Chapter 117: Uninvited Guests, a Grandmaster's Challenge!

"Seven Star Dragon Abyss?"

"It is actually this precious sword!?"

"I remember not having heard of this precious sword for many years; it is actually in the hands of Wu Taidou?"

"This sword is simply priceless; he actually brought out such a divine weapon as a congratulatory gift? This..."

Wu Yixian's voice carried out, and many knowledgeable guests present were instantly in an uproar.

When it comes to the development of martial arts and the influence of the pugilistic world, the Great Jing of five hundred years ago was far superior to the current Great Jin.

At that time, firearms were just budding, and cold weapons were the mainstream; in the pugilistic world, there were always legends of various famous blades and swords, each one priceless and triggering competition among countless martial artists.

And the Seven Star Dragon Abyss sword was one of the ten famous swords widely circulated at that time.

This sword was not forged during the Jing Dynasty; its origins trace back even further to a thousand years ago. It is said that a world-renowned master swordsmith named Zhang Yajiu, while traveling, accidentally discovered a piece of strange meteorite iron from beyond the heavens. Seeing it and feeling inspired, he intended to forge this iron into a sword.

Legend has it that to forge this sword, Zhang Yajiu spent three full years studying the properties of the meteorite iron. When forging, he excavated seven quenching pools arranged like the Big Dipper around the furnace, hence the name "Seven Star."

After the sword was completed, looking down at the blade was like standing on a high mountain and gazing into a deep abyss; it was ethereal and profound, as if a giant dragon were coiled within, hence the name "Dragon Abyss."

Thus, this sword was named Seven Star Dragon Abyss.

Once this sword appeared, it became world-famous and stirred up a bloody storm in the pugilistic world of that time. For over a thousand years, every owner was either a world-shaking hero or a king or general whose name was recorded in history.

It was not until the Jin Clan took control of Shenzhou that, after wars and the sweeping of the pugilistic world, coupled with the powerful rise of firearms and cannons as the mainstream, these famous weapons gradually disappeared without a trace.

Everyone had not expected to have the fortune to see it today.

And at this moment.

Under the convergence of scorching gazes, although he did not know the history of the Seven Star Dragon Abyss before him, Lu Yuan realized that the sword gifted by Wu Yixian must be extraordinary, and he immediately accepted it solemnly with both hands:

"Many thanks to Wu Taidou for the gift of the sword. Lu Yuan will keep this sentiment in his heart and will certainly not disgrace this sword."

Wu Yixian laughed aloud:

"That goes without saying. A precious sword for a hero; this sword originally belonged to a good friend of mine. He had no children and no disciples, and before he passed away, he specifically entrusted me to find a worthy owner for this sword. I observe that in the current pugilistic world, no one is more worthy of this Seven Star Dragon Abyss than you, little friend. You may open it and see!"

Lu Yuan followed the suggestion and immediately opened the black wooden box, then saw a black-sheathed long sword lying inside that did not look particularly eye-catching.

However, when he took the sword from the box and grasped the hilt to draw it slightly, a clear and resonant sword hum instantly rang out:

Clang.

Amidst a sword hum resembling a dragon's cry, a streak of cold light as sharp as moonlight poured out. Even in broad daylight, many people standing close by felt their eyes ache slightly the moment the blade was revealed from the scabbard.

After being fully drawn, the broad blade, over three feet long, flowed with dazzling and mesmerizing ripples. A bone-chilling sharpness radiated at all times, making one feel discomfort in their eyes just by staring at it for a long time. Lu Yuan happily performed a light sword flourish and praised it profusely:

"What a fine precious sword!"

Although he had no research into weapons, he could clearly feel that the Seven Star Dragon Abyss in his hand was extraordinarily sharp just by waving it, far sharper than the precious sword Lin Xingchao had lent him that day.

And his 【Sword Technique】 indeed lacked a handy weapon to unleash its power; this Seven Star Dragon Abyss had come at just the right time.

