A person in Japan, a sword that soars to immortality.

As Taiichi and Kiyomaru, each holding a bamboo sword, walked towards the center of the dojo, everyone present couldn't help but breathe heavily.

However, the vast majority of people believe that Kiyomaru will win.

"Master, what do you mean? I think Brother Taiyi has a lot of energy."

Dian Zuo sat down next to Shi Yuan and said excitedly.

"I don't know. Taiichi's strength is not as good as Kiyomaru's, but he can suddenly become stronger, so it's hard to say."

Shi Yuan looked up, and in his black and white world, two figures, their bodies emanating white vapor, gradually approached.

The taller one is naturally Taiyi. The thickness of the waves around his body is much stronger than before, and he is about a thumb's height above his head.

The shorter one is naturally Kiyomaru, but the thickness of his body is over a meter!

It's obvious at a glance which one is stronger and which one is weaker.

but......

"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect that even Shi Yuan's eyes couldn't tell the difference. That makes me feel much better."

Shihe leaned lazily against the wall behind them, holding a wine pot in his hand, and said with a smile.

"Senior Brother Shihe, how could you not tell the difference? Although Taiyi has made progress recently and has had a few outstanding performances, they are like a fleeting flower, only a brief moment of brilliance."

Yuan Si knelt there like a gorilla, speaking eloquently.

"Wow, our Yamada family's gorilla can actually read books now?"

Shihe immediately said in a sarcastic tone.

"Senior brother, you really are..."

Bang!

"Haha, this is just in time!"

The dojo gate was pushed open instantly, and two samurai dressed in ki entered first, followed by a burst of hearty laughter, and Matsudaira Aoki's figure appeared before everyone.

A series of clanging and banging sounds rang out, throwing the entire dojo into chaos.

All the Yamada samurai present immediately rose and went to the doorway, with Yoshitsugu at the front, and began to bow to Matsudaira Aoki.

"Greetings, Lord Aoki!"

"Get up. I have two things to do here today. First, I want to watch Taiyi's martial arts competition. As for the second, I'll talk about it later."

Matsudaira Aoki was in a great mood. He took out the fan from his waist, tapped it on his palm, and walked towards the dojo where a plaque with the four large characters "Shiichi-ryu" (meaning "Try One-Sword Style") hung.

Upon approaching, Matsudaira Aoki did not sit down, but instead looked up at the numerous bamboo plaques hanging below the main plaque.

Below the bamboo plaque bearing the words "Teacher's College" is another bamboo plaque engraved with the name of Yamada Asaemon Yoshiji.

Below the bamboo plaque bearing the three characters "Shifan Dai" (师范代) is another bamboo plaque engraved with the name of Yamada Asaemon.

Below the bamboo plaque bearing the four characters "免许皆传" (meaning "all may be granted permission") is Kiyomaru's name.

"Impressive. This man named Kiyomaru must be Taiichi's opponent. He has actually reached the level of mastery of all masters."

Matsudaira Aoki exclaimed in admiration.

"I don't deserve praise from adults."

Upon hearing that he had been praised, Kiyomaru immediately bowed and said so.

"Oh my, he's actually a teenager! Unbelievable! What about our Taiyi?"

Matsudaira Aoki turned around and sat on the cloth table, looking at Taiichi with a smile.

"Reporting to my lord, I have not yet attained the rank of the 'Test-Sword Style'."

Taiyi also said with a smile.

"Hmm~ You're really shameless."

Matsudaira Aoki closed his fan, pointed at Taiichi, shook his head, and laughed and scolded.

But his casual remark aroused different thoughts among the Yamada family members.

Anyone could see that Taiichi had somehow gotten closer to Lord Matsudaira Aoki.

This is an incredible thing!

Matsudaira Aoki was a daimyo of the Imperial Household, and a young official in the shogunate.

If he does well, he could very well be promoted to the rank of Rojū, which is the rank of Rojū in the shogunate. Apart from the shogun, everyone else is under his jurisdiction.

He was truly second only to the emperor, above all others.

It's impossible for Taiyi to gain the favor of such an important figure, let alone be envied by everyone.

