Arrival

It's been more than two days, and Tatsuya was still traveling the vast lands of the Blue Wind Empire. He would sometime stop and regulate his breathing. In this way, he would be able to recover the huge amount of profound energy that he was using.

Currently, his speed had already approached the level of Half-Step Earth Profound Realm. Although, he is still at the 1st stage of True Profound Realm, he estimated that he could already match someone of the early stages of Spirit Profound Realm or even middle stages of the realm.

(Is that the Heavenly Sword Mountain Range? So, that is the physical manifestation of sword energies, huh.)

Tatsuya thought to himself, as he gazed at the gigantic mountain before him. Thick smoke and fog covered the mountain, as the astonishing amount of sword energy rippled everywhere. He could sense the danger that those sword energy carried.

His speed didn't decrease in the slightest; rather it sped up even further, to the point that his speed had infinitely approached the speed of an Earth Profound Realm cultivator. He retained his calmness and indifference, even before the suffocating aura of the whole mountain range.

Suddenly, Tatsuya titled his head to the right, as he completely halted his steps. In that moment, a group of individuals appeared within his sight. He immediately noticed the sword scar emblem on their robes, as he immediately deduced their identities.

*Boom*

The sword that previously passed through his left side, had sunk into the ground. It produced rumbles and tremor within the proximity, as Tatsuya felt the astonishing amount of profound energy condensed in that attack.

"A mere True Profound Realm cultivator dares to trespass within our villa's territory?!"

A deep voice resounded across the perimeter, as the voice itself resembled the thunder itself. Tatsuya directed his gaze towards the source of the sound. Through his innate ability, Elemental Sight, he discovered the person's cultivation realm.

2nd stage of Spirit Profound Realm

The person's hair fluttered across the winds, as a shining sword hung within his waist. His entire body emitted a sharp aura that could rip apart the wind. Despite his terrifying aura, Tatsuya just stood still, quietly analyzing their Eidos.

Overall, there stood 3, with the other two having 7th stage of True Profound Realm cultivation bases. They all stared at Tatsuya with their cold-blooded eyes, fully prepared to draw their blades. They unrestrainedly released their aura at its full power, desiring to pressure Tatsuya.

However, how can a measly aura intimidate Tatsuya's enhanced physical state?

He faced them full head-on, while releasing his 1st stage of True Profound Realm aura. The group before him stared at him with surprise flashing within their eyes.

"Hahaha, a measly commoner actually dares to face us head-on!"

"Normally, we would avoid conflicts, but seeing that you're trying to sneak around, you'll be punished for such act!"

The two individuals that stood beside the Spirit Profound Realm cultivator, stared at him with an eyes full of disdain. They sneered at Tatsuya without any restraint.

"…"

Tatsuya kept quiet, simply staring at the three individuals before him. The explosive profound energy within his body unceasingly revolved, ready to initiate a fight.

The other two who intended to annoy Tatsuya, suddenly closed their mouths. Veins bulged out of their forehead, as they felt anger rush towards their head. After all, a mere 1st stage of True Profound Realm cultivator actually dared to ignore them?

"You are courting death!"

They both kicked the ground, propelling themselves toward Tatsuya. Their speed surpassed the normal cultivators of True Profound Realm, showcasing their difference compared to them. Surprise flashed across Tatsuya's eyes, as he felt that the Heavenly Sword Villa really isn't that ordinary.

"Wolf Slash!"

"Earth Splitting Wave!"

They both maniacally uttered their technique's name, as their profound energy flowed towards their weapons. Their sword uttered a cry, as it released a deadly amount of sharp energy.

They both attacked from Tatsuya's side, and appeared like a blur beside him. Their sword swiftly tried to slash towards him. However, in the next instant, Tatsuya had already vanished from his location.

"Wha?!"

They both stared at each other, and soon collided with themselves. Their attacks landed on themselves, forcing them to utter a painful cry that resounded across the perimeter.

The strongest among them that hadn't moved even the slightest felt surprise and shock. Despite the terrifying speed that Tatsuya had shown, the man had still calmness on his face. His calm demeanor showed the vast amount of combat experience that he had gathered till this day.

"You think, you can hide from me?"

The man softly said, as he swiftly drew the sword within his waist. His hand opted the sword to slash behind him. The sword emitted a terrifying yet suffocating amount of sword energy, as it slashed behind him.

"Hmph."

The man felt his sword hit nothing, and immediately fell into a defensive stance. He warily stared at his surroundings, waiting for the young man to counter attack.

Soon, a chop headed towards his head, as his instinct released a bunch of alarm that opted him to jump backward. He felt an extremely dense amount of profound energy pass in front of him.

*Boom!*

An ear-piercing sound rang to his own ears that made him stare at the space before him. His eyes widened in shock and anxiety, as he saw a gigantic horizontal scar on the ground before him. It dug deep to the ground, as it still emanated a deadly aura that made him feel threatened.

"Hm. So, this is ninjutsu once paired with profound energy, huh."

He heard a surprised voice across him, as the man can't help but quickly turn his gaze towards the source of the voice. There, he saw the youth that he once deemed as harmless. His uniform that had dragon-carvings, fluttered across the wind.

