The gods began by supporting Guo Jing to become emperor

Chapter 287 The Demon Sect Bet
The wide sleeves moved without wind, and the Heavenly Master's sword burst out with a shocking sword intent. It seemed that the sounds of dragons roaring and tigers roaring could be heard from all over Longhu Mountain. The wind and clouds gathered to carry the old Heavenly Master high into the sky.

He was seen holding the Taoist seal with his hands, and rays of cold sword energy emerged from his body, deep and restrained, yet grand and upright, like a rolling river or a vast ocean, stretching between heaven and earth, rarely seen in the world.

What kind of sword is this?

The Taoists who were watching thought that the old Heavenly Master was helpless, but the sword intent he displayed surprised them greatly. It seemed that the Heavenly Master's Mansion did not have such an inheritance, and the old Heavenly Master had never shown this move in front of anyone.

Su Ming raised his eyebrows. He felt a mighty sword intent coming from the Heavenly Master's Sword. In the eyes of others, the old Heavenly Master was still the old Heavenly Master, but in his eyes, there was only the sword, only that Heavenly Master's Sword.

The old Taoist priest was very old and his body was weak. He could not bear such a huge sword force. If this sword force came from himself, he would surely die after this sword strike.

This sword intent is deposited on the Tianshi Sword, mobilizing the power of the world of Longhu Mountain and transforming into sword energy, just like a divine weapon born from this world. It is not difficult to guess the origin of this sword. It is the weapon of Zhang Daoling, the founder of Tianshi Palace.

Ordinary scholars can preserve their literati ideas in their brushes and books. How can martial arts masters not seal their sword intentions in their weapons? Longhu Mountain is the place where Zhang Daoling achieved enlightenment. In a sense, this land has been marked with his spiritual imprint. It is not difficult to nurture a sword and preserve it to this day.

Such a background is really terrifying!
On the mountain peak, the Tianshi Sword burst out with infinite sword energy which collided with the ethereal sword energy. Suddenly, a strange phenomenon occurred in the sky above Longhu Mountain. Wind and clouds gathered, thunder roared, and the clear and exciting sound of swords drowned out the thunder, and a sea of ​​sword energy gathered on the top of the mountain.

"Wow!"

A Taoist priest was unable to dodge and his clothes were damaged by the sword energy. He immediately warned, "Retreat quickly!"

They immediately used their physical skills and did not calm down until they were out of the range of the top of the mountain.

There was no one else on the entire summit except them.

"Clang!"

The continuous rain seemed to turn into sword energy and fell down, constantly resisting, eliminating, and dissipating. The trees and rocks on the top of the peak were all destroyed, and the ground was scraped off several inches, as if the sky was collapsing and the earth was splitting apart.

Everyone's heart was shocked and their eyes were horrified. What realm were these two people in?
"Ding!"

There were countless sword collisions, and the sound of swords between heaven and earth turned into a crisp sound. The Tianshi Sword and Su Ming's long sword faced each other and hung in the air.

Behind them were two men holding swords.

Su Ming was the first to retract his sword. He stared at the ancient sword edge and said in a deep voice, "Is this the sword intent of Master Zhang Tianshi?" Although he was puzzled, his tone was affirmative.

The old Heavenly Master also took back the Heavenly Master Sword and sheathed it carefully. Feeling the sword's power being sealed again, he let out a long sigh, "Yes, this is exactly what the ancestor taught us."

"My fellow Taoist, your sword intent is so pure that I admire you." He bowed to Su Ming.

Su Ming shook his head gently, "It's a pity that you still haven't taken that step."

When he used the sword intent sealed in the Heavenly Master Sword, Su Ming realized that he wanted to use this battle to break through the bottleneck, so he simply went with the flow. If he could become a grandmaster, it would be more beneficial than harmful to the Song family.

The Heavenly Master's sword power helped him achieve the brief unity of man and nature and mobilize the essence of heaven and earth in Mount Longhu. Unfortunately, he was too old, his body's energy and blood were declining, and he retreated at the last moment.

If he had taken this step ten years earlier, he could still have done it, but he was too old after all. Although he looked ruddy and had smooth skin, it was actually only his strong power that was supporting him. Once his power declined or he was seriously injured, he would be close to the Five Degenerations of the Celestial Being.

The Taoists watching on obviously didn't see the trick, they just praised him endlessly, "We have never heard of this kind of swordsmanship, what is its name?"

"This sword technique is called Piao Miao Sword Technique, and it is the direct descendant of my lineage."

A Taoist tried to inquire about Su Ming's origins, "Oh? May I ask where is the Taoist's immortal hometown?"

"It's just a small hidden sect, not worth mentioning." Su Ming did not dwell on this issue, but struck while the iron was hot and said, "My fellow Taoists, you are all pillars of a sect. The Song clan wants to dominate the world, and the battle between Buddhism and Taoism is right in front of us. As the military advisor of the Song clan, I would like to ask the sects behind you to help the Song clan succeed."

