"Your Majesty, Headmaster, Lord Gaspar has returned." On the raised platform, an attendant in silver robes immediately approached to inform the two dignitaries. Not far behind him, a tall figure in black robes also walked over, carrying a pitch-black longsword on his back.
"Gaspar, why have you suddenly returned?" Emperor Joyce was rather surprised. Hadn't Gaspar followed that person to Mount Qifeng for arduous training?
"Your Majesty, my teacher said I had officially grasped the basics of the Wind-Slashing Sword Technique, so he allowed me to travel and temper myself. As soon as I returned, I heard that a new genius Sword Saint had appeared in the empire. Naturally, I had to come take a look." Gaspar had long purple hair and an upright bearing, with a hint of unruliness about him.
"Officially grasped the basics? It seems you've stepped through the doorway into the profound mysteries of the laws as well." Kaslo could not help sighing that he had grown old. Since Gaspar had earned leave to venture out from under that person's tutelage, his strength was probably no weaker than Kaslo's.
"With my teacher's guidance, I was fortunate enough to gain some understanding." Though Gaspar's words were humble, his face remained exceedingly proud.
"What have you come here to do this time?" Though the fellow was quite strong, Emperor Joyce clearly did not like him much, and his tone was rather cold.
"Your Majesty, I heard that this genius Sword Saint won the favor of the High Priest of the Church of the Fire God shortly after his breakthrough. Surely he cannot be weak." In both his words and their implications, Gaspar had already placed himself in the position of the stronger man. "As it happens, I've just completed my training as well. Naturally, I'd like to exchange pointers with him."
Gaspar really hasn't changed. He never rises early without something to gain, and he covets empty fame. Kaslo could not help frowning at this, but said nothing more.
"In that case, go ask Luo Ao yourself whether he agrees to a match." Although Joyce disliked Gaspar, the fellow was now a Saint-level expert, after all, and had that Wind-Cleaving Sword Saint behind him. Joyce could hardly deny him all face.
Below the platform.
Just as Lansi and the others began imagining the terrifying might of the legendary Deity Level experts, a voice suddenly exploded like thunder high above them.
"Luo Ao, fight me!" "Fight me!" "Fight me!" ...
A voice brimming with fighting spirit suddenly rang out above the spacious martial training hall, echoing through the air.
"Who is it? Who dares provoke Lord Luo Ao?" Their thoughts abruptly interrupted, the boys and girls searched for the source of the voice, their gazes finally converging on the distant platform.
There, beside His Majesty the Emperor and Headmaster Kaslo, a figure in black robes had appeared at some point.
"What is your name?" Luo Ao was a little surprised that someone had suddenly challenged him. He did not seem to know this fellow.
"My name is Gaspar." The black-robed man stood on the platform, staring intently at Luo Ao.
"So it's him." Luo Ao had heard of Gaspar. The man could also be considered a genius, a young Saint-level expert from two hundred years ago who had likewise come from the Darren Magic and Warrior Academy.
I heard he later became a disciple of that legendary Wind-Cleaving Sword Saint. I wonder how much of his true teachings he's inherited? Luo Ao thought to himself, with no intention of declining the challenge.
"Very well. I accept your challenge." Luo Ao already intended to travel and challenge other experts. Since someone had come to his door of his own accord, why would he refuse?
Besides, Gaspar was merely one of the Wind-Cleaving Sword Saint's many disciples. Had that person come in person, he might have inspired some wariness in Luo Ao.
Luo Ao stood straight, calmly looking at the purple-haired, black-robed young man on the platform without a trace of hesitation on his face. Gaspar immediately felt that he was being looked down upon.
"Good. Then in three days, we'll fight on the Azure River outside Darren City!" After shouting this, Gaspar turned and left.
Choosing to fight on the Azure River naturally carried special significance. Saint-level experts possessed tremendous destructive power, while the Azure River was broad and flowed without cease, leaving no need to worry about harming innocents. At the same time, it was where several legendary Sword Saints had made their names.
He, Gaspar, would use this battle to announce to the world that the genius Sword Saint Gaspar of years past had returned!
There was only one genius Sword Saint in the Darren Empire, and that was he, Gaspar!
There were many kinds of Saint-level experts. Some were content to live in seclusion, devoting themselves to comprehending the profound mysteries of the laws, but Gaspar was clearly not one of them. Otherwise, he would not have rushed out of the mountains the moment his teacher gave his approval, eager to show his might before others.
