I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

He was skilled in both literature and martial arts—that's not all. What's even more amazing is that Ito Daizo himself was a renowned handsome man, a true heartthrob.

He has fair skin, a tall stature, distinct facial features, and a refined temperament. He is never unkempt, and his body and clothes are always clean. He often exudes a pleasant fragrance.

Infatuated women often lurk outside Ito Daizo's house and near the Ito Dojo to spy on him.

Impeccable on the outside—and on the inside as well.

It is said that Ito Daizo was kind and gentle, very filial to his parents, and had a good relationship with his brothers. All his disciples respected him greatly.

Those who speak ill of Daizo Ito are mostly jealous, envious, and resentful people.

It has to be said that God is sometimes really unfair.

As the saying goes, when God closes a door, He always opens a window.

But some people have had both doors closed and windows shut by the gods.

And some people... not only did they have their doors and windows removed, but all the walls of their rooms were completely demolished.

He possesses both exceptional martial arts skills and profound cultural literacy; he has a handsome face that can drive countless women crazy and an outstanding character that can impress countless heroes... He is so outstanding that one can't help but wonder if he is a character from a storytelling or novel.

These are not even the most outrageous or terrifying ones.

Even more outrageous and terrifying is that Daizo Ito is incredibly young. He's only 25 years old this year, having accomplished all of the aforementioned remarkable achievements! A true prodigy at a young age.

Todo Heisuke is a disciple of Ito Daizo, and he is currently training in the Hokushin Itto-ryu style at the Ito Dojo.

Why did he suddenly bring his master to build a replica of the Imperial Guardian Hall today?

The reason is simple—it's for Qingdeng.

“Your Excellency Niou! I am Ito Daizo, the instructor of the Ito Dojo! I have long admired your great name, and it is an honor to meet you today!”—Ito Daizo showed an extremely warm and friendly attitude as soon as he saw Seido.

After listening blankly to Heisuke Todo and Daizo Ito's explanations, Aoto finally understood the reason behind things.

Ito Daizo had long been interested in Niou, who had recently made a name for himself in Edo and whose reputation was growing. He had always wanted to see this young hero in person to see what he looked like and what kind of demeanor he had.

However, I am too busy on weekdays and have not been able to find time to visit Qingdeng.

Until today—on the annual New Year's Eve, most of the disciples at the Ito Dojo have gone home for the holiday. It is only now that Ito Daizo has been able to temporarily escape from his mountain of work that he can finally come to meet Seito and finally get his wish fulfilled.

A guest has arrived... and the guest is none other than the famous Ito Daizo. Kondo Isami and the others dare not be negligent and greet Ito Daizo with the utmost courtesy.

So, Aoto and the others temporarily put aside their work on planting pine needles and arranging mirror cakes, and met and chatted with Ito Daizo in the living room.

Overall, Qingdeng's initial impression of Ito Daizo was quite good.

Honestly, unless you're a jealous person, it's hard to feel any ill will towards someone who is both good-looking and has excellent eloquence.

Daizo Ito was very eloquent and had extensive knowledge and experience, so no matter what the topic was, he could chime in with a few words, and chatting with him was never boring or tedious.

Although Ito Daizo has a scholarly face and looks frail, he is surprisingly a passionate person who loves martial arts.

During the conversation, the topic unconsciously shifted to "making friends through martial arts and exchanging sword techniques".

Looking at Aoto with expectant eyes, Ito Daizo asked directly, "Lord Niou, would you be willing to have a match with me?"

Qing Deng has never missed an opportunity to learn new talents from others.

An outstanding person like Daizo Ito could not possibly be without special talents.

Qingdeng nodded almost without hesitation and replied: "Then, I shall make a fool of myself! Please give me your guidance!"

And so, Aoto and Ito Daizo engaged in a fierce battle in the dojo of the Shieikan!

Ito Daizo truly lived up to his reputation as a renowned swordsman. His strength far exceeded Qing Deng's prior expectations.

How powerful was Daizo Ito?

Let's put it this way—Qingdeng's "Lone Warrior" entry has been flashing for a long time when he's in a one-on-one fight!

"Lone Warrior", "Gathering Spirit"... Except for "Berserker" which did not activate because the trigger conditions were not met, all of Qing Deng's buffs were fully activated.

Even so, he only managed a draw with Daizo Ito.

As Qingdeng assumed the Kasumi stance, preparing to forcefully break through Ito Daizo's ironclad defense with one of his most proficient techniques: "Mumei" from the Tennen Rishin-ryu school, Ito Daizo surprisingly did not make any defensive or dodging movements. Instead, he simply set up his bamboo sword in the classic attack stance of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school.

Ito Daizo's move surprised the onlookers, including Kondo Isami and Souji.

Daizo Ito is clearly going to confront Aoto head-on...

Swords clashing... this is a rare and unusual sight in sword sparring.

For a moment, the breathing sounds in the dojo subsided considerably.

Everyone present held their breath, their eyes wide open, not daring to blink even once, as they stared intently at the two swordsmen facing off on the field, watching every movement.

