Foreword

Endless roads, countless stars sparkling across the horizon. Boundless oceans. A world where the powerful travel on long journeys, where heroes arise.

Dreams, wealth, secret treasures, power. They all belong there.

Chapter 1 – The Ultimate Retainer

Tang Tian was the same as usual, standing lazily on the training grounds.

Looking at those young and pure faces, he snorted.

It was the first time the youths had come to Andrew Academy’s training grounds. Andrew Academy was Star Wind City’s top tenth academy. Even though the facilities on the training grounds were incomparable to the number one Heaven Dawn Establishment, they could still be considered a first-rate facility.

Furthermore, it was the first practical lesson for the new students, and they were brimming with curiosity.

“Everything that is written on the textbooks that you have all studied before, I have already explained thoroughly. From today onwards, other than theory classes, majority of your time will be spent here on the training grounds. If any of you dream of entering a better academy, studying and training diligently is the only way. Always remember, there are no shortcuts to success. Cultivating will forever be dull and tedious; never believe in luck.”

Master Cen solemnly said, as his voice echoed through the training grounds.

Eagerness and anticipation filled the young students’ eyes.

“Today, our syllabus is to practise the fundamentals of sword arts. Martial arts are useless if one simply studies the theory but neglects actual practise. However, before you all begin to practise on your own, your senior Tang Tian will demonstrate once. Senior Tang Tian is Andrew Academy’s most outstanding and skilled martial arts fundamentals expert, who even I, am unable to compete with. It will do you all well to watch and focus on what a perfect swordsmanship foundation looks like.”

“Shua”, all the youths turned their gazes to Tang Tian. In the eyes of many, the ‘slacker’ status changed for the better.

Tang Tian was cool and distant.

“Tang Tian, please begin.” Master Cen instructed.

“Oh.” Tang Tian responded with a sigh, and walked to the sword box in the corner and pulled out a wooden sword. Once he held the wooden sword, Tang Tian’s eyes instantly gleamed with sharpness and turned serious, with the previous laziness gone in a flash.

With his left leg pulled half a step back, his waist slightly lowered and his right elbow tucked in, Tang Tian raised the sword tip to eye level.

His waist was slightly deviated, his elbow was relaxed like a spring, and his wrist did not move an inch.

Si!

A shrilling sound rang through the clear air.

Andrew Academy’s Fundamental Sword Arts Strike!

Many youths subconsciously cheered in amusement. Many of them actually had no interest in the fundamental sword art techniques. As the name implied, the fundamental sword techniques aim to build a student’s foundation, and were considered the lowest stage of the sword art technique. It was normal for the youths to have no interest in them. Yet when they saw Tang Tian execute the fundamental sword techniques, each stroke looked simple, but was performed with grace and strength.

In a split second, he had won the hearts of the youths.

Tang Tian’s focus was at its peak, moving one foot swiftly forward, his shoulders were poised and unmoved, yet his arms were like ropes, when they suddenly trembled, the wood sword struck the floor.

Wu!

The sound broke the silence, and people tensed.

The fundamental moves of the sword art technique generally have a much shorter range than those of the saber art, but stronger explosive force. As Tang Tian demonstrated the main points of ‘strike’ incisively and vividly, the youths could actually see the wooden sword’s flexibility in the air.

The youths once again, gasped in amazement, Master Cen was already used to it. He looked at Tang Tian standing on the training grounds and although he had seen him practise over and over again, every time he witnessed Tang Tian practise, it would always take his breath away. Master Cen even claimed that his mastery of the fundamental sword art techniques could not be compared to Tang Tian, and was very humble.

Raise, block, draw.

Tang Tian’s movements were like the clouds and flowing water, with a peaceful mind, he did not hesitate in the middle. His movements were poised, graceful, and yet, with strength. When he finished his last movement, the entire training grounds fell silent.

Tang Tian went back to his lazy facial expression, and threw the wooden sword away. As if the sword had eyes, it fell into the sword container at the corner.

The students cheered.

“Wow! That was amazing! The fundamental sword art techniques are actually this powerful!”

“Too cool! Too beautiful!”

“So cool! Tang Tian senior is so manly! Senior, senior, please be with me!” the eyes of the female students glimmered in the crowd. Tang Tian had a big stature, with this fundamental sword art techniques, it made him look perfect, without any ounce of clumsiness, leaving all to think he was coordinated as well as flexible.

Tang Tian was still indifferent.

“Che, what ignorance! So what if your fundamental sword techniques are perfect, you didn’t manage to pass the final exams for 5 consecutive years, this cool Tang Tian senior, was already learning these fundamental sword techniques when my brother began studying at Andrew’s. Pew, my brother is already about to graduate.”

This youth clamoured in the crowd.

A deep silence followed, and the gazes which were originally filled with admiration, quickly changed to a stare.

There were rumours about a student who was the ultimate retainer in Andrew Academy, and everyone knew about this laughing stock. Many came with the intention to ask about this, but never did they think that the ultimate retainer would be the one standing in front of them, the invincible Tang Tian senior.

He knew it would turn out like this…

Tang Tian pouted, matters like this happened every year. He had already gotten used to it. Yet he still passed an unfriendly glare to the rascal with a weird ying yang temperament.

Your brother probably hasn’t told you, but I have beaten him up before.

Tang Tian had already decided to settle the score with that fellow after class, but maybe he did not have to wait for so long…

Tang Tian squinted, in an ill speaking tone: “Who gave you permission to be distracted from class time? Oh yes, I forgot to tell all of you, I am the assistant of Master Cen, and I am in charge of your revision. Anyone who does not practise well, I am willing to let into combat. You, yes you, want to come out and spar?”

Tang Tian pointed at the boy with sarcastic remarks, his fist was kneaded up so tightly it made ‘ka’ sounds.

The boy’s face turned pale immediately and he suddenly remembered Tang Tian’s reputation. He kept quiet and ran to a side and started to practise.

The other students observed, and hurriedly began practising with clumsy movements.

At the same time, Master Cen noted: “If you have any questions, feel free to consult Tang Tian senior. Practise hard, don’t be lazy. Tang Tian, keep an eye on their practice session.”

“Yes!” Tang Tian shouted.

Master Cen nodded his head in satisfaction, and turned to leave.

No one came up all the way until the class ended. Tang Tian was slightly disappointed as he groaned and went away.

Once the lesson ended, everybody gathered around the boy.

“Quickly tell us, you only managed to say half of it earlier.”

“Yea, yea….”

The boy said arrogantly: “This Tang Tian senior, is the legend of Andrew Academy. Andrew Academy has always been known to bring forward one’s graduation, so who would retain? However, our Tang Tian senior stayed, and now he’s stayed, hmm, let me count, five years, a total of five years! Think about it, to stay in Andrew Academy for five years, what kind of thoughts would come to mind? He is definitely the first one to ever do that!!”

“Why would he stay for so long?” someone could not help but ask: “Even if he could not make it to a prestigious academy, a normal one should still be easy!”