Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword Maniac

Two Beauties Came to Watch Me, and One Wanted a Fight!

Alexander had one rule for his second life: avoid unnecessary trouble. Unfortunately, the cultivation world seemed determined to make that impossible.

The next morning, he arrived at the Azure Sky Sword Sect’s training ground and immediately regretted it. Elena Silverheart stood beneath a tree on one side of the platform. Isabella Phoenix stood on the other. Both women looked at him. Then they looked at each other.

Alexander stopped walking. *I should have stayed in bed.*

“Good morning, Alexander,” Elena greeted him.

“Good morning.”

Isabella smiled. “You’re late.”

“I’m three minutes early.”

“You should have arrived five minutes earlier.”

“I’m beginning to understand why people fear the Heavenly Phoenix Sect.”

Elena covered her mouth to hide her laughter. Isabella narrowed her eyes. “Are you going to practice or complain all morning?”

“Can I choose the third option and leave?”

“No!”

Alexander sighed and climbed onto the training platform. Several disciples had gathered to watch. News that the Heavenly Phoenix Sect’s Saintess wanted to see Alexander’s swordsmanship had spread quickly. Some were curious about his abilities. Others simply wanted to see two beautiful women arguing over the same man.

Alexander had no intention of giving them a show. He picked up a wooden sword. “Who wants to go first?”

“Me,” Isabella answered immediately.

Elena frowned slightly but said nothing. Isabella stepped onto the platform and drew her sword. Her movements were graceful, and a faint golden glow surrounded the blade. Unlike Alexander, she possessed genuine cultivation strength. Her Phoenix Spiritual Veins gave her an advantage in controlling spiritual energy, making her sword strikes both fast and powerful.

“Three exchanges,” she announced.

Alexander nodded. “Fine.”

Isabella attacked. Her sword swept toward his shoulder, forcing him to move aside. She immediately changed direction and aimed for his waist. Alexander blocked with his wooden sword.

Clack!

The impact made his arm ache. *She’s stronger than I expected.* He had to admit that Isabella’s swordsmanship wasn’t bad. Her technique was polished, her movements were efficient, and she knew how to use her cultivation advantage. However, she relied too heavily on the strength behind her attacks.

Alexander stepped backward, allowing her second strike to pass. On the third exchange, Isabella thrust forward. Alexander turned his wrist. His wooden sword slid along the side of hers, redirecting the attack. Before she could recover, he stopped the wooden blade a finger’s width from her shoulder.

“That’s three.”

Isabella stared at the sword. Then she looked at Alexander. The surrounding disciples fell silent. She had lost the exchange—not because Alexander possessed greater cultivation, but because he had read her movements and used her own momentum against her.

Isabella lowered her sword. “You really are good.”

“I know.”

“Can’t you be modest?”

“I tried. It didn’t suit me.”

Elena laughed. Isabella turned toward her. “Would you like to try?”

Elena raised an eyebrow. “With Alexander?”

“With me.”

The atmosphere changed. Alexander slowly lowered his wooden sword. *Here we go.*

Elena stepped onto the platform. “Gladly.”

The two women faced each other. Neither appeared angry, but their smiles had become noticeably more polite. Alexander recognized the danger immediately. He had survived wars between powerful sects. He had fought demonic beasts, assassins, and arrogant young masters. Yet nothing had prepared him for two talented women who had decided to compete while he stood between them.

He stepped off the platform. “I’m going to get breakfast.”

Both women turned toward him. “Stay!” they said simultaneously.

Alexander looked at the sky. *Perhaps the Nameless Throne wasn’t my greatest enemy after all.*

Elena and Isabella exchanged a brief sparring match. Their cultivation levels were close enough to make the contest interesting, although their fighting styles differed. Isabella favored aggressive attacks powered by her Phoenix Spiritual Veins. Elena relied on precision, timing, and elegant sword techniques. After twenty exchanges, Elena managed to redirect Isabella’s sword and tap her sleeve.

“Point,” Elena declared.

Isabella stepped back, looking impressed. “You’re good.”

“So are you.”

Their earlier tension eased. Alexander, who had remained nearby, nodded. “Excellent. You’ve both learned something.”

