World's No. 1 Swordsman
Chapter 179: Too Big of a Difference
CHAPTER 179: TOO BIG OF A DIFFERENCE
The venue had been arranged with great care. On all four sides were two rows of seats, and behind each side were four large wind-blocking screens. The Sakura Island delegation was specifically given tatami mats, which allowed them to sit in seiza[1]. Their screens featured cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji.
For today's exchange meeting, the male members of their delegation were all dressed in suits, while the female members wore modified traditional garments from the Tang Dynasty era. It added a touch of exotic charm.
Jinta's backdrop showed a golden desert and the pyramid, their nation's iconic structure. Their delegation, which consisted of over ten people, wore clothing reflecting desert traditions. The younger women, in particular, exuded a rather enchanting allure.
The most eye-catching, however, was Gelan's delegation. They had dressed according to their personal abilities, resembling something from the Middle Ages. Half wore armor, while the other half donned long robes. Several blonde young ladies were in ceremonial robes that were quite revealing, the slits reaching a rather provocative height.
Gelan's middle-aged men, young men, and tall young ladies were certainly all quite attractive. However, there was still a faint sense of "cheap online game cosplay" about them.
As the host, the Hua Republic would be occupying the eastern side. The screen behind them was a projected image of a glorious landscape. Given the Hua Republic's vast lands and abundant resources, with too many famous sites to list, their screen had to be larger than the other three combined.
Once the three delegations had finished touring the garden architecture, they were led into the venue to take their seats. Elegant and beautiful ushers served them tea and refreshments.
As soon as everything had been properly arranged, Qing Yanzi, who had crushed them yesterday, arrived with several Daoist masters in tow. Despite how they felt about him, even those among the three delegations who had sour expressions still stood up out of respect for his strength.
Qing Yanzi cupped his hands to greet those around him. After silently gesturing for everyone to sit, he sat down with the six Daoist masters.
A few diplomats who had been assigned to manage the event hosted the exchange meeting. They spoke gracefully and clearly, stating that today's gathering was an auxiliary session of the event. Moreover, they avoided mentioning how Qing Yanzi had single-handedly defeated the experts from the three nations the day before. After all, the delegations deserved to keep some of their dignity.
"Young people are the future—they are our hope. Today, the friendly delegations from the three nations will be sparring with the young cultivators of the Hua Republic. We hope all parties will act on the foundation of friendship and mutual support, aim for shared learning and mutual growth, and contribute to world peace and stability..."
After a brief speech that lasted just a few minutes, the young diplomats completed their duties and sat down beside the Daoist masters. Qing Yanzi then rose, and the interpreters at the scene immediately tensed, bracing themselves as if facing a great enemy.
Previously, the Daoist master had spoken in an ancient and obscure language that was difficult to understand. Nevertheless, they still had to swiftly and accurately interpret everything he said into Japanese, English, and Arabic...
Fortunately, members of the Special Investigation Unit had brought up this issue with Qing Yanzi yesterday. Hence, his speech today was much slower and more straightforward.
"Esteemed guests, thank you once more for coming from across the lands all the way to our great Hua Republic. If there are any shortcomings in our hospitality, we ask for your understanding.
"Yesterday, some cultivators from Sakura Island mentioned that the younger generation is the hope of the future and wished for a sparring session among the younger cultivators of each nation. Hence, I was left with no choice but to summon a few barely adequate young cultivators from our cultivation world. Two of my disciples also came along to make up the numbers.
"Today, we shall let them spar a bit. Go all out, fight freely, and don't hold back. Should any minor injuries occur, we will provide aid on site. Now, without further delay, I present to you: the Hua Republic's young representatives."
Two ushers at the entrance made a welcoming gesture. Wang Sheng, who had tied up his long hair and secured it with a wooden pin, walked forward in an upright and steady posture, his eyes gleaming like stars. He still had his sword case on his back, and he kept his sword intent hidden yet present.
However, not long after everyone had gazed at Wang Sheng, their attention quickly shifted to the woman behind him—Mu Wanxuan. At that moment, the entire open-air venue seemed to brighten noticeably. Several young men with insufficient mental strength visibly lost control of their expressions.
The five Hua Republic representatives stood in a line. Following Wang Sheng's transmitted commands, they cupped their fists and bowed to the three foreign delegations in unison. Afterward, they turned and saluted the Hua Republic elders to the east.
"Little Sheng, you stay in the arena. The rest of you can come sit down," Qing Yanzi instructed.
"Yes, Master." Wang Sheng bowed his head and then stood calmly at the center of the venue. His steady expression and composed gaze gave him a solemn demeanor.
Mu Wanxuan, Huai Jing, Liu Yunzhi, and Shi Qianzhang headed over to sit behind the Daoist masters. The two rows of seats were staggered, ensuring no one's view would be obstructed. Mu Wanxuan sat on the far left. Deliberately leaving the seat beside her empty for Wang Sheng, Huai Jing sat in the center. Liu Yunzhi and Shi Qianzhang sat next to him.
Once all four were seated, Qing Yanzi continued, "This disciple of mine has some passable sword skills. Whom among the three delegations' young talents would like to spar with him first?"
The interpreters immediately went to work. Five young individuals stood up at once, but two quickly sat back down, leaving one representative from each of the three nations.
A swordsman from Sakura Island, a female knight in armor from Gelan, and a bald monk from Jinta.
