Chapter 462
Then, he heard the shout from the nearby arena: "Han Xianzi has won!"
Ying Bing, who had just stepped onto the stage, was back down in less than a minute.
She walked down with a cool demeanor, still carrying the momentum of having just severed Jiang Chengling's weapon with a single sword strike. It was as if, compared to the nobles and royals, she was the true embodiment of unassailable nobility, her presence commanding respect.
As she reached Li Mo, she tilted her head slightly:
"Why aren't you going up?"
"I'm waiting to recharge."
"......"
Ying Bing noticed many eyes around them were watching, and her expression quickly turned aloof, her fingers instinctively curling.
Yet, she still wrapped her arms around Li Mo's waist, holding him quite tightly.
"Go for it..."
"Yeah, I’ll definitely make it into the top three!"
It was well-known that the stronger the fighting spirit of Qi Tian Dou Zhan Yi, the greater the combat power.
Li Mo's fighting spirit surged instantly.
"???"
"What are you doing, Li Mo? Why are you hitting us?"
Amidst the uproar from the crowd, Li Mo stepped onto the high platform.
Xie Xuan was already feeling a bit overwhelmed, as if he had lost before the fight even began.
After some thought, Li Mo decided not to say, "She doesn't love you at all." Old Xie was decent enough; he wouldn't go that far.
Besides, he wanted to win with his sword, fair and square.
Since it was for his dream, he might as well skip the brawling techniques for now.
"Flowers intoxicate three thousand guests, a single sword shines cold across fourteen states!"
"Here comes the sword!"
The divine sword flew from below the stage into his hand. If it had an expression, it would probably be one of exasperation.
Li Mo struck a graceful pose, exuding confidence:
"Brother Xie, please!"
"Such precision..."
Xie Xuan muttered to himself.
Why did it feel like Li Mo was more of a legendary swordsman than he was?
Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable pressure, as if he were the one seeking guidance.
Wait, you’re the one who wields a hammer! What do you mean by shining cold across fourteen states with a sword?
...
P.S.: Please allow the audience a few days of grace; I need to rest my hands. Also, I want to try stabilizing the update schedule, releasing two chapters at once for a more coherent read.
Seeking support for recharging, mwah-3-
**Chapter 516: The Art of the Heart Sword**
"Li Da Ge is so cool."
Princess Jiang, hidden behind her sunglasses, had sparkling eyes. Noticing the glances from the nobles under the bright yellow canopy nearby, she quickly wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.
"Such a child."
Ying Bing thought to herself, though her gaze softened like the bright moon.
It seemed he had truly been waiting for this day for a long time; otherwise, how could he have prepared his speech in advance?
"Sometimes I really want to forget that Li Xiong is actually skilled in the hammer arts."
Bai Jinghong gazed up at the stars at a forty-five-degree angle, unable to shake off the image of the little tyrant with the divine hammer shaking the heavens.
The memories of the past were attacking him again.
"Just learn from it..."
He turned his head, about to say this to Wu Chushu, only to find the latter clutching his head, writhing like a worm, his brain trembling.
"Flowers intoxicate three thousand guests, a single sword shines cold across fourteen states... How can someone who writes such poetry only know how to wield a hammer? Such a waste, such a waste..."
"Why does everyone laugh at me when I recite the poems written by my master?"
Oh right, Wu Chushu's master is Elder Cao, who is also a blacksmith.
On the judges' panel, Xie Yiding couldn't help but chuckle: "This kid has quite the flair for drama."
"Tsk, no wonder he insists on using a sword; it was all for this moment."
Du Wufeng smiled.
Seeing Li Mo, he felt as if he were looking at his younger self. Who hasn't been young and reckless, eager to show off when the spotlight is on?
On the stage.
Xie Xuan noticed the obedient divine sword and couldn't help but ask curiously:
"How much of the divine sword's power can you unleash?"
"Guess."
Li Mo, the little swordsman, smiled mysteriously.
Xie Xuan: "....."
Alright, this is a competition; he really shouldn't reveal his depth.
So, he would have to test it himself.
Old Xie was cautious and didn't draw his sword immediately.
Because Li Mo looked impressive, his white robe flowing, the divine sword in hand, every movement radiated strong confidence. Plus, he had practiced seriously with Han Xianzi for several days; who knows...
