"How could my humble skills compare to the lady’s? Please, spare me."

Chen Ming refused to relent no matter what.

The path of the Martial Dao becomes increasingly arduous the higher one climbs, with the gaps between different realms growing wider. Between Fifth Grade and Fourth Grade lies a vast chasm.

The Fifth Grade is the Sea of Qi Realm, where opening a Sea of Qi allows one to contain True Qi that exceeds Sixth Grade by a tenfold, even by dozens of times.

Upon reaching Fourth Grade, one enters the Gang Qi Realm, where one’s True Qi transforms into Gang Qi, gaining the means to repel enemies with Qi. The attack range exceeds ten meters, with the addition of Protective Gang Qi.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Ming wouldn’t even be able to break through Su Zhining’s defenses. How could he possibly fight?

It was a sure losing battle; he wouldn’t fight.

Last time in Yujie Commandery, he defeated two Fourth Grades because the Captain and the demon child were poisoned and injured. He won by taking advantage of their condition.

Su Zhining gazed into his eyes, seemingly wanting to see through him. After a while, she spoke, "I won’t use Gang Qi, only sword techniques."

No Gang Qi?

Chen Ming raised an eyebrow and asked earnestly, "Why is the lady so persistent in gauging the level of my swordsmanship?"

Su Zhining responded solemnly, "This time, Master’s orders were for me to train my swordsmanship, but I haven’t met a suitable opponent."

Unexpectedly, the man she had always protected was already close to the Transformation Realm in swordsmanship. This was an elder’s assessment, and tonight she wanted to confirm whether that elder was exaggerating.

Chen Ming couldn’t help but ridicule; with her always hiding in the shadows, afraid of being discovered, how would she ever meet an opponent?

With her level of skill, there were naturally few qualified to be her opponent in the world. If she rarely interacts with others, it’s not as if opponents would fall from the sky.

"Since the lady insists, if I continue to evade, it would appear discourteous. But we agreed, only sword techniques. The lady shouldn’t stop halfway and suddenly use a Sword Gang to take my life."

"Alright."

After Su Zhining finished speaking, she turned and walked outside the room.

The room was too small to unleash their skills, so naturally, they needed to go outside to the courtyard.

Chen Ming picked up the long sword on the table and followed behind her.

The sword was brand new; the previous one had suffered more than ten notches after the battle with Luo Xu today and was no longer usable.

If Su Zhining didn’t use Gang Qi, he still held a chance of winning.

Her Master encouraging her to hone her swordsmanship proved it was not yet perfected. As long as it wasn’t perfected, he had a chance.

This confidence stemmed from the mastery of the Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship.

...

Chen Ming stepped out of the doorway, into the courtyard. Under the night sky, a bright moon hung high, casting a silver glow upon Su Zhining, enhancing her ethereal and cool demeanor.

She slowly drew the long sword from her back, the blade glinting with a cold sheen under the moonlight, indicating the sword was no ordinary item.

With a sword in hand, her entire aura transformed, a sharp glint in her eyes as she clearly said, "Please, instruct me."

Looking at Su Zhining, who resembled a celestial under the moon, Chen Ming couldn’t help but recall the first time he saw her.

At that time, he had just broken through to the Sixth Grade, still just a minor presence.

Now, as a Fifth Grade, although still far from her level, in the realm of swordsmanship, he had the qualification to stand before her and face her in battle.

Chen Ming drew his sword. With a gentle flick of the blade, a resonant sound rang out, and he suddenly asked, "If I happen to win a move or two by luck, may I make a request of the lady?"

"You may."

Su Zhining agreed directly.

"Then, lady, please be careful. Here comes the sword."

Knowing she wouldn’t strike first, Chen Ming unhesitatingly thrust his sword forward.

"One Feather Thousand Juns!"

What seemed like a simple sword move held endless variations behind it, sealing all her retreat paths. Any retreat would meet the stormy sword momentum.

Su Zhining’s eyes suddenly shone brightly.

With this mere sword move, she understood the elder’s words were not without basis. Chen Ming’s swordsmanship had reached an extremely high level.

Among her peers, there were few who could compare to him.

Ding!

Su Zhining’s long sword met his with precise accuracy, feeling the force transmitted through his sword tip, and discerned the approximate level of Chen Ming’s True Qi.

In the flicker of a thought, Chen Ming’s second sword was already upon her.

She instantly responded, and for a time, sword lights flashed across the courtyard, cold and hot Sword Qi clashing and scattering, creating small pits on the trees and walls around the courtyard.

...

On the rooftop, a figure almost blending into the darkness watched the battle, with the corners of their garments fluttering in the wind, revealing the unrest in their heart.

"How is this possible?"

This person was the mysterious Princess Hongyu, who had always been following Chen Ming, hidden in the shadows. During the day, she didn’t dare approach the World’s First Pavilion, so she hadn’t witnessed Chen Ming’s swordsmanship.

