The events of the Mystery Pavilion's auction naturally remained a 'mystery' to all, but rumors still flowed among the upper echelons grapevine. Now, only two days remained until the Talent Selection begins, and the citizens, as well as the practitioners in Machen Town, just got more excited as the battles in the arenas and activities only increased.
However, as the mood increased, so does the changes in the atmosphere.
Inside of a luxurious hall, within a private mansion.
A beautiful woman in white priest-like robes with golden patterns sat on a chair; she had long black hair that was bounded into a ponytail reaching all the way to the floor, her eyes were small and narrow but gave off a strange, alluring charm when viewed up from any angle. As she looked out her window she gave off a peculiar aura as if the world around her was nothing more than pieces of information that flowed according to her will.
She looked at the sky with a noble temperament as she spoke softly to the wind "The eastern wind shifts, as chosen's are born when the destined dragon arises, another's fate will start to see new changes..."
Knock! Knock!
As she was disturbed from her thoughts, she couldn't help but frown slightly as she glanced at the door and spoke. "Who is it?"
"Young Mistress! The representative from the Xuan Clan's Imperial Family seeks an audience with you." said a man dressed in similar white robes.
"I see, let them in then," she said as she once again turned her vision towards the sky observing the dazzling snow that fell upon the earth.
******
At the entrance of Machen Town a few figures arrived, they were dressed in shiny armor with bright flame-like capes that flowed in the wind, as they rode on top of black horses that had flame hoofs. It seemed as though they were a walking sea of bright flames that stood out in white snow that blanketed the earth.
Traveling at the center of these individuals were a group of men and women who seemed to be above the secular world, they wore similar sky blue colored robes with a sword emblem adorned on their chests.
The citizens and wanderers who stood at the entrance of Machen Town looked towards these individuals in surprise.
"The... Bright Flame Knights!!!!" shouted a man who seemed to recognize these individuals.
"What? The Kingdom's Knights are here too!" said another individual as he looked at the knights.
"Wait! That group in the middle, the clothes their wearing aren't they..." a practitioner said as he looked at the group in the center of the Bright Flame Knights.
"Hmm, already arrived I see... it looks like this show is about to get started. " said the mysterious from the Midnight Temple, as he looked at the group entering the town from a window in a nearby pub, with a strange smile on his face.
******
Within a private booth, inside of a pub.
Tang Fie and Xin Zhu were currently having a loud conversation, as Tang Wu, and Xin Qing sat silently observing their new conflict.
Bang!!!
"You ungrateful cheat! Is this how you treat soon to be family, I demand compensation from your family!!" Xin Zhu said as he smashed the chess board to pieces.
"Old Zhu, It's not my fault that you're not good at chess, look, since it is this way, as our families are set to be connecting through Wu'er's and Qing'er's engagement. Why not we set another date for a rematch? I promise to try and stake more next time so that if you win. You'll earn more than enough to make up your loss today," said Tang Fei with a smile on his face as he mocked Xin Zhu.
"You shameless bast----" as Xin Zhu was about vent his frustration once more there was an interruption.
Sou!
A man with an with a hood over his head appeared with the room and knelt politely on the ground.
Seeing this man appear both Xin Zhu and Tang Fei became silent as they looked towards the man, soon, Xin Zhu spoke.
"What is do you have to report?"
"Reporting to Old Master, the emissaries of the Sky Splitting Sword School have just arrived at Machen Town, but some unexpected characters are escorting them." said the man.
"Oh? and Who are these characters?" replied Tang Fei interestedly.
Tang Wu and Xing Qing also looked curiously.
"They are, the kingdom's first guards the Bright Flame Knight's!" reported the man.
"Ha Ha! It looks like the sudden appearance of the Golden Dragon Empire, the Southern Wasteland Group and a few other threatening parties has caused our King to feel nervous. I didn't think he'd actually go as far as sending out his prized troops." Xin Qing said as a roared with laughter. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com
"Brother Tang, do you think the Xuan Imperial Clan is gonna try anything during the Talent Selection?" asked Xin Qing.
