Chapter 645 A Budding Star
The hall floated in the void like a cloud. Made entirely of the rare Baiyun Stardust essence, it had been refined by a god-level Inscriptionist. It had enormous power and intricate traps; not even a Martial Emperor realm master would be able to break through it.
That super sect was indeed peerless. Even after thousands of years, the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect would not be able to compete with it in strength and style.
Ding Hao believed that this was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect’s might.
On a seat to the right, a burly man with a sparse mustache stood up, raised his glass and laughed. “I’ve long heard that the Saber and Sword Addict is a rare talent of this generation. I am more convinced after having met you in person. Haha, Brother Ding, allow me to propose a toast to you.”
Ding Hao replied and drank up the strong liquor in the cup. “Brother Situ, you flatter me. Cheers.”
Except for his poor sense of direction, he had a good memory of everything else. Ding Hao memorized names and identities of all the people that Bai Quanshui introduced to him. The man with a mustache was Situ Konglou, the Head of Sword City’s Inspection Hall. Despite his young age, he had already gained a high position of power.
“Haha, great. I like people like you.” Situ Konglou laughed heartily.
While Ding Hao was observing the others, people were also observing him.
Some people didn’t understand why Bai Quanshui was so kind to Ding Hao. For them, he was only a young man from a remote backward town, a country bumpkin if one were to put it bluntly. How special could he be? After all, he was a man of the countryside without much idea of the outside world. It would be likely that he would embarrass himself if he arrived in a magnificent and ancient city like the Sword City, just like country bumpkins did when visiting larger cities.
However, they changed their views after seeing how he behaved.
Although Ding Hao came from a remote and barbaric land, he was good-looking and gentle, modest and elegant. People were dwarfed by his otherworldly aura and impressed by his strength, which seemed unfathomable. He was incomparably graceful even in the Sword City.
Right at this moment…
A sinister voice broke through the inscription barrier of the Golden Sword Palace. “Haha, the legendary Saber and Sword Addict is just a child who is still wet behind the ears. Bai Quanshui, is this the genius that you struggle to match? Haha, you’ve become muddle-headed over the years!”
Everyone stood up in awe.
A man forced his way through the guards outside and walked slowly into the hall, step by step. Behind him were five masters dressed in the clothes of the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect. They were openly hostile, which contrasted sharply with the joyful atmosphere in the hall.
Bai Quanshui slowly stood up with a wine cup in his hand. “Martial Uncle Bai Sha, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
The leader looked to be in his 60s or 70s. His hair was grey, while his thick black eyebrows were in a peculiar saber-like shape; a pair of slanted eyes were blazing under them. He had a hooked nose and a burly figure. The sword robe he wore was as red as blood. Red Qi swirled around him, making him look like a beast ready to prey. It was extremely terrifying.
“I heard that the guest you had been waiting for arrived, so I came to have a look. The legendary Saber and Sword Addict, hehe, he doesn’t live up to the name at all. I’m so disappointed…” There was a sinister threat in Bai Sha’s tone.
He looked at Ding Hao with undisguised provocation.
Bai Quanshui replied calmly like a silent iceberg, “You are my martial uncle, so I won’t argue with you. You should leave now, lest you embarrass the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect in front of our honored guests.”
“Distinguished guest? Hahaha, this country boy who hasn’t grown up yet has become a distinguished guest of our Extermination Swordsmanship Sect? How ridiculous…” Bai Sha laughed out loud.
The people in the hall turned pale.
It was a naked challenge.
Right at this moment…
Ding Hao, who had been silent, slowly stood up from his seat, picked up the cup in front of him, walked over step by step, offered it to Bai Sha, and said calmly, “Haha, so you’re Brother Bai’s martial uncle. As a junior, I would like to propose a toast to you.”
“Who do you think you are, daring to offer a toast to me?”
Bai Sha sneered and swung at Ding Hao’s hand.
Unexpectedly, it was like slapping a piece of fine iron. His hand was numb after it bounced back. However, Ding Hao’s wrist didn’t tremble in the slightest; there weren’t any ripples in the wine, either.
“Huh? Showing off before the master?” Bai Sha quickly recovered from the surprise and understood Ding Hao’s intention. He laughed disdainfully and attempted to smash Ding Hao with his right palm, which was flashing with sharp silver flames.
“I only want to drink with you. There’s no need to be angry.” Ding Hao looked calm. He held the wine cup in his right hand and slowly handed it over.
