True Solution of the Sword Dao

The Outside World

In a certain forest of the Southwest Province of Hua Nation.

A gentle breeze swept through, bringing with it the rustling sound of the trees.

Leaves fluttered down.

Not far in front of Lin Fei, Yan Shi stood quietly in front of a tombstone.

Neither of them spoke.

This was the site of the once prestigious Flying Swallow Clan. Now, all that remained was the tomb of the Flying Swallow from the past. Everything else had long since disappeared, buried completely by several landslides, it was said.

After a long while, Yan Shi finally turned around.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"This is the former site of the Flying Swallow Ruins. It’s also where you and Jiu’er vanished." Lin Fei smiled. "Did you ever think there’d be a day when you’d come back here to see your own tombstone?"

Yan Shi’s expression was wooden.

"Although you possess some of my memories and have gained a foundation in swordsmanship, my will failed to take over your body. We owe each other nothing now."

"I don’t feel the same way," Lin Fei’s expression calmed down.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"Let’s have a battle. Pure swordsmanship. Neither of our wills or resolutions will be hidden." A glint of golden light flashed in Lin Fei’s eyes, shining brightly between the trees. "Perhaps in this world, your swordsmanship is the very thing I wouldn’t want to miss."

Lin Fei could feel a sense of threat emanating from Yan Shi. This unprecedented feeling made him boil with excitement. He had a premonition that this battle might be more significant than any other he had fought before.

Yan Shi closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment.

"The sword is not my everything."

"I have my reasons," Lin Feipeng extended his hand calmly. A demon sword of a grayish-white color slowly materialized in his grasp, pointing straight at his opponent.

"Let us fight, Yan Shi. In those days, you and Jiu’er bore a burden so heavy it left you gasping for breath. Now, those burdens no longer exist. But Jiu’er... she is gone..."

"There is a kind of swordsmanship!!" Yan Shi suddenly interrupted.

"There is a kind of swordsmanship that can transcend time!" He opened his eyes, a faint blue color slowly swirling within them.

"Oh? You know about it too?" Lin Fei was truly surprised this time. Yan Shi had no legacy of the Sword Canon, yet he had managed to comprehend this realm and seen the hope of legend. It was undeniable that his natural talent was horrific.

"Whether you are truly discontent or not, if you die here today, all will be in vain," said Lin Fei with a smile.

Yan Shi’s gaze sharpened.

Hiss...

He slowly drew out his longsword. Wisp after wisp of blue aura escaped from the blade and the sword sheath, floating in the surrounding air.

"This battle between us, regardless of victory or defeat," Lin Fei laughed lightly, the demon sword vibrating as he slowly walked forward.

"Is only about life and death."

..............

............

...........

"Cough cough..."

Lin Fei struggled to walk out from the woods.

A vast blood hole in his right chest was so large that one could almost see the ground behind him. Blood froze in the air around the wound, and flesh writhed, constantly healing the injury.

Yet the heavy loss of vital essence almost pushed him to the brink of death.

"This is what a true battle feels like..." Lin Fei laughed somewhat neurotically. His eyes flashed with an air of disdain for everything.

"Yan Shi... is now a thing of the past. From now on, there is only Yan Fei," Lin Fei pressed firmly against his chest. "Just a little more, if your resolve had been a bit stronger. Perhaps I would be the one to die."

He turned his head to take one last look behind him.

There, in the woods, only a longsword stood silently embedded in the ground.

A sense of enlightenment quietly surfaced. Lin Fei suddenly felt a slight sense of relief.

********************

Luo Yun followed her friend into the hall.

Her eyes continuously scanned the layout of the interior.

The spacious hall was dominated by clean whites. People of various dress walked back and forth, seemingly from all walks of life.

Some staff moved swiftly among them.

"Is this the Swordsmanship Club?" she asked with some doubt.

Her friend, who was signing up for a visitor’s badge at the reception ahead, turned back and smiled, "Yes, that’s right. This is where the competition for the strongest swordsman in the world is about to be held. We can’t miss such a grand event, being martial arts fanatics since childhood."

"It’s probably just hype. It’s just like those other contests from before, full of show," said Luo Yun indifferently.

"Hehe, you’re wrong this time," her friend Ning Yunyun approached her with a smug look, pulling out a poster from behind her with a flourish. "Ta-da! Look what it is?"

Luo Yun took the poster with a puzzled expression and unfurled it.

Beneath flashy, colorful animations were two portraits, followed by text: ’In the first contest, disciple of the South Korean transmitted swordsmanship, Jin Xiangquan, faces off against Hua Nation’s Colorful Clouds Swordsmanship master Qi Wushuang.’

Below was a more detailed introduction.

Luo Yun read on, her eyes growing wider and wider.

"No way!? Jin Xiangquan can thrust five swords in one second? Qi Wushuang claims to have a 360-degree indefensible body? This is... like someone has been reading too many martial arts novels?"

"Hehe, you’re out of the loop," her friend Ning Yunyun looked all-knowing, proudly stating: "Colorful Clouds Swordsmanship is a branch of the Swordsmanship Club’s many styles. It’s not that simple. If you don’t believe it, you can go watch the promotional videos for swordsmanship. By the way, do you know what the people call the Swordsmanship Club now?"

"What?"

Ning Yunyun said with longing, "That is, the Myriad Sword Divine Sect!"

"Hiss..." Luo Yun took a sharp breath. "Yunyun, you must be still dreaming, right?"

