Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 243 - Wild Ambition

An eerie silence fell over the path. Lance felt the sky and the building fade away, leaving only the window and the pair of eyes within it. His pupils dilated, his breathing grew labored, and his heartbeat quickened. It felt like he was hallucinating. Lance saw red mist forming ribbons around the blonde youth’s shoulders, neck, and head. The vapor gathered above the window, forming a vortex that spun faster and faster...

"Hey, Lance, what's going on?" Suddenly, Aro's voice came from ahead, pulling Lance back to reality.

Lance took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and shook his head as the suffocating and oppressive feeling slowly dissipated. But his back was drenched in cold sweat.

When he looked up again, the once-open window was now shut, as if everything had been an illusion. He forced himself to let go of his rapier, noticing the white bandage wrapped around it was damp with sweat. He glanced around him, only then realizing that he had fallen behind the group. Seven or eight meters ahead, the group was looking back at him.

"What's the matter, Lance?" His bald, elderly instructor hurried over. "You don't look well. Did you not get any rest during the train ride, or did something go wrong with your training?"

Lance shook his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead as he quickly caught up with the others. His customary somber expression was back on his face.

Voices were already whispering mockingly in the crowd.

"He's pretending to be sick or injured just before a duel. Is he already thinking of excuses to save face if he loses? He was so bold just now, but now... haha..."

"..." Lance's aura turned even colder, but he didn't respond. Instead, he glanced at those who had spoken before turning to face Justin, the sect master of Evil Eye Fist.

That couldn't have been an illusion. He had only ever felt that kind of pressure from the head of the Soul-Breaking Sword Path. However, that meant that the blond youth he had locked eyes with a few moments ago was a combat artist, and a formidable one at that.

He hadn't expected Evil Eye Fist to be hiding such an expert. It was clear now that no renowned Covert Martial Arts sect should be underestimated; they might all have hidden aces up their sleeves.

Originally, Wenxia County’s Evil Eye Fist ranked slightly below average among the Eastern Nine Sects. Meanwhile, Lance ranked third in Soul-Breaking Sword Path, giving him a clear advantage in strength.

The sense of superiority he had felt when he arrived at Evil Eye Fist had been wiped away and replaced with wariness. It seemed Evil Eye Fist didn't just have two combat artists, but a third as well. Moreover, this third combat artist was much younger and well-hidden. They were secretly aiming to rise in the rankings within the Eastern Nine Sects, and Soul-Breaking Sword Path would need to be wary!

Lance's gaze swept over Justin's back, watching his smiling face as he chatted with others. The more Lance looked, the more he saw a hidden slyness in that smile, like a deceitful old fox.

The group continued moving along the road until they rounded a corner. Lance took the opportunity to whisper to his instructor, "Teacher, I just saw a combat artist in the third-floor window of that building. I wonder if Evil Eye Fist has been secretly nurturing him as a hidden trump card." He glanced at the people ahead.

"A combat artist? Are you sure?" The bald elder responded.

"I would not mistake that oppressive Qi," Lance said.

"Did you get a clear look at him?" the elder asked.

"Yes, short blond hair and looked very young. His features were delicate, almost like porcelain, and he didn't seem very old." Lance quickly described what he had seen.

"A beautiful young man with blond hair..." The bald elder thought for a moment before concluding, "He must be a newly advanced combat artist! And young at that! While some special Covert Martial Arts techniques can preserve one’s youthful appearances, they are incredibly rare. There are only a handful of combat artists who've practiced such arts, and none match the description you gave."

They had gathered information on every combat artist in the Hongli Federation since the establishment of the Eastern Nine Sects, especially younger ones. Whether genuinely young or simply youthful in appearance, such individuals garnered significant attention, as youth was the greatest asset in Covert Martial Arts. One could never predict just how far a young combat artist might progress in the future.

"Then I must have guessed right. Evil Eye Fist has been secretly training a newly advanced combat artist," Lance discreetly met his instructor’s eyes.

"This is valuable information." The bald elder patted his student on the shoulder, then glanced at Justin's back before scanning a few members of Star Ring Fist.

