Chapter 107: The First Sword Saint

Within the gray-black sky, the thunderous waterfall that resembled the Milky Way pouring down had vanished. The mountain where Muria and the others stood had completely changed its appearance, now shimmering with a dark metallic luster and adorned with dazzling golden patterns, captivating and splendid.

In the expectant gaze of Muria, a diminutive figure abruptly appeared in the vast wilderness. The powerful vision bestowed by his Titan and dragon mixed heritage allowed him to clearly see the figure's appearance.

With shoulder-length gray-white hair, ordinary features devoid of any distinctive traits, and dressed in simple hemp clothing, the man of average height seemed utterly common, without any special attributes – an exceedingly ordinary middle-aged man.

"Is this the human legend who dares challenge Lord Ashburn? He looks so ordinary." A Titan muttered upon seeing the Sword Saint Ron standing in the air, devoid of any imposing aura.

"He is the First Sword Saint. Considering the number of legends among humans, having the title of 'First' means his strength can't be weak."

"Hmph, 'First Sword Saint' is but a title among humans. He stands no chance against Lord Ashburn."

"What level of strength does Lord Ashburn possess now?" A Celestial Offspring inquired curiously of the Titans.

"Lord Ashburn is already preparing to venture into the endless void, embarking on the path of the Epic."

"Legendary peak." Silvester sighed softly. "With such strength, it's impossible for him to lose. Now let's see how long this human Sword Saint can last."

"I've heard that this human Sword Saint is currently at the seventh rank of legends. With such strength, why would Lord Ashburn accept the challenge?" Mikaela asked with some confusion, unable to comprehend.

"Lord Ashburn excels in swordsmanship as well," a Titan answered.

"I see." The Celestial Maiden nodded. "Lord Ashburn must be interested in the swordsmanship of this First Sword Saint."

Titans generally disregard challenges from beings weaker than themselves. A Titan ready to embark on the path of the Epic accepting a challenge from a human Sword Saint is unusual.

But this legendary Titan's interest in and skill with swordsmanship explained it. Among equals, humans are generally weaker than Titans in all aspects except one: the application of strength and combat skills, where humans can match or even surpass.

Muria listened intently to the discussions among the Titans and Celestial Offspring around him. Everyone believed the Sword Saint Ron was doomed to lose; the only debate was how long he could last.

No one believed this lowly born Sword Saint could win the battle. It wasn't contempt but an acknowledgment of the inherent gap between humans and Titans.

From the start, humans lose at the starting line. Even with diligent cultivation and breaking through life's limits time and again, they can't surpass Titans, who have never ceased honing themselves through endless battles.

"Boom!" Shortly after Sword Saint Ron appeared, a thunderous column, dozens of meters thick, descended from the sky and struck in front of Ron. The golden lightning arcs and shattered rocks even reached before him, yet his expression remained unchanged.

Where the thunder struck, the gray-black earth was pierced, melting everything into a lava pool spanning hundreds of meters in diameter, rapidly expanding as molten lava churned and raged.

Whoosh! Within the column of thunder, a towering, majestic figure emerged, a terrifying storm bursting from him, sweeping around, causing the lava to undulate endlessly and lift flames dozens of meters high.

This was a Titan towering over 180 meters tall, his body wrapped in robust lightning, as if clad in golden armor, with a semi-transparent, faintly blue hurricane enveloping him. He stood atop a lava pool expanded to over a thousand meters in diameter, created by the thunder leaking from his arrival.

"Human." The legendary Titan Ashburn looked down at the diminutive human before him and laughed, "Do you still have the courage to challenge me?"

At 180 meters tall, his sheer size was enough to intimidate most beings into avoiding conflict, a stature that could make even legendary demons of the Abyss tremble. Not to mention his imposing entrance.

"Of course." The seemingly ordinary Sword Saint looked up at the towering Titan, his indifferent brown pupils suddenly shooting out sharp glints like swords.

In that instant, the man no longer seemed ordinary. Silver-white fighting spirit surged from him, forming a nearly two-hundred-meter-long sword pointing straight at the sky, its majestic and vast sword aura spreading in all directions.

"Hisss!" Just observing the fighting spirit shaped like a long silver-white sword caused a slight discomfort in the eyes of many Titans and Celestial Offspring. Even Muria couldn't help but rub his eyes to alleviate the discomfort.

