Chapter 144: There aren’t many people who understand the way of the saber. Young brother, let’s be friends!
“Dead, they’re all dead!” Lin Beifan said indifferently.
“How did they all die?” The Saber Saint was shocked.
“Who in this world can avoid death? We’re not immortals, able to live forever! Even if our cultivation reaches the peak, in the end, we’ll turn into a mound of yellow earth, sleeping with the heavens and the earth, resting alongside the sun and the moon!” Lin Beifan sighed.
“You’re right!” The Saber Saint smiled bitterly, filled with regret.
“However, the successor of the Xioali Flying Saber is still alive! Perhaps, you will have a chance to meet this extraordinarily talented and stunning swordsman in the future!”
“Really?” The Saber Saint was overjoyed.
“Naturally, it’s true. I have no reason to deceive you when I have no personal connection,” Lin Beifan said somewhat unhappily.
He chuckled inwardly, unable to hold it in forever. There will come a time when I have to reveal myself.
Then, you will know whose sword is stronger!
“Haha! That’s fantastic!” The Saber Saint exclaimed ecstatically.
He enthusiastically poured wine for Lin Beifan and said with a smile, “Young brother, you truly understand the way of the saber! Honestly, in all the years that I’ve traveled far and wide, it’s the first time I’ve encountered someone like you who truly understands the way of the saber. You are my kindred spirit! Which other sabers do you know? Quickly tell me, I’m very eager to know!”
With a sharp tone, Lin Beifan retorted, “We have no personal connection. What’s there to talk about?”
“Who said we have no personal connection?” the Saber Saint exclaimed, “We are sitting at the same table, eating and drinking together. Doesn’t that make us friends? Even if we weren’t, we will be from today onwards! You are the only friend I acknowledge!”
His face showed a hint of solemnity.
Lin Beifan retorted sharply once again, “Who cares about being your friend?”
The Saber Saint was dumbfounded. He didn’t appreciate it?
Countless people wanted to gain his recognition and establish a relationship, but he never agreed to anyone!
It’s rare to find you so pleasing to the eye, and I wanted to make friends, but you’re unwilling?
“Young brother, don’t reject so bluntly. Do you know who I am?” The Saber Saint said with a hint of arrogance.
Lin Beifan sneered, “What do I care about your identity? Even the Sword Immortal eagerly wants to be my friend, but I don’t agree! Is your identity more impressive than his?”
“Well…” The Saber Saint was speechless. He didn’t expect the other party to reject even the Sword Immortal!
His own identity was on par with the Sword Immortal’s, so it seemed natural to be rejected by him!
However, he wasn’t someone who easily gave up!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have achieved what he has at such a young age!
The more the other party rejected, the more it fueled his rebellious mindset!
A bit annoyed and ashamed, he said, “I don’t care! I just want to be friends with you, to exchange knowledge about the way of the saber! Whether you agree or not, I’ve already decided!”
Lin Beifan trembled with anger, “How can you force someone like this?”
Seeing Lin Beifan’s angry appearance, the Saber Saint became even happier. With a smug expression, he said, “Hey! I am indeed forcing someone. What can you do about it? If you have the ability, come and fight me! Haha!”
Lin Beifan trembled even more with rage, “You beast, you animal!”
“Young brother, don’t be angry! You will feel wronged once you know my identity!” The Saber Saint said with a playful smile.
“What’s the big deal about the Saber Saint Ouyang Badao? Why are you pretending in front of me?” Lin Beifan retorted.
The Saber Saint was shocked, “How did you figure it out?”
“Isn’t it simple? You asked about everything related to sabers from beginning to end, showing a deep understanding of the sabera! You appear young but possess immeasurable strength. Who else could it be if not that bastard?” Lin Beifan snorted.
“The Saber Saint Ouyang Badao!”
“Good heavens!!!”
Both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were astonished and pale.
The Saber Saint raised his thumb and praised, “Truly, you are a trusted and understanding friend. Your judgment is sharp! Come, let’s continue discussing matters about the saber! It’s rare to encounter someone who understands the saber so well. I’m extremely delighted! It would be a great regret in my life if we don’t have an in-depth conversation!”
Lin Beifan weakly waved his hand, “I don’t want to talk anymore. I’m tired.”
“Go on, go on. It’s not yet evening, what’s there to be tired about? We still have plenty of time. We can slowly delve into the details!” The Saber Saint poured wine for Lin Beifan while sitting upright, saying, “I’m all ears!”
“No matter what you say, it’s useless. I just won’t speak!” Lin Beifan exclaimed.
The Saber Saint also retorted, “If you don’t speak, you can’t leave!”
Lin Beifan trembled with anger, “You’re the mighty Saber Saint. How can you be so shameless?”
“I am shameless indeed. So what?” The Saber Saint proudly said, “You are the only friend I acknowledge. I can’t kill you, and I can’t force you, but I can resort to some shameless methods. After all, there will come a time when you make a mistake!”
Lin Beifan exclaimed, “Isn’t that still forcing me? Shameless!”
“Hehe, thanks for the compliment!” The Saber Saint arrogantly said, “You’re the first person to call me shameless. Those who called me that before have all gone to meet the King of Hell! But you, your insults make me feel comfortable and happy! Give me a couple more insults, I want to hear them!”
Lin Beifan was defeated by the Saber Saint’s shamelessness and lack of dignity!
When this grandmaster becomes shameless, you really have no way to deal with him!
He thought bitterly, Wait until the day when I don’t have to hide my strength anymore. Just wait to be dealt with by me!
I’ll make you understand what it means to be…
Cruel!!!
And what it means to be…
Truly shameless!!!
