Li Guorui thought about it carefully, he had never exposed his abilities in front of anyone.
How could Brother Li possibly know?
Meanwhile, Li Xiaofei smirked inwardly. He had already seen through Li Guorui’s secret from the very first day they met. This young man had awakened a superpower. It was not just any ability either, but a rare and immensely powerful variant of lightning-based superpowers.
However, Li Xiaofei had never exposed him. In fact, he had expected it all along. After all, in another world, the strongest warrior to ever exist, Li Guorui, was powerful enough to shatter the moon with a single punch.
Now, in this world, where the age of superpowers was only just beginning, this version of Li Guorui was already ahead of the curve. Bringing him to this international exchange event between Great Xia and Jiepeng’s superhumans would be a valuable experience.
If this event inspired him... If he could awaken his powers further... Then Li Guorui’s strength would skyrocket to the next level. Reaching Earth Level would only be a matter of time.
“Go on. I’ll come find you later.” Li Xiaofei gave him a pat on the shoulder before instructing one of the staff members to lead Li Guorui to the rest lounge. He still had other matters to attend to.
A frail yet imposing elderly man with snow-white hair and beard sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes closed in quiet contemplation.
He was dressed in Jiepeng’s traditional aristocratic attire, a long-sleeved robe with exaggerated, pointed shoulder guards. The attire had a collar that was left open by three finger-widths and pants that extended past his feet and dragged along the floor in a display of noble status.
To his left and right, five young warriors in red-and-white samurai uniforms knelt in perfect symmetry. They all had distinctive moon-topknots, rugged features and crimson sashes tied around their waists, with short wakizashi blades sheathed at their sides.
In front of each warrior, a long katana rested on their knees, the very symbol of their martial path.
The air was deathly silent. Everyone was holding their breath, seemingly engaged in cultivation, refining their spirit and will. The red scabbards before them appeared almost alive, subtly pulsating with an eerie red glow . The glow was faint, rhythmic, like the breathing of something... it was sinister and malevolent.
“Enter.” The frail elder's eyes snapped open. In that instant, silver bolts of lightning flickered within the dimly lit chamber, as if pure energy had just pierced through the void.
The door creaked open and a young man stepped inside. He had long, crimson-red hair cascading down his back. Dressed in a pristine white suit, he was adorned with golden earrings, a nose ring, and lip and eyebrow piercings. His eyes were lined with heavy, smoky makeup, exuding an air of androgynous seduction.
His steps were slow and deliberate. Upon entering, he removed his shoes at the threshold. Then, in absolute silence, he approached the elder and knelt on both knees before him.
“Lord Oniba, the exchange event will begin soon. Are you prepared?” The androgynous red-haired man spoke with a calm, almost teasing tone.
The frail yet formidable elder with snow-white hair and beard was none other than Oniba Henzō, the legendary Sword Saint of Jiepeng. A revered figure in Jiepeng’s martial arts world, his status was comparable to that of a national grandmaster.
The smoky-eyed, flamboyant red-haired man was Tōan Ritsu, a key representative of Jiepeng’s superhuman faction. The rise of superhumans had increasingly challenged traditional martial artists in Jiepeng. The Soaring Dragon Sect, Oniba Henzō’s prestigious dojo, was now in danger of losing its influence. Were it not for Oniba Henzō’s legendary prowess, the superhuman factions might have already eradicated the traditional martial sects.
This exchange delegation sent to Great Xia consisted of two factions, traditional martial artists and superhumans. This event was being closely watched back in Jiepeng. It was a decisive battle to determine whether martial arts or superpowers would reign supreme.
Whoever brought glory to Jiepeng would secure the support of the government, media, and financial elite. This crisis had forced even the reclusive Sword Saint out of seclusion to personally lead the delegation.
"You needn’t concern yourself with our affairs. Focus on how you'll handle Great Xia’s superhumans instead," came a sharp voice from Oniba Henzō’s right.
