Misty Rain of the Old Times

A faint humming sound suddenly rang out from many places around the arena.

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "What was that sound?"

Then someone else laughed and said, "Hey bro, why are you shaking? Are you that nervous? Are you going up there too? Even if you do, you won't die, okay?"

"I'm not shaking, it's the sword in my hand that's trembling. It's like a ghost, I can't control it at all..."

This scene played out in many places around the ring, immediately causing a commotion.

Xia Mei, standing beside Chen Xuan in the crowd, couldn't help but glance at the trembling longsword in her hand. She then gently gripped the sword and calmed down, looking at the arena with a hint of surprise.

Chen Xuan also looked towards the arena with great interest, thinking to himself that the world is not lacking in rare geniuses, but most of the time they just don't show off.

At this moment, the black-clad swordsman from Rongguo met Xu Yun from Taixuan Sect. Their auras silently intersected across the distance, causing many swords to resonate. Undoubtedly, both of them had extremely high attainments in swordsmanship and had comprehended their own sword intent.

It should be noted that both of them are still in the Acquired Realm. Such an achievement is even more difficult than stepping into the Innate Realm before the age of twenty!
The abnormal phenomenon subsided in less than two breaths, as if it had never happened, and many people hadn't even had time to figure out what was going on.

It's no exaggeration to say that they comprehend sword intent at the acquired level. As long as they don't die young, there's at least an 80% chance they can reach the Grandmaster level and stand proudly at the pinnacle of the martial arts world.

Sword intent and saber intent—this level of martial arts, the next step is the martial will that can be directly manifested at the Grandmaster level. Even at the Innate level, it can show a trace of power, more than doubling one's combat strength.

'Xu Yun, who seized the opportunity to risk his life to ask for advice in the grand hall of the Tai Xuan Sect, has changed a lot in just a few months, making rapid progress,' Chen Xuan thought to himself as he watched Xu Yun walk towards the arena.

Chen Xuan had a deep impression of this person. He was very talented, otherwise he would not have had the opportunity to be accepted into the Tai Xuan Sect. However, he had a seed of hatred buried in his heart in the past, which caused him to take many detours in his martial arts training. Now he has obviously corrected his mistakes and embarked on a smooth road.

Xu Yun was dressed in white, his face handsome and dashing. However, there was always a hint of sadness between his brows, indicating that he was a man with a story. If he were eloquent and could tell his stories, he would be the darling of countless older women. It has to be said that many older women with stories to tell would be fond of this type.

He walked unhurriedly towards the arena. The people around him weren't oblivious, so they stopped going up on stage to mess with the sword god from Rongguo.

The black-clad swordsman and Xu Yun exchanged glances across the distance, but no sparks flew, nor did they feel any mutual respect. All they felt was the burning fighting spirit of finally encountering a true opponent.

Upon arriving at the arena, Xu Yun calmly presented his sword with both hands, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Xu Yun, the forty-third generation disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect, has come to seek guidance."

After noticing Xu Yun, the black-clad swordsman from Rong Kingdom became serious, unlike his previous casual demeanor. For the first time, he introduced himself to Xu Yun, saying, "Yang Yi from Rong Kingdom, a humble wanderer of the martial world, greets you."

Upon hearing this, a slight murmur rippled through the crowd. This Rongguo Sword God named Yang Yi was actually just a wandering swordsman with no master or sect. So where did he get his swordsmanship and skill? He had overshadowed so many people before. Could he have been self-taught?

On second thought, he might not belong to any sect or school, but his family must be extraordinary. Otherwise, how could he have had the opportunity to master the Hundred Schools of Swordsmanship at the age of ten?

Nodding, Xu Yun didn't exchange many pleasantries. To him, going on stage was merely a task assigned by his elders; he had no intention of showing off. Instead, he said, "Brother Yang, you've been through quite a bit in the previous battles. Would you like to tease me a bit to recover? I can wait, it's no problem."

This is how prestigious sects are; they never take advantage of others in distress. This also reflects Xu Yun's confidence: if there's going to be a fight, it should be against Yang Yi at his strongest. Otherwise, even if he wins, it would be an unfair victory. They wouldn't stoop to such petty tricks unless it's a matter of personal grudges or revenge in the martial world.

