Two Realms High Martial Arts: Gathering the Heavens to Become a Great Luo Immortal

Chapter 210 Three Swords, Harmony of Heaven and Man, Qionglin Banquet (5.1k)

All the martial artists present fell silent instantly, with only the pounding of their hearts remaining.

Even the gun-wielding guard, who had always been expressionless and exuded a cold aura,

The moment he saw who it was, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his usually steady body tensed up almost imperceptibly, his fingers gripping the gun barrel tightening unconsciously.

Li Xijun seemed oblivious to the deathly silence, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd to the gunman standing ready for battle. He nodded slightly and spoke calmly:

"please."

Under the many gazes of the crowd, the cold-faced man with the gun took a deep breath and suppressed the shock in his heart.

Faced with this sudden arrival at the top of the rankings, he dared not be negligent in the slightest, nor did he dare to hold back in any way.

"Young Master Li, please!"

With a low shout, his aura exploded, and he pushed his perfectly refined martial arts technique to its limit.

The spear intent that was originally only vaguely felt as "immovable as a mountain, yet as fierce as fire" has become even more powerful under his full force at this moment.

"Buzz!"

The steel spear emitted a resounding clang, and a faint dark red light appeared on its shaft, indicating that it already possessed a subtle spear intent.

The next moment,

With a shift in his footing, his waist and stance became one, his entire being and the spear seemingly becoming one, carrying a fierce momentum that could pierce through and burn everything, as he thrust straight out.

This single shot was the culmination of his life's cultivation!

As the spearhead passed through, the air was violently rubbed together, producing a piercing shriek.

The strong winds they generated made the noodles feel hot and painful to the onlookers.

Only then did everyone realize that this cold-faced gunslinger, if he weren't a bit old and not considered a young prodigy, could probably challenge the bottom few on the Human Ranking and climb onto the list.

However, faced with this earth-shattering shot, powerful enough to make even the lowest-ranked experts on the ordinary people's list take it very seriously,

Li Xijun's reaction was completely calm. He didn't even make any move to dodge or block. Just as the spear tip was about to reach his body, he casually raised his right hand, pointed it forward like a sword, and gently pointed it forward.

He did not use the sword at his waist, nor did he draw upon any power of heaven and earth.

It was just a simple sword finger strike, yet it arrived first despite being delayed, precisely striking the very tip of the spear that contained terrifying power.

The gunslinger suddenly felt himself gathering his gun intent and immense power, as if he were piercing through an endless, supple vine, or as if he were crashing into a cloud of ethereal blue sky.

All forces were instantly diverted, deflected, and dissolved into nothingness.

Furthermore, a gentle, continuous force spread along the shaft of the spear, not domineering, but carrying an irresistible sense of penetration.

He felt a numbness in his palm, a gentle force penetrating his body, and his blood and qi fluctuated slightly, causing him to involuntarily loosen his grip.

"Clanging mantis!"

The iron spear slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

The gunman took two steps back, then stood frozen in place, staring blankly at his empty hands.

He didn't even understand how he lost.

Li Xijun had already sheathed his sword and turned around, as if nothing had happened.

"Thank you for your concession."

With a casual remark, he calmly walked into the Star-Picking Tower through the passage that the gunman had instinctively stepped aside to make way for.

Duan Heyu and Kongzhu quickly followed, leaving behind a moment of silence.

Li Xijun stepped into the first floor of the Star-Picking Tower.

His gaze didn't linger on the scattered, sophisticated-looking patrons for even a moment, but went straight to the stairs leading to the second floor.

His steps were steady and composed, yet he possessed an air of authority that took everyone's breath away.

His presence drew the attention of everyone on the first floor, and countless eyes in the plaza below followed his silhouette through the doorway.

Second floor entrance,

A cold-looking swordsman carrying a long sword blocked the way, his aura hovering around the six orifices, his true energy circulation still flawed.

Following protocol, he coldly stated, "Young master, if you wish to go up to the second floor, you must..."

.

Before he finished speaking, Li Xijun pointed his fingers like a sword and flicked his wrist.

A gentle, peaceful cyan sword aura silently swept out, like a scene from springtime when grass grows and orioles sing.

The spring breeze stirred, instantly disrupting the flow of true energy around the opponent.

The swordsman felt his internal energy stagnate, and the longsword in his hand suddenly became incredibly heavy, falling to the ground with a clang.

He stood there dumbfounded, completely bewildered, not even understanding how he had lost.

Li Xijun had already walked leisurely past him and stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor.

A low gasp of surprise could be faintly heard from within the building.

The third layer,

The arena, specially set up for viewing both inside and outside the building,

The gatekeeper wielded a pair of judge's pens, and his acupoint striking skills were extremely cunning and ruthless; he had already cultivated the seven orifices.