"No, she’s right."

A magnetic male voice suddenly interjected.

Both turned towards the source of the voice simultaneously.

A middle-aged man with stubble, dressed in a black suit with a red tie, was smiling at them.

"The Myriad Sword Divine Sect. It means that the Swordsmanship Club has as many as ten thousand different swordsmanship techniques, which of course is an exaggeration. As for ’Divine Sect,’ it refers to the fact that the strongest members of the Swordsmanship Club are said to be able to reach the realm of gods. Although it’s an exaggeration as well, it amply reflects the current prestige and status of the Swordsmanship Club. However, these things are most famous among a world inaccessible to ordinary people. Not many common folks are aware of them. But the organizing of this competition has caused the Swordsmanship Club’s declaration to start spreading among the public."

"Uncle, how do you know so much?" Ning Yunyun asked curiously.

"Because I joined here for this very reason and have just become one of the inner disciples of the Swordsmanship Club," the uncle said with a smile. "The examination to advance to a core disciple is coming up, and if I can pass that, then the future holds boundless prospects. Unfortunately... well, you guys keep chatting."

He turned and walked towards a woman who was waiting for him on the other side.

Luo Yun and the other person just stared at him, dumbfounded.

For some reason, Luo Yun thought she detected a trace of depression on the man’s face.

The woman spoke a few words when the uncle approached her.

Luo Yun caught bits and pieces of it.

"Are you really deciding to take part in the core examination?"

"Yes, I don’t have any other choice," the uncle nodded in response.

"Last session, four went mad and twenty-three died; very few passed. The assessment has become increasingly difficult. Knowing this, you still want to take part?"

Luo Yun’s body tensed up.

"Four went mad?! Twenty-three died!!? What kind of assessment is this!!" A chill ran down her spine. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Ning Yunyun, who was standing nearby, also overheard the conversation.

They were just too close to the uncle. And because the two of them spoke without any attempt to hide their conversation, every word was clearly audible.

However, there were quite a few others who heard it as well, yet no one seemed very surprised. Everyone wore a normal expression on their face.

"Luo Yun... I didn’t hear it wrong just now, did I?" Ning Yunyun, pale-faced, asked in a low voice.

"No..." Luo Yun looked down: "You didn’t hear it wrong."

The uncle said two more sentences and then left. The woman, however, seemed to notice Luo Yun and the other person and walked towards them.

"Hehe, you two kids, this isn’t a place for you."

"We... we’re just here to look around... heh... hehe..." Ning Yunyun chuckled awkwardly.

"In order to become a core disciple and enter the legendary Trial Grounds to achieve legendary-level swordsmanship, every disciple who joins the Swordsmanship Club has joined with this mindset and ideal. It is the real opportunity of the Martial Arts World of Hua Nation. Where there is opportunity, there naturally are risks. Not everyone has the potential. And not everyone has the necessary determination."

The woman seemed in good spirits, knowing that the two had overheard the previous conversation, she began to explain in detail.

"Our Swordsmanship Club, adhering to the ideals of Sword Saint Yan Fei of Tracing Shadow, aims to pursue the strongest realm possible. Anyone wishing to become a core disciple must have such determination and will."

"Sword Saint Yan Fei of Tracing Shadow?" Ning Yunyun immediately forgot her fear, her interest piqued. "Cool! Why is he called the Tracing Shadow Sword Saint?"

Looking at Ning Yunyun’s cute little face, the woman reached out and pinched her cheek, which led to a series of struggles and exclamations from the latter.

"In legend, Lord Yan Fei possessed a sword quicker than a shadow."

"Faster than a shadow!!!"

Luo Yun deeply lowered her head, her heart filled with awe.

"Is that a swordsmanship that could surpass the speed of light? That must be an exaggeration, right?" She asked as she looked up.

"Whether it’s an exaggeration or not, I don’t know, but this title was spread by several other lords," the woman said with a smile.

"Other lords?"

"Yes, Star Shattering Sword, Moonlight Sword Lord, Heavenly Net Bright Moon Sword Lord, and the Golden Sword; this title was circulated among these four lords. Apart from Sword Saint Yan Fei, these four are the strongest members of our Swordsmanship Club," the woman explained patiently, failing to resist pinching Ning Yunyun’s cheek again.

"I’ve always wanted a little sister like you, so cute~~~"

Ning Yunyun quickly rolled her eyes and shouted loudly, "Sister!"

"Oh my," the woman’s cheeks flushed with color .

Suddenly, their sense of closeness leveled up.

Luo Yun, however, felt somewhat incredulous; she always felt that what the woman had said was somewhat too exaggerated.

"Get out of the way!!"

Suddenly, a man’s cold, bone-chilling voice erupted at the entrance.

"Are you talking to me?" A gentle male voice responded. "Lu Xianyang of the Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship in Nanyang, this isn’t your Vermilion Bird Dojo."

"I don’t care about others, but I’ve told you before, if you stand in front of me again, I will kill you," the cold voice said.

"Tsk tsk, how ferocious~~ This is the entrance to the Swordsmanship Club’s headquarters. Do you dare to make a move here?" the gently spoken man was brimming with provocation.

The two men faced each other squarely, neither willing to back down.

Luo Yun followed the voices and saw at the entrance on the street.

Two men stood facing each other in a standoff. One held a white longsword and dressed in white, with a cold demeanor.

The other was in black, with a silver longsword at his waist, smiling. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to go to qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)