Next, Lin Beifan explained the theoretical realms of the saber, without changing the analogy for medicine. Steel saber realm, soft saber realm, heavy saber realm, wooden saber realm, no sword realm…
The Saber Saint listened in amazement and exclaimed excitedly, “Wow! The categorization of the realms of the saber is so marvelous! Each realm is well-founded and clear, providing me with great insights! Haha, what a revelation!”
After speaking, he continuously poured himself wine and drank it down.
Feeling unsatisfied, Lin Beifan directly picked up the wine jar and drank it gulp by gulp, displaying his boldness.
He didn’t care that his clothes got wet; he was just that carefree.
Mo Rushuang frowned, “This categorization of realms sounds familiar. I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere… Young master, isn’t this the classification of the sword realms we knew before?”
Lin Beifan remained calm and said, “It’s perfectly normal! The great path is manifold, yet it converges in the end! Regardless of whether you study swordsmanship or the way of the saber, the initial stages may differ slightly, but they ultimately reach the same destination!”
Mo Rushuang suddenly realized, “What the young master said is absolutely right!”
“Senior Saber Saint, what realm are you currently in?” Guo Shaoshuai couldn’t help but ask.
The Saber Saint modestly replied, “I can barely reach the wooden saber realm, but it’s not stable.”
“As for the elder mentioned earlier, who used the wooden saber, he should have completely reached the wooden saber realm! That’s why he could use a wooden saber to defeat the Demon Saber and surpass his former self entirely!”
“And that senior Heavenly Saber, he must have reached the no saber realm! There are no sabers in his hands, but his mind is filled with sabers. That’s why he can discard everything other than the sabers and pursue the utmost purity in the path of the sabers! It’s the pinnacle of the way of the sabers!”
“As for the last senior, Xiaoli Flying Saber…”
The Saber Saint hesitated for a moment and continued, “I believe he should have reached the legendary realm of no-no boundaries! Because he has already abandoned everything, even disregarding the sabers! Only his singular belief remains, the belief of certain victory! Under this belief, he completely abandons everything and strives for the utmost speed, unleashing the most brilliant strike!”
“This strike is no longer just a saber; it embodies his belief!”
The Saber Saint sighed, “This is a truly invincible strike. I really wish to witness it with my own eyes!”
Lin Beifan nodded in agreement. He understood Xiaoli Flying Saber the best and the horror he represented!
That is a strike that condenses the essence and spirit of the entire body!
It carries the terrifying belief of certain victory and the abandonment of everything!
With this strike, it’s either you die or I perish!
This blade has no limits; the stronger your strength, the more powerful this blade becomes. It’s not difficult to kill opponents of higher levels!
With Lin Beifan’s innate talent, if he truly unleashes this strike!
Even grandmasters could be killed instantly!
That’s why he ranked this blade as the first!
Just then, there was a commotion outside, accompanied by the sound of numerous footsteps.
The Saber Saint’s expression changed, “We have stayed here for too long. The authorities have discovered us! Young friend, our conversation today has greatly benefited me! We will meet again another day, haha!”
As he spoke, his body suddenly vanished from the spot.
That evening, the news of the Saber Saint Ouyang Badao’s arrival in the capital city quickly spread throughout the entire city.
“The Saber Saint has also come to the capital city!”
“The two grandmasters have gathered in the capital city. The great battle is imminent!”
“I can’t wait for this battle!”
“Who is stronger, the Sword Immortal or the Saber Saint?”
…
The entire city was in an uproar!
However, the imperial court was on high alert, and the entire city was under tight security!
It was said that in preparation for this great battle, the imperial court dispatched an army of 100,000 soldiers and horses into the city.
Among them, there were already 3,000 experts at the Acquired Realm level, and over 30 experts at the Innate Realm level. Even two grandmasters were sent.
However, despite such a large force, the imperial court still felt nervous and troubled.
Because this force was sufficient to deal with two grandmasters.
But it was only a matter of dealing with them.
If the opponents were determined to cause chaos and escape, you simply couldn’t stop them.
Especially these two, one was the Sword Immortal and the other was the Saber Saint, both possessing the most powerful combat abilities in martial arts. They were three times stronger than ordinary grandmasters, making it even more difficult to stop them.
However, all of this had nothing to do with Lin Beifan. He was just a scholar and did not involve himself in the affairs of the martial world.
However, one day, the door of his house was knocked open.
“Master Guo, it’s quite rare to see you. What brings you here, sir?” Lin Beifan was somewhat surprised.
The person before him was Guo Daoxia, the chief apprehender of the Six Doors, responsible for managing martial world affairs and a third-ranking official of the imperial court.
Although he was only a third-ranking official, he possessed the strength of a fourth-rank Innate expert and had a group of outstanding subordinates.
Even second-ranking officials of the imperial court had to show respect and address him as “Master Guo.”
But precisely because of this, Lin Beifan was surprised.
Because their paths were different—one was focused on literature while the other on martial arts, one was primarily involved in the court while the other in the martial world. They had no connection at all, so why would he come to find him?
“Master Lin, I am truly helpless in this matter, so I had no choice but to come to you for help!” Guo, the chief apprehender, said with a bitter smile.
Lin Beifan was even more astonished, “Master Guo, is there something that you can’t handle? You have connections in both the court and the martial world. Who wouldn’t give you face? If you can’t solve it, what can I do?”
“This matter can only be resolved by you! If you can’t do it, then there’s no one else!” Guo insisted.
“Master Guo, please come in and have a seat. Let’s have tea and talk!” Lin Beifan stepped aside, inviting the other person inside.
“Thank you, Master Lin!” Guo, the chief apprehender, thanked him with a cupped fist.