Seeing Li Xijun approach, he flicked his brush, transforming it into dozens of cold stars that enveloped the major acupoints on Li Xijun's body.

Li Xijun did not draw his sword, but merely raised the scabbard slightly, drawing a smooth and natural arc in the air.

With a soft "poof," all the illusory images of the Judge's Pen vanished, as if absorbed by an invisible, flexible wall of air.

The gatekeeper felt a hidden force penetrate him, his arms went numb, and he staggered back several steps until his back hit the wall, rendering him unable to move. He had already lost.

Fourth floor, fifth floor, sixth floor—

Li Xijun's steps never faltered for a moment.

The strength of the gatekeepers increased layer by layer, from the peak of the seventh orifice to the eighth orifice, and the weapons and techniques they used became increasingly strange and powerful.

However, no matter whether the opponent slashed wildly with a knife, thrust with a spear like a dragon, or wielded palms and threw hidden weapons like rain, it all seemed the same to Li Xijun.

He always used only one sword, a sword that was never drawn.

Throughout the journey, he would sometimes point at his sword, sometimes lightly tap it with the sheath, his movements graceful and fluid, without a trace of murderous intent.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, they can easily neutralize the opponent's most ferocious attacks in a mysterious way that others cannot understand.

The Azure Emperor's sword intent, brimming with vitality

At times, it is like an ancient tree with gnarled roots, unshakeable;

Sometimes it is like a gentle spring breeze, dissipating its force without a trace;

At other times, it grows wildly like vines, sneaking in through gaps and instantly dismantling all of the opponent's defenses.

The defeated often dropped their weapons or ran away, but no one was injured, leaving only shocked and bewildered faces.

The crowd downstairs had long since gone from initial chatter to utter shock and speechlessness.

They could only watch helplessly as the lanterns representing the floors they were passing through lit up one after another.

The figure in black robes ascended with an almost leisurely air, unstoppable in its momentum.

"Seventh floor already—Feng Mang hasn't even finished one swing of his 'Mountain-Splitting Axe'!"

"The eighth level! He even broke through the 'Willow Dance in the Wind' sword formation in one step!"

"Was it—was it just one move? Did he even draw his sword? I didn't even see it!"

When the lights on the ninth floor suddenly came on, a huge uproar finally erupted uncontrollably.

"The ninth floor! He's gone up to the ninth floor!"

"From the first floor to the eighth floor, without stopping, each move resulted in a single, decisive defeat!"

"When Young Hero Fang of the 'No Return Sword' ascended the tower, his sword strikes were relentless and ruthless, and he used eleven strikes before reaching this ninth floor!"

"Young Master Fang is ranked sixth on the Human Ranking, the most outstanding true disciple of the Sword Sect in this generation! Is Li Xijun really that much stronger than him?"

"The sword at his waist was never even drawn."

"The number one on the list truly lives up to its name! I wonder who guards this final test—"

"Shh! Look! I wonder how many moves Young Hero Li will need this time?"

All the voices suddenly fell silent again.

Countless gazes were fixed on the entrance to the highest ninth floor, hearts pounding with anticipation for the final outcome.

Inside and outside the Star-Picking Tower, a tense silence so profound that you could hear a pin drop was heard.

Li Xijun's figure had already disappeared at the end of the last staircase.

Zhaixinglou (Star-Picking Tower)

The attic leading to the ninth floor gets smaller and smaller from bottom to top, and now that we're almost on the ninth floor, the space is even smaller.

but,

Even so, in the most conspicuous places, there are still platforms that are exposed like arenas.

This man was about thirty years old, with a sharp and capable face and a tall and upright posture.

In his hand was a long, narrow, slightly curved sword, its blade gleaming with a pale blue light.

His aura subtly echoed the howling autumn wind outside the building, revealing him to be a master with all nine orifices open and his inner world at a minor stage of completion.

He is the gatekeeper of this place, known as "Wind Chaser" Nie Kuang.

As soon as Li Xijun stepped onto the final floor, Nie Kuang's gaze shot towards her like lightning.

just,

He didn't attack immediately, but rather unleashed a sharp, swift, and powerful aura that descended from above with a deafening roar.

This is the usual practice for late-stage Qi Opening martial artists in the martial arts world, especially before a clash between masters near the end of an outdoor scene.

In a martial arts contest, the two sides first clash over their internal energy to probe each other's strengths and weaknesses, honing their resolve. The victor often gains the upper hand.

Furthermore, top-ranking talents on the leaderboard frequently issue challenges to each other.

Invite several top ten experts from the rankings to attack you. Through this pressure and combined force, you can experience the profound harmony between humanity and nature in this clash.

Thus, one can ascend to the heavens in one step and directly enter the exterior view.