Just 10 seconds ago, the dojo was filled with the sounds of footsteps sliding and bamboo swords clashing, but now it was as if time had been stopped, and the atmosphere was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

A tense atmosphere instantly arose.

The person who created this suffocating air was naturally Aoto and Ito Daizo, poised and ready, like ravenous, ferocious carnivorous beasts, as if they were about to pounce on each other at any moment.

Whether it was Aoto or Ito Daizo, their concentration was terrifying.

Tick-tock, tick-tock...

The sound of water droplets falling to the ground echoed in the air above the temple.

That was the sound of sweat dripping down Aoto and Ito Daizo's bodies.

Beads of sweat the size of beans dripped from their wrists and calves to the ground.

Neither Qingdeng nor Ito Daizo reached out to wipe the sweat from their bodies.

To be precise, they didn't feel itchy at all! They didn't feel any sweat on their bodies!

The perfect unity of mind, strength, and energy meant that at this moment, all they could see were the bamboo swords in their hands and their opponents.

The environment was completely silent.

The structure of the Kasumigata section of Qingdeng and the middle section of the Ito Daizo.

Ten seconds passed just like that.

In the next instant, light and shadow shattered... exploded!

With a furious shout, Ito Daizo's tense body sprang to life! He leaped toward Aoto, raising his bamboo sword overhead during the jump before swiftly slashing it down!

It was as if it wanted to split Qingdeng and the floor beneath his feet in two!

Hokushin Itto-ryu: Slash!

Qing Deng's body moved—almost at the same time that Ito Daizo launched his preemptive attack!

The bamboo sword, positioned horizontally in the shape of a rosy cloud, aimed at Ito Daizo's chest, transformed into a wisp-like afterimage that seemed to disappear into mid-air at incredible speed.

A deafening roar pierced the air as the sword tip shot out like a white rainbow piercing the sun!

It looked as if it wanted to pierce a huge hole in Daizo Ito and the wall not far behind him!

Natural Mind-Body Flow: Ignorance!

A bamboo sword is used for vertical slashing.

A bamboo sword is used for a straight thrust.

Two bamboo swords, each tracing a different path, clashed together in mid-air in the blink of an eye.

In an instant, a tremendous impact sound, reminiscent of a volcanic eruption, shook the eardrums of everyone present.

A powerful "current" shot out from where the two bamboo swords met, flowing along the blades and into the palms of the two sword-wielders.

"Well……!"

"Uh……!"

Both Qing Deng and Ito Daizo cried out in low voices as they felt numbness and pain in their arms.

Despite having prepared himself mentally, the reaction force transmitted back from the bamboo sword still surprised Qing Deng.

Ito Daizo truly lives up to his reputation as a swordsman who masters both the Hokushin Itto-ryu and Shinto Munen-ryu styles.

His sword strike not only incorporated the swordsmanship techniques of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, but also the power generation method of the Shinto Munen-ryu school.

When was the last time he encountered an opponent who could match his strength without being at a disadvantage? Qing Dengji couldn't recall; it had been too long.

The bamboo swords that struck each other did not separate immediately, but instead became entangled in mid-air.

Both of their feet were firmly planted on the floor.

The two people stared at each other, their faces separated by two bamboo swords placed together, at a very close distance.

If you give me a little support, I'll immediately follow suit and give you my share, and I'll keep you company no matter what!

Squeak...squeak...!

The mournful sound of cloth being torn came from beneath their feet.

Because they stomped on the ground so hard, their cloth socks could barely withstand the strain.

—This person…has incredible core strength!

Through his keen eyesight honed from years of battles, Qing Deng gradually discovered the true strength of Ito Daizo—his core power was exceptionally strong.

When he drew his sword, he relied entirely on his powerful core strength to unleash such terrifying moves.

Many people often mistakenly believe that core strength is waist strength, but this view is incorrect.

The so-called "core strength" refers to the middle part of the human body, which is the area below the shoulder joint and above the hip joint, including the pelvis. It is a whole formed by the waist, pelvis, and hip joint, and contains 29 muscles.

Anyone with some knowledge of fitness or related fields should know the importance of core strength.

The core muscle group is responsible for stabilizing the center of gravity and transmitting force. It is a key component in overall power generation and plays a pivotal role in the movement and exertion of the upper and lower limbs. A strong core muscle group provides stability and support for body posture, motor skills, and specific technical movements during exercise.

—This Ito Daizo… might possess a talent related to core power!

Thinking of this, Qing Deng felt extremely envious. His mind was stirred, his spirits were lifted, and his aura became even more fierce and vigorous.

With his exceptional core muscles, Daizo Ito's strength was indeed formidable.

However, compared to Qing Deng, who possesses the three great talents of "tiger's arm", "bear's waist" and "leading the way", Ito Daizo's strength is still slightly inferior.

Before long, the balance of power was gradually broken.

Aoto gradually gained the upper hand, and the two swords, which were originally held at the same height, gradually tilted, with Aoto's bamboo sword on top and Ito Daizo's bamboo sword on the bottom.

They are both the same height, 1.75 meters.