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
The ancestral sword hung slightly down, exuding an almost imperceptible sword aura that enveloped the high platform.
Zheng—
Xie Xuan's sword remained still, but Li Mo felt a sharp sword hanging over his head, a tingling sensation in his brow, as if a powerful sword intent was rushing toward him!
Had he already made his move?
This was the invisible sword!
Though it couldn't be seen with the naked eye, he could clearly sense with his spirit that several pure, shimmering sword lights were suspended, like the reflections of birds flying over a rippling lake, weaving into a net.
The Art of the Heart Sword?
Li Mo instantly recognized the martial arts Xie Xuan was employing.
The body moves with the mind; both offense and defense lie within the heart.
Thus, Xie Xuan's sword was aimed at severing his spirit with the intent that had been honed into a sword!
"Why aren't these two moving?"
"Didn't they already start? Why are they just standing there?"
In the crowded surroundings, the onlookers, both commoners and martial artists, exchanged confused glances.
On the judges' panel.
"What’s going on? Why aren’t they making a move?"
The purple-clad eunuch inquired of the two from Tianshan Sword Manor.
"Actually, their clash has already begun."
Xie Yiding explained:
"This is a mental clash, the Art of the Heart Sword, a form of pure Jun swordsmanship that can draw the opponent into a mental space."
"If one's spirit is slightly weaker, they may suffer mental injury, or worse, their spirit may shatter, resulting in immediate defeat."
Du Wufeng nodded: "This move is executed beautifully. Xie Xuan's realm is already higher, and the divine intent he observes is from the ancestral sword, unmatched in sharpness."
"As for Li Mo's spirit... I still don't know. This clash can only be perceived with the heart."
The man in the purple robe nodded: "I understand now; if one loses in a mental clash, they will suffer greatly in the actual fight."
He paused, glancing at the dissatisfied crowd below, and added:
"You two are speaking too profoundly; how about we... say something more relatable?"
Xie Yiding was momentarily taken aback: "What is there for me to say?"
"Just, say something casually. You've been through so many competitions; you must have some stories to share..."
The implication was that he could make it up on the spot since no one could see it.
"....."
Xie Yiding was left speechless.
"Try this." Du Wufeng handed the purple-clad eunuch a booklet.
"What’s this?"
"A sketchbook."
"?"
When people are confused, they will accept anything handed to them.
Thus, the purple-clad eunuch's mouth twitched slightly as he opened it and began to read aloud.
His voice, amplified through a conch shell, reached the entire inner city.
"Suddenly, Jiang... Li Mo shook his long sword, declaring that he was determined to win today’s spar. If he won, he would ask the palace... uh, Xie Xuan to fulfill his promise, and with that, he charged forward."
"Xie Xuan smiled, his sleeves swirling, stirring up a thousand piles of snow. What the hell is this... he actually used his palm instead of a sword, employing the Snow Moon Sword Technique, and the sword shadows instantly enveloped all directions."
"....."
The audience in the inner city and below the stage were even more bewildered.
They couldn't see the mental clash, but instinctively felt something was off.
"?"
Princess Jiang, who had just wiped her mouth clean, found herself drooling again.
Ying Bing paused, rubbing her doll-like head, then instinctively tightened her grip. She could see that Li Mo, who could only use a sword, was at a disadvantage against Xie Xuan.
"Unless he also learns the Heart Sword..."
"?"
Li Mo himself was confused, but what mattered more now was to break through Xie Xuan's Heart Sword technique.
The sword shadows, woven like a great net, were already closing in. The only thing he could do was quickly summon his spirit.
A golden-armored figure suddenly appeared behind him, eyes focused intently.
Ding—
The Heart Sword pierced Li Mo's spirit, sending ripples through it.
"One sword didn’t break through?"
Xie Xuan was taken aback. Clearly, his realm was lower, but the strength of Li Mo's spirit far exceeded his expectations.
So, he persevered, simplifying his sword technique, using the ancestral sword's divine power to strike with his spirit.
Li Mo's spirit trembled.
However, this round of sword shadows was not the end; Xie Xuan's assault grew increasingly urgent.
Qi Tian Dou Zhan Yi burned like a raging fire, swaying in the wind. No matter how strong his spirit was, he could not ignore the opponent's mental clash.
If this continued, he would ultimately be defeated.
"What Bing Tuozi taught me..."
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