Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chapter 177 The Pinnacle of Swordsmanship in This Era (Two Chapters Combined)

The ink traces of the celestial script have disappeared.

The essence and artistic conception of the 49-form Wind-Walking Willow Sword, along with its profound sword principles, energy application methods, and subtle variations, flowed into Li Fu's heart like a sudden enlightenment.

It was as if he had practiced this peerless sword technique for decades, reaching its pinnacle and perfecting his sword intent, making him no less than the person who created the technique.

This swordsmanship is lofty and refined, completely different from the brilliant and fierce swordsmanship of celestial beings who concentrate all their power in one strike. It follows the path of learning from nature, being agile and mysterious.

The swordsman who created this sword technique, Gu Daoren of Bashan, was a master swordsman, unmatched in that world. His eldest disciple's lightness skill and swordsmanship were considered to be not much worse than Ximen Chuixue's, and he could be called the number one swordsman in the world in the previous generation of Ximen Chuixue.

At this moment, Li Fu felt the natural and serene sword intent flowing through his chest, as supple as a willow branch brushing the water, as pure and ethereal as a mountain breeze.

Having mastered this great sword technique, he twitched his fingers slightly and felt a surge of joy amidst the near-enlightened tranquility, and couldn't help but want to immediately wield his sword.

"This is truly an extraordinary sword technique."

Li Fu took a slow breath.

This was indeed the most exquisite and profound of all the martial arts he had acquired, ethereal and otherworldly, seemingly not of this world.

Upon seeing Li Fu kill Zhang Hengbo with a single palm strike, his body fell to the ground.

The reactions of the people in the room varied.

Luo Jiugao, Luo Wei, and other government officials were all shocked.

After all, Zhang Hengbo was a notorious bandit who shook the world, and his death right before one's eyes was bound to be shocking.

Then he was taken aback again; the imperial order was actually to pursue and capture the suspect.

Luo Wei hesitated and whispered, "Detective Luo, Constable Li killed Iron Stream King, this—"

Luo Jiugao waved his hand and said in a deep voice.

It's alright.

The court spared his life back then because his remaining followers were on the run and there was a fear of a violent rebellion.

Now that all his elite troops are here, whether dead or captured, whether the ringleader is killed or not is no longer of any importance.

Madam Zhong, who had a deep-seated grudge against Zhang Hengbo, clapped her hands in delight.

"Well done!"

Such wicked people will only bring more suffering to others if they live in this world!

Her voice was filled with the satisfaction of revenge.

Seeing that the target of their long-distance pursuit had been captured and executed, Su Rou felt relieved; this arduous mission had finally come to an end.

Ma Shixiong and the other two looked over with delight, their eyes filled with gratitude as they gazed at Li Fu.

With Zhang Hengbo dead, the dust has settled, and the serious crimes they committed earlier can be largely offset, meaning their lives are most likely saved.

Yang Jiu's face turned ashen, and he collapsed to the ground. With Zhang Hengbo's death, his last glimmer of hope was completely shattered.

Zheng Shaoqing initially clenched his fist instinctively, but then realized what was happening and helplessly opened it. He let out a long sigh and completely collapsed.

Li Fu's coercion of Zhang Hengbo, coupled with those words that struck him like a clarion call, finally made him realize that his fervent enthusiasm had been misplaced.

King Tieliu was by no means a wise ruler capable of bringing peace to the world.

"No—no—"

Xu Daofu, critically wounded and on the verge of death, saw this scene and blood gushed from his mouth, yet he still let out a low, hoarse roar, full of resentment and despair.

He was originally just a failed scholar who rose to prominence after meeting Zhang Hengbo. Now, thanks to his merit in helping the emperor, his dream of becoming a high-ranking official has been shattered.

Now that Zhang Hengbo is dead, his ambitions and dreams will also vanish like bubbles.

"Luo Wei, go and cut off Zhang Hengbo's head. We need to bring it back for the court to examine."

Luo Jiugao spoke.

