Chapter 175: A Swift Strike on Liangzhou
"I'll give it a try."
Li Hao said.
Lu Chunsheng looked at him and nodded, stepping aside. "Although I hope you can surpass him, we must adhere to the rules. You only have ten attempts to observe the stele."
"Alright."
Li Hao fixed his gaze on the first stele, the Heavenly Shadow Stele, and saw the middle-aged Jian Wudao raising the sword in his hand.
Even through the projection on the stele, Li Hao could feel a formidable sword intent rushing towards him.
The sword light slashed abruptly, as if trying to pierce through the stele.
The sword energy flowed in a continuous, graceful manner, as if wandering in the vast void. The sword intent was restrained yet sharp.
Li Hao watched quietly, and soon, a notification appeared on the panel.
Li Hao chose to collect it.
Even though there was a significant gap between the sword technique displayed by Jian Wudao and those on the other Heavenly Shadow Steles of the Sword Dao, in the face of the panel's Dao Realm, all were equal.
With the collection, Li Hao also learned the name of this sword technique:
'The Sixteen Tunes'
A peculiar name that seemed to have nothing to do with swordplay, but rather resembled a form of calligraphy or musical score.
Li Hao was somewhat surprised, but the panel's collection function never made mistakes. Perhaps this was the original name of the sword technique.
At this moment, having collected 'The Sixteen Tunes', Li Hao had deduced its true form.
Furthermore, he had deduced the subsequent sword techniques, all the way to the ninth sword.
Previously, the middle-aged Jian Wudao had only demonstrated three swords.
Lu Chunsheng had mentioned that this sword technique was considered a top-notch sword art with just one and a half moves.
The remaining one and a half moves were what Jian Wudao had deduced himself.
Now, with his six-segment Sword Dao, Li Hao had deduced those three moves and expanded them into nine.
Li Hao guessed that Jian Wudao's original insight into the Sword Dao was probably around the fourth segment.
"With my Sword Dao, I still can't complete this sword technique..."
Li Hao's eyes turned solemn.
The deduced sword technique had already merged into his memory, and he could sense the subtlety of this sword art, which seemed to contain a peculiar charm.
Li Hao's understanding of musical rhythms had reached the fourth level.
At this moment, he vaguely felt that the original form of this sword technique might not have been a sword art at all, but rather a type of musical rhythm.
Perhaps someone had heard it, recorded it, captured its essence, and then cultivated it into a sword technique.
If that were the case, then the bizarre name might make sense.
However, what kind of musical rhythm could inspire someone to capture its essence and condense it into an unparalleled sword art? Li Hao couldn't help but feel curious and yearn for it, and at the same time, a question arose in his mind.
In the future, when his understanding of musical rhythms reached a certain level, would he be able to play the original melody of this sword art?
If he could achieve that level, would the music he played give birth to other ultimate martial arts?
Li Hao reined in his thoughts and focused on the Heavenly Shadow Stele before him. He took a deep breath, took a step back, and then brandished the withered branch in his hand, unleashing the nine swords in succession.
Sword intent flowed like a melodious ancient tune, lively and undulating. Each sword contained a power and momentum that seemed to trace back to its origin.
Beside Li Hao, the heavens and earth seemed to resonate with a low hum—this was the true form of the sword art, capable of stirring the very heavens and earth!
Not far away, Lu Chunsheng stared in astonishment.
Although he did not cultivate the Sword Dao, he could still tell how terrifying the sword art Li Hao was displaying was.
He even felt that it would be difficult to defend against. If they were of the same realm, Li Hao could probably defeat him in an instant, leaving him no room for resistance!
The sword light extended endlessly, and as the ninth sword was unleashed, the withered branch in Li Hao's hand shattered into pieces, turning to ash.
On the Heavenly Shadow Stele, something seemed to shatter, and the figure of the middle-aged Jian Wudao disappeared, replaced by Li Hao's youthful figure performing the sword art.
The True Form of the Nine Swords.
To surpass this, only the current Jian Wudao himself might have a slim chance.
Lu Chunsheng snapped out of his daze, his eyes filled with shock as he looked at the young man. He had initially only held a faint hope that the youth might create another miracle, but Li Hao had truly created a miracle beyond his wildest imagination!
With just one observation, Li Hao had managed to practice this ultimate sword art to the level of its true form.
Moreover, it seemed that he had deduced subsequent sword moves that connected seamlessly, which was simply incredible!
Li Hao exhaled softly, feeling his mind stretch as he absorbed this sword art.
Having collected numerous secret manuals from the Tianji Tower and dozens of cultivation methods from the Heavenly Shadow Stele in one go, he felt a bit overwhelmed.
He needed to organize his thoughts and memories.
"Landlord Lu, if there's nothing else, I'll be returning to Tianmenguan."
Li Hao said to Lu Chunsheng.
Lu Chunsheng was taken aback and quickly replied, "Won't you stay a few more days? You've just arrived, and I'm sure you haven't experienced the charm of our Yong Province yet. There's also another cultivation site in Tianji Tower..."
Li Hao shook his head slightly and said, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. As you know, I'm overseeing Tianmenguan, and I've attracted the attention of several Demon Kings. I'm worried that if news of my departure spreads, they might take their anger out on the people of Cangya City."
Tianmenguan was no longer as solitary as it had been in the past.
Cangya City was now bustling and prosperous. In addition to the young men and women who came to seek fame, many merchants had also set up businesses in the city, and some displaced refugees had found a home there.
