The Sword Emperor Transmigrates

He’s strong, Leonard thought as he reflected on his duel with Fabian—a rather unexpected assessment for someone defeated in just thirty-two seconds, but Leonard meant it. Even compared to Herman, the swordsman he had fought in Atlantis in an all-out duel, Fabian was at least a step above.

From the fundamentals of swordsmanship to the depth of technique, Fabian was outstanding. His skill in manipulating the fine, thread-like sword energy was more dangerous than the Silk Sword Art Leonard had seen in murim. Fabian’s technique was incredibly refined, and Leonard had never seen anything like it in this world.

In an open space, Fabian would prove even more threatening. This arena was too limited for a swordsman of his caliber.

While it was possible to extend the range of attacks by shooting sword energy or sword wind, those were only temporary measures. Fabian’s every strike covered hundreds of meters, attacking from all directions, and it was a completely different level of threat.

...Anyone beneath the Transcendence Tier would’ve struggled against him.

However, Leonard’s growth was overwhelming. Even before breaking through to the Transcendence Tier, he could fight on equal footing with and even defeat Masters like Herman Melville and Pablo, who had reached the pinnacle of the Transcendence Tier.

After breaking through a whole major tier, even someone like Fabian wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

Leonard’s physical abilities, more extraordinary than the direct descendants of the Cardenas family, had now reached a point where finding an opponent equal to him was difficult. His internal energy, which had merged into a single stream in the upper dantian, was so abundant that trying to measure it would be pointless.

The Five Elements Augmented Qi is one thing, but now I can wield normal augmented qi for hours with no issues.

Leonard’s increase in internal energy was significant, but his recovery speed and overall efficiency had also multiplied several times over. Techniques that consumed a lot of energy, like the Fire Bird Explosion or the Surge of the Dragon King, were no longer burdensome.

With a little more progress, he could achieve a state comparable to the Ethereal Body.

“I told you it wouldn’t take long,” Demian said, dispersing the remaining energy in the air with a wave of his hand as he walked between the two.

“Fabian, don’t be too disheartened. This result isn’t purely due to the difference in skill,” Demian continued.

“What do you mean?” Fabian asked.

“Your swordsmanship and his Dragon Eyes are polar opposites,” Demian explained.

Leonard nodded in agreement. Though the duel had only lasted for thirty-two seconds, he had immediately recognized Fabian’s swordsmanship as superior to the Zhongnan First Sword Yeo Woon-Hak, who was the strongest among the Supreme Ten Venerables when it came to variation sword and illusory sword arts.

However, those who possessed the Dragon Eyes were in a different league entirely, and variation and illusions were meaningless against them. Even if hundreds of sword shadows swirled in front of him, Leonard could see through their true forms and discern the flow of energy, as well as the strong and weak points of the sword patterns, rendering any strategy futile.

“Extreme speed and destructive power is your best bet against someone with Dragon Eyes. Though they might pick up on that strategy and shut it down early, it still gives you a chance,” Demian explained, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the Dragon Eye, as he himself possesses it.

Extreme speed and destructive power, huh?

Fabian, closing his eyes and contemplating on Demian’s words, sighed deeply. Though there were many stronger than him in Cardenas, he had rarely been defeated in such a one-sided manner.

“Phew! I know it’s not my place to say, but it feels unfair,” Fabian admitted.

“Well, that’s life. It was the same with your proficiency in swordsmanship. The key difference was that the kid could see through your techniques, while you couldn’t see through his,” Demian summarized their duel as he walked to the opposite side of the training ground.

With snow-white hair that matched his title, the White Dragon Commander drew his sword—an ordinary straight sword, the kind issued to common knights.

“Hooo…” Leonard chuckled as four swords emerged from his subspace pouch, arranging themselves around him before they even touched the ground.

Having broken through to the Transcendence Tier, his Sword Manipulation Art had advanced significantly, his swords moving smoothly and with no awkwardness.

Seeing this, Demian remarked with interest, “A technique that controls swords remotely? The Blue Dragon Commander would definitely love to see this. She’s always nagging her subordinates for not being able to pull it off even though she’s teaching them. I think I’ve heard her grill them about this a hundred times by now.”

“Does she use a similar Sword Manipulation Art?” Leonard asked.

“No, it’s different from what you’re using now. Her technique involves a myriad of variations based on a myriad of swords,” Demian replied, looking around before instructing Fabian.

“Fabian, clear the area. If we let the knights stay here, more than half of them might die.”

“…Is it really that serious?”

“Yes,” Demian said curtly, slowly raising his sword to chest level.

Leonard felt no killing intent from Demian, not even a strong fighting spirit, but he felt like the whole world was closing in on him, cutting off all possibilities.

A dull sword—Leonard had rarely encountered this supreme martial art in his past life, but facing it now set his heart racing.

A dull sword is not the opposite of a swift sword, Leonard reminded himself. That blade wasn’t actually slow; it just appeared that way.

If a swift sword cuts through the moment, a dull sword cuts through the future—speed is irrelevant as long as your blade reaches the opponent first.

Demian’s sword art suppressed the future path of the enemy’s sword, determining the outcome of the swing before it even happened.

The common duel strategies of striking first or waiting to launch a counterattack were meaningless against such a high-level martial art. Before Demian’s dull sword could sever all possibilities, Leonard launched one of his swords like a lightning bolt.

Five Elements Style, One Sword Style

White Tiger Extra Form: Mountain Deity Strike

Only three people remained at the training ground.

Kuoooh—!

As Leonard’s sword, imbued with white augmented qi, came crashing down, the roar of a mountain deity, a tiger’s perhaps, echoed through the training ground—a Sword Cry.

