Female Swordsman Training Dojo

In short, the competition will proceed as scheduled.

Under the watchful eyes of people including Yakumo Kurenai, the referee's excited voice blared through the loudspeaker, announcing the two sides for the first match:

"Final Match - Third Master of the Tennen Harushin-ryu School! Taira no Harunobu! vs. Tennen Rishin-ryu Master of the Menkyo Kaiden School! Minamoto no Yukizakura!"

"This is such an exciting battle right from the start!" an excited spectator shouted. "The instructor of the first-ever all-female dojo is facing off against the strongest female swordsman in history! This is truly thrilling!"

"Moreover, it was the Genpei War, which makes people wonder if it was intentional on the part of the authorities."

"You mean Lord Taira no Harunobu will lose? You bastard!"

"What do you mean by that attitude! You bastard!"

A commotion immediately broke out in the audience. After a brief exchange of insults, supporters from both sides opted for a more direct debate. This was a common occurrence since the Tianlan Trial, and the police responsible for maintaining basic order were used to it, quickly rushing to the scene.

Compared to their fervent fans, the two who stepped onto the stage, Hiraharu and Minamoto Yuki, were surprisingly devoid of any animosity. Minamoto Yuki, in particular, found it incredibly difficult to muster any killing intent as she looked at the Aozorakan disciples who had rushed to the edge of the stage to cheer on Hiraharu—as well as Fujiwara Kaguya.

She shook her head helplessly, a surge of emotions welling up within her usually calm heart: "Master Ping, are you treating this like a picnic?"

"No... I tried to persuade them too, but they all said they wanted to do what I did with Sachiko yesterday, so..." Harunobu was helpless, but also very proud.

Yuan Xueying shook her head and was about to get into a fighting stance when she suddenly heard a piercing sound coming from the loudspeaker. The sound only lasted for a moment before disappearing, but then a series of powerful footsteps came to the side of the arena.

Harunobu and Minamoto Yuki Sakura both looked toward the source of the footsteps, where a magnificent procession had broken through the sea of ​​people. Onmyoji, samurai with swords, armed police officers, and even faintly visible ninjas appeared, and in the center of these people were a somewhat slender man with an effeminate air and a stunningly beautiful girl with a cold demeanor.

Clearly, the only ones capable of such a grand display and imposing presence could be Emperor Taisho and his eldest daughter, Princess Mitsuku.

Harunobu glanced at Emperor Taisho, recognizing his face, before turning his gaze to Princess Misuru. It wasn't that he was lustful—he felt she wasn't as charming as his cat—but rather that he was curious about Shiranui Ran's lord and his likely fake fiancée.

Well, how should I put it? At first glance, she looks like a very traditional Japanese beauty.

Even from a distance, you can tell that her extremely smooth and silky black hair has been styled into a standard Hime cut. Below the princess cut is a delicate face that is slightly round and tender. Her almond-shaped eyes, delicate nose, and cherry lips all exude a dignified and elegant temperament, making her seem somewhat unapproachable yet desirable.

This strong aura even makes people overlook her dazzlingly gorgeous clothes and jewelry, and even gives the illusion that she is sealed by those mundane things—even so, it is undeniable that she perfectly showcases the beauty of those external objects.

"Cough cough cough—" Yuan Xueying coughed a few times in a low voice, seemingly with some dissatisfaction, but also seemingly just reminding Qingxin not to lose focus.

Harunobu snapped out of his daze, stretched his right hand, and nodded to Asahara Yukisakura: "I'm sorry, this is the first time I've seen His Majesty the Emperor and..."

"Haha, this isn't the first time I've met you, Taira no Harunobu."

Before Harunobu could finish his somewhat questioning sentence, Emperor Taisho's cheerful voice rang out first: "Mitsuru has always been thinking about you, and she always thinks about you whenever she talks about samurai."

Having finished speaking, Emperor Taisho had already stepped onto the arena, facing Taira no Harunobu and Minamoto no Yukisakura. Logically, Taira no Harunobu and Minamoto no Yukisakura should have knelt and paid their respects at this point, but…

Chapter 365

The two of them seemed to be stunned, remaining standing there blankly.