Yang Yi didn't feel offended at all; on the contrary, he understood that this was Xu Yun's way of showing him respect. He wasn't arrogant or presumptuous either, but simply nodded and said, "Alright, wait a moment."

At Xu Yunqing's gesture, Yang Yi took out a pill, swallowed it, and then sat down cross-legged to regulate his breathing and recover.

Standing there quietly, Xu Yun was also preparing for the upcoming competition. When masters clash, the outcome can often be decided in just one or two moves, leaving no room for carelessness.

After watching for a while, the little princess couldn't help but whisper in admiration, "This is the world of martial arts! There are treacherous villains who deceive and scheme, but also such magnanimous figures. It's truly fascinating. No wonder so many people yearn for the world of martial arts and plunge headlong into it one after another."

Chen Xuan smiled and said, "It is indeed quite interesting."

He didn't say much. After all, the little princess had only just begun to experience the ways of the martial world. He couldn't exactly lecture her on the bloodshed and the harsh realities of life in the martial world, or how tiring it was, far from the glamorous image it presented. In short, as long as his wife was happy, that was all that mattered.

The area around the arena gradually quieted down, with everyone looking forward to their next match. One was a sword god from Rong Kingdom, and the other was a top disciple from a prestigious sect in Jing Kingdom. What would be the outcome?
Yang Yi finished his meditation in less than fifteen minutes, stood up, and said apologetically, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

“It’s alright, we’re not short of time anyway,” Xu Yun said calmly.

Nodding, Yang Yi gestured and said, "Please."

"please"

Then the two of them stood motionless on the arena, about four or five feet apart. Xu Yun even gently closed his eyes, with only the occasional breeze ruffling their hair and clothes.

Many people looked at each other in bewilderment, unable to understand their current state unless they possessed a certain level of cultivation and knowledge.

The little princess turned to Chen Xuan and asked in confusion, "Brother Chen, why aren't they moving?"

Chen Xuan explained in a low voice, "They're building up their strength, and they're waiting for their opponent to reveal a weakness. Once they strike, it'll be earth-shattering... well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. Anyway, whether they strike first or strike later, the outcome will most likely be decided immediately. Watch carefully, don't get distracted, or you might easily miss the moment they make their move."

"I don't quite understand, but it looks pretty impressive," the little princess said, shaking her head as she refocused her attention on the arena.

She doesn't know martial arts, so naturally she can't see the intricacies. Even if she has collected a lot of information and become very knowledgeable in order to write her stories, it's all just theoretical.

The two people on the stage remained motionless, while the people around them dared not even breathe, becoming even more tense than the two on stage, watching intently, afraid of missing any detail.

Gradually, without realizing it, the swords of the people around them began to buzz and tremble again, as if they were about to break free from their owners' control and fly away. However, it was only a slight vibration, unlike the time when Chen Xuan's sword actually flew away in the capital. In the end, Yang Yi and Xu Yun's cultivation was not enough, and they were a bit lacking.

From Chen Xuan's perspective, this is really quite boring; how long are they going to stay silent?

"Husband, can you hear the sound of the waves crashing?" In the tense atmosphere, the little princess subconsciously turned her head closer to Chen Xuan and whispered. She called him "husband" and forgot about her disguise as a man.

Chen Xuan raised a finger to signal silence, saying, "Don't speak. They're about to attack. Yang Yi should strike first; after all, he was the one who challenged them. A prolonged confrontation would be detrimental to his mental state."

As Chen Xuan expected, less than two breaths after he finished speaking, a gentle breeze stirred a corner of the black veil on Yang Yi's hat, and he drew his sword.

In that instant, he seemed to vanish into thin air. The brief, rapid sound of his longsword being drawn resounded in all directions. Before many could react, the sword's cry transformed into a surging, roaring torrent, starting as a trickle and then becoming an unstoppable torrent. He had barely moved from his position when so many people challenged him on stage before, but he drew his sword directly when facing Xu Yun.

