Volume One, Chapter 14: Lu Chen’s Swordsmanship

Hearing that Lin Yang had actually handed over the Scarlet Sun Immortal Sword to her so casually, Lin Hongye was momentarily stunned. After a long pause, she finally regained her composure and asked in astonishment, “Master, are you really giving me the Scarlet Sun Immortal Sword?”

Lin Yang nodded naturally. “Of course. You are my disciple. How can you not have a reliable weapon in hand? Besides, this Scarlet Sun Immortal Sword is decent enough. Just take it.”

Lu Chen, standing nearby, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Such a divine sword was considered merely “decent” by Lin Yang? That was quite something.

Lin Hongye swallowed instinctively. It was impossible for her to refuse such a divine weapon. Yet, for Lin Yang to give away such a treasure so easily made her feel uneasy.

“Master, then I’ll take it?” Lin Hongye asked tentatively, but Lin Yang simply stuffed it into her arms.

“If I say I’m giving it to you, then it’s yours. No need to be polite with your master. This is the treatment all my disciples get.”

With that, he raised an eyebrow at Lu Chen, clearly directing the remark at him.

Lu Chen snorted disdainfully. A high-quality immortal sword was supposed to make him want to become a disciple? What a joke.

Seeing that Lu Chen had no intention of joining as a disciple, Lin Yang wasn’t worried. Sooner or later, this guy would come under his influence.

...

Half a month passed, and the sect’s grand competition was drawing near.

During these two weeks, Lin Hongye’s time was filled with constant sword practice alongside her cultivation.

All the cultivation gains she made were transferred back to Lin Yang.

Now, Lin Yang had reached the pinnacle of the Ascension Realm. His insight into swordsmanship had soared to an unparalleled level.

One could say that at this stage, even holding a simple wooden stick, Lin Yang could wield it like a divine weapon.

Having reached the utmost peak in swordsmanship, Lin Yang truly embodied the principle that everything in nature was a weapon—every flower and blade of grass in his hands could be a lethal instrument.

At dusk, Lin Hongye was practicing the Fuyun Sword Technique from her previous life with graceful, flowing movements that resembled a dance.

Lin Yang and Lu Chen sat on stone benches nearby. Watching the elegant scene, Lin Yang nodded with satisfaction.

“Not bad at all. Truly worthy of being my disciple.”

Lu Chen, however, looked on with disdain. “Hmph, the sword is a weapon meant to harm, but her swordplay looks like a dancer’s performance—beautiful, yet utterly lacking in killing intent.”

“Without killing intent, how can it be called a sword?” Lin Yang chuckled softly, “Don’t say that. Hongye has made considerable progress in the path of the sword.”

Indeed, Lin Hongye had reached a minor mastery in swordsmanship, enough to be considered a skilled swordswoman.

But in front of Lu Chen, an immortal swordmaster from the Upper Realms, she naturally fell short.

Lin Hongye overheard Lu Chen’s scornful remarks and stopped her sword dance, looking at him with interest.

“Little Lu, you often critique my swordplay. Do you have your own understanding of swordsmanship then?”

Lu Chen snorted twice arrogantly. “More or less. After all, I am the number one swordmaster in the Immortal Realm.”

Lin Hongye ignored him, instead picking up two wooden swords from the weapon rack beside her and tossing one to Lu Chen.

“Since that’s the case, why don’t we have a sword duel? Let’s see who’s better.”

Lin Hongye smiled sweetly, but Lu Chen’s face immediately darkened.

He had lost all cultivation and was now just a mortal, barely fifteen years old.

With such strength, how could he possibly match Lin Hongye?

Seeing this, Lin Yang stepped in to smooth things over. “Hongye, Lu Chen is just a child without cultivation. How could he possibly win against you?”

Lin Hongye snorted coldly, clearly displeased.

“I don’t care. For the past half month, this brat has been endlessly criticizing my swordsmanship, saying it lacks any lethality. How can I tolerate that?”

“No cultivation, huh? Fine. I’ll hold back my strength and just spar with you using pure sword technique.”

At the mention of a purely technical duel, Lu Chen’s eyes lit up.

“Are you sure it’s just sword technique?” he asked.

“Of course. I want to see how strong your swordsmanship really is, since you always criticize others,” Lin Hongye said coldly. She didn’t believe that such a young boy could have any real skill.

A gleam of determination flashed in Lu Chen’s eyes. A confident smile spread across his face.

“Then let this sword immortal personally teach you what true swordsmanship is.”

With that, he picked up the wooden sword from the ground, and his entire aura changed.

His faint, elusive smile instantly turned into a cold, stern expression.

His demeanor became ethereal and otherworldly, and his eyes sharpened with a piercing sword intent, as if blades gleamed within his gaze.

Noticing Lu Chen’s transformation, Lin Hongye was somewhat surprised.

Lin Yang, however, grew interested. He picked up his teacup, eager to see what Lu Chen’s swordsmanship would be like.

“Come on,” he said.

Lu Chen stepped into the practice area, wooden sword in hand. Lin Hongye snapped out of her thoughts, snorted coldly, and took her position opposite him.

Lin Yang glanced at the dry branches fallen on the stone table, casually picked one up, and with a little force, snapped it in half.

“Crack!”

The crisp sound of the broken branch echoed as both drew their swords and launched attacks at each other simultaneously.

Observing Lu Chen’s offense, Lin Hongye noticed his defense was comprehensive; no matter which direction she attacked, he could block instantly.

But soon, she spotted a gap above Lu Chen’s head. A proud smile crept across her lips.

She admitted that while Lu Chen’s defense was good, it was not flawless.

Raising her wooden sword high, she swung it toward Lu Chen’s head.

Just as she was about to strike, Lu Chen suddenly flicked his sword upward, parrying her blow.

Lin Hongye was caught off guard and lost her balance.

With a smile tugging at his lips, Lu Chen slashed at her waist, knocking her down.

Lin Hongye fell to the ground, wincing in pain. Lu Chen triumphantly sheathed his wooden sword.

“Sis Hongye, if this were a real sword in my hand, you’d be dead by now,” he said smugly.

This time, Lin Hongye had no retort, her face flushed with embarrassment. She hadn’t expected Lu Chen’s swordsmanship to be so strong.

What was more frightening was not just his skill but his psychological tactics.

He had deliberately exposed a flaw to bait her into attacking, only to counter and crush her offense.

“Hmph! You’re impressive,” she snorted, standing up with a huff.

Lin Yang saw this and stood as well, intrigued.

“Let me have a try.”