Chapter 164: Guimaru Kunitsuna, A Life Lost to a Single Sword!

Three days later.

Tianjing.

As the capital of the Great Jin, the population of Tianjing now approaches four million. The magnificent four-sided city towers guarding the city, the checkerboard-patterned bluestone avenues that extend in all directions within, and the Forbidden City situated at the center—every corner and place manifests the grandeur and vicissitudes of this thousand-year-old majestic city.

At this moment, within Tianjing City, the bustling markets are filled with clamor. Compared to usual, the flow of people is even greater and denser. One can see that, apart from the locals, there are at least several times more visitors and merchants from other places than before, making this largest city in Shenzhou appear slightly crowded.

The news of the World Martial Arts Tournament had long since spread across the thirty-six provinces. Moreover, under Lu Yuan's requirement, this tournament did not forbid common folk from attending as spectators. Therefore, since the latter part of the seventh month, countless curious martial artists, tourists, and merchants have traveled thousands of miles to Tianjing, hoping to catch a glimpse of the grand event, causing places to stay like restaurants and inns throughout the city to be packed to capacity.

Of course, many people only realized after traveling thousands of miles that although the imperial court did not seal off Xiantai Mountain, ordinary people could only watch from far away outside the venue even if they arrived. Those who could truly get a close-up view of the whole event were those in the inner field and the newly constructed viewing platforms of the imperial court.

The positions for this inner field and the viewing platforms were clearly priced, with the minimum being one hundred to three hundred Silver Yuan per person. Furthermore, with the influx of a large number of merchants from other places seeking to purchase them, this price has risen with the tide, reaching the exaggerated level of three hundred to over a thousand Silver Yuan per person.

Even so, the entry qualifications for the inner field and viewing platforms have risen in price, and tickets are hard to come by.

And it was on this day at noon.

Tianjing Station.

A steam train spewing black smoke pulled into the station and finally came to a slow stop.

After the train stopped and the doors opened, Lu Yuan and over ten of his disciples, including Chen Zhantang, along with Li Junxian, Lin Xingchao, and a group of elders from the Martial Arts Association such as Wu Yixian—a party of over a hundred people—walked down from the steam train in a grand procession.

The reason they all took the train was naturally because it was relatively fast and spared them the suffering of being jostled.

Moreover, after learning of Lu Yuan's departure time, the Jin Dynasty immediately suspended the route between Tianjing and Jinjin to open a special train exclusively for Lu Yuan; since it was free, they might as well take it.

The platform had already been cleared. One could see the Governor of Zhili, Nayancheng, and a group of officials already waiting. They immediately came forward to greet them, exhaling slightly as they said:

"Master Lu, you have finally arrived."

Lu Yuan smiled slightly:

"What, is Governor Na worried that I would retreat at the last moment and leave you with a mess that cannot be cleaned up?"

Having had his thoughts guessed, Nayancheng smiled stiffly:

"Master Lu is joking. I do not have such thoughts, and I believe you would not do such a thing."

In reality, before seeing Lu Yuan, he was indeed somewhat worried that Lu Yuan would suddenly change his mind and flee at the last moment. At that time, this World Martial Arts Tournament would inevitably become the biggest joke in history, and the Jin Dynasty would be completely disgraced.

Fortunately, Lu Yuan arrived in Tianjing as promised, and this situation did not occur.

Lu Yuan did not waste words with him and asked:

"The tournament officially begins in two days. Have the participants from the three countries of Shenluo, Sha'e, and Sunlight, as well as other nations, all arrived?"

Nayancheng said:

"They have all arrived in Jinjin. Participants from Nanyang, West Asia, and even Indu arrived a few days ago. The experts from the three powers of Shenluo, Sha'e, and Sunlight arrived yesterday and are now staying at the Foreign Guest Mansion. According to the list, they have sent more than one top expert to participate. Master Lu should prepare himself mentally."