"Lord Gaspar is actually challenging Lord Luo Ao?"
The elite students and some of the instructors below all began looking forward to it. These two were clearly at odds today. It seemed that in three days, they would have the good fortune to witness a spectacular Saint-level duel.
"This Gaspar has already cultivated for hundreds of years, yet he's come to challenge Lord Luo Ao." Among the crowd, the silver-haired second princess, Alexia, likewise had little liking for the man.
Challenges between Saint-level experts were commonplace, but it was usually a junior challenging a veteran. What veteran would take the initiative to seek out a junior?
This fellow probably wants to step on my reputation to climb higher. After a little thought, Luo Ao understood what the man had in mind.
Although Saint-level experts still held exalted status in the Darren Empire, only a handful enjoyed great fame. Most of those were long-established peak Saint-level experts, however, and Gaspar clearly lacked the confidence to take on experts of that caliber.
And Luo Ao? Though he had reportedly comprehended the profound mysteries of the laws as well, he was still only a newly advanced Saint-level expert. Presumably, he had only just crossed the threshold of the laws, so his strength could hardly be that great. Weak, yet immensely famous-wasn't that precisely the opponent Gaspar wanted?
"Let's continue today's lesson..." Though Luo Ao understood the other man's intentions, he had no fear of his challenge. He turned and continued teaching.
Lord Luo Ao seems very confident. Below, Lansi silently watched this unfold from the crowd. In fact, under ordinary circumstances, Luo Ao could have declined the challenge. He was very young, after all. Even if he was unwilling to duel Gaspar, no one would have said anything.
The day's instruction soon ended, and many students watched Luo Ao leave with lingering reluctance.
This legendary figure truly lived up to his name as a genius Sword Saint. His many ideas about cultivation often swept aside the grass blocking their minds, bringing sudden enlightenment. Unfortunately, they would have only this one opportunity to receive such guidance.
That evening, because of his arranged duel with Gaspar, Luo Ao was in no hurry to return to Helen City. Instead, he stayed at Darren Academy.
The headmaster had arranged a private courtyard for him. Luo Ao would stay there for the next few days, and he began cultivating in the courtyard.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" A gentle breeze blew, setting even the courtyard's lush branches and leaves dancing. Luo Ao's long black hair also fluttered with it from time to time.
Holding the Azure Nightmare Sword, he stood motionless. Yet the sword's blade began trembling, as though it could barely bear the burden.
Of the profound mysteries I've currently comprehended, one is fire element, and the other is the part of the edicts of destruction that resembles the profound mysteries of strength. Though he had not spent long comprehending this portion of the edicts of destruction, the combat power it produced was considerably greater than that of the fire element profound mystery.
I still haven't perfected this move, Thousand Jun. Its destructive power is currently limited to strength itself. It's a little too one-dimensional. Luo Ao began considering how he could make the move more powerful.
The profound mysteries of strength, earth pulsation... Suddenly, Luo Ao abruptly stood up, his eyes frighteningly bright.
Since the edicts of destruction and the laws of the earth share common ground, why can't I delve deeper into it directly? Luo Ao understood that cultivating laws was entirely different from cultivating edicts.
The reason lay in the fact that the individual profound mysteries of the seven laws were not particularly powerful. Only by fusing profound mysteries could one unleash astonishing strength. But the four edicts? An edict was already a complete whole, with no need whatsoever to fuse profound mysteries.
At this thought, Luo Ao began to wonder whether comprehending the portion of the edicts of destruction resembling the profound mysteries of strength might itself produce the same effect as fusing the profound mysteries of strength with other profound mysteries.
The edicts of destruction aren't the laws of the earth. This move of mine shouldn't rely on strength alone. It also needs to work with this power of vibration. At that moment, Luo Ao felt as though he had parted the clouds and mist to see the bright moon.
The destructive power of strength alone isn't all that astonishing. But if I add this power of vibration... Luo Ao knew that the laws of the earth contained a profound mystery called earth pulsation, which was immensely powerful when used together with the profound mysteries of strength.
I've gained some understanding of this power of vibration lately, too. It seems I can take another step forward before the duel. Though Luo Ao had confidence in himself, he was naturally delighted to gain a new understanding before the great battle.