive me. I'll never dare do it again!"

Gu Qiu'er pushed Xiao Xiao away and said irritably, "Cut it out. That won't work on me. Your spoiled act only works on Lu Yuan!"

She proudly lifted her chin. "Treat me to a late-night snack tonight, and I'll forgive you!"

Xiao Xiao chuckled. "No problem! Whatever Sister Qiu'er wants to eat, I'll treat you!"

"That's more like it!"

Gu Qiu'er nodded in satisfaction.

Ji Juechen, who had been waiting for a long time, finally spoke. "Brother Lu, can we begin our match now?"

"Of course," Lu Yuan said with a smile. "Should we reserve a space at the soul-fighting arena, or go outside and find somewhere else?"

Ji Juechen thought for a moment. "Let's go outside. I know a place. It's quiet, secluded, and suitable for fighting."

"Fine!"

The five of them left the soul-fighting arena and headed for the place Ji Juechen had mentioned.

West of Mingdu.

Before an abandoned giant warehouse, the surroundings were desolate and silent, with no one passing by.

There was a spacious, level stretch of ground before the warehouse, making it the perfect place for a spar.

Xiao Xiao, Gu Qiu'er, and Jing Ziyan retreated to the edge and watched quietly.

At the center of the open ground, two figures stood facing one another, and the atmosphere instantly turned solemn.

Ji Juechen stood tall and straight like a pine tree. His plain-colored clothes fluttered despite the lack of wind, while the long sword in his hand, dark and utterly devoid of luster, hung quietly at his side.

The blade had been forged from pure meteorite iron. It was simple and unadorned, without even a trace of ornate patterns, yet it carried an ancient, weighty presence.

An invisible sharpness quietly spread through the air. Even while lying still, it made the atmosphere seem to congeal.

This was the pure sword intent Ji Juechen had developed through years of immersion in the way of the sword.

Across from him, Lu Yuan held a sword in each hand.

The Abyss-Eroding Profound Blade in his left hand, and the Sun-Chopping Flame in his right.

Ji Juechen's gaze locked firmly onto the twin swords in Lu Yuan's hands, his eyes filled with intense curiosity and burning fervor. He spoke in a low voice. "Brother Lu, are these twin swords Soul Tools specially made for you, or are they your Martial Soul?"

"They're part of my Martial Soul, more or less."

"So that's how it is."

Ji Juechen nodded slightly, the desire for knowledge in his eyes growing stronger.

One sword condensed fire without releasing it, while the other emanated an eerie black radiance.

Yet he had never seen twin sword Martial Souls with such opposing attributes coexist so perfectly.

"Today's battle will surely bring me some gains."

The instant his words fell, Ji Juechen's aura abruptly changed.

In an instant, a fierce, pure, ultimate sword pressure swept across the entire warehouse!