Lu Yuan smiled indifferently:

"Good, I understand."

Without saying much more, Nayancheng immediately raised a hand and said:

"The imperial court has prepared a Post Station for Master Lu to stay in. Please follow me."

Lu Yuan nodded. The group marched out of the station in a grand procession, and they saw rows of carriages already waiting outside.

Wu Yixian, Li Junxian, Cao Futian, and others could not help but sigh. Even though they were a thorn in the side of the imperial court, to be treated with such respect by those above and below—Lu Yuan is likely the only one in the entire world who can achieve this.

Just like that, Lu Yuan took disciples like Chen Zhantang and Zhao Shuhua and boarded the carriages to head to the Post Station. Although Wu Yixian and the others could not go with them, they had already sent people to Tianjing in advance to book an entire inn, so they headed straight to their lodging after parting ways.

The place of rest arranged by Nayancheng was the Jinyuan Post House, where the Jin Dynasty received visiting officials from other regions.

After arriving by carriage, Lu Yuan became the most distinguished guest there upon his arrival. When he arrived, a large number of Post Station officials and guards received him respectfully, and then arranged for Lu Yuan and his party to stay in the largest three-courtyard villa in the Post Station.

Having thus successfully completed his task, Nayancheng coughed lightly and said:

"Master Lu, please rest here for two days. Whatever you need, feel free to ask the High Station Master of the Post Station. Two days from now, on the first day of the eighth month, I will come here to take you to Xiantai Mountain."

Lu Yuan nodded calmly: "Good."

Nayancheng led his entourage and left immediately. Chen Zhantang signaled, then immediately dispersed with Peng Yidao and others to search the entire villa.

A moment later, they returned to report:

"Master, we have checked, there are no problems here."

"However, the disciples suggest that we buy and prepare our own daily food to avoid being sabotaged."

"The undercurrents in Tianjing are surging. You now carry the expectations of the masses, and there must not be the slightest slip-up!"

Although he possessed the Earth Tier Sprout Sensing Technique and no one in the world could sabotage him, the disciples meant well, so Lu Yuan smiled and said:

"Good, you have worked hard."

Just like that, the group settled into the Jinyuan Post House.

Although Tianjing is the most prosperous city in Shenzhou, Lu Yuan and his disciples did not go out to wander, waiting quietly for the tournament to begin in two days.

But it is unknown where the news leaked from; by the second day, a large number of curious onlookers came to the Post Station to pay a visit, wanting to see Lu Yuan's true face.

Among them were even martial arts experts from Tianjin and other provinces who had come for his reputation, but Lu Yuan closed his doors to all of them and did not see a single one.

It was not until the afternoon.

A burst of clamor suddenly came from outside the Post Station. Lu Yuan, who was meditating in his room, suddenly felt a stir in his heart, rose, and pushed the door open to go out.

As soon as he came out, he saw Chen Zhantang and the others rushing in from outside the courtyard, saying:

"Master, there is a situation!"

"Kanze Masamune from Sunlight Country, who was once defeated by you, has broken in with his disciple Sangtian Hengyi, claiming they want to have a duel with you before the tournament. They are already charging this way!"

"Oh?"

Lu Yuan said with interest:

"Let him come over; there is no need to stop him."

Chen Zhantang was stunned for a moment, but without saying more, he acknowledged and left. Before long, he brought a group of people into the courtyard.

The leading old man had silver hair, wore wooden clogs, and was dressed in a kendo uniform; it was none other than Kanze Masamune, who had been missing since his defeat, and his one-armed apprentice, Sangtian Hengyi.

Following behind them was the pale-faced Post Station Master, Gao Zhiyuan, and over ten disheveled Post Station guards, who seemed to have suffered quite a loss.

"Master Lu, I am truly sorry, truly sorry!"

Gao Zhiyuan was drenched in sweat, and he immediately apologized to Lu Yuan:

"I don't know where these two experts from the Sunlight Empire came from, but they insisted on challenging you. No matter how we tried to stop them, we couldn't." "It is of no concern."