Upon seeing this, Li Xijun felt a mix of emotions:

The martial artists in the Wuxia world place even greater emphasis on refining their artistic conception and engaging in the clash of qi than those in the main world; it's almost instinctive.

The martial artists of the main world place too much emphasis on spiritual power; almost none of them advance to the Outer Realm through the Unity of Heaven and Man realm.

In fact, most of them only realized the unity of man and nature after years of working on location shooting.

In this respect, we are still somewhat weak.

however,

Li Xijun wouldn't have that kind of flaw.

On the contrary, when Nie Kuang's aura came crashing down, it was like a mud ox entering the sea, not only failing to stir up the slightest ripple, but was also gently touched by an invisible and formless yet vast and mighty will.

"Hmm!"

Nie Kuang grunted, his face paled slightly, and a look of horror flashed in his eyes. He subconsciously took a half step back.

With just one touch, he knew that the opponent's mental strength was far superior to his own. If he continued to confront him, he would be afraid before the battle even started, and he would surely be defeated!

He forcefully suppressed his surging blood and the trembling of his mind, and suddenly spoke, his voice sharp as a howling wind, echoing throughout the Star-Picking Tower:

"Fang Qinghua, the 'Sword of No Return,' whose sword strikes never return, is unparalleled in speed and fierceness. He fought me for thirteen sword strikes before finally defeating me!"

"I wonder how many sword strikes the esteemed number one prodigy, Young Hero Li, intends to use today?"

"If it takes a long time to defeat me, wouldn't I be laughed at by all the heroes and valiant men, both inside and outside the court?"

His greatest strength lies in his lightning-fast, swift sword strikes.

Therefore, he used these words to try to disturb Li Xijun's mind.

and,

Before he could finish speaking, he didn't care whether it would work out or not, nor did he give Li Xijun a chance to reply.

next moment,

He moved with the sound, becoming one with the sword, transforming into a streak of azure wind that tore through the sky, slashing straight down!

The blade flashed fiercely, moving at an astonishing speed that almost exceeded the limits of visual perception. The wind from the blade surged, emitting a shrill, ghostly wail.

It was precisely his signature skill -

One by one, a swift and fierce wind!

Faced with this lightning-fast strike, Li Xijun finally drew his sword for the first time.

"Clang!"

A clear, resonant sword cry rang out, like a dragon's roar echoing through the heavens.

The longsword was not a divine weapon, but in his hands, it possessed an indescribable spirituality.

With a flash of sword light, the sword struck first despite being behind, precisely targeting the point where Nie Kuang's blade light was at its strongest. It was not a direct block, but a gentle deflection and parry.

"Ding!"

With a soft sound, Nie Kuang felt as if his unstoppable, violent force had struck empty air.

Then, pulled by a supple and sustained force, it involuntarily tilted to one side.

That thunderous strike was neutralized so effortlessly.

"The blade is quite fast." Li Xijun, who had once mastered the [Ten Thousand Blades Return to Flow] technique and now comprehends the Thunder Saint Blade Technique, casually commented.

If it were a life-or-death struggle, he already had nine ways to instantly defeat his opponent: the White Tiger Seven Killings Style, the Unbreakable Blade, the sword intent that splits in two with a single strike, the physical strength to kill, and even mental magic—all of which could lead to a swift victory.

But he came today to hone the "Nine Swords of the Azure Emperor" and to comprehend the sword intent of vitality.

The way of swordsmanship is profound and extensive, but fundamentally it boils down to two paths:

One approach is to simplify complexity, transforming myriad changes into a single move or stance, all of which embody the profound principles of the universe.

One approach progresses from simple to complex, evolving into countless methods and exhausting all variations.

Nie Kuang is walking the path ahead, pursuing the ultimate in "speed" and "simplicity".

Fang Qinghua's "No Return Sword" is the same, which is why it can use simplicity to counter simplicity and find an opening to defeat the enemy within thirteen sword strikes.

Li Xijun's "The Nine Swords of the Azure Emperor" takes a different path, even leading to the sword of life!

For an ordinary person, it might be necessary to slowly weave their own sword techniques and gradually confront their enemy with their own complex and ever-changing "story".

But Li Xijun was different.

With this sword, he can demonstrate the principles of complexity and evolution, and easily defeat his opponent.

"Since you have said so, then I will use only three sword strikes from now on."

Li Xijun casually flicked his longsword, the sound of which silenced the world, and his voice echoed throughout the building.

"I just hope that the 'Wind Chaser Blade' can also bring some surprises to my derivative sword."

After all,

With a thought, his swordplay changed instantly, and the longsword trembled and resonated.

In an instant, dozens of ethereal, blue sword shadows appeared, growing wildly like thousands of vines.

Like a silkworm spinning silk, it weaves a vibrant yet extremely dangerous net of swords, actively enveloping Nie Kuang.

