Swordsmen and martial artists were assigned a different progression system due to the differences in their progressions.
The martial world was in a period of historic growth. Therefore, there was no shortage of renowned swordsmen. According to Black and White Reflection, Mount Lu Sword Sanctuary’s patriarch (Wordless Sword Deity), Li Clan’s elder and sentry of Broken Sword Imperial Tomb, as well as East China Sea’s scholar (Sword Sage), were the three most prominent swordsmen of the current era, although the three were more symbolic than actual swordsmen at this point since they had retired from the pugilistic world.
The likes of Demon Sect’s guardian, Impermanence, and Luo Clan’s Heavenly Swordsman were already held in high esteem as swordsmen. As for Kunlun’s Yi Wangyou, Mount Hua’s Jia Yunfeng and so forth, they all had one foot in the next realm of swordplay despite their old age – relatively speaking.
Among the younger generation, six of the Seventeen Jiao’s were swordsmen. There were disciples of sects that didn’t principally focus on swordplay who’d learn swordplay, such as Cold Mountain Temple’s Drunkard Sword Monk. Shen Clan was another one of many clans that made a name for themselves as a clan of swordsmen.
Mount Lu Sword Sanctuary had been lying low while they paved their way back to their heydays. The next time they held a convention, they would definitely stir the pot just as the introduction of many new faces in the pugilistic world did at the martial arts community event two years ago.
In the event two years ago, Wudang’s disciple came out on top with a single wooden sword, earning them the top spot as a “way of the sword” institute. Their champion swordsman and his junior, Huan Xinglai, were considered the backbone of Wudang’s new generation. At the moment, it was believed that only Yu Feiyuan or Qilin Guard’s Yi Ya had a chance against them.
What happened to Mount Daluo? Well, they were excluded. People argued that, despite Lian Zhuiyue possessing stellar swordplay, he was a master of swordplay, not the way of the sword. Likewise, the majority would argue Hero Shenzhou didn’t count as the greatest swordsman, preferring to elevate his success in martial arts over his progress in the way of the sword. Most people would agree that there was a huge difference between someone who treated a sword as a tool versus someone who treated a sword as part of them. Nevertheless, anyone who was there to witness the sword qi stirring the atmosphere in Nieyao would tell doubters that Mount Daluo should be considered a “way of the sword” institute.
There was no loud sound at the moment of impact. There was no blinding flash of white light; it was as though Shadow Lady absorbed it straight into her body. There was no sight of fingers digging into her body or skin splitting, yet her blood pooled at her feet.
Shadow Lady would need half a month to recover if she was stabbed. With supplements from Sky Palace, she’d be able reduce that to days. Unfortunately, Ming Suwen’s stab passed through her true qi armour to damage her meridians. As a result, she’d need three to five months to be back at full health.
Shadow Lady sealed her damaged meridians with her frigid energy as soon as she could. “… Tell me: you ate a blow from me to catch me with this stab? … It’s a risky gamble, isn’t it? Why didn’t you use this strength from the beginning?” Despite being caught, Shadow Lady didn’t show any indications of anger while questioning Ming Suwen.
“I’m not sure if you’re trying to make me admit my inferiority, but I’ll go along. If we’re both Divine Realm martial artists, I’m no match for you. By conventional standards, my style is unorthodox. On the other hand, you followed a proper progression to reach your level. If we were to fight all out, you’d likely kill me within two hours. If I didn’t give you a free hit, you wouldn’t have lowered your guard against me.”
“… You’re crazy. You gambled with your life.”
“And I won.” Ming Suwen dimpled. “How can you be on the field and off the field at the same time? You managed to stay level-headed even in the heat of battle. Nevertheless, nobody can be emotionless in a fight. Your biggest mistake was letting me see that you wouldn’t kill me due to the complications that would consequently arise. The more you tried to avoid, the easier it was for me to rope you in.”
“I see. Thank you for elucidating.”
Shadow Lady got to her feet, unfazed as though Ming Suwen’s attack didn’t register. She picked up a random Nanjiang-model broadsword from the sleeping victims behind her and got a feel of it. In spite of the meridians on her right-hand side being practically sealed, she declared, “I’m fine. Let’s continue.”
“Continue?” Ming Suwen scrubbed her head. “You want to keep going?”
“No.” As a result of her casual whip, Shadow Lady cut down a tall tree in the distance. “My mission is to kill everyone here, but I can’t kill you. I can no longer defeat you without killing you since you have reached Divine Realm. Effectively, I have failed.”
“What did you take up a weapon for, in that case?”
Shadow Lady raised her head and simpered. “… I’m peeved I got deceived.”
As soon as Shadow Lady moved from her spot, Ming Suwen called, “Overarching Heaven!” The quaint sword zipped to her hand while she moved forward to meet it and thrust immediately.
Instead of intercepting Ming Suwen’s blade or Moyan Luohou’s, Shadow Lady slashed diagonally at the side of Abels’ deltoid.
Though Abels prepared himself when he saw Shadow Lady start her offence, he didn’t think the swing aimed at Moyan Luohou was a ruse and that he was the target when he was twenty metres away. He cast Evil Eminence Powerfield as fast as he could. Alas, Shadow Lady’s slash smashed his field apart, knocking the blood out of him.
Ming Suwen was hot on Shadow Lady’s tail when, suddenly, the latter hopped up and chopped down effortlessly, yet it came out with force rivalling Ming Suwen’s ultimate attack. Ming Suwen had no alternative but to defend the attack. In their successive dozens of attacks, both couldn’t find each other or their weapons. When they finally connected with each other’s blades, Ming Suwen cleaved Shadow Lady’s blade in two.
Ming Suwen and Shadow Lady disengaged, keeping up their stances – unmoving. While Ming Suwen was perspiring and had her mouth open, Shadow Lady had yet to finish her warm-up.
Shadow Lady cast aside her broken weapon. “Falling for your ploy ruined my mission, not because you’re better than me. Don’t forget that.”
A loud thud suddenly came from behind Ming Suwen. Before she could spin around, blood burst from Moyan Luohou. The only window Shadow Lady could’ve inflicted the wounds was during her blazing-fast exchange with Ming Suwen; had she aimed for Ming Suwen instead of Moyan Luohou, it would’ve been Ming Suwen who was teetering between life and death.
“Be glad I don’t like going back on my word.” In a flash, Shadow Lady had put over twenty metres between them. By the time her last word was audible, she was out of sight.
Ming Suwen peered into the distance and just… kept staring.
Xiao Huangquan quietly called, “Miss Ming…”
Like a hose, Ming Suwen let a mouthful of blood out as she convulsed uncontrollably – a symptom of true qi flowing in the wrong direction.
A loud yelp rang out all of a sudden from far away. Within seconds later, a navy, winged creature descended from the firmament. Correct, it was Pangu’s eighth son – Black Feathers Shuyu!
