Chapter 13 : Round Two?

Jian Zheng left along with Gu Lingran. The crowd watched him leave with envious gazes, they were rather disappointed that Xie Huoji wasn't able to teach him a lesson.

"That kid is weird." When Jian Zheng left the lack of care attitude of Xie Huoji fell as he mumble to himself, "I should probably not provoke him in the future." He thought to himself but soon shook his head with a smile, "Nah! Since when did I Xie Huoji afraid of a challenge?" He said with eyes filled with a will to fight.

Afterwards, Xie Huoji lifted his great sword onto his shoulders then left, without a spatial ring all he could do was carry his sword out in public. When Xie Huoji left the elder sighed, "The sect simply cannot hold so much geniuses and now another one have come to cause a ruckus." The elder shook his head then left also leave, "I wonder who will remain on the top before the end off these two months."

As the elder took his leave the crowd of disciples also left. Back to Jian Zheng, he was currently walking with Gu Lingran with no idea where to go. Since the outer court doesn't have any place for the disciples, he couldn't think of a place to stay for the next two days.

"Big Sister, do you have any information on Xie Huoji?" Jian Zheng asked as he felt that things were a bit awkward since they were both silently walking nowhere.

"Not much, all I know is he joined the sect a year ago and challenged our previous top 5 and managed to defeat him with one strike of his sword." Gu Lingran responded while looking down on the ground, "I don't recommend offending him, he's someone who love to fight. After he defeated Xue Ling he went to issue challenges to the other top 4, but back then they all were on a golden mission just like yours." Gu Lingran continued while pointing on the golden note in his hand, "For some reason their still on those golden missions, anyways after Xie Huoji realize this he then went to fight the ones below the top 5 and defeated them all with one attack."

"What's crazy is that after defeating someone he simply moved to the next, not stopping as if he was on some sort of defeating spree... After he defeated everyone on the top 100 he stopped as he believed that those that aren't on the top 100 are considered weak." Jian Zheng listening to this was shocked, he wasn't shocked because he defeated everyone on the top 100, but that he did it continuously without stopping, "His spiritual energy must be immense..." Jian Zheng commented while regretting his decision of offending Xie Huoji.

"Yeah, after he did that he went away and never came back until today. His performance back then gathered some worshippers, those worshippers call him the Undefeatable Swordsman. As long as he's not defeated then this title will forever belong to him in the Cloud Empire."

"Mhm, that title is truly fitting for him." Jian Zheng nodded his head in admiration, at first he had a bad impression of Xie Huoji but afterward he realized he is the definition of what a true swordsman should be. Arrogant, unwavering and have an will to defeat all, 'Starting today I pledge that I will start cultivating these qualities.' Jian Zheng said a silent prayer in his mind as he truly wish he could strengthen his resolve as a True Swordsman with these qualities.

'But what was that strange intent? Its so similar to heavy intent but at the same time it feels like its not. No.... more like its an better version of the heavy intent.' Jian Zheng thought, when he used his heavy intent it felt like it was about to be devoured by Xie Huoji intent. If he didn't use his sharp intent along with his sword aura then his heavy intent wouldn't be able to hold up against his intent.

"That was the heavy intent that fused with a Dao, I believe that guy should be cultivating the Undefeatable Sword, a Dao meant to defeat your enemies only with your sword." Scarlett spoke in Jian Zheng mind, answering his questions, "Out of all the Daos, Its one of them that can stand next to a True Swords Dao, its even stronger than most True Daos." Scarlett explained.

"Scarlett you're finally willing to speak to me?" Jian Zheng chuckled to himself which made Scarlett angry, "Don't think I already forgave you for what you did!" Scarlett shouted with her cheeks turning red.

"But I thought you liked those stuff?" Jian Zheng probed as he though Scarlett was a spirit who seek pleasure.

"Do you think I am some lustful spirit?!" Scarlett became furious when she heard Jian Zheng comment, "Tsk! I'm no longer talking to you." She said while acting like a little girl who just got teased by her friends.

"Okay, okay, I will stop." Jian Zheng put on an apologetic smile which slightly pleased Scarlett, "Could you tell me more about Daos and how they work?" Jian Zheng asked, he was wondering how this strange thing actually make a person stronger.

"Do I really have to explain this?" Scarlett rolled her eyes in annoyance when an idea came to mind, "I know, why don't you beg me to tell you?" She said with a sly smile and eyes anticipating Jian Zheng response.

"Please, pretty please!!!" Jian Zheng said with an embarrassed smile, for some reason he felt that begging a woman was quite humiliating, but since she was his companion, he didn't mind.

"Hm... why don't you also go down on all fours and bark like a dog?" Scarlett wasn't satisfied at all, she told Jian Zheng to do ridiculous things which made his expression turn ugly, "My Queen you know I wouldn't mind doing this, but.... how about when were in private?" Jian Zheng fully surrendered, he didn't mind doing what she demanded, but since Gu Lingran was also with him he declined her offer for now.

"Hmph! You better keep your words!" Scarlett pouted one last time, "There are two types of Daos, The Mortal Dao and the Heavenly Dao." Scarlett began telling Jian Zheng about Daos which made him excited.

