The shuttle in the second dimension

　"That's right." Hearing what Edwards said, Lin Xuanqing raised his eyebrows and said with a chuckle, "I really shouldn't look so depressed. This is not what I should show." Reaching out and patting his face, Lin Xuan showed a confident look again.

　"Hey - Edwards, how about giving me some motivation?" Lin Xuan asked suddenly.

　"Motivation?" Edwards asked with some doubt, raising his eyebrows slightly.

　"If I really beat you in the end, how about you agree to be my girlfriend?" Lin Xuan said, looking at Edwards seriously.

　"Eh!?" Lin Xuan's sudden request, which was like a confession, stunned Edwards for a moment. Obviously, she did not expect that Lin Xuan would make such a request.

　Before becoming the [World's Strongest Swordsman], Edelweiss was still a woman, so after Lin Xuan made such a request, she didn't know how to answer Lin Xuan for a moment.

　Looking at the serious Lin Xuan in front of him, Edwards did not respond immediately, but looked at Lin Xuan quietly, as if he could see something from his face.

　After a long moment, Edelweiss raised the corner of her mouth, revealing a smile that Lin Xuan had never seen on her face before. "Yes, as long as you can defeat my sword with your knife, I will agree to it."

　Lin Xuan was stunned when he saw the smile on Edward's face. This was the first time Lin Xuan saw Edward smile, but precisely because it was the first time, Edward's smile seemed so stunning to Lin Xuan...

　After a while, Lin Xuan came back to his senses. "Hey - you look so beautiful when you smile, why don't you smile more, Edwards?"

　"Really?" Edwards put away the smile on his face and returned to his usual self, saying lightly.

　"Uh—why aren't you smiling again? You look so pretty when you smile."

　Love made Edwards put away his smile and return to his original appearance. Lin Xuan said regretfully, as if he had lost something beautiful.

　In response to Lin Xuan's regret, Edwards gave a calm look.

　"You've rested enough, and it's time to go back." After saying that, Edwards turned around and left.

　"Uh..." Edelweiss's order to leave made Lin Xuan twitch his lips, feeling somewhat helpless. This seemed to be the first time Edelweiss had ordered him to leave. In the past, he had always let him rest and recover here, and it was up to him to decide when to leave.

　"Is he angry?" Lin Xuan muttered to himself as he watched Edwards's receding figure.

　"Forget it, let's go back and have a good rest first. I'll apologize next time I come." Shrugging his shoulders, Lin Xuan turned and left.

　……

　After leaving Edwards' residence, Lin Xuan came to a parking lot, walked to a military jeep, and got in without the owner's consent.

　"Sir, you are back earlier this time than usual?" A young man in his early twenties in the driver's seat said respectfully after Lin Xuan got into the car.

　"Yeah." Lin Xuan responded and didn't say anything else.

　The man in the driver's seat saw that Lin Xuan didn't say much, so he didn't ask any further questions. After all, he was just a driver and had no qualifications to question Lin Xuan, a powerful swordsman.

　"Let's go. I want to go back early." Lin Xuan said with his eyes closed while sitting in the back seat.

　"I understand, sir." The driver responded and started the car. However, Lin Xuan did not see the strange curve of the driver's mouth reflected in the rearview mirror.

Chapter 69 Memories

　Lying in the back seat with his eyes closed, Lin Xuan felt the car's bumps while thinking about what happened in the past year.

　Since the successful assassination mission, this country began to fall into civil strife as Lin Xuan and others had expected, and the civil strife was not ended until the formal intervention of the [Alliance]. It was also from that time that the war between the [Alliance] and the [Liberation Corps] in this country officially began.

　After the Alliance officially intervened, the war's intensity began to rise. The Liberation Corps, no longer as passive as before, began to truly commit its forces to the war. During this year, the intensity of the battles Lin Xuan experienced also increased. His injuries also began to increase, but at the same time, his strength also began to rise. Furthermore, during this year, he frequently challenged Edelweiss and honed his sword, causing his strength to explode.

　And if there was anything that impressed Lin Xuan during this year, it was probably the person he met half a year ago, Zhuzhi's elder brother - Kurogane Ouma.

　At that time, Wang Ma, in order to become stronger, chose to fight on battlefields all over the world, and this battlefield with the two major forces of the [Liberation Corps] and the [Alliance] just suited his taste, so he came to this battlefield.

　Originally, according to this opportunity, Wang Ma would eventually encounter the commander of the Liberation Corps, the Tyrant, and be deeply smitten with fear and despair. However, this originally planned trajectory was disrupted. Wang Ma, who was supposed to meet the Tyrant later, first encountered the person he would never forget - the Butcher Lin Xuan.

　The scene at that time was like this.

　——The dividing line of memories——half a year ago——

　"Black Iron King Horse?" Looking at the young man in front of him who was "about the same age" as him, Lin Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly and said in surprise.

