Ten Directions Sword Master

Wucheng administers fifteen townships, and the locals are skilled at brewing, producing a variety of famous wines.

Several other types of tribute tea were so famous that people overseas sought to buy them, and the supply could not meet the demand.

"This place is not like Yuzhang. Before the Crimson Fire Secret Realm opens, you should stay in the city and avoid conflicts with the local forces... The various forces in Wu County are closely connected and should not be underestimated."

After disembarking from the ship, Yu Ziqi gave instructions to the three disciples behind him who had never traveled far from home.

"In Wucheng alone, there is the Xuan Gong branch of the Lu family of Wujun, a branch of the Cao Gang, and the local Jian Ge of Zhaxi... The other major clans are not worth mentioning."

"Such complexity within a single county..."

Nan Henshui clicked his tongue in surprise. The complex interplay of various forces was nothing compared to the dominance of Bailu Academy in Yuzhang County.

The Wu County Lu family is one of the five great families, the Cao Gang is one of the three major gangs in the world, and the fact that Dean Yu Ziqi mentioned the Zhaxi Sword Pavilion clearly shows that it is also quite powerful.

It should be noted that Wucheng is only about the same size as Pengcheng.

It is the most prosperous in the southeast, and its reputation is well-deserved.

I'm afraid that the number of Refinement Realm experts in this small town is not much less than that in Yuzhang County.

No wonder Bailu Academy had to be led by Yu Ziqi; how could any other academic leader have managed to keep things under control?

After entering the city, the four did not look for an inn or a Taoist temple, but instead asked a passerby for directions to the Feng family mansion.

After passing through two alleys, I came across a row of large houses, shaded by old trees, a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle.

"Please inform the master of this place that we have arrived at Bailu Academy."

Two shrewd gatekeepers and seven or eight burly servants stood in front of the gate. Yu Ziqi handed over a letter and then ignored them, speaking to his three disciples.

"The Feng clan patriarch was once a disciple of Yuelu Academy, and the disciples from the four academies stayed here when they came to Wucheng this time."

Lu Li secretly observed and compared it with his own residence.

The Lu family's old residence was larger in scale, but its quiet elegance was far inferior to the Feng family's mansion in front of us.

"I am deeply honored that Dean Yu has come with his esteemed students... Please come inside quickly, Master Qingming and the seniors from Shigu Academy have also arrived."

After a moment, a middle-aged man with a long beard and a dignified appearance walked quickly over. He was Feng Guolin, the head of the Feng family.

The Feng family was very hospitable. Yu Ziqi was invited to the main hall to exchange ideas with several other academy leaders, while the younger members were led to the guest rooms by Feng Guolin's eldest son, Feng Yuqing.

He showed concern for their well-being throughout the journey, telling them that they could ask him for help with any needs they had and that he would try his best to meet them.

Aside from the fact that Feng Guolin was once a disciple of Yuelu Academy and provided convenience for his sect, the fact that the four academies chose to settle in the Feng family when opening the secret realm would also be of great benefit to his family.

Not only did they establish some connections, but they also misled outsiders into thinking that the Feng family had a close relationship with the four major academies.

As long as they don't provoke the top powers, the reputation of the four great academies still has some use.

In particular, many disciples of the four great academies chose to serve the imperial court and sell themselves to the emperor. In recent years, quite a few high-ranking officials in the court have come from the four academies.

While they may be weak in the martial arts world, there is still a latent force within Wu County.

"Senior Brother Lu, Brother Feng said that the disciples of Yuelu Academy and Shigu Academy are all in the next courtyard. Why don't we go over and say hello?"

Lu Li had just put down his luggage when there was a knock on the door, and Nan Henshui was standing there.

"It would be good to meet him even once."

After a moment's thought, Lu Li nodded.

This time, Bailu Academy is in a special situation. Shen Qing and Luo Yunqi did not come, and the list has been completely changed compared to the four academies' competition list.

Nan Henshui should have met him, but he and Song Yuming were complete strangers.

After passing through a moon gate and beyond the winding stream and stone forest, four young men and women were engaged in lively conversation in a small courtyard.

"Gentlemen, let me introduce you to three outstanding students from Bailu Academy..."

