Chapter 181
The figure across from her, Ying Bing, moved. With a domineering sword light that seized the heart of the heavens, it erupted suddenly, like divine punishment descending from the sky, as if it aimed to devour the Ying Bing who had strayed from her true self.
This was the former Ying Bing, striking at the present Ying Bing with a single sword!
It was also the truly perfect "Shen Xiao Tian Xin Sword Technique"!
With a decisive stance, it swept forward!
"That sword..."
Ying Bing closed her eyes, seemingly seeing once more the bright moon she had glimpsed when their souls intertwined.
That was more than just a bright moon.
It was not merely the path of the Taiyin (the Moon).
Within it, there was also a sword.
In the blink of an eye, Ying Bing drew her sword.
That divine intent, that clarity, that new understanding of the Dao, all merged into the original "Shen Xiao Tian Xin Sword," becoming one!
The moonlight around her shone brilliantly.
It seemed as if a misty moon hovered behind her.
She grasped the sword light, like a celestial being descending from the Taiyin, her technique not yet arrived, yet the essence had already descended.
Flawless and pure.
As swift as it was slow.
Calm yet surging, ruthless yet compassionate, soft yet unyielding!
This was her answer!
Going with the flow—wasn't that the way of heaven?
Ding—
The tips of the two Tian Shuang swords clashed, a contest of meaning and a clash of souls.
It felt as if a long time had passed, yet it also seemed like just a moment.
Ying Bing opened her eyes, her gaze reflecting the sword marks on the strange stone, a deeper mystery shimmering in her clear eyes.
The "Shen Xiao Tian Xin Sword" she now wielded was still a divine skill, but it could no longer be called by its former name.
At this moment.
The void trembled, and the strange stone, after being comprehended, continued to resonate!
This was unprecedented!
The elders were momentarily stunned, rushing forward, fearing some sudden change.
Yet what was meant to happen, happened.
In their astonished eyes.
The sword mark that had always existed on the strange stone, like an eternal imprint, was rapidly vanishing.
As if...
It had been erased by some higher existence?
Like ink in a watercolor painting dissipating swiftly, returning to a blank canvas.
---
Chapter 193: Breaking the Image
Since the establishment of Heng Yun Sword City, had the sword mark that accompanied the strange stone been erased?
The sword mark... now could only be called a strange stone.
Everyone stared at the strange stone, their expressions blank, their hearts bewildered.
This strange stone had a mysterious origin.
Even a master at the seventh realm could not leave a trace upon it.
That sword mark was incredibly powerful, spanning across time, and with the rise and fall of Heng Yun Sword City, not even time had managed to erase it.
Yet now, such a thing had been accomplished by someone at the Observation of the Divine level.
No wonder there had been such a commotion earlier.
Looking at the girl standing alone, the elders were momentarily speechless, unsure of how to express their feelings.
"Erasing the sword mark..."
Huang Donglai felt cold sweat trickling down his back, quickly pulling out a booklet with the title "Martial Dao Survival Rules."
He crossed out the first line on the first page that read "Never act on impulse" and replaced it with "Never provoke Ying Bing."
"She..."
Cao Mu's expression was complex for a moment before he suddenly laughed in relief.
Hahaha, did he really think he could regain his dignity one day?
He was truly foolish.
"Old Bai."
"Hmm?"
Bai Jinghong turned back from his daze.
He saw Wu Chushu, his eyes vacant, hair a mess like a bird's nest:
"Suddenly, I just don't feel like practicing sword anymore. How can the gap between people be even greater than that between humans and dogs?"
"......Why insult dogs?"
"?"
"Haha, just trying to lighten the mood."
Bai Jinghong had grown; he had learned to find joy in hardship.
Wu Chushu said, "Just give her the Sword Hero title directly."
"That's not entirely out of the question..."
Bai Jinghong opened his mouth, but suddenly a scene flashed in his mind.
In the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm, he clearly remembered.
The girl, now appearing as a mysterious and serene celestial being, had once stood behind a man, sheltered from the storm.
That man was right there.
Bai Jinghong couldn't help but glance to the side.
"Big Sister Bing... so amazing."
