Chapter 1 Red Leaves in the Setting Sun

Dusk. The wind rises, and red leaves fill the sky.

On the road from Tongqiu to Cangling, a lone rider gallops by.

The man on horseback is around forty years old, with disheveled hair, unkempt clothes, and a long sword at his waist.

The horse is of inferior breed, the sword is nameless.

But the man who rides the horse and carries the sword is an unparalleled swordsman.

Xie San's gaze seems weary, the windblown hair seemingly telling of an undisguised dejection.

But suddenly, he abruptly halts his horse, his weary eyes instantly becoming as sharp as a hawk's.

Because Xie San sees another person.

In the wind, a white-clad swordsman stands tall. He is the first person in the entire town of Cangling to learn that Xie San has passed Tongqiu.

"Lin Chang?" Xie San recognizes the person before him, precisely the Azure Sky Sword Lin Chang of the Six Flowers Swords.

"Long time no see, Xie San." Lin Chang says in a deep voice, his voice cold, his eyes filled with contempt. At this moment, he is a completely different person from the upright and heroic figure who spoke loudly in the inn.

Xie San says nothing, dismounting. He takes the reins, turns the horse's head, and pats its back. The horse trots back in the direction of Tongqiu.

The autumn wind blows, and in this instant, it seems that only two people and two swords remain between heaven and earth.

A sense of killing has already enveloped the surroundings, and Lin Chang's intentions are self-evident.

"The last time I saw you, I knew that the Azure Sky Sword was actually a sword hidden in its sheath," Xie San says in a deep voice. "Concealing its brilliance, its edge not exposed."

"Is that so? Then why... can I still not see any fear in your eyes?" Lin Chang asks.

"Because even if you fully reveal your edge, you are no match for me," Xie San replies calmly.

"Hahahaha..." Lin Chang laughs loudly, his eyes devoid of laughter, but instead revealing an increasingly ferocious look. "Xie San, you disappoint me too much." As he says this, he actually throws his sword to the ground, standing proudly with his hands behind his back. "Do you think my martial arts are something that a second-rate swordsman like you can comprehend?"

If a third person heard this conversation, they would probably think that Lin Chang had gone mad from practicing his qigong and had lost his mind. If Xie San is considered a "second-rate" swordsman, then ninety percent of the masters in the martial world today can only be considered "unranked."

Wouldn't the martial world become a huge joke?

"Lin Chang, it seems you've gone crazy," Xie San says calmly, unmoved.

A person who has practiced martial arts to its peak will not be easily swayed. He believes in his years of hard training more than words.

In every era, top experts like Xie San are lonely because they cannot find an opponent, someone who truly understands them.

In Xie San's eyes, only Ye Cheng can understand him in the current martial world. Apart from the Sword God, no one has reached the same realm as him. Therefore, no one else can shake him. Even if there were ten Lin Changs standing here today, it would be the same.

"You will soon understand that I am very clear-headed," Lin Chang replies. He pauses, then continues, "You came to Cangling to duel with the Sword God." He sneers. "But Ye Cheng's swordsmanship is just a form of acrobatics in my eyes. He simply cannot bear the title of Sword God..." At this point, Lin Chang's killing intent suddenly rises. For a moment, not a single grain of the flying sand and fallen leaves in the sky can get close to him. "If there really is someone in this world who can be called the Sword God... then it should be me, Lin Chang!"

Xie San shakes his head. "The ravings of a madman."

Before the words finish, he swiftly draws his sword, his movements as fast as a startled swan. Before the scabbard hits the ground, countless lights and shadows bloom in the sky, like thousands of swords suspended in the air.

The nameless sword is unsheathed, its sword qi surging and mighty.

Lin Chang merely snorts disdainfully.

When a sword is drawn, it must see blood.

Xie San shows no mercy, instantly arriving before Lin Chang, aiming a sword at his throat.

Lin Chang's right hand rises instantly, two fingers extended, guarding his neck. In that instant, his composure gives Xie San a sense of coldness.

With an unmoving heart, qi is naturally balanced. Lin Chang calmly flicks his fingers, deflecting the blade of the nameless sword.

Xie San feels a surge of inner force rushing toward his right arm like a tiger or wolf. The sword in his hand nearly falls. He quickly focuses his qi on his feet, stabilizes his lower body, and stops his forward momentum. Using the force, he spins his body to avoid the attack, dodging to the side.

"You!" Xie San is shocked and speechless. That brief exchange is enough to shatter his self-esteem and all the common sense he has built up over the years.

"Hmph... you're already so scared, and I haven't even used my sword... Hahaha..." At this moment, Lin Chang's face seems to be covered with an indescribable dark aura.

"What demonic art... did you practice?" Cold sweat has broken out on Xie San's forehead, and he is filled with horror.

From his personal experience, Lin Chang's casual finger flick just now felt like the full-force palm strike of a master who has been focusing on cultivating inner strength for more than fifty years.

"The evil intent is strong at dusk, and the fallen leaves are like red clouds." Lin Chang chants as he casually plucks a red leaf falling in the wind, pinching it between his fingers. "Do you know, Xie San?" He looks down at the red leaf. "Once, my vision was as narrow as yours." He sneers. "I thought that the skills of the One Manor, Two Towers, Three Factions, and Four Gates could be called superior martial arts. I thought that swordsmen like you and Ye Cheng were the supreme masters of swordsmanship. I even thought that with my talent, I would never catch up with you. Hehehe... I was wrong." Before the words finish, he lightly releases the leaf, drawing a stroke of red in the air.

In an instant, a bloody wound bursts open on Xie San's left rib, spraying blood mist.

"There is a heaven beyond the heavens, and there are people beyond people. These words are absolutely true." Lin Chang doesn't even look at Xie San. "Even I didn't expect that I could obtain this long-lost... 'truly unparalleled martial art'." He smiles. "When my divine skill was first completed, I understood how crude the skills you people practice are. What Ye Family Swordsmanship, Myriad Radiance Divine Skill, Eight Directions Supreme Heart Method, Shaolin Seventy-Two Supreme Techniques... they are simply foolish and misleading!"

Blood is already flowing from the corner of Xie San's mouth. Although he is still standing, he is no longer able to move.

Lin Chang slowly approaches him step by step. "You want to seek proof of the sword dao from Ye Cheng, is that right? Hehe..." He smiles grimly. "Don't worry, you won't break your promise. He's waiting for you in the netherworld..."

Xie San's eyes widen, staring at Lin Chang in shock. "You..." He immediately remembers Lin Chang's previous words, "Ye Cheng's swordsmanship is just a form of acrobatics in my eyes."

"Hehe... it seems you already understand. That's right, Ye Cheng has already been killed by me. He won't be coming." Lin Chang continues to laugh triumphantly, slowly raising his hand. "Rest in peace and go with him, Nameless Sword!"