Chapter Twenty-Five: Sword Rain over Xiaoxiang

With a sharp clang, Cao Hong drew the eight-sided Han sword, Lian, from his back. Instantly, the temperature in the room plummeted, and the warmth from the bronze stove could not withstand the biting chill emanating from the blade.

"An eight-sided Han sword! Its surface gleams like a mirror, radiating cold in all directions. The quenching and polishing must have been done simultaneously to seal in such a fierce chill. Surely, it was forged atop a mountain, where only the purest air, free of impurities, could produce this refined steel. But what sort of water was used for quenching to preserve this icy aura?" Shi Ah stared at Lian, his eyes shining, as he praised the sword.

"This was my wife's dowry, crafted by a renowned artisan, and named after my courtesy name, 'Lian.' If my skill is inferior, I shall gift you this sword—what say you?" Cao Hong replied with a calm smile.

His words drew gasps from the gathered officials and distinguished guests. A blade of refined steel cost at least nine thousand coins, enough to support a soldier for more than a year. Yet the sword in Cao Hong's hand was a peerless treasure, priceless and unique. In Luoyang, it could easily fetch tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of coins. If it had been a gift from the enigmatic Xu Deng, its value would be even greater.

"Are you serious?" Shi Ah's eyelid twitched as he asked.

"My word is my bond—once spoken, it cannot be recalled. But, Brother Shi, if you should lose by a margin, what then?" Cao Hong asked with a smile.

Shi Ah paused, then laughed heartily. His swordsmanship was passed down from the Sword Sage, Wang Yue, whose skills were so extraordinary that even Fei Changfang, the Immortal of Runan, was wounded in defeating him, requiring a long recovery. Shi Ah could not believe he would lose, and so, with bold confidence, he declared, "If Qingmang fails, I leave myself to your disposal, Brother Zilian!"

Cao Hong smiled, "Excellent! You are indeed forthright, Brother Shi." He then turned to Cao Cao, "Elder brother, may I have your permission to spar with Qingmang?"

Cao Cao laughed, "Zilian shows spirit; as your brother, I must make it happen." He turned to Zhang Miao, "Meng Zhuo, kindly ask the singers and musicians to withdraw."

Zhang Miao nodded and dismissed the entertainers with a smile, saying, "Blades are blind—take care, noble warriors."

Zhang Chao, Zang Hong, and Chen Rong all smiled, clearly confident in Shi Ah's abilities.

Shi Ah drew his five-foot sword from his back—a slender blade, two fingers wide, faintly glowing with a blue light, forged of fine steel.

Shi Ah stepped into the main hall, smiling, "This sword was crafted by a famous Luoyang smith, using blade-forging techniques. It is neither four-sided nor eight-sided, quenched in Luo River water, named 'Qingmang,' which is also my courtesy name. Though it may not rival Brother Zilian's treasure, it is no common blade—light and elegant. Do take care, Brother Zilian."

Cao Hong laughed, holding the three-finger-wide Lian, and stood three meters before Shi Ah, sword at the ready. The eight-sided Han sword, three fingers wide and over six feet long, far outmatched Shi Ah's slender sword, which was only about one meter twenty centimeters. Cao Hong, standing tall, smiled arrogantly, "Brother Shi, please!"

Shi Ah nodded slightly, probing forward with Qingmang. In an instant, his spirit, energy, and mind focused on the sword, achieving the unity of man and blade. Cao Hong sensed that Shi Ah's sword intent had reached the supreme realm of refining spirit and returning to emptiness.

Wang Yue's swordsmanship emphasized intent. Once the sword was drawn, the realm would rise and unleash tremendous power. No wonder Shi Ah said earlier that technique was secondary—at the level of wielding the blade with intent, moves themselves become trivial.

With a soft hiss, Qingmang thrust toward Cao Hong's chest with blinding speed. The chilling sword energy shot forth, raising goosebumps across Cao Hong's body.

