Chapter 148: The Mysterious Swordswoman

The blood-soaked, monstrous hand of Gaolong failed to strike down!

Because several other powerful presences, equally formidable, had locked onto him from the shadows and in the open. If he made the slightest reckless move, Gaolong would be met with a relentless chain of deadly attacks like a storm.

Transcendents! More than one Transcendent lurked nearby.

Gaolong might be a butcher, a killing machine, but he was no fool! Compared to some of the crazed lunatics in the Empire, he valued his own life far more. It might seem contradictory, but precisely because of this trait, he had repeatedly escaped the Empire’s pursuit and attacks from various enemies.

Only by staying alive could one become the master of the game! Only then could one torture enemies with all sorts of twisted methods—and even seek revenge against the entire Empire!

The eerie crimson glow in Gaolong’s blood-red eyes flickered rapidly. The blood-soaked hand he had extended toward Agate suddenly veered, swirling around his body to form a defensive barrier of battle energy.

The next moment, three consecutive energy blasts struck his original position. The violent explosion unleashed a new shockwave, halting Zhang Wen, who had just rushed forward.

No one wanted to face such a terrifying enemy as Gaolong in the smoke. After waiting anxiously for the dust to settle, Zhang Wen saw the Flame Devil Agate swinging his massive sword wildly on the ground, cursing loudly.

Nearby, Zhang Wen’s old friends Tie Mian and Xiu Luo shrugged helplessly and gave him a signal.

…

The private room in the restaurant had been reserved by Zhang Wen. Tie Mian, Xiu Luo, Agate, Xiaoxi, Zack, and Cloud were all seated around a large round table. The table was filled with various delicacies, beautifully presented and steaming hot, their aroma filling the air.

At the center was a pot of thick soup, bubbling over a flame of spiritual energy, its fragrance intoxicating, enough to make anyone drool.

Yet, the group at the table had little appetite. Especially Agate and his sister, who looked like they wanted to crush their teeth in rage.

Zhang Wen pondered for a moment before asking Agate, “Agate, do you know Gaolong? Tell me what happened earlier.”

Agate’s pale face twitched slightly. He glanced at Zhang Wen and then around at the others before lowering his head in silence.

Zhang Wen noticed his fists clenched tightly, his fingernails digging into his flesh, his knuckles white with fury. The Flame Devil Agate—by his age, he shouldn’t have any direct conflict with the killing machine Gaolong. What could have enraged him so much? And Xiaoxi too…

Zhang Wen shifted his gaze to Xiaoxi and saw the usually mischievous and adorable girl with red eyes, her shoulders trembling slightly.

“Our hatred with Gaolong…” Xiaoxi murmured, but was abruptly cut off by Agate.

“Let me tell it,” Agate growled, slamming his fist onto the table. A surge of battle energy unintentionally released left a blackened hole in the ironwood surface.

“You’ve probably heard about the massacre on the asteroid X116 on the Empire’s edge decades ago?” Agate, usually so carefree, spoke with a rare note of sorrow. Seeing everyone nod, he continued, “The culprit was Gaolong.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of that incident,” Tie Mian glanced at him.

“Brother…” Xiaoxi bit her lip hard, her eyes suddenly welling with tears.

Agate paused, then continued, “The Empire reported that Gaolong killed everyone on the planet. But that’s not entirely true… Xiaoxi and I were there too.”

Agate’s words shocked Zhang Wen. If that were true, how had they survived Gaolong’s bloody massacre?

Thankfully, Agate’s next words answered his question.

“Father saved us. He hid the young Xiaoxi and me in a cave, using a special method to evade Gaolong’s search. But Father… Father ended up…” At this point, Agate could no longer suppress his grief. He bowed his head, gripping his hair tightly.

In that moment, he no longer seemed like the arrogant Flame Devil, but like a helpless child.

A heavy sadness filled the private room.

Tie Mian and Xiu Luo exchanged glances. “Your father… was he…”

“The Wind Demon Rager,” Agate lifted his head, traces of moisture visible on his face. His bloodshot eyes burned with hatred as he gritted out, “I swore before my father’s spirit that no matter how long it took, no matter how far I had to go, I would kill Gaolong and avenge my father!”

His jaw clenched tightly, his determination unwavering. The burning hatred in his eyes made Zhang Wen believe that even if a King stood in his way, Agate would charge through without hesitation.

