Chapter 28 – Sorry, This Is the Smallest One I Could Find

Bian Shouyi would never have imagined that as someone with an Innate Sword Physique, he had already become the perfect lumberjack in Lu Chen’s eyes—an innate wood-cutting saint, the ideal tool for the job.

Even if he had known, he wouldn’t have cared. His heart was currently filled to the brim with an overwhelming Battle Intent, nearly overflowing.

This feeling had been strongest when he saw Lu Chen from afar, using his sword to chop down trees. Though it was just a brief glance, Bian Shouyi, being Sword Obsessed, immediately recognized Lu Chen’s astonishing mastery in Swordsmanship.

Whether it was the imposing Aura when he drew his sword or the sharp Sword Qi, there was no doubt—this was someone with an extremely high level in the Sword Path, a true expert!

The moment that thought emerged, Bian Shouyi couldn’t control himself and attacked Lu Chen.

But upon regaining his senses, he felt somewhat ashamed of his sneak attack. That’s why he didn’t rush to continue attacking Lu Chen and instead extended an invitation for a “sword duel.”

After all, though he always yearned for worthy opponents, launching a surprise attack… was not the act of a gentleman.

Faced with Bian Shouyi, whose desire for a sword duel was written all over his face, Lu Chen feigned hesitation and said, “I can spar with you, but you must agree to one condition first.”

“What condition?”

Lu Chen pointed to the tall Azure Profound Tree beside him. “If you lose, you’ll stay and help me chop trees. How about that?”

“Fine.”

Without any hesitation, Bian Shouyi agreed to Lu Chen’s condition. Forget chopping trees—if Lu Chen would just agree to a sword duel with him, Bian Shouyi, with his Sword Intent-addled mind, would have agreed to even more outrageous demands.

After all, to him, nothing in this world brought him more joy than sparring with a Swordsmanship master!

Once he received Bian Shouyi’s agreement, Lu Chen sheathed the Magic Sword at his waist and reached into his Storage Bag, rummaging around.

“Since it’s a spar, it’s best not to harm our rapport…” Lu Chen said as he pulled out a small meat-cutting knife from the Storage Bag and gripped it in his hand.

He looked at Bian Shouyi with an apologetic expression. “Sorry, this is the smallest… sword I could find.”

Hearing this, Bian Shouyi’s originally excited expression gradually froze. An indescribable anger surged within him.

Who do you think you’re looking down on?!

“Why aren’t you using that sword?” Bian Shouyi suppressed his anger, his tone icy as he questioned.

In response, Lu Chen remained perfectly calm. He twirled the small knife in his hand and replied matter-of-factly, “Because this is enough to deal with you.”

If Lu Chen had done this merely to humiliate him, Bian Shouyi wouldn’t have been angry. But Lu Chen’s attitude was so casual, indicating that he genuinely believed a mere meat-cutting knife was sufficient to handle him.

Such an attitude was, without a doubt, the greatest insult to Bian Shouyi.

Is my Sword Path so worthless in your eyes?

Bian Shouyi had never craved victory as intensely as he did today. He… did not want to lose!

With that thought, Bian Shouyi took a deep breath and shifted his one-handed sword grip to a two-handed stance.In the next second, an invisible pressure erupted from his body, sweeping up fallen leaves and clearing an empty space around him.

Bian Shouyi stood amidst the swirling leaves, his voice icy as he declared, “You will pay… for your arrogance.”

As the words fell, Bian Shouyi ceased suppressing the sharp Sword Intent within him and charged forward.

A violent Sword Intent burst forth from his being, tangible as if made solid.

In an instant, the scattered Sword Qi slowly coalesced into an illusory White Tiger.

Its maw gaped wide, poised to swallow Lu Chen whole!

A fierce tiger descending the mountain—mortals, beware!

In response, Lu Chen merely raised his small Saber with calm composure…

Orthodox Unity Swordplay—this was Bian Shouyi’s hereditary Swordsmanship.

A fierce and unyielding sword style that emphasized overwhelming force and broad, sweeping movements.

The heavier the weapon, the greater the power of Orthodox Unity Swordplay.

However, due to his current cultivation level, Bian Shouyi could not wield the Xuan Iron Heavy Sword to execute this technique and had to settle for an ordinary Xuan Iron Longsword instead.

The sword technique’s potency was significantly diminished.

Even so, this strike of his was beyond what an ordinary person could withstand.

But Lu Chen was clearly no ordinary man…

Boom!

As Lu Chen’s small Saber clashed with Bian Shouyi’s Xuan Iron Longsword,

a terrifying vortex of Qi erupted from their point of impact.