Tatsuya's current eyes had lost its usual emotionless state. It was replaced by a pure-blue demonic eyes that seemed to carry the power to suck away souls. A thick killing-intent appeared out of nowhere, and pressured the man into his knees.

"W-what in the world?"

"Hm. So, this is my current prowess…"

Tatsuya talked to himself, completely ignoring the terror-stricken man before him. Actually, with his innate ability, Elemental Sight, he could completely avoid the detection of the Heavenly Sword Villa. However, he wanted to test his own combat prowess, as he decided to intentionally provoke them.

The man before him heavily stood up. His step felt deep and heavy, as the man stared at Tatsuya with fear and anxiety. Despite that, fighting spirit burned in those eyes, not a single thread of cowardice could be traced.

"Interesting… Normally, people would break down in fear, once they had encountered people beyond their own strength. However, this man is clearly not like that."

Tatsuya took a step forward, as he vanished from his position. He appeared before the man like a ghost, making the man startled. The man quickly took a step back, while trying to slash his sword towards Tatsuya's neck.

However, Tatsuya was still faster than the man. His hand had already formed into a chop, as it almost reached the man's neck. Tatsuya didn't even hesitated to release a deadly attack.

But, before he could even land his strike, a booming thunder appeared across the perimeter. Tatsuya jumped backward, as the man also jumped away from him. They both involuntarily stared at the north, where the rumble originated from.

(I guess, their reinforcements are now here, huh.)

Tatsuya thought to himself, as he stared at the shadow at the distance. He could feel a terrorizing amount of pressure descend upon him. He maintained his spear-like figure, as he stared back at the shadow at the distance.

"You dare to harm my clansmen?"

The shadow soon materialized into a middle-aged man. His voice resounded like a thunder and made the ground rumble. His gaze peered into Tatsuya's figure, while releasing an extremely sharp energy that could disintegrate metal in seconds.

"Senior, forgive this junior, but they attacked me first."

Tatsuya cupped his fists, pretending to be respectful. Not a thread of respect could be traced from his eyes. Yet, an intention hid beneath his terrifying eyes. It soon vanished and returned to its usual emotionless state.

"Hmph. If not for your talent to skip realms, I would have already killed you."

"This junior conveys his endless gratitude."

Tatsuya slightly bowed his head, as the middle-aged man switched his gaze upon the man that Tatsuya had defeated. He swiftly threw a bunch of pills and medicine towards the man, intending to help the man to recover his peak state.

"Ling Huan thanks senior!"

The man stood up and cupped his fists towards the middle-aged man. He quickly grabbed the medicine and gulped a bunch, while throwing a few towards the two who miserably crawled on the ground.

Soon, the middle-aged man returned his gaze at Tatsuya. However, this time, the sharp energy that his eyes carried had vanished into thin-air. He just stared at Tatsuya in difference.

"Let me ask you, why are you trespassing into our territory?"

"Actually, this junior dreams to enter the Heavenly Sword Villa, in hopes to attain achievements."

Tatsuya's acting skill had already reached an extreme degree, as his movements emitted a very natural flow. The middle-aged man could not find any trace of flaw from Tatsuya's statement, as he stared at Tatsuya with his experienced eyes.

"Ling Huan guide this fellow towards the mountain range. See if he could pass the test. After all, he defeated you three easily."

The middle-aged man finally decided to ease his anger, as he knew that there wasn't really that grave injuries. Also, looking at it, Tatsuya is a genius that could skip realms.

How could he ignore someone of this talent?

Furthermore, Tatsuya might bring the Heavenly Sword Villa fortune. He wasn't afraid either that Tatsuya has any ill intent, as no one could practically threaten the whole clan.

"This junior's name is Shiba Tatsuya. This junior is thankful of senior's fair treatment."

"Hm."

The middle-aged man nodded his head, as his body appeared to have teleported out of this place. However, Tatsuya knew that the middle-aged man had just reached an extreme degree of speed, that made it look like that he had teleported.

"You there, let me bring you to the Heavenly Sword Villa."

"…"

Tatsuya stared at Ling Huan with his emotionless eyes. Facing his eyes, the latter couldn't help but to take a step back, as he still remembered the power that Tatsuya showcased. He knew that this young man before him is a genius. He is not someone that Ling Huan could offend, much more if Tatsuya got accepted.

(Now, this is better than just taking the inheritance without any difficulty. I might as well try how a sect or organization works in this world.)

Originally, Tatsuya decided to sneak into the Heavenly Sword Mountain Range. However, he changed his mind, upon seeing that he might learn something from joining the Heavenly Sword Villa. After all, he still lacked certain aspects that he might be able to develop with the help of the villa.

(Hm. I'll spend my time here for the meantime. Maybe, I could obtain useful information from this place…)

Tatsuya thought to himself, as he followed Ling Huan. The two that he previously defeated easily, walked awkwardly while slightly trembling. They could still remember the terror of Tatsuya's strength.

They didn't dared to look at Tatsuya with any ill intention, lest they offend him. Meanwhile, Tatsuya analyzed the whole Heavenly Sword Mountain Range, in the purpose of finding the entrance towards the White Tiger God's inheritance…