The feud between Agate and Xiaoxi and Gaolong was nothing short of a blood vendetta. It was precisely this hatred that propelled Agate to ascend rapidly to the Transcendent level, though it left him with an unstable foundation and a lack of fine control over his battle energy.

Unfortunately, Gaolong had remained hidden all these years. Agate’s main reason for joining the Society was to use its intelligence network to locate his enemy.

Today, Gaolong’s assassination attempt on Zhang Wen had inadvertently exposed his presence, alerting Agate. Despite the passage of time, the horrific memories of that day and Gaolong’s bloody battle techniques had been etched into Agate’s bones. That was why he and Xiaoxi arrived just in time to stop Gaolong’s assassination plan at the crucial moment.

Such a personal vendetta left Zhang Wen at a loss for words. He could only promise to keep an eye out for Gaolong during the upcoming Southern Dominion Champion Tournament. As a weapon in the Black Viscount’s arsenal, Gaolong had no reason to miss the Southern Dominion’s grand event.

After finishing with Agate, Zhang Wen turned his attention to Tie Mian and Xiu Luo. Xiu Luo had also passed the second round of the Star Moon test. Previously, they hadn’t shared the same quarters on the Star Moon, and after returning home, everyone had gone their separate ways, so they hadn’t had much chance to chat. But their sudden appearance couldn’t be a coincidence.

When Zhang Wen asked, Xiu Luo scratched his head sheepishly and nudged Tie Mian with his elbow. Finally, Tie Mian spoke up.

“Actually, we need your help.”

“Help?”

“Yeah. There’s a tough new challenger at the arena. Everyone thought about it and decided that only the Hermit could handle it.” Tie Mian shrugged. “Who else but you has such a big reputation? Whenever there’s trouble, people think of you first.”

“Pfft,” Zhang Wen rolled his eyes.

“What kind of person is it?”

Xiu Luo cleared his throat. “A female swordsman.”

“A female swordsman?” Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow. “That alone shouldn’t trouble you two. Have you tested her?”

The Empire’s martial arts lagged far behind Zhang Wen’s original world, particularly in sword techniques, which were mostly basic moves like thrusts and slashes. If such an opponent had given Tie Mian and Xiu Luo trouble, that would be strange indeed.

“Well, we did test her. I lost,” Xiu Luo’s face flushed slightly, a rare sight. “She felt a bit like you—her battle energy isn’t particularly strong, but her sword techniques are extremely sharp and unpredictable. I’ve never seen anything like it. I don’t even know how it happened, but suddenly her sword was at my throat…” His voice trailed off, clearly embarrassed by the memory.

Still, this piqued Zhang Wen’s interest.

“You’re saying her sword techniques are like mine?”

“Not exactly the same, but there’s a similar feel. You’ll understand when you see her.”

Tie Mian nodded in agreement. As one of the strongest fighters in the arena, Tie Mian usually avoided challenging opponents lightly. First, he needed to be sure of victory; otherwise, his reputation would suffer. Second, the opponent only showed about tenth-tier battle energy. For a Transcendent like him to defeat her wouldn’t bring much glory.

The female swordsman’s strength lay in her unique sword techniques. If the Hermit, the arena’s most skilled swordsman, were to face her and defeat her, that would be ideal.

“Alright,” Zhang Wen thought for a moment and agreed. He was curious about a female swordsman capable of defeating Xiu Luo with sword techniques alone.

After a quick meal and saying goodbye to Agate and Xiaoxi, Zhang Wen, along with Amyris, Zack, and Cloud, followed Tie Mian and Xiu Luo toward the arena. It had been a while since he last visited. He actually missed the thrill of the challenges there. Back then, it was just for money and self-training, but now it had become part of his life, and he had made friends like Tie Mian and Xiu Luo.

The arena was liveliest at night, starting at eight. When they arrived, it was just about that time. As soon as they entered the competition hall, they could feel the crowd’s enthusiasm. Humans never tired of such exciting games.

Xiu Luo asked a staff member for information and then turned to Zhang Wen. “The female swordsman has already arrived. Let me take you to the upper level first so you can get a feel for her.” It seemed Xiu Luo really feared the female swordsman, otherwise he wouldn’t have shown such lack of confidence.

Zhang Wen merely smiled faintly. It wouldn’t hurt to take a look.