The gleaming longsword emitted a three-foot-long white sword aura, which was extremely astonishing for someone at the Acquired Realm. The sword light flickered as if it had split into countless layers, dense and continuous, and accompanied by the sound of surging waves, it swept towards Xu Yun like an endless tide.

Its sharp edge made many people afraid to look directly at it, feeling a stinging pain in their eyes and tears streaming down their faces.

A strong wind swept in all directions, carrying a sharp aura. Some people who were close to the arena had tears in their clothes and cuts in their skin, with beads of blood rolling down.

Just as the attack was about to affect the onlookers, Xuan Qing waved his hand from a distance, and the invisible force was confined to the arena.

To create such a spectacle from the Acquired Realm is truly astonishing, befitting the title of Sword God. Many innate Realm cultivators are probably only at this level.

Chen Xuan did not make a move; the sharp aura turned into a gentle breeze as it approached them.

On the arena, a vast expanse of white sword light swept across, like waves rolling up thousands of piles of snow, layer upon layer of surging waves crashing against the shore, threatening to engulf Xu Yun.

The moment Yang Yi drew his sword, Xu Yun, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them. His eyes were calm, as if he had not felt the onslaught of sword light.

Before anyone knew it, his hand was already on the hilt of the sword, and he drew it silently without making a sound.

Xu Yun, wielding his sword, moved his white robes without wind. In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished from the spot, as if a gentle breeze had left no trace, as if he had never appeared. How to describe it? It's like when you see a fallen leaf, the wind has already silently gone into the distance.

All of this sounds like a long story, but it's actually a matter of a single breath.

When Xu Yun reappeared, he was already standing in the same spot where Yang Yi had stood, his long sword sheathed as if it had never been drawn.

At the same time, Yang Yi's figure appeared in the spot where Xu Yun had been standing. The layers of sword light and the sound of waves disappeared. He maintained his sword-wielding posture with his back to Yang Yi, only slightly lowering his head and freezing there.

As people were stunned, the black veil on Yang Yi's hat broke in the middle, and a piece of black veil fell down, along with a strand of black hair. With his head slightly lowered, all people could see was his chiseled chin.

Just a moment later, Yang Yi raised his head, sheathed his sword, turned back to Xu Yun who had also turned around, and let out a long breath, saying, "I have lost. Thank you for showing mercy."

Xu Yun looked down at his white robes, which were covered in cracks, and shook his head, saying, "Thank you for your concession. It was just luck. You underestimated me."

“Defeat is defeat, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. If it were a life-or-death battle, I would already be dead. So how can you say I underestimated my opponent?” Yang Yi said frankly.

Many onlookers were completely confused about what was going on. How could the outcome be decided in the blink of an eye? We didn't even see how Yang Yi lost. How did Xu Yun manage to do it?
Chen Xuan saw everything clearly and, under the little princess's questioning gaze, laughed, "Xu Yun's sword was too fast, like a swift wind leaving no trace. He passed through layers of sword nets and could have sliced ​​Yang Yi's head off with one strike, but it was ultimately a duel on the arena, so he held back. That's why Yang Yi said he showed mercy. However, his victory wasn't so easy; the crisscrossing sword marks on his clothes are the best proof. If he had made even the slightest mistake in his movement, Xu Yun would probably have been sliced ​​into mincemeat."

"So many things happened in that instant? I didn't even see it clearly," the little princess blinked her beautiful big eyes speechlessly.

That was indeed the case. Yang Yi frankly said, "I was arrogant and underestimated the heroes of the world before. My skills were not up to par. I will practice more in the future. May I ask, Brother Xu, what kind of swordsmanship did you use? It made my defeat understandable."

Xu Yun pondered for a moment and said, "I once acquired a Swift Wind Sword Technique by chance." He then added, "Originally, I didn't practice it correctly, but fortunately, a master gave me some guidance and I gained some insights. I'm not afraid of Brother Yang laughing at me, but my achievements are not worthy of mentioning his name."

"What a magnificent Swift Wind Sword Technique! It's so fast that it's almost as if the wind has passed through the paulownia leaves without making a sound. I'm truly impressed," Yang Yi exclaimed, genuinely impressed.

