Yu Ming was taken aback, not understanding why Xue An asked such a question, but as a proud Sword Cultivator, he still straightened his chest.
"My sword may not be one ten-thousandth of an adult’s, but it can still be called peerlessly sharp."
But Xue An shook his head, "Not enough yet!"
Upon hearing these words, although Yu Ming did not retort, a trace of defiance still appeared on his face.
Seeing this, Xue An smiled slightly, "Draw your sword!"
"Hmm?" Yu Ming didn’t understand what he meant.
Xue An said calmly, "Since you are unconvinced, then strike at me with a sword, let’s see if you can shake me!"
As he spoke, Xue An opened his palm, "Remember, you only have one chance, so be sure to give it your all!"
Yu Ming was somewhat stunned.
He never imagined that someone would make such a request of him.
But looking at Xue An’s serious demeanor, it didn’t seem like he was joking.
"But Mr. Xue..."
Yu Ming hesitated for a moment, just about to speak.
Xue An frowned slightly, "As a Sword Cultivator, how can you be so indecisive? I told you to act, so act! Why so much nonsense?"
Yu Ming’s face instantly turned red, then he gritted his teeth, "Offense!"
With this word "Offense", a dazzling Sword Intent suddenly exploded in Yu Ming’s hand, like a shooting star directly thrusting at Xue An.
This sword was indeed executed with Yu Ming’s full strength, he naturally knew that with his own strength, defeating Xue An was wishful thinking.
But his sword aura was imposing and fast, even if this Mr. Xue had astonishing cultivation level, he would probably be in a fluster, right?
But unexpectedly, at this moment, a gentle sigh entered his ears.
"Is that all there is? Truly even more disappointing than I imagined!"
With the words, the dazzling sword light instantly disappeared, then looking at the long sword in Yu Ming’s hand, it stopped just within a foot from Xue An, yet this short distance seemed like an impassable chasm, fundamentally unable to advance.
Because at this moment, Xue An pinched the sword’s blade with two fingers; even though Yu Ming struggled several times, he could not move it at all.
Only then did Yu Ming understand how vast the difference between himself and Xue An was.
The Sword Intent he was so proud of appeared naive in front of Xue An, like a wooden stick being waved in a child’s hand.
On one side, Yu Ran was even more mouth agape, incredulously watching this scene.
Since childhood, her brother had always been her hero.
Undefeated in battle, a genius youth.
These beautiful words were all used to describe her brother.
But unexpectedly, today her brother was defeated so swiftly in front of this man.
Yu Ming’s face was pale, and he lowered his head in despair, "I lost!"
These three short words were full of frustration.
Yet at this moment, a thunderous voice sounded in his ears, "Lift your head!"
This voice not only shook his body but also his Sword Heart.
He quickly raised his head, looking at Xue An.
Xue An said lightly, "As a Sword Cultivator, you should have a spirit of persistence, how can you not accept even a single defeat and expect to achieve anything significant?"
Yu Ming’s eyes gradually started to shine.
In others’ eyes, it seemed as if Xue An was scolding Yu Ming.
But only Yu Ming knew, every word Xue An spoke contained extremely Profound Mystery Sword Intent.
With each word, his own vital energy and Sword Heart were refined once more.
After Xue An finished speaking, Yu Ming was covered in sweat, entirely different than before, like a phoenix reborn from ash.
"Thank you, sir, for the guidance and tempering!" Yu Ming bowed deeply.
Xue An waved his hand, "No need to thank, I just provided an opportunity, how much you prehend is your fortune. However, soon there will be a severe test ing, I hope you won’t waste this opportunity."
Yu Ming’s expression instantly became extremely solemn, "Rest assured, sir, I will fulfill the entrusted task!"
Earth, in a dilapidated temple by the river in Sichuan Province.
The continuous rain that lasted several days had just stopped, and the white-haired old temple keeper hobbled to push open the door of the main hall, carefully looked around, and found no new traces of leaks, which made him relieved.
He then shakily lit three strands of straw incense, inserting them respectfully into the Incense Burner.
The curling smoke made the divine statue behind the shrine seem even more mysterious.
Seeing this statue, its once-golden paint peeled off entirely, revealing the clay beneath, the old temple keeper sighed, mumbling to himself.
"Lord Erlang, please don’t disdain this old man for being incapable, it’s just that even food is scarce in the temple now, there was a little cat that used to acpany me, but even it ran away from hunger last month."
"I am growing older every day, even sweeping the floor leaves me out of breath, truly unable to raise funds to rebuild your divine statue."
"Alas, even if funds could be raised, what good would it do? Now that the path of cultivation is so prosperous, those with some foundation are all busy cultivating, who would still pray and make vows to gods?"
"Nowadays, almost all native deities have been abandoned; Lord Erlang, I might just be your last temple keeper, once I pass, this will bee a true abandoned temple!"
As he spoke, tears welled up in the old man’s eyes.
He was ordained in this Erlang Shrine since childhood, decades had passed by now.
Although the small temple was never large, it used to be bustling since it was the main shrine of Erlang Shen.
But ever since the Hua country joined the Federal Credential Bureau, and the path of self-cultivation thrived, gradually no more pilgrims came by.
Without pilgrims meant no source of ine; soon, everyone left the temple, leaving only him to guard it.
And now, he was in the twilight of his years, not knowing how long he could hold out here.
But just then, a glimmer of golden light flashed from the previously dim statue.
This brief golden light was so dazzling.
The old temple keeper was startled and rubbed his eyes again, finding the statue unchanged, sighing bitterly.
"I am truly getting old, my eyes playing such tricks!"
Shaking his head and sighing, the old temple keeper turned to leave.
But at that moment, a more brilliant golden light shone from the statue, along with a fierce tremor.
The old temple keeper turned back in horror, only to see the statue that once sat on the shrine now ing to life.
The gold light illuminated the entire main hall, and then a tall figure slowly descended from the shrine.
"How has my main shrine bee like this?"
A voice, majestic with a touch of sorrow, came, and the old temple keeper knelt on the ground with a thud, madly kowtowing toward the figure, continuously chanting.
"Lord Erlang has manifested, Lord Erlang has manifested!"
Because the figure descending had a vertical eye on the middle of his forehead, precisely matching the image of Guankou Divine Monarch Erlang Yang Jian from the Hua Clan mythology!
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