This strike was fast, precise, and ruthless! Cao Hong could feel the endless continuity of Shi Ah's sword intent—as soon as he blocked, more killing moves would follow, each more exquisite and forceful than the last. This was indeed top-tier swordsmanship, called "moves broken, intent unbroken," the supreme pursuit for sword practitioners.

Though exquisite, it was not without a counter. Cao Hong stepped aside, executing Three Rings Around the Moon. With a flick of his wrist, the eight-sided Han sword traced three circles, its light trapping Qingmang within. If a move becomes sword momentum, it cannot be resisted directly—this is called unstoppable force! Yet it can be contained, a technique developed by later swordsmen to counter sword masters, breaking the law of conservation of force—a grand sword technique unknown in the late Han.

Shi Ah felt his sword momentum wrapped and stifled by Cao Hong's move, his force unable to flow freely, even beginning to be diverted.

"What is this sword move?" Shi Ah wondered, raising his wrist and adding extra force to compel Cao Hong into a direct clash. Now, in the unity of man and sword, his spirit was highly concentrated, his blood surging, and his strength greatly increased. Cao Hong's realm was below his, so in a direct contest, Cao Hong had no advantage.

But as Shi Ah expected Cao Hong to withdraw or clash hastily, Cao Hong instead laughed loudly. Suddenly, the eight-sided Han sword burst into countless points of cold light, raining down upon him. Shi Ah's upward move could only wound his opponent, but Cao Hong's attack threatened to leave him riddled with wounds.

Three Rings Around the Moon transformed into Chaotic Cloak, a move created in the Republic era by a sword master for trading injury for victory—using weakness against strength. With his sword momentum inferior, Cao Hong had no choice. Shi Ah had never seen such a technique and could not defend against it. He had to pause, step back, and turn Qingmang into a curtain of light against Cao Hong's sword.

At that moment, Cao Hong's attack paused, and he unleashed his strongest skill—Xiaoxiang Sword Rain. This set of techniques, acquired by chance, was the fiercest in his arsenal, like the chaotic, dense rain of Xiaoxiang, hailing from Hunan and famed throughout the region.

Unlike the previous cold stars, Xiaoxiang Sword Rain sent sword energy flying in all directions as Cao Hong's footwork accelerated, launching a frenzied assault around Shi Ah.

A relentless clang of metal rang out—ten, twenty times over. Everyone in the hall felt the icy sword energy; Cao Hong now appeared as a mere silhouette, sword light dancing as he pressed Shi Ah, who was forced into full defense.

Shi Ah was utterly frustrated—his sword momentum had been suppressed by Three Rings Around the Moon, disrupted by Chaotic Cloak, and finally, Xiaoxiang Sword Rain had encircled him completely. Never since mastering his art had he been outmatched in a duel, but now, he was rendered powerless.

Three Rings Around the Moon, Chaotic Cloak, Xiaoxiang Sword Rain—all were masterpieces by later martial arts masters, synthesizing the wisdom of their predecessors and even borrowing from physics. Shi Ah, though gifted in sword intent and momentum, could not comprehend techniques that extended beyond his understanding; his intent and momentum were thus helpless, like bronze against iron.

Now, Shi Ah had lost both sword intent and momentum. All he felt was Cao Hong's relentless, rain-like sword momentum and omnipresent attacks. If not for his quick reflexes, he would have been defeated long ago.

In the end, Cao Hong stabbed Shi Ah's right thumb, the one holding his sword. With a hiss, blood splattered across the hall. Shi Ah grunted, and Qingmang, along with his thumb, fell to the ground.

Cao Hong sheathed his sword and smiled, "Forgive me, and thank you for yielding!"

Shi Ah stood stunned, his face ashen. Zhang Miao was dumbfounded. Zhang Chao, Zang Hong, and Chen Rong wore looks of shock, while Cao Cao's ugly visage beamed with delight. The hall was utterly silent; not even a dropped needle would be heard.