Three Years Gone By, Swords Crossed on the Arena

Time slipped by, swift as a shuttle.

Three years had passed since Lin Chen entered Spirit Mist Mountain Blessed Land and devoted himself to cultivation.

One day, two figures crossed paths on the martial arena.

One wielded sweeping Sword Qi, his strikes broad and forceful, with the faint momentum of a spark setting the prairie ablaze; the other's sword light came in dense waves, now like a light cloud brushing the moon, now like thick mist locking down a river.

They exchanged more than a hundred moves without either gaining the upper hand. After one final head-on clash, both used the force to spring apart.

The figure on the right wore a blue robe and held a three-foot sword. Drifting down in the distance with the wind, he was none other than Lin Chen.

The man on the left was a burly giant over two meters tall.

The faint aura of gold and fire surrounded him, and he wielded a broad-bladed heavy sword. He was Spirit Mist Mountain's other sword cultivator, Zhao Yuanhao.

The two were sparring with swords on the arena, and both had comprehended ten percent Sword Intent.

Below the arena, Lu Mingxuan stood quietly to one side and watched.

Across from Lin Chen, Zhao Yuanhao planted his heavy sword on the ground and grinned. "Good! Lin Chen, your Flowing Cloud method of diverting force has improved again since last time!"

"Brother Zhao's prairie-fire sword momentum has grown more concentrated too."

Lin Chen smiled faintly, a glimmer of starlight gathering at his sword tip. "That Starfire Beads move of yours wasn't nearly so tricky last time."

On the arena, Zhao Yuanhao laughed and raised his heavy sword once more.

"Then try taking this—Prairie Fire Rain!"

His heavy sword swept across, unleashing hundreds of sparks that poured down on Lin Chen like a sudden rain. Every spark held scorching Sword Qi, and the attack covered a vast area with deadly force.

Several months earlier, this very move had forced Lin Chen back again and again. It had torn through ninety percent of the layered Sword Qi of his Flowing Cloud before he had barely managed to block it.

But judging by the force of this strike, it was clearly stronger than before.

Anyone allowed to cultivate on Spirit Mist Mountain is, at the very least, an exceptionally gifted martial artist. Their strength really does grow fast.

Unfortunately for you, mine grows faster...

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened. Faced with an even more powerful attack, he advanced instead of retreating!

His footwork abruptly changed. Like willow fluff caught in the wind, he slipped lightly through the gaps in the rain of sparks. Those seemingly dense flames always missed him by a hair.

Movement art: Windwalker!

During his three years of secluded cultivation, Lin Chen had found it relatively easier to comprehend the Thundercloud Sword Art thanks to his ten percent Sword Intent. Windwalker, however, was an art he had only recently begun to grasp.

Yet it was, after all, a mid-tier Profound Grade movement art. Even as a beginner, he could move with the wind, passing through ten thousand flowers without a single leaf clinging to him!

The instant he passed through the fiery rain, the Starshatter Sword in Lin Chen's hand shifted sharply from defense to offense.

Flowing Cloud: Skyline Slash!

The sword light narrowed to a thread, then became a long rainbow that stabbed straight toward Zhao Yuanhao's thick chest.

"Well come!"

Zhao Yuanhao roared and suddenly leaped three yards back. He raised his heavy sword overhead as the golden-red True Essence around him poured into its blade like a hundred rivers returning to the sea. A dark-gold sheen spread across the broad blade, while a point of blazing white starlight formed at its tip.

The starlight was no bigger than a thumb, yet the air around it warped and shimmered. The temperature across the martial arena shot up.

Gold-Congealing Crimson Star!

It was the killing move of the Golden Flame Prairie Sword once the technique had reached minor mastery.

One attack was Sword Qi like a rainbow; the other, like a falling meteor of flame. They collided in midair!

There was no earth-shaking explosion, nor any wild torrent of energy. At the moment of contact, a ball of light formed at the arena's center, flickering without cease.

Neither stream of Sword Qi could overpower the other.

At last, the ball of light flashed violently several times. With a soft sound like shattering crystal, both attacks went dark, breaking into countless tiny points of light that scattered in every direction before fading into the air.

Bang! Bang!

A blast of air sent Lin Chen and Zhao Yuanhao leaping back at the same time. Each retreated more than a yard before steadying himself.

Lin Chen's chest rose and fell slightly, his black hair somewhat disheveled. Zhao Yuanhao let out a long breath of hot air, planted his heavy sword on the ground, and began regulating his breathing where he stood.

After a while, Lin Chen was the first to draw in the True Essence swirling around him and sheath the Starshatter Sword.

Lin Chen smiled.

"Brother Zhao, I've gained much from our sword sparring today."

"Why don't we stop here and call it a draw? What do you say, Brother Zhao?"

Lu Mingxuan came up from below the arena and smiled at the suggestion. "Old Zhao, you may be at the peak of the second level of the Profound Martial Realm, but Brother Lin Chen cultivates the Three Revolutions Profound Origin Art. His True Essence is no less abundant than yours. A draw makes perfect sense."

Zhao Yuanhao nodded, then shook his head with a soft sigh.

"Lin Chen and I are the only two sword cultivators on Spirit Mist Mountain. We've sparred often over the years, and we've both gained a great deal from it. Our swordsmanship has advanced quickly."

"But in our first year of sparring, I still held a steady advantage. In the second year, we each won our share, though I won more often. I never expected that by now, we'd be evenly matched."

There was no frustration on Zhao Yuanhao's face as he spoke. Instead, he looked entirely at ease.

"With your abilities, Brother Zhao, you're sure to make a name for yourself in Cloudmist Territory once you leave Spirit Mist Mountain."

Lin Chen spoke earnestly.

Zhao Yuanhao fell silent for a moment, then lowered his voice.

"To be honest with you both, the Four Seas Merchant Guild gives promising martial artists like us considerable freedom. We can travel alone and temper ourselves across the land, or stay with the guild and continue cultivating."

"But... I intend to go to that underground ruin in the Eastern Wilderness."

Lin Chen's interest stirred.

Liu Yun had mentioned it to him. Wasn't that underground ruin supposedly the site of a great sect?

He had not expected Zhao Yuanhao to head there after leaving Spirit Mist Mountain.

"The ruin where news of an earth treasure emerged half a month ago?"

Lu Mingxuan frowned slightly. "I've heard it's become an Asura Killing Grounds. Forces from every quarter have gathered there, and martial artists die every day—even those in the Profound Martial Realm. Is one earth treasure worth it?"

"It isn't just for the earth treasure."

A fervent light flashed in Zhao Yuanhao's eyes.

"That ruin may be the remains of an ancient sect. There must be inherited cultivation arts, Pills, and spiritual materials inside. Besides, my martial path demands life-and-death battles if I'm to advance boldly and forge ahead without pause!"

"That place is exactly what I need."

Lu Mingxuan sighed softly and tried no further to dissuade him.

"What about you, Lin Chen?"

Zhao Yuanhao looked at Lin Chen. "Will you come with me? If we join forces, who in that ruin could stand against us? We might find treasures that send our strength soaring."

Lin Chen shook his head and refused without hesitation.

When he was strong enough, he had no objection to striking hard and seizing opportunities to strengthen himself.

But this was plainly too dangerous. Lin Chen had no wish to take that risk.

"Fair enough."

Zhao Yuanhao was not disappointed. He laughed heartily.

"You're exceptionally gifted. Once I return from the ruin, if we meet again, I'll seek you out for another match!"

"May your journey be safe, Brother Zhao, and may you return with a rich haul."

Lin Chen cupped his hands.