Chapter 375: He’s Starting to Carry the Bearing of a True Expert

Forced into action!

Wangchuan had no choice. After agreeing to Elder Shu’s request, he led everyone toward the practice grounds.

Lu Ping’an and Lu Ningshuang were there as well.

The moment they saw the group enter and found Wangchuan holding a sword while facing off at a distance against an unfamiliar third-rank martial artist in a combat stance, everyone’s interest was immediately piqued.

Shu Wangtian had sharp eyes. At a glance, he spotted the Lu Family’s young master standing in the crowd, then noticed Lu Laosan and Lu Laosi, the two fourth-rank martial artists...

The two sides exchanged nods of greeting across the distance.

Then all eyes fell upon Wangchuan and Chen Libin.

Chen Libin drew his Thousand-Forged Steel Saber. His horse stance was solid, both hands twisted on the hilt, his gaze sharp. The moment he raised his opening posture, his whole body resembled a bow drawn tight and ready to fire. Air rolled beneath his feet, and his edge was fully revealed.

He had some real skill!

If this had been half a month ago, Wangchuan felt he would have needed to treat this very seriously.

Now, though...

He lightly held the Thousand-Forged Longsword in his hand and simply stood there in the practice grounds, calm and indifferent. At a glance, he seemed full of openings, yet somehow gave off a faint grandmasterly aura that left others with nowhere to begin.

A trace of a smile appeared on Lu Ping’an’s face.

Wangchuan was already completely different from when they had first met!

Chen Libin had plainly sensed that something was wrong as well. He scrutinized Wangchuan up and down, then barked, “Take this!” before striding forward in big steps.

Step-step!

His footing was heavy. Every step left a clear imprint.

With each step, it was as if he were drawing a saber!

His person was like a saber, gradually leaving its sheath!

Bit by bit, his sharpness revealed itself.

A flash of surprise crossed Wangchuan’s eyes.

“Interesting.”

The other man’s saber art complemented his internal cultivation method perfectly. In just a few steps, his momentum surged violently!

No wonder Chen Libin had only recently advanced to third rank, yet Elder Shu held such high hopes for him and wanted him to seize this chance to place in the martial tournament and return with both fame and profit.

He really did have some ability.

The saber slashed down diagonally, and the saber wind cut across the face.

Wangchuan had only just evaded it when the other man, already prepared, changed moves with great speed. The saber edge chased after him, sweeping horizontally toward his waist.

Wangchuan was even faster.

《Swift Sword Art》 stabbed out at lightning speed.

In the blink of an eye, he struck twice.

One strike landed on the saber body, neutralizing the other man’s sharp momentum. The second strike crashed into Chen Libin’s chainmail.

The latter seemed to have been struck by lightning. His offensive posture collapsed, and his body lurched backward three large steps, his face filled with shock.

Two moves...

Defeat!

“How is that possible?”

Chen Libin could not believe he had lost so completely.

Wangchuan had already returned his sword to a resting position and cupped his fists.

“My thanks.”

Chen Libin’s face turned pale. He sheathed his saber and returned the salute, then walked back behind Elder Shu looking as if he had begun to doubt life itself.

In truth, both Elder Shu and Old Seven were equally shocked.

Although they had known Chen Libin would lose, neither had expected him to lose so quickly.

He had been completely outmatched.

Old Seven knew that Wangchuan had been training bitterly with Lu Ping’an over this period, and that his swordsmanship seemed to have improved quite a bit. But only after witnessing this actual spar did he realize that Wangchuan’s swordsmanship could no longer be described simply as “improved.”

Wangchuan seemed like a different person altogether. His swordsmanship had apparently begun approaching true completion and had even acquired a trace of the bearing of a great sword master.

Shu Wangtian was one of the stronger figures among fourth-rank martial artists, and he saw things even more clearly and completely.

The moment Wangchuan moved with his sword and sent out those two flashes of sword light with the second-rank 《Swift Sword Art》, Elder Shu’s expression had already grown grave.

So fast!

That speed...

was terrifying!

The advantage of 《Swift Sword Art》 lay precisely in its speed.

