Chapter 435: A Single Strike
The atmosphere had changed. It was eerily quiet.
While duels between high-ranking martial artists were known to broaden the horizons of other masters, today’s match carried a weight far beyond that.
“......”
The audience, numbering in the hundreds, watched in absolute silence. Only a few whispers stirred here and there. Even the wind moved slowly, as if matching the solemnity of the moment.
The humid air shimmered under the scorching sun, wavering like a mirage.
Amidst the almost sacred tension, only the voices of the two warriors standing on the duel stage rang clearly.
“I knew you would come.”
“I didn’t expect to face you, though. Aren’t you the First Disciple of Jeomchang?”
“I started at the same level as the current Second Disciples. It was only after that the Grandmaster took me under his wing. Since Ipwang Fortress selects its representatives based on merit rather than seniority, there was no need for the main sect to send an older Second Disciple against you. If you’re not confident, I can step down.”
The young woman, seemingly in her early twenties, smiled softly, her gaze warm. Around her waist, a dark-colored sword rested against her sash.
Her presence was extraordinary.
She wore a crimson silk combat robe, and her jet-black hair cascaded down past her waist.