Under the surprised gazes of Zack and Cloud, Zhang Wen pulled Amyris, who was blushing slightly but secretly delighted, up to the top level of the arena. Since he had decided to make Amyris his woman, there was no need to hide anymore.

Tie Mian didn’t go with them to the upper level to watch the female swordsman’s match. He had his own arena to defend. If it weren’t for wanting to catch up with Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo’s insistence on dragging him along to ensure Zhang Wen’s cooperation, he wouldn’t have left the arena at all. The nights were always the busiest and most challenging times.

The top level of the arena was usually reserved for VIPs and staff, with private rooms and spacious viewing platforms. Zhang Wen took Amyris’s hand and led Zack and the others to the transparent window, looking down at the circular arena through the floor-to-ceiling glass.

Inside the massive cage-like arena, glowing runes shimmered around the edges. These were defensive arrays powered by spiritual energy, usually reserved for fighters whose power might harm the spectators.

Zhang Wen didn’t need Xiu Luo to introduce her—he could see the female swordsman clearly.

She wore a silver mask, concealing her facial features. Her silver wavy hair was tied into a simple ponytail at the back, giving her a clean and refreshing look. A glimpse of her pale, elegant neck was visible.

Her figure was slender yet tall, exuding a healthy, athletic beauty. Her tight silver combat suit accentuated her curves, and her high heels made her chest appear even more prominent, her hips full and enticing. From afar, she looked like a graceful young lady, radiating an alluring elegance.

In short, she was a woman dressed entirely in silver, very distinctive.

If not for the sword in her hand, one would think she was a celebrity or model, not a female swordsman in the arena.

Female fighters weren’t unheard of in the arena, but few reached high levels. After all, men had natural advantages in combat.

Her opponent was a towering barbarian warrior. These warriors were known for their tough bodies and destructive strength. He had his upper body bare, revealing thick, bronze-colored muscles. He wore heavy alloy bracers and finger guards on both hands. In his left hand was a golden round shield, and in his right, a double-edged battle axe.

“That’s Zelo,” Zhang Wen recognized everyone in the arena. He had seen this barbarian warrior named Zelo a few times before. He was about tenth-tier too, with a natural instinct for combat, making him quite formidable.

Zhang Wen only needed one glance to understand the arena’s strategy. Zelo, with his thick skin and high endurance, was the perfect choice to wear down the female swordsman. His immense strength meant that if he could block her killing moves and seize the right moment for a counterattack, he might win. It seemed the arena didn’t want the female swordsman to keep winning.

“Teacher Zhang Wen, who do you think will win?” Zack curiously glanced around, unable to guess the outcome, and whispered the question.

“Who else? Just by looking at her stance, it’s obvious she’ll win,” Amyris proudly puffed out her chest. Her bosom had grown quite nicely lately, no longer the flat-chested girl she once was. Whether it was Zhang Wen’s “help” or not, she didn’t know.

“No way. You can tell who wins just by looking at her stance?” Cloud interjected.

“Enough, watch the match!”

Zhang Wen signaled them. The battle had already begun.

The first to attack was the barbarian warrior Zelo!

Though his body was massive, his movements were surprisingly swift and agile. He crouched low, letting out a guttural roar like a tiger bursting from its den, and swung his axe in a horizontal arc toward the female swordsman.

Axe Technique—Horizontal Slash!

This attack was a traditional Imperial martial art. Combined with battle energy, it could easily cleave an enemy in half. It had a wide range, though there was a small opening in his chest during the swing.

Now it was up to the female swordsman to seize that opportunity.

A golden battle aura shimmered from the double-edged axe. Zelo’s battle energy was earth-elemental, giving him the earth’s sturdiness and enhancing his defense and explosive power. If he landed a hit, the female swordsman’s slender body would be split in two!

The top arena was known as the most brutal one, where countless people bled and even lost their lives every day!

The audience came for the raw, bloody excitement!

As Zelo’s axe was about to strike the female swordsman, who had stood motionless until now, she suddenly moved!

Still as a maiden, swift as a rabbit!

She crouched low, narrowly dodging Zelo’s horizontal slash. Then, with lightning-fast steps, she darted into his embrace.

Normally, any weapon required a suitable distance to be effective. Too far or too close, and the weapon’s power couldn’t be fully utilized. Especially with a sword, one usually needed to keep at least two arm-lengths of distance. Now, the female swordsman had rushed into Zelo’s close range, less than a fist’s distance away. How could she possibly use her sword?