Just when everyone thought the situation was settled and was preparing to pack up and return home, an unexpected event occurred.

Suddenly, a white figure darted out from the depths of the forest, moving with the agility of a crane, and arrived in a few leaps.

The newcomer was a woman, dressed in white, with a cold face. Although she was no longer young, she was still graceful and had sharp eyes. She was none other than Zhu Su, the Fairy of the Immortal Capital, who had been famous in the martial arts world for decades!

She had come to hunt down Li Fu, but now she had finally arrived.

Unfortunately, Xu Daofu and the others invited him to help Tie Liuwang escape, but after they died, this peerless master arrived late.

But it's better to come than not to come at all; in some ways, it's not too late.

Xu Daofu's unfocused eyes suddenly flashed with a glimmer of light as he struggled and screamed.

"Fairy."

The fairy has arrived just in time!

"Li Fu, the enemy who murdered your nephew, is here. He—he also killed Tie Liu Wang. Kill him to avenge your nephew!"

His voice was shrill, carrying a last vestige of desperate hope.

"The Fairy of the Immortal Capital!"

The moment everyone relaxed, they tensed up again, their spirits lifted!

Who among those present did not know the name of Zhu Su, the Fairy of the Immortal Capital?

Decades ago, he challenged sword masters from various schools and never suffered a defeat, already earning a reputation for invincibility.

It is said that his swordsmanship is so high that it seems to be beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Despite their efforts to traverse mountains and forests and evade her ambush, she still managed to chase them all the way here!

Zhu Su's gaze was as cold as ice, landing directly on Li Fu. The chilling sword intent emanating from her body seemed to chill the surrounding air.

"So you're Li Fu? Did you kill my nephew?"

The shadow of a tree on a person's name.

Her voice was cold and detached, yet it gave people a tremendous sense of pressure.

"If your nephew is the Monkey Killer among the Twelve Fierce Stars, then it was I who killed him."

Li Fu faced the situation frankly and made no attempt to conceal anything.

"I initially wanted to go to Yanzhou to kill you, but I heard you were no longer there. I didn't see you on my way here, but I finally managed to catch you."

Zhu Su slowly raised his hand and grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

"Procedure"

With a clear, resonant dragon's roar, the longsword was drawn.

The sword's blade was like a pool of autumn water, reflecting the sky and the mountains.

Zhu Su stared at the sword in her hand, a rare, faint look of reminiscence flashing across her usually icy face. She spoke slowly, her voice still cold, as if recounting a past event unrelated to herself.

"I have practiced swordsmanship since I was a child, and I only love swords."

He first showed his talent at the age of twelve, and fought more than thirty battles, large and small, without ever being defeated. At the age of sixteen, he defeated the top swordsmen in the martial arts world. From then on, he visited various martial arts sects to find people to fight and exchange skills with, and he rarely returned home.

I only have eyes for the way of the sword. Countless people have been defeated, injured, or killed by my sword, and naturally, I have made many enemies.

But I never took it to heart; my three-foot-long sword was more than enough to protect me.

She paused slightly, her eyes indifferent, as if explaining why Li Fu deserved to be killed.

"But I forgot that I can protect myself, but my family may not be able to."

My sister's family suffered a brutal revenge because of my past grudges; the entire family was murdered—in the end, only an infant nephew was left, entrusted to my care.

Zhu Su's gaze fell on the sword's edge.

"Although my parents and relatives scolded me since I was a child for being cold-hearted by nature, I do seem to be like that."

But no matter what, that child is my last blood relative in this world.

You killed him, so naturally I'll make you pay with your life. Do you have any objections?

As she drew her sword, a chilling and menacing sword intent, seemingly emanating from the heavens, pierced the heart and spread outwards.

Everyone present felt a chill run down their spines, their hair stood on end, as if a sharp blade were pressed against their necks.

The Fairy of the Immortal Capital's swordsmanship was indeed unimaginably high. Everyone's mind was captivated by the sword intent, their hearts were chilled, and they trembled with fear.

