The sword's blade measured sixty-six centimeters, slightly longer than Chen Zong's previous blade.
At its widest point, the blade was four centimeters, tapering to three centimeters at its narrowest. Its thickness ranged from 1.2 centimeters at its thickest to 0.8 centimeters at its thinnest. The guard, crafted from antique bronze, resembled a dragon's head with its mouth agape, as if swallowing and expelling the blade. The ebony hilt, with its matte finish for enhanced grip, felt excellent in the hand and emanated a faint sandalwood fragrance that cleared the mind.
The pommel, also made of antique bronze, was shaped like a dragon's tail.
The sword weighed twelve kilograms.
Wavy patterns adorned the blade, reflecting a faint bluish-green sheen that hinted at its unparalleled sharpness.
"A truly magnificent sword," Chen Zong couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. However, he soon realized it didn't quite feel right in his hand.
Swords, like people, varied greatly in character, and not every blade suited every wielder.
"No matter," Chen Zong thought to himself. "I can make some adjustments."
If a sword didn't feel comfortable, one could either adapt to it or replace it. But Chen Zong was unwilling to part with such a superb weapon. He resolved to adapt to it, even if it took time.
The scabbard, also crafted from black ebony and adorned with antique bronze fittings, exuded extraordinary elegance and intrinsic value.
"Chen Zong," Li Zhenshi said with a smile, rising from his seat and strolling leisurely toward the center of the arena, "now that you possess such a fine sword, you must be itching to test its edge."
"I also need a worthy opponent," Chen Zong murmured, gently sheathing his sword. He rose, drew his blade, and strode toward Li Zhenshi.
The Li Clan was a renowned Sword Clan, their sword techniques considered unparalleled in Wind Martial City, surpassing even the Yang Clan. Li Zhenshi, a rare prodigy within the Li Clan and a true genius of the sword, naturally piqued Chen Zong's interest.
"My sword, too, is a Precious Iron Sword," Li Zhenshi said slowly, drawing his blade. Its clear, bright light shimmered like the tranquil surface of an autumn lake. He gazed tenderly at the weapon in his hand, as if gazing at a beloved companion, before lightly flicking the blade with his left finger. The sword vibrated gently, its resonant hum filling the air. "Eighty-eight inches in length, three point seven inches in width, and weighing twenty-nine pounds. My Foundation Establishment Sword Technique is named Clear Wind."
"Please," Chen Zong replied, executing a few sword flourishes to familiarize himself with his weapon.
"Clear Wind, ever by my side."
With a soft murmur, Li Zhenshi moved with the grace of the wind itself. His sword thrust out, its light shifting and blurring, transforming into a gentle breeze that drifted toward Chen Zong. Though seemingly gentle, the attack concealed a formidable sharpness.
This strike hinted at a realm beyond the ordinary, nearing the Subtlety Realm.
Yet "nearing" was not "achieving." To truly take that step required extraordinary circumstances, a rare opportunity that might never arise.
The sword transformed into a clear wind, its strike so swift that its position became impossible to pinpoint. Only the gentle breeze remained, its whisper echoing in the ears.
Willow Sweep!
The clear wind stirred, and Chen Zong's body swayed like a willow tree in the breeze. Sword and body moved in perfect harmony, swaying in unison. In mid-sway, a strike erupted, shifting instantly from gentle to ferocious, tearing through the clear wind.
Li Zhenshi had tempered his Blood Qi seven times, nearly completing the eighth. His foundation surpassed Chen Zong's, but the number of Blood Qi Tempering stages, while crucial for long-term potential, had a less immediate impact on combat strength.
Moreover, Chen Zong's sword technique had reached the Subtlety Realm. Even if the Willow Sweep Sword Technique was inferior to Li Zhenshi's Clear Wind Sword Technique, the difference in mastery not only bridged the gap but also allowed Chen Zong to surpass his opponent.
Born into a Sword Clan, Li Zhenshi had been immersed in sword lore since childhood. His innate talent for swordsmanship, combined with relentless dedication, had honed his skills to a formidable level. Though his Sword Technique Realm lagged behind Chen Zong's, his superior foundation prevented him from being outmatched.