Some of Emperor Taisho's entourage were about to speak up in protest, but before they could open their mouths, they were glared at by Shiranui Ran, who was hidden among the crowd, and were so frightened that they shut their mouths.

Misuru nodded slightly and noted down the name of that idiot.

That blind fool, get rid of it when you get back.

Don't they consider the occasion? Don't they think about the goals Emperor Taisho set out to achieve? Why are they forcing samurai to kneel now? Do they think they need to use force to win them over?

I think your head is perfect for a big stick!

Contrary to her cold exterior, the usually lively Misuruhime inwardly grumbled, while outwardly remaining dignified and elegant, saying nothing. She merely glanced "secretly" at Harunobu, then lowered her eyes slightly.

Yeah, he is quite handsome. It's a pity that he's been used by too many people. She doesn't like secondhand goods, especially since this is more than just secondhand.

Harunobu was oblivious to the dramatic princess's inner turmoil; he was preoccupied with how to respond to Emperor Taisho's words. He was now recalling his previous denial and, theoretically, he should have met Princess Misuru countless times. But the question was, how should he respond in this situation?

Fortunately, he didn't need to speak.

Emperor Taisho quickly changed the subject and began his pre-match speech. It was the same standard platitudes: friendship first, competition second; compete with style and spirit; the legacy of Bushido, and so on. The most explosive part was probably his confirmation, in front of nearly 60,000 spectators, and with staff, the number definitely exceeded 60,000, that the winner of the Tenran Tournament would marry Princess Misuru.

Although it had been announced beforehand, the impact of His Majesty the Emperor speaking in person was clearly different from simply reading about it in the newspapers. The already noisy venue suddenly became even noisier, as if a bomb had exploded.

Emperor Taisho was very satisfied with this reaction, and even had time to joke: "Of course, women are no good, so if Minamoto Yukisakura gets first place, then we'll have to let the second place take her place~"

Hearing the voice of Emperor Taisho coming from the loudspeaker, Yakumo Kurenai snapped her fingers with great satisfaction.

Then, a real, explosive sound rang out.

Chapter 340: Beginning of Understanding (2/5)

Let's turn back time a little, back to when the Emperor's procession appeared.

Hidden among the audience, Yakumo Kurenai, who looked just like an ordinary person, was so excited she almost jumped for joy. She truly hadn't expected the Emperor to appear so early. Normally, he should have waited until the winner of the Tenran Trial was decided before presenting the "Peerless Under Heaven" award in his capacity as Emperor.

To be honest, that was somewhat dangerous for Yakumo Kurenai and Rin Rokudo. After all, she was currently under the surveillance of the Onmyōryō's magical array. She could deceive them for a while, but not for long. If it dragged on too long, she might be exposed.

Whether it's to ignite the buried explosives or to use the backup plan in time, she needs to be close to the venue. This is actually the most unstable part of the plan; only with her profound mastery of the barrier and an absurdly large number of people within its range can she have enough confidence.

However, with the Emperor's early arrival, Yakumo Kurenai's worries completely vanished! She immediately focused her attention on the Emperor's entourage, praying that he wasn't just passing through but would actually enter the arena. Fortunately, the others around her were also watching the Emperor with the same fervor, otherwise she probably would have been exposed.

Then, things unfolded exactly as she had predicted.

She snapped her fingers excitedly and joyfully.

……

Harunobu felt a vague unease. The Emperor's familiar and friendly greeting couldn't mask the strong premonition rising in his heart. He impolitely, even deserving of beheading, pressed down on the hilt of his asauchi sword in front of the Emperor. The strange sword, intimately connected to his soul, screamed instantly, trembling and shaking, causing Harunobu to involuntarily raise his head sharply.

But it was too late.

With a deafening roar, an explosion erupted from underground, from all directions, throughout the entire venue. The sounds of discussion and cheers, comparable to the detonation of explosives, were quickly silenced by the sound of a real explosion, failing to even escalate into screams.