Wu Yixian wore a smile:

"I am glad you like it, little friend. The precious sword has been covered in dust for a long time; today, I can finally... to my old friend."

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Before he could finish his sentence, a rhythmic sound of applause suddenly came from the crowd behind, and the sound seemed to strike the ears of everyone like a beating drum:

"The Seven Star Dragon Abyss precious sword is also recorded in the past history of our Great Sun Empire. To think I would have the fortune to see it today; how fortunate indeed..."

Whether it was Lu Yuan, Wu Yixian, or the other guests present, everyone frowned in unison and looked toward the direction the sound came from.

They saw that at the end of the red carpet, a vigorous old man wearing a sword robe and a haori over his shoulders had appeared at some point, walking slowly with several attendants.

And those with sharp eyes recognized at a glance that among the attendants, a man with his right arm in a bandage was none other than the Sunlight Country Great Famous General who had his arm severed by Lu Yuan on the ring more than half a month ago, Sangtian Hengyi!

Seeing such a group appear with ill intent, the thousands of guests present were nearly in an uproar, and without any reminder, people from the Martial Arts Association maintaining order immediately stepped forward to shout and block them:

"Stop!"

"What do you Sunlight People want? Who let you in..."

However, just as several capable men from the Martial Arts Association reached out to block them, they saw the vigorous old man in the haori wave his sleeve lightly. Following that, amidst their changing expressions, they drifted up as if they were goose feathers blown by a strong wind, stumbling backward and sitting down on the ground.

"Audacious!"

"Japanese pirates, you are courting death!"

Among those present, the Martial Arts Association had the most experts, especially Martial Arts Masters like Zheng Shan'ao and Huang Shihu, who immediately let out sharp shouts and prepared to step forward.

However, at this moment, the old man in the haori stopped less than ten steps away from Lu Yuan and the others, then said in standard, clear Chinese:

"Is this how you welcome guests who have come from afar? It is said that Shenzhou is a land of etiquette, but it seems that is not the case."

The old man in the haori stood with the poise of a deep pool and a towering mountain, his aura as unfathomable as the vast ocean. Wu Yixian saw something immediately, his gaze narrowing:

"To arrive uninvited is impolite. I observe that your bearing is extraordinary; which Imperial God General of Sunlight Country are you?"

Beside the old man in the haori, Sangtian Hengyi spoke coldly:

"Let it be known to you all, this is my master, the Imperial God General conferred by the Emperor of the Great Sun Empire, the Sword Dao Grandmaster of the Tianxin Sword Dojo, Lord Guan Shi Zhengzong!"

Imperial God General!

Sword Dao Grandmaster!

As Sangtian Hengyi's voice fell, the thousands of onlookers around sucked in a cold breath, their gazes filled with shock.

The Imperial God General of Sunlight Country, this realm is equivalent to a Shenzhou Martial Arts Grandmaster and already belongs to the top-tier powerhouses of the current age.

And without a doubt, this Guan Shi Zhengzong must have been specifically invited from Japan by Sangtian Hengyi, who had suffered a crushing defeat on the ring, specifically to seek revenge for his humiliation against Lu Yuan!

This time, there was another great spectacle to watch!

Upon hearing this.

Under the gaze of the masses, Lu Yuan also narrowed his eyes, revealing a look that was half-smile:

"The small one was beaten, so the old one has come? So you have come to the door today to challenge the dojo and settle the score?"

Guan Shi Zhengzong stared intently at Lu Yuan and the Seven Star Dragon Abyss sword in his hand, slowly saying:

"You must be Lu Yuan. You have a saying that one should get back up from where they fell. Originally, since Sangtian was inferior in skill, it would have been only right for him to die on the ring. However, I heard from him that your Sword Technique has reached the realm of perfection, the likes of which he had never seen in his life.

