Since the era of meteors, they have been relatively easy to find.
They are truly talents bestowed by heaven.
People who are far superior to others.
Those who find countless insights with a single sword.
There has never been an era without a genius.
Just looking at the Three Respects, they were superhumans who dominated an era.
The Ten Great Martial Artists of the Central Plains, known as the Seven Irons and Three Fists, were also undoubtedly geniuses.
Talent, by its nature, is hard to hide.
Even if they don't want to be recognized, their every move and step is different from others, and the world naturally recognizes them.
No matter how much time passes.
The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
The young talents who represent this era are called stars, ultimately because they are geniuses.
They are inherently unreasonable.
This doesn't mean they don't work hard.
It just means the value of their efforts is different.
Just by looking at the disheveled Sword Dragon in front of us, you can understand.
The youngest Plum Sword Master, the top talent of Huashan. How heavy are these two titles?
To become a disciple, one must possess outstanding talent to reach the level of a Plum Sword Master.
It means to harbor a plum blossom in the dantian and to make a plum blossom bloom at the tip of the sword.
It means to understand the essence of Huashan's martial arts.
Yingfeng, a third-generation disciple, has already reached this level, which is a testament to his extraordinary talent.
Crack!
Such is Yingfeng.
“Grrr...!”
He was being outmatched by a younger boy.
Xin Xian doubted his own eyes.
The internal energy the boy emitted was a stifling heat.
It seemed as if the burning flames were consuming Yingfeng's plum blossoms.
This wasn't a matter of how to use internal energy or how to observe and utilize the body.
It was simply a matter of overwhelming skill.
'...How can this young boy...'
Ouyang Qian of the Shanxi Gua Family.
A boy who is still unknown, not even having a nickname.
Xin Xian also knew the Gua Family.
A family of top martial artists, with the Tiger Hero as the patriarch, and the Sword Peak as the top young talent.
And it's also the family of his fellow disciple.
Knowing that they mainly deal with fire, he had only predicted that the boy would be no less skilled.
While a tiger father might have a dog son, Xin Xian thought this wasn't the case with Ouyang Qian.
'...But I didn't expect it to be this much.'
Fire techniques are inherently rough and hard to control, even for the martial artist themselves.
Along with the ice techniques of the Northern Sea, they are powerful and destructive, potentially leading to the user's destruction.
The fierce nature of the cultivation method puts a great strain on the body when circulating internal energy.
While they are more destructive and versatile compared to other techniques, the body often collapses before the technique can be perfected, making it difficult to reach great heights.
But what about this boy?
Cold sweat trickled down Xin Xian's chin.
It's impressive that he can emit such overwhelming fire energy, and even more so that he's not causing any damage to the surroundings.
This means he has perfect control over the fierce fire energy.
Yingfeng tries to create some distance to avoid the flames that seem to want to consume him, but it's not easy.
Ouyang Qian doesn't easily give him space.
In a fight between martial artists, distance is crucial.
Especially when a swordsman like Yingfeng faces a martial artist like Ouyang Qian.
If you want to close the distance, do it more closely.
If you want to widen the distance, do it more decisively.
Ouyang Qian never lets go of the close distance with Yingfeng.
This shows that he knows exactly how to deal with a swordsman.
Yingfeng clenches his teeth and channels internal energy into his feet.
Instead of retreating, he charges at Ouyang Qian.
Even in this tense situation, Yingfeng's sword movements are graceful.
His well-trained footwork is steady and heavy.
Yet, it is also fast and fluid.
To master Huashan's complex and profound sword techniques, he had to practice a somewhat difficult footwork for years.
Yingfeng immediately demonstrated this footwork.
The day his teacher and Yingfeng's teacher declared that Yingfeng was Huashan's top talent was that day.
The tip of the sword is light and sharp.
Yingfeng's sword movements, with plum blossoms blooming from the tips of his feet.
The Plum Blossom Realm.
A realm where plum blossoms are present in every movement of a Huashan martial artist.
This is the standard for a Plum Sword Master and a sign of a true Huashan martial artist.
Xin Xian nodded at this.
Though Yingfeng was somewhat overwhelmed by Ouyang Qian's flames, he seemed to have found a way and began to counterattack.
Petals seemed to follow his sword movements, pressing against the flames.
Despite being pushed back by the flames, the plum blossoms began to suppress the fire.
The Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Huashan's sword technique was beautifully displayed by Yingfeng.
The movements were beautiful, but the internal energy in the sword was sharp, and the plum blossoms that followed were no less so.
Indeed... No matter what, defeating the Sword Dragon is...
“Cough...!”
'What...?'
Xin Xian's eyes widened.
Yingfeng suddenly screamed while performing a technique.
A glimpse showed Ouyang Qian's fist striking Yingfeng's side.
Trying to see more clearly, the intense flames blocked the view.
This meant that Xin Xian, a second-generation disciple, couldn't see through the flames emitted by the boy.
'...How deep must his internal energy be to do this?'
Thinking that the flames had diminished, Xin Xian realized it was a mistake.
They hadn't diminished; they had been intentionally reduced.
The range of the flames was clearly narrower, but the destructive power of the fire had intensified.
The petals that tried to resist were helplessly burned away.
Something fell from the crimson internal energy.