If Su Ming had said this before the competition, he might not have been able to do it, but when they thought of Song Que, and then looked at the young Su Ming and the old Taoist priest next to him, they unconsciously became biased.

In a sense, the old Taoist priest also used his reputation as a stepping stone for Su Ming. In the competition just now, the winner is still undecided, but the superiority is clear. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that in the Taoist sect in the south, no one can match him. Coupled with Su Ming's brilliant disciples, the answer is self-evident.

The group walked down Longhu Mountain, discussed in the courtyard at the foot of the mountain, and then left.

……

There was a faint smell of medicine in the air. When Su Ming stepped into the room, he saw Xu Ziling lying on the bed. He took a look at him and felt his pulse, which made him feel relieved. Dao Zizhi looked terrible, but in fact Xu Ziling only suffered superficial injuries, with no broken bones.

In just a few hours, the scars on his body had scabbed over. His body was filled with abundant internal energy and was constantly repairing itself. It wouldn't take long for him to heal. The effect of the Longevity Secret was truly miraculous.

Su Ming was reading here until the evening. Xu Ziling woke up slowly. When he opened his eyes, he saw Su Ming with his back to him, "Master!"

"Your injury hasn't healed yet, so there's no need to leave."

Xu Ziling felt the pain from the wound, and his mouth twitched. He asked what he was most concerned about, "Master, has the position of Daozi been decided?"

Su Ming turned around and said with a smile, "This matter has been settled. When you have recovered, I will take you north. That is when you will truly show your abilities."

"You have learned the ninth move of the Misty Sword Technique, but this move consumes too much energy. Once you reach the Grandmaster level, you will be able to use it freely." At this point, his expression straightened up. "Your progress is beyond my expectation, but it is still not enough to gain the recognition of the entire Taoist sect."

Xu Ziling's eyes flashed with determination, "Disciple understands."

After seeing the scenery of the Xiantian Grandmaster, he couldn't help but feel a yearning for him. A move of Sword Nine almost took half his life. If it were an ordinary person, he would have been lying in a wheelchair by now. It was only because he had the Changsheng Jue to protect him that he didn't suffer too much damage.

For the next month, Xu Ziling recovered from his injuries while reading Taoist classics on Mount Longhu. The scriptures in the library were all-encompassing, many of which he had never seen before. He benefited a lot from just a cursory glance last time, and this time, despite his injury, he still concentrated on seeking the Tao.

"You have both talent and a heart for Taoism. Fellow Taoist, you really got a great bargain."

In the quiet room, Su Ming and the old Taoist priest sat opposite each other. In just a few days, the wrinkles on the old Taoist priest's face increased, and he looked old and frail, with his days and years waning.

Although his foundation was not damaged during the last attempt, he did suffer a backlash, so he no longer used his strength to maintain his appearance.

Hearing this, Su Ming just chuckled and changed the subject, "Old Heavenly Master, have you found any trace of Ning Daoqi?" Speaking of this person, the old Heavenly Master's brows showed worry, "This person's whereabouts are hard to find. I mobilized my disciples but couldn't find him. In my opinion, he is still in the Central Plains, maybe in a Buddhist temple."

"It seems that I have to go on another journey to find him."

……

Wagang Village.

Since the Wagang Army ambushed and killed the fierce Sui general Zhang Xutuo at Dahai Temple, their reputation soared. They took advantage of the situation to capture Xingluo Granary outside Luoyang, opened the granary and distributed grain, which won the hearts of the people. Their army expanded to hundreds of thousands and their momentum was huge.

However, as the number of his tribe increased, hidden dangers within Wagangzhai became more prominent. Li Mi was an outstanding talent, and he was also the son of a military family. After joining Wagangzhai, he repeatedly offered brilliant strategies, captured cities, and was respected by everyone.

The leader Qu Rang was just a low-level official and lacked the talent to subdue the other tribes. On the contrary, Li Mi, an outsider, gradually gained control of the discourse power, and the conflict between the two sides became increasingly serious.

At night, the sky was pitch black, and the deep night seemed to hide something terrible. In the room, the lights were flickering. On the desk, a middle-aged man was leaning over the table. He had a high nose bridge, broad eyebrows, and a heroic appearance. He was the famous Li Mi.

Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded, "Why is Mr. Li so worried?"

"Who?" Li Mi suddenly raised his head, grabbed the sword beside him, and became alert.

"Mr. Li, don't worry. I'm here to give you a big business." The door opened without wind, and a woman walked in from outside. As soon as she came in, a gust of fragrance filled her nose.

When Li Mi saw the woman in front of him, greed flashed in his eyes, "Who are you?"