Unlike the Dragontail Sword, this was a Sword Manipulation technique purely focused on destructive power. Against it, Demian’s sword moved slowly, drifting through the air.

Clang!

The Mountain Deity Strike was deflected with an almost cheerful sound, embedding itself into the ground without resistance.

Nullification—as if swatting away a fly, Demian’s sword disrupted even the connection of the Sword Manipulation Art. It was an incomprehensible phenomenon, but Leonard, undeterred, retrieved his sword with Telekinesis.

It was only natural for a Demigod Tier expert to exceed his expectations.

Five Elements Shadowless Sword Formation

Swirling around him in intricate patterns, Leonard’s four swords obscured his presence.

Demian’s eyes gleamed with curiosity and excitement. “You arranged multiple swords like stakes, twisting the flow of mana around them to create a magic-like effect? That’s not something you can learn in a day or two!”

The influence of the Five Elements Shadowless Sword Formation, capable of erasing even shadows, became null before the true Dragon Eyes.

Kiing…

Demian unleashed a thrust that anticipated Leonard’s advance, breaking his stance and dismantling the formation that shielded him. This was the equivalent of neutralizing five Apex Realm masters with a single strike.

Leonard, realizing what it meant to face someone with Dragon Eyes, clicked his tongue in frustration. He had hoped his sword formation would work, but it proved utterly ineffective. He was basically forced into a head-on confrontation with an absolute master of the dull sword.

Yellow Dragon First Form

Cloud Dragon Momentum Shift

Transitioning from the Five Elements Shadowless Sword Formation to the Unparalleled Five Elements Sword Formation, Leonard’s power quickly amplified. Demian had already taught Leonard the best way to counter someone with the Dragon Eye—either pursue extreme speed or unleash extreme destructive power.

Leonard chose the former.

One Origin Five Elements Sword Art

Five Elements Style

Ultimate Secret Technique: Azure Dragon’s Flash

Leonard’s five swords simultaneously released blue augmented sword energy, their power converging. This was the ultimate extreme speed, achievable just before breaking the limit. This kind of attack would be nearly impossible for someone like Fabian to evade.

Time appeared to flow thousands of times slower, and Leonard’s world turned black and white, where only the lightning-fast blade remained visible. It was the same for his opponent.

Demian, standing still, seemed to be caught off guard, the blade about to cleave his head in two. Leonard had no intention of stopping his attack; it was already too late to pull back.

It was at that moment…

What the...?

Leonard did not blink a single time. Despite keeping a close watch on Demian in a situation where time had almost stopped, he failed to notice Demian’s counter.

Clang!

Just like with the Mountain Deity Strike, the blade had been stopped in its tracks, its power completely neutralized. After falling a step back, Leonard turned his gaze to Demian, puzzled by his mysterious defense.

“What was that?”

“Who knows? It wouldn’t be fun if I told you everything.”

He was right. Questions and answers were useless—swordsmen ought to communicate with their blades, not with words.

Without the burden of the Azure Dragon’s Flash, Leonard resumed his attack.

A technique that even neutralizes my ultimate secret technique… If extreme speed doesn’t work, I’ll have to try something else.

In a fight to the death, a single mistake could seal one’s fate. However, this being a duel between a senior and a junior of the same family, it was acceptable for Demian to play it risky in order to test Leonard’s skills.

Leonard had already been overwhelmed once when Demian broke his Five Elements Shadowless Sword Formation, and during the Azure Dragon’s Flash, Demian could have landed a fatal blow.

In other words, Leonard had yet to make Demian take him seriously.

One Origin Five Elements Sword Art

Five Elements Style

Ultimate Secret Technique: Vermillion Bird’s Assault

Red augmented sword energy shot up from five points, converging into a single powerful force. This was the peak of destructive power that had once shredded the heart devil’s Controlling Otherness.

If Jack Russell compressed his supreme magic, Helios, to the size of a fingernail, he would achieve something similar to this technique. Demian marveled at the control Leonard displayed.

“Adjusting the form and density of the Aura Blade... Color me impressed. Not everyone can handle the five attributes as smoothly as that, even with a Penta Core.”

“It’s no longer accurate to call it a core,” Leonard replied.

“Ah, come to think of it, you’ve awakened the Dragon Heart as well. That could explain your enhanced control.” Demian nodded, satisfied with Leonard’s response. “This is the last time I’ll just stay on the receiving end of your attack. Give it everything you've got!”

“Very well.”

Leonard didn’t hold back. He poured his immense internal energy into his blade, causing the small Augmented Qi Sphere to swell. What started as a fingernail grew to the size of a fist, then of a head.

Witnessing this, Fabian went pale.

“This is insane...!”

This wasn’t the kind of attack that could be countered with a single skill; merely getting grazed by it could prove fatal to a Transcendence Tier master. If Fabian were in this position, he would have no choice but to flee desperately.

How would Demian, the White Dragon Commander, respond?

“I see you’re already using what I taught you. Since speed didn’t work, you’re upping the destructive power?” Demian observed with a smile.

“Although that’s generally the right strategy when fighting a Dragon Eye user, I never said it was the right one against me.”

“Then perhaps you could tell me a weakness of yours,” Leonard suggested.

“Why would I?”

Leonard, not expecting an answer, raised his sword. “Here I come.”

Amplified through the formation, the power of the five swords concentrated into one single mass of destruction, surging to a magnitude of twenty-five swords, not merely five. Leonard’s sword began to crack under the immense pressure.

Then, it happened.

Kiiiiing—!

A red Augmented Qi Sphere shot toward Demian’s heart.

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