Ten years ago, the Sword Villa was ruined and all the martial artists died in one night, because they only had two of the nine swords, including Zhongfeng.

In the Fighting Hall, all the people were focusing on the sword standing in the ground.

Later, they turned to look at the owner of the sword.

Di Hongtian was still quiet and peaceful, without any anxiety about this sword and the legend. He did not admit or deny the real ident.i.ty of this sword.

Some people were wondering, Isn’t he afraid of someone taking the sword? 

For thousands of years, the nine swords were kept by the most powerful artists, who were capable of protecting the swords and their own lives. Sometimes, when the owners died, one or two swords might appear in the world, and people ran to fight for the sword, which led to cruel combat. History had taught the people that without the top martial arts, keeping the sword meant you were signing your death warrant.

Though Di Hongtian had defeated dozens of clans, and showed his ability in the Fighting Hall, the audience didn’t regard him as a someone qualified to keep the sword. They could only imagine the flood of people that would come to try to take the sword for themselves once the story of today’s fight spread throughout the world.

“Does he not care about this amazing sword at all?” they wondered aloud. He was prepared to give this sword to Doukong just now after this battle. Who wouldn’t care about earning such a legendary sword?

Or did he know nothing of this sword’s value?

It also seemed impossible; when the leader of the Three-River Sword Clan explained the background of the sword, he did not show any doubt or surprise—which meant he already knew the legend of the sword.

The leader of the Sword Clan came near to him and asked him with fatal coldness, “Who are you, indeed? And where did you get this sword?”

“I have nothing to tell you,” he answered, and drew the sword from the ground, resting it against his shoulder.

“Since you won’t answer my question, don’t blame me for treating you roughly.” The leader had moved quickly toward him and used his two hands to catch his shoulder.

Di Hongtian turned to react, patting the sword on his palm.

Bang!

The leader also changed to pat his sword on his palm, his strength lashing out from his hands into the sword. Di Hongtian’s face became malformed; he kicked the ground to jump up. When he fell down, the sword was already out, and he used it to cut the palms of the leader.

All of a sudden, the abbot stepped out. With his palms still pressed together, Shishen stood between them, and his strong strength blew up his kasaya, and he reached out to separate the fighting two. “Relax, almsgivers, and listen to my advice.”

The Sword Clan leader closed his fingers and stabbed his palm as a sword to the kasaya, but his strength was fully absorbed and the palm was caught into the cloth like it was being sucked into a whirlpool. Di Hongtian used the heavy sword to chop toward the kasaya, only to find that the sword was pushed away by the balloon-like sleeve. Di Hongtian was surprised by his inner strength.

All the other artists cheered for the abbot.

The abbot astonished the audience by using only one movement to stop the two powerful artists at the same time.

“At first, I wanted to keep silent. But now that Almsgiver Huang already knew the ident.i.ty of this sword, I am afraid that little Almsgiver Di could not keep your quiet life anymore. Though my words can’t change anything about your predicted fortunes, why not take some time to listen to me for a little while before fighting this meaningless battle?” Shishen advised with his hands still in the posture.

“Almsgiver Huang, according to my judgment, the art this little almsgiver learned should be the Xuanyuan Dragon Art.”

“Xuanyuan Dragon Art?” The leader was shocked.

All the others were surprised by this announcement.

“Xuanyuan Dragon Art? The highest martial art of the Sword Villa?”

“This art went missing when the Villa was extinguished.”

“Only their offspring knows how to cultivate this art.”

So. . . ?

The abbot continued, “This little almsgiver has the inner power of more than sixty years of ordinary people. But his power was pure and thick, and combined well with his body. So it can’t be given from any outside precious pills which help to increase the powers, or received from some older cultivator. The only reasonable resource was by cultivating himself with the Xuanyuan Dragon Art. However, little almsgiver, your life indicators were not very good. Your life was cut in half because of cultivating this art.”   

When he finished his explanation, the audience became quiet again. Though they did not see his life indicators as the abbot, they believed in his a.s.sessment.

“If this young man is an orphan of the Sword Villa, and he has this Sword Zhongfeng, has he appeared in the world to invite death?”

Ten years ago, big sounds like thunder sounded in the Sword Villa, with golden lights towering up from inside; some people thought that it might be ruined by some supernatural disaster. But during the following years, all the students of the sub-branches of the Villa died or disappeared. People came to realize that it was the fault of a disaster. Some of the destroyers were still doing their job.

Di Hongtian’s appearance with this sword was like a sign to attract their attention.

Many in the audience guessed the ruin must be led by their two swords. Though they had so many powerful artists to protect the swords, they were destroyed in one night. How could Di Hongtian alone keep himself safe?

“Where is your last name come from?” The leader’s expression had already become calm.

“From my ancestors.”

“Oh, yes, his last name is Di.” People nodded.

“Only the family leader of the Villa had this last name.”

Then, the evidence was clear—what the abbot said was the truth.

The Leader of the Sword Clan sighed when he saw Di Hongtian’s steady face. “Why are you so rushed?” He was regretful. “It is meaningless to blame you now. Go as far away from here as possible. If you meet with any difficulty, go to the Three-River Clan to look for me. But, indeed . . . I am not powerful enough to help you reach your goal.” He sighed again and left the hall.

Di Hongtian was the orphan of the Villa, and he’d appeared in the world to challenge all the clans; his purpose was clear: to get revenge.