Lu Yuan raised his hand, his gaze sweeping casually over Kanze Masamune's waist, and he smiled:

"Kanze Masamune, it seems you have found a weapon that satisfies you?"

After more than half a year, Kanze Masamune's spirit and temperament were deeper and more restrained than before; the man himself was like a peerless sharp blade hidden within a scabbard.

At this moment, he stared at Lu Yuan, lifted the pitch-black sword at his waist, and said slowly:

"Indeed. By enduring hardship and searching through the thousand-year history and frost of the Sunlight Empire, I have finally found a thousand-year-old famous blade that had been forgotten and sealed away by the world: Onimaru Kunitsuna."

"This blade was forged a thousand years ago by an Imperial God General who invited the world's top master swordsmith. From the day it was forged, Onimaru Kunitsuna has drunk deep of the blood of countless warriors. The souls lost beneath this blade have long exceeded ten thousand, including many top-tier experts at the level of Great Famous General and Imperial God General. Like me, it is now incredibly eager to cross blades with you and the Seven Star Dragon Abyss."

As if looking at someone brandishing a broadsword in front of Guan Gong, Lu Yuan smiled playfully:

"If you want to cross blades with me, the International Martial Arts Tournament the day after tomorrow is the opportunity. Why the rush?"

Kanze Masamune said slowly:

"Are you unaware? The International Martial Arts Tournament limits each side to sending at most two participants, and our Sunlight Empire has experts as numerous as clouds. I regret to say that I did not obtain the qualification to participate."

Lu Yuan laughed:

"You don't even have the qualification to participate, yet you dare to come and challenge me!?"

Beside him, Sangtian Hengyi felt old grudges and new hatred surge in his heart, and he immediately shouted sternly:

"Lu Yuan, are you using such excuses because you are afraid and dare not cross blades with my master?!"

Kanze Masamune also said with a cold gaze:

"Lu Yuan, not obtaining the qualification to participate does not mean my strength is inferior to the other two; I simply did not want to use my most lethal killing move on my own people.

As for you, the world is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, yet you dare to boast and challenge everyone; you are far too overestimating your own capabilities. You cannot possibly walk off the arena alive after the Martial Arts Tournament in two days. Therefore, so as not to leave any regrets, and also to wash away past humiliations, I have come to challenge you in advance."

"I am overestimating my own capabilities?"

Lu Yuan smiled and nodded:

"Very well. Since you want to seek death, I will grant your wish. Station Master Gao, this person has come to challenge me; I must trouble you to act as a witness on the side."

Gao Zhiyuan's face twitched as he heard this, and he cowered:

"Ah? I..."

"That is the way it should be!"

Before Gao Zhiyuan could finish speaking, Kanze Masamune laughed aloud:

"This is what fits the spirit of challenging the heroes of the world! Lu Yuan, this is not a place for battle; do you dare to come outside with me for a fight?"

Lu Yuan sneered:

"There is no need for such trouble. Right here will suffice. If you are still alive after one move, I will count it as your victory."

If he is still alive after one move, it counts as a victory?

This light, airy sentence contained an unspeakable dominance and self-confidence. To Kanze Masamune's ears, it sounded like an extreme insult. He immediately furrowed his brows, and an unspeakable, surging murderous aura erupted:

"Arrogant!"

With a low shout, he suddenly stepped forward, his True Qi erupting like a raging fire soaring into the sky. The scabbard in his hand shattered, and a demonic blade light, as condensed and explosive as an angry dragon, tore through the sky and bit fiercely toward Lu Yuan!

The instant Kanze Masamune drew his blade to kill.

Everyone in the courtyard felt the blade's edge and light shifting formlessly, like wind and rain, like thunder and lightning. Looking up, they could not see its shape; looking down, they could not find its trace. It was suddenly wild, suddenly mysterious, suddenly soft, suddenly fierce, like a meteor or phantom lightning, impossible for the naked eye to capture.

