"The Nine Palaces Strategy is indeed in my hands, but this book is very precious. For the sake of the Su Hang Chen family, I can let you have a look, but I cannot give it to you," Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong said slowly. For a supreme Sword Dao Grandmaster, agreeing to let a junior glance at the Nine Palaces Strategy was already considered very generous.
"There is nothing impossible in this world. To put it bluntly, I want the Nine Palaces Strategy in your hands. This matter is not up for discussion. Either you give it to me, or I'll take it by force." Ning Bei Chen, as a Grandmaster himself, had no interest in beating around the bush. If he wouldn't give it, then he would snatch it. Was that difficult for Ning Bei Chen?
"Youngster, I don't know if you are too arrogant or too ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. Do you know that in the past fifty years, no one has dared to speak to me like this?" Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong looked at Ning Bei Chen with deep disdain. A mere stripling, not even fully grown, dared to challenge him, the Sword Dao Grandmaster. It was absurd. Even though he had easily defeated his disciples outside and displayed considerable skill, these disciples didn't possess even one percent of his strength. There was only one Sakura Island Sword King, and that was him, Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong. If the Sword Demon Lan Yu Tian from the Eastern Ancient Kingdom were to act personally, he might stand a chance, but this young man could not possibly be the Sword Demon, nor could he be his opponent even if he were the Sword Demon's disciple.
"There wasn't before, but there is now." Ning Bei Chen stared at him coldly. It didn't matter if he was the Sword King or the Sword Emperor; Ning Bei Chen held no good feelings for anyone from Sakura Country, and thus would not be polite to Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong. Moreover... as a dignified Grandmaster, he naturally had the right to disrespect him.
"You impudent brat, if you can take one sword from me, I'll give you the Nine Palaces Strategy." Although Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong did not unleash his killing intent, his intention was to kill Ning Bei Chen.
"Alright, not just one sword, even ten swords are fine." Ning Bei Chen had been waiting for him to say this, as directly snatching it would feel a little too shameless.
Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong gestured, and a wooden sword placed indoors flew into his hand. He then said to Ning Bei Chen, "To avoid accusations of bullying a junior, I will use this wooden sword. There are many famous swords I have collected here; you may choose any one to fight me."
"Naturally, you are known as the Sakura Island Sword King, so today, I will face you sword against sword." Ning Bei Chen said this as he picked up a wooden sword, not bothering to choose any of the famous swords in the room. He wanted Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong to be convinced today, so he chose to use a wooden sword against a wooden sword, ensuring neither had an advantage.
"Youngster, you are seeking your own doom. Know this, in my hands, there is little difference in power between a wooden sword and a famous sword," Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong said solemnly. He, the esteemed Sword King of Sakura Island, was treated with utmost respect by all in Sakura Country, yet this brash youth repeatedly disrespected him, igniting a strong desire to kill within Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong. Although he had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, it did not mean anyone could provoke him.
"Make your move, I'm in a bit of a hurry," Ning Bei Chen said calmly to Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong, holding his wooden sword. Chen Ming Yue, who witnessed this, was trembling with fear, feeling as though Ning Bei Chen was courting death.
"Good, very good!" Before Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong had even drawn his sword, his mere aura caused the objects in the dojo to vibrate and emit a constant humming sound. When Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong placed his hand on the hilt of the wooden sword, the bamboo forest, trees, and flowers outside the courtyard began to sway violently. If one observed closely, even the fine dust on the ground seemed to levitate. Chen Ming Yue was terrified, sensing a world-destroying power being generated within Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong's wooden sword. In her eyes, no one could possibly withstand it. The sword had not yet been drawn, yet the winds and clouds were in chaos, the sun was obscured, and the sky darkened.
"Fu-Sheng Yi Jian!" Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong uttered four words. With a pull of his fingers, the wooden sword shot out like lightning. A blinding radiance pierced the sky, forcing Chen Ming Yue to shut her eyes tightly.
"Flashy nonsense!" Ning Bei Chen remained completely unfazed. He simply swung his wooden sword forward. Everything in front of him melted like molten iron, instantly vanishing without a trace. Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong, standing within the onslaught, his face changed drastically, appearing bewildered and disbelieving. He… he was the invincible Sword Demon Grandmaster!
A strand of white hair fell to the ground. A faint red mark appeared on Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong's forehead. The once lofty and arrogant Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong now sat on the ground like a dying old man, dejected.
"You… what kind of sword technique is this?" Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong asked after a long while, looking at Ning Bei Chen with eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Splitting the Mountain." Ning Bei Chen uttered a common, almost cliché name.
"I lost…" Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong lowered his proud head to Ning Bei Chen. He had never lost in his life, yet he was defeated by a young man.
"What! The Sword King has conceded?" Chen Ming Yue had not been able to see what happened at all and was utterly shocked. She had blinked, and the fight was over, so fast that she couldn't react.
"Ning Bei Chen is already this powerful? He even defeated the Sword King? How did he do it!" Liu Yi Lin looked at Ning Bei Chen with shock no less than Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong's.
Ning Bei Chen sheathed his wooden sword and flicked his wrist, returning it precisely to its original position.
"Since you lost, give me the Nine Palaces Strategy." Ning Bei Chen did not want to strike him further. It wasn't that Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong was weak, but that Ning Bei Chen was invincible in this world. Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong did not renege. He gave the Nine Palaces Strategy to Ning Bei Chen. What else could he do? Would he, a Sword King, break his promise?
"Thank you. This battle will not be spread," Ning Bei Chen said to Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong with a good mood after receiving the Nine Palaces Strategy. If the defeat of a peerless Sword King were to become widely known, it would not only be a huge blow to Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong's reputation but would also yield no benefit to him.
Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong waved his hand weakly, sitting alone and dejected in the dojo. His vitality was visibly draining, and he seemed to be on his last breaths. Ning Bei Chen felt no regret or remorse. What did it matter that he was the Sword King? Did Sword Kings never lose? Besides, Ning Bei Chen had not truly injured him; he had only used a common technique, "Splitting the Mountain," to defeat his sword. If Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong couldn't bear it himself, what was that to Ning Bei Chen? If Ning Bei Chen had been the one defeated today, would Liu Sheng Yuan Zhong have spared his life?