LEGEND REBORN : THE SAMURAI WORLD

THE STRENGTH OF AN ARTIST

The sky was blue clear, not a single shade of cloud in sight, but the sun was not harsh, instead it was gentle on the skin. The day was very bright and as evening approached, Matero's screening began.

He was to fight three disciples in the exercise. The imperial cultivation grounds had three classes of disciples, the lower disciples, the higher disciples and the core disciples. A disciple was choosen from each category to test out Matero's class of strength.

His first opponent was a lower disciple, at the third step of the first realm. A fourteen year old called BB. He was dressed in a black piece of cloth, the usual for all lower disciples. It had no sleeves and in most cases was worn with shorts.

BB drew his sword, he was filled with rage by the match up. He felt underestimated by the administration and he saw this like a fool's errand. They dare match him against this brat from the little villages. A member of the Zhao family against him. He gripped his sword tighter, he would surprise them and cripple this fool.

Matero made the first move, his sword wasn't drawn and he dashed towards BB expressionlessly, you couldn't tell how he felt or what he was thinking. BB was surprised but quickly reacted and dashed towards Matero, sword drawn.

"Twelve strikes of the blade." BB twisted and cut towards Matero from an angle, he struck with precision and didn't hold back one bit of his strength. His aura had fully exploded at this point and pressure was exuding from his body.

"The twelve strikes of the blade is a pretty complex move. Impressive, he has such control of it."

"His third step pressure should have drastically curbed his opponents movement."

"This brat has not even drawn his blade, does he want to die that quickly?" The Elders spectating made various analysis, to virtually everyone this new kid was too rash.

Facing the immense pressure, Matero was unaffected. He had been subjected to greater ones and he even had a secret technique for nullifying auras of close steps. He pierced through the blanket of pressure like paper and punched out.

"Smack." His punch hit BB's sword wielding hand and stopped the attack midway. Matero had dashed so close he was within an arm's length, so he just punched at the striking hand to stop the attack midway.

BB was shocked, just now Matero who was within slashing distance had suddenly appeared right in front of him and blocked his hit by punching his hand. A lot of the spectating Elders had bewildered looks.

"How could he still move this effectively facing my aura. Does he have accessories that can neglect it?" BB pulled back with surprise, he adjusted his stance and slashed out again almost instantly.

This time he ensured he was out of Matero's punching range but within striking distance for his sword. Matero still remained blank, no expression and with force kicked out.

"BAM!" Matero's kick slammed right into his arm and the sword dropped. Plunging steadfast into the ground.

"Is this boy really at the second step?"

"He is toying around with BB, what is this."

"He must be of high potential, if he can subdue disciples a step above him. Easily too."

"Shua." Before BB recovered from his shock, a light flashed before his eyes and a cold feeling quickly emanated from his nose. Matero had pulled his sword and returned it almost instantly, during that split window he had cut BB at the nose and blood dripped down BB's face.

"That is an extremely simplified version of a legendary skill."

"This kid is talented, he controlled the entire match up."

"Well he was lucky, lower disciples are trash."

Xiao who just arrived gave a bright smile, now she was no longer surprised by the things Matero did, instead she looked forward to more.

With just an order, the next disciple came up. An higher disciple. Actually no new disciple was an higher disciple yet, none could be. You had to get to the first step of the second realm to be an higher disciple. Some disciples go their entire lives without crossing the realms. You required enough talent, luck, foundation and comprehension to cross realms. Some never meet the requirements and each time you fail in your attempts to cross, it becomes harder.

"We can cancel this round if you want us to General Xiao." An Elder revealed a smug smile, he believed the match up would be suicide. A couple other Elders laughed in response.

"My candidate has wrestled a master at the second step of the artist realm once, I am sure of his capabilities. Please proceed." Xiao didn't even flinch when she responded. Everyone laughing ceased, the lady of light was this confident in this kid?

The next disciple was at the first step of the second rank as expected, a young man probably in his thirties, he was referred to as Wato. Once he saw Matero, unwillingness quickly shrouded his countenance, how could he fight a fourteen year old, not just any fourteen year old, this kid is not even a disciple to any master yet. That aside the difference in cultivation level and experience was just too vast, the second step of the human realm to the first step artists realm is just too far. Too far.

Wato decided to end the match up as quickly as possible, he had protested earlier but he had been neglected by the Elders and he had no option, but to fight.

"Side stab." Wato whispered to himself and his aura was released. With a speed that was almost inhuman he dashed right at Matero, not pulling his blade but holding up his right palm like one.

Matero felt the immense pressure crash on him, even his breathing became restricted. A normal cultivator at his rank would be crippled, if not killed by this level of pressure. Since he had faced family head Guan, he had grown very resistant to pressures below that intensity and therefore, coupled with his mastery and comprehension retains his mobility under such pressures.

Wato stabbed towards Matero's side with his right palm, the speed was incredible and Matero could barely react in time, he bent side ways and the palm missed him by inches. Matero punched at Wato but the latter also evaded the punch with ease. The two retreated and took stances.

"That palm just now could have pierced my flesh, this technique is troublesome. He hasn't even mastered it yet." Matero spotted a neat cut on his cloth wear the palm had missed.

"Eh eh eh, Wato is smart, using a technique with such overpowering capabilities."

"If he had pulled his sword just now, that kid would have been killed even if he evaded the strike."

Wato charged at Matero even faster this time around, he slashed at Matero over and over in quick succession too. Each time Matero evaded, it became harder to evade the next attack. With all strength he could muster Matero pulled away from Wato, his cloth had been shredded and even tiny cuts had started to appear.

With a smile Wato advanced, chakra coated his feets and his speed was doubled. It wasn't like Matero pulled away at all, it was like they just shifted in unism, because the attacks continued immediately Matero landed.

"Hmmph, that lady of light doesn't look so bright now."

"Wato will break him."

"I'm impressed that Matero kid can move at all, lasting this long, he really is wonderful."

Matero stepped on a stone and he slipped side ways, he was slowed drastically and couldn't evade the incoming strike, he had to brace himself and pushed out his palm to block the hit. He gathered all the energy he could muster and the two collided.

"Bam." Matero's figure was thrown backwards, a trail of blood followed and Wato remaimed unmoving.

Suspended in mid air as he was thrown backwards from the hit Matero analysed the clash just now, the skill it self was deadly, making Wato's skin a blade, the cultivation level gave Wato explosive strength and Matero was also fragile compared to Wato's bulky figure. In his head, he could have defeated Wato in a snap if it was the previous him but this body had its limitations and what he faced just now is different. This was the strength of a martial artist.