The sword danced like the wind—whirling and howling, its pace unpredictable, its weight shifting between featherlight and crushing force.
Chen Zong unleashed the full potential of the Willow Sweep Sword Technique, his body and sword merging seamlessly into what seemed like a willow tree swaying in the breeze.
"Is this the Perfection Realm of the Willow Sweep Sword Technique?"
"It feels like it, yet it doesn't."
"Could it be...?" Some began to speculate, their bodies trembling as their faces paled. If their suspicions were true, Chen Zong's talent for sword cultivation would be terrifying beyond belief.
"You've actually cultivated the Willow Sweep Sword Technique to the Subtlety Realm!" Li Zhenshi's sword didn't falter, but his voice trembled with shock.
He had suspected as much, which was why he had challenged Chen Zong to a sword duel—to confirm it firsthand. Now he knew it was true: Chen Zong had indeed reached the Subtlety Realm with the Willow Sweep Sword Technique. It was utterly astonishing.
The Li Clan was a renowned Sword Clan, their lineage stretching back to the Kingdom Era, a legacy spanning six to seven centuries. Their sword techniques were meticulously preserved, their training environment unparalleled, and Li Zhenshi himself was a rare prodigy within the family, steeped in sword lore since childhood. Yet even he had never managed to elevate the Clear Wind Sword Technique to the Subtlety Realm, always falling just short.
The Chen Clan, however, was not a Sword Clan. Their strength lay in embodying the spirit of the tiger. For Chen Zong, merely a member of a branch clan, to achieve the Subtlety Realm in swordplay left Li Zhenshi utterly stunned.
"I'll borrow your sword to reach the Subtlety Realm," Li Zhenshi muttered to himself.
Clearing his mind of all distractions, he focused entirely on executing each sword strike, carefully savoring the unique essence contained within Chen Zong's movements.
Willow Sweep Sword Technique!
Phantom Shadow Sword Technique!
Eagle Strike Sword Technique!
Chen Zong seamlessly alternated between these three Foundation Establishment sword techniques, each honed to the Subtlety Realm.
"He's actually mastered three sword techniques to the Subtlety Realm!" Li Zhenshi exclaimed, stunned once more. He forced himself to refocus. The surrounding spectators, now aware that Chen Zong had achieved the Subtlety Realm in not one, but three sword techniques, stared in disbelief.
Mastering even a single Foundation Establishment martial art to the Subtlety Realm was already an extraordinary feat, let alone three.
It was worth noting that the youths present were all prodigies, their talent rivaling or even surpassing that of many elders. Yet none of them had ever achieved the Subtlety Realm in any Foundation Establishment martial art.
Chen Zong was the first.
Three Subtlety Realm techniques sent shivers down their spines.
Yang Yigu's jaw dropped. "He's a freak!" he exclaimed. He himself had only brought his Seven Drunken Sword Forms close to the Subtlety Realm, unsure when he might ever truly cross that threshold.
The friend he had just made... Yang Yigu could only chuckle bitterly.
Li Zhenshi was completely immersed in the Clear Wind Sword Technique, repeatedly practicing its forms.
Suddenly, a gust of wind materialized from nowhere, swirling around him as if merging with his body and the sword in his hand.
His body became one with the clear wind, his sword moving in perfect harmony with his movements.
A sharp glint flashed in Li Zhenshi's eyes as his sword strikes grew lighter, faster, and imbued with a unique, profound edge.
The sword transformed into the wind itself, becoming omnipresent as it launched a relentless assault on Chen Zong from all directions. Chen Zong parried with his sword, its light forming a protective halo that tore apart each gust of clear wind.
"Chen Zong, why did you do that?" Li Zhenshi halted, his sword held aloft. Joy radiated from his face, yet his tone carried a hint of bewilderment.
Chen Zong understood Li Zhenshi's unspoken question perfectly.
When Li Zhenshi had attempted to use their sparring to break through to a higher level of mastery, Chen Zong had sensed an opportunity to defeat him and deny Li Zhenshi his breakthrough. Instead, Chen Zong had demonstrated two additional sword techniques he had mastered to the Subtlety Realm, aiding Li Zhenshi's progress.
