"Hmm? Did you have a breakthrough?

" the saber user's nonchalant voice rang on the summit.

Black clouds billowed ceaselessly, passing in between the two men, concealing their identities. That is until the Katana holder spoke up. His voice sounding somewhat unsure.

"Xue Meng, do you consider yourself undefeatable just because of our last match?

"

His voice was crisp and clear, having the quality of sharpness. His posture spoke volumes about his intentions here, yet he did not make the first move and waited for a response.

The person called Xue Meng chuckled. He seemed indifferent even to the Katana holder's presence, almost bored.

His head tilted slightly to the right, his voice sounding genuinely curious.

"Far from it. There are a lot of stronger individuals out there, I have no shame in admitting that. But! That is only because they have been alive longer than me. Otherwise, they would be in the same situation as you today. Don't you think so, little Shun?

"

It sounded like he was talking down to a child, completely relaxed and slightly amused.

But the person named Shun, he was not giving off any aura at all. It was like he wasn't even there. Seeing that, Xue Meng straightened his head once again.

"Looks like you did make some advancements in your path, 'Lonely sword'. Come, show big brother what you have achieved,

" he said while putting his hands behind his back, and as he did, lightning and thunder boomed in the distance, lighting up a gigantic silhouette standing behind Xue Meng, staring down at Shun with blood-red eyes.

It was unclear what that massive silhouette actually belonged to, but the person named Shun was not surprised by its presence. Instead, he seemed a little lost.

"The Nirvana....

" he murmured while unsheathing the Katana in one swift move. Its blade was completely white, devoid of any impurities whatsoever.

*Shiing~*

It vibrated lightly with a discernible hum.

Xue Meng took a step forward and straightened his left hand. He chose not to take out the Saber hanging on his waistband, or rather, he did not need it.

"I truly hope you can cut me this time, I too would like to know the taste of my own blood one day, but alas it is not meant to be. The heavens would not have granted me this body if they wished me to be stuck down.

"

He took another step and raised his left hand.

"I will strike diagonally, see if you can fend it off,

" he mumbled.

The black clouds rumbled and the gigantic silhouette showed itself once again, mimicking Xue Meng exactly.

Shun threw away the sheath and closed his eyes. The Katana's blade faced downward, his back straight as an arrow. His lips moved but no sound came out of them, yet his voice echoed on the summit.

"One strike to Slay the man, One strike to Blind the Heavens.

"

By the time his voice reached Xue Meng, Shun was nowhere to be seen.

But Xue Meng did not seem surprised. Instead, as calm as one could be, he moved his hand in the exact same manner as he had previously announced.

It looked like something invisible passed through the empty space in front of him. With a grunt, crimson blood splattered on the floor and Shun reappeared in the distance. He was bent over vomiting blood. The Katana was already sheathed and the result was clear. Whatever happened in that single instant, it was Shun's complete loss.

Xue Meng, of course, did not seem surprised in the least. He turned around and started walking back up the peak.

"I will look forward to seeing your improvements when I get back. Prove to me that the famed 'Hall of Warriors' is just not an empty title anymore.

"

Shun raised his head with some trouble,

"Where....are you going?

" he asked weakly.

Xue Meng's back had already vanished from view but his voice clearly rang in the surroundings.

"To the tournament. I hear the Young Master with the Smouldering Pheonix bloodline has also joined. I want to see if he can give me a challenge. Tell my master I will be back when I'm bored.

"

And with those words, he disappeared into the clouds. Shun tried getting up but ended up vomiting several more mouthfuls of blood. There was no injury on his outer body yet he could not stop himself from throwing up.

***

Three days later the spirit bands of all the participants vibrated all at once. No matter where they were or what they were doing, each and every individual stopped and looked. It was an email with the title,

"It Is Time.

"

Ceni was sitting in a garden hand-feeding what looked like a white fox when she received the email. She stared at it for a few seconds, let out a deep breath, got up and walked out.

Henrik was sitting in a club, surrounded on all sides by remarkably beautiful women. They laughed and drank until nearly of their spirit bands vibrated at once.

Fulke was kneeling in front of a wooden statue of a strange figure while mumbling something non-stop. He paused and looked down at the spirit band with a dazed expression,

"It's finally time...

"

Hao Xuan was sitting in his room cross-legged. Zhurong laid in his lap and Fortis on top of his head. Like many others, he was also reading the email with great interest.

"All participants must contact their overseers for further instructions. Tardiness will not be tolerated.. The portal opens in Two Hours.

"