Three Years Gone, Swords Crossed on the Arena

Time flew.

Three years had passed since Lin Chen entered the blessed grounds of Spirit Mist Mountain and devoted himself to cultivation.

That day, two figures darted across the martial arts arena.

One wielded sweeping sword energy with the force of a prairie fire; the other wove a dense web of sword light, now like wisps of cloud brushing past the moon, now like thick fog shrouding a river.

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

The figure on the right wore a blue robe and held a three-foot sword. He drifted down in the distance with the wind. It was Lin Chen.

His opponent on the left was a burly man over two meters tall.

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

The two were sparring on the arena, and each had grasped ten percent of Sword Intent.

Below the arena, Lu Mingxuan stood quietly watching.

Across from Lin Chen, Zhao Yuanhao planted his greatsword on the ground and grinned. "Good! Lin Chen, your Flowing Cloud technique for deflecting force has improved again since last time!"

"And Brother Zhao's prairie-fire sword momentum has grown more refined."

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

Zhao Yuanhao laughed and raised his greatsword again.

"Then try taking this—Prairie Fire Rain!"

His greatsword swept across, unleashing hundreds of sparks that rained down on Lin Chen. Each held searing sword energy, and together they covered a vast area with deadly force.

A few months earlier, this move had driven Lin Chen back again and again. It had torn through ninety percent of the layered sword energy of his Flowing Cloud before he had barely managed to block it.

Now, judging by its power, the move was clearly stronger than before.

Anyone qualified to train on Spirit Mist Mountain is an exceptionally gifted martial artist. They really do improve fast.

Too bad I've improved faster...

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened. Faced with the stronger attack, he advanced instead of retreating!

His steps suddenly shifted. Like willow fluff borne on the wind, he slipped lightly through the gaps in the rain of sparks, evading the seemingly dense barrage by a hair's breadth each time.

Movement art: Windwalker!

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

But it was a mid-tier Profound Grade movement art. Even as a beginner, he could move with the wind and pass through a field of flowers without a single leaf touching him!

The instant he cleared the rain of fire, the Starshatter Sword in Lin Chen's hand switched from defense to attack.

Flowing Cloud · Skyline Slash!

The sword light narrowed to a thread, then became a long streak of light that shot straight toward Zhao Yuanhao's broad chest.

"Here you come!"

With a roar, Zhao Yuanhao leaped back thirty feet and raised his greatsword overhead. Golden-red True Essence surged from all around him into the blade like rivers flowing into the sea. The broad blade gleamed dark gold, and 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 in the arena soared.

Gold-Congealing Crimson Star!

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

One attack was a rainbow of sword energy; the other, a falling blaze. They collided in midair!

There was no earth-shaking explosion, no wild torrent of energy. At the instant of contact, a pulsing sphere of light formed at the center of the arena.

Neither stream of sword energy could overpower the other.

At last, the sphere flashed violently several times. With a soft sound like shattering glass, both attacks winked out, scattering into countless flecks of light that soon vanished into the air.

Bang! Bang!

A shockwave forced Lin Chen and Zhao Yuanhao to leap back. Each retreated more than ten feet before steadying himself.

Lin Chen's chest rose and fell slightly, his black hair a little disheveled. Zhao Yuanhao let out a long breath of scorching air, planted his greatsword on the ground, and began regulating his breathing.

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

Lin Chen smiled.

"Brother Zhao, I've gained a great deal from today's sparring."

"Shall we stop here and call it a draw? What do you think?"

Lu Mingxuan came up from below the arena and smiled. "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 every bit as abundant as yours. A draw makes perfect sense."

Zhao Yuanhao nodded, then shook his head with a 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 benefited greatly. Our swordsmanship has improved quickly."

"But in the first year, I still had a clear advantage. In the second, we traded wins, though I won more often. I never expected us to be evenly matched now."

Despite his words, Zhao Yuanhao looked anything but frustrated. He seemed entirely at ease.

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

Lin Chen spoke earnestly.

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

"To be honest, the Four Seas Merchant Guild gives promising martial artists like us considerable freedom. We can strike out on our own and travel the world, or stay with the guild to continue training."

"But... I'm going to the underground ruins in the Eastern Wilderness."

Lin Chen's interest stirred.

Liu Yun had mentioned those underground ruins to him. Weren't they supposed to be the remains of some great sect?

He hadn't expected Zhao Yuanhao to head there after leaving Spirit Mist Mountain.

"The ruins where news of an Earth-grade treasure emerged half a month ago?"

Lu Mingxuan frowned slightly. "I've heard the place has become an Asura Killing Grounds. People from every faction have gathered there, and martial artists die every day—even those in the Profound Martial Realm. Is one Earth-grade treasure worth it?"

"It isn't just for the treasure."

A fervent gleam flashed in Zhao Yuanhao's eyes.

"Those ruins may have belonged to an ancient sect. There must be cultivation arts, inherited teachings, pills, and spiritual materials inside. Besides, my martial path demands battles of life and death if I'm to advance boldly and keep rising!"

"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 turned to Lin Chen. "Will you come with me? If we join forces, who in those ruins 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 qualms about seizing opportunities to grow stronger.

But the risk here was plainly too great. Lin Chen had no wish to take it.

"Fair enough."

Zhao Yuanhao showed no disappointment. He laughed.

"You're exceptionally talented. Once I return from the ruins, if our paths cross again, I'll challenge you to another spar!"

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

Lin Chen cupped his fists.