"Good." Hearing the Sword Saint's reply and seeing his stance, Titan Ashburn laughed heartily. Then, under the watchful eyes of many, his towering true form slowly shrank.

He continued to shrink until he transformed into a tall, muscular man over two meters tall. This transformation ceased as Sword Saint Ron looked on with furrowed brows and a mix of dissatisfaction and confusion. Ashburn then spoke out, his voice loud and clear for Muria and the others to hear.

"Human, I possess the strength of a legendary peak, but I will not bully you with my power. I seal two tiers of my strength, suppressing it to the seventh rank of legends, and reduce my size to fight you fairly."

Ron gripped his sword tighter, nodded without saying more, and his face showed no further hesitation. Seeing the Titan reduce his size, he was naturally dissatisfied. For creatures like Titans and dragons that transform into human forms, except for their casting abilities which remain consistent with their true form, their other abilities significantly diminish.

Titans in human form can exert a fraction of the power of their true form. Thus, Sword Saint Ron was somewhat displeased, but he said nothing.

"Lord Ashburn is indeed interested in the swordsmanship of this human Sword Saint," a Titan commented upon seeing Ashburn suppress his power.

"If they fought with full strength, the outcome of this battle would be clear."

"So now, the outcome of the battle is uncertain?" Muria softly said.

"Lord Ashburn is sure to win."

...

As Muria and the others debated the battle's outcome, Sword Saint Ron and the power-suppressed legendary Titan Ashburn commenced their duel.

The nearly two-hundred-meter-long fighting spirit collapsed, transforming into tiny silver-white specks that merged into Sword Saint Ron's body. Then, the ordinary-looking man slowly drew his deep blue long sword and struck.

As the long sword was fully unsheathed, a hundred-meter-long crescent sword light flew out, slashing towards Ashburn. It split the air, leaving a deep ravine on the ground, and divided the lava pool Ashburn had created, revealing the un-melted rock layer beneath.

"Good." Seeing the mere airflow from the sword light wield such power, the Titan was not alarmed but delighted, shouting loudly as his right arm began to glow with dazzling golden light. He threw a punch with the momentum of dividing rivers.

"Boom!" The silver-white sword light shattered under Ashburn's punch, dispersing into fine sword energies that sliced across the ground, creating dozens of meters long sword marks. The sword energies flying towards the Titan were torn apart by the surrounding hurricane before they could get close.

"Not bad." Ashburn

, having shattered the sword light with a punch, looked down at his palm where four shallow cuts lined up to form a single sword mark. The cuts healed almost immediately without even bleeding.

"You have wounded me." Ashburn laughed upon seeing his injury, "Human, state your name; you have earned the right for me to draw my sword."

Even with his strength and power suppressed, a Titan's physical resilience remains at the legendary peak. To have inflicted even a superficial cut on a Titan is no small feat.

"Human, Ron." The middle-aged man spoke plainly, unaffected by the Titan's condescension. For he had grown accustomed to disdain, mockery, and scorn.

He was the son of a blacksmith, and everyone around him—neighbors, playmates, fellow villagers—thought he should follow in his father's footsteps and become a blacksmith repairing tools. When he decided to learn the sword, no one supported him except his father. He faced only misunderstanding and mockery.

Fortunately, he persevered and displayed a shocking talent for swordsmanship. Then, he began to receive envy, jealousy, and admiration.

Later, he left his small hometown as a swordsman to venture into the world... cities, kingdoms, empires, continents. As his strength and swordsmanship improved, his fame spread.

When he ascended to legend, it caused a sensation in his subcontinent. Numerous duchies, kingdoms, and empires extended invitations to him. At that moment, wealth and power were within easy reach, but he rejected them all. He felt he should not stop at becoming a legend; he should aim higher.

That moment marked the beginning of the First Sword Saint's legend. He began to encounter more legendary beings and battle them. Then, he deeply understood the racial disadvantages of humanity, but he never thought of altering his lineage, believing that with his sword, he could be invincible.

Ron vividly remembered the first time he faced the ancient red dragon, Augustus, alone. The dragon's contemptuous and disdainful gaze.

Of course, what imprinted deeper was the moment he beheaded the dragon that had terrorized several nations. The incredulous and resentful look in the dragon's eyes and its mournful death cry were unforgettable.