Bai Sha struck Ding Hao’s wrist with his palm but it made no difference. He failed to stop Ding Hao; instead, he started shaking involuntarily under an extremely strong force.
“Good boy.” Bai Sha’s smile disappeared, while silver light shined on his whole arm. He pressed toward the hand holding the cup.
But what shocked him was that Ding Hao was still holding the wine cup at ease, while steadily pushing his wrist forward. Bai Sha tried his best to defend, but the irresistible power on Ding Hao’s wrist was like a towering mountain, against which his struggle became futile.
His face turned red, as he watched Ding Hao force the wine cup to his mouth bit by bit.
“You’re courting death…” Bai Sha was furious and was ready to pull out his sword.
Ding Hao’s face, which had looked peaceful, suddenly turned icy. He said with a smile, “I won’t force you, since you don’t want to drink with me.”
Before his voice died away, he shook his wrist, and the wine in the glass spurted out like a sharp sword and onto Bai Sha’s face.
At the same time, a powerful force burst out from Ding Hao’s wrist. Bai Sha groaned as his face turned red. He flew backward with a bang, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fell on the steps outside the main hall…
“Elder Bai…”
“Martial Uncle!”
The experts who were accompanying Bai Sha cried out in shock. They rushed forward to help Bai Sha up.
Everyone turned to Ding Hao with awe and horror in their eyes.
Bai Sha was a senior expert of the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect. Even though he wasn’t the top cultivator in the sect, he wasn’t one that could be underestimated. As someone who had reached the four-apertured Martial Emperor realm, he did not expect that he would be so vulnerable in front of that young man.
“Well, you win this time, but we will meet again. Lad, let’s wait and see.”
Bai Sha opened his mouth and spat out more blood. After leaving those few harsh words, he turned into a flowing light and disappeared into the distance with his men.
The other sword practitioners who remained in the Golden Sword Palace no longer dared to look down on Ding Hao. None of them was able to defeat Bai Sha with such ease. Bai Sha had taken advantage of his seniority and acted recklessly. He had been openly against Bai Quanshui for the past few years, and had never thought that he would suffer such a loss.
The banquet regained its liveliness.
The experts present rushed to offer toasts in Ding Hao’s honor. The atmosphere was countless times warmer than before.
If they had previously complimented Ding Hao out of respect for Bai Quanshui, their approval at this moment was from the bottom of their hearts. If such a young man was able to defeat a Martial Emperor realm expert so easily, his potential would be limitless. As long as he didn’t die young, he would definitely become a supreme master; no one would reject being friends with such a person.
After a few rounds, they all drank to their heart’s content. The crowd slowly dispersed afterwards.
Arrangements were done for Ding Hao to rest in the Golden Sword Palace.
The magnificent building floating in the void would become Ding Hao’s temporary residence in the following days. Bai Quanshui generously arranged more than 20 disciples of the Extermination Swordsmanship Sect to run errands for Ding Hao. He also carefully selected nine beautiful young maids to serve him, all of whom were real people, rather than the other puppets.
Night fell.
Ding Hao leaned against the railing and looked into the distance. There was boundless brilliant light.
The magnificent Sword City looked more mysterious and beautiful under the night sky.
All kinds of flowing light were flashing down to the ground and up in the air. It was as beautiful and intoxicating as the starry sky. The nearby buildings were like divine palaces. Strange magical weapons kept whistling across. The city dazzled like a fantasy world.
Such a beautiful night scene was many times more vibrant and beautiful than that of those metropolises that Ding Hao had seen in his previous life.
“This is the real Land of Infinity. I seldom travel outside of the Snow Province, so I have limited knowledge of the world. No wonder the outsiders refer to Snow Province, Ice Province, and Earth Province as barbarian lands. They are no match for these massive provinces. However, the Sword Province is not the largest in the Northern Region, and Sword City is not the largest ancient city. How prosperous must the Green Province be…”
Ding Hao couldn’t help but sigh.
It was eye-opening for him.
The Sword Master spoke in his mind, “Little Chap Ding, did you see? This is a place where the real experts belong. Endless resources, endless masters, endless sects, endless opportunities, and endless power…”
Ding Hao nodded.
“Bah, it is nothing. If we were to go to the Divine City…” The Saber Master was obviously not impressed. She had seen more magnificent cities. Compared with them, the Sword City was next to nothing. She was about to say more, but she suddenly realized something and stopped.
Ding Hao didn’t ask more questions.
It might have something to do with the past of the two old monsters, of which neither of them had been willing to share, so it was useless to ask.