"Thatâs right, if you can beat me, Iâll agree to let one of the two of you leave the Imperial Palace safely. But if you lose, youâll hand over the Eight Feet Mirror obediently and tell me everything I want to know," he said.
"Agreed!"
Ye Luoâs eyes flashed with a sharp gleam as he stepped forward, Lingyun Sword in hand.
"Be careful!" Leng Ruobing said, looking at Ye Luo with a face full of concern.
Whoosh!
Miyamoto Takeshiâs eyes narrowed, and he viciously cleaved his katana towards Ye Luo.
Ye Luoâs figure flashed, and the blade light from the katana exploded on the ground, leaving a deep gash.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Miyamoto Takeshi wielded the power of the first level of the Saint Realm, his entire bodyâs strength surged as he swung his katana repeatedly, all targeting Ye Luo, but all were evaded.
"Do you only know how to hide?" Miyamoto Takeshi called out coldly.
"Iâm afraid that once I make a move, you wonât stand a chance," Ye Luo scoffed.
"Nonsense!"
Miyamoto Takeshiâs eyes flashed with disdain, and in an instant, he disappeared like lightning, reappearing behind Ye Luo the very next second, brutally slashing at him.
"Be careful!" Leng Ruobingâs complexion changed upon seeing this and she quickly warned him.
Ye Luoâs mouth curved into a mysterious smile; he had clearly anticipated the otherâs presence. He ducked, evading the strike and thrust the Lingyun Sword diagonally, aiming straight for the assailantâs abdomen.
Seeing Ye Luo not only dodge his attack but also counterattack, Miyamoto Takeshiâs expression changed as he swiftly retracted his katana to block the thrust in front of him, fending off the incoming strike.
However, this strike was something Ye Luo had been preparing for; the Lingyun Sword contained all his strength, which erupted the moment it clashed with the katana.
With a loud bang, Miyamoto Takeshiâs katana shattered, and the Lingyun Sword stabbed towards his lower abdomen.
"Crown Prince!"
The faces of the several Imperial Family experts present changed as they all called out.
But being a martial artist of the Saint Realm, Miyamoto Takeshi wasnât so easily injured. A surge of True Qi burst from his body, and in an instant, he vanished from sight, reappearing several meters away, his gaze filled with a cold glint as he watched Ye Luo.
Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens!
Lingyun Sword Technique!
Ye Luo pressed his attack, channeling the Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens towards Miyamoto Takeshi, his Lingyun Sword unleashing a series of strikes in conjunction with the Lingyun Sword Technique.
Even though Ye Luo had not fully mastered the powerful movement technique of the Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens, his speed when propelling it was not at all slower than that of martial artists at the first or second levels of the Saint Realm.
Miyamoto Takeshi simply couldnât evade his pursuit, and the Ninjutsu he used was just as ineffective against Ye Luo.
Ye Luo stuck close to Miyamoto Takeshi, taking advantage of the moment his opponent was weaponless, aggressively attacking with the Lingyun Sword Technique, giving his opponent no chance to counter.
The expressions of the Imperial Family experts watching became extremely grave and shocked; they hadnât anticipated that Ye Luo, an Innate Peak Stage martial artist, could pressure a martial artist of the first level of the Saint Realm to such an extent.
The Lingyun Sword Technique, the third moveâSword Severing Skies!
All the power of his five major unique meridians burst forth as Ye Luo unleashed the third move of the Lingyun Sword Technique.
Boomâ
A terrifying force burst forth, blasting Miyamoto Takeshi away and causing him to fall to the ground, blood spewing from his mouth.
With Ye Luoâs strength driving the Lingyun Sword coupled with the formidable Lingyun Sword Technique, experts of the first tier of the Saint Realm had no way to withstand it without a powerful weapon or an exceptional skill.
"Crown Prince!"
A group of imperial guards hastily rushed over to help Miyamoto Takeshi up.
"How about that? I told you, the moment I make a move, you have no chance of retaliating," Ye Luo said with a hint of a smug smile on his lips.
"Dare to harm the Crown Prince, youâre seeking death!"
Several royal Saint Realm powerhouses glared at Ye Luo, ready to strike.
"Hold on!"
Miyamoto Takeshi spoke up, stopping everyone from acting rashly.
"How about it? Youâve lost now, itâs time to keep your word, and let my friend here go," Ye Luo said gravely.
"No, Ye Luo, you go first!" Leng Ruobing hastily interjected.
"Ruo Bing, donât talk, you go first," Ye Luo insisted with determination in his gaze.
"Arenât you celebrating too soon? Who said I lost?"
Miyamoto Takeshiâs eyes fixed on Ye Luo as he suddenly let out a sinister smile.
"What?" Ye Luoâs pupils sharpened, looking at Miyamoto Takeshi, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
At that moment, Miyamoto Takeshiâs eyes closed as he began muttering something under his breath, a foul, bloody scent wafting through the air, and a blood-red aura began to pulsate around him, spreading a terrifyingly dangerous presence.
"What is this?" Ye Luoâs expression grew serious, sensing a dangerous aura.
"Not good, master, heâs trying to awaken Muramasa, the evil blade!" Suddenly, a voice from the Eight Feet Mirror, Xiao Ba, echoed in Ye Luoâs mind.
"Muramasa, the evil blade? One of the four great divine tools of the Island Country!" Ye Luo exclaimed in shock, thinking, "This guy has also managed to master Muramasa, the evil blade?"
"No, he has not mastered Muramasa, the evil blade," Xiao Ba spoke.
"What? Not masteredâthen what is he doing..." Ye Luo was confused.
"Once an instrument soul is born and becomes a Kingâs Tool, they have the right to choose their own owner. Not just anyone can master such a treasure. Without the power of the Spirit Sea Realm, itâs very difficult to become master of a Kingâs Tool," Xiao Ba explained.
Hearing Xiao Baâs words, Ye Luo couldnât help but think back to when his blood was about to fall onto the Eight Feet Mirror, and how the latter suddenly emitted a burst of light preventing the blood from staining the Mirror.
Subsequently, his blood unleashed a golden light that forcefully merged with the Eight Feet Mirror, eventually leading it to accept him as its master.
"Xiao Ba, so what does that mean for me..."
"Master, I donât know either. I initially planned to prevent you from becoming the master, but unexpectedly, a power burst from your blood that I couldnât resist, forcing me to recognize you as master,"
"But this guy doesnât possess that kind of capability, so he hasnât mastered Muramasa, the evil blade. Instead, heâs used a special method to fuse the evil blade into his body."
"He can only control Muramasa, the evil blade, by awakening it through a special method at a critical moment. In this way, Muramasa, the evil blade, is the master, and he is the servant; yet he is able to harness its powerful strength."
Xiao Ba explained.
Ye Luo finally understood. He hadnât expected that there could be such a method; Miyamoto Takeshi had obtained Muramasa, the evil blade, but was completely unable to master it.
The relationship between him and Muramasa, the evil blade, was akin to borrowing rather than ownership, quite unlike how the Eight Feet Mirror became his. And all of this was due to the nature of his blood.