The fencing épée, once again held in my hand. It felt like ages since I had last touched this blade, not since the Zuma Temple. Now, gripping it again brought a strange mix of nostalgia and excitement.

Finally, you have a purpose again.

Nine Yao Zhutian’s expression grew grave as he adopted his stance, gripping his greatsword tightly with both hands, held before his chest. Without the Eye of Death Desire, everything would depend on pure, raw speed and reaction—victory or defeat decided in the flash of an eye.

“Is this your Lightning Sword?” Nine Yao Zhutian eyed the blade in my hand with a serious look.

“Yes. Before I obtained the Dragon Shadow Sword, this was what I used,” I replied in a low voice.

“The blade is perfectly round, long, and sharp,” Nine Yao Zhutian observed. “It is an excellent sword for maximizing the thrust technique.”

“Indeed. This sword’s only method of attack is the thrust.”

“Only the thrust. Simple though it is, the thrust is the fastest of all offensive maneuvers,” Nine Yao Zhutian stated. “To think such an extreme sword style exists in this world—let me see it firsthand.”

“Senior, let us begin.” I held the sword in my right hand and adopted the Yizi side stance! Simultaneously, the irregular, short, shuffling steps characteristic of fencing footwork began to move flexibly. My feet seemed spring-loaded, alternating forward and back, creating an appearance of instability.

No matter what, I had to win, and win brilliantly, I resolved internally. For those who have never witnessed fencing combat, it is hard for ordinary people to imagine just how fast it truly is.

This fact was proven when I dueled Chen Feng. The tactic I intended now was simple: strike down Nine Yao Zhutian decisively before he could adapt to the speed of the fencing style.

This idea might seem insane, considering he was a Sky Demon Warrior.

Yet, I trusted that human reaction has its limits. Under equal conditions, there was a chance to succeed.

Sky Demon Warriors are still human! Humans possess cognitive inertia. In my time on the Mafa Continent, I had yet to encounter a sword style remotely similar to fencing. Even Tong Lei, whom I met on the Eastern Pass Road, only possessed a superficial resemblance; his speed and accuracy fell far short of fencing.

I believed that the so-called Sky Demon Warriors were no different from normal people, except that when clad in Sky Demon Armor, they gained special power, allowing them to fight with five times the speed and strength of an ordinary person. To adapt to this disparity in speed, they had to cultivate the Eye of Death Desire.

Without the Eye of Death Desire, a Sky Demon Warrior is just like a normal person.

Yes, even a Sky Demon Warrior, stripped of the Eye of Death Desire, has a reaction speed no different from a regular human. If this premise holds true, it is enough.

My focus sharpened to an unprecedented level. Two moves, two attacks held in reserve—I had to seize the moment. I believed I could do it.

Hroar! Nine Yao Zhutian lunged forward with his sword, sweeping it in a horizontal arc—clearly intending to cleave a half-moon shape.

But in that very instant, I shuffled forward, my épée executing a three-line thrust—lightning-fast—aimed at his face, chest, and lower abdomen. After months of weighted training, I couldn’t precisely measure my current speed, but I was certain I was vastly faster than when I fought Ji Du!

The essence of fencing swordplay is simple:

If the enemy does not move, I do not move. If the enemy prepares to move, I move first. It emphasizes speed, ferocity, and precision—anticipating the enemy and striking preemptively.

The moment Nine Yao Zhutian’s shoulders slightly dipped, I saw through his next action. I closed the distance in a flash and thrust three times, launching my attack before he could complete his. This was If the enemy prepares to move, I move first.

“Agh!” He clearly hadn't anticipated my attack coming so quickly. By the time he completed his horizontal sweep, my épée would certainly have pierced his body. With my current cultivation level, piercing his protective Battle Aura and breastplate would not be difficult. This thrust attack I had rehearsed countless times in the Demon Dragon World; its speed, angle, and force were absolute perfection. Once struck, Nine Yao Zhutian would surely be defeated.

Hroar! Nine Yao Zhutian instantly saw through my intent! His greatsword, halfway through the sweep, miraculously shifted into a guard position!

Whoosh! A phantom afterimage appeared. The guard from the Frost Condensing Greatsword missed its mark, while my three thrusts, like illusions, sliced instantly through his defense toward Nine Yao Zhutian’s breastplate! The three-line thrust relies on shifting between reality and illusion. The instant Nine Yao Zhutian shifted to block, I abandoned the target point of the first strike.

