Imprint Blade

"By the rules of the Fenglin Arena, only the strongest disciple in the hall may hold the position of senior disciple. "Over a decade ago, before Mr. Gongying took the mantle, the Fenglin Arena had already determined its next successor. Yet that man was slain by Mr. Gongying when he was merely nineteen years old. It is said that victory and defeat were decided within just three moves. "In the ten years since, Mr. Gongying has faced countless challenges and suffered not a single defeat. "He cuts off the head of every opponent, coats it in gold lacquer, turns it into teaware, and displays it in an alcove. Rumor has it that three walls of his house are already filled with them. "When Mr. Gongying battles, he is almost like a demon or god. Ordinary men tremble in terror at the sight of him, which is how he earned that epithet. You would never want to see what Mr. Gongying looks like when he draws his blade." Hearing the team leader say this, both clerks swallowed hard, looks of dread creeping across their faces. Meanwhile, inside the armored car, Gongying Changxiu was listening to the chatter about himself coming from across the vehicles, a faint smile playing across his lips. Guan Shangjing remarked, "Senior Brother's twisted taste remains as lively as ever." "One must find some amusement in life," Gongying Changxiu said with a smile. "Listening to legends about oneself, in particular, is truly immensely satisfying." Guan Shangjing felt somewhat helpless. This senior brother of his was obsessed with old-era tales of legendary champions, patterning his every gesture after them. He also possessed a peculiar habit: he was passionate about spreading news about himself. He placed great stock in the ceremonial flair before a duel, ensuring the atmosphere of every battle he engaged in was ratcheted up to the maximum. After defeating an opponent, he would hire someone specifically to pen dramatic little tales depicting their fight as a suspenseful, thrilling spectacle. And whenever he overheard the outlandish, exaggerated rumors about himself from the mouths of others, he would grow extraordinarily exhilarated. Thus, across the Outer Ocean, though the prowess among the Three Great Arenas showed little difference, this senior brother's fame was by far the loudest, making the Fenglin Arena the most renowned by extension. Yet matching that renown was genuine strength. The head disciples of the Three Great Arenas had never clashed in earnest, but whether it was Yejian Hong of the Anyao Arena or Bianyue Yizhen of the Langtao Arena, their positions had remained unchallenged for twenty years. Gongying Changxiu, however, had slain the previous head senior brother. Guan Shangjing had been present when the two fought, and having witnessed the entire clash, he held both deep admiration and great dread toward this senior brother's power. Consequently, even though he was a decade older, he still addressed him sincerely as Senior Brother Gongying. Gongying Changxiu said leisurely, "Junior Brother, regarding that opponent you mentioned, I reviewed the dossiers earlier. Excellent. He is a worthy opponent. Where is he right now?" "Senior Brother Gongying..." Guan Shangjing hesitated. Gongying Changxiu said, "Junior Brother Guan Shang, you know very well that before battle, I must deliver a challenge letter. That is my rule. I hope you can understand." Guan Shangjing looked at the round-framed spectacles. Light glinted across the lenses, concealing the eyes behind them, yet a tremor of alarm seized his heart. While doing this risked exposing Senior Brother's arrival in advance, there was no reasoning with Gongying Changxiu on this matter. He promptly lowered his head. "Senior Brother Gongying, please leave it to me." Gongying Changxiu watched him until Guan Shangjing began to feel uneasy. Then he smiled. "No need. I have already made arrangements." Touching his boundary credential, he said, "Huishilang, go in my stead." He folded his arms. "A champion's entrance must not be made so casually or carelessly. I hope this challenge letter will satisfy him." Huishilang... Guan Shangjing had left the Fenglin Arena ten years ago. In his memory, Huishilang was merely a young boy, but in that hurried glance earlier, he seemed to have seen him among the crowd disembarking from the airship. He said, "To deliver Senior Brother's challenge letter is his honor. Senior Brother, I will send men to guide him and ensure the letter reaches its destination." A few hours later, dawn broke. An Outer Ocean fighter carrying both a long blade and a short blade stepped down from a car and walked along the street leading toward the Xuangong Building. When the City Patrol spotted him, they stopped him repeatedly for inspections. Each time, he halted politely and presented the calling card of his fighting arena alongside his transit pass from the Municipal Administration. When confronted with warnings, he respectfully stated that as an Outer Ocean visitor arriving for the first time, he would strictly abide by Center City's rules. A journey of a mere kilometer took him an hour. Upon reaching the Xuangong Building, he entrusted the letter he carried to someone to take inside, then stood patiently waiting on the plaza outside the building. After getting the three squared away yesterday, Chen Chuan had returned to the academy. While cultivating, a chime sounded from his boundary credential indicating an item had arrived. He walked out, retrieved it, and found it was a challenge letter. It was signed by Gongying Changxiu, written in very polite terms, stating that having heard Chen Chuan's renown in an island corner across the sea, his heart had yearned for this meeting, so he had crossed the vast ocean to formally request a duel, and so forth. It also stated that he hailed