The ground beneath their feet could not withstand the astonishing pressure, cracking into countless fissures.

Simultaneously, Lu Chen instantly felt the immense force transmitted through his Saber and had no choice but to employ a force-dispersing technique to mitigate the pressure Bian Shouyi exerted.

In practical terms, this manifested as Bian Shouyi gripping the hilt with both hands, pressing down on Lu Chen and forcing him into a continuous slide.

Lu Chen only came to a halt after sliding over ten meters away.

Bian Shouyi gave Lu Chen no chance to catch his breath.

Raising his Xuan Iron Longsword once more, he began hacking at Lu Chen with astonishing speed.

Each strike carried immense force and thunderous momentum.

Yet, even under this torrential onslaught, Lu Chen showed no signs of defeat, parrying Bian Shouyi’s fierce attacks with his small Saber held in one hand.

Bang, bang, bang…

Each time Lu Chen blocked one of Bian Shouyi’s strikes, a concussive blast echoed through the quiet forest.

The resulting Qi vortices swept through the surroundings, whipping up masses of fallen leaves.

It was hard to believe this was a battle between cultivators at the Qi Condensation Stage.

Although, in terms of cultivation, Bian Shouyi at the seventh layer of Qi Refining was significantly higher than Lu Chen at the fourth layer.

After several exchanges, Lu Chen’s expression remained unchanged, while Bian Shouyi’s face grew increasingly strained.

Something was wrong—very wrong.

Sensing the gradual numbness in his hands and the increasingly turbulent Spiritual Power within him, Bian Shouyi instinctively recognized the peril.

This discomfort showed no signs of abating, instead spreading further, causing a dull ache in his internal organs.

“Noticed it, have you?”

Bian Shouyi’s pupils contracted as he stared in disbelief at Lu Chen’s faint smile, as if he had just realized something.

Lu Chen continued to effortlessly deflect Bian Shouyi’s attacks while speaking, “Your Swordsmanship is actually quite impressive. Every move is full of pressure and aggression—a classic example of using sheer force to overcome technique.”

“But the sword is the sword, the method is the method, and the person is the person. You thought I was insulting you by using a small Saber against you, but that was never my intention.””Because to me, whether using a small saber or a magic sword, neither affects the execution of my own swordsmanship.”

“On the contrary, your obsessive attitude toward weapons fills your attacks with openings.”

“While the Xuan Iron Longsword indeed weighs far more than ordinary magic swords, wielding it also places burden on your body.”

“I don’t need to do much – simply accelerating this process appropriately is sufficient.”

“For example… now.”

The vibrating small saber in Lu Chen’s hand once again clashed with Bian Shouyi’s Xuan Iron Longsword.

The vibration force from the small saber silently traveled through the longsword and spread into Bian Shouyi’s body.

Affecting his physique and Spiritual Power to varying degrees.

Each individual effect might seem insignificant, but quantity transforms into quality.

At this point, Bian Shouyi was nearly at his limit.

Reaching this stage, Bian Shouyi finally understood the source of his physical discomfort.

Previously, relying on his profound cultivation and domineering swordsmanship,

He typically resolved enemies within two or three moves, never allowing himself to be dragged into battles of attrition.

Thus he had never exposed the astonishing energy consumption side effect of Orthodox Unity Swordplay.

But now this weakness had not only been keenly identified by Lu Chen, but rapidly amplified as well.

Was the gap between him and Lu Chen… truly this vast?

Seeing Bian Shouyi’s somewhat bewildered expression, Lu Chen knew this game was nearing its conclusion.

His reason for using the small saber against Bian Shouyi wasn’t as simple as he claimed.

His true purpose was to permanently eliminate Bian Shouyi’s desire to challenge him.

To make a Sword Obsessed individual stop pestering him for sparring matches, the best method was undoubtedly to suppress him with absolute strength.

To become an insurmountable mountain in his eyes.

Only this could fundamentally prevent Bian Shouyi from harassing him.

And Lu Chen was now just one step away from achieving this goal.

“I’ve witnessed your sword techniques. Now… it’s your turn to see mine.”

As the words fell, Lu Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The next moment, his small saber suddenly became coated with a layer of silvery-white Sword Qi.

And began vibrating at an astonishing frequency.

Sword technique, Water Dragon’s Roar!

“Roar!”

Accompanied by a clear dragon’s cry resembling a flood dragon, Bian Shouyi actually forgot to defend himself.

Watching helplessly as the silvery-white flood dragon surged toward him…

(End of Chapter)