Isabella looked at him. “What?”

“That fighting each other is more productive than fighting me.”

Elena smiled sweetly. “Perhaps we should both challenge you next time.”

Alexander’s smile disappeared. “I withdraw my previous statement.”

The surrounding disciples burst into laughter.

Just then, a young man in dark blue robes approached the platform. He wore the insignia of the Azure Sky Sword Sect’s inner disciples. “Alexander Blackwood?”

Alexander turned. “Yes?”

“My name is Darius Stormborn.”

Alexander recognized the surname. The Stormborn Clan was a powerful cultivation family in the Northern Continent. Darius was known among the inner disciples for his talent with the sword.

“I watched your match against Chen Wei yesterday,” Darius continued. “I’d like to challenge you.”

Alexander sighed. “Why?”

“Because I want to improve.”

That answer surprised him. Most challengers wanted to prove their superiority. Darius seemed genuinely interested in testing his skills. Alexander studied him for a moment. “Fine. But I’m not responsible for your wounded pride.”

Darius smiled. “Agreed.”

They stepped onto the platform. Unlike Chen Wei, Darius didn’t rush forward. He adopted a stable stance and waited for Alexander to move. Alexander nodded slightly. *At least this one has a brain.*

Darius attacked with a precise horizontal cut. Alexander blocked, then countered with a quick strike toward his shoulder. Darius retreated and changed his stance. Their swords met repeatedly.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

Darius was clearly stronger physically, and his technique was far better than Chen Wei’s. He managed to force Alexander backward several times. However, Alexander gradually began predicting his movements. On the twenty-third exchange, Alexander stepped to the side and tapped Darius’s sword hand.

The inner disciple immediately stopped. “I lost.”

Alexander lowered his weapon. “You have good fundamentals. Your weakness is that you hesitate whenever your opponent changes rhythm.”

Darius considered his words. “Can you explain?”

Alexander demonstrated the movement slowly. “When you expect a sequence of three attacks, you prepare for the third before the second has finished. An experienced opponent can exploit that hesitation.”

Darius watched carefully, then bowed. “Thank you. I’d appreciate another match in the future.”

“Bring lunch next time.”

Darius blinked. “What?”

“Teaching is expensive.”

Darius laughed. “Fine. I’ll bring lunch.”

As he left, Alexander felt a little more satisfied. At least someone in this sect understood how to behave.

Then Isabella appeared beside him. “You’re teaching everyone now?”

“No. Only people who bring lunch.”

Elena joined them. “What about people who bring tea?”

“Negotiable.”

“And people who bring gifts?”

Alexander looked between the two women. “I’m beginning to think both of you are dangerous.”

Isabella smiled. “You’re finally learning.”

That evening, Alexander returned to his courtyard and began practicing his sword forms. His body was still weak, and the morning’s sparring had left his arms sore. He repeated the same basic movement again and again, focusing on efficiency rather than strength. He couldn’t rush his cultivation. Every improvement had to be earned.

After an hour, he finally lowered his sword. His breathing was heavier than he wanted, but his movements had become slightly smoother. “Progress,” he murmured.

A knock came from the gate. Alexander closed his eyes. “If that’s another challenger, I’m moving to a mountain.”

He opened the gate. Ethan stood outside, carrying a wooden box. “I brought lunch!”

Alexander’s expression immediately improved. “Come in, my beloved disciple.”

Ethan stared at him. “Yesterday, you threatened to charge me for breathing near you.”

“People change.”

“You’re a shameless merchant.”

“An excellent observation. Your next lesson is free.”

Ethan’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“No. I simply wanted to see that expression on your face.”

Alexander turned and walked inside. Ethan stood at the gate, wondering why he continued coming here. Then he remembered the match against Chen Wei. Alexander’s swordsmanship was extraordinary. If he could learn even a fraction of it, his future would be promising.

Ethan hurried after him. “Teacher! Wait! I have another question!”

Alexander sighed. His second life was supposed to be peaceful. Instead, he had acquired a troublesome disciple, two beautiful women who enjoyed challenging him, and a growing list of rivals. Still, as he sat down to eat, a faint smile appeared on his face.