With a slight flick of my wrist, the blade suddenly dipped, aiming for Nine Yao Zhutian’s lower abdomen. At this speed and impact, the block he initiated against my first strike was already committed, leaving him no time to adjust again.

The only move left was to sidestep sideways and evade my attack—all of which was within my calculations.

As expected, Nine Yao Zhutian executed an electric sidestep to evade the thrust aimed at his abdomen. However, he didn't realize this thrust was also illusory.

As my wrist turned again, the blade, which had been aimed at his stomach, curved, changing direction to strike the left side of his chest as he moved sideways. It felt as if Nine Yao Zhutian was voluntarily pushing his chest into the path of my blade.

Clang! With a crisp sound, a shower of sparks erupted from Nine Yao Zhutian’s chest—my épée had struck his breastplate! Only because of the hardness of the Golden War God Armor did it leave only a thumb-sized hole!

When Battle Aura cultivation is similar, and without the Eye of Death Desire, even a Sky Demon Warrior cannot block a three-line thrust delivered at my current speed.

The first thrust aimed at his face forced Nine Yao Zhutian to alter his move midway, defending in disarray.

The second thrust aimed at his abdomen forced Nine Yao Zhutian to shift his stance to dodge, but I deceived him into losing balance.

The subsequent third thrust accurately struck the opening in his chest armor. If it weren't for the formidable defense of his War God Armor, if his retreat speed hadn't been fast enough, this strike wouldn't have resulted in just a small hole.

All of this occurred in a span of 0.3 seconds!

Too fast! Unquestionably, Nine Yao Zhutian was a seasoned master whose reactions were lightning quick; he chose the most correct defensive option: retreat.

Nine Yao Zhutian flew backward, retreating desperately, trying to create distance between us. But the faster he retreated, the faster I pursued. Traveling lightly equipped, I felt incomparably agile and refreshed; this sensation filled me with confidence—I absolutely would not lose in terms of speed.

Whoosh! My body became an afterimage! Closing in like lightning!

The three-line thrust launched again.

This second wave of thrusts targeted the exact same three points as before.

Clink, clink, clink—three rapid, crisp sounds accompanied by two bursts of sparks that almost merged into a single sound if one didn't look closely.

Thud! Only then did Nine Yao Zhutian stop, because my sword was already pointing directly at his chest—precisely where I had punched a hole in his breastplate moments before. If I had advanced even slightly further, I could have pierced the armor and sunk into his body.

“............” Staring at the tip of my sword, which still trembled slightly before him, Nine Yao Zhutian’s face was deathly pale. “So fast… is this the Lightning Sword?”

“Forgive me, Senior,” I quickly retracted my sword and bowed in apology.

“.........” Nine Yao Zhutian stared blankly at me, unable to utter a word.

After a long pause, he finally sighed with emotion, “Fame is well-deserved. The Lightning Sword is indeed as fast as lightning. How can one possibly block such speed? How?”

“.........” Nine Yao Minglun, who had been observing nearby, also looked aghast, his expression shifting uncertainly as he looked between me and Nine Yao Zhutian, unsure what he was thinking.

“Senior, are you alright?” Though I had won by a narrow margin, a strange worry settled over me. Usually, the more powerful someone is, the more prideful they become. Perhaps he would renege on the result and silence me? That wasn't impossible.

“Hahahaha!” Nine Yao Zhutian burst into laughter instead. “Incredible. Without the aid of the Eye of Death Desire, I couldn't even block two moves. I initially thought Ji Du had exaggerated, but now I see my defeat was entirely justified.”

“Senior was just momentarily unaccustomed to my rhythm of attack,” I offered by way of comfort.

“A loss is a loss, a win is a win,” Nine Yao Zhutian mused. “If we were both wearing Sky Demon Armor right now, I would be the one lying down.”

“Senior, I…”

“Enough, no need to console me,” Nine Yao Zhutian chuckled. “Do you think I’m resentful?”

“.........” I was momentarily stunned.

“I admit, there is a touch of bitterness,” Nine Yao Zhutian confessed. “I, Nine Yao Zhutian, have roamed battlefields my whole life without a single defeat, and to think, under equal conditions, I couldn't even withstand two of your moves.”

“.........” I didn't know what to say.

“But mostly, I am elated,” Nine Yao Zhutian continued. “With a sword style like yours, if you could wear the Sky Demon Armor, you would undoubtedly become a top-tier Sky Demon Warrior. The revitalization of our Demon Dragon Royal Family would be imminent.”