Even the most valiant soldiers, seasoned veterans of countless battles, trembled with fear, their teeth chattering, unable to suppress their primal terror.

Luo Jiu suppressed the pounding in his heart and gritted his teeth as he shouted.

"Fairy of the Immortal Capital, Constable Li is a purple-robed constable of the imperial court, acting on orders to investigate a case. If you dare to harm him, you are committing an act of treason against the imperial court!"

Zhu Su, however, seemed not to hear.

For her, the laws of the court and the rules of the martial world were far less important than the sword in her hand and the hatred in her heart.

She drew her sword and walked step by step toward Li Fu.

His steps appeared slow and steady, but with each step he took, the oppressive sword intent intensified, becoming chilling and terrifying, as if it were about to annihilate everything.

Li Fu raised an eyebrow slightly, stood with his hands behind his back, and remained unmoved as the opponent's sword intent approached him.

"Seemingly avenging one's family is a matter of course?"

"If you want revenge, then come at me."

"You are also a master swordsman. I sense a sword intent emanating from you, but why can't I see your sword?"

While others didn't notice, Zhu Su, whose swordsmanship had reached its peak and become unparalleled, could faintly sense a lingering sword intent emanating from Li Fu from the moment she saw him.

Li Fu stood there, as if he were one with all things in nature, as gentle as a breeze and a bright willow. The sword intent that approached him within three feet was neutralized, as if he had entered his own high and quiet three-foot world, and then faintly disappeared into nothingness.

Upon hearing her words, Luo Jiugao, Luo Wei, and the others were all taken aback.

Is Li Fu a master swordsman?

They traveled together and fought several battles. Li Fu displayed his palm techniques, finger techniques, and lightness skills, which were all unique and unpredictable. But he never used a sword.

Could it be that Zhu Su was mistaken?

But how could someone as skilled in swordsmanship as her, who has reached the pinnacle of mastery, possibly be able to misjudge whether someone is a master swordsman?

Li Fu's "Willow Dance in the Wind" sword technique had reached its peak, its essence swirling around him, forming a unique style, yet it had not yet fully manifested.

This sword technique possesses a lofty and refined artistic conception, emphasizing harmony with nature. Its aura is harmonious and restrained, unlike ordinary swordsmen who flaunt their sharpness, making it difficult for ordinary masters to detect.

However, Zhu Sujian was insightful and had keen senses. She could not hide from the subtle atmosphere of a tranquil world within three feet of Li Fu.

Li Fu nodded.

"It seems your swordsmanship has indeed reached a considerable level."

"Draw your sword!"

Zhu Su merely urged him on, his eyes gleaming with a hint of predatory delight, a look that only comes to mind when a swordsman encounters a worthy opponent.

"I came here to avenge my nephew, but you surprised me."

"Someone like you, if you have no sword in hand, killing you would be meaningless!"

"I never use weapons when I fight," Li Fu said calmly. "However, a swordsman as rare as you is worthy of my sword."

After saying that, he raised his left hand and made a grabbing motion in the air!

"Madam Zhong, may I borrow your sword?"

Several feet away, Madam Zhong felt a lightness in her hand. One of the twin swords flew out of her hand, arced through the air, and landed steadily in Li Fu's palm!

This is precisely the wonder of the Dragon-Capturing Skill, which allows one to retrieve objects from a distance.

"good!"

Seeing Li Fu with his longsword in hand, Zhu Su's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he uttered only one word!

This single word was like a silver bottle suddenly shattering, or like iron cavalry charging out, its murderous intent rising to its peak!

She moved!

A white shadow flashed, man and sword became one, transforming into a rainbow piercing the sky, straight at Li Fu!

The sword light was as cold and desolate as frost under the moon, and the sword energy was as sharp and fierce as the north wind, both solemn and menacing.

Simple and direct, yet faster than the eye can see, it perfectly embodies the sharpness, speed, and killing nature of a sword!