If the city fell, countless lives would be lost.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Lu Chunsheng knew that he shouldn't press the matter further.
After all, Li Hao was a general with military duties, and the well-being of the border people was also at stake.
"In that case, let me send you off."
Lu Chunsheng said.
Li Hao nodded, not refusing this time.
The two of them immediately took to the sky and flew towards the outside of Tianji Tower.
When Lu Chunsheng had sent people from Tianji Mountain to receive the young man earlier, he had only done so out of courtesy. But now, having witnessed Li Hao's terrifying comprehension ability, he finally understood that the youth before him was not his junior. Soon, they would be on equal footing, or perhaps the youth would even surpass him.
Amidst the chaos, several outstanding Tianji Tower disciples stood silently, their bodies turning cold as their daoist hearts neared shattering.
The passionate drive within them was crushed in this moment.
The gap was just too vast.
Was this the difference between people? It felt more like the difference between a person and a god!
"Is this what it means to have the talent to become a general and receive a noble title at the age of fourteen, entering the true state with just a glance and cultivating ordinary techniques..."
Someone muttered, feeling as if something was blocking their throat, an urge to burst into tears.
It wasn't jealousy, but despair.
Tang Zhixi stared silently at the distant horizon, her eyes hollow and dazed, silent and unable to utter a word.
She felt that a gust of wind could knock her down.
Her proud talent and insight had allowed her to rise from a humble background, keeping pace with the geniuses.
Even the talents of the Shenjiang Mansion, the disciples of the Sword Saint, and even the Buddhists and those personally taught by the immortals, she had a sense of dissatisfaction.
She felt that if given the same opportunities, she could do better.
Because she was smart.
But today, she suddenly realized that her pride meant nothing in the face of that young man.
The sword technique she had spent half a year researching and pondering, the young man had mastered with just one glance.
Just one glance.
Not only did he learn it, but he also surpassed her!
Surpassing her to a level she could never hope to attain!!
If she was considered a genius, then what was he? A monster?
If he was just a genius, then what was she? An ordinary person? A fool? An idiot?
Or perhaps, an uncivilized beast?
She didn't know, but suddenly, she felt a compulsion to go to Liangzhou, to that pass, to follow that young man, and to see for herself how such a person cultivated.
...
...
Two thousand miles west of Liangzhou, in a pitch-black deep lake, shadows lurked, coiling from above like dark, sinister creatures that sent shivers down one's spine.
Yet the lake's surface remained calm, with these massive creatures swimming without causing even a ripple.
But in this stillness, the lake's surface gently rippled.
Then, the ripples grew, like raindrops pelting the lake, causing the calm waters to suddenly jump with droplets.
The droplets danced violently on the lake's surface, shaking the entire deep lake!
Within the lake, the quiet, swimming shadows were all startled by this disturbance, their bodies rapidly contracting as they transformed into figures. Some burst out from the lake's depths, soaring into the air.
Others rushed towards the deepest parts of the lake.
Suddenly, at the center of the lake, where the disturbance was most intense, the water surged upward, forming a huge bump.
Then it ruptured, and a massive true dragon shot out!
Its body was dark purple-black, its scales as sharp as divine weapons, covering its entire body tightly.
Its hundred-zhang-long body and ferocious dragon head could coil around a hill.
Roar!!
The true dragon soared into the sky, piercing through countless clouds, climbing to where the sun shone intensely, its scales reflecting a dazzling light that was difficult to look at directly.
Its dark and reddish eyes reflected the distant sun in the sky, and then it plunged back into the clouds, diving downward.
When it burst out from the last layer of clouds, it had transformed into an old man wearing a dark purple robe.
"Great Elder!"
"Great Elder!"
Numerous transformed figures gathered around him.
Deep in the lake, various water-dwelling demons looked up, shivering but with a fanatical reverence in their eyes.
"Is there an expert guarding Liangzhou at the realm of Ultimate Learning?"
The elder's voice was low and heavy with authority.
"We have not detected any yet," a blue-robed elder replied respectfully.
Among the demons, the hierarchy was strict; otherwise, one would be devoured.
"Since that's the case, let's launch a swift attack on Liangzhou. Gather all our troops from the Grand Void Realm, and the Saint Palace troops that are migrating here. Our Dragon Gate army has already assembled at the Si Water Lake, Green Shadow Lake, and the Sen Jiao Forest," another elder quickly replied.
"Those guys from the Saint Palace are so indecisive. No wonder they've been entangled with the Li family in Yanbei for over a decade, unwilling to take losses but still wanting territory. They're useless!"
The dark purple-robed Great Elder coldly snorted.
Then he said, "This time, as I personally oversee the attack on Liangzhou, the main force will be from the Grand Void Realm. As we discussed before, they will break through the border, and we will be responsible for destroying those cities. If there are any experts at the realm of Ultimate Learning, I will deal with them."
"As for the rest, you will be in charge of slaughtering and devouring all the humans!"
"We will bathe Liangzhou in blood and leave no survivors!"
"Let that old immortal feel the pain!"
"Yes, Great Elder."
"Let's go to the Grand Void Realm first," the dark purple-robed elder said coldly.
He took the lead, and from the deep lake, countless demons who had reached the fifteen-li realm also rose, transforming into ten thousand streams of light, following the figure of the true dragon Great Elder as they streaked across the vast sky like shooting stars.