523: Kendo without rules

In the Black Hole Rune laboratory.

Xiao Fan and Shao Tianhua finally met.

This was their first meeting.

But they were already familiar with each other.

The two looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.

After a few polite exchanges, Xiao Fan stepped onto the instrument for the final step of Rune Fusion.

Shao Tianhua looked at Xiao Fan on the instrument, his gaze growing softer.

As a man nearing fifty, a single look was enough to express the surging emotions in his heart.

And during the time Xiao Fan was Fusing the Rune.

The outside world was also undergoing earth-shattering changes.

The Dignity Battle was approaching its final stage.

The entire world had fallen into a temporary peace.

Because everyone knew there was no need to continue fighting now.

Fighting to the death was not as effective as watching the Dignity Battle, because if one side won a round, an Emperor-level expert from the opposing side would die; wasn't this much more ruthless than normal warfare?

So, the people's attention turned to the Prodigies who might participate.

But unfortunately, ordinary people had no idea where those top Prodigies were now.

Above the firmament.

Within the Galaxy.

Ying Zheng, stripped to the waist, was a bit disheveled, the veins on his arms trembling uncontrollably, because the Sword Apprentice's devilish training intensity was truly too high.

At this moment, the two were sitting on a small meteorite, resting.

Because if the high-intensity training continued, Ying Zheng's hands would be ruined.

The meteorite drifted silently.

Before them were colorful stars.

Ying Zheng chuckled, “I really didn’t know before that stars had so many colors.”

The Sword Apprentice nodded, “That’s why people want to ascend, because the higher you stand, the more beautiful the scenery.”

“But many people, while ascending, forget who they are.”

“This often makes them, after reaching the peak, no longer interested in admiring the beautiful scenery where all mountains seem small; they only think about how to block those behind them, preventing them from coming up.”

“How tragic.”

Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow, “So that’s why you’re called the Sword Apprentice, right?”

“Yes, I use this title to warn myself that compared to the infinite Universe, the sword in my hand is still small, merely a small apprentice on the Sword Dao. That’s why I don’t like titles like Supreme Creator; they easily make people lose their original intention.”

At this moment, the Sword Apprentice stood up and said in a deep voice, “Alright, it’s time I told you the core meaning of the swordsmanship I’ve been teaching you during this period.”

“In the beginning, like you, I pursued ‘all things as one sword,’ practicing the most basic and simple sword techniques to their extreme.”

“Unconsciously, my strikes had reached an unparalleled level in the world. I wanted to see other sceneries on the Sword Dao.”

“I began to pursue the Realm of ‘all things are swords’.”

Speaking of this, he finally spat out the dry grass in his mouth, then casually leaned back on the meteorite surface, legs crossed, hands clasped behind his head.

He chuckled, “It took me about three thousand years to reach this Realm.”

“But the joy lasted only for a brief moment. After the excitement faded, I realized even more clearly that I was still small, and the Sword Dao was even vaster.”

“All the ultimate sword techniques spoken of by the world, I know them.”

“Yet I still felt that my sword had many flaws.”

“At this point, I reached a Bottleneck.”

“I didn’t know where the flaws were, or how to advance further.”

“Even until the final battle, I still hadn’t gained new insights.”

“It wasn’t until after my defeat, when I came to the Galaxy, learned Chinese, and saw an idiom.”

“Speaking of this, I can’t help but marvel, how many languages there are in the Universe, tens of thousands, but none are as full of… charm… as the characters used by humans.”

“A simple four-character idiom actually allowed me to have an Epiphany.”

“This idiom is called Sword Dao No Bounds.”

“The so-called ‘all things as one sword’ and ‘all things are swords’ are all shackles.”

“When all shackles were cast aside, my Sword Dao finally reached a Realm I was satisfied with.”

“I can draw my sword in any way, cut through any restraint, any Law.”

“As long as my heart and mind are clear, my sword can go anywhere.”

“If I were given another chance to ascend the Temple.”

“I could at least sever one arm of the Lord of the Temple, and not just a corner of his robe.”

“Because my sword has no bounds, no Law can stop me.”

“The sword in my hand is not bound by any natural Law, nor is it restrained by any Law.”

“Unfortunately, I realized it too late.”

The Sword Apprentice sighed, “The future is up to you.”

“Oh, right, if you have the chance later, you can visit the Sword Emperor Galaxy.”

“That Galaxy gathers all the swordsmen in the entire Universe.”

“In the very center of the Galaxy, there is a Sword Emperor Star.”

“At the highest point of Sword Emperor Star, there is a Sword Emperor Mountain, and on the mountain, there is a Sword Tomb.”

“There, the swords of countless Sword Dao powerhouses from ancient times to the present are buried, along with their Sword Intent.”

“The Sword Intent obstructs everyone who tries to advance.”

“But as long as you can pass through the Sword Tomb, you will see a high platform.”

“On it is a throne, named the Throne of the Sword Emperor.”

“As long as you can sit there, you will be the undisputed Sword Dao Emperor of the entire Universe, and you can enjoy the Sword Intent blessings of all Sword Dao powerhouses from ancient times to the present.”

Hearing this, Ying Zheng was a little puzzled, saying, “Can this Sword Intent blessing from the Sword Tomb… be enjoyed multiple times?”

“Of course not,” the Sword Apprentice shook his head.

“Then that means you haven’t been up there?” Ying Zheng asked curiously.

“That question makes me lose a lot of Face,” the Sword Apprentice laughed.

Suddenly, his smile stopped abruptly, and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes, saying, “I haven’t sat up there.”

“But I plunged my treasured sword into the throne.”

“What?” Ying Zheng’s mind was shaken.

“That is to say, you went up there, and then…”

The Sword Apprentice nodded heavily, saying, “Yes, I went up, but I didn’t sit, because I don’t believe I truly deserve the title of Sword Dao Emperor.”

“But after that, to become the Sword Dao Emperor.”

“You must pull out my sword.”

“At least you have to be stronger than me!”

In an instant, a solar wind swept by, blowing the Sword Apprentice’s flowing long hair.

His chiseled profile clearly appeared before Ying Zheng’s eyes.

At this moment, his Face only held a pure, youthful smile!

In the smile was the exhilaration of seeking revenge with a sword!

He seemed to be telling himself.

As a swordsman, you have to do things others can’t, such as ascending the strongest throne.

And you have to do things others wouldn’t think of.

For example, I went up there, but I didn’t sit!

Why?

Because I am a swordsman, my sword acts as my heart desires. The reason I didn’t sit is, naturally… if I don’t want to, I won’t do it.

Finally, the Sword Apprentice patted Ying Zheng’s shoulder, saying, “You’ve rested enough, hurry up and train.”

“Remember, Sword Dao No Bounds.”