Defeating an Enemy with One Sword

Firecloud Valley lay in the southeastern reaches of Cloudmist, a considerable distance away. It took the two of them more than ten days to reach it.

Once back in Firecloud Valley, Liu Tong did not stop to rest. He led Lin Chen straight to the Branch Line's main hall.

Word had arrived ahead of them, so two people were already waiting inside.

Seated at the head of the hall was an elderly man with white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and a dark red robe. His aura was deep and steady. This was Liu Chun, the Branch Line's grand elder, who had reached the third level of the Profound Martial Realm.

Below him on the left sat another Branch Line elder, Liu Zhang. He was gaunt and dark-skinned, with cultivation at the second level of the Profound Martial Realm.

When Liu Tong entered, both men looked over, then turned their gazes to Lin Chen.

"Grand Elder. Elder Zhang."

Liu Tong stepped forward and cupped his fists. "I'm back."

Liu Chun nodded slightly. "Good to have you back. And this is..."

Liu Tong turned to make the introduction.

"This is fellow cultivator Lin Chen, a martial artist from the Four Seas Merchant Guild. He holds a Purple-Gold Token and is a distinguished guest."

"I invited him here to aid our Branch Line in this Fire Vein Contest."

"A distinguished guest of the Four Seas Merchant Guild?" Liu Zhang frowned. As his gaze swept over Lin Chen, he found the man's aura as unfathomable as the sea, and his heart tightened.

Liu Chun also studied Lin Chen, his expression grave.

"Fellow cultivator Lin, you've come a long way. Forgive us for not greeting you sooner."

"But the Fire Vein Contest has always been an internal matter between the two lines. There's no precedent for an outsider taking part. It may draw criticism, and the Main Line may not accept it..."

Liu Tong stepped forward, his expression solemn.

"Grand Elder, Elder Zhang, our ancestors' rules only say that each line must send one person to decide the outcome in the arena. They never said the fighters must belong to the clan!"

"Besides, the Main Line has held the advantage of the fire source for years. If we cling to old rules, our Branch Line will never have a chance to rise. This Fire Vein Contest concerns our fate—and the future of Firecloud Valley!"

He turned toward Lin Chen and continued.

"Fellow cultivator Lin is exceptionally strong, far beyond an ordinary Profound Martial Realm cultivator. With his help, our chances will improve greatly!"

"If we win the Fire Vein Contest and become the Main Line, we can try to enact reforms. With the Four Seas Merchant Guild's help, we can put the fire vein to use in alchemy and strengthen our clan."

"This could benefit generations to come. How can we cling to the old ways?"

Liu Zhang snorted. "Easy to say. If we lose, won't our Branch Line become the laughingstock of Firecloud Valley?"

"And the Main Line's Liu Yan is frighteningly strong. Rumor has it he's reached the fourth level of the Profound Martial Realm. How confident can this fellow cultivator Lin be against him?"

Lin Chen had stood quietly to one side since entering the hall, his expression calm. Only when the conversation turned to him did he raise his eyes to Liu Zhang.

After a moment's thought, Liu Chun looked at Lin Chen and spoke slowly.

"Fellow cultivator Lin, it isn't that I'm being unreasonable. The Fire Vein Contest is too important. Whoever fights must have the strength to convince everyone and face the Main Line's formidable opponent."

"How about this? Elder Zhang will test your skills on behalf of our Branch Line. If you show sufficient strength, no one here will object to making you our chief fighter in this Fire Vein Contest. What do you say?"

His words were tactful, but his meaning was clear: if Lin Chen wanted to fight for them, he had to prove himself first.

"Me?"

Liu Zhang sprang to his feet. He had not expected the conversation to turn toward him taking the field.

He had said those things, but Lin Chen was still a martial artist from the Four Seas Merchant Guild. If they truly fought, Liu Zhang was far from sure of himself.

"What? Would you have this old man, with one foot in the grave, spar with fellow cultivator Lin?"

Liu Chun gave a cold snort.