It was Yingfeng's wooden sword.
Boom!
“Grrr...!”
Shortly after the explosion, Yingfeng burst out of the flames and tumbled backward.
After rolling on the ground a few times, Yingfeng groaned and couldn't easily get up.
Swoosh!
The range of the fierce flames swirling in the air gradually narrowed.
Eventually, they gathered in a circle around Ouyang Qian.
Steam rose around Ouyang Qian due to the heat.
The plum blossoms that were about to bloom were consumed by the scorching fire.
Like a flower blooming from a rooted tree, full of life, ultimately being futile in the face of burning flames.
Cruelly and mercilessly.
Yingfeng's plum blossoms, unable to fully bloom, were burned away by the boy's flames.
Yingfeng's gaze, filled with shock, confusion, and disbelief, was directed at Ouyang Qian.
“Tsk.”
In the silence, the sound of a tongue click was particularly loud.
Yingfeng, unable to meet Ouyang Qian's gaze, lowered his head.
Xin Xian, not understanding why, looked at Ouyang Qian.
Only then did Xin Xian realize why Yingfeng had avoided eye contact.
Ouyang Qian's gaze was filled with disappointment, obvious enough for anyone to notice.
**************
While the advantages and benefits of a talented person are countless,
there are also clear disadvantages.
Even a prodigy, with mediocre talent, will inevitably hit a wall and fall.
Having crossed walls too easily, when they face a true wall, they often collapse, unable to climb over or break through.
Yingfeng is a genius.
I know this better because I saw his past life.
However, he couldn't overcome the wall.
In terms of talent, Yingfeng is on par with or even surpasses Gu Xibi.
This is evident even now.
Being a Plum Sword Master is not just a name; it requires arduous training and profound insights based on cultivation methods.
It signifies at least a first-class martial artist.
To be a first-class martial artist at such a young age.
It's understandable that he is confident.
[It's ridiculous for you to say such things.]
Surrounded by the absurdities of a fortuitous encounter and reincarnation, I had to let go and see things objectively.
Xin Noya and others around me might not understand this.
Geniuses are arrogant.
It's inevitable.
From the Gu Juye I've seen, to Nan Gong Tianjun, and even Gu Xibi.
Because they are fundamentally different from others, because they are superior, and because they can view themselves more objectively, they are even more arrogant.
This is also the greatest poison they will face in the future.
Yingfeng is not a bad person.
He knows how to be polite and has a certain level of perceptiveness.
He is young and easily swayed by emotions, but this might be resolved with time.
However, even Yingfeng is arrogant about his talent.
And he will eventually collapse against that damned wall, as he did in his past life.
“What are you doing?”
My fierce question made Yingfeng's shoulders tremble.
“Why aren't you picking up your sword again?”
The wooden sword, pitifully lying on the ground, was visible.
He must have tried to use it, but the technique was empty.
He must have just learned it.
[...What a monstrous kid.]
Yingfeng's biggest mistake was this.
[You're talking so easily, brat. Do you really think it's possible to attack by exploiting the gaps in such a chaotic sword technique?]
It's not easy, not if there's a moment of doubt or fear, not if there's no certainty about the outcome.
This is a matter of experience, not talent.
Experience gained by fiercely cutting through battlefields filled with killing intent.
I slowly approached Yingfeng.
In Yingfeng's eyes, there was disbelief, the shock of realizing he might lose.
Why do geniuses all have the same look after being defeated?
“I was a bit hopeful when you challenged me to a match... I'm disappointed, Yingfeng.”
...Hopeful my ass.
Pretending to be hopeful made me want to vomit.
The way to overcome arrogance is simple.
If they can't realize it themselves, you just have to break them.
When someone who thinks they are great realizes there is someone even greater, they naturally come to terms with it.
Of course, whether they will stay in that state of realization and despair, or grit their teeth and rise again, is another matter.
I would have preferred if Nangong Bia, a fellow swordsman, had taken care of this.
But she seemed to be sulking and pouting...
[It wasn't something you had to do anyway.]
‘If you secretly hoped, why are you complaining now?’
[It's because of the guilt you harbored that you meddled. What's bothering you so much?]
‘I decided not to ask, didn't I?’
[...You really are a rotten kid.]
While Nangong Tianjun was standing on the brink of arrogance,
Yingfeng was subtly arrogant.
Despite growing up in the well of Huashan, hearing he was a genius, he had a rural, naive side.
Yingfeng, who had been sitting on the ground, stood up.
He picked up the wooden sword that had been lying there.
Yingfeng's wobbly hand slowly took a stance.
It was a bow.
“I lost...”
There were no excuses like others.
He just admitted it with a withered voice.
The more I look at him, the cleaner he seems.
I don't know what else to say, but it seems inappropriate to say anything here, so I also took a bow and turned around.
This is as clean as it gets.
[Does your appearance match your actions?]
‘That's an insult, Xin Noya.’
[Of course it's an insult, you brat. Did it sound like praise to you...?]
‘...’
I don't know how Yingfeng will take it, but I feel a bit refreshed after loosening up my body for the first time in a while.
I'll leave the cleanup to him and just go to sleep... but.
Nangong Bia suddenly blocked my path.
After staring at me for a while, Nangong Bia said,