Boundless light and heat, carrying with them fragments of the floor hardened by magic, erupted forth, instantly engulfing the entire venue. During this process, Qingxin felt as if he had been thrown into an icy sea, frozen from head to toe.

Time seemed to stretch out countless times in that instant, allowing him to catch a glimpse of familiar faces bathed in light and heat. Yukiko Hira and Amu Hosho immediately lunged towards the ring, seemingly trying to push him away, but in an explosion of this scale, even pushing him aside would be futile.

Not to mention, their speed couldn't keep up with the explosion at all; their breathing even became erratic, and they lost the boost from Thunder Breathing. They were all Arcane cultivators, capable of maintaining the effects of breathing techniques even while sleeping. The others made similar choices: some threw weapons, some tried to stop the explosion, and others attempted to use spells—but their reactions were even slower.

The rubble was already close to their bodies, and with their strength they would have been able to detect it, but they still rushed towards Qingxin instead of dodging like the others.

A bunch of idiots.

Harunobu gripped Asauchi tightly, his icy arm seemingly frozen to the space around him. What was once an easy action, simpler than picking up chopsticks, now felt as difficult as pulling out the sword from the stone.

Whispered words floated in his ears, suggestions colder than his frozen body, yet also incredibly rational.

"Give up, you can't save them, it's too late."

"You still have a chance! With the magical artifact the witch gave you and your speed, you can still escape the blast radius!"

"Don't struggle in vain! Rather than die here with us, you should save your life and avenge them!"

"You know they wouldn't want you to die!"

"You're still alive! You can still find other women!"

"They will die someday! They are not you! They cannot face your enemies!"

No matter how much defensive gear you add to them, they can't beat you!

Each word was colder and more ruthless than the last, each one louder than the last, ringing in Qingxin's ears. His stiff arm gripped the hilt of the sword, but he was unable to pull the blade out of its sheath.

"You want to use the Wind-Riding Sword Technique? Give me a break, this isn't a flying object, you can't stop it!"

"Run! Run! You know you can't have them forever!"

"Fuck you!"

"..."

The cold voice fell silent for a moment because of Qingxin's roar, but soon rang out again. This time the voice was even colder and more ruthless.

He said, "That's what you think—you know that!"

"Because I am you, and you are me—"

The hilt of the shallowly cleaved sword was cold and slippery, like a block of ice that had never melted, piercing straight into Harunobu's heart.

"Your thoughts, your weak will to protect, have already proven this. You can't protect so many people!"

Harunobu gritted his teeth, repeatedly trying to pull out Asagi, no longer even thinking about why he had so much time instead of being swallowed up by the explosion.

He only wanted to follow his heart and save his wives. To save his wives who were still trying to save him.

It was as if Asada was fixed to space, and no matter how much force he unleashed, he remained unmoved!

The cold voice continued its narration, meticulously peeling back the layers of Harunobu's agitation, attributing it all to Harunobu's impotent rage. Then it began to mock Harunobu's weak will, his instinctive avoidance, and his excessive indulgence of desires, leading to his current state.

Chapter 366

degree.

"If you only had one wife, perhaps with your current anger you could protect one. Who would you choose? Your beloved Taira Yukiko? Your best friend, Koneko? Your most adoring idol, Hojo Amu? Your most alluring body, Tachibana Nako? Or Hanazawa Nana? Saten Yoko—"

Amidst the mocking cold voice, Qingxin's thoughts paused for a moment. Following the words of the cold voice, he imagined who he would choose if he could protect one of them.

Sachiko? kitten? Ya Meng? Nako?

His grip on the hilt loosened slightly without him realizing it, and his cold voice seemed to become excited, but beneath the excitement, Harunobu felt a little disappointed.

Disappointed about what...

Disappointed...disappointed...

Qingxin's loosened right hand stopped. A series of disappointed faces flashed through his mind, each one causing him excruciating pain, as if his heart were being torn apart. He couldn't understand why; he could have saved at least one person!

he……

Is all he wants just one person?

Unseen golden light seeped from his right hand. Qingxin's mind raced, and the cold voice vanished without him realizing it. He closed his loosened fingers again, gripping the rough hilt of the knife tightly.

