Chapter 171
But this is even stranger!
Why can Li Mo observe the Taiyin?!
.....
On the high platform.
"The swordplay of Tianshan Sword Manor?"
"No, I've grasped the art of swordplay; it’s definitely not like this."
"Is he following the path of technique approaching Dao?"
"This…"
The elders of the Sword City, with their white hair and long beards, did not rise in outrage this time, even though they had replaced their table with a new one.
Beyond their surprise, they felt something more complex.
They had exhausted the principles of swordsmanship.
Which one of them had not once been a genius in the sword path? Who among them was not extraordinary, suppressing all others with their sword?
Yet, the more talented one was, the more despairing the path became.
The more one understands, the more one realizes their own ignorance.
Though the immortal realm may seem ethereal, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths once existed.
However, no one has ever fully walked the path of technique approaching Dao.
"By the way."
"Hmm?"
"What’s going on with the Qingyuan Sect? Is their ancestral grave smoking?"
.......
The sparring on the platform, or rather the guidance, was nearing its end.
The burly man withdrew his halberd and bowed solemnly:
"Thank you for your guidance; I’ve gained a lot!"
"It was just a casual thing; I didn’t lose anything."
Li Mo humbly cradled his sword and smiled.
While guiding his opponent, he also absorbed their techniques, integrating them into his own Dugu Nine Swords, transforming them into his own.
Well... this step also required martial comprehension.
Once accumulated to a certain extent, it was time to take that next step!
Who benefited more is hard to say.
"Here you go."
Li Mo, keeping his promise, took out a gold note.
"No, no, how can I accept this after receiving your guidance..."
"What I promised must be fulfilled; this amount of money is nothing."
"This..."
The burly man looked at the young man's smile, at his demeanor, and recalled how his senior brother described someone.
Handsome and dashing, treating money like dirt, helping others without reservation...
"Are you perhaps from the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm…?"
"Shh, I’m a swordsman now."
"Great Brother, I bow to you!"
.....
Not far away.
Wu Chushu wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He glanced over at Bai Jinghong and Cao Mu.
---
**Chapter 178: What Kind of Freak is This Kid?**
"You picked him."
Bai Jinghong shrugged, laughing with a hint of annoyance.
The guy is still using a sword, and you’re already sweating buckets?
Cao Mu was meditating nearby, not even lifting his eyelids, making his stance clear.
No swaps.
"Heh, you really think I’m afraid? I never intended to switch."
"He got on the platform on the first day; before his essence and spirit are exhausted, he might not even get a chance to face me."
Wu Chushu snorted coldly.
The sword trial lasts for three days.
Even if his opponent runs out of essence, it doesn’t mean he can defeat him.
Besides, while Li Mo’s swordplay is astonishing, he can still hold his own against him; it’s Ying Bing or Jiang Chuchong who are tougher to deal with.
.....
On the platform.
Feeling the countless gazes upon him, little Li let out a long breath.
What a thrill.
Earlier, he had felt a twinge of regret; the martial comprehension he invested in Dugu Nine Swords had somewhat exceeded the 'commercial realm.'
Yet at this moment, he felt at ease, realizing that if one cannot pursue their own joys in life, what’s the point?
He had no life-and-death enemies he must defeat, nor did he bear the heavy responsibility of saving the world.
Li Mo then called out to the crowd:
"Is there any hero who wishes to come up and exchange a few moves?"
"The bounty I mentioned will remain valid for these three days."
Instantly, the atmosphere became lively.
Most people came here simply to learn from each other and broaden their horizons.
The opportunity to observe the Hengyun Sword Marks had little to do with them.
Getting on stage to spar with Li Mo not only offered a reward but also a chance to discover their own shortcomings.
Such a good deal?
"I’ll go!"
"Li Mo gege is just like Jiang Chen gege, kind-hearted and a gentleman who loves to help others..."
"Who said that? The male lead in the illustrated book doesn’t have such strength."
"After this, who knows how the Qianlong List will change."
A long line formed in front of Li Mo’s platform.
Even Zhong Zhenyue next door couldn’t help but glance over repeatedly, clearly intrigued by him.