Nie Kuang slashed again with his swift blade, but he felt that the sword light in front of him was layered upon layered, full of flaws, yet it seemed that there were traps everywhere!

He launched a fierce attack on a "weak point," but the sword shadow suddenly dissipated, transforming into denser sword threads that wrapped around him, forcing him to change his moves repeatedly and disrupting his rhythm instantly.

Nie Kuang's swordplay grew increasingly ferocious and unrestrained, to the point that he seemed like a madman, with a violent storm rising up and the sword light illuminating the sky.

Li Xijun's sword light became even more agile as a result, and under the impetus of the sword of life, the sword moves were endlessly varied.

This first sword strike, a feint and a deception, was intended to lure the enemy deeper into their territory.

Therefore, Nie Kuang swung his sword to break through several illusory figures, but felt that he had used up all his strength and his body was slightly sluggish.

Then Li Xijun unleashed his second sword strike; the sword light suddenly split, like vines branching out.

Instantly locking down his space to dodge left and right, forcing him to take the hit head-on.

Finally, the third sword...

Just as Nie Kuang's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated, he had to concentrate his power on his blade, preparing to forcefully cleave through the sword net in front of him.

A beam of azure sword light, brimming with boundless vitality and change, pierced through the winter's chill like the first rays of sunlight in early spring.

It landed silently on the spine of his blade, which was slightly sluggish due to his gathering of power!

"Buzz!"

Nie Kuang felt a sudden tremor in his wrist, a strange vibrational force emanating from the blade.

It instantly paralyzed half of his arm, and he could no longer hold onto the long sword. It flew out of his hand and landed in the distance with a "clang".

He stood frozen in place, his face ashen, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Three swords!

Just three sword strikes! He couldn't even withstand three strikes!

Li Xijun, who felt that he had just perfectly executed the evolution, development, and transformation of the three sword techniques, and that his swordsmanship had reached the pinnacle of complexity from simplicity, sheathed his sword.

Without even glancing at the fallen longsword, he traversed the short flight of stairs leading to the final top floor, his voice echoing throughout the Star-Picking Tower, just like the other person's:

"Young Master Duan, young master of diabolo, please come to the ninth floor to drink and chat, and enjoy the stars and the moon."

For a time,

Countless eyes, both inside and outside the building, looked up at Fang Qinghua, the "Sword of No Return," who was ranked sixth on the Human Ranking and was a true disciple of the Sword Sect. His sword strikes were unparalleled in their sharpness and ruthlessness, and it took him a full thirteen strikes to barely defeat Fang Qinghua by half a move.

But this Li Xijun... is...

"Three—three swords? Did I hear that right?"

"That's right, it was three sword strikes! My god, Nie Kuang's blade flew away!"

"This Nie Kuang is a veteran master who has opened all nine orifices... This young hero Li was said to have only opened two orifices when he topped the Human Ranking two months ago, and now he's only opened four, right?"

"Is this the true strength of the number one on the Human Ranking?"

"Young Master Fang won with fourteen sword strikes, while Young Master Li only used three! The difference is incredible—"

"Inconceivable! Absolutely inconceivable!"

Even though everyone already knew Li Xijun's ranking on the list,

But the words in the Book of Mortals are ultimately too far removed from reality.

Now that everyone has witnessed Li Xijun defeating his enemies with his own eyes, they are finally convinced!

I just feel that he truly deserves to be number one on the list of people; he is indeed unmatched.

Duan Heyu and the Kongzhu monk stood downstairs, feeling even more honored.

Duan Heyu, in particular, acted as if he himself had won.

To be able to travel with such a person, and even be publicly invited upstairs for drinks and conversation, is an immense honor!

"Quick! Quick! Brother Li is calling us!"

Duan Heyu finally came to her senses, her voice rising eight octaves with excitement, as she pulled the still-dazed diabolo along.

Under the envious, jealous, and hateful gazes of the crowd, he practically sprinted towards the stairs, wishing he could fly up to the ninth floor immediately.

As the discussions downstairs grew even more intense,

A middle-aged man in his forties, dressed as a butler but possessing a cultivation level of half a step outside the realm, stepped out from the crowd.

With his half-step outer realm cultivation level, he naturally passed the test smoothly and made his way to the ninth level.

only,

The butler did not enter the room. He merely spoke a few words through the crack in the door, presented an invitation, and then tactfully withdrew.

This further fueled the curiosity of the martial arts heroes both inside and outside the building.

The middle-aged butler, after descending the stairs, didn't sell any pipes. Instead, he bowed respectfully to everyone and said:

"Gentlemen, tomorrow at noon, the Eighth Prince will be hosting the Qionglin Banquet at Zhuoyu Garden, and cordially invites all of you outstanding talents to sit down and discuss the Dao, seeking harmony between heaven and man. If you are interested, you may enter the garden to observe."