Chapter 106: Two Carriages, Conquering the Land of Wa

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

Although Nanako's debut had already attracted massive popularity and sparked widespread speculation about her identity, seeing it with one's own eyes was another matter entirely.

How could an ordinary person execute a technique so fast it left afterimages?

This was a true successor of an extraordinary legacy!

At that moment, countless powerful and influential figures stared at Nanako with burning eyes.

She was merely a disciple, and so young at that, yet already this formidable. What level of cultivation must her master possess?

If they could win over such a powerhouse, then no matter how the world changed in the future, they would have enough strength and confidence to participate rather than be eliminated.

Just as various factions were making their preparations, someone suddenly rushed onto the arena stage, confronting Nanako directly.

This violated the tournament rules, naturally leaving everyone stunned.

But soon, they realized that this person hadn't walked up normally—she had leaped onto the stage.

The platform was over two meters high. Was this another successor of a martial arts legacy?

Seeing this, the tournament's backstage host was instructed by superiors to stay put and observe the situation.

Nanako's small face grew solemn as she scrutinized the newcomer.

The newcomer was also a girl, about the same age as Nanako but with a more developed figure and snow-white skin. She wore a traditional Japanese cherry blossom kimono, her jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders. Clutching a tachi in her hand, she looked cold and expressionless.

Looking at the girl, Zhang Kai raised an eyebrow.

The cultivators of the Celestial Empire still retained some of their legacies.

Japan's legacy, of course, had not been completely severed either, though it was far inferior to the Celestial Empire's, boasting only a few insignificant remnants.

Still, Zhang Kai hadn't expected one of these minor remnants to jump out before they had even recovered their strength.

After inquiring with the Bone-Melting Dragon, he quickly learned that she was the successor of the Japanese Hiten-ryu martial arts. However, she was the sole survivor of her lineage and had been training in seclusion at her dojo, not even registering for this martial arts tournament.

Her sudden appearance on stage now was likely because she had witnessed Nanako's extraordinary display, drawn in and unable to hold back.

Well.

This didn't seem bad at all.

He had a soft spot for solitary, beautiful Japanese girls. Perhaps he could run a two-horse carriage.

While Zhang Kai was lost in thought, the girl bowed and spoke, "Yumi Kagura of the Hiten-ryu. Which lineage do you inherit?"

Nanako hesitated for a moment before replying, "Uncle taught me. I don't belong to any school."

"Uncle?" The girl blinked in surprise, her eyes suddenly burning with passion. "I want to challenge you to a duel. If I win, please introduce your uncle to me." With that, the girl bowed once more.

Nanako instantly grew guarded and flatly refused, "No way."

"Please. My martial path has stagnated for two years. I need a good teacher," the girl pleaded, remaining bowed.

"No, Uncle is mine," Nanako said, glaring at the girl with displeasure.

"Then let us duel. I will prove that I am stronger than you," the girl said, looking up at Nanako with blazing eyes.

"Even if you are stronger than me, I still won't give Uncle to you," Nanako retorted.

The girl fell silent. With a flick of her finger, her tachi unsheathed, glinting with a sharp, cold light.

"I am not in the habit of carrying a wooden sword, so... I apologize." As she spoke, the blade cleared the scabbard with a ring, and her figure rushed forward like a phantom.

"Three Invincible Strikes: Heart-Tickling Thrust!" Not to be outdone, Nanako leapt into the air as the girl drew near. With a graceful spin, she raised her wooden sword with a backhand grip, thrusting it toward Yumi Kagura's chest.

Yumi Kagura's eyes lit up. "Excellent swordplay." She reversed her grip, her tachi deftly parrying Nanako's strike.

But in the next instant, Nanako suddenly lunged forward. "Close Combat: Chest-Pressing Hammer!"

She crashed directly into Yumi Kagura.

With a loud thud, Yumi was sent flying. She flipped in mid-air, landed, and stumbled back three or four steps.