A faint murmur of suppressed surprise rose from the top viewing platform. Clearly, the female swordsman’s risky maneuver had captured everyone’s attention.

Still, including Xiu Luo, Amyris, and Cloud, most people couldn’t guess what she would do next. Even if she reached Zelo’s front, what could she do? After all, barbarians were strongest in close combat. Was she going to fight him hand-to-hand? Rushing in with such a long sword at such a short distance—wasn’t that disabling her own weapon?

Only Zhang Wen’s eyes lit up with an unusual gleam. This female swordsman… could she be about to…

As the female swordsman rushed in, Zelo’s chest swelled and he roared. Battle energy surged from his muscles. Since his hands couldn’t retract in time for a counterattack, he was a step behind her. But it didn’t matter—her sword was useless at this distance. And with his powerful defense, her punches would feel like tickles.

The arrogant smile on Zelo’s face had barely appeared when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his jaw. His entire body flew backward, his mind going blank.

“Whoa!” The hundreds of spectators in the arena erupted in astonished cries. In a flash, the female swordsman had actually attacked with her sword?!

Unbelievable!

She reversed her grip on the sword, using the upward momentum of her body to slam the hilt into Zelo’s chin.

Everyone heard a faint crack of bone!

At that moment, the force she unleashed was so immense that even the barbarian warrior couldn’t withstand it.

They watched as Zelo’s body flew backward, crashed heavily to the ground, and writhed, unable to rise. The female swordsman’s sword had already spun back, its tip aimed at his throat.

Zelo was utterly helpless!

That was the impression everyone had. Most terrifying was that the female swordsman had barely used any battle energy at all. She had defeated a tenth-tier barbarian warrior purely with her strange sword techniques—if they could even be called sword techniques.

The spectators who had mocked the female swordsman or bet on Zelo now fell silent. They stared at the slender, elegant female swordsman with growing unease.

If she was this strong without using battle energy, what would happen if she did?

Cold sweat poured down their backs.

“That’s it… that’s how she does it…” Xiu Luo rubbed his chin and throat, shaking his head in frustration. He had heard about this female swordsman in the afternoon and, on a whim, decided to test his skills against her. After all, it had been a while since he last fought in the arena. But he had been defeated in just a few moves. Seeing her decisively defeat Zelo made him realize the truth.

Even if he hadn’t been careless or overconfident, this female swordsman was clearly beyond his ability to handle.

If he faced Zelo, it would take dozens or even hundreds of moves to defeat him. Zelo’s battle energy and physical toughness were like a turtle shell—even a Saint-tier opponent would need time to break through. Yet, this woman had taken him down in a single move…

This had nothing to do with the strength of battle energy—it was a different level of martial arts altogether.

Perhaps only Zhang Wen, the “Hermit,” could match her in the entire arena. In terms of swordsmanship.

Thinking of this, he turned to Zhang Wen with hopeful eyes. “So? Do you think you can handle it?”

“Let’s see,” Zhang Wen’s lips curled into an amused smile. This was getting interesting. It was worth warming up a bit.

“I’ll go change first. Arrange the match for me.”

Zhang Wen said this and told Amyris, Zack, and Cloud to wait in place while he headed to the arena’s private changing room.

Xiu Luo hurried off to arrange the upcoming duel between Zhang Wen and the female swordsman, excitedly informing Tie Mian and the others in the arena. Usually, they had nothing to do but wait for challengers. Now, there was finally some entertainment.

About fifteen minutes later, the arena’s loudspeaker announced that the Hermit was about to face the female swordsman. The entire arena erupted in excitement. Even those who didn’t know the female swordsman had heard of the Hermit. He was a near-mythical figure in the arena. To this day, the Hermit still held several records in the arena.

Such as the fastest victory record, and the most lopsided battle ever won.

The female swordsman was also a recently rising mysterious figure. Without using battle energy, she had defeated countless famous fighters in the arena purely with her “sword techniques,” even defeating a swordsman like Xiu Luo, who had reached the Sword Saint level.

The strangest thing was that her sword techniques were unlike anything anyone had ever seen.

The Hermit was also said to be a master of sword techniques. When these two met, it would be like a collision of two meteors—sure to be a spectacular sight!