"Guh… guh-guh…"
Fierce Wolf's eyes widened in disbelief, both hands clutched tightly at his throat. Blood seeped between his fingers, frozen in place on his twisted face.
Moments later—
He collapsed straight backward with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The once-boisterous stands of the arena—
Fell into a deathly silence.
Many in the crowd still had their hands raised, faces twisted in manic hysteria—
Even the announcer hadn't yet stepped down from the stage.
Too fast.
A one-hit kill.
From start to finish—not even ten breaths.
Li Zhexian didn't spare a glance at Fierce Wolf, whose eyes remained wide open in death. He turned and walked calmly toward the backstage tunnel.
Only after he had completely left the stage—
Did curses and wails begin to erupt from the audience like waves crashing on the shore.
A first-time fighter had just killed a four-win near-Copper badge opponent with a single sword strike. No one knew how many gamblers had lost everything—some even their lives.
But none of that mattered to Li Zhexian.
When he returned to the backstage holding area, the other fighters all looked at him differently.
Behind his featureless mask, Li Zhexian swept his gaze over their faces.
Yet not a single person dared to meet his eyes.
This—was the change in status that strength brought.
—
At 9:00 PM, Li Zhexian entered the arena for his second match.
His opponent had just secured a three-win streak, considered quite formidable among Iron Badge Spirit Masters.
But it didn't matter.
Still just one sword.
Two duels.
Li Zhexian had drawn his sword twice.
And just like that, in a single night, the name "Sword Wine" had already gained recognition.
—
In the days that followed—
Li Zhexian's previously simple life of fishing with Xue Qinghe and sword training at night… finally changed a little.
He still ate and fished by day, trained with his sword at night—
But in between…
He began frequenting the Grand Spirit Arena.
Two fights a night.
Two sword strikes total.
Up to now, ten days—twenty duels—from Iron Badge to Silver Badge, and not a single opponent had forced him to draw a second strike.
The name "Sword Wine" shook the entire Grand Spirit Arena of the Imperial City. Even other cities' arenas had started to hear of him.
—
Sizzle—
Fat fish crackled on the clean bluestone slab.
The savory aroma blended with the fragrance of lotus on the wind, wafting gently through the air.
"Li Zhexian…"
Xue Qinghe looked at the white-robed youth grilling fish, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes.
"I don't know why… but something about you feels different lately."
Li Zhexian flipped the fish and replied without lifting his head:
"What's different?"
Xue Qinghe frowned and examined him carefully.
"…Hard to say."
He couldn't quite put it into words, but the once carefree and unrestrained youth seemed… sharper. Colder.
Even the occasional glance from him carried a faint, chilling indifference that made even Xue Qinghe feel startled.
After thinking for a moment, Xue Qinghe asked again:
"Li Zhexian, are you really not going to apply to the Imperial Academy?"
Li Zhexian sighed, sounding helpless.
"Why are you so obsessed with sending me to that school?"
Without even thinking, Xue Qinghe replied:
"Because once you graduate, you could join the Heaven Dou royal administration."
Li Zhexian bit into the fish, then glanced over.
"Wow, thanks."
"You've planned out my whole life for me."
Xue Qinghe's eyes lit up.
"So… you're agreeing?"
"I refuse."
Li Zhexian said lazily:
"Honestly, there's barely anyone at that academy who can match me in a fight. What would I do there?"
"I still plan on traveling the continent. I've got wines I haven't tasted yet."
Xue Qinghe curled his lips.
He took that as another excuse.
"…Hm. Your escorts are here."
Xue Qinghe was about to respond again—
But Li Zhexian raised an eyebrow and gestured behind him.
Xue Qinghe turned around and saw Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo walking up.
"Oh, the two of you are here. Want to sit down and eat?"
Li Zhexian grinned and greeted them cheerfully.
After days of interaction,
He'd grown familiar enough to joke with them.
As for them being Titled Douluo?
He simply pretended he didn't know—just treated them as Xue Qinghe's guards. He never acted differently because of it.
"No need."
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance's reply was stiff and direct. Their gazes turned to Xue Qinghe.
Seeing that they didn't speak in front of Li Zhexian—
Xue Qinghe realized it must be something confidential.
"Li Zhexian, I'll be leaving first."
"Mm."
Li Zhexian nodded, then seemed to remember something.
"Oh—bring me a Three-Immortal Chicken tomorrow. Stuff the inside with lotus seeds!"
Xue Qinghe waved over his shoulder without turning back, signaling he got it.
—
A short distance away.
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance were still giving Xue Qinghe a complicated look.
Another chicken gone from Emperor Xue Ye's dinner table.
They had no idea what kind of spell this Li Zhexian had cast on their young master.
Why was he treating him so well?
"…Speak. What is it?"
Getting down to business, Snake Lance grew serious.
"Young Master, recently, a powerful sword Martial Soul user has emerged at the Grand Spirit Arena."
"He wears a mask, but based on his posture, he's likely very young. In just ten days, he's secured twenty consecutive wins, breaking the record for the fastest rise to Silver Badge."
"Most astonishing of all—up to now, 'Sword Wine' has only used one sword strike per match."
Xue Qinghe stopped walking.
"Only one strike?"
Porcupinefish nodded.
"Yes, Young Master."
"Twenty opponents. Eighteen dead, two seriously injured. His swordsmanship is vicious and precise."
"And the record he broke? It was Yu Tianheng's. Yu Tianheng has already registered for tonight's duel—they're destined to clash."
Xue Qinghe fell silent for a moment, then said:
"Tonight… I'll go take a look."
"'Sword Wine'…"
"When did such a monstrous sword genius appear in the capital?"
—
That night.
In a quiet courtyard—
A flash of cold sword light streaked by, leaving behind a faint trace of blood in the air.
"These days of tempering have done me good."
"I've rediscovered the essence of the sword."
"My Spirit Power has also risen to Rank 23 under the combined effect of cultivation and my Wine Martial Soul."
"Tonight's opponent… Yu Tianheng. Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, captain of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team…"
"…Interesting."
Li Zhexian put on his faceless mask.
Under the moonlight, a figure in white robes flashed past like a phantom.
—
Grand Spirit Arena, Imperial Capital
8:00 PM
Li Zhexian stepped onto the stage.
Unlike ten days ago—
The moment his white figure appeared, the entire audience erupted like a powder keg.
Screams, roars, and howls all surged together, forming a tangible wave of sound that shook the entire arena.
"Sword Wine! Sword Wine! Sword Wine!"
"Ahhhhh! Will he one-shot his opponent again?!"
"He's my idol! I'm gonna become a swordmaster just like Sword Wine!"
"I sold my damn kidney to bet on Sword Wine tonight!"
—
Second Floor, VIP Box
At that moment, seven young men and women stood by the window, gazing down at the arena below…