I have been obsessed with the sword all my life, deeply devoted to it. My greatest pleasure is to witness all superior Sword Techniques, to cross swords with the world's top experts, and then use them as nourishment and resources to perfect my own Sword Dao. Through Sangtian's defeat, I believe you are qualified to be my opponent; this is the reason I have come here in person."

Wu Yixian stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"Guan Shi Zhengzong, you are a dignified Sword Dao Grandmaster of Japan, a man of several decades, coming thousands of miles to challenge a young man—do you not feel it is undignified?"

Guan Shi Zhengzong was calm and composed:

"The saying goes that the capable are teachers. Mediocre people can live for a hundred years and still be useless, while a genius can possess world-shaking talent even at the age of twenty. Furthermore, this Lu Yuan defeated my disciple with one sword; in terms of Sword Technique alone, he already has the bearing of a Sword Dao Grandmaster. How is it undignified to cross swords with him? Or is it that, under the eyes of the public, you are afraid he will lose to my Tianxin One-Blade Style and lose all face, so you are making excuses here?"

"Master is right!"

Sangtian Hengyi shouted loudly:

"It is his honor that you condescended to come here; these Great Jin people are just afraid! Our country has long since developed beyond them to become a powerful nation of the current age, and our Ninja Martial Arts have also surpassed the master. They cling to the past and fear this fact being exposed; how could they have the guts to accept our challenge?"

Although Sangtian Hengyi's provocation was very clumsy, it was still very successful in instantly inciting the anger of the thousands of onlookers and guests around, causing everyone to curse loudly:

"Screw your mother, you Japanese thieves! Whoever is afraid is a coward!"

"You're shouting fiercely now, but has this dog thief forgotten how miserably he was defeated before?"

"Mr. Lu, do not be afraid! All the people of Jinjin support you; defeat these Japanese thieves!"

In an instant, the whole scene was in an uproar, the sound waves shaking the heavens. Everyone was filled with righteous indignation and wished for Lu Yuan to act immediately, displaying his might to defeat the enemy just as he had before.

In a corner of the crowd, Li Junxian and his disciple looked solemn, saying anxiously:

"This is bad; this situation is equivalent to roasting A Yuan over a fire!"

"This Guan Shi Zhengzong is a Sword Dao Grandmaster who has been immersed in the Sword Dao for decades. If they really start fighting...?"

Lin Xingchao, having seen Lu Yuan's Sword Technique with his own eyes, said uncertainly:

"Senior brother, do not worry. Lu Yuan's Sword Technique is far superior to mine, and he has his Godly Strength to rely on. With Wu Taidou presiding here, even if he is not a match for the opponent, there should be no danger..."

While they were worried, Sangtian Hengyi turned a deaf ear to all the angry cursing around him, staring straight at Lu Yuan:

"How about it? Do you dare to have a Sword Dao duel with my master and compete to see who is better?"

Lu Yuan raised his hand to signal, and after the massive sound waves around them quieted down, he laughed loudly:

"Why not? Today happens to be the founding day of my Guangwu Hall; using the blood of a Grandmaster to celebrate could not be better!"

His laughter rolled out, filled with an indescribable wildness and wantonness, immediately causing Sangtian Hengyi and the other accompanying disciples to curse angrily:

"Arrogant!"

"Boastful!"

Guan Shi Zhengzong, who had been calm and composed, also had his gaze sink slightly, his tone like a cold wind blowing in midwinter:

"Very good. It has been a long time since I have seen a young person like you. It is truly surprising that the decaying and broken Great Jin could produce someone like you. I only hope your Sword Technique will not disappoint me as much as your words... Do you intend to compete here or change to another place?"

Lu Yuan looked around and said casually:

"Right here will do. Please, everyone, make ten zhang of open space to serve as our competition ground."

Wu Yixian immediately stepped forward and asked in a low voice:

"Little Friend Lu, I have also heard of this Guan Shi Zhengzong's reputation. More than ten years ago, he challenged many sword experts in the Coastal area and became famous in one fell swoop. At that time, he was already hard to find a match for. Now, his Sword Technique is likely perfect. Do you have confidence?"