Oh yeah. He's not exactly a great person either; at least he can't accept losing his things. Not a single one! They're all his!

A sharp, creaking sound, as if the world itself were collapsing, rang out from all directions. Cold voices came intermittently from all sides, faint but so obvious that Harunobu could not ignore them at all.

He says--

"Bloom, Garbhadhatu Mandala!!!"

The author says:

Author's Note: I couldn't think of a really good word for liberation, so I'll keep it simple. The Zanpakuto's abilities will be explained in the next chapter. Feel free to ask any questions, and I'll try my best to make things clear. /_

Chapter 341: The Descent of the Underworld (3/5)

The sword, Asaka, burst from its sheath, its simple form rapidly transforming with a roar: eerie red spider lilies climbed the gleaming silver blade, and jet-black thorns pierced the hilt, embedding themselves deeply into Harunobu's palm; the solid, round tsuba was hollowed out, outlining a bizarre pattern that made one dizzy.

But none of this was particularly unusual, and no one could even see it clearly. Because this brand-new Zanpakuto appeared for only a moment before shattering from its tip into dozens of fragments.

Then, as if frozen time had begun to flow again, screams and wails, along with explosions that sounded like the wrath of the gods, rushed in all at once, as if the end of the world had arrived. But Harunobu was not paying attention to any of this at the moment. He was watching Hirako and the others, seeing the fragments of the Womb Realm Mandala pierce into their bodies.

There was no blood, no pain; it was like coming home. The fragments merged into their bodies, and the power of the Womb Realm Mandala was fully unleashed.

The Womb Realm Mandala is not a purely offensive Zanpakuto like Tensa Zangetsu, but rather a supportive Zanpakuto focused on protection and enhancement. By merging its Shikai fragments into a target's body, Harunobu can transform them into his own "fetuses." Once successful, these "fetuses" will forever belong to Harunobu, providing him with power. Furthermore, without Harunobu's permission, nothing can even touch them—meaning all harm will be transferred to Harunobu!

Just like the big explosion right now!

Before he could even rejoice at his successful initial release, an explosion engulfed his entire body!

……

The massive explosion reached every corner of the venue, its terrifying power instantly blasting the entire structure away. Almost all of the more than 60,000 people inside the venue perished in the blast.

Blood splattered everywhere, limbs scattered all over the body.

Countless bits of minced meat, emitting a smoky aroma, rained down from the sky, landing on the shattered earth with a sizzling sound. Half-eaten intestines and charred eyeballs mingled with gravel and mud, settling on the ruins of the stadium, staring blankly at the suddenly darkening sky, seemingly questioning something.

This is nothing more than hell on earth.

However, in this hellish place, there was an unbelievable group of living people—the disciples of the Azure Sky Pavilion. They were completely unharmed, not even their hairstyles were messed up; the only problem was that their clothes were soiled from their flying leaps.

But they felt no joy, nor any dazed relief at surviving a disaster. Instead, they rushed swiftly and without hesitation toward the deep pit before them—the pit exposed after the hollow arena had been blown away.

They could feel very clearly that their teachers and their husbands were below this deep pit; they also knew very well why they had survived unharmed in that terrible, apocalyptic explosion.

That was a feeling most of them had experienced. Powerless and vulnerable, they could only watch helplessly as an incredibly powerful force, capable of destroying them in the slightest, drew closer.

That sense of despair could drive a person mad, but for the disciples of Qingkong Pavilion at this moment, it wasn't the most despairing thing. What was truly despairing was that they had to watch helplessly as a power powerful enough to kill them all was passed through them to Qingxin!

It was as if they were the ones killing Harunobu.

Upon realizing this, they essentially went mad. Therefore, the instant they regained their mobility, they collectively rushed towards Harunobu's location—for the faintest hope.

The moment they received the power to protect them, Harunobu's voice echoed in their minds—a harsh command demanding absolute submission, the most direct and unambiguous statement. Therefore, they knew that Harunobu not only bore the brunt of their suffering but also absorbed their power.