Though the Eastern Nine Sects functioned as a nominal collective, they were only loosely organized, so there was plenty of internal competition. If Evil Eye Fist indeed had three combat artists and continued to grow, it might threaten the positions of both Soul-Breaking Sword Path and Star Ring Fist within the Eastern Nine Sects. Very few sects in the Covert Martial Arts world of the Hongli Federation could boast three combat artists. That fact alone spoke volumes about the importance of this information.

The bald elder coughed twice as he discreetly moved to walk alongside Star Ring Fist's group. After a brief, hushed conversation, Aro frequently glanced toward Lance, his expression becoming more serious.

A few minutes later, the group arrived in front of the estate's combat arena. At this point, the bald elder returned. He leaned over to Lance and whispered something.

"Lance, later we'll..."

The group made their way into the combat arena, which was a specially constructed indoor space. White pillars supported the open area while a square combat zone, almost half the size of a soccer field, was surrounded by a black railing.

Justin, the sect master of Evil Eye Fist, chose this moment to show off a little. "This combat arena was just completed six months ago. We hired a professional designer to create this simple yet grand aesthetic. It took quite a lot of resources and cash to get this done."

The bald elder glanced around the arena, feeling an odd sense of familiarity from the structure. Suddenly realizing something, he said, "Sect Master Justin, this arena's style seems a bit like the large swordsmanship arena my Soul-Breaking Sword Path built in Nanmian City. Oh, I'm just noting the similarity—perhaps fine buildings often have similar designs. Don't take it too personally..."

Justin suddenly burst into laughter. "It's exactly the swordsmanship arena of your Soul-Breaking Sword Path! You got it right. Two years ago, when I visited your sect's branch in Nanmian City, I admired how grand and practical that arena was, so I took some inspiration from its design. I also incorporated elements from Star Ring Fist's training hall and the sports arena built by Cloud Dog Fist in East Sea County. I combined them to build this arena.”

"I'm no expert, so I just took the parts I liked and mashed them together to create this hybrid design. I hope the members of Soul-Breaking Sword Path won't laugh at me..." Justin's laughter was hearty as he candidly admitted that Evil Eye Fist's combat arena was inspired by the arenas of other Covert Martial Arts sects. Rather than feeling embarrassed, his forthrightness left the impression of a refreshing and open demeanor in everyone’s eyes.

However, to the members of Soul-Breaking Sword Path and Star Ring Fist, it was clear that Justin and Evil Eye Fist were no longer hiding their ambitions. The fact that the new combat arena drew from the styles of the top three sects within the Eastern Nine Sects hinted at their grander goals. They needed no further explanation. Those who understood, understood. When one lacks strength, imitating others is seen as admiring strength. But when one has hidden strength, doing so signals lofty ambitions.

Lance and Aro exchanged glances, as if they had reached an understanding in an instant. Their gaze toward Justin grew more intense. This trip to Wenxia County had not been in vain. They had unexpectedly uncovered a deeply hidden competitor within the Eastern Nine Sects. They would act according to the plan they had discussed.

After finishing his speech, Justin was puzzled when he turned around to see strange looks from Lance and his group. He thought perhaps they were displeased that their arena's design had been imitated. He coughed twice and addressed the group. "Please proceed, everyone."

The sect master of Bright Plate Martial Dao, Shute, immediately stepped forward. His eyes were fixed on Lance. On the other hand, Lance didn't seem to care much. He walked straight toward the combat arena, the rapier beneath his trench coat swaying slightly.

"Hmph," Shute snorted coldly and followed. In an instant, only the two of them stood facing each other in the center of the wide combat arena, while over a dozen people watched from the black railings surrounding them.

"Senior brother will surely win this time, or at the very least, it'll be a draw," said a pretty girl with silver hair, watching the arena. She, too, had a slender sword at her waist.

"I think his chances of winning are higher. Senior brother has been getting stronger with each challenge and has progressed rapidly. Some even say that he made another small breakthrough after his duel with the president of the Secret Sword Society a few days ago. He's getting closer to the realm of the mysterious and powerful combat artist..." A young man with his arms crossed in front of his chest quietly chimed in.

