I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

For some reason, he suddenly recalled what Ogata had just said:

(Some people are naturally very compatible with the 'world' - Orange, you belong to this category)

(Maybe this is your talent)

—'Acquired talent'...

He unconsciously lowered his head, staring intently at his right palm, a deep look of contemplation on his face.

At this moment, Ogata cleared his throat and laboriously stretched out his tongue:

"Oh dear, it's been so long since I spoke Chinese, I've become rusty, and I don't even know how to pronounce many words anymore."

Qing Deng snapped out of his reverie, turned his gaze away from his right palm, and nodded with a wry smile, expressing his agreement through gesture.

"Same here, I've also become rusty."

Suddenly, Qingdeng remembered something, paused for a moment, and then asked directly:

“Mr. Ogata, since you discovered I was a time traveler a long time ago, why... didn’t you come and ‘recognize’ me sooner?”

Ogata smiled and shrugged.

"On one hand, I don't want to bother you."

"On the other hand... I don't want my peaceful life to be affected."

"I have lived for nearly a hundred years, married the most beautiful woman in the world, encountered the most formidable enemy, witnessed the most heinous crimes, and experienced the most heart-wrenching emotional entanglements..."

"To put it bluntly, no one in this world is more suited to say 'I've seen it all' than I am."

"Perhaps because my first half of life was too exciting and tumultuous, my threshold has been greatly raised, and now I am particularly fond of a peaceful life."

"Although my life is very ordinary now, and I have to knead dough and run around in the shop as soon as I open my eyes every day, I don't dislike this peaceful life."

“You are the ‘King of Benevolence’ who is both widely loved and widely hated. Once you are associated with someone, it is no wonder that you will encounter any kind of misfortune.”

"Therefore, I deliberately keep my distance from you. You live your life, and I live mine, trying my best to prevent our life trajectories from intersecting."

After Ogata finished speaking, Aoto pursed his lips and then slowly opened his mouth:

"That being said, you not only rescued Xiao Si, but also gave me special guidance today... Forgive my bluntness, but are you doing this out of consideration for me being your 'junior'?"

Ogata chuckled softly a few times:

“I don’t deny that I was taking care of my ‘juniors.’ However, the main reason… is still out of curiosity.”

Qingdeng looked puzzled:

"curiosity?"

Ogata adopted a more somber tone:

"I rescued Souji because of Kuro."

"And I'm personally guiding you because I want to see firsthand just how far you can go."

"With Genichi dead and Kuro old, it has been a long time since a swordsman has appeared in this world who can make me look at him in a different light."

"So... I'm really curious to see just how far you can go."

"Will you become the next Genichi or Kuro? Or... will you surpass me?"

After saying that, Ogata cast a meaningful glance at Aoto—a glance that flashed with fighting spirit!

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Chapter 1048 One is all, all is one [4100]

Meeting Ogata's gaze, Aoto was taken aback.

"Mr. Ogata, are you trying to cultivate your own rival?"

He said this half-jokingly, unconsciously raising his left hand and gently placing it on the Vairocana amulet at his left waist.

Ogata chuckled.

"Let me state upfront that I am not the kind of madman who is obsessed with swords."

“I have no special feelings for swords. I have neither the ambition to ‘live with a sword’ nor the heroic spirit to ‘die for a sword’.”

"The reason I gripped the sword was purely out of necessity."

"Slaying tyrants, wiping out bandits, eliminating wicked villains... By the time I came to my senses, I was already the unparalleled 'Eternal Sword Saint'."

"It's boring without an equal opponent."

"Only by facing death can one improve one's martial arts skills."

"If one's own strength is not fully utilized, one will stagnate."

"Gradually, I couldn't help but wonder: Is this my limit? Can I go any further?"

“When Mr. Genichi was still alive, his humility was astonishing.”

“When juniors like me start to surpass him, he doesn’t feel frustrated; on the contrary, he’s very happy.”

“When I was young, I thought it was just his personality.”

"And now, I fully understand his mindset—having a powerful opponent is indeed a fortunate thing."

"Because of my opponent, Mr. Genichi's martial arts level improved by leaps and bounds in the last few years, and he finally delivered this blow that caused me permanent damage."

"To me now, an opponent who can threaten my life is just like my dearest friend."

"Tachibana-kun, you are the most promising swordsman I have ever met who can master the 'Transparent Realm'."

Even though I wasn't interested in you at all, I couldn't help but point some fingers at you.

“You have a ‘talent system’ in you, so theoretically speaking, your talents are limitless.”

"When the opportunity arises, mastering the 'Transparent Realm' will be a matter of course."

"It's not impossible... to surpass the 'Transcendence Realm' and reach an even higher level."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng was stunned and quickly asked:

"Mr. Ogata, are there any realms beyond the 'realm of clarity'?"

Ogata shrugged, a hint of something intriguing in his smile:

"Well, who knows? There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding."

"This world is vast, filled with things that we humans cannot comprehend."

"Perhaps in martial arts... no, in every field, there is no such thing as 'limit' or 'peak'. There will always be realms above realms, and there will never be an end."

At this point, Ogata slowly raised his head, squinted, and gazed at the distant horizon, his face showing a complex mix of emotions.

"Having lived this long, I've come to realize a truth: perhaps in the next second, or even sixty years from now, a swordsman who can rival me, or even surpass me, will be born into this world."

“Counting from the time I transmigrated, I have lived for more than seventy years and waited for Ju Qingdeng. If I live for another sixty or seventy years, I might wait for someone else.”

"Whenever I think about this, I feel that my long life is still worth living."

"So, Tachibana-kun, keep up the good work and don't let me down."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng finally couldn't help but chuckle softly:

"You've said something like that, and you still say you're not a 'sword fanatic'?"

Ogata shrugged noncommittally.

"Alright, we've talked about everything that needed to be talked about. It's time to go back. If we go down the mountain now, we can still get back to Kyoto before dark."

As he spoke, Ogata jumped off the rock and began walking towards the foot of the mountain.

However, he had only taken two steps when Qingdeng called him back.

"Mr. Ogata, please wait a moment! Before I go back, I have one more question to ask!"

Ogata stopped, turned around, and gave Aoto a look that seemed to ask, "What else do you want to ask?"

“Mr. Ogata, you just said that I am only one step away from the ‘Transcendence Realm’. So, what should I do to break through that final step?”

"That's a really pointed question... Tachibana-kun, if someone asked you, 'How exactly do you achieve mastery of the state of selflessness,' how would you answer?"

"..."

Qingdeng remained silent.

"You can't answer that, right?"

“This is not like doing questions on a test paper. You can’t master the ‘state of understanding’ just by working hard or grasping a few tricks.”

"Admittedly, you are only a hair's breadth away from the 'Transcendence Realm', but that hair's breadth might be an insurmountable chasm."

"In short, whether or not a breakthrough is achieved still depends on opportunity."

"As I just said: once the opportunity arises, mastering the 'transparent realm' will be a matter of course."

"Don't feel impatient or frustrated."

"Let things take their natural course. Perhaps at some point, someone will stand beside me."

After hearing this, Qing Deng pondered silently and remembered Ogata's teachings.

Taking advantage of this moment, Ogata stretched his body vigorously like a feline—a hint of fatigue could be seen on his cheeks.

"I've been talking for a month in one day... Let's hurry down the mountain. It's rare that the shops are closed today, and I can't wait to get back to A-Machi..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qing Deng interrupted him:

"Mr. Ogata, wait a moment! I have another question!"

"There are still problems..."

Ogata stiffened, then put on a helpless expression.

"You have quite a few questions... Fine, go ahead and ask."