Feng Yuqing shouted something, drawing everyone's attention.

He is currently at the Qi Refining stage, and when facing the academy disciples who are a few years younger than him, including some at the Foundation Establishment stage, he feels somewhat inferior.

However, they were still quite enthusiastic about welcoming and seeing off guests.

These are the most outstanding disciples of the four great academies. After several years, they will go to various places and will soon grow up.

If you can forge one or two positive connections, they will become your network of contacts in the future.

It's not as meaningful as spending time in the city with other young masters, playing with birds and listening to music.

"Nanhenshui, why isn't Shen Qing here? I'm waiting to have another match with her to get revenge for last time."

In the center of the pavilion sat a female disciple in a snow-white dress, with a cool and aloof demeanor, who was not polite at all when she spoke.

"Senior Sister Li Wenwan has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

Nan Henshui felt a pang of envy and bitterness. Only a few months had passed since the Four Academies Competition, and everyone had changed a lot.

"Senior Sister Shen Qing was injured in the competition among her fellow disciples and was unable to travel, so I was able to take her place."

Li Wenwan glanced at her and sneered, "She's overestimating herself by challenging the academy's instructors? She even let the Crimson Fire Secret Realm go; she's really lost her mind."

She was a disciple of Shigu Academy, and during the last competition among the four academies, she was stuck at a critical juncture and failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

As a result, they lost to Shen Qing, which also caused Shigu Academy to rank at the bottom, and they only had two spots this time.

Spurred by this, he successfully broke through within a month of returning home, hoping to avenge his previous defeat.

"No, Senior Sister Shen Qing was defeated by Senior Brother Lu."

Nanhenshui gave up her seat, and the bitterness in her heart dissipated.

It's nothing to be ashamed of only being one step ahead in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Once you learn about this sword prodigy who slayed a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in the late Qi Refining stage, you'll understand what true dimensional reduction strikes mean.

"Are you kidding me! Even if Shen Qing is useless, he wouldn't lose to someone in the Qi Refining stage, would he?"

Li Wenwan's eyes were filled with suspicion and uncertainty, and she subconsciously felt that Bailu Academy was deliberately creating a smokescreen.

But what good is this? Shen Qing didn't come to Wucheng; the facts are already clear.

"It's him!"

A kind-looking young man stepped forward and whispered an explanation in Li Wenwan's ear.

"So you're the one who defeated Jiang Linyuan. I heard that kid's still lying in bed coughing non-stop... You dared to come to the secret realm? Aren't you afraid Jiang Linhai will cause you trouble?"

"It's just a voluntary sparring match. I think Senior Brother Jiang isn't a narrow-minded person... If anyone wants to compete in swordsmanship, I, Lu, will gladly oblige."

Lu Li walked up to the pavilion, looking relaxed and composed, without any sign of unease.

Recognizing the kind-looking disciple from Shigu Academy as Tian Ren, who had been present during the sword competition that day, it was no wonder he knew about this matter.

"Arrogant! Even if you defeated Shen Qing, do you think you're qualified to be compared to Senior Brother Jiang?"

On the other side, the disciples of Yuelu Academy jumped up, but Jiang Linhai did not seem to be present.

"I heard you've mastered the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique. Since I have some free time now, I might as well test my skills against you."

Lu Li ignored them and simply chose an empty seat to sit down.

During the competition among the four academies, I heard that a disciple from Yuelu Academy who had mastered the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique challenged me, but Dean Lin Ruoxu refused. It seems that this is the person in question.

Seeing that he hadn't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he couldn't muster any interest.

It is true that the Xiabu Sword Manual requires studying the swords of a hundred schools, but it also depends on what kind of sword it is.

If two people who have learned the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Techniques are at most at a similar level to themselves, what can they gain from a match? It would only serve to hone their opponent's swordsmanship.

They share the same roots and origins; a single sword strike can determine the victor, rendering it utterly meaningless.

"Junior Brother Qian, don't disgrace the academy!"

Ignored, Junior Brother Qian was enraged and was about to charge forward with his sword when he was stopped by someone next to him, who turned out to be a calm and composed man with green eyes.