And even more terrifying was that as the blade light flashed rapidly before their eyes, every one of them clearly heard bursts of sorrowful wailing, as if thousands of wronged souls had been released in this strike, moaning and roaring, seizing their very souls!

This was not only the miraculous power of the famous ten-thousand-slayer blade Onimaru Kunitsuna, but also his strongest killing move, formed by erupting with all his essence, Qi, and spirit, and melting and sublimating the accumulation of his entire life's martial path:

Anger of Heaven Heart Slaying Ghost God!

The moment Kanze Masamune struck, the entire scene was stunned.

However.

Facing this ferocious blade that could not be described in words, Lu Yuan's expression did not change in the slightest. He merely stepped forward, lightly raised his arm, and thrust.

*Clang. *

A clear, ethereal sword chime, like a wondrous celestial sound, rang in everyone's ears. In an instant, the wailing of thousands of wronged souls was shattered into dust.

At the same time, though Lu Yuan's hand was clearly empty, a sword light descended like Heavenly Thunder, bright to the point of arrogance, brilliant to the point of extremity. Wherever it passed, the void rippled outward like water, stirring up rolling torrents of brilliant light that washed away and shattered everything in the four directions!

What!?

The instant the brilliant sword light entered his eyes, Kanze Masamune, who had erupted with all his power, felt a massive warning of danger and peril in his soul.

Although his vision had only just received this flash of sword light, in his mind, he could already feel his flesh and cells beginning to tremble, wither, and decay under this sword momentum.

No, it was not just a feeling.

Within the sword light, a cold, desolate, and ruthless killing intent that annihilated everything was transmitted through the air. His skin and nerves clearly felt a stinging sensation, and then tiny wounds burst open silently, blood flowing out.

Before this terrifying Sword Intent even touched his body, it had already broken his skin. The stinging sensation penetrated deep into his meridians, muscles, and bones, as if it wanted to split his soul in two!

"I will die from this sword!"

For no reason, such a trembling realization arose in Kanze Masamune's heart.

*Clang—! *

The next instant, blade and sword collided, and the terrifying sharpness of the blade and sword soared into the sky, shaking the wilderness.

The dazzling radiance erupted from the blade light and Sword Qi made the bright sun in the sky look dim. The violent impact of the sharpness, accompanied by the whistling wind, swept out, and the subsequent sonic boom, along with shockwaves that could shatter one's liver and intestines, exploded outward with a roar!

Within the courtyard, the atmosphere wailed, the ground cracked inch by inch, and the tsunami of sharpness, capable of slicing flesh and blood, surged like a tide. All the onlookers were terrified and retreated rapidly.

At the same time, they also clearly saw that under the impact of the sword light, which was like Heavenly Thunder descending, Kanze Masamune's figure roared and retreated wildly in mid-air.

In the process, first the demonic Onimaru Kunitsuna in his hand shattered inch by inch, and immediately after, as if he had been sliced by a thousand blades, dozens or hundreds of deep wounds appeared on his body in an instant. These wounds burst open simultaneously, and blood sprayed, surged, and scattered wildly from his entire body!!

With a *thud*, after retreating only a few large steps, Kanze Masamune had already turned into a bloody person, as if all the blood in his body had been drained, and he stood motionless on the spot like a statue.

He looked at Lu Yuan with extreme difficulty, as if using his last shred of strength to let out a hoarse voice:

"You, have yet to use your full strength?"

"What do you think?"

Lu Yuan's gaze was indifferent; the Seven Star Dragon Abyss in his hand vanished, and he turned to walk away:

"Show the guest out!"

The voice fell.

Covered in blood, the expression of Kanemune froze completely, his eyes seemingly filled with regret and remorse, his body crashed backward onto the ground, and he breathed his last.