"Resolve this quickly, aim for a draw if possible!" the Fifth Highness said.
When His Highness spoke these words, he used the Northerly Dialect. The Tang Zang Empire spans vast lands, with over two thousand different dialects spoken throughout. Not to mention the Aegeanians, even the native Silk Continent people can hardly understand them all.
The golden-armored swordsman summoned by his highness nodded heavily.
The man, known as the Imperial Guard, exuded a faint osmanthus fragrance. His physique was slender and graceful, holding a short sword adorned with two-colored tassels in his jade-like white hand, and wore a metal mask with a ferocious visage.
Generally, only warriors with extremely handsome features wear such grim masks to intimidate the enemy.
"Our grand empire embodies the demeanor of a great nation. Let the other side understand the vastness of the heavens and earth!" the Fifth Highness continued to earnestly instruct his Imperial Guard: "But remember, Gongsun, as they have come from afar, you must not disgrace the prince of the opposite side too much."
A skilled eye can discern truth at a glance. Having witnessed Prince Ventéclair’s sword aura, the prince could ascertain that such speed and level of sword aura would not pose much trouble for his top swordsman.
Liu Zhanhan watched the Fifth Highness and his Imperial Guard with a begrudgingly amused expression.
If one abandons all inner defenses and calculations and approaches this from a purely tactical perspective, Liu Zhanhan holds absolute certainty and trust in Ventéclair’s strength — this supposed son not only masters all eighteen martial skills but also dabbles in plant system magic. Additionally, rare Bimen techniques like Dou Qi, Berserk, Telekinesis, and Breath Lock, seemingly irreconcilable elements, have reached a miraculous fusion in him!
Solely relying on this accomplishment of a well-rounded practitioner, Ventéclair would indisputably immortalize as a legendary hero in any era of Aegean history!
And this is merely the surface of Ventéclair’s power!
No cunning individual would reveal all their crucial skills to the public!
This is precisely what makes Ventéclair truly terrifying — even formidable Five-Fingered Sword Blades are used as mere Deception. What terrifying heights has his true strength reached?
Who exactly is he, and why did he join the Verdant Emerald?
The urgency of time has exceeded Liu’s ability to idly wait for answers. He must quickly uncover Ventéclair’s true identity and his true intention for impersonating his son!
Today offers the perfect opportunity!
The vast realm of the Tang Zang Empire, encompassing an entire Silk Continent, is an unparalleled national power no Aegean Kingdom can rival; as a Royal Guard of the Tang Zang Empire, the prowess of the Imperial Guard must exceed that of a Bimon Golden Crown Gladiator! This content belongs to n̷o̷v̷e̷l̷f̷i̷r̷e̷.net
Using the Imperial Guard as a touchstone, no matter the pretext or the substance, aligns with Liu Zhanhan’s test of his son’s long-held dreams!
Under the premises of quickly resolving and drawing if possible, if Ventéclair, constrained as he is, is forced by the Imperial Guard to reveal a novel trick, his background and origins could hardly escape the scrutiny of the many sharp-eyed onlookers!
But what Liu Zhanhan didn’t expect was that the Tang Zang Fifth Highness shared a similarly strong confidence!
It seemed as if Ventéclair’s sword aura display actually bolstered the opponent’s confidence in victory.
"Be cautious; after all, your opponent is not an Aegean Sword Saint, but a Silk Sword Saint!" Liu Zhanhan warned Ventéclair discreetly. He wouldn’t want the kid to be struck down instantly, rendering this trial meaningless.
Ventéclair gave the elder a significantly meaningful glance in response.
Even without the "father’s" warning, Ventéclair wouldn’t underestimate his opponent!
For an advanced expert, every battle demands total dedication, no matter how inferior the opponent; this is the fundamental attitude when facing an adversary!
This simple principle, though understood by all, is not always consistently applied; Ventéclair is different. The trials of life have indelibly taught him a harsh lesson, one he vows never to repeat.
"Your Majesty, in our duel between two great swordsmen, besides Gangqi, may we use techniques other than swordsmanship?" the Fifth Highness looked at Liu Zhanhan with a cheerful smile.
"Adding magic to the mix, what would that make?" Liu Zhanhan shook his head generously. "In fact, Ventéclair has achieved significant accomplishments in plant system magic too. I’ll just instruct him not to use magic!"
What made Liu a bit awkward was that the Fifth Highness was also giving instructions to his sword-wielding, mask-wearing warrior. It seemed it wasn’t only Ventéclair good at both swordsmanship and magic.
The sharp Snow Iron Dragon sword sliced through the air, creating two gusts of wind. Ventéclair politely placed the shining blade before his nose, saluting his opponent.
The Tang Zang Imperial Guard slowly withdrew his short swords, spread his hands, and conjured a dazzling display of cold light, finally standing on one foot like a soaring eagle, holding a gleaming short sword in each hand and nodding slightly at Ventéclair with a motionless stance.
The icy glare from behind the Imperial Guard’s metal mask was colder than the sword lights. His short swords glistened in the dimness, adorned with intricately patterned elegant yellow tassels gently swaying in the wind, transcending the mundane world.
"Your Highness, is your swordsman ambidextrous?" Liu Zhanhan raised an eyebrow, casting a sidelong glance at the Fifth Highness.