from the Fenglin Arena, one of the three great overseas fighting arenas, and that to demonstrate his qualification, he had specially dispatched a junior fellow disciple to demonstrate his blade techniques in person. Blade techniques? He found himself somewhat interested. Walking to the window, he looked out across the grounds outside the Xuangong Building and spotted the black-clad figure. Yet after a single glance, he couldn't help doubting whether this person could truly convey the essence of those blade techniques. Fighters possessed a discernment that went beyond ordinary intuition. Setting specific combat skills aside, merely observing a person's posture and aura was enough to roughly judge what echelon they belonged to. And this fellow... Right then, he noticed another figure walking toward the plaza. Slightly surprised, Chen Chuan considered the situation, turned, and left his dormitory room to head downstairs. While Huishilang stood waiting, a voice suddenly called out from the side: "Lord Huishilang." He turned and saw an Outer Ocean fighter clad in traditional garments standing there. Huishilang searched his memory, but did not recognize him, so he asked in their native Outer Ocean tongue, "And you are?" The man bowed slightly. "Langtao Arena, Sancheng Huang." "So it is Lord Sancheng." Huishilang politely bowed in return. "Why is Lord Sancheng here?" Straightening, Sancheng Huang asked, "May I ask if you have come to deliver a challenge letter to Chen-kun?" Huishilang's gaze instantly hardened. "What does that have to do with you, Lord Sancheng?" Resting a hand on the hilt of the blade at his waist, Sancheng Huang said loudly, "Of course it concerns me. I was once defeated by Chen-kun, beaten thoroughly and fairly. Lord Huishilang, if you wish to challenge Chen-kun, I believe you must pass my test first." With that, he drew the long blade at his hip. Huishilang gripped the hilt at his own waist as well, turning to face him fully with a grave expression. "Though I am not the challenger, Lord Sancheng, I cannot pretend I didn't see such a gesture." He represented the Fenglin Arena. Drawing a blade before him was an outright challenge, and leaving it unanswered was unthinkable. Maintaining his stance, Sancheng Huang said, "Then allow me to experience the Fenglin Arena's esteemed arts." "Very well." Huishilang lifted his head. "I came here to display Senior Brother's blade techniques for Mr. Chen. But against you, Lord Sancheng, I trust Mr. Chen will still see them clearly enough." He drew his blade in a single motion, slowly raising it high. Sancheng Huang brought his blade forward. After facing off in silence for a brief moment, both stepped forward at the exact same instant. In what seemed like a single fleeting flash, the two crossed paths, each arriving at the spot where the other had just stood. For a breath, they stood back to back. Then Huishilang's blade clattered to the paving stones. His body pitched forward, and a pool of crimson spread beneath him. Sancheng Huang exhaled. Turning around, he wiped his long blade on his sleeve, sheathed it, and bowed deeply toward the corpse on the ground. "Thank you for the instruction." By now, Chen Chuan had reached the ground floor. Stepping out of the entrance just as the clash occurred, he had noticed that when Huishilang unleashed that strike, he seemed to briefly transform into an entirely different person. He couldn't help raising an eyebrow. After finishing his bow, Sancheng Huang felt a chill across his chest. Looking down, he saw a slice running across his chest right over his heart, cutting clean through his garments, missing his flesh by a hair's breadth. Chen Chuan walked over, took a glance, and asked, "Mr. Sancheng, are you all right?" Sancheng Huang hastily turned around and bowed. "Chen-kun, I am unharmed." Looking down at Huishilang's corpse, he murmured with feeling, "That strike just now must have been the legendary 'Imprint Blade.'" "The Imprint Blade?" Sancheng Huang nodded. "Indeed. Unlike our Langtao Arena, which places supreme emphasis on spiritual cultivation, the Fenglin Arena still possesses certain spiritual techniques. "It is said they can meld their spirits to imprint their own blade techniques into the minds of fellow disciples. Whenever they issue a challenge to an opponent worthy of respect, they can have a disciple step forward to demonstrate their swordplay on their behalf. "It is both a show of force and a test. If the opponent cannot block it, then there is no need for a duel. If they can block it, it signifies they are qualified for battle." His expression grew slightly solemn. "That strike just now was less an attack from Huishilang than one delivered by Gongying Changxiu of the Fenglin Arena. And because it was mediated through another vessel, it could not fully convey its true essence. Had it been delivered by Gongying Changxiu's own hands, I might well be dead." Chen Chuan nodded slightly, then looked at him. "How did Mr. Sancheng happen to come here today?" Sancheng Huang said, "To tell the truth, Chen-kun, I received word not long ago that Gongying Changxiu had arrived in Center City. Suspecting his target would be you, I rushed over specifically to alert you and ask that you be on your guard. This enemy is not to be underestimated. What I did just now was merely to demonstrate my sincerity." Chen Chuan looked at him. "By doing this, Mr. Sancheng, you have placed yourself directly against the Fenglin Arena. Aren't you worried about the trouble that will follow?" "It does not matter." Sancheng Huang said with absolute sincerity, "In this world on the brink of turmoil, a humble individual must eventually choose a side. And I believe..." He raised his head and proclaimed loudly, "...that standing on Chen-kun's side is the right choice!"