　Lin Xuan, familiar with some of the original storyline, knew that after dominating the U-12 World Championships hosted by the Knights' League, Black Iron King Horse had grown discontent with his achievements. He had even chosen to fight on battlefields around the world to strengthen himself. His thinking was almost identical to Lin Xuan's.

　Lin Xuan hadn't expected Wang Ma to actually come to this battlefield. But thinking about it, it made sense. After all, ever since the Alliance officially intervened six months ago, the war had intensified, and there was no shortage of powerful swordsmen on the battlefield. It wasn't surprising that Wang Ma would choose this place.

　However, what Lin Xuan didn't expect the most was that Wang Ma actually wanted to fight with him.

　"Yes." Wang Ma responded briefly.

　"If I heard correctly, you meant to fight me?" Lin Xuan asked with a grin.

　"Yes." It was still a brief response, as if Wang Ma didn't want to waste time on responding.

　"Okay, let's find an open place." Lin Xuan did not refuse Wang Ma's request. Besides, he also wanted to see how strong Wang Ma is now.

　"Yeah." After responding, Wang Ma followed Lin Xuan to the place where they were going to fight.

　……

　In the open space, looking at Wang Ma standing ten meters away from him, Lin Xuan summoned out [Destroy], but this time Lin Xuan summoned out the scabbard together, and it was unknown what his intention was.

　"Here, okay."

　"Sure." While answering, Wang Ma also summoned his inherent spiritual equipment [Dragon Claw], which was an extra-long large sword.

　"Let's begin." However, although Lin Xuan opened the prelude to the battle, he did not launch an attack immediately. Instead, he stood still and looked at Wang Ma quietly, as if waiting for him to take action.

　Seeing that Lin Xuan didn't move, Wang Ma frowned. He felt that his strength was underestimated, which made him feel very uncomfortable. Therefore, he wanted to first let the other party recognize the strength of both sides and make the other party feel a sense of urgency.

　"Seal it off—[Empty Barrier]"

　When Wang Ma began to chant the magical spell, a green firefly-like light began to emerge from the Dragon Claw.

　The next moment, a violent storm ravaged the battlefield, sending dust and sand flying everywhere, blinding anyone. The sudden wind spiraled upward, stirring up an upward current. Yet, within the storm, Lin Xuan remained calm, as if it had no effect on him at all. However, this sudden storm wasn't meant to sweep away the enemy, but rather to sweep away all the oxygen on the battlefield.

　"[Empty Space Barrier], it's indeed a good sword-cutting skill." Feeling the air being swept away around him, Lin Xuan nodded and thought to himself.

　On the other side, after using the [Empty Space Barrier] to sweep away all the oxygen, Wang Ma swung the [Dragon Claw] in his hand.

　Ten meters between them, the Ōdachi's range was wide, but not that wide. However, if the wind were added, the situation would be different. Steel certainly couldn't hurt the opponent, but the [vacuum blade] created by the wind might be able to do that.

　But when he saw the [Vacuum Blade], Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "It's just this level. It's a bit too disappointing~~~~Black Iron King Horse."

　At this time, Lin Xuan began to move the hand holding the scabbard. He raised his thumb slightly, placed it on the hilt of the sword, and pushed it gently.

　"!!!!!!!" The moment [Destruction] was pushed back a fraction, a dark, destructive force unleashed from the exposed blade like a wild horse. The overflowing destructive force was like a demonic beast freed from its seal, madly rushing in all directions, as if to destroy everything in its path. The [Empty Space Barrier] and the [Vacuum Blade] aimed at Lin Xuan were the first to bear the brunt of the destructive force's attack.

　"Whoosh—" The air returned to Lin Xuan's side again. This meant that Wang Ma's [Empty Barrier] had been destroyed by those wanton destruction. Lin Xuan's current safe and sound appearance also proved the destruction of Wang Ma's [Vacuum Blade].

　"What!!!" Looking at Lin Xuan who was in the destructive force that seemed like a swarm of demons dancing wildly, Wang Ma's face showed astonishment. Of course he saw Lin Xuan's actions, and he also saw what Lin Xuan did. He just let his sword partially out of the sheath and casually released the power contained in the sword. However, such a casual action caused his [Empty Space Barrier] and [Vacuum Blade] to be destroyed in an instant. He couldn't help but be shocked.

　But the more shocking thing is yet to come...

Chapter 70: End of Memories and Danger

　"Is this all you have? If that's the case, it's truly disappointing, Kurogane Ouma."

　Standing in the destructive force that seemed like a riot of demons, Lin Xuan asked calmly. At the same time, a terrifying aura suddenly emerged from her body, as if to slaughter and destroy everything, pressing towards Wang Ma.

　"—"

　The sudden pressure from the aura made Wang Ma realize the huge gap between the two, but Lin Xuan's words made Wang Ma's face start to look ugly. Whether it was the meaning of Lin Xuan's words or his indifferent expression, Wang Ma felt that he was being looked down upon, which made his heart that pursued strength unbearable.

