Confronted with Kong Lanyou’s question, Zhang Ruochen contemplated for a moment before he answered. “When I got the Good-luck Sword, an idea flowed into my mind, and then I learned Sacred Sword Skill. I never knew the reason why.”
Although he could not bear to lie to her, Zhang Ruochen still continued to do so.
Kong Lanyou raised her sharp and white chin, revealing a slender neck. “Is it true? May I know the set of Sacred Sword Skill you practiced?”
Kong Lanyou once saw Zhang Ruochen practicing Sacred Sword Skill. She thought in her heart that a person’s image could be changed – his eyes could be disguised and his actions could be changed. However, the Tao of the sword was difficult to change.
If he was really the Zhang Ruochen that she knew, she was confident that she would be able to find out from testing him.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “Predecessor, as long as you do not mind my rude sword technique, I’d like to have a fight with you.”
“In that case, please show me how profound the swordsmanship of the King of the younger generation of the Eastern Region is.”
Kong Lanyou stood up, revealing her slender figure and elegant temperament. She walked out of the bamboo pavilion and stood at the end of the stone trail.
“Swoosh!”
As she waved her arms, two currents of sword Qi flew out from Kong Lanyou’s fingertips. It cut off a bamboo pipe as thick as a thumb from the top of a bamboo.
The bamboo tube was jade green and a meter long.
Zhang Ruochen’s spine was straight as a javelin, making him look outstanding. With the same trick, he also cut off a one-meter-long bamboo tube. He held it in his hands and stood ten steps away from her.
She said, “You’ve reached the Medium State of the Heaven Realm.”
“Yes.”
He was not surprised. With her current strength, she could naturally see through his cultivation.
Kong Lanyou nodded and said, “My cultivation is much higher than yours, and my understanding of martial arts is also far above yours. For the sake of fairness, I will suppress my cultivation at the Mid Stage of the Heaven Realm, just three levels lower than yours.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “You, my predecessor, should be very clear about my strength. In the same realm, there are few men in the entire Eastern Region who can fight with me. I advise that you suppress the realm at the Medium State of the Heaven Realm, same as me. Otherwise, I’m afraid that you will be defeated badly.”
In any case, she was Zhang Ruochen’s cousin. Even if 800 years had passed, her image in his heart was still the little girl who was inclined to cry.
Zhang Ruochen certainly did not want to be underestimated by her and wanted to compete with her in a fair battle.
At the same time, he wanted to know how powerful this little girl had become.
Eight hundred years had passed; she should have made some progress.
“You can talk big after defeating me.”
The corner of her mouth twitched up, a slight smile appearing on her face.
Meanwhile, she had lifted the bamboo tube with her right hand, moved her feet, and changed her shape rapidly. She suddenly appeared in front of Zhang Ruochen and hit his right shoulder.
In the distance, Nie Honglou squinted at Kong Lanyou drawing the sword and said, “This predecessor is really confident. Doesn’t she know that against someone within the same realm, Zhang Ruochen is invincible?”
Lu Youcai said, “Whenever somebody reaches a certain realm in cultivation, one’s perception about movement and Tao of the sword will reach another height, which is beyond our understanding.”
“Nevertheless, it’s impossible for her at the Mid Stage of the Heaven Realm to defeat Zhang Ruochen who is at the Medium State of the Heaven Realm.” Nie Honglou shook his head.
He was also a master, so he knew Zhang Ruochen’s strength well.
In the same realm, few people could withstand Zhang Ruochen’s one movement.
Besides, her cultivation would be three levels lower than his.
“Let’s wait for the results! Being the predecessor, she will not do things she’s not sure of,” Lu Youcai said.
Lu Youcai did not know the white-haired woman’s real identity either. He only knew that even her ancestor was very respectful to her. She must be very important!
Perhaps she was a saint.
“Sacred Guiding Sword! ”
Kong Lanyou’s first movement was the first move of Sacred Sword Skill.
Her movements were natural and smooth, like a swordsman directing the way. With a wave of her hand, the bamboo tube went out.
Zhang Ruochen had already practiced Scared Sword Skill to The Perfection of Martial Arts, so he immediately found a way out when she displayed Sacred Guiding Sword.
“Sacred Wave Sword!”
It was still a movement of Sacred Sword Skill. As he turned his arms, the sword Qi gushed out and turned into waves, sweeping toward Kong Lanyou.
“Swish—”
However, Kong Lanyou’s sword technique suddenly changed. A white light stabbed his chest through the waves of sword Qi.
The ordinary movement of Sacred Sword Skill became unpredictable. It was not the sword technique of the low-class of Spiritual anymore, but even beyond that of the Ghost Level.
Zhang Ruochen reacted really quickly. However, he was still a little late in lifting his sword to block the bamboo tube.
“Bang!”
The bamboo tube skillfully broke through the Celestial Bodyshield, hitting him between two of his ribs.
He felt pain – more pain than being stabbed by a real sword. The Genuine Qi throughout his body went retrograde, causing him to lose his ability to fight.
