Chapter 15: A Strike to Heaven and Earth

The sunset set the horizon aflame.

A beast flapped its wings and took flight into the dying sunlight.

At the practice grounds of Luojiang Academy, Fang Lang's pupils narrowed as he stared at the wooden sword pointing at him. Mentor Wen had a faint smile on his face.

To one side, Jiang Linglong was spurred by Mentor Wen's words. A well-sculpted eyebrow arched challengingly.

Liu Bubai was not one for subtlety. He nodded and declared, "Master, get ready to lose!"

He did not use the exquisite sword in his hand. Instead, he picked up one of the academy-issued wooden swords.

Fang Lang and Jiang Linglong each held a wooden sword.

A distance away, Zhao Wuji and the mentor in charge of the weapons squatted by the weapons shelf, tobacco pipes between their lips.

The old mentor squinted his eyes as smoke blew out from his nose. He smiled and said, "Old Wen Seven's gonna toy with them. Every year around this time, he will show off his skills and crush the egos of the academy's top-ranking sword disciples. Hopefully, the kids can survive his training."

Zhao Wuji put on an honest smile. "Old Wen Seven? The seventh-ranked in the Imperial Examination who joined the Sword Guild, became a sword master and left the sect for a woman? The one who stayed in Imperial City and became a mentor in Changan Academy? The Scholarly Sword Master, Wen Ting?"

"That's the bastard," the old mentor said with a chuckle.

The old mentor looked at Mentor Wen with some pity in his eyes—Wen Ting's beard had grown scraggy as time caught up. "It's a shame. Wen Ting had so much promise back then. If he had stayed with the Sword Guild, he would have ascended to the fourth class now."

Zhao Wuji sounded equally rueful when he said, "The fault lies not with him. The woman he chased after… She was a force that shook the earth to its core. He's not the only man who fell for her irresistible charms."

A common topic was uncovered. The two men began discussing the women of their times, ladies who had half of the Tang Dynasty at their feet.

…

In the practice ring, Liu Bubai led the charge with his burning ego. Although his cultivation was a far cry from that of his mentor, he had confidence in his sword techniques. He just had to make Mentor Wen move one step.

Without cultivation in play, he believed the difference in their sword skills was minor.

The dying embers of the sun made Liu Bubai's blade look like it was on fire.

"Master, forgive me."

With the wooden sword in hand, Liu Bubai felt like he ruled the world.

He was born for the sword.

Whoosh!

The wooden sword was swung at the speed of light, making the air crackle.

As the sword neared Mentor Wen, Liu Bubai's eyes narrowed and he changed up his footwork. The attack shifted direction as seamlessly as a snake—it was pointed at Mentor Wen's abdomen.

The blade energy was contained in the swift strike.

From a distance, Fang Lang's eyes narrowed—Liu Bubai's pride was justified. The technique he used would have knocked out the pre-System Fang Lang in one strike.

Jiang Linglong's eyes reflected no emotions. The bottom half of her face was shielded by the veil.

"Too slow, too weak. Was all the rice you ate for naught?"

Mentor Wen gave Liu Bubai a cold stare. The wooden sword whipped out in a precise fashion.

Whack! Whack!

Two strikes.

Liu Bubai's wooden sword sailed through the air and clattered onto the ground.

The counterattack was so swift, Liu Bubai did not even see the draw.

Fast!

Unwilling to give up, he retrieved his wooden sword and lunged from a different angle. He moved with the speed of a dragon tearing through the air.

On the other end, the wooden sword in Mentor Wen's hand moved like it was alive. Sparks flew as the blades clashed against one another. Liu Bubai lost grip of his sword.

From the start to end, Mentor Wen did not move a step.

"Rubbish.

"Three of you, come at me together."

Mentor Wen threw the wooden sword back at a pale-faced Liu Bubai.

"Sword fighting is all about technique. You have to cherish every opportunity to strike, attack with power and strength. More importantly, you must have good vision," Mentor Wen lectured impassively.

At that moment, the trio of students felt the intense aura that radiated from Mentor Wen.

They felt like they were up against the legendary First Sword—with a wall of glinting swords aimed at them, ready to strike them down.

Light danced in Jiang Linglong's eyes. Underneath the veil, red lips curled into a smirk. "You're the infamous Scholarly Sword Master in Imperial City, Wen Ting."

Whoosh!

Jiang Linglong drew her sword—the blade left afterimages like rainfall during spring.

The battle excited Fang Lang.

'System, switch to binding partner's cultivation mode!' Fang Lang ordered.

He realized this was a rare learning opportunity.

'Ding! Switching successful. Would you like to use the 3X Amplification Card?' the System replied.

Fang Lang hesitated.

Should he use the Amplification Card?

After some deliberation, he made a decision.

'Use it!'

Fang Lang clenched his jaw.

'Ding! The 3X Amplification Card has been activated. The host has 150% of the binding partner, Ni Wen's cultivation inspiration and cultivation speed. Happy cultivating!'

The System went silent after the last announcement.

Fang Lang felt his mind pause. Then, the blurry motion of Jiang Linglong and Mentor Wen's blades clarified in his vision.

He was blessed with half of Ni Wen's talents and core.