Xu Yun's sword strike was so fast that he didn't have time to dodge. If Xu Yun hadn't held back, he would have been killed on the spot.

Xu Yun had risked everything to ask Chen Xuan for advice in that situation, clearly showing he couldn't keep secrets. Now, after hesitating for a moment, he shook his head and said, "So that Brother Yang may know, according to that master's guidance, I've only grasped one aspect of it. I haven't truly comprehended the full essence of the Gale Sword Technique. I dare not be arrogant and must continue to strive forward."

Thinking back to what Chen Xuan said back then, Xu Yun really felt that he still had a very long way to go. The punishment of reflecting on his mistakes for several months was actually a time for him to digest his experiences. Coupled with the right environmental factors, he was able to develop his swift sword skills just a few months later. However, this was only one characteristic of the wind that Chen Xuan had described back then.

The difference is too great, which is why he said he was not worthy to mention Chen Xuan's name.

It's disheartening to think about. The words Chen Xuan uttered after reading the sword manual were equivalent to reaching a state of divine mastery in an instant. It was simply unbearable for anyone to live with. Fortunately, Chen Xuan was the only one we knew who was so unreasonable.

At this moment, Xu Yun's words almost made Yang Yigan shut up: "You have mastered a sword technique to this level and are still so low-key and humble. What about my high-profile behavior just now?"
Chen Xuan, sitting in the audience, was both amused and exasperated. So, I'm still involved? What's that saying again? "Though I'm no longer in the martial world, my legend lives on."

However, it must be said that a few casual words of advice at the time created such a rising star. A new star is bound to rise in the future, which is quite exciting to think about.

While Yang Yi was reflecting on his actions, Xu Yun cupped his hands again and said, "Brother Yang's swordsmanship was also extraordinary; I have yet to ask for your guidance."

Yang Yi bowed slightly and shook his head, saying, "The Listening to the Waves Sword Technique is something I created myself by observing the rise and fall of the tides. I hope Brother Xu will forgive my poor performance."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yun's gaze sharpened, and he bowed deeply, saying earnestly, "I have learned a great deal; I am ashamed."

How could he not feel ashamed? He had acquired the Gale Sword Technique by chance in the martial world and had only achieved his current level after receiving guidance from Chen Xuan. Yang Yi, on the other hand, had created his own sword technique and only managed to defeat him by sheer luck, despite his best efforts. In terms of talent, he was ultimately inferior.

Watching the two of them talk so eloquently on stage, the onlookers, though not saying anything sarcastic, felt a sense of pride. "Aren't you the Sword God from Rong Kingdom? You still lost. Do you really think our Jing Kingdom has no one? You lost to any random young disciple from Tai Xuan Sect. I heard that Xu Yun isn't even in the top ten among the younger generation of Tai Xuan Sect. Doesn't that mean there are plenty of people who can beat you?"

At this point, Yang Yi felt ashamed to remain on the stage any longer. He took out a secret manual from his pocket and gently tossed it to Xu Yun, saying, "In the end, I was arrogant and underestimated everyone. But I have achieved my goal. I will take this defeat as a lesson and study diligently in the future. The journey is long, and I hope Brother Xu will not hesitate to teach me in the future. Farewell."

Instinctively catching the manual Yang Yi tossed to her, Xu Yun looked at his retreating figure, who turned and left without hesitation, and asked with a puzzled expression, "This..."

He was arranged to come up on stage by Elder Xuanqing, and before he could even learn about the prize, Yang Yi's figure had already disappeared into the distance.

The senior members of various sects inside the pavilion witnessed the entire process and were also filled with mixed emotions.

They asked themselves if they could do better than Xu Yun with Yang Yi's Listening to the Waves Sword Technique.
Those who shared this idea included the few innate masters besides Xuanqing.

"Daoist Master, your Tai Xuan Sect has kept this well hidden. Why has such a fine jade remained unknown for so long?"

No matter how complicated their feelings were, it didn't stop them from casting envious glances at Xuan Qing. How wonderful it would be if such a talented person were in their sect! He could stand shoulder to shoulder with the older generation, and they would have a face for the younger generation... (End of this chapter)