Once that advantage in speed was fully unleashed, and combined with a strike that arrived after the opponent moved, victory or defeat could be decided in the first exchange.

“Old Seven, your Deputy Hall Master truly already has the ability to sit in command over a region. He is no simple figure.”

Elder Shu said this to Old Seven.

At the moment, Old Seven did not quite know how to answer, so he merely rubbed his nose to cover his awkwardness.

Even he, as the Hall Master, might not have been able to take Chen Libin down quickly.

Wangchuan’s strength had already surpassed his own!

“Hall Master, the wine and dishes are ready. We’ve prepared a welcome banquet for Elder Shu and the others!”

Cui Mingjue stepped in at just the right moment to shift the topic.

Old Seven seized the chance at once:

“Good!”

“Let’s go!”

“Let’s eat first. We can talk while we drink.”

As Deputy Hall Master, Wangchuan naturally had to accompany them.

During the banquet, Shu Wangtian and Old Seven chatted and laughed together, occasionally asking about what had happened back then in Qinghe Commandery with Hall Master Yin’s group.

Chen Libin, on the other hand, completely stopped talking about the martial tournament. He simply kept toasting Wangchuan, wanting to know how Wangchuan had developed such skill—so young, yet so strong!

Chen Libin had truly come to understand what it meant for there to always be higher mountains and stronger people.

Wangchuan also took the opportunity to learn from Chen Libin that the third-rank saber art he practiced, 《Five Tigers Break Evil Saber》, actually had the effect of building momentum and suppressing the enemy. Back when he was still second rank, it had once allowed him to overpower ordinary third-rank martial artists, which had in turn made him very proud and confident for a time.

“Sigh.”

“I truly was a frog at the bottom of a well.”

“Brother Wangchuan, I drink to you! In this martial tournament, you absolutely must seize a ranking! Losing to you, I accept it wholeheartedly.”

Chen Libin regained his spirit and kept encouraging Wangchuan enthusiastically.

Old Seven smiled faintly and turned his head.

“Wangchuan, in this martial tournament, you must perform well and win glory for our Caobang hall! If you can place in the top ten, then the purpose of our Sanhe Commandery hosting this tournament will already be more than half fulfilled, and we will not lose face in the Jianghu!”

At this point, he paused slightly, then smiled.

“If you can place even higher, you will definitely attract the attention of those above and make them look at you in a different light! Once a Hall Master’s position opens up, Hall Master Yin and the people above will certainly push you forward! You may very well become one of the candidates.”

Everyone revealed looks of envy.

Wangchuan abruptly rose to his feet and cupped his fists.

“Many thanks, Old Seven! During the martial tournament, this subordinate will certainly go all out and fight for a ranking for the Caobang!”

“Mm...”

“Hahahaha... Good! Then let us all wish Hall Master Wangchuan victory from the very first battle and a meteoric rise to success!”

Shu Wangtian rose and raised his cup.

Everyone stood up together and raised their cups!

...

After the banquet ended, Shu Wangtian and his group also stayed at the hall, moving into a courtyard arranged by Old Seven.

It was only at night that Wangchuan finally had a chance to return to his own courtyard.

Lu Ping’an and Lu Ningshuang were already waiting there, with Chen Ergou attending at the side.

“Hall Master Wangchuan!”

“Young Master Lu, my apologies for keeping you waiting.”

Wangchuan cupped his fists in apology. “Tomorrow is the final day for martial tournament registration. Matters have grown more numerous. Please forgive me.”

“I understand.”

Lu Ping’an smiled and said, “It’s rare for me to get a chance to rest a little and adjust my condition.”

“...”

Wangchuan felt a bit embarrassed and gave an awkward smile.

“The rules for our martial tournament have already been decided. Would Young Master Lu like to hear them? That way you can make preparations in advance.”

“This... is that appropriate?”

Lu Ping’an blinked, curiosity written plainly on his face.

Wangchuan smiled openly.

“The specific elimination rules will be announced publicly tomorrow afternoon, so this does not count as secret manipulation. We are only discussing them in advance so you can be prepared.”