Fang Lang could keep up with them!

Jiang Linglong's attack was relentless—the blade shot out like the spring rain. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the attack shifted into the flooding summer rain, the neverending autumn rain and the bone-piercing winter rain.

Mentor Wen easily deflected Jiang Linglong's attack but surprise flashed across his eyes.

"This is the Four Season Form. I think I know who you are," Mentor Wen said as he parried the blows raining down on him.

He had a measure of respect for the lady and it showed on his face.

"I am nothing but a pupil studying under you. Please, treat me as such."

Jiang Linglong's voice was without inflection but there was a hint of arrogance underlying her words.

From another corner, Liu Bubai joined in the fight. The fervent exchange of blows between Jiang Linglong and Mentor Wen riled Liu Bubai up.

The newcomer appeared to possess skills that were slightly above his level.

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When Liu Bubai entered the fray, Mentor Wen slowed down his movements. His sword moved like a scholar's brush, snaking through the air with accuracy and precision.

Strong!

This fight was a test of skills and techniques. There was no cultivation in play.

Mentor Wen welcomed the attacks with ease, as if he could take on two more Jiang Linglongs without breaking a sweat.

Fang Lang was enjoying the battle on the sidelines.

With his partner's cultivation mode and the Amplification Card activated, Fang Lang was absorbing the three fighters' skills and techniques.

He was enriching himself!

It was a great feeling.

He would never have gotten the chance to experience this with his awful white core.

He tightened his grip on the wooden sword and bent down into a lunging position.

The wind rustled.

Fang Lang's robe fluttered with the breeze.

In the middle of the ring, Mentor Wen—who was successfully fending off Jiang Linglong and Liu Bubai's attacks without moving a step—sensed the incoming danger.

Mentor Wen shifted his attention to Fang Lang. There was a sparkle in his eyes.

He knew of the boy's Sword Draw Technique. The technique was a culmination of years of practice.

He was eager to see it unleashed.

A series of images flashed through Fang Lang's mind.

Memories relating to the Spirit Step rose to the surface.

…

The boy in his memories was moving against the rushing river currents. Every step he took kicked up splashes that reached three feet far.

He was pulled under many times by the merciless currents, thrashed senseless as the river tried to drown him.

Day after day, year after year.

Until one day, he mastered the Spirit Step. When his foot touched the river, blade energy cut through the water currents and the boy moved upstream like a wily snake, disappearing into the distance.

…

The images faded away from Fang Lang's vision.

In a sword-drawing position, Fang Lang ran circles around Mentor Wen. His footsteps were silent and he blurred in motion.

Liu Bubai nearly vomited as he tried to keep track of Fang Lang.

The boy's movement was uncanny.

Jiang Linglong changed her pose.

She stared intensely at Mentor Wen as her expression became serious.

Mentor Wen felt as if he had locked eyes with a venomous snake.

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A distance away, the two pipe-smoking men—Zhao Wuji and the mentor guarding the weapons shelf—squinted their eyes.

In the ring, Fang Lang finally drew his sword!

Whoosh!

With the power of the winds, Fang Lang's blade struck out like lightning.

Quick, accurate, powerful!

All of his energy rested within this single blow.

An explosion sounded through the air.

Mentor Wen's pupils narrowed. His movement was fluid as he picked up speed. Right after deflecting Liu Bubai and Jiang Linglong's attacks, he made an upward slash.

Clack!

The two wooden swords clashed in midair.

Fang Lang set a steady foot down and leveraged the strength in his attack.

Blade energy rushed through his feet and Fang Lang blurred.

Mentor Wen's blade followed Fang Lang as if he had eyes at the back of his head. With a forceful push, he deflected the ultimate Sword Draw strike.

However, he was unable to parry the blade energy that shot out from Fang Lang's Spirit Step.

Mentor Wen was forced to lift a leg and turn his body to avoid the hit. He spun around like an elegant butterfly.

He sighed internally—Fang Lang had exposed the mentor's weakness.

Jiang Linglong saw an opening and rushed in like a summer hurricane.

Liu Bubai quickly followed suit.

Mentor Wen drew his wooden sword back and chose to parry the devastating attack delivered by Jiang Linglong. Without tapping into his cultivation, his body lacked the energy to keep up with the fight.

Liu Bubai's wooden sword emerged.

It was aimed at the mentor's chest.

Mentor Wen curled his body inwards and in the process, lost his balance and took a step back.

Liu Bubai was shocked. Then, joy erupted on his face.

Victory!

He was the strike that cleaved heaven and earth!

Liu Bubai was unmistakably the sword genius of their time!

The sunset painted the sky in an amalgam of colors.

A hush fell over the practice grounds.

Liu Bubai's excited laugh was the outlier.

The veiled Jiang Linglong watched Fang Lang who stood behind Mentor Wen. There were complex emotions in her eyes.

Mentor Wen wore an awkward smile as he rubbed his nose. He glanced at Fang Lang who was catching his breath on the floor. There was a grin on the boy's face.

In the distance, Zhao Wuji and the old mentor studied the panting Fang Lang.

In their minds, the outcome was clear.

The boy had used the wind to bring out his blade energy.

With the Spirit Step, he had dealt the decisive strike.

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