"Let's watch carefully..." the bald elder said, gazing at the scene in the distance.

On the field, the atmosphere had grown tense.

"Kid, even though you're known as one of the Eastern Three Stars and have reached the peak of the pugilist realm, I'm afraid you're not quite ready to defeat me. Let me teach you a lesson on behalf of Wenxia County's Covert Martial Arts community," Shute said. There was a hint of disdain in his tone.

"You talk too much," Lance replied calmly as he unwound the bandage from his rapier. The sharp blade gleamed coldly in the light.

"Hmph!" Anger flashed across Shute's face. His hands crossed in an instant, diving into the inner pockets of his coat. He drew them back out in a swift motion, revealing black leather gloves with dull, cone-shaped spikes on the back. They gleamed faintly in the light.

Zing!

The rapier gave off a sharp, crisp sound as Lance unsheathed it. He moved in the blink of an eye as he closed in on Shute. His coat left a long shadow behind him.

"For a quick and decisive match, I won't hold back!" Lance's black-and-red eyes narrowed slightly as the rapierin his hand thrust forward like a silver crescent moon, transforming into a wheel of light within the shadowy afterimages.

"Stone Plate Catapult Fist!" Shute shouted coldly as he charged toward Lance like a ferocious beast, his spiked gloves whistling through the air as they aimed a heavy blow at Lance's chest.

Lance reacted swiftly, blocking the strike horizontally with his rapier. The two clashed with a sharp "clang”. The impact pushed Lance half a step back; however, his gaze remained resolute. He immediately retaliated, thrusting his rapier at Shute's throat.

A hint of surprise flashed in Shute's eyes as he quickly retreated, but Lance's rapier was like a ghostly apparition, moving so fast that it was almost impossible to track. In just half a second, Shute was forced back three steps, with thin rapier marks slashed across his chest. Though they weren't deep, they were enough for him to understand Lance's overwhelming strength.

"So, you’ve already reached such a level..." Shute panted, his expression growing more serious.

"Keep going. I'm not done yet," Lance said, his tone as cold as ever, as he kept his rapier pointed directly at Shute.

"In that case, let me see your true strength!" Shute roared, launching his fists once more. This time, he unleashed his most powerful Covert Martial Arts killing move.

The two clashed fiercely again, allowing light from Lance’s rapier to intertwine with shadows from Shute’s fist. The sound of their weapons clashing echoed throughout the arena. The spectators outside held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, until...

"I win." Lance's rapier stopped in front of Shute's forehead, his expression as cold as ever. Slowly, he withdrew his rapier, leaving a single drop of blood to drip down Shute’s forehead.

Shute was filled with shock before he smiled bitterly. "You truly are one of the Eastern Three Stars. Your strength is indeed extraordinary."

Lance didn’t look back as he walked out of the arena and addressed Aro, "Will you take the next fight, or should I continue?"

"I'll take this one," Aro smiled, stretching his arms as he turned toward the members of Wenxia County.

"Is anyone from Wenxia County's Covert Martial Arts world willing to spar with me? I don't use weapons, and I'll be careful not to go too hard," Aro said in a loud voice.

Half an hour later, several representatives from Wenxia County's Covert Martial Arts community had suffered consecutive defeats. Meanwhile, Aro and Lance grew stronger and more formidable with each match. Their accumulation of Qi and strength was no longer ordinary.

By the black railings, many of Wenxia County's sect masters and elders stood injured, their spirits and morale visibly lowered.

Justin, secretly pleased by this outcome, walked over to Lance and Aro with a broad smile. "You two truly live up to the name of the Eastern Three Stars. Seeing you in action today confirms your reputation!"

Aro turned to Justin, his gaze suddenly becoming intense. "Sect Master Justin, why don't you call out that hidden combat artist of yours from Evil Eye Fist? I'd like to fight him."

Justin's smile froze instantly, and after a long moment, he replied, "Huh?"