Jiang Chuchong's gray-white eyes seemed to shine through the fabric.
In her surprise, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
How did Big Sister Bing's understanding of swordsmanship remind her of her teacher?
Could it be... the teacher had also guided Big Sister Bing?
The teacher was so impressive...
Little Jiang, who believed her revered teacher was the best of the best, didn't notice anything amiss.
"I've gotten used to it, really used to it."
Li Mo was no longer the naive boy who had never seen the world.
Did he understand what it meant to be the Phoenix Empress?
If she didn't stir up some commotion, would she still be that ice block?
".....Looks like I won't be falling from grace."
Li Mo sighed in relief.
Yes, gratitude is unspoken, but he should reward Bing a little, just to show his appreciation...
---
"Young lady, what have you comprehended...?"
Elder Zeng rubbed his hands, representing the elders as he asked.
The elderly elders felt a bit embarrassed.
According to the rules, the outstanding talents who comprehended the strange stone were supposed to leave behind their insights.
This was mutually beneficial, a way to support each other.
But now, none of these old men dared to claim they could face that sword technique with calmness, completely unfazed.
"I will leave behind a portion of my insights on this sword."
Ying Bing lightly nodded.
If someone could truly learn from it, then so be it.
"Good!"
"Just as expected of you!"
"Truly a celestial being gracing the world; given time, you will surely ascend to the top of the Hidden Dragon List! Even the Heavenly Rankings!"
"I declare, from now on, anyone who goes against Miss Bing is going against my Sword City!"
The old men and women laughed, their faces wrinkled with joy.
The scene was quite bizarre.
Many powerful figures who suppressed a region were showering praise on a girl who had just entered... no, who was now at the second level of Observation of the Divine.
Yet looking at the girl they praised, they felt it wasn't entirely unreasonable...
"Miss Bing becoming this year's Sword Hero is indeed an honor for the title..."
"Um... is there a possibility..."
Li Mo raised his hand: "We haven't comprehended yet."
The elders: "......"
Oh right.
They had gotten a bit carried away.
By the way, with the sword mark gone, the strange stone wouldn't completely lose its divine effect, would it?
That would be hard to say if it was a blessing or a curse...
The elders then checked the strange stone, and after a moment, they set it down, relieved of the heavy burden in their hearts.
"Though the strange stone no longer has the sword mark, its wonders remain."
"Yes, it can still be used for comprehension."
"It seems the magic of this strange stone does not depend on that sword mark."
One elder speculated: "Rather, if someone comprehends a stronger martial art from it, they can leave their own imprint on it?"
This theory was quite reasonable.
In other words, if Ying Bing wished, she could leave the sword mark she had just comprehended on the strange stone.
Elder Zeng pondered for a moment and nodded:
"Let's finish the Martial Dao Summit as planned, then invite Miss Bing to try."
The summit was still ongoing.
The people below had been waiting for a long time, yet there had been no movement from above.
Thus.
Next, the still uncomprehended Zhong Zhenyue, Huang Donglai, and others stepped forward in turn.
Elder Zeng briefly overlooked Ying Bing and directly announced their insights:
"Zhong Zhenyue has comprehended a top-tier martial art, the 'Eight Gates Golden Lock Spear'!"
"Huang Donglai has comprehended a complete top-tier martial art, the 'Cloud-Soaring Body Technique'!"
...
In the past, this would have been enough to spark discussions among the martial world and various factions present.
After all, such young geniuses had such insights.
However, now everyone seemed to find it hard to stir up any waves, more curious about Ying Bing's comprehension.
"We still need to comprehend," Li Mo thought.
After all, what he comprehended would likely be invisible to outsiders, at most they would see the grade.
He had plenty of martial arts of various grades.
If he comprehended a hammer technique later, he could easily find a sword technique of the same grade to substitute.
Heng Yun Sword City did not delve deeply into this aspect.
As long as the grade matched, it was fine.
For example, Zhong Zhenyue's spear technique was not practiced in the sword city, so he exchanged it for a top-tier sword technique.
Before long.
Only Li Mo remained, still in the midst of his comprehension.
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