7 Duel Between Swordsmen

The training fields of the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect's Outer Sect were simple. A big open space sparsly decorated with wooden training dummies, racks of wooden swords and hard-packed dirt. They were barren and boring, enough so that Zhang Baichi's motivation plummeted the moment he looked around.

He walked to one of the racks and grabbed a simple wooden sword, then went to one of the field's corners and swung his sword without any form to warm his body up. At the same time, he recalled the instructions on the Breezing Wind Sword Technique. 'Lots and lots of hyperboles… And then a lot of sword swinging. Sounds a bit too to abstruse and it looks more like dancing than anything else.'

'Hey, system. Give me some information on the sword technique based on what I remember.', Zhang Baichi commanded in his head, hoping that he just didn't understand the technique, and that it was secretly extremely strong.

[Ding! Displaying information as instructed:]

[Breezing Wind Sword Technique

Middle-Rank Mortal-Class Sword Technique

Standard Sword Technique of the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect's Outer Sect. Focuses on training the body to integrate the movements of man and sword and lay the foundation for higher class techniques of the same type.]

'…Mortal-Class? Please tell me it's 'Mortal' in the sense of 'mortal danger' and not the same as with cultivation techniques.', Zhang Baichi silently pleaded, doing his best not to curse out loud, yet the system mercilessly shattered his hope.

[Ding! The Mortal-Class is the lowest class of Techniques possible. Mortal-Class Techniques and Treasures can be further divided into 'Low', 'Middle', 'High' and 'Peak' tiers.]

"F*cking he- Hng. Fine. Whatever", curses spewed from his mouth again, though Zhang Baichi made sure to mutter low enough as to not be heard. He sighed, his motivation disappearing like a ghost… 'Wait, why does the technique explicitly state that it 'trains the body'? Is there another option? Stuff like force, intent, concepts, or whatever?'

[Ding! Higher Class Techniques will often forgo the training of the body and keep movements to a minimum and instead focus more on comprehending the Intent of the Technique. For example, an Fire elemental Intent-focused Fist Technique trained to a high level would produce fire by displaying the Fist Technique's Intent through manipulating Spiritual Qi.]

Zhang Baichi smiled, overjoyed that he found another cheat that he could make use of. He chuckled to himself in the corner of the training field earning himself a few weirded out looks from the surrounding disciples, though he didn't mind that at all. 'Alright, system, what's the best Intent-focused Sword Technique available in the Shop for 246 Points of less?'

[Ding! Searching the Shop for entries matching Hosts inquiries…]

[Ding! One match found. Displaying information as instructed:]

[Fractured Star Sword Art

Peak-Rank Spirit Class Sword Technique

Sword Technique created by the Lone Star Sword Sage, a Great Sage level existence, to nurture future generations of sword cultivators and disciples. After the Lone Star Sword Sages death, the technique was sealed within her tomb and later excavated by the Black Heaven Great Sage when he was younger.

The Sword Art focuses on nurturing three different Intents: Sword Intent, Star Intent and Fracturing Intent. Once trained to a high enough level, the cultivator would be able to simulate the death of a star and wield the resulting power as a weapon.]

Zhang Baichi chocked on his own spit when he read the system's description and violently coughed a few times, earning him even more weirded-out stares, which he once again ignored as he started snickering to himself. 'Now that's what I'm talking about! System, buy the technique!'

[Ding! Insufficient Points. Purchase not possible. Required Points: 250.]

"You f*cking Troll!", this time, he cursed out loud, startling many people and earning him an angry shout back. "Your mother! Zhang Baichi, shut the f*ck up if you're not going to train or you won't have to wait for Ji Jian to kill you bury you!"

The one who shouted back was a burly young man with extremely striking, bulging muscles. His head was shaved clean and his eyebrows looked wild. He gave one the impression of facing a wild beast as he pointed his wooden sword towards Zhang Baichi.

Yet, the latter was still so angry at the system, that he didn't even realize the rebuttal. Instead, he cursed a bit more, then finally took a deep breath and commanded the system with his mind. 'Give me a f*cking explanation. Why the hell would you show me a Technique I can't buy?'

[Ding! Host can easily earn the missing 4 Points to buy the Technique.]