"I didn't think about it much," Chen Zong replied with a smile.
"Aren't you afraid that once my sword technique reaches the Subtlety Realm, I'll defeat you?" Li Zhenshi pressed, his tone still questioning.
Chen Zong merely smiled, offering no reply.
"I understand," Li Zhenshi said, taking a deep breath, his expression turning serious for the first time. "I owe you a favor. But beware, for I will defeat you in our next encounter."
Chen Zong remained unfazed by Li Zhenshi's words, his composure unshaken. The others, however, were stunned.
A favor meant different things depending on who owed it.
Having an ordinary person owe a favor was one thing; having the heir of a noble clan, its foremost genius, in your debt was entirely different. Especially since Li Zhenshi was the Young Gang Leader of the Li Clan, a noble family, and their foremost talent.
"Not only is he magnanimous, but he also possesses unparalleled confidence," Tang Junhao murmured, his voice barely audible to Tang Junluo beside him.
Tang Junluo nodded in agreement.
Despite their youth, their upbringing in noble clans and status as young leaders had exposed them to the world's complexities far beyond their peers.
"I never expected you to have cultivated all three Foundation Establishment Sword Techniques to the Subtlety Realm. This calls for a proper toast," Yang Yigu exclaimed, pouring Chen Zong another cup of wine. "How did you manage it?"
Chen Zong didn't refuse the drink. Though bitter and fiery at first, the wine mellowed into a unique bittersweet flavor after the initial shock.
"Just practice diligently every day and think about it whenever you have time. You'll break through eventually," Chen Zong said. Yang Yigu stared at him in disbelief, nearly choking on his mouthful of bitter wine.
"Never mind," Yang Yigu sighed, shaking his head. "Everyone has their own path. Still, I'd like to spar with you sometime to see if I can glean some insights into the mysteries of the Subtlety Realm."
"You're welcome anytime," Chen Zong replied with a smile.
"Now that you've cultivated your sword technique to the Subtlety Realm, do you plan to continue advancing?" Yang Yigu suddenly asked.
"Continue advancing?" Chen Zong's heart skipped a beat involuntarily. An indescribable excitement welled up from the depths of his being, brimming with anticipation. "Does that mean there's an even higher realm beyond the Subtlety Realm?"
"Didn't your master tell you?" Yang Yigu asked in surprise. "No, wait. The Chen Clan Sword Technique is rather ordinary. It's understandable that you wouldn't know."
"The Subtlety Realm can be considered the pinnacle of a martial art's development, or it can be seen as just one step along the way," Yang Yigu mused. "Because there is indeed a higher realm beyond it, though it's somewhat different." He paused, unsure how to explain. He turned to Li Zhenshi. "I don't know much about it myself, but that fellow comes from a Sword Clan. He should know. You can ask him. I'm sure he'd tell you."
Chen Zong glanced at Li Zhenshi, who happened to be looking back at him and gave him a slight smile.
"Alright," Chen Zong thought to himself. "I'll ask Li Zhenshi about it after the Soaring Dragon Assembly concludes." The thought of even higher realms beyond the Subtlety Realm filled him with indescribable excitement, making him feel a surge of power coursing through his veins, urging him to draw his sword and resume his training immediately.
Match after match followed. Another challenger stepped forward, this time a cultivator at the sixth layer of the Qi Blood Realm. However, he clarified that he only wished to spar using the Foundation Establishment Sword Technique, hoping to glean some insights from Chen Zong's swordsmanship. Naturally, Chen Zong agreed.
While Chen Zong's Sword Technique Realm surpassed his opponents', his combat experience clearly paled in comparison. This proved beneficial, allowing him to compensate for his weaknesses by learning from their strengths and refining his battle instincts.
After several consecutive matches, Chen Zong noticed a marked improvement in his grasp of combat rhythm.
"Tang Junluo, it's time for our duel," Zhao King City declared, rising to his feet, his cold, piercing gaze fixed on Tang Junluo.
"As you wish," Tang Junluo replied, gripping his golden dragon-patterned spear and striding forward.