A young warrior, Kawashima Shi, one of Oniba Henzō’s most promising disciples, scowled. "As far as I know, Great Xia has at least two Sky Level superhumans participating tonight. You so-called superhumans who don’t have any foundation better not embarrass Jiepeng."
Kawashima Shi was known for his exceptional talent. His swordsmanship had already reached a near-mystical level and he was widely considered the most likely candidate to inherit the title of Sword Saint within the next twenty years.
But his one and only flaw? His temper. It was as sharp as his blade, too aggressive and too impatient.
Tōan Ritsu merely smiled. He showed no anger, nor did he seem bothered by the insult. His eyes remained calm as he looked at Oniba Henzō.
"We have received intelligence. Great Xia’s martial representatives include Qi Honglei, the Wukong Swordmaster of Mount Hua, San Jue Daoist, a revered grandmaster of the Kongtong Sect, and the current junior Celestial Master from Wudang Mountain
"All three of them are formidable warriors," Tōan Ritsu continued.
"I urge Sword Saint to prepare well... and not let Jiepeng’s ancient martial arts lose face at the exchange."
He bowed respectfully, then turned and left.
Oniba Henzō remained silent.
"Master. Those superhuman brats from the new faction are getting too arrogant! Why didn’t you put them in their place just now?"
Oniba Henzō’s disciples spoke with righteous indignation, their faces filled with frustration. For a brief moment, a flicker of disappointment passed through Oniba Henzō’s aged eyes.
For centuries, the sword sects had held a position of supreme honor in Jiepeng. They had been revered almost as a state religion and widely respected. This was both a blessing and a curse. The downside? His disciples had grown complacent, arrogant, and utterly intolerant of any challenge to their authority.
They had been raised to look down on everything outside their martial traditions, and unable to accept even the slightest provocation. In contrast, the new superhuman faction that was led by Tōan Ritsu, had produced individuals who were not only powerful but also composed, strategic, and adaptable. The contrast between tradition and modernity was strikingly clear.
Oniba Henzō hadn’t spoken earlier not because he lacked the ability to suppress them... but because he saw the bigger picture. This trip to Great Xia was not just about proving the strength of Jiepeng’s sword sects. It was also an opportunity.
It was an opportunity to let his disciples experience true adversity, to let them witness the strength of Great Xia’s martial arts, and to let them realize that the world was far bigger than their narrow perspective allowed. Only through struggle and defeat... could they truly grow.
Half an hour later, a staff member arrived to inform them that the exchange event was officially beginning. Oniba Henzō, along with his disciples, joined the rest of the Jiepeng delegation and proceeded down a long hallway. They eventually arrived at the main venue.
An official combat arena had been specially constructed inside the massive Great Xia sports stadium, along with seating arrangements for spectators and dignitaries.
The guests took their seats in order. As contestants, Oniba Henzō and his disciples were seated closer to the combat platform, allowing them an unobstructed view of the upcoming battles.
The exchange meeting was divided into two main segments. The first part focused on cultural performances. Top-tier celebrities from both Great Xia and Jiepeng had been invited to showcase their respective cultural heritages.
For example, the famous Great Xia singer, Wang Fei, performed a rendition of When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright? Her melodious voice, combined with the refined elegance of the lyrics, earned her enthusiastic applause from the Jiepeng audience.
The second part, which was also the highlight of the evening, was the martial arts competition.
However, Oniba Henzō had little interest in music or cultural performances. At his age, his mind was solely dedicated to the way of the sword. No matter how beautiful a woman was, she was nothing more than flesh and bone to him. A mere mortal shell.
Instead, his gaze shifted toward the VIP seating area. At this moment, the high-ranking officials of the Jiepeng delegation and Great Xia government had already exchanged greetings and taken their places in the prestigious front row seats.
This event's political weight was immense. Each nation had sent a vice ministerial level leader to attend, so the VIP platform was filled with high-ranking political figures from both sides.
“Huh?” Suddenly, Oniba Henzō let out a low exclamation of surprise.