'How?'

[Ding! Host may earn points by defeating opponents with superior levels of cultivation. Depending on the difference in cultivation, the amounts earned will differ. Point may only be earned through challenging fights.]

"You're kidding me. I just gotta beat up a few guys with higher cultivation levels?", Zhang Baichi muttered out loud again and suddenly felt a strong pull on his collar as his feet were lifted off the ground. He was greeted by the red, enraged face of a bald young man when he took his eyes off the system interface.

"Beat me up? And a few more guys as well? Zhang Baichi, have you finally grown tired of living? Do you really want me to kill you?!", the bald young man screamed at Zhang Baichi, his face merely a few centimeters away from Zhang Baichi's.

The latter frowned and asked the system about the young man's cultivation. It was at the 5th Layer of the Body Forging Realm. His huge physique was apparently natural. Zhang Baichi stared at the young man for a while, then suddenly spoke. "Alright… he counts. Good. Hey you, let me down. I'll fight with you, so pick up a sword."

The young man was dumbstruck. Was already held Zhang Baichi by his collar, yet the latter calmly issued him a challenge? And he told the young man to pick up a sword?! The young man nearly coughed blood from anger and let go of Zhang Baichi. "Fine! You really have a deathwish, you bastard!"

He stormed off to the side and grabbed a wooden sword, then stood opposite of Zhang Baichi at a distance of roughly 10 meters. A crowd formed around the two of them and quite a few gloated at Zhang Baichi's misfortune.

Still unimpressed, the latter just grabbed his sword tighter and stared at the bald man. The system had already told him his opponent's name, but he didn't care for such a small fry. According to the system, the bald young man was just as much of a weakling as the old Zhang Baichi; Below average talent and comprehension – just a year older, hence his higher cultivation realm.

With the strength of his physique and the Black Heaven Qi, Zhang Baichi knew instinctively that he could easily suppress ten people with that kind of strength at the same time, even without ever having learned any proper Sword Techniques yet. "Make you move, baldy."

Zhang Baichi's eyes turned sharp as he focused, taunting his opponent, and waiting for an opportunity for a counterattack.

"You're courting death!", the young man exploded with immense physical strength and Qi and rushed at Zhang Baichi head on. He grabbed his sword tightly and… and started dancing along the way to the flow of the wind. "Breezing Wind Sword – First Movement, Flowing Leaf Cutter!"

Completely stumped, Zhang Baichi's jaw nearly hit the floor and he barely managed to dodge to the side after losing his composure and rhythm. He stumbled, but managed to stay on his feet, staring at the young man with a shocked expression. 'Holy sh*I, that strike could've demolished a Pro-Boxer! …But he feels way too weak!'

The ridiculous looking movements and name-shouting aside, the strike Zhang Baichi was saw was probably the most powerful attack he had seen in his life – On earth, the bald young man would most likely be the strongest person alive – ever! Yet, to him, who had cultivated the Black Heaven Scripture and who had the knowledge of a Martial Artist Doctor, this kind of strength was a complete joke!

The bald young man was surprised that Zhang Baichi managed to dodge his strike, but he effortlessly transitioned into another horizontal cut aimed at Zhang Baichi's waist with a smooth motion. "Breezing Wind Sword Technique – Second Sword, Sweeping Winds!"

Mentally prepared for another weird attack and thus not surprised like before, Zhang Baichi lightly jumped and tucked his legs in, causing the strike to swish below him. At the same time, he raised his sword above his head and grabbed it with both hands, his face expressionless. "Whack-A-Mole – Deluxe Edition."

With a loud and dull thud, his sword struck true, striking the young man's shoulder with so much force, that the latter's knees buckled. A crunching noise was heard and the bald young man's eyes rolled back into his head as he first fell to his knees, then to the side – unconscious and his collarbone broken!

"Alrighty. Well played, baldy.", Zhang Baichi rested his chipped wooden sword on his shoulder and looked down at the bald young man. He spoke in a low voice, still with an expressionless face. His eyes shifted up, looking at the system notification with a satisfied smile.

[Ding! You have defeated a powerful opponent! Level difference of two detected. Host has earned 4 Points.]