Qing Yanzi smiled. "Since all three delegations have a representative, why don't you all take turns? Please, proceed."
Using voice transmission, he then told Wang Sheng, "Try to win cleanly against the one from Sakura Island. The other two, handle as you see fit."
Wang Sheng nodded slightly and gazed at the swordsman in a suit, who had two katanas strapped to his waist. His gaze was razor sharp, seemingly trying to drill holes in Wang Sheng.
The swordsman was the first to step into the arena.
In slightly awkward Chinese, a middle-aged man from Sakura Island announced, "For the first match, let my eldest disciple spar with your disciple, Daoist Qing Yanzi. Yesterday's defeat still weighs heavily on us."
Qing Yanzi simply smiled and flicked his sleeve calmly.
Wang Sheng turned to face the Sakura Island delegation and backed up a few steps. He had already seen that the opponent excelled at straight-line bursts of speed. Hence, he deliberately widened the distance to give the other room to build momentum.
The swordsman shifted his stance, placing one leg behind the other. His left hand rested on the scabbard at his waist, while his right hand gripped the hilt. As he drew the blade, he announced his name.
"Kai Makita."
Auras similar to true essence stirred within him. It seemed to stem from a cultivation method akin to that of the Hua Republic's cultivation world.
Judging by the strength of his aura, he was likely at the mid-stage of the Seed Formation Realm. Taking that into consideration, Wang Sheng deliberately slowed the circulation of his own true essence and limited his strength to twenty percent, reducing the aura he revealed to his opponent's realm.
He raised his nameless longsword to a level position, gripped the scabbard with his left hand, and slowly drew the blade. With a flick, he tilted the tip of his sword diagonally toward the ground.
"Wang Sheng."
The swordsman breathed in lightly. As their eyes met, the two sensed the other's surging fighting spirit.
Their auras locked in confrontation. Within Wang Sheng, the perfected Seven-Star Sword Intent stirred softly. The swordsman's aura exuded a sharp and domineering edge, but Wang Sheng's sword intent shattered it in the blink of an eye.
The swordsman's expression turned grave. He gripped the hilt of his katana with both hands, raised the long blade level with his eyes, and silently lunged forward.
Charging in to meet him, Wang Sheng quickly noticed that the swordsman's aura and sword intent were rapidly converging on the katana. A flicker of blood-red light began to flow through the fuller of the blade.
The swordsman is staking everything on this one strike!
It was a desperate move—perhaps even reckless—but it was undeniably powerful.
The combatants collided in the middle of the arena. Instead of using the Seven-Star Sword Technique, Wang Sheng met the attack head-on with a basic technique from the Taiyi Golden Immortal Sword Art.
Moon-Pointing Immortal!
Tiiing!
A metallic ringing echoed across the field. The two froze mid-movement, waves of force rippling outward.
To the entire audience's stunned silence, the katana, which contained the full force of the swordsman's desperate strike, hung slanted in the air. The tip of Wang Sheng's sword was pressed against the midpoint of its blade's edge, stopping it halfway through!
There was barely a hair's breadth of contact where the two swords met, yet the balance held steady, as if the sword tip had an irresistible pull.
The swordsman's eyes were filled with disbelief. In all his years of cultivation, he had never witnessed anything like this. Most of the onlookers hadn't either. Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd, though the Daoist masters remained composed.
The contrast between the swordsman's stunned expression and Wang Sheng's calm demeanor made it obvious who had the upper hand.
To pour all of one's strength into a single attack was not a refined tactic. It was a last resort—a desperate gamble.
Wang Sheng's counter had been flawless. It was just enough to neutralize the strike without overwhelming the opponent. A touch too much force would have knocked the swordsman away. Too little and Wang Sheng's sword would have been pushed back.
He used the perfect amount of strength, which was only possible because his cultivation realm far surpassed his opponent's. Against someone of equal strength, he would not have attempted such a precise maneuver.
His control over his power was far beyond the swordsman's comprehension. The suspended blades held for only two seconds, yet at that moment, time seemed to stretch.
The swordsman summoned a surge of renewed strength, but Wang Sheng flicked his wrist slightly, and the katana was deflected off to the side. Like a whip, Wang Sheng then slashed across the swordsman's shoulder, sending him staggering backward. The swordsman barely managed to steady himself, ending up right where he had originally stood.
Wang Sheng reversed his grip and held the sword against his chest. He was just about to bow and accept his victory when the swordsman suddenly raised his head and glared at him. Making subtle changes to his footwork and posture, the swordsman launched a surprise attack.
That was why cultivation required first cultivating the mind. One still had to know shame.
Wang Sheng smirked slightly but didn't suppress his opponent with raw strength. Remaining still as the swordsman took his first step, Wang Sheng unleashed several sword phantasms through his sword.
Invisible sword energy sliced through the air. Along with several soft thuds, the swordsman's suit was split open at the shoulders, sides, and arms. The sword phantasms had cut through the swordsman's katana phantasms.
By the time the clash of phantasms finally ended, Wang Sheng's sword was already at the man's throat. Faint lines of blood began to form where his suit had been torn.
A Daoist master began to clap slowly. Gradually, scattered applause spread through the crowd as the expressions of the Sakura Island's delegation turned grim.
The gap in strength far surpassed their expectations.
1. An upright kneeling position that is traditionally used in Japan in meditation and as part of the preparation in martial arts. ☜