Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

"Since you claim to be a renowned figure, why belittle my grandmaster in front of a junior like yourself?! Since you claim your swordsmanship is unparalleled, even surpassing my grandmaster's, then I'd like to experience it for myself!"

Duan Zhengchun looked at the Sword Demon with some resentment, and while speaking, he immediately took a fighting stance, ready to make a move.

Although he was not a true disciple of the Quanzhen School, he had always admired Wang Chongyang, so he was naturally unhappy to hear others disrespecting Wang Chongyang.

The Sword Demon smiled, not refusing, but instead nodding with a smile, putting his hands behind his back, and casually saying, "Then let me show you what truly unparalleled swordsmanship looks like!"

"Let's take action!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Duan Zhengchun drew his longsword and charged toward the Sword Demon with lightning speed, unleashing the First Sword of the East as his first move!

However, the Sword Demon still had his hands behind his back and easily dodged it, almost without any effort, as if he hadn't moved at all!

Duan Zhengchun was shocked and finally realized that the Sword Demon was indeed an unfathomable master!

Next, Duan Zhengchun unleashed ten more sword strikes, each one faster than the last, but he still couldn't touch the Sword Demon even slightly!

"It's my turn to make a move! If you can withstand one of my sword strikes, your life will be safe on this journey west to save lives!"

The Sword Demon raised his voice and suddenly waved his hand, sending a sharp sword aura straight towards Duan Zhengchun!

Using your hand as a sword?!

Duan Zhengchun was taken aback and hurriedly swung his sword to block!

A piercing explosion rang out instantly, and it actually produced the sound of metal clashing!

Looking at the notch left on the sword's edge, Duan Zhengchun was unable to calm his shock. He had not expected that the Sword Demon had reached the point where having no sword was better than having a sword!

"Come again!"

But he refused to admit defeat so easily! Because at this moment, he represented the Quanzhen Sect and Wang Chongyang!

"If you can withstand my second sword strike, you will surely become the leader of a sect one day, and your name will resound throughout the world!"

Sword Demon raised his voice and spoke again. His figure flashed and he had already moved forward several feet. Then, he waved his right index and middle fingers in the air!

Another sharp sword aura burst forth, heading straight for Duan Zhengchun! This time it was faster and more powerful!

After drawing his sword, the Sword Demon stood with his hands behind his back, staring intently at Duan Zhengchun's reaction, seemingly testing Duan Zhengchun's limits!

Duan Zhengchun gritted his teeth and took another blow, retreating rapidly once more, his feet leaving two deep marks on the ground! The sword trembled violently, almost flying out of his hand!

"Come again!"

"Come again..."

"Again..."

"..."

"Again..."

Duan Zhengchun had already taken fifteen blows from the Sword Demon, but he still refused to give up. With his nicked sword, he barely supported his body, looked at the Sword Demon standing opposite him with red eyes, and uttered two words with difficulty.

The Sword Demon shook his head and said seriously, "If you continue, you will die. You have already proven yourself. At least in the current martial arts world, your martial arts skills have surpassed 90% of the others!"

"You are still young. Given time, you will surely impress everyone and become the best in the world, even though you don't seem to like the title."

"But at least you are more insightful than me. At your age, I was still obsessed with the title of 'number one in the world' until many years later when I finally understood this."

Hearing the Sword Demon's praise, Duan Zhengchun gripped the broken sword in his hand tightly, knowing that he had not disgraced the Quanzhen Sect and Master Chongyang.

Perhaps, the person in front of me who calls himself the Sword Demon is indeed superior to the Five Greats of the World, and is the true number one in the world!

"puff!"

Suddenly, Duan Zhengchun opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood!

He finally couldn't hold on any longer!

Upon seeing this, the Sword Demon's expression changed. He flashed forward and caught Duan Zhengchun, then a surge of pure true energy instantly entered Duan Zhengchun's body.

Duan Zhengchun looked at the Sword Demon's slightly worried face, then everything went black and he lost consciousness.

...

Under the cover of night, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and countless stars twinkled, illuminating almost the entire mountain.

Duan Zhengchun slowly opened his eyes and immediately saw the bright starry night scene before him.

"You're awake? Not bad, two hours earlier than I expected. No wonder you're worthy of being my apprentice."

