"The exhibition match is over."

Feng Bujue arrived at the martial arts competition arena just as a battle on the stage had ended. The bronze lion statue beside the stage announced in a bestial roar...

"The victor, Yagyu Kagekado. The loser, Sanada Yukimura."

This was a martial arts contest that ended in surrender. Sanada, unable to break through Yagyu's defenses after a prolonged assault, acknowledged Yagyu's superior skill and chose to concede.

"Yagyu-sensei's cultivation is truly exceptional. Sanada is in admiration," Sanada said, stepping forward and bowing to Yagyu after the result was announced.

"Hmm..." Yagyu Kagekado closed his eyes, folded his arms behind his back, and slowly turned around. "You are too kind, Sanada-kun." As he walked off the stage, he didn't forget to offer his opponent a face-saving remark.

However... to be honest, Yagyu was just being polite... Everyone at the venue could see that Sanada's strength was no match for Yagyu's. Although Sanada was exceptionally valiant wielding the Flame Spear Susano'o, his realm was still at the level of wielding weapons and using tangible forms. This was far from the "Sword Saint's" realm, where moves were born from the heart, unburdened by form, and all swords returned to the source...

"Next..." After the two left the arena, the announcing statue continued, "By... Kurogane Jin'e, versus... Tachibana Ukyo."

As the words fell, two figures each emerged from the crowd...

The first to step onto the stage was a man wearing a light-colored kendo kimono, with a black cloak draped over it, and a katana at his waist.

He was tall and had a stern face, with long, golden-white hair that fell to the back of his neck. Every gesture exuded the aura of a conqueror; even a single glance was enough to suffocate his opponent.

He was Kurogane Jin'e, like an unyielding diamond warrior. In his universe, he was the strongest swordsman with the title "Thousand-Man Slayer," and even with an incurable disease and facing imminent death, he had never tasted defeat.

The one who slowly walked onto the stage after him... wore a white kimono top and pleated blue hakama (a type of skirt-like garment, a style of Hanfu that was introduced to Japan during the Wei and Jin dynasties), also with a katana at his waist.

He was slender and handsome, with long blue hair draped over his shoulders. His expression was gentle and peaceful, yet it also radiated an aura that kept people at a distance...

He was Tachibana Ukyo, like a rose sculpted from ice. In his universe, he was a frail but talented swordsman. Even with a lung disease and facing his demise, he still traveled alone with his sword, seeking the ultimate flower that bloomed in the depths of the Demon Realm for the sake of his one true love.

"What the heck..." Feng Bujue, standing below the stage, couldn't help but complain as he watched the two walk onto the arena, "They actually put these two old sickos together... This is going to be a good show."

Naturally, Jue-ge wasn't the only one interested in this "show"... At that moment, Sword Lord Twelve Hates, Wind Trace, Yagyu Kagekado, and all the other swordsmen present had already sensed the sword intent emanating from the two on the stage.

It could be said that a silent, invisible battle had already begun.

"Like Rain." At that moment, someone who usually preferred to remain silent among the spectators... spoke up. "What do you think of this battle?"

The one who asked the question was Wind Trace. His tone was like a teacher testing a student.

"Victory or defeat in three moves, life or death in a single breath." Without hesitation, Ruo Yu responded to the question.

"Hmm..." Wind Trace murmured after hearing her words.

The expression on his face didn't change, and he didn't offer any evaluation of Ruo Yu's words, but Ruo Yu could sense... that "Teacher Wind" was very satisfied with the answer.

As they were talking, the two on the stage had gradually approached each other. When they reached a very subtle distance, they both stopped.

"No-Treasure Style, Kurogane Jin'e," Kurogane Jin'e said, standing tall and looking at Tachibana Ukyo, who was slightly shorter than him.

"Divine Dream One-Sword Style, Tachibana Ukyo." Tachibana Ukyo met his opponent's forceful gaze with a calm expression and replied serenely.

After the two announced their names, they once again fell silent.

"Not at all affected by my imposing aura, calm as water, a terrifying fellow..." Kurogane Jin'e thought to himself a few seconds later.

"Flawless from head to toe, like a sword demon... As a swordsman, to be able to fight someone like this is the fortune of a lifetime." Tachibana Ukyo also gave his opponent a very high evaluation in his heart.

Clap—clap—

The hands of both men gripped their sword hilts almost simultaneously.

"I have died once before." Before making his move, Kurogane Jin'e broke the silence.

"I have also died once before." Tachibana Ukyo responded.

"I did not die by the sword."

"I also did not die by the sword."

"How lamentable."

"How regrettable."

"In this other dimension, I have been given a second chance."

"This space-time has granted me a second life."

"I will defeat Orochi, and with my sword... I will expand the Path of Musou once more, and reign supreme over the world."

"I will defeat Orochi, correct the space-time, and return to the side of my beloved."

"Those who defy me... shall perish."

"Those who stand in my way... shall die."

That was all they had to say.

From that moment on, they were no longer "human," but rather the embodiment of swords.

The hum of the sword was their language; swordplay was their wisdom; sword intent was their will.

Chi Ying—

The sound of blades being drawn from their sheaths at the same time announced the start of the battle.

Tachibana Ukyo was a master of iaido (a technique of drawing the sword and killing the enemy in a single motion). The instant he drew his sword, he unleashed his ultimate technique.

With a flicker of his figure, the [Dream Remnant Haze Flash] was unleashed in an instant.

On the other side... Kurogane Jin'e remained motionless after drawing his sword. The "Peerless Under Heaven" swordsman, faced with the nearly divine iaido technique before him, showed a stern expression!

[Weakening], [Tiger Pierce], two techniques in an instant, striking first after acting last.

Ping—

The clash of swords stirred up dust and sand, the shadows flashed past each other, and a mist of blood arose.

Victory or defeat, life or death, was decided within these three moves, within a single breath...

A moment later, a gentle breeze swept past, and the killing intent dissipated.

Blood flowed from Tachibana Ukyo's left lung, because there, a hole had been opened.

Blood also splattered from Kurogane Jin'e's chest, because there, a cut had been made.

The two swordsmen fell at the same time.

"The exhibition match is over," the bronze lion statue's voice rang out, "Losers, Kurogane Jin'e, Tachibana Ukyo."

In these past few days, there hadn't been many people on the stage who fought to a mutual defeat, even to the point of mutual destruction, but there had been some...

Unfortunately... this martial arts competition didn't have the concept of a "tie." If they fought to the point of both losing consciousness, then they would both be judged as losers.

"Next..." This time, the statue didn't even wait for the two to leave the stage before announcing, "By... Mad Dragon Laughs, versus... Crazy Un觉."