Chapter 19: Masters and Novices

The warning came swiftly, and Luo Xiaotian was even faster. He unleashed a fatal strike, channeling all his internal energy. Though executed by a player who hadn’t reached the Exit-Entry level, it was like a mountain pressing down on the newcomer—unavoidable!
Even Happy, after enduring prolonged pressure with his mind fully focused on mastering the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, couldn’t immediately recognize it as the Blood Reincarnation Slash. By the time he realized something was amiss, the dazzling blood-red light already filled his vision, and his current skills weren’t enough to avoid it…
A life-or-death moment!
Without hesitation, Happy instinctively used the Python Dragon Flip from the Shaolin Long Fist. At the same time, his Gentleman Sword flashed out, delivering a move he had mastered in his past life…
Like in a movie, he flipped backward rapidly, his Gentleman Sword shooting out just in time to strike against the edge of Luo Xiaotian’s fatal Blood Reincarnation Slash.
After all, Luo Xiaotian hadn’t reached the Exit-Entry level and couldn’t yet master such a secret technique that required immense internal energy. Seeing the flying sword approaching, he panicked and lost his composure.
Clang!
A clear sound of metal colliding echoed as the Gentleman Sword sank more than half a meter into the ground three meters away.
With the secret technique failing, Luo Xiaotian was both shocked and enraged. Shouting, “Give me your life!” he charged at Happy with the remaining force of his technique, his Blood Shadow reappearing. Without a weapon, how could he fight back against Happy’s Blood Wheel Sword technique?
Yet…
Happy, who had used the flying sword to avert death, steadied himself and immersed himself once again. Moving like a top, his steps became more steady and agile, his aura surging dramatically.
Boom!!
Just as the faint blood shadow appeared before him, a punch infused with shockwaves came from the side, hitting Luo Xiaotian’s face—his internal energy depleted, leaving him unable to defend.
The tenth-level Shaolin Long Fist was no less lethal than the ninth-level ordinary sword techniques of the Gentleman Sword. Before Luo Xiaotian could react to the sudden surge in power, a fierce force sent him flying.
In the air, Luo Xiaotian stared in horror, eyes wide open.
A punch!
Though he hadn’t reached the Master’s Wind Spirit realm, his punching intent was already formed, clearly at the tenth level.
“How is this possible?!”
Thrown far away, Luo Xiaotian fought off the intense dizziness and quickly got up, looking at the young man in blue. He witnessed Wuhou being knocked aside in just two moves, finding his flaw and being sent flying just like him…
But Wuhou’s fate was clearly worse.

After a fierce shoulder charge, he was pulled back by the Golden Dragon’s claw, rendering his sword skills utterly useless. His unbalanced body faced the opponent’s consecutive heavy punches, and he spat out blood before collapsing to the ground.
“Thank you for your guidance.”
The young man in blue did not pursue further. He glanced briefly at the two men on the ground, drew out his Gentleman’s Sword, sheathed it, and then stepped back onto the road, gradually walking away.
The two men, suffering from internal injuries, looked at each other in despair.
“What an amazing opponent! The Tenth Layer of Shaolin Long Fist—our defeat is well-deserved.” Wu Hou also recognized the opponent’s fighting style and smiled bitterly. His enthusiasm for encountering skilled fighters from Gusu City had long vanished.
“It indeed is well-deserved.”
Luo Xiaotian glanced at his companion, feeling the same way.
He had thought the opponent was just a showy novice, but instead, the opponent not only mastered Wudang’s Nine Palaces Bagua Sword and understood every move of the Blood Wheel Sword Technique and Quanzhen Sword Technique but also possessed a sophisticated boxing style. He could even easily dodge the Blood Wheel Slash. No wonder he dared to rely on his basic sword skills to fight two opponents at once, showing such contempt for them…
“We underestimated the heroes of the world.”
“This kid will become someone important in the future!”
Picking up their swords, the two silently noted this top figure in Gusu City and headed to the inn in the city.
From this battle, they realized that with their current skills, they were not yet strong enough to dominate the Jianghu. They needed to keep practicing… Perhaps one day, they could find a place for themselves in the Jianghu.
…
Unbeknownst to them, Kai Xin’s decision to spare them came after much deliberation.
In the Jianghu, in battles outside the cities, the weaker party had the moral high ground and could fight back freely, even killing their enemies without consequence.
Especially in the battle just now, where the few defeated the many and the weak overcame the strong, the appearance of the secret technique Blood Wheel Slash meant the system would automatically assess it. By killing their opponents, they might even receive extra rewards and a slight level increase.
But Kai Xin, who had been in the Jianghu for three years, knew one thing clearly: enemies are better made than found.
Young people new to the Jianghu are often proud and act based on loyalty. He had been like that too in the past, offending countless people and taking many lives. That’s why he was ambushed during the Mount Hua Sword Competition and set up at the foot of Mount Shaoshi.
Now, starting over, Kai Xin didn’t want to form unnecessary enmities for petty gains. After all, he hadn’t lost in the battle just now—he even got the opponent as a sparring partner. There was no need to kill them or severely damage their skills.
If there’s a chance to spare someone, spare them.

After leaving, Kai Xin encountered an old acquaintance on his way to the tavern—Li San. Drunk and carrying a bag of silver, his appearance was unmistakable… It would be hard not to recognize him. Though drunk, Li San remained alert. Upon seeing the young man in blue approaching, he immediately became wary. As the man got closer, flames flashed in his eyes. “It’s you, you brat! Come and die!” He slung his wine bag over his waist, drew his steel sword, and charged after him, as if facing an enemy he could never tolerate. Haha. Kai Xin smiled, turned around without a word, and led Li San into a secluded forest. An hour passed… On the main road, some people saw a young man in blue coming out of the forest, panting heavily, as if after a fierce battle. Before they could understand what was happening, they saw a man wielding a sword, covered in blood with over a dozen flying knives stuck in him, shouting angrily as he ran out of the forest. Seeing this, the players immediately became curious and started discussing it: “Is that Li San?” “It seems so…” “Did that kid do that?” “…Who is that kid?” “You don’t even know him? He often goes in and out of the Murong family. It seems he’s already become part of their family…” said a well-informed player with an air of envy. Everyone then seemed to realize something. “A member of the Murong family from Gusu!” As more players reported seeing the man in blue using his sword to defeat villains outside the city, the title “The Gentleman in Blue with the Sword” for the eldest brother of the Murong family in Gusu spread quickly. The person involved, Kai Xin, had no idea about this and was still diligently practicing to reach the ninth level of the “Nine Palaces Bagua Sword” and “Willow Leaf Flying Knives”.