Chapter 26: A Small Spar

"Fa Ken what does your Iron Blade sect do, exactly?" Ken Hai asked his new acquaintance. "Well we're a sect that focuses on mastering bladed weapons, we also practice forging as some of our sects income comes from the weapons we make."

"I see, so I guess some sects does the same thing, or they make pills." Ken Hai takes a wild guess and in response Fa Ken nodded.

"Though I have to admit our sect isn't really a flying dragon, our sect has been on a slow decline for the past few hundred years." admits Fa Ken while Fa Lin held his hand and gave him a look of worry.

"I see your currently 18 right, so I can guess your sect has been putting you under a lot of pressure. I'm sorry."

Ken Hai could only guess he's been place under a lot of pressure as child, a lot of child genius's go through something similar especially when the expectations placed on then aren't met. Or they will simply become arrogant.

"No you have nothing to worry about brother Hai!" says Fa Ken.

"Well the only thing you can do is hope to guard your future children from such troubles." says Ken Hai.

"I will again thank you for your kind words Ken Hai." says Fa Ken, he truly now admires Ken Hai, sure his cultivation might not be as strong as his but not only did he save him and his sect sister he can give such kinds words to a stranger he just met.

The three then camped there for the night.

-The next day-

"It seems this where we go our separate ways." says Ken Hai as he shook Fa Ken's hand. "Ken Hai before we go, may I request a sparring match?" replies Fa Ken.

"I don't mind." He took out his first sword, Ken Hai removed some of the runes, it's currently only slightly stronger than your usual cultivators sword.

The two then went to a field, it was rather windy as they're hair and clothes swept slight with the breeze.

After a second the two dashed towards each other closing the distance between each other.

*CLANG!* The sounds of their clash reverberated throughout the plains. Fa Ken pushed Ken Hai back he was a few minor realms above our protagonists, but Ken Hai expected that.

Ken Hai channeled his martial energy to his arms and thoroughly concentrated it into his muscle fibres improving his strength even more than it usually would surprising Fa Ken.

The two separated to gain some distance and then went for another attack, Fa Ken went for an overhead slash, Ken Hai barely dodges as his opponent's blade cut some of his hair, he immediately saw an opening and tried going for a counter attack.

But Fa Ken was able to block his attack with his sword in time. 'Maybe I should've used Augmentation for some extra speed with that last attack?' thought Ken Hai as he parried another attack.

"Ken Hai it's clear you have a lower cultivation than I, but your managing to put up a better fight than most of my peers." Compliments Fa Ken with a smile.

Ken Hai held a smile as well as much as he was struggling in this fight he was enjoying it as well.

Ken Hai dashed towards his opponent martial energy increasing the speed which he came which slightly surprised Fa Ken, but he decided to hold his ground both held wide smiles on their faces.

Fa Ken dodged Ken Hai's slash and tried counter attacking but Ken Hai spun his body blocking the attack barely, he disengage and tried delivering and number of high speed slashes each being block, parried or dodged by Fa Ken.

Fa Ken tried to counter attack but they parried by Ken Hai's onslaught of attacks. Fa Ken's smile widens as he started to use his qi and sent Ken Hai flying back.

Ken Hai manages to caught himself but Fa Ken closed the distance between them and Ken Hai barely manages to dodge the attack.

Fa Ken the delivered a number of attacks which Ken Hai barely manages to block. His arms felt numb with each blow to his sword.

Sweat trickled down his face and arms, but he couldn't help but feel like he was having fun in this fight. 'Heh! Didn't know I was battle maniac?' he couldn't help but mock himself bit as he now understand certain characters from fiction.

Ken Hai then released all his martial qi, a cyan aura appearing around as the wind picked up around his sword. Fa Ken's eyes widens but he smiles and held his blade tightly as he released his aura as well.

Fa Lin watching this couldn't help but gape at this sight, she's never seen someone last so long against her sect brother, especially someone with a lower cultivation.

A small but powerful tornado formed over Ken Hai's sword. Fa Kens sword glowed a mighty blue as.

"[Gale Slash!]" said Ken Hai as he rushed in with a overhead slash.

"[Iron Piercing Slash!]" said Fa Ken as he did a low slash.

*CLANG!!!* The blades clashed.

*BOOOM!!!* A shockwave erupted as did an explosion sending Ken Hai flying back as the smoke cleared Ken Hai was lying on his back his sword a bit away from him and Fa Ken was standing in a crater with his sword broken.

"I lost." said Ken Hai, it was his second battle against a human and he lost again, well the first one could barely count but still. He couldn't help but sigh.

But a hand brought him out of his trance, it was Fa Ken. "That was one of best battles I had in a while." He took his new friends gesture and when he got onto his feet his legs felt like jelly.

"Thanks!"

- Later -

"Later big brother Hai!" says Fa Lin as she walked away in the distance.

"Ken Hai come boy our Iron Blade sect when you get to Scarlet Fan city alright!" says Fa Ken. "Sure and Fa Lin make sure to work hard!"