The running was still going on. The Lion King and Olivia were definitely on the same side, like grasshoppers tied to the same rope, destined to die together if it came to that. And Yagyu Munenori, in this baffling situation, had unknowingly ended up standing with the Lion King and Olivia as well.
The reason was not especially complicated. It was simply because Brahma was also considered his enemy, and back then the two had traded blows quite a few times. Now Brahma’s strength had advanced shockingly, actually stepping into the innate Gangjin level. On his own, Yagyu Munenori was naturally no match, so standing with the Lion King and Olivia gave him a greater sense of safety.
Brahma chased from behind while roaring in fury.
Then, from within the pavilion, a third person floated out—an old man in gray robes with a head full of white hair… or rather silver hair, with few wrinkles on his face, a voice aged but a body strong and vigorous.
Only then did the running of the several people stop. They each occupied a position, forming a three-way balance of power.
Without a doubt, this white-haired old man with a youthful face was the legendary expert of the island nation, Tsukahara Bokuden, whom rumors in the martial world had said died many years ago.
Many years earlier, Tsukahara Bokuden had already been a super expert in the island nation’s swordsmanship world, titled a sword master. His swordsmanship crowned the entire swordsmanship world, and his reputation was almost equivalent to Yagyu Munenori’s current standing. He was already publicly recognized as the number one swordsmanship expert.
Although Tsukahara Bokuden’s swordsmanship had initially been trained in the “Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu,” a very niche school with no widespread transmission but extremely superb techniques, after his swordsmanship reached completion, he left that school and began entirely new creations. Later, he even successfully founded a new swordsmanship school: Shinto-ryu!
This was a completely new school, entirely different from all previous schools in the island nation’s swordsmanship world. Moreover, it evolved and eventually became fully mature, extremely perfect in every aspect. So now Shinto-ryu had already become a very large school in the island nation’s swordsmanship world.
Although Shinto-ryu still could not compare with top swordsmanship schools like the Iai school or the Hokushin Itto-ryu, it could already be considered first-rate. It had many disciples, and the school had produced numerous experts.
So it could be said that Tsukahara Bokuden back then was not merely at the sword master level. He was completely a founding patriarch, a figure who could enter the history books. His status was actually much higher than Yagyu Munenori’s.
As long as he continued perfecting it afterward and kept developing and expanding Shinto-ryu, it was very likely he could break through further and become the legendary Sword Saint!
A Sword Saint—that would be someone who had surpassed the sword master, whose strength had already broken through the Danjin level and stepped into the innate Gangjin level. Experts of this level were also few and far between in the entire history of the island nation’s swordsmanship world. Every single one of them was a famous existence.
Unfortunately, later, for some unknown reason, news of Tsukahara Bokuden’s death spread out. The upper ranks of Shinto-ryu also acknowledged this information: their founding patriarch had indeed died.
But in truth, Tsukahara Bokuden had not died. Rather, he was truly about to break through and become a Sword Saint, so he chose to live in seclusion and cultivate in peace.
Only a very small handful of people knew this news. The upper ranks of Shinto-ryu were basically kept in the dark as well. Only Yagyu Munenori, who had already begun to stand out at the time, Country A’s peerless genius Brahma, and the Four Kings of Huaxia knew.
“There is no one in this world who can stop you, and you even look down on me, old man, and want to settle old accounts with me… whose tone has become so big?” Tsukahara Bokuden’s body slowly drifted down from the pavilion, landing on the enormous rock broad like a natural training ground. After sweeping his gaze around, he spoke calmly.
Two experts at the innate Gangjin level each occupied one side, while three experts at the Danjin level clustered together as one rope. They were about twenty or so meters apart from each other, and no one immediately made a move.
His gaze swept over the Lion King and Yagyu Munenori. He nodded: “It seems these years you have not been lazy in your cultivation. Your strength has improved greatly. It seems you all have hope of advancing further in the future.”
When his gaze shifted to Brahma, his pupils slightly contracted. After narrowing his eyes, he spoke with a touch of surprise: “I didn’t expect you to have made the greatest progress, actually stepping into the innate Gangjin level! No wonder you don’t even put me, old man, in your eyes and want to settle old accounts with me from back then.”
Brahma’s momentum had not changed much because of Tsukahara Bokuden’s appearance. He still wore an angry expression.
However, his arrogant flames had somewhat diminished.
Tsukahara Bokuden’s terrifying nature was still fresh in his memory. Even now that he had stepped into the innate Gangjin level, he still did not have the slightest confidence in defeating the other.
This old fellow before him had already reached the innate Gangjin level many years ago. After all these years, who knew what frightening level of profundity his cultivation had reached?
Innate Gangjin was already the peak of cultivation. Going further up, there was no path. But ultimately, even among innate Gangjin experts, strength differed, and the differences were quite large.
The distinction between inner Gang and outer Gang was an insurmountable gulf.
Taking a deep breath and temporarily suppressing the killing intent that was about to make him act, Brahma said, “I came today to kill the Lion King and Olivia, the two who killed my sworn brother and destroyed the sacred relic of my religion. I tracked the two of them all the way here. Tsukahara Bokuden, I do not intend to argue with you today about the matter of Youxue, so I hope you will not interfere in this matter today.”
Although he did not feel he could defeat Tsukahara Bokuden, Brahma still showed no sign of softening. He was naturally hot-tempered to begin with, and now that he had stepped into the innate Gangjin level, how could he still lower himself before anyone?
As for Tsukahara Bokuden, it was even less likely he would have any scruples about these “juniors.” His eyes fixed on Brahma as he asked lightly, “So then, you plan to settle accounts with me in the future?”
Brahma’s brows immediately furrowed, and his eyes turned cold as he said, “Tsukahara Bokuden, do you plan to interfere in today’s matter and save these two?”
Tsukahara Bokuden still spoke calmly: “I asked whether you want to settle accounts with me in the future.”
Brahma said, “It seems you really have made up your mind to step forward for these two!”
Instantly, both their eyes changed slightly, and the atmosphere became tense and ready to explode.
With the situation turning out like this, the happiest were naturally the Lion King and Olivia beside them. This was exactly what they most wanted to see, because this way they had a chance to escape with their lives.
In fact, they had long anticipated this kind of situation in their hearts.
Tsukahara Bokuden might not really want to step forward for them. If they were killed by Brahma, it would not matter to him. But the place where the killing happened was within his territory, and that made all the difference.
The two sides already had a grudge to begin with. Now this was equivalent to Brahma provoking his authority!
How could Tsukahara Bokuden, the Sword Saint, tolerate that?
So there was no need for the Lion King or Olivia to interject anything, no need for them to fan the flames. The atmosphere became heated all on its own…
