Chapter 457
“I want to advise you to return the Tianren Divine Sword to Tianren City. With the sword in your hand, if you encounter an opponent without a divine weapon, you won’t be able to draw it. And if your opponent also wields a divine weapon, can you guarantee a flawless victory?”
“You’ve only held the divine sword for a short time, and you’re not primarily trained in swordsmanship. How will you handle it then?”
Du Lao spoke sincerely.
Li Mo asked, his expression unchanged, “Who are the people capable of wielding divine weapons?”
Du Wufeng saw through his thoughts but didn’t point it out:
“From what I know, there are at least seven. One is Qianlong’s thirteenth, the top disciple of Zhangzhang Island, who wields the divine weapon Zimu Xingyueji, crafted by a divine craftsman from overseas. It may not be well-known in the Central Plains, but it ranks thirty-third on the divine weapon list.”
“The Qingshi Qian Kun Bi from the Guozijian, held by the top scholar of Dayu.”
“Then there’s Ning Que from the Penglai Star Sect, with the Qinghai Yiyin Qin; Tiantian Sect’s Tianmiao; and Yantian Yupan; and from the Thieves’ Guild, there’s Sikong Liang... and the monk from Longxiang Ancient Temple, Guankong, as well as Xie Xuan, whose ancestral sword can also be considered a divine weapon…”
“And our crown prince, Jiang Yu, with the number one divine weapon, the Bahuang Liuhe Seal.”
“These individuals can at least unleash thirty to forty percent of a divine weapon’s power.”
Li Mo silently noted those names in his heart.
Well, some of them didn’t need to be remembered; he was already quite familiar with them.
These would be his main opponents in the Qianlong Conference. Without the divine weapon, it would still be quite challenging.
“Is Xie Xuan considered a strong contender among them?”
“Have you forgotten? I’m second in Qianlong,” Xie Xuan said, his lips twitching.
“Sorry…”
Li Mo thought to himself that Xie Xuan really didn’t have the aura of being second in Qianlong, then cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for the information, Du Lao!”
Du Wufeng took a sip of tea. “If you change your mind, I can help you find a hammer for the competition.”
“No need.”
Li Mo glanced at the ice block standing quietly, his expression turning serious. “I still want to continue learning swordsmanship from her.”
“?”
Why is this kid so stubborn?
Is his interest in swordsmanship really that intense? Can’t he pull himself away?
---
**Chapter 510: Can the Divine Sword Be Reforged? Support**
“Li Xiong, with your current stance, your performance in the Qianlong Conference might be worse than if you didn’t have the Tianren Divine Sword at all,” Xie Xuan shook his head.
The weapons for the Qianlong Conference must be provided by the Weapon Forging Conference.
The Tianren Divine Sword was indeed forged by Master Du decades ago for the Qianlong Conference, complying with the regulations.
However, having a divine weapon in the Qianlong Conference is too much of a game-changer.
There was even a discussion in the court about it, with some officials arguing that divine weapons should never appear in the Qianlong Conference, as it would violate fairness.
Others contended that being recognized by a divine weapon is part of one’s talent. If His Highness can wield the Liuhe Bahuang Seal, can you really say he lacks talent?
In the end, the two factions reached a consensus.
Divine weapons could only be used against other divine weapons when their wielders faced off. For instance, Li Mo could use the Tianren Divine Sword only when competing against Xie Xuan.
Li Mo nodded. “That’s fine. If I can’t use the sword against someone I haven’t fought before, I’ll just use the hammer again.”
“…” Xie Xuan fell silent.
At that moment, Ying Bing set down her teacup and said softly, “Li Mo has indeed grasped thirty percent of the sword’s essence within the Tianren Divine Sword.”
“Thirty percent?”
Xie Xuan looked at the smiling Li Mo and suddenly felt that the corner of the little tyrant’s mouth was saying, ‘No way, could anyone really think my swordsmanship talent is poor?’
“Is that for real?”
Old Xie found it hard to believe.
He had come into contact with the Tianren Divine Sword during the last Qianlong Conference when he visited Tianren City. When he touched the hilt, he felt an overwhelming sword essence.
Even with his qualifications, he wasn’t sure if he could learn even twenty to thirty percent in his lifetime.
But Ying Bing had no reason to lie.
“Have you completed your understanding of the Sword of Chivalry?” Du Wufeng was taken aback, his expression frozen.
“You mean the sword of a common man, right?”
“Exactly… exactly…”
Du Wufeng furrowed his brow, staring intently at Li Mo as if he were trying to see him anew.
“What’s wrong?”
Li Mo felt a bit uneasy under the old man’s gaze.