At that moment, the voice of the Sword Demon rang in my ears again.

Duan Zhengchun turned his head and saw that the Sword Demon was lying next to a campfire, with a pile of branches and leaves on the ground. He was supporting his head with one hand and had one foot on his other leg.

The Sword Demon at this moment was like a completely different person from the one he had seen during the day; he no longer possessed any trace of his former ethereal and otherworldly demeanor.

"Thank you, senior, for saving me."

Duan Zhengchun struggled to his feet, clasped his hands in a salute, and looked on with gratitude.

The Sword Demon waved his hand and said, "No need for such formalities. You were never going to die anyway, and it was I who injured you. I can't just stand by and do nothing."

"I just didn't want you to lose your life when you went to save people, so I infused you with some true energy."

Duan Zhengchun said earnestly, "I still have to thank you for showing mercy, senior. I know that you did not use your full strength, but were just testing my limits."

Upon hearing this, the Sword Demon raised an eyebrow, looked at Duan Zhengchun approvingly, and slowly smiled, "You really are extraordinary, kid!"

"But to be honest, there are very few people who can withstand ten of my moves without dying, and you are one of them."

Duan Zhengchun recalled the ten moves he had exchanged with the Sword Demon that day, looked at the Sword Demon seriously, and said, "Since your swordsmanship is so exquisite, why don't I see you carrying a sword with you?"

The Sword Demon smiled and looked up at the bright moon surrounded by stars in the night sky. He slowly said, "I was invincible more than a hundred years ago. My sword is sharp and powerful, but I have few opponents. I only want to be defeated but cannot find one. The only solution is to give up."

"After the age of forty, I was no longer attached to material things. Grass, trees, bamboo and stones could all be swords. From then on, I refined my skills and gradually entered the realm of 'no sword is better than having a sword,' using all things as swords, and even flying flowers and falling leaves could kill people!"

"When you reach the highest level of cultivation, you can make your qi the sword, and become neither sword nor self, which is the legendary unity of man and sword! No sword, no self! I am the sword, and the sword is me!"

Listening to the Sword Demon's story, Duan Zhengchun was still unable to calm his shock. He never expected that the Sword Demon would be invincible after the age of forty!

No wonder even his unique Eastern First Sword technique created by Wang Chongyang was useless; he couldn't even defend, let alone attack!

"However, you are right about one thing: being the best in the world is not a good thing, nor is it something to brag about. It's just that I didn't see through it back then."

"Although I have been looking down on the world for more than a hundred years, I have no more fun in life and no more goals to pursue. I only want to travel around the world, with a pot of turbid wine by my side, and spend the rest of my life in this way."

"Having lived for so long, I have long since become indifferent to everything. Life and death are predestined. If I am destined to die at that tea stall today, then perhaps that is my fate, and there is no need to force it."

"For me, life and death make no difference. However, I am happy to have met you before I die. Perhaps this is your destiny."

Sword Demon turned to look at Duan Zhengchun, speaking with a meaningful expression and a gentle smile on his lips.

Is that wine?

As Duan Zhengchun listened to the Sword Demon's story, a faint smile appeared on his face. He then pointed to a gourd that was almost identical to his own wine gourd, which the Sword Demon had placed beside him, licked his lips, and asked curiously.

The Sword Demon smiled and casually tossed the gourd to Duan Zhengchun without asking any questions. He didn't seem to care that Duan Zhengchun, a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect, could actually drink alcohol.

Duan Zhengchun unscrewed the cork, took a light sniff, and his eyes lit up. He tilted his head back and took two big gulps.

"Drink less! Don't drink it all!"

"Good wine!"

Duan Zhengchun tossed the gourd back, and then the two looked at each other and smiled, as if they were old friends, one the past him, the other the future him.

"Why be so pessimistic, senior? It's good to be alive. Even if you take life and death lightly, there's no need to seek death. There are still many joys in life. For example, perhaps one day in the future, I can defeat you."

Duan Zhengchun slowly lay down, put his arms under his head, looked at the starry sky, and said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the Sword Demon's eyes lit up. He looked at Duan Zhengchun in surprise and asked with a smile, "Oh? You mean you want to defeat me?"

...