　Although Wang Ma was never satisfied with his own speed of growth, he still held a certain pride in his genius. But now, this pride had been trampled upon by Lin Xuan. However, Wang Ma did not refute anything. He knew that all refutations were so fragile in the face of strength. Instead of refutating out loud, it was better to prove himself with his own strength.

　The next moment, the wind began to move, and a terrifying storm entangled the [Dragon Claw]. In an instant, a twenty-meter-long transparent sword appeared. It was Wang Ma's unique sword-cutting skill - [Broken Moon Sky Dragon Claw]. The sword was formed by compressing the air. This was also the strongest attack that Wang Ma could perform now.

　He wanted to use his strongest attack to prove his strength to Lin Xuan. But the reality was cruel. His actions could not show his strength, but only made him realize how weak he was.

　"It looks pretty good. Look. Mao Xian, Chinese website." Looking at the twenty-meter-long sword formed by compressed air, Lin Xuan nodded in appreciation. "In that case, I will also show you my strongest move and how big the gap between us is."

　After saying that, Lin Xuan released his thumb that had originally pushed the blade out halfway, and let the knife return to the scabbard. However, Lin Xuan did not want to put the knife away, but to better exert the power of [Destruction].

　After [Zhanmie] was sheathed again, Lin Xuan placed his right hand on the hilt of Zhanmie, and at this moment, a pitch-black flame ignited from the scabbard. Then, the scabbard seemed unable to withstand the smelting of the pitch-black flame, and began to melt, turning into a pitch-black liquid and merging into the blade.

　boom--

　The moment the dark liquid formed by the melting of the scabbard merged into the blade, terrifying destructive power began to be released from it. At this moment, something even more surprising happened. As if unable to withstand the dark flames, the originally straight blade began to lose its shape, as if it had turned into liquid gas, and could only barely maintain its shape. Although the blade of [Slashing] lost its shape, making it look as unreal as a mirage, the momentum it exuded was growing explosively.

　"The name of this sword is [Destroy], because it is used to destroy all enemies that stand in my way. Therefore, I named this sword [Destroy]."

　Just as Wang Ma swung out the [Dragon Claw] in his hand, Lin Xuan also swung out the [Destroy] in his hand.

　When Lin Xuan swung out the [Destroy] sword in his hand, Wang Ma felt the power of the sword. The momentum and power that could destroy everything in the world instantly broke his pride and made Wang Ma clearly realize that his strength was so weak in front of the opponent.

　At this moment, the despair and fear that Wang Ma had never experienced since he was a child suddenly surged from his heart. He could feel his legs trembling, no, under this knife, his whole body was trembling. It was the body's instinctive fear, fear of this knife.

　At this moment, Wang Ma knew he didn't want to die yet. He wanted to beg the other party to let him live, but Wang Ma knew that the time it took for the sword to strike was too short. He was afraid that before he could even say the words of his plea, the sword would be over. At this moment, he finally understood what it meant to be enveloped by despair and fear. This feeling was too unforgettable for him.

　However, just when Wang Ma felt certain death was imminent, he discovered he wasn't dead yet. He stared blankly at the blade that hovered just above his forehead, barely a millimeter from his skin. It was clear that Lin Xuan had dissipated all of [Slash]'s power at the last moment, restoring it to its original state. Looking at the blade so close to him, Wang Ma didn't know what to say, but he knew he had survived, that he wasn't dead yet.

　boom--

　As if he had lost all his strength, Wang Ma fell to his knees. Even the violent collision of his knees with the ground did not bring Wang Ma back to his senses. He was still immersed in the despair and fear brought to him by the previous blow. At this moment, Lin Xuan's voice reached his ears.

　"Although you now have strength far beyond your peers, you are still too young, just like when you faced my sword just now, you were too powerless." Looking at Wang Ma who was kneeling on the ground with lifeless eyes, Lin Xuan said coldly.

　"Besides, there are people above me who are even stronger than me. Not to mention others, the commander of the [Liberation Corps], the old man known as the [Tyrant] is much stronger than I am now. With your current strength, if you meet him, let alone fight, you will only keep whining under his teasing, and you will not feel anything except despair and fear. And there are more than one such people in the world." After speaking, Lin Xuan walked past Wang Ma, but the moment he walked past him, Lin Xuan whispered to him.

　"The Demon Realm. When you reach this realm, you will be qualified to challenge me again. So, become stronger, risk your life, and step into that realm, Black Iron King Horse."

　After Lin Xuan left, Wang Ma collapsed to the ground, muttering a word.

　"Demon~~~~"

　——The dividing line where memories end——

　Recalling the battle with Wang Ma, Lin Xuan felt a little emotional. He didn't expect that he actually changed Wang Ma's future, which was originally destroyed by the [Tyrant], and ended up being destroyed by himself.

　However, just when Lin Xuan wanted to continue sighing, a premonition of danger rose from the bottom of his heart, and suddenly, he opened his eyes sharply.

　next moment

　boom--

　The car Lin Xuan was riding in suddenly exploded.

Chapter 71 Ambush