Instead of being alarmed by the suppression, Yumi was delighted. She muttered to herself, "That uncle must be a true master. I must have him."

With that, she suddenly lowered her posture, gripping her tachi as her gaze locked onto Nanako.

Oh no!

Seeing this, Zhang Kai's expression changed slightly.

These surviving lineages indeed possessed real skill.

Even before she struck, Zhang Kai could sense the extraordinary nature of this move. It was a technique of absolute focus—intent, energy, and spirit locked onto the target, designed to strike second but land first.

Nanako was a novice he had hastily force-fed with power. While she could handle ordinary people with ease, she fell short when facing a peer who had clearly undergone years of rigorous training and possessed extensive combat experience.

Sure enough, Nanako failed to sense the danger. Gripping her wooden sword with both hands, she took two rapid steps forward and slashed downward.

"Three Invincible Strikes: Splitting Mount Hua!"

This move gathered force twice, carrying immense power. An ordinary man hit by it would suffer broken bones and severe injuries.

Yet, Yumi Kagura evaded with a strange, twisting movement, her tachi flashing outward like lightning, aiming directly for Nanako's wrists.

If this strike landed, Nanako would instantly lose her hands.

Right then, Zhang Kai moved.

His figure blurred as he soared through the air, landing between the two girls with a soft whoosh. With two fingers, he caught Nanako's wooden sword; with another two, he pinched Yumi Kagura's sharp tachi.

"Foolish! It's just a tournament duel. There is no need to slaughter each other," Zhang Kai scolded, feigning anger.

"Uncle!" Nanako panicked, quickly pulling her sword back, looking nervous and uneasy.

Yumi Kagura, however, stared with burning eyes at the middle-aged man Zhang Kai had disguised himself as. "You are very strong," she said excitedly.

Zhang Kai replied, "Oh? Do you have something to say?"

"I want to take you as my master," Yumi Kagura declared, kneeling down decisively with a look of absolute sincerity.

"Uncle, don't!" Nanako cried out, anxious.

Zhang Kai looked at the two girls and smiled. "This isn't the place to talk. Follow me."

With a wave of his hand, the two girls were irresistibly drawn toward him. He swept them into his arms and muttered, "Water Teleportation."

As the words fell, a stream of water materialized out of thin air, wrapping around the three of them before they vanished without a trace.

This scene threw the crowd into an uproar.

An elemental teleportation technique!

Or was it ninjutsu?

Could this be the master behind Nanako?

He wasn't just a martial arts powerhouse; he was also a ninja!

Seeing the three of them vanish, countless powerful figures panicked. They quickly barked out orders, and large groups of men rushed toward Nanako's home from all directions.

Now that the powerhouse had shown himself, they had to strike first to gain the upper hand.

However, Zhang Kai did not go to Nanako's house.

Instead, he materialized in a mountain forest. Releasing the two dazed girls, he smiled and said, "Both of you are talented and make excellent seeds. However, obtaining my true legacy won't be that easy."

"Uncle, I can do it! Don't take this bitch!" Nanako glared at Yumi Kagura.

Ignoring Nanako, Yumi Kagura said seriously, "I am willing to pay any price."

"Really? Then starting today, wear your hair in twin tails. I like twin tails."

Yumi Kagura replied resolutely, "Yes. From this day forth, your disciple will wear twin tails for the rest of her life."

"Uncle..." Nanako pouted, thoroughly displeased.

"Don't worry, you currently hold a higher place in my heart. But if you want to keep it that way, you must work hard. As long as you strive, no one can replace you." Zhang Kai looked back at Nanako, his gaze tender.

Nanako's body instantly went soft, and she let out a soft whimper.

"Come. To be fair, I will teach each of you a unique, supreme technique. After that, go challenge all of Japan. Whoever gains higher popularity will receive more of the essence of my martial arts." A wicked smile curled the corner of Zhang Kai's mouth.