The Mortal Daos are the Dao of the lower realms, they can be found in secular worlds and by regular cultivators, "These Daos are also considered the weakest and if you think about it, all other Dao copied the Mortal Dao for before cultivation exist the only Dao that ever exist was the Mortal Dao until other Daos came into existence.

Then there's the Heavenly Daos, these Dao are the supreme rulers of the lower realms as they control all of the Mortal Daos and are the reason why certain beings cannot come to the lower realms.

The Heavenly Dao are far stronger than the Mortal Dao and the only way to cultivate this Dao is if you are chosen by them. "That Xie Huoji is one of those persons chosen by the Heavenly Daos and he cultivates the Heavenly Undefeatable Sword Dao which is a branch of the Heavenly Undefeatable Dao."

"But what about the True Dao?" Jian Zheng wondered, after hearing Scarlett explanation he began believing that the True Dao has to be stronger than the Heavenly Dao.

"Oh... I actually don't have much information on the True Dao. The only thing I know is that the Heavenly Dao have a deep hatred for the True Dao." Scarlett said.

"I see..." Jian Zheng slowly nodded his head as he digest all the information, "It seems like the Dao have a huge impact on the world." Jian Zheng muttered to himself.

"Did you say something?" Gu Lingran turned her gaze to Jian Zheng when she heard him whispering, "Oh! I was just wondering where I will be staying for these past two days." Shaking his head, he placed his mind on what is most important right now.

"Actually there are some benefits of entering the top 10, one is that you will finally obtain your own residence!" When Jian Zheng heard this, he sighed in relief as he couldn't imagine actually sleeping on the ground.

"I'll take you there!" Gu Lingran then led Jian Zheng to his residence. When he got there he saw ten stone caves lined in a circle together. These caves were neither big, nor small as they could occupy about twenty people.

"Since you are on the top ten, the last one belongs to you." Gu Lingran said.

"But how will I get in?" When Jian Zheng came closer to the cave he saw that it had some strange runes on it. Making it so that invaders wouldn't be able to get in.

"If you want to enter this cave then you will have to defeat me!" At that moment a roar came from the distance which gathered a crowd at the ten caves.

When Jian Zheng turned to where the roar came from he saw Qiang Shi looking at him as if he found a dangerous beast, "You came back for round two?" When Jian Zheng saw him he was delighted as the only reason for the only reason he managed to defeat Qiang Shi was because he caught him off guard.

Now that he's back for more, Jian Zheng could now test out his true strength.

"Qiang Shi has already heal from his wounds!"

"Hehe, it seems he wants to teach the new kid a lesson."

"It also looks like Qiang Shi got stronger!"

"You! The only reason you won was because I was careless!" Qiang Shi fury rose at Jian Zheng comment. He was horrified when he was struck by Jian Zheng sword, believing he was a dead man right then and there, but suddenly he gained a strange insight that not only healed his injuries but strengthen himself.

"Senior Brother is right, you were careless." Jian Zheng smiled which pleased Qiang Shi, "That's right, if it wasn't for my....! Wait, are you trying to make a fool out of me!!!" Qiang Shi thought Jian Zheng was submitting to him which caused him to start sprouting nonsense, but later he realized the true meaning behind his words which made his entire face twist in his fury, "I've had enough! Take my first, Lion Pouncing Palm!"

Qiang Shi clench his fist and the roar of an ferocious lion broke out of his fist. Jian Zheng immediately used Conquering Lightning Steps to move five steps back causing the fist to only hit nothing.

Even still, the fist was still surging with immense power, "You think you can run?!" Qiang Shi released his cultivation at the peak of the tenth stage which limited Jian Zheng movement, "Die!" His fist continue forward as he slam it towards Jian Zheng.

Jian Zheng quickly reacted by unsheathing his sword, when his sword came out his sword aura involuntarily came out along with his heavy and sharp intent. With these three boost, he no longer felt threaten by Qiang Shi cultivation, "How about you die?" With a sneer and frosty eyes, Jian Zheng slashed his sword out which met with Qiang Shi fist.

When the two connected the image of a lion form behind Qiang Shi that blew backwards from their strength whilst, a phoenix appear behind Jian Zheng.

These images could hardly be seen by the regular eyes, but if there was an expert there then they would be able to detect it.

"Is that all you got? To think I was defeated by you!" Jian Zheng was flung away from the exchange. His head went dizzy for quite a while before it became steady. Shaking his head he sighed, "I guess I let Xie Huoji character influence me there." Jian Zheng truly wanted to be someone like Xie Huoji who had an unwavering will, but sadly he failed to do so.

"What does it truly mean to be unwavering?" Jian Zheng muttered to himself, but couldn't get the answer. The more he try, the harder the answer become complicating.

"Did you become dumb after that one exchange!" As Jian Zheng thought of this question a roar entered his ears. Coming back to his senses he saw that Qiang Shi was already advancing towards him with the same move.

Seeing Qiang Shi coming closer, his eyes brighten. Sheathing his sword, he closed his eyes and ignore everything around him. When Qiang Shi was only five steps away from him his eyes opened as he felt enlightened.

To be unwavering one must have the ability to be steady like an ancient sculpture, unyielding to all obstacles!