The foremost swordsman under heaven, Jue Wushen.
The most renowned weapon under heaven was "Heaven's Sin."
Everyone knew that Jue Wushen was the wielder of Heaven's Sin, and in the martial arts world, he was known by the name: "Sword Devil."
No one truly understood Jue Wushen, nor did they know his origins, or even which sect he belonged to. They only knew one thing: once the Sword Devil's Heaven's Sin was unsheathed, it was certain to taste human blood. Countless martial arts masters had challenged the Sword Devil, but none had ever returned.
If someone were to ask: "Who is the most dangerous person in the martial arts world?"
Then, it could only be the Sword Devil, Jue Wushen.
On the main road, a figure leisurely strolled into view. This figure was a young man, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a plain, seemingly ordinary face. Yet, his two eyes shone brilliantly like night stars, making onlookers feel a chill. He wore a dark purple long robe. On his back, he carried a wooden box, about three or four *zhang* long. Along the box were two large characters: "Heaven's Sin."
Suddenly, at that very moment, a series of galloping hooves echoed from ahead. In just a short while, a troop of riders thundered into view. There were about thirty of them, all dressed in identical attire, each carrying a longsword on their back. Clearly, they all belonged to the same sect.
The thirty individuals dismounted their horses and immediately surrounded the purple-robed young man. Each of them wore an angry expression, their killing intent palpable, weapons clutched tightly in their hands. They waited only for a command to simultaneously strike, intending to hack the young man into mincemeat.
Suddenly, one of them, his face contorted in rage, shouted:
"Sword Devil Jue Wushen, you killed our Manor Lord! Today, we are determined to avenge his death and wash away this humiliation!"
Jue Wushen's gaze remained fixed forward, utterly indifferent to his surroundings, as he coldly replied:
"Once Heaven's Sin is unsheathed, it is certain to taste human blood. If you are resolved, then have you prepared yourselves to offer your blood as a sacrifice to the sword?"
The moment his words fell, a shiver ran through the surrounding group. A cold current coursed down each person's spine, causing goosebumps to erupt.
Suddenly, the thirty swords in the hands of the thirty individuals simultaneously vibrated, emitting a resonant "Oong Oong..." that rattled their eardrums. The thirty swords seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand, slipping from their owners' grips. All of them shot high into the air, then, quick as lightning, plunged into the ground, encircling Jue Wushen and forming a perfect circle. Each sword continuously swayed violently, as if bowing before a deity, before a peerless divine sword!
The thirty men's eyes were filled with terror, and they couldn't help but tremble, muttering:
"It's the Ten Thousand Swords Bow Down, the Ten Thousand Swords Bow Down..."
In the history of the martial arts world, the highest realm of a swordsman was not the Unity of Man and Sword, nor was it One Sword Transforms into Heaven. Surpassing those, *that* was truly the highest realm!
"Heavenly Sword Appears, Ten Thousand Swords Bow Down."
That was the pinnacle!
That was the ultimate!
The thirty men's eyes glazed over, their accumulated battle intent extinguished in an instant. They were disciples of Hidden Sword Mountain Manor; how could they not know what the highest realm of a swordsman was? If their Manor Lord had died at the hands of a Heavenly Sword master, that was no humiliation at all. Rather, it was a profound honor!
All thirty men, without prior arrangement, stood at attention and bowed. They spoke in unison:
"Heavenly Sword Appears, Ten Thousand Swords Submit."
With that, everyone turned and left, one after another. Although deep down, all thirty of them were unwilling, what chance did they have against the Heavenly Sword Master? Only if all the sect masters of the Ten Sects gathered together would there be a chance of victory. Otherwise... it would all just be a delusion.
"Are you, perhaps, the Sword Demon?"
Just as the thirty individuals departed, a deep, booming voice rang out.
Appearing before Jue Wushen was a man around thirty years old. With a burly physique, a tiger's back and bear's shoulders, he looked truly wild and untamed. On his back, he carried a saber with a red gem inlaid into its hilt, giving it an eerie appearance.
But what particularly caught Jue Wushen's attention was his movement technique. This man had appeared so abruptly; his figure was already before him even before his words had finished, as if he had been standing there all along.
Jue Wushen's indifferent eyes swept over the man before him, and he replied coolly:
"Demon? I don't know. What defines a Demon?"
The man raised his head and laughed heartily, saying:
"The Sword Demon, the foremost swordsman of the martial world, I never expected you to be so young. I am Bei Kuangdao Lu Jiao, and I humbly request a few pointers from the Sword Demon."
So, the rough-looking man was none other than the renowned Bei Kuangdao. No one in the martial world was unfamiliar with his name. There was a common saying: "Southern Sword Demon, Northern Mad Blade." If Jue Wushen was the foremost swordsman under heaven, then Lu Jiao was the strongest saber master in the jianghu.
As soon as Lu Jiao finished speaking, Jue Wushen's eyes narrowed, shooting out a terrifying glint as he replied:
"Heaven's Punishment is only used to cleanse sins. If it is drawn, it must certainly see human blood. You bear no sin, so why should I draw it?"
Lu Jiao was surprised and asked again:
"Then the Villa Master of Hidden Sword Mountain Villa bore no sin. Why did you use Heaven's Punishment to kill him?"
Jue Wushen replied:
"Who said I used Heaven's Punishment to kill him?"
Lu Jiao was even more surprised and asked:
"Then what did you use?"
Jue Wushen replied nonchalantly:
"For a swordsman, everything around can be a sword. I simply used a branch to stab him to death!"