Lu Yuan smiled and lightly shook the Seven Star Dragon Abyss in his hand:

"It would have been hard to say, but since Wu Taidou gifted me such a divine weapon, I will surely win."

"Good!"

Seemingly infected by Lu Yuan's confidence and heroism, Wu Yixian also laughed and waved his hand:

"Everyone, please step back ten zhang!"

Under his command and the maintenance of the Martial Arts Association helpers, the sea of people gathered in a crowd immediately began to retreat in an orderly fashion, then cleared a large open space.

Everyone's eyes were incomparably nervous, excited, and worried.

Unlike when Lu Yuan set up the ring before, what was in front of them now was a genuine Grandmaster-level duel.

A True Martial Grandmaster is a figure at the pinnacle of the pyramid, whether in the Jianghu or the imperial court. Among the hundreds of millions of people in the thirty-six provinces of the vast Great Jin, they are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Ordinary people might not see one in their entire life, let alone a life-and-death struggle.

And now, it is not only a Grandmaster-level duel, but it is also vaguely related to the superiority of the martial arts of Shenzhou and Sunlight, and even the honor of the nation and country. The matter is of great importance.

What worries many people is that although Lu Yuan has a brilliant record and is regarded by many as a figure of the same level as Wu Taidou, he is, after all, too young. Whether he can handle this Guan Shi Zhengzong is a question mark.

Facing such a strong opponent, it would undoubtedly be best to be evenly matched. Once he loses too ugly, not only will Lu Yuan's reputation and his yet-to-be-founded foundation be destroyed on the spot, but the reputation of Shenzhou Martial Arts will also suffer a heavy blow!

Under thousands of expectant and nervous gazes.

Lu Yuan held his sword and stepped forward, saying lightly:

"Come!"

At this moment, Guan Shi Zhengzong's aged face was full of solemnity.

First, with the service of Sangtian Hengyi and other disciples, he took off his haori, then raised the sword at his waist, stepped on his wooden clogs, and walked forward slowly, saying:

"This sword is named Kirin Fang. It is also a famous sword forged by a master swordsmith of my Sunlight Empire a thousand years ago. After it was forged, it drank the blood of more than ten Great Names. Every owner was either a first-class samurai, an assassin, or a peerless Sword Dao master. To be able to compete with the Seven Star Dragon Abyss today is truly moving.

I think that after this competition, regardless of life or death, the winner has the right to take the loser's weapon as a trophy. What do you think?"

The other party was clearly very tempted by the Seven Star Dragon Abyss, and Lu Yuan laughed:

"Good, I will give you this opportunity."

Guan Shi Zhengzong's eyes were deep, and he said slowly:

"Then I will accept it with pleasure. To express my gratitude to you, I will try my best to leave you a whole corpse..."

As he spoke, he grasped the hilt of the Kirin Fang with one hand and slowly drew it out, gradually revealing its eerie and bone-chilling edge.

However.

Before he could fully draw the blade.

With a bang!

Sparks suddenly erupted in the center of the clearing, as if someone had fired a gun nearby!

"What's going on!?"

"Someone fired a gun! Who fired it?"

"I heard it, it was from that direction!"

The crisp sound of gunfire echoed sharply in the air; the crowd at the edge of the field was instantly alarmed, exclaiming as they looked toward the source of the gunshot.

Even Lu Yuan looked up at this moment, and immediately saw several tall and burly figures appear at some point on the roof of a low building across the street.

The leader had gray hair and a beard, a face full of deep wrinkles, and a body like an iron tower that blocked the sunlight from above, letting out a roar of wild laughter that rolled like thunder:

"Sunlight People, get the hell out of the way!"

"This brat's life belongs to me, Aojinniezi!"

(End of this chapter)