C13 Identity

Chu Tian was astonished to find himself still standing. Having just dueled with an elder from the Coldtalons, he was amazed to be alive and on his feet, which filled him with an overwhelming sense of happiness. Indeed, being alive was a joyous affair.

He bowed to the elderly man dressed in black and kowtowed three times, exclaiming, "Master, please accept your disciple's three kowtows!"

The man in black chuckled and responded, "You're quite the clever one. Very well, from this moment on, you are my disciple, Shuo Yunfei."

Shen Mengxian approached and bowed to Shuo Yunfei, then tenderly helped Chu Tian to his feet, standing by his side with concern. Shuo Yunfei stroked his beard, seemingly reminiscing about his own youth.

Upon hearing Shuo Yunfei's name, Chu Wuhan respectfully bowed with clasped hands, expressing his gratitude, "Senior, thank you for saving my son. Without your intervention, my Chu family might have faced its end today."

Shuo Yunfei dismissed the thanks with a wave of his hand, "Your son has exceptional talent. He was not destined to die so easily."

Chu Wuhan was puzzled. Chu Tian was identified as having a root bone, so how could Shuo Yunfei claim he was exceptionally talented? Could the Martial Tablet be in error?

"Senior, I'm at a loss. My son was just determined by the Martial Tablet to have a root bone, an unprecedented sign of... inferior talent. How can he be described as exceptionally talented?"

Shuo Yunfei let out a hearty laugh and approached the Martial Tablet, placing his hand upon it. One breath passed without a reaction. Two breaths, still no reaction. Even after ten breaths, the Martial Tablet remained as inert as an ordinary stone.

Chu Wuhan and Shen Xingsu had never witnessed such an oddity. Could the Martial Tablet be mistaken even with a senior expert like Shuo Yunfei, or was he also a root bone? Both conjectures seemed far-fetched, even ludicrous, to them.

Noticing the confusion among the onlookers, Shuo Yunfei clarified, "The Martial Tablet is not at fault, nor am I a root bone. My bone structure has simply transcended what the Martial Tablet can comprehend, hence there is no reaction when I am tested."

Shen Mengxian asked excitedly, "So, is Brother Chu Tian also a martial arts prodigy like the Senior?"

Shuo Yunfei nodded, then shook his head, leaving Shen Mengxian with an expression of excited confusion.

Shuo Yunfei explained, "Chu Tian does indeed share my high aptitude, but he has his shortcomings. I observed his recent battle; his Tao technique is overly traditional, almost matching my current level of sabreplay. However, Chu Tian's sabreplay emphasizes close-quarters combat, and he has never incorporated his Qi into his moves. This means he has solidified his style. Even with diligent effort from my end, he can only improve his sabreplay, not the underlying principles. Chu Tian is certainly a genius when it comes to sabreplay, but in terms of the broader art, he's not even at the level of a child."

Chu Tian's longstanding confusion was finally cleared up. He had spent years perfecting his sabreplay, and on Earth, he was confident he could best anyone in a swordfight. But when it came to Tao techniques, Chu Tian found himself on the defensive. It turns out that while he had been mastering the use of his physical sword on Earth, here, a sword isn't just a piece of metal; it's anything that can be wielded as one—be it one's soul, lightning, or even Qi. Chu Tian had limited himself to a tangible blade, while others were wielding the equivalent of high-tech weaponry. No wonder he found it challenging.

This was why Shuo Yunfei had said Chu Tian's sabreplay was less advanced than a child's. Here, children grow up immersed in legends where using bamboo or even a finger as a sword is second nature. For Chu Tian, this was an insurmountable barrier. How could he integrate such advanced techniques into his own sabreplay?

Concerned, Shen Mengxian asked, "Does that mean Brother Chu Tian is bound to lose in two years?"

Watching Shen Mengxian's concern for Chu Tian, Shuo Yunfei nodded approvingly and said, "It all depends on his ability to understand and adapt."

As the Emperor of Yizera, Shen Xingsu couldn't engage in the same casual banter with Shuo Yunfei as Chu Wuhan might. As the sovereign, he had to maintain his dignity. However, befriending a formidable figure like Shuo Yunfei could prevent Yizera from being subjugated by a powerful faction like Coldtalons. After much deliberation, Shen Xingsu extended an invitation: "Junior Shen Xingsu respectfully invites Senior Shuo Yunfei to the palace for a conversation."