Zhang Ruochen felt weak. He sweated profusely, one hand on the ground as he panted for breath.
Kong Lanyou withdrew her sword and lifted her chest, saying proudly, “How was it? Even if I kept my cultivation at the Mid Stage of the Heaven Realm, you couldn’t withstand my strike.”
“How could this be?”
Zhang Ruochen was reluctant to concede defeat to this little girl. One strike! Moreover, she had suppressed her cultivation at the Mid Stage of the Heaven Realm, which was three levels lower than his.
It was impossible 800 years ago. Back then, Zhang Ruochen could easily beat her to the ground with just one hand.
Kong Lanyou said, “Although you’ve achieved Heart Integrated into Sword and practiced Sacred Sword Skill into the Perfection, you still have some subtle flaws, but you still can’t them with your current cultivation. What’s more, your fighting experience is far less than mine. Besides, you are worse in controlling your strength.”
Zhang Ruochen gradually recovered after running his Genuine Qi and adjusting his breath for a moment. He was no longer unreconciled, instead, he humbly analyzed Kong Lanyou’s words and said, “I’d like to thank you for your guidance.”
Kong Lanyou stared at Zhang Ruochen deeply and asked, “Are you really not him?”
“Who? Are you talking about me?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Kong Lanyou sighed again and stopped questioning. “Actually, your control of power is already quite remarkable. When I was at your cultivation, I was far inferior to what you are now. Your talent is high, so you should set a higher goal.
“I lived in this mansion for a while. I believe you also know its value.
“I will live in this mansion for the next month. If you can accept ten of my strokes within a month, I will present this mansion to you without asking for a single cent. What do you think?”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart skipped a beat. He asked, “Why would you do this?”
“Because, your name… is Zhang Ruochen.”
Kong Lanyou’s eyes glazed over with deep feeling as if she was recalling something.
Lu Youcai stood in the distance, staring at Zhang Ruochen with an extremely envious gaze.
He knew that the white-haired woman in front of him was probably an amazing saint.
Zhang Ruochen could get instructions from a saint and the saint helped him to practice swords. Such an opportunity could not be found. Even those who were descendants of the Saint Gentries never enjoyed such treatment.
However, he did not know that Zhang Ruochen was secretly complaining.
Within such a short interaction, she had already tested him many times. Several times, she had almost found his flaws.
If he spent a month living with her, he might not be able to hide the truth.
What should he do?
Kong Lanyou wore a space ring. Suddenly, it emitted a circle of white light on the surface. A 156cm- long combat sword flew from inside and suspended in midair.
“Abyss.” Zhang Ruochen stared at the sword, exclaiming secretly in his heart.
The sword that hung in mid-air was just the Good-luck Sword, but Chi Yao had named it “Abyss”. Zhang Ruochen also used this name.
The sword had been completely restored, with an ink black blade and a thick body. Even the broken sword tip was recast and restored.
Kong Lanyou held the sword as if talking to herself. “Do you know that this sword is not only named the Good-luck Sword but also called Abyss? Its former owner was called Zhang Ruochen, same as you.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “When I got this sword, I was informed of these things from the ideas sent from the sword.”
Zhang Ruochen did not know how many things Kong Lanyou had found, so he did not dare talk nonsense. He could only attribute all to the Ancient Abyss Sword.
Zhang Ruochen quickly changed the topic and stared at the Spatial Ring on her finger, saying, “How did you get a Spatial Ring?”
Kong Lanyou said, “You auctioned off so many Spatial Rings at Omen Ridge. Can it be hard for me to get one?”
Apparently, she had already been to Omen Ridge.
Moreover, she had found out that the person who auctioned the Spatial Ring was not Lei Jing but Zhang Ruochen.
“Don’t you want to know how I got those Spatial Rings?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Kong Lanyou said, “I don’t want to know. I’m much more curious whether you can move the Abyss Ancient Sword after it was repaired.”
“Why not?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Kong Lanyou said, “The Good-luck Sword, after restoration, weighs 675kg when the inscriptions are not activated.”
“Even so, I can hold it.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Kong Lanyou said, “The sword spirit in the sword has revived and recovered a faint consciousness. If she is unwilling, no matter how powerful you are, you can’t move the Abyss Ancient Sword unless she approves you to be her owner.
“But the Good-luck Sword will only allow one person to be her master. He’s the son of Emperor Ming from 800 years ago, Zhang Ruochen.
“Although you’re also called Zhang Ruochen, you’re not the son of Emperor Ming, so she may not accept you.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What will happen if I can’t hold the Good-luck Sword?”
“I’m sorry, but then I must take away the Good-luck Sword because it doesn’t belong to you.”
Looking at Zhang Ruochen sharply, Kong Lanyou wanted to know if this Zhang Ruochen in front of her could be accepted by the Good-luck Sword.
If he could get the approval of the Good-luck Sword, then even if he was not that Zhang Ruochen, he was surely inextricably linked to that Zhang Ruochen.