“Senior,” I muttered, still at a loss for words. Truthfully, the only reason I wanted to become a Sky Demon Warrior was to harness the power of the Sky Demon Armor to fulfill my own wish. But after that? If I succeeded, how would I face those who helped me?

Becoming a Sky Demon Warrior meant fighting for the Royal Family, perhaps even going to war. Was that truly the life I desired? My mind went blank for a moment.

Forget it. A person must remember kindness. I could only take things one step at a time. Since I chose this path, I had to grit my teeth and see it through.

“Just a moment of emotion, I apologize for letting you see it,” Nine Yao Zhutian said.

“Not at all, Senior’s dedication to the nation and loyalty are commendable; I deeply admire them,” I replied, forcing the words out.

.......................

“Your Highness Star, you have successfully passed both assessments,” Nine Yao Minglun stepped forward. “I am confident that in the next Sky Demon Competition, you will surely win the Sky Demon Armor and become a true Sky Demon Warrior.”

“I will certainly strive hard,” I quickly responded. However, my observant nature caught something: Nine Yao Minglun’s address to me had changed from the former “young man” to the current “Your Highness Star.”

“Your Highness Star need not be surprised,” Nine Yao Minglun explained. “During the Nine Dragon Plate test just now, the bloodline you possess was identified as the pure Divine Guardian heritage. This means you carry the blood of the Demon Dragon Royal Family, thus we must address you as Your Highness Star.”

“However, the Emperor’s wish is to only announce your identity after you have successfully obtained the Sky Demon Armor,” Nine Yao Zhutian added respectfully. “Revealing Your Highness’s identity too soon would be disadvantageous to Your Highness or your relatives far away in Bi Qi. Considering this, the Emperor made this decision.”

“I understand,” I quickly said. “Please convey my gratitude to the Emperor.” In truth, I wasn’t surprised by this outcome, and I felt a strong goodwill toward this Demon Dragon Emperor whom I had never met. For him to consider all these factors for me was remarkable, and I believed my mother and the others in Bi Qi were likely well-protected right now.

“The Emperor has been following your every move,” Nine Yao Zhutian informed me. “He also wishes to meet you on the day you become a Sky Demon Warrior. He hopes Your Highness will not disappoint his expectations.”

“I will strive my best,” I affirmed.

“Your Highness is too polite,” Nine Yao Minglun corrected gently. “Before your servants, Your Highness should refer to yourself as ‘this King.’”

“This King!” I was slightly confused. When did I become a King?

“Although Your Highness has not yet been officially ennobled as King, it is certain you will be enfeoffed as one in the future,” Nine Yao Zhutian stated seriously.

“King!” I felt a little dazed. It sounded quite imposing.

“Yes, Your Highness!” Nine Yao Zhutian confirmed. “Regardless of whether you win the next Sky Demon Competition, you must return to the Royal Family to receive the Emperor’s enfeoffment.”

“Until then, Your Highness can cultivate diligently to prepare for the next Sky Demon Competition,” Nine Yao Minglun advised. “You can also use this time to handle any worldly affairs you were unable to complete before. After becoming King of Qin, you will have many duties. The Emperor has high expectations for you to become a pillar of the Royal Family.”

“I understand,” I replied, feeling a headache coming on.

“Your Highness, you should refer to yourself as this King,” Nine Yao Zhutian prompted.

“Um,” I managed with a dry laugh, “This King understands.”

“Hehe,” Nine Yao Zhutian chuckled. “That’s right.”

“Your Highness has one year to prepare for the future Sky Demon Competition!” Nine Yao Zhutian announced. “In this year, you must master the Dragon Shadow Sword Style completely. I believe Jian Li will not hold back, but we hope you do not reveal your identity as a descendant of the Demon Dragon Royal Family.”

“Ah! Isn’t that a bit dishonorable?” I felt a pang of guilt. “And it’s difficult, since the Dragon Shadow Sword Style is passed down generationally through the Dragon lineage; only the Dragon Shadow Manor Lord can learn it.”

“Rest assured,” Nine Yao Zhutian reassured me. “Although the Dragon Shadow Sword Style is considered one of the Four Great Ultimate Techniques, we are not asking you to steal the entire method. We simply hope you acquire one more peerless skill to secure victory. This will be crucial for your success in the future Sky Demon Competition. Of course, you don’t need to worry about Jian Li refusing to teach you the ultimate secrets; Jian Li also holds great expectations for you.”

