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墨書 Inktalez
Mary stood in the center, surveying her surroundings, and smiled as she spoke, "My master often told me that in Huaxia Martial Arts, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with heroes emerging one after another. I have always longed to see Huaxia for myself, and today I am here to find out whether there are more heroes or fools among you!"
The reason Mary spoke so boldly was that her master, Yan Xiaotian, had just defeated four Divine Realm experts from Huaxia, which gave her the confidence to challenge them.
The young martial artists from Huaxia were furious upon hearing her words. They prided themselves on being martial arts prodigies and could not allow a foreign woman to humiliate them. Anger surged within them, but none dared to step forward; after all, she had Yan Xiaotian backing her.
"I'll take you on," suddenly broke the tense silence as a voice rang out.
As the words fell, a man flew from a painted boat and landed on Mary's black canopy boat. This man was none other than Hu Yuan.
One stood at the bow while the other stood at the stern; they faced each other with equal intensity.
Hu Yuan held a katana in his hand, a blade of great significance known as the Ghost-Suppressing Blade, gifted to him by his master, Island Swordsmanship Master Ishii Ansei.
"Who is this young man?" Many people began to ask upon seeing Hu Yuan. He had been studying swordsmanship in the Island Nation and was not well-known in the Huaxia Martial Arts Community. He had come to this Martial Arts Gathering to make a name for himself.
"It seems he is Hu Sanxiong's son from Zhejiang Province, named Hu Yuan. I heard he went to the Island Nation years ago to study swordsmanship," someone recognized him.
"That's right! I heard Hu Sanxiong mention him. He seems to have apprenticed under a swordsmanship master from the Island Nation and has impressive skills," another person added.
These conversations quickly spread, and soon almost everyone had a general understanding of who Hu Yuan was.
On the black canopy boat, Mary looked at Hu Yuan and saw him holding an Island Samurai Sword. She couldn't help but laugh, "Are you a warrior from the Island Nation?"
"I am Huaxia People," Hu Yuan replied.
"Since you are Huaxia People, why are you wielding an Island Samurai Sword?" Mary questioned.
"I practice Island Swordsmanship; using this Ghost-Suppressing Blade as my weapon seems quite reasonable, doesn't it?" Hu Yuan said.
"Quite reasonable indeed. I've heard that there are many schools of Island Swordsmanship. Which one do you belong to?" Mary asked with a light laugh.
"Iai-ryu!" Hu Yuan declared proudly.
"I once met a master of the three-sword style in the United States; even my master praised his skills highly. As for Iai-ryu, it seems rather ordinary. However, since you have the courage to challenge me, I shall witness your Iai-ryu," Mary said with a smile before turning to Yan Xiaotian.
"Master, may I borrow the Absolute God Mad Blade for a moment?" Mary asked.
Yan Xiaotian nodded and tossed the Absolute God Mad Blade to her. Mary lightly stepped on the boat's deck and leaped into the air to catch the Absolute God Mad Blade.
The Absolute God Mad Blade was incredibly heavy, yet Mary wielded it with one hand as if it were an extension of her own body, leaving onlookers in awe.
"Shall we begin?" Hu Yuan said, a serious glint in his eyes. The Absolute God Mad Blade was no ordinary weapon. Observing Mary’s graceful movements with the blade, it was clear she had trained in swordsmanship. With a master like Yan Xiaotian, even if Mary were merely a woman, Hu Yuan did not dare underestimate her.
"Let’s get started then," Mary replied with a smile, and without hesitation, she swung the blade towards Hu Yuan.
"Supreme Blade Technique, First Form: Breaking Waves."
A blade of light extended several meters as it sliced through the air. Hu Yuan was taken aback and quickly drew his sword to block. His swordsmanship was quite formidable; in that split second, he managed to withstand Mary’s strike. However, when their energies collided, a shockwave erupted, shattering the wooden boat beneath them.
Both Hu Yuan and Mary leaped onto a piece of floating wood. Hu Yuan looked at Mary with some surprise.
"You also know the Supreme Blade Technique?"
"I know much more than that; it just depends on whether you have the skill to make me use it all," Mary replied with a grin.
"Even if you know the Supreme Blade Technique, it won’t help you. Let me show you the true swordsmanship of my Iai-ryu," Hu Yuan said solemnly, his gaze intense.
With both hands gripping his sword, he rapidly circulated his Inner Energy, causing the Ghost-Suppressing Blade to emanate a fierce aura.
"Stunning Cloud Slash!"
Hu Yuan raised his sword above his head and struck down swiftly. The Stunning Cloud Slash resembled lightning cutting through dark clouds, stirring even the heavens above.
No matter how complex the techniques of Island Swordsmanship were, they all derived from basic forms. This strike from Hu Yuan was essentially an evolution of the fundamental Tang Zhu Style within Island Swordsmanship.
"Supreme Blade Technique, Second Form: Mountain Cleave."
Mary did not take this lightly; she poured all her strength into her response. Her cultivation level was comparable to Hu Yuan's, and even with her full effort, victory seemed unlikely.
Boom!
The collision between Stunning Cloud Slash and Mountain Cleave sounded like two grenades exploding on the water's surface, sending waves several meters high.
The spectators had already witnessed the battle in the Divine Realm earlier and now watched Hu Yuan and Mary clash without any signs of panic. Although Mary also practiced the Absolute God Mad Blade, she could not be compared to Luo Xiong. However, given her youth and skill, her performance was already impressive.
"You are strong, but unfortunately, you use Island Swordsmanship," Mary said as both she and Hu Yuan were thrown back by the shockwave, landing on a wooden plank on the lake while struggling to regain their balance.
"What of Island Swordsmanship?" Hu Yuan replied calmly.
"Of course it matters. I came here to challenge the prodigies of Huaxia Martial Arts. Even if we fight to a draw, you cannot represent Huaxia Martial Arts; you represent Island Swordsmanship," Mary stated firmly.
"I have no objections to that because I came to this Martial Arts Gathering to promote my Iai-ryu swordsmanship. Whether in Huaxia or Island Nation or elsewhere, only our Iai-ryu can represent the pinnacle of swordsmanship," Hu Yuan declared loudly.
At these words, those from Huaxia Martial Arts immediately expressed their discontent, especially practitioners of swordsmanship who were filled with righteous indignation.
As a Huaxia person, Hu Yuan dared to elevate Island Swordsmanship while belittling Huaxia Swordsmanship in front of martial artists from Huaxia. The animosity between the Huaxia people and the Islanders was already deep-rooted. While everyone had remained silent about Hu Yuan's apprenticeship under an Island Swordsmanship Master, his audacious pride in Island Swordsmanship now provoked widespread anger.
"Young man, when you were studying swordsmanship in the Island Nation, didn't your master tell you that Island Swordsmanship originated from us in Huaxia? What you’re saying is rather laughable," remarked a Huaxia Swordmaster.
"Are you not aware of the saying, 'the student surpasses the master'? Island Swordsmanship has developed into its own distinct style over the millennia, far surpassing Huaxia's sword techniques," Hu Yuan declared proudly.
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