Among the crowd, Shugen remained calm, but his eyes, when looking at Matsudaira Aoki, revealed absolute loyalty and respect.

As for Yamada Asaemon Eizen, the number one of the Shiichito-ryu masters and a candidate to become the next head of the Yamada family, his expression was uncertain.

Of course, as Taiichi's friends, Zuoqie and Fuzhi were just winking at each other without a care in the world.

"Alright, I won't bother you anymore. The competition can begin."

After Matsuki and Aoki gave the order, everyone returned to their seats, while Taichi and Kiyomaru went back to the center of the dojo.

"Taiichi, it seems that you are highly valued by Lord Aoki."

Kiyomaru tilted his head, looking up at Taiichi with a sinister gaze.

That look in his eyes... it seems so familiar.

"so what?"

Taiichi twirled his sword, held it upright with both hands, and pointed it at Kiyomaru, saying...

"Therefore, I'm going to make you suffer a crushing defeat today, and at the same time, make you lose all face in front of Lord Aoki!"

Kiyomaru threatened softly.

"Is that so? If you can do it, then come on." Taiichi looked at the other party with a smile.

You little brat, how am I going to deal with you later?

Should I hit your head first, or slap your hand first? Or maybe... spank your butt?

Okay, I've decided. To deal with a naughty kid, you have to spank him!

"start!"

With a loud shout from the referee, the match between the two immediately began.

Kiyomaru launched his attack before the hostage could finish speaking.

Despite his small stature, his single step caused the wooden floor to cave in and make a snapping sound.

Using this power, Kiyomaru charged forward, a move that could be described as teleportation to an ordinary person.

"Let's try out the secret sword technique of the One-Sword Style—Kesa Dance!"

That's a sword technique I've never seen before. Kiyomaru is definitely something else.

Taiyi's pupils contracted as he instantly saw the trajectory of the opponent's sword strike.

Unlike the ordinary kasaya slash, which cuts diagonally downwards to the right or left from the shoulder, the reverse kasaya slash is different.

Kiyomaru's Kesa-giri technique involves the blade moving back and forth in a Z-shaped motion during the swing.

Using this method, if you simply swing your sword to block, your opponent can quickly pull the blade down or up, turning it into a left or right slash, or a left or right slash.

In short, there are many variables, making it difficult to guard against.

"But although the moves are strange, in my eyes they are as slow as if time has stopped."

Taiyi's lips curled up as he began to practice his breathing technique.

In the system, the value of essence instantly dropped by 15 points, but the effect was that qi and blood surged by 300 points!

"Kiyomaru! Hide!"

Shuxian, who had been expressionless, sensed something was wrong the moment Taiyi exerted his power and immediately shouted out.

But his reminder came too late.

Taiyi didn't even use a sword move. Before Kiyomaru could bring down his sword, he took a step forward and lunged diagonally, arriving behind his opponent.

Immediately afterwards, he swung the blade fiercely at Kiyomaru's buttocks.

"Let's try out the secret sword technique of the One-Sword Style—Home Run! Here we go!"

Snapped!

With a crisp sound, Taiichi's bamboo sword struck Kiyomaru squarely in the buttocks, sending him flying.

After landing, Kiyomaru clutched his buttocks in pain and rolled around on the floor.

"Hahaha, this is absolutely ridiculous!"

Matsudaira Aoki's eyes widened at first, but when he saw that Taiichi had actually defeated Kiyomaru in this way, he immediately burst into laughter.

He had to admit that this was the happiest day he had had in recent times, and then he began to say:

"Alright, everyone be quiet. I have the second announcement to make."

Upon hearing this, Shugen quickly ran over to help Kiyomaru up, and then led him and the Yamada family members back to Aoki.

"The second thing is because Yamada Asaemon Taichi was commended for his meritorious service in apprehending thieves..."

"He was granted a special promotion, appointed as a Ma Hui Yi, and given a family bannerman title, with a stipend of 200 shi (a unit of grain), which was hereditary."

What! ! !

The entire Yamada family stared wide-eyed at Matsudaira Aoki in disbelief.

Just because the Yamada clan, who have been ronin for generations, has produced a samurai who has been appointed as a hatamoto by the daimyo!

What's even more outrageous is that it can be inherited!