Li Fu moved almost simultaneously. He flicked his wrist, and the green sword in his palm emitted a clear and melodious sound as he met the sword thrusting at him.

The wind rustles the willow branches like swords—the first breath of spring.

The sword light, though not fierce, carried a vibrant life force, like the first gentle breeze of early spring brushing against the willow branches, soft and agile. In the blink of an eye, it lightly guided and brushed against Zhu Su's icy, piercing sword blade.

"Ding!"

The first clash of the two swords produced a crisp sound, yet it was not harsh.

Zhu Su's sharp sword energy, concentrated at a single point, seemed to collide with an invisible, flexible vortex, its sharpness subtly deflected by several inches, grazing past Li Fu.

Li Fu's sword tip trembled slightly, and like a willow branch swaying in the wind, it brushed towards Zhu Su's wrist.

Zhu Su snorted coldly, his move changing as fast as lightning. His sword light swirled, turning a thrust into a slash, and his killing intent overflowed.

Li Fu's swordplay changed with the situation, neither too fast nor too slow, and he executed the move "Willow Waves Listening to Orioles" with ease.

The sword light transformed into layers of overlapping, illusory and real green shadows, undulating like willow waves in the wind, quietly lifting and neutralizing the opponent's chilling sword light that covered an area of ​​about ten feet. Furthermore, a counterattack was hidden within the shadows of the waves, and a wisp of sword intent rose up like the cry of a nightingale, directly attacking Zhu Su.

The two fought with lightning speed, exchanging more than ten moves in the blink of an eye.

Sword energy crisscrossed, hissing and crackling, leaving deep and shallow marks on the ground and rocks.

The onlookers had already retreated further away in shock, staring dumbfounded at the astonishing sword duel taking place in the arena.

"Is this the Immortal Capital Sword Technique?"

No, that's not right.

"It seems like everything has changed!"

It's different from what's been rumored.

"But it's become even more ferocious and terrifying!"

Zhu Su's Immortal Capital Sword Technique seems to be different from her earlier style, which was elegant and ethereal, seemingly standing above the heavens, yet mixed with a cold killing intent. It's as if after she went into seclusion, her sword technique had improved, leaving only pure coldness and killing intent. Each sword strike was concise and sharp, as if stripped of all fancy tricks, pointing directly to the essence of swordsmanship and killing.

Swords are inherently weapons of killing!

Man is sword, sword is man; a chilling sword intent pervades all around, terrifying all who behold him.

Li Fu's "Wind and Willow Sword Dance" presents a completely different scene.

As the sword light flowed, it was lofty and serene, with a leisurely demeanor, as if it were not a life-or-death struggle, but a casual display under the clear breeze and bright moon.

The sword techniques are like a spring breeze, like willow branches swaying. With gentle force, they skillfully neutralize the opponent's fierce and unparalleled attack, while also containing the way of nature, endless vitality and power, which are used to counterattack the opponent.

Let the waves crash and the winds rage, I remain as gentle as a breeze on the hill, and as the bright moon shines over the river.

No matter how strong your swordsmanship is, can you possibly harm a wisp of wind or cut down a piece of the sky?

Similarly, no matter how strong human power is, can it resist heaven and earth, or nature? The power of heaven and earth and nature is inexhaustible!

"Is this...is this truly the kind of swordsmanship that should exist in the human world?"

Luo Jiugao murmured, his mind and spirit both intoxicated and utterly horrified.

He never imagined that Li Fu's palm techniques were not only divine, but his swordsmanship was also so advanced!

Every move and stance of the two was exquisite and contained profound martial arts principles, leaving the audience dazzled and captivated!

Luo Wei, Su Rou, and the others watched in hushed tones.

They felt with a deep sense that they were witnessing a duel between two of the greatest swordsmen of their time!

"Countless swordsmen in the martial world yearn to witness such a sword duel but cannot obtain it. Perhaps some of them would be willing to die immediately afterward just to witness it."

Today, however, we are fortunate enough to witness it in these deep mountains and ancient ridges.