[email protected]/phelio for 100+ more chapters
Sam and Cang Yue walked into the grand reception hall.
The room was bright and decorated with gold, but it felt very empty.
Two young men dressed in crisp white robes were waiting for them.
They both wore silver sword symbols on their chests.
The older man was tall, calm, and very elegant.
The younger boy next to him looked restless, like he had too much energy and just wanted to swing a sword.
"Princess Cang Yue,"
The older brother said, bowing politely.
"I am Ling Yun. This is my younger brother, Ling Jie. We represent the Heavenly Sword Villa."
Cang Yue walked forward and sat down on her royal seat.
Sam stood quietly by her side, looking completely relaxed.
"Welcome to our home,"
Cang Yue said.
"Please, sit. What brings the great Sword Villa to the palace today?"
Ling Yun sat down, but he looked a bit confused.
He had expected to meet a scared, desperate princess.
Instead, the woman sitting in front of him had the heavy, unshakeable presence of a true queen.
"We came to deliver a message from our father, the Villa Master,"
Ling Yun explained.
"The Blue Wind Ranking Tournament will begin in exactly three months. All the major sects will gather at our home to compete and prove their strength."
Ling Jie crossed his arms and sighed.
He was young and didn't really care about being polite.
"To be honest, Princess,"
Ling Jie said bluntly.
"The royal family usually sends very weak fighters. They always get hurt or completely humiliated in the first round. My father sent us to ask if you even want to join this year. It might be safer if you just stay home and save your face."
Normally, those words would have deeply hurt Cang Yue.
She would have felt ashamed. But today, she did not get angry at all. She just smiled.
"Please thank your father for his concern,"
Cang Yue answered calmly.
"But the Royal Family will absolutely participate this year. And we are not coming just to watch."
Ling Yun frowned slightly.
As a sword genius, his senses were incredibly sharp.
He focused on Cang Yue for a moment, and his elegant eyes suddenly went completely wide in shock.
"Princess..."
Ling Yun whispered, almost standing up from his chair.
"Your profound energy... you are in the Sky Profound Realm? How is that possible? You are younger than me!"
Ling Jie nearly choked on his own breath.
He stared at Cang Yue with huge eyes.
"What?!"
Ling Jie yelled.
"She is as strong as you, brother?!"
Cang Yue glanced up at Sam with a grateful smile.
"I was lucky enough to meet a true master,"
Cang Yue said simply.
"He opened my eyes to a much wider path."
Both brothers immediately turned to look at Sam.
Sam did not look like a mighty warrior. He didn't carry a shiny sword.
He didn't leak any terrifying pressure.
But to a genius like Ling Yun, that perfect, flawless stillness was the most terrifying thing of all.
When Ling Yun tried to sense Sam's power, he felt absolutely nothing.
It was like staring into an endless, bottomless cliff.
"It is very nice to meet you both,"
Sam smiled at the brothers.
"I hear your Villa loves a good competition."
"We do, Senior,"
Ling Yun answered very carefully.
He stood up and bowed deeply to Sam, trusting his instincts.
"The tournament decides the future balance of power in the empire."
"Good,"
Sam nodded.
"Then tell your father to prepare your best arenas. Because this year, Princess Cang Yue will be taking first place."
Ling Jie grinned widely.
His fighting spirit burned bright, completely ignoring his brother's caution.
"Those are big words!"
Ling Jie laughed excitedly.
"My brother is the strongest young fighter in the empire! I can't wait to see you try and beat him!"
Ling Yun did not laugh.
He looked at Cang Yue's confident face, and then at Sam's smile.
He realized right then that the entire political map of the Blue Wind Empire had just changed overnight.
Ling Jie stepped away from his chair.
He looked straight at Sam with burning eyes.
"You talk very big, Senior!"
Ling Jie said loudly.
"If you think your teachings are better than our Heavenly Sword Villa, then prove it."
Ling Yun quickly stood up and grabbed his brother's arm.
"Jie, stop this right now,"
Ling Yun warned him in a sharp whisper.
"Do not be rude to our host. You cannot sense his depth."
"No, brother!"
Ling Jie pulled his arm away.
"He is hiding his power. I want to know if he is really a true master, or just a fake who tricked the Princess."
Ling Jie pointed a finger right at Sam's chest.
"Fight me!"