Du Wufeng remained silent for a long time before saying, “The Tianren Divine Sword has been forged by me three times. The first time, when the sword was first completed, it was made from remnants of famous swordsmen known throughout the world, so what I forged was the spirit of chivalry.”
“The second time, when Su Jun returned from her travels, she was conferred as a sword armor by the court. Every day she had to go to court, and when I forged the sword for her, it embodied the spirit of ambition and youthful vigor.”
“The last time…”
At this point, Du Wufeng paused, choosing to skip over the royal matters involved:
“The last time, I obtained a remnant weapon that contained the aura of an emperor, and this sword finally became a divine weapon.”
Li Mo nodded.
So behind the sword of governance is the swordsmanship of an emperor?
Before Du Wufeng could finish, his eyes suddenly lit up. “I have a feeling that during these days in Tianren City, its spirit has been strengthening. In the future… it might be reforged again! But I may not be able to do it.”
“Don’t you think I can handle it in the future?”
“You, kid, always lack confidence in what you’re truly good at.”
With that, Du Wufeng and Xie Xuan took their leave.
In the room, only Li Mo and Ying Bing remained.
“Ice Block, teach me a bit more.”
“Hmm…”
“After we finish, we can cultivate together. I can’t neglect my own training, and I’ll help you relax a bit.”
“And then… will you change my socks for me?”
Li Mo’s heart skipped a beat. He had only wanted to thank his teacher, Ice Block, and hadn’t thought that far.
Well, that would be something he would naturally think of later…
But it seemed Ice Block had already anticipated it.
Ying Bing’s gaze was deep and contemplative. What’s up with this immature kid lately? He seems even more…
So do boys grow up from being immature and then go on to realize all those thoughts in their heads one by one?
---
A few days later, on a clear morning.
In front of Biyun Tower, a grand procession was underway.
Today was the Qianlong Conference, and it wasn’t just the prodigies from the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands who had come; their mentors and other high-ranking sects were also present, making the wide streets particularly lively.
The stalls on the street had multiplied, selling all sorts of goods.
“Latest issue of ‘The Overbearing Empress Fell for Me’!”
“Want to support your favorite Qianlong prodigy? Want to cheer for them? We have everything you need for support!”
“Spend over a thousand taels and get a jade hairpin like the Cold Fairy’s!”
“What Qianlong Conference? It should be called the Qianlong Shopping Festival.”
Li Mo stood in the lobby of Biyun Tower, watching the bustling market outside.
“Li Xiong, we’re heading to our sect now,” the three heroes of Hengyun finished their last breakfast and went to Elder Zeng’s place.
“My master and the others are here too.”
Li Mo followed Murong Xiao’s gaze and quickly covered his eyes, nearly blinded by the titanium alloy glare.
Among the crowd stood many bald heads…
Among them were familiar faces, including the monks he had seen in the Southern Wilderness, as well as the Huai Kong Divine Monk and a certain leader of the Qingluan clan beside him.
Murong Xiao quietly stuffed some snacks into his monk robe.
Just as he was about to run back, Li Mo asked again, “Murong Xiong, how’s your understanding of that divine intent coming along?”
The divine intent within the Yuhuang Divine was said to encompass the essence of myriad clans, but they were all quite formidable. Li Mo was surprised to find that it even included the essence of the Sea Cucumber Clan.
He wondered why it had been recorded; could it be because… it was delicious?
In any case, he had brought it for Murong Xiao to study.
“Now, even if I face ten or eight opponents of similar rank, they wouldn’t be able to defeat me,” Murong Xiao said proudly.
“Not bad, very spirited!”
Li Mo decided to praise him first.
Just as Murong Xiao was about to leave, another person appeared before him.
“Yo, long time no see.”
Shang Qinqing’s gaze fell, noticing her Qingluan goddess holding Li Mo’s hand with one hand and a large-headed doll of Li Mo with the other. She felt she had come to the right place.
I wonder… how far have they gone?
“Clan leader, what brings you here?”
Ying Bing ignored Shang Qinqing’s gaze.
“Everyone else has their elders with them; how can our Cold Fairy not have an elder backing her?” Shang Qinqing said with a smile, spitting out a sunflower seed shell.
And so, the group set off.
The husband of the Cold Fairy, leading her, walked along the main road from Biyun Tower to the inner city, feeling as if they were seeing all the flowers of Chang’an in one glance.
Ying Bing’s gaze, with its ethereal depth, flickered with interest as it landed on the nearby stalls. Ever since she had learned to bargain while shopping with Li Mo in Qinghe County, she had developed a keen interest in these small goods.
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