Having witnessed the solidarity between Shen Xingsu and Chu Wuhan, Shuo Yunfei was well aware of the special relationship between the Chu family and the royal family of Yizera. Now that Chu Tian was his disciple and also a subject of the Emperor of Yizera, Shuo Yunfei felt obliged to accept the invitation. Moreover, Shen Xingsu had extended the invitation not in his capacity as Emperor, but rather with the humility of a junior, which was a great honor for Shuo Yunfei.

Shuo Yunfei gestured with his hand, saying, "Your Majesty, lead the way."

Shuo Yunfei took his place in Shen Xingsu's carriage. Despite the close relationship between Chu Wuhan and Shen Xingsu, they could not share a carriage in the bustling streets. Consequently, Chu Tian, Shen Mengxian, and Chu Wuhan rode together in another carriage, following behind.

Chu Tian, curious about his enigmatic master, had impulsively asked to become his disciple without really knowing him. Eager to learn more, he inquired of Chu Wuhan, "Father, who exactly is my master?"

Chu Wuhan, with a fond glance at Chu Tian, replied, "Shuo Yunfei is the most formidable sabre expert in the entire Mortal World. It's understandable that you're unaware of his ten-year absence. Shuo Yunfei once dominated a competition in the Western Regions, winning non-stop for seven days and nights, which skyrocketed his fame. He later established the Hundred Blade Sect and enjoyed immense glory. Tragically, the sect was annihilated by Coldtalons in under three years. Rumor has it that he was slain by Wang Buli, the Sect Master of Coldtalons, on Luo Mountain, and he vanished for a decade. It's quite unexpected to see him return to the martial world today."

Chu Tian was even more baffled. "If the Coldtalons Sect wiped out Master's Hundred Blade Sect, why is Master still associating with members of the Coldtalons Sect?"

Chu Wuhan replied with a smile, "How should I know? You'll have to ask your master about that. However, I do know that Shuo Yunfei originated from the Coldtalons. The current sect leader, Wang Buli, is actually your master's junior brother."

It appeared there were still many secrets surrounding Shuo Yunfei, Chu Tian mused silently.

Recalling the moment Chang Qianyu transformed into an ethereal form with an evil grin, Chu Tian asked his father, "Dad, during my duel with Chang Qianyu, what was the significance of the blade I used? Why could it strike Chang Qianyu when my punches and kicks couldn't?"

After a brief pause, Chu Wuhan explained, "That blade is likely your master's Ink Knife. It's said to have the power to not only take lives but also to shatter souls. Today, it seems that the knife lives up to its reputation. Even in his soul form, Chang Qianyu couldn't evade the attack, despite becoming intangible. Legend has it that the knife was forged from the leg bone of a deity from the Divine Realm, and it certainly lives up to its fame."

Shen Mengxian, driven by curiosity, inquired, "Prime Minister, does the Divine Realm truly exist?"

Shen Mengxian had been fascinated by the tales of the Divine Realm since childhood, but being confined within the palace walls, she never had the opportunity to hear the stories firsthand. Now that Chu Wuhan had brought it up, she seized the chance to learn more.

Chu Wuhan admitted that his knowledge of the Divine Realm was limited, as was the case for most in the Mortal World. Yet, holding the position of Prime Minister in Yizera, he had access to some information about the Divine Realm.

"The gods we speak of aren't the same as those in common folklore; they are powerful beings who have achieved great prowess. After ascending, these mighty ones reach the Divine Realm. That's the most concrete information we have in the Mortal World. But there are legends of a cataclysmic war that erupted in the Divine Realm 500 years ago. Every few years following that, remnants of divine beings would fall to our world. I suspect that Shuo Yunfei's Ink Sword was crafted from a part of a deity slain during that period. The conflict raged for a century before peace was restored. That's the extent of our knowledge. The miraculous events you've heard about could be real, or they might be mere fabrications; we have no way to confirm their veracity."

Shen Mengxian nodded, seemingly grasping the concept, while Chu Tian was swept up by a surge of emotion. Could it be true, as Chu Wuhan had suggested, that there was a genuine method of ascension in this world? This revelation expanded Chu Tian's ambitions even further.