The smile on Zhu Xian’s face slowly faded and she gently drew her sword with both hands.
A clear sword cry echoed across the martial platform as the silver blade left its sheath.
The air itself seemed to sharpen.
Across from her, Fang Lian merely smiled.
Her own sword remained in its sheath.
"I’ll make the first move."
Zhu Xian vanished.
A streak of silver flashed across the platform.
The distance of several hundred meters disappeared in an instant.
The disciples gasped.
"So fast!"
The sword descended like moonlight.
Elegant yet fatal but without anyone seeing when she had moved, Fang Lian’s sheathed sword had already intercepted the attack.
She stood exactly where she had been moments ago.
"You missed."
Zhu Xian’s pupils contracted.
She hadn’t, the trajectory had been perfect.
Then why...
She didn’t stop to think as her sword danced once more.
Sword light flooded the platform like an endless river.
The arena trembled beneath the relentless barrage.
Fang Lian leisurely blocked every strike with the sheath of her sword.
She didn’t even bother drawing it.
Her expression remained calm, as though she were casually strolling through a garden.
The disciples gradually fell silent.
Senior Sister was actually being suppressed.
Fang Lian smiled as she looked at Zhu Xian.
"So you’ve finally used it. Then let me show you something beautiful while your eyes are open."
A faint hum spread across the heavens, carrying an invisible wave of sword intent that rippled through the air like circles expanding across a tranquil lake.
Every sword within the surrounding space answered with a clear, resonant cry.
The swords hanging from the disciples’ waists trembled violently, and several even began sliding out of their sheaths without their owners touching them.
"What is happening?"
"My sword..."
"I cannot control it!"
Even Zhu Xian’s own sword slowed.
It was not because she wished it to stop but because the sword itself was resisting.
For the first time in her life, Zhu Xian felt hesitation from the blade in her hand.
Her pupils contracted as realization dawned upon her.
"...A Sword Domain."
Within that domain, all sword intent belonged to Fang Lian alone.
Every foreign sword was treated as an unwelcome guest.
Every swordsman who entered became an outsider before the true master of the domain.
Fang Lian smiled faintly.
"Beautiful, is it not?"
A clear chime echoed through heaven and earth.
The pressure filling the domain surged several times over in an instant.
Zhu Xian’s sword path, which had appeared flawless only moments before, was suddenly riddled with countless invisible flaws.
It was as though the domain itself refused to acknowledge her understanding of the sword.
Sweat slowly trickled down Zhu Xian’s forehead as the invisible pressure bore down upon her.
She gritted her teeth against the overwhelming suppression.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, she smiled.
"So this is your sword. It truly is wonderful."
Instead of retreating, Zhu Xian took another step forward.
Her sword let out a fierce cry as she forced her sword intent to its absolute limit.
Across from her, Fang Lian watched the scene with calm, unwavering eyes.
"Your eyes truly are extraordinary."
She redirected Zhu Xian’s incoming slash with effortless precision.
"But you have too many rooms to fill and grow."
The platform exploded beneath Zhu Xian’s feet as she launched herself forward once more.
She poured every remaining trace of her sword intent into a single dazzling strike that illuminated the entire arena.
The watching disciples unconsciously held their breath.
They all understood that this was the strongest sword Zhu Xian had ever displayed.
Fang Lian’s smile deepened slightly.
"Now allow me..."
She slowly drew her sword completely from its sheath for the first time.
"...to show you a higher mountain."
The moment Fang Lian’s sword left its sheath completely, the Sword Domain quietly disappeared.
She met Zhu Xian’s ultimate strike with a single calm and gentle slash.
Clang.
The two swords collided with a crisp, resonant sound.
Zhu Xian’s blade was effortlessly redirected to the side.
The force of the exchange sent Zhu Xian sliding backward across the platform.
A single strand of her black hair drifted gracefully through the air before settling onto the stone beneath her feet.
Silence descended over the arena.
Not a single disciple dared to breathe.
The duel had ended and Zhu Xian had suffered an overwhelming defeat in a single exchange.
Fang Lian smiled gently as she withdrew her sword.
She returned the blade to its sheath with an unhurried motion.
"Thank you for the duel."
Only after hearing those words did the disciples gradually recover from their shock.
"...Senior Sister lost."
"Just one strike..."
"How is that possible?"
Zhu Xian lowered her gaze to the strand of hair resting on the platform.
She quietly raised her head to meet Fang Lian’s eyes.
There was no frustration in her expression.
Only sincere curiosity remained.
"How much of your strength did you hold back?"
"Eighty percent."
Fang Lian answered without the slightest hesitation.
Zhu Xian held her gaze.
"Why?"
Fang Lian slowly shook her head and awarm smile appeared on her face.
"Holding back or not..."
She looked at Zhu Xian with unmistakable admiration.
"...you are only the second person who has ever forced me to draw my sword inside my own Sword Domain."
Those words shook the disciples far more than the duel itself.
Only the second?
Then who had been the first?
Fang Lian continued before anyone could ask.
"Most swordsmen lose the moment they step into my domain. Their swords reject them before I ever need to draw my own but your eyes allowed you to keep finding a path through my suppression."
She sighed softly.
"It is a pity you have not trained them to their full potential."
A sincere smile spread across her face.
"Even so, I truly enjoyed this duel."
Zhu Xian remained silent for several long breaths then she smiled.
"So did I."
She slowly returned her sword to its sheath.
"The next time we meet, I’ll make you draw your sword before I ever enter your domain."
Fang Lian laughed softly.
"I’ll be looking forward to that day."
The two women cupped their fists toward one another in mutual respect.
The martial arena remained wrapped in complete silence.
No one knew the identity of the first swordsman Fang Lian had spoken of.
Everyone present understood one undeniable truth.
Their Senior Sister...
Had earned the respect of a monster.
———————————————————
As the Fang Clan disciples made their way back to their mountain after successfully avenging their Patriarch’s honor.
My Qing looked at Fang Lian and asked.
"Senior Sister Lian, who was the first?"
Instantly, every pair of eyes turned toward Fang Lian.
Fang Lian answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Of course it was Mother."
The disciples exchanged looks and realised how stupid the question had even been.
A bright, eager smile spread across Fang Lian’s face.
"Ah... I can’t wait until I become strong enough to challenge her in a one-on-one duel."