"I wouldn't dare."

There was no backing out now. Liu Zhang could only put on a grave expression and focus his gaze on Lin Chen.

Lin Chen, by contrast, remained entirely at ease, as though they had proposed something trivial. He nodded lightly.

"Elder Liu Chun has a point. That's only fair. But it's rather cramped here. We may not have room to move."

Liu Tong smiled at once.

"No need to worry, fellow cultivator Lin. There's a training ground behind the hall. Please."

With that, the group moved behind the hall. The grounds were spacious and paved with Scarlet Rock, leaving more than enough room for the two men to fight.

The two took their places several dozen yards apart.

Liu Zhang silently circulated his True Essence. His aura surged, and a scorching pressure spread across the grounds.

"Fellow cultivator Lin, please!"

Lin Chen nodded slightly. He took no stance, merely stood where he was and gripped the Starshatter Sword.

At the sight, Liu Zhang grew displeased. Even if Lin Chen came from the Four Seas Merchant Guild, this was far too arrogant.

Did Lin Chen think so little of him?

Did he really take Liu Zhang for someone he could push around?

With a low shout, Liu Zhang drove the full force of his second-level Profound Martial Realm True Essence through his body. His right palm glowed red as hot iron, and a searing gust followed it as he struck straight for Lin Chen's face!

The palm wind howled and heat rolled forward. A palm imprint as large as a house rapidly formed in midair and slammed toward Lin Chen with tremendous force.

Let's see how you handle this! Liu Zhang thought. Yet just as the strike was about to hit, Lin Chen moved.

Shing—

Like the first crack of spring thunder, Lin Chen drew his sword. A brilliant, lightning-bright arc of Sword Qi tore through the air.

The second form of Thundercloud Sword Art: Thunderclap.

Crack!

In that instant, it was as if lightning had struck from the clouds.

The sword stroke was faster than the eye could follow. Everyone saw only a flash before the flaming palm hanging in midair split in two and swept past either side of Lin Chen.

The Sword Qi he had unleashed skimmed past Liu Zhang's ear, its edge even severing several strands of his fluttering hair.

Horror filled Liu Zhang's face. That sword stroke had been too fast for him to react. He had felt the chill of death brushing past him. If that Sword Qi had been half an inch closer...

At the edge of the grounds, delight flashed in Liu Tong's eyes. Even the usually composed Liu Chun's pupils contracted, and his fingers curled tight.

Lin Chen sheathed his sword and looked at Liu Zhang calmly.

"Thank you for the match."

Only then did Liu Zhang come back to himself. He retreated two steps and touched the hair sheared beside his ear. Still shaken, he bowed deeply. "Fellow cultivator Lin, your Sword Dao is divine. I admit defeat!"

"I was disrespectful earlier. Please forgive me. We'll be counting on you in the Fire Vein Contest."

Liu Chun came forward as well. With a solemn expression, he cupped his fists to Lin Chen.

"Your Sword Qi strikes like thunder, yet you control it perfectly. I failed to show you proper respect. Fellow cultivator Lin, please, let's return to the hall and discuss this in detail!"

Lin Chen smiled faintly.

Master martial arts, and you need fear nothing wherever you go. That old saying holds true everywhere.

"Fellow cultivator Liu Chun, you were only looking out for the Branch Line. There's nothing wrong with being cautious. I'll be staying in Firecloud Valley for a while, so I'm afraid I'll be troubling you."

"Not at all, fellow cultivator Lin. It's an honor for Firecloud Valley to have you come from the Four Seas Merchant Guild..."

After Lin Chen had deliberately shown them a glimpse of his strength, everything proceeded smoothly.

In particular, though the arena match had yet to take place, the Branch Line had already agreed to use the Earthflame produced by the fire vein to purge the violent Demonic Qi from the Wind-Eroded Crystal Core.

After all, a martial artist so young and so extraordinarily strong was worth befriending for his own sake, even without his ties to the Four Seas Merchant Guild.