Originally, Chen Ming’s continuous victories had already taken her by surprise. Logically, having just broken through to the Fifth Grade not long ago, he shouldn’t have been able to win so many matches.

She initially thought perhaps the young people around Jiangzhou City were all inept.

Now seeing the swordsmanship that Chen Ming displayed, she was so astonished her eyes nearly popped out.

Princess Hongyu had personally witnessed Uncle Shang teaching Chen Ming swordsmanship almost a year ago.

At that time, under Uncle Shang’s direct guidance, the kid spent a full month just to get started with this swordsmanship; his comprehension was truly too low.

A year later, it was still the Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship, wielded in Chen Ming’s hands, effortlessly mastered and completely grasping its intricacies, a peak achievement.

It’s no wonder she was so shocked.

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would never believe that someone could train a second-rate swordsmanship to such an extent in just one year.

Princess Hongyu was somewhat doubtful whether this Chen Ming before her was really the same clumsy boy from before who had to repeatedly ask Uncle Shang about a single sword technique, exhausting all his words.

For a long moment.

Princess Hongyu looked at the courtyard below, where Chen Ming had sliced through Su Zhining’s veil with a sword, and murmured in her heart, just how many surprises can this kid bring me?

...

After thirty or so strokes, the sword light in the courtyard suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Su Zhining’s long sword halted just an inch away from Chen Ming’s eyebrows. Her eyes revealed shock and puzzlement.

A gust of night wind blew, lifting her veil and letting in a strand of cold wind.

Moments later.

She withdrew her long sword, lowered her eyes, and sighed faintly, "I lost."

This time, Chen Ming didn’t say, "you let me win." Under such circumstances, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to be modest.

Moreover, Su Zhining’s swordsmanship was indeed very high, putting him under tremendous pressure, far exceeding Luo Xu, making it impossible for him to hold back, forcing him to give his all.

Thus, solving the fight in just thirty or so moves.

[You defeated an LV69 opponent, gaining 41,000 Experience Points]

Seeing the prompt before him, Chen Ming was delighted.

Miss Su is such a kind person, giving him a big bunch of Experience Points.

In just a moment of distraction, Su Zhining had already vanished without a trace. He didn’t know where she went.

He glanced at the Hundred-refined Cyan Steel Sword in his hand, seeing seven or eight nicks on the blade. Another one ruined.

"No wonder Yu Haitang likes to use treasure swords to draw others in."

If Su Zhining’s power had been a bit stronger just now, and cut his long sword, then he would have lost.

Of course, this was because Su Zhining only wanted to spar with swordsmanship, not taking advantage of him.

If it was an enemy, it would be different.

Chen Ming thought he needs to find a way to get a better sword in the future.

Then, he went back inside, with the oil lamp still lit, sat back on the chair, adjusted the wick, picked up the medical book he was halfway through, and continued reading.

...

The next morning, at the same time, Chen Ming and Feng Siyuan went out together, heading for the World’s First Pavilion.

"Last night, there was quite a commotion in your courtyard. I thought someone came to assassinate you."

Feng Siyuan jokingly said.

Chen Ming casually replied, "Just sparring with a friend."

"Your friend isn’t simple. My Uncle Qi said that both of your swordsmanship is quite comparable."

He smiled slightly and said, "My friend doesn’t like the spotlight."

Feng Siyuan added, "Aside from your friend, there was also an unexpected visitor last night. At least Third Grade, probably targeting you as well. Be a bit cautious."

"Thanks for the reminder."

Soon, the two arrived again outside the entrance of the World’s First Pavilion, and this time, there were evidently more people calling his name.

Thinking of an amusing story, Feng Siyuan said, "Yesterday, all the major betting houses sealed their books, no longer accepting bets on your victory. Seems everyone thinks your position on the Cyan Cloud Ranking is a sure thing."

Chen Ming said, "Still need to see today and tomorrow."

From today onwards, he’ll face those seven seed players, and it’ll be seven consecutive matches, this is the real test.

Among these seven people, at least three of them are no weaker than Luo Xu.

"Even Luo Xu isn’t your match; the others are even less of a threat."

Feng Siyuan still had blind confidence in Chen Ming.

"Young Master Chen Er, you must win."

At this moment, Chen Ming heard a slightly familiar voice and turned to see someone somewhat familiar. It should be a merchant from Qingfeng City, previously met.

He nodded slightly as a greeting.

"Is that Chen Ming? Certainly has an extraordinary presence."

"Didn’t expect, after so many years of decline in Qingfeng City, a true genius has finally emerged."

"Hmph, what genius? Just because he defeated an unknown person. Wait until he meets Young Master Jiang and Young Master Ji, then he’ll show his true form."

"Indeed, who is Luo Xu anyway? Who knows where he came from. Who did he even fight? Calls himself an expert?"

"..."

Listening to the quarrel behind him, Chen Ming stepped into the door of the World’s First Pavilion, even the old man guarding the door nodded and smiled at him.

He knew, he was truly famous now.