Ling Jie challenged eagerly.
"Show me your sword!"
Cang Yue frowned deeply. Her profound energy began to stir.
"Ling Jie,"
Cang Yue said, her voice dropping to a dangerous, cold tone.
"You are being disrespectful in my palace. Step back."
Sam raised his hand, signaling Cang Yue to calm down.
He smiled.
"It is fine,"
Sam said.
"Young man should have fire. Without fire, a sword cannot be forged."
Sam walked down the small steps of the royal seat.
He stopped a few feet away from the young boy.
"You have a very brave heart, Kid,"
Sam told the boy.
"But a great sword needs more than just bravery. It needs discipline."
"My sword is perfectly disciplined!"
Ling Jie argued, his face turning a little red.
"Draw your weapon. I will not attack an unarmed man."
"I do not need a weapon to teach you,"
Sam answered.
Sam looked down at his own feet, and then backed up at the boy.
"Let us play a simple game,"
Sam offered.
"I will not attack you. I will just stand right here. If you can force me to take a single step backward, I will admit that your Villa is the strongest in the world."
Ling Yun's elegant face turned pale.
He knew this was a trap for his brother's pride.
"Senior, please,"
Ling Yun bowed deeply.
"Forgive his foolishness. He does not know how high the heavens truly are."
"Let him try,"
Sam said.
Ling Jie grinned widely. He felt completely confident.
"You asked for it, Senior!"
Ling Jie shouted happily, reaching for the silver sword on his back.
"Do not blame me if you fall over!"
Ling Jie pulled his silver sword from his back.
The blade glowed with bright, sharp energy.
He did not hold back.
He gathered all his power and dashed forward like a wild tiger.
He swung his heavy sword right at Sam, putting all his weight into the attack.
"Take a step back!"
Ling Jie yelled.
Sam did not move his feet. He did not blink.
He just slowly raised his right hand and held up two fingers.
*Clang.*
The glowing sword stopped completely.
Sam had caught the sharp blade right between his two fingers.
There was no loud explosion. There was no wind. The room was totally quiet.
Ling Jie's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"What?"
Ling Jie gasped.
He gritted his teeth and pushed with all his might.
He pushed so hard his arms shook and his face turned bright red.
But the sword did not move a single inch.
It felt like he was trying to push a massive, solid mountain.
"Is this all of your fire, kid?"
Sam asked softly, smiling just a little bit.
"Let go!"
Ling Jie grunted, sweating heavily.
He tried to pull the sword back, but Sam's two fingers held it like an iron lock.
"Your fire is bright,"
Sam said, looking right into the boy's shocked eyes.
"But it is completely empty. Your sword only has pride. It has no roots. A strong wind can easily blow it away."
Ling Jie finally ran out of breath.
His hands let go of the handle. He fell backward onto the floor, panting heavily.
He looked up at Sam, feeling totally crushed.
Sam let go of the blade.
The silver sword fell to the stone floor with a loud ring.
Sam had not taken a single step.
"I... I lost,"
Ling Jie whispered. He looked at his shaking hands.
"I couldn't even make you move."
Ling Yun rushed forward.
"Thank you, Senior,"
Ling Yun said, his voice full of respect.
"Thank you for showing him mercy. And thank you for the priceless lesson."
Sam nodded and lowered his hand.
Ling Jie slowly got back to his feet.
His arrogant attitude was completely gone.
"A sword is not just a tool for showing off,"
Sam taught him, keeping his words simple but deep.
"If you only swing your weapon to prove you are better than everyone else, you will eventually meet a wall you cannot cut. Today, I am that wall."
Ling Jie swallowed hard. He picked up his sword and bowed his head.
"I understand, Senior,"
Ling Jie said quietly.
"I was a fool. My eyes were too narrow."
"It is okay to be foolish when you are young,"
Sam smiled.
"The important thing is what you do next. Go home. Train your heart first."
Ling Jie looked at Sam with a completely new kind of fire in his eyes.
It was not pride anymore. It was respect.
"I will train hard,"
Ling Jie promised firmly.
"And one day, I will ask for your guidance again."
"I look forward to it,"
Sam chuckled.
He then looked over at the older brother.
"Tell your father we accept the invitation,"
Sam said to Ling Yun.
"Princess Cang Yue will see you at the Heavenly Sword Villa in three months."