"I'm not sure, but even if they do. What could they possibly do against the group from the Golden Dragon Empire and the even more so mysterious Southern Wasteland Group?" said Tang Wu as he looked out the window puzzledly.
Tang Fei hearing Tang Wu's words nodded and replied: "Wu'er says right! Nothing can be done, and as for our forces, we only need to take advantage of the scene when there is any change. We need to guarantee our entrance into to the mystic realm!"
"Em," said Xin Zhu as he nodded.
******
Inside of a vast room stood a few individuals.
Three of them were youngsters who were currently looking at the man seated at the center of the room. The young man who was holding a spear walked up and spoke to the man with the dragon emblem.
"Xun Yanshan, I came here to test my strength and prove myself amongst the gathered geniuses. Not to partake in some harebrained scheme, while you are the superior sent on this venture I will not yield to your decisions!" as he said this he walked outside of the room followed by the other two youngsters.
"Brother Zhang, wait up!" said the pretty young girl.
"These three brats... sigh... this is why children are troublesome. I guess I'll have to approach it with a different method. You there, did you find out any of their details!" Xun Yanshan.
"Reporting to Sir, the Southern Wasteland is too slippery, we don't know any more details other than the fact that they came to our empire utilizing some unknown channel. " replied the man.
"Hmm, this won't do? I need more information deploy more of our forces and leave no stone unturned. I want as much information about as soon as possible! Before the Talent Selection begins I must have a grasp on the entire situation do you hear me!!" Xun Yanshan said sword as he looked towards the man with a sharp light his eyes.
"Yes Sir!" replied the man who bowed politely.
"Good! Now go!" he said as he waved his hand and looked out the window towards a specific location.
"Sir, there is one more piece of interesting news." said the man.
"What is it?" asked Xun Yanshan with his eyes still looking out the window.
"It seems that the Sky Splitting Sword Sect has successfully arrived. However, the Bright Flame Kingdom King has deployed the Bright Flame Knight's to act as their escorts." said the man.
"The Bright Flame Knight's? Oh.. well now, this is interesting..." replied Xun Yanshan as he smiled and continued to look out the window unperturbed.
******
Inside of the Feng Mansion, Within a large open field.
The figure of a young man could be viewed standing in a field of snow. He was barefoot wearing no upper clothing but loose-fitting trousers. Within his hands were two swords, one of which was pure black with dark lightning flowing around its form, and the other being of bright crimson with rust all over its blade, a small hint of purple flame could be seen swirling around the rusted crimson sword.
As the Feng Yu stood in the field his eyes remained closed as he attuned himself with the very forces of nature, it felt as if he became nothing but a sword, his mind vanished, his self-vanished leaving behind not a standing youth but what seemed to be a sword.
Swooooshhh!!!!
As the snowy wind grew more and more intense clusters of snow became to cover his stillness form, as if trying to create a snowman. However, this was only but for a short moment as a change soon occurred within the field.
Shiiingg!!!
A sharp cry of a sword resounded throughout the silent field of snow within, following which all of the snow that clustered above Feng Yu began to fell apart as if they had been cut and brushed off to sides.
Feng Yu's body then started to give the impression of a sharp blazing nature, a merger between the essences of fire and realm of the sword. He moved both his swords in his hand and waved them at the snow falling from the sky.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As if the had gotten a new pair of hands or rather, extended his arms out to gain a further reach, as all of the snow that fell on top of the swords were neatly arranged at their tips forming a miniature snowman on each sword. It was as if a man had used both his arms to catch the falling snow but in the process used precise balance and godly technique to create natures work of art.
Finally, Feng Yu opened his eyes and regained his sense of self, he looked at the snowmen on his sword and smiled with happiness that was visible in his eyes.
"Whew! I've finally achieved the boundary of a true swordsman. 'One With Sword' now I can walk the Way of the Dual Sword and strive to comprehend Dual Sword Intent. I had once gotten a glimpse of this intent in the battlefield of the dummies, and now I only need to practice my Sword Techniques through the use of these two swords. This will then become..." as Feng Yu said this, he looked at the swords in his hands and waved them once more causing the snowmen to disperse as the swords cross over each other.
"The Dual Extremity Sword Path!..."