“This King understands.” I finally felt a bit relieved. As long as I wasn't asked to commit theft or leak secrets, I could rest easy.

“Your Highness has passed all the assessments!” Nine Yao Minglun stated respectfully. “The remainder is to inscribe the Sky Demon Insignia upon Your Highness.”

“What is the Sky Demon Insignia?” I asked curiously.

“It is this,” Nine Yao Zhutian removed his War God Armor, revealing a sculpted physique. On his chest was an emblem of three intertwined dragon patterns—red, purple, and white—vivid and lifelike, exactly matching the small dragons on the Nine Dragon Plate.

“This is the Sky Demon Insignia!” I exclaimed in surprise.

“Indeed. The biggest difference between a Sky Demon Warrior and ordinary people is that they must not only cultivate the Eye of Death Desire but also possess the Sky Demon Insignia. Only with both can one truly harness the power of the Sky Demon Armor,” Nine Yao Minglun explained. “The Sky Demon Insignia and the Eye of Death Desire function as two keys. Only the Insignia can control the Armor’s power, and the Eye adapts the Warrior to the Armor’s speed. If one forcibly dons the Sky Demon Armor without the Insignia, they will be consumed by the Armor’s terrifying backlash, ultimately suffering qi deviation and exploding to death.”

“Your Highness has already mastered the Eye of Death Desire, so inscribing the Sky Demon Insignia is the final step.”

“Alright,” I said guiltily. “How is it inscribed? Don’t tell me it’s by needle?” The thought made me dizzy and my heart pound. I feared nothing except needles—I’d rather take a blade than endure a jab, a condition in modern medicine known as trypanophobia.

“Your Highness need not worry!” Nine Yao Minglun laughed. “No needles are involved.”

Nine Yao Zhutian beside him kept glancing at me with a strange expression, clearly trying hard not to laugh, which nearly made me explode with frustration.

.............................

In the exact center of the grand hall was a massive array pattern, depicting the same ring of nine interlocking, chasing, nine-colored divine dragons as seen on the Nine Dragon Plate.

I stood in the center of the array, on a small, white jade-like disk. The nine small dragons beneath my feet began to move slowly, as if coming to life—identical to the scene when I held the Nine Dragon Plate, only now I was standing in the middle of a life-sized version. The nine small dragons gradually emitted light in their respective original colors.

Outside the array, the Great Priest held an ancient-style staff, murmuring an incantation, his chanting growing faster and faster. As his voice quickened, I felt the movement of the nine dragons accelerate, and their light intensify. Eventually, I could no longer distinguish their shapes, only sensing them whirling around me at astonishing speed. A tremendous energy field churned around my body like a massive vortex, making me feel as if a slight lapse would tear me to shreds.

“Seal!” Suddenly, nine beams of light shot toward my chest like lightning. Immediately, I felt intense heat across my chest, as if something had drilled into my body.

The light surrounding me instantly dimmed. I saw that the nine-colored divine dragons from the array pattern had vanished. Instinctively, I looked down at my chest and saw a miniature Nine Dragon Plate embedded there, palm-sized, yet the nine small dragons were clearly visible and lifelike.

“Your Highness now possesses the Sky Demon Insignia,” Nine Yao Minglun’s voice sounded weak but his eyes were bright with excitement. He gazed at the nine dragons on my chest, murmuring, “The Demon Dragon Royal Family has hope for revival. Including Your Highness, there are now three possessors of the Nine Color Dragon Seal.”

“Teacher, you should rest now,” Nine Yao Zhutian interjected. “Leave the rest to me.”

“En,” Nine Yao Minglun nodded slightly and then walked out of the hall.

.......................................

So this was the Dragon Seal! It was truly incredible, vividly lifelike, more intricate and dynamic than modern digital tattoos. Just as I was marveling at it, the nine small dragons vanished!

“Ah! They’re gone!” I was startled.

“Your Highness need not worry. The Dragon Seal has not disappeared, only concealed,” Nine Yao Zhutian explained. “Sky Demon Warriors often have to carry out special missions, so to better hide their identity, the Seal will not appear unless absolutely necessary.”

“The Dragon Seal can hide?” That was rather peculiar.

“Your Highness will need to learn special circulation methods to utilize the Dragon Seal,” Nine Yao Zhutian instructed.