He could not hide his gaze from the other party. The woman smiled sweetly and came to sit down on the soft couch beside her. She looked at Li Mi pitifully in a tender voice, "Mr. Li is a hero. You are not afraid of a weak woman like me, right?"

Li Mi was certain that this woman was of an extraordinary status, and he did not dare to be careless, "Who are you?"

Seeing that he still insisted, the woman covered her mouth and chuckled, her smile contained the ultimate temptation, "Mr. Li really doesn't understand the slightest bit of romance, I will tell you, to be honest, I come from the Holy Gate, and I want to discuss a big business with Mr. Li."

Holy Gate?

Li Mi didn't react at first, but then he suddenly realized and became more alert, "So you are a disciple of the Demon Sect. I'm sorry, what business do you want to discuss?" Generally, only the disciples of the Demon Sect would call themselves the Holy Sect, and outsiders would call them the Demon Sect.

"The world." The woman opened her red lips and uttered two words lightly, her beautiful eyes flickering, "My Saint Sect wants to help Lord Li conquer the world. Is this deal possible?"

boom!
Even though Li Mi was a tyrant, he was still shocked. The word "world" was so heavy, yet she said it so lightly as if she was discussing business. Then, he quickly calmed down and asked, "May I ask which sect of the Holy Sect did the fairy come from?"

When the woman heard this, her eyes curved into crescents, sparkling brightly, "I, Bai Qing'er, have met Lord Li. As for my sect, Lord Li will know about it in the future."

"Since this is our first meeting, our Saint Sect has a great gift for you. Lord Li, please do not refuse."

"Oh? I'm all ears."

"My Holy Sect will help Lord Li become the master of Wagang Village. I wonder if Lord Li is satisfied with this gift?"

At this moment, Li Mi had to admit that he was moved.

……

"Senior Sister, do we really want to support this Li Mi?"

In the room, a barefoot woman in white stood in front of the window, gazing into the distance. Behind her, the charming Bai Qing'er was kneeling on the ground.

The woman's lips curled up slightly, and a cunning flashed in her clear eyes. "These days, there has been a rumor in Guanzhong that the emperor's name is Ji Wutou, and the word Ji Wutou is actually Li. Isn't it referring to the Li family? If Cihang Jingzhai wants to support the Li family, they have to ask our Holy Sect if we agree. There are more than just the Li family in this world with the surname Li."

Bai Qing'er immediately flattered her, "Senior Sister is wise!"

"This matter must be done quickly. If it is too late, you know the consequences."

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. I will definitely get it done."

……

"Master, may I ask what a sword is?" In the yard, Su Ming was reading a book, and Xu Ziling suddenly asked.

Su Ming thought for a while and replied: Sword is the blade of the heart.

Xu Ziling fell into deep thought, and after a while he replied, "Master, what you mean is that although the sword is tangible, it can be a weapon of the mind and spirit, which can help us break through all kinds of worldly morals and false appearances. Controlling the sword with qi is ordinary, and controlling the sword with the spirit is advanced. Only when you truly understand this truth, the sword intent born from the heart can be natural, pure and extreme, cold and sharp, like a divine weapon."

Su Ming was stunned and nodded slightly. "Using true qi to control the sword is just an ordinary method. A skilled swordsman can use sword intent to stimulate sword qi and control the sword to truly reach the realm of invincibility."

"The sword is the blade of the heart, and the blade is the tool of killing. The way of the sword is essentially the way of killing. This way of killing can kill and protect the way. It is not killing for the sake of killing, but killing for the sake of life."

In Su Ming's eyes, the lowest level of killing is to destroy the enemy physically and make him lose his spiritual support. In contrast, there is a more mysterious method, which is to destroy the enemy's invisible and intangible spiritual beliefs. If the enemy's heart is dead, the body may still exist, but he is like a walking corpse.

One is real, the other is imaginary, and they are the killing methods that most warriors in this world use to destroy their enemies, and they are always effective. However, most warriors in the world can only do the former, while the latter requires not only extremely strong skills, but also a high spiritual realm. Ordinary innate masters can't do it at all. Only those who reach an extremely high realm among innate masters or become grand masters can do it.

People like him, Song Que, and even the old Taoist priest are all such people. Of course, not only warriors can do this. The great thinkers and Confucian scholars among the people have comprehended the great way of heaven and earth, opened up their own school, concentrated their spirit and will, and are in harmony with nature. They can also be intimidating without being angry, captivating people's minds, and even kill people without killing them.

As if he felt that what he said was too profound, he added, "These questions are still too far away for you. When you reach the innate realm and comprehend the sword intent, you will naturally know all the answers."

"Thank you, Master, for clarifying my doubts."

Xu Ziling nodded as if he understood, and continued reading. He really couldn't understand the principles of killing to protect the Tao. In comparison, he had comprehended more principles from the Taoist scriptures. These things were helping him to slowly analyze the secret of longevity and transform it into his foundation.

(End of this chapter)