However, challengers were not allowed to spar against each other.
Moreover, he wouldn’t even make it to the front of the line if he went down.
Many wanted to challenge Li Mo.
Little Li was quite the authority in teaching.
When he spotted a flaw, he would explain it to his opponent one by one, while simultaneously dismantling their martial arts and integrating it into his own swordplay.
Now, relying solely on swordplay, he was confident he could defeat opponents two or three realms above him.
Meanwhile, not far away.
Bai Jinghong felt that whether he stuck his neck out or withdrew, it would still be a cut.
So he sighed and stepped onto the platform.
"I am Bai Jinghong."
He slightly cupped his hands, lowering his aura to the Inner Breath realm.
The purpose of the sword trial was to filter out martial arts geniuses.
After all, the higher the martial talent, the better the insights one could gain from the Hengyun Sword Marks. He had to abide by the rules and suppress his own realm.
"Please guide me."
"I wouldn’t dare… wouldn’t dare."
Jiang Chuchong shook her little head like a rattle drum.
Treated with courtesy, she felt a bit flustered and secretly glanced at Li gege not far away.
Then, imitating Li Mo, she said:
"Please... please go ahead and make your move first."
"Alright."
Bai Jinghong dared not underestimate her, focusing all his energy.
Taking the initiative could seize the advantage!
He raised his hand, channeling his Inner Breath to activate his Hanguang Sword Body.
The sword energy surged like a tide, precisely the Hengyun Sword Qi.
Within that sword energy, multiple transformations were contained.
This was a technique his senior sister had comprehended after sitting in front of the sword marks for three years.
Gasps arose from the audience; after all, in the face of such vast sword energy, Jiang Chuchong’s frail little body appeared so weak and insignificant...
The furious tide surged.
A rare seriousness appeared on Jiang Chuchong’s delicate face.
She did not dodge or evade.
Facing the sword energy tide that could injure her with a mere touch, her fragile body danced like withered grass in the wind, or like a little fish swimming in rivers and lakes, allowing the sword energy to surge without sustaining a scratch.
She resembled wild grass.
Weak yet resolute.
*Smack—*
A light sound echoed as the peach wood branch struck Bai Jinghong’s hand.
The famed sword clattered to the ground.
Bai Jinghong stood frozen, unable to believe it; he had never imagined his sword energy could be broken in such a manner. This was beyond his comprehension!
He then began to question his life choices.
He had always thought that apart from his senior sister, no one could match his talent in swordsmanship.
"Are you alright... alright?"
"Sorry... actually, you... you’re not... particularly weak..."
"It’s mainly... mainly because my teacher... teaches well..."
Jiang Chuchong awkwardly apologized, unsure how to comfort him.
Bai Jinghong: "...."
He was even more doubtful about life now.
.....
The onlookers were already dumbfounded.
One of the Three Heroes of Hengyun, a prodigy on the Qianlong List, had lost in such a manner?
At this moment, the elders also furrowed their brows; if they suppressed their realms to the Inner Breath realm, it seemed... they couldn’t reach the level of that little girl?
Earlier, Cao Mu had also been defeated.
Faced with that god-like swordplay, he hadn’t even lasted to the third strike.
Talent was hard to say.
However, Ying Bing’s performance was even more impressive than that little girl’s!
If it weren’t for the elders having seen the world, they might have thought the world had changed.
"Is there any record of the Taizu Wudi displaying such stunning talent while studying in Sword City?"
"If he hadn’t hidden his strength back then, I’m afraid not."
"When they reach the fifth or sixth realm of observing the divine, the Qianlong List will surely undergo a transformation."
"It’s a blessing for us that they can come to Sword City to comprehend the sword marks."
At this moment.
Almost no one dared to challenge Ying Bing and Jiang Chuchong anymore.
What’s the point of going up? The prodigies on the Qianlong List have already lost; are they just going up to get beaten?
Meanwhile, little Li’s side remained lively.
"This little guy, hmm... how should I put it, strange."
Elder Zeng put down the illustrated book "The Overbearing Empress Fell in Love with Me," stroking his beard and said:
"To say he’s strong, it seems he’s only skilled in sword techniques."
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