Ten Directions Sword Master

"You're the Bai Wuming that the young master mentioned?"

Lu Li was studying the Tide Echo Sword Manual on the stone tablet, comparing it with other sword techniques he had seen.

Just as I was beginning to understand something, this sound interrupted me.

What advice do you have for me?

Turning around, Lu Li saw a burly man in a yellow robe with narrow, wolf-like eyes, followed by several disciples.

"Yesterday, the young master suggested to the master that there was a young swordsman in town with outstanding swordsmanship, and that he should be hired as a first-class guest... In all my years of life, I have never heard of anyone who could master swordsmanship without apprenticing to a master or entering a swordsmanship school."

The burly man surnamed Chai, with an imposing air, took the broadsword handed to him by his disciple behind him.

"Turn around and leave, pretend you were never here... or pick up your sword and prove you're capable enough, and not just got here because of the young mistress!"

What is this?

To give me a hard time, or perhaps the sword-wielding disciples were resentful that a newcomer had suddenly risen to a high position, harboring resentment.

Lu Li preferred a combination of both. Some of these disciples were dissatisfied, while others were fueling the flames, wanting to see their true abilities.

However, this suited him perfectly. The Xiabu Sword Technique required one to display their sharpness and brilliance like the sun in the sky in order to advance triumphantly.

He even suspected that the reason he was slow to achieve enlightenment in the next solar term was because he lacked the opportunity to demonstrate his prowess in public and defeat his opponents in a public setting.

Joining the Tide Sound Sword Hall and getting a glimpse of the sword techniques in the Floating Island world was a plan that had been prepared long ago.

As for whether it will attract attention, he has decided to leave as soon as the seclusion period ends.

Aside from forced teleportation via the Nebula Compass, I won't be coming to this world again for a very long time.

"Since Brother Chai wishes to test my swordsmanship, please make your move."

Lu Li didn't draw his sword; he merely made a feint.

The burly man surnamed Chai snorted coldly. He had already investigated and found that the young man opposite him had only arrived in Cuiquan Town a little over a year ago. He probably knew some of his family's sword techniques, but had never shown them off.

This calm and composed demeanor is probably just a pretense of profundity.

Without another word, he brought his sword down with the force of a giant wave crashing down.

The footwork was coordinated, with offense and defense intertwined, and advance and retreat combined, without resorting to reckless attacks.

Just like the ocean waves, rising and falling, repeating endlessly.

He has grasped some of the true meaning of the ebb and flow, and it is not merely about listening to the tide and riding the waves.

One can take advantage of the opponent's offensive and turn it into one's own.

With a faint smile, Lu Li raised his sword as the cicadas chirped, and with a casual, effortless stroke, like a master butcher dissecting an ox, he pierced through the gap in the undulating waves.

As the tide rose and fell, the sound of cicadas returned to the large man surnamed Chai.

Before he could change his move, the sword was already at his neck.

"The swordsmanship is excellent, but unfortunately, the person wielding it is wrong."

Lu Li stopped the cicada's chirping and said leisurely.

The golden sky breaks through the mountains, heading straight for the central palace.

After refining that wisp of cold energy, the Six Swords of Qiubu had been completely integrated into his bones. Without much thought, every move he made was the most appropriate response.

The ebb and flow of the waves is a process of accumulating power. Hidden within the towering waves is a tiny gap, which may exist for just a fleeting moment, and he captured it.

In the past, it would have taken at least three to five moves to win.

The burly man surnamed Chai seemed dazed, as if he hadn't yet realized his defeat.

The sword-playing disciples who were watching were also speechless. Before they could even finish cheering for the disciple surnamed Chai, the competition was already over.

Is this person really that strong?

……

From the three-story pavilion facing the courtyard, one can have a complete view of the courtyard.

"Brother, who do you think will win?"

Kuai Ling, draped in a cloak and supported by a maid, spoke with a few coughs.

"Both are at the ninth level of the Crimson Copper Realm. Chai Wei's Tide Echoing Sword is definitely stronger than that kid's Wild Fox Zen, right? Of course, Chai Wei will win."

The young master Kuai, who has a similar appearance, is a bit fatter and exudes a shrewdness.

"If you ask me, you're too impatient, little brother. There are only three first-class guest elders in the entire establishment, and the amount of money they need to provide each year is considerable. How can we give them away so easily?"

Kuai Ling pushed aside the maid, braced himself against the railing, and stared into the courtyard: "Brother, I'll make a bet with you... Bai Wuming will definitely win within a hundred moves, I'm betting on your little Jade-Eyed Xuan Turtle!"

"What if you lose?"

"I won't lose!"

Kuai Ling turned around decisively, and the two stared at each other for a moment before they heard the maid behind them gasp in surprise, covering her mouth.

Only then did he realize that the outcome had been decided in the blink of an eye. Chai Wei stood there dumbfounded, completely bewildered.

"Haha, I underestimated this person... Big brother, remember to send the baby Blue-eyed Tortoise to my yard."

Kuai Ling laughed loudly, as if his illness had improved considerably, and strode downstairs into the courtyard.

……

A quiet and elegant room, with various swords hanging on the walls.

"I never imagined that Young Master Bai's swordsmanship was so superb. I have truly broadened my horizons today."

When Kuai Ling asked the disciples present to move aside, he inquired about the course of the fight and then understood what had happened.

It must be admitted that if he had suppressed his cultivation level, he could never have won so easily with just his swordsmanship.

He wouldn't believe that such a person had no teacher.

However, he didn't want to delve into it. The most important thing was to recruit a master for his faction so that they would have more strength during the demon calamity.

They were nothing more than sword cultivators who had committed crimes and were wanted by other sects. This was commonplace on the floating island, where people believed in letting their swords do the talking.

They'd draw their swords and fight to the death over the slightest disagreement; they didn't seem to know how to even begin to express their grievances.

"The Tide Echo Sword is profound and extensive. I have only read about it briefly, but I have already felt its infinite potential... I fear that if one cultivates it to a deeper level, each sword strike will have the immense power of a giant ocean wave, and one person's strength could trigger a tsunami disaster."

Lu Li asked, his tone a mix of flattery, sincerity, and ambiguity.

"Why is your esteemed institution displaying its sword manual in the courtyard?"

"Where did Young Master Bai originate? Is there another arrangement in the Sword Manual?"

Kuai Ling did not suspect anything, simply attributing it to differences in customs and details.

"Ever since the Taibai Sword Sect traced back through time and discovered that the legendary Sword Master once made his sword techniques known to the world, allowing all sword cultivators to learn them... In gratitude for his supreme merit, all the sword schools in our area have been required to inscribe their own sword techniques on stone tablets and place them in their training courtyards, so that all visiting sword cultivators can visit and compare them."

"I see. We chose an open stone wall and carved the words directly."

Lu Li remained calm and composed, and his response was flawless.

Only then did I understand why Chaoyin Sword Hall did this; the prosperity of swordsmanship on the Floating Island was largely due to this.

Each school of thought, without hoarding its own secrets, learns from each other; how could this not spark innovation and create countless exquisite sword techniques?

That sword master must have been an extremely remarkable figure from ancient times.

The two deliberately befriended each other, had a pleasant conversation, and decided to join the Chaoyin Sword Hall.

Lu Li didn't care about other benefits, but he was very satisfied when he heard that he could freely browse the various sword manuals and annotations that the sword hall had copied over the years.

All other money and salary were exchanged for training resources called sword pellets.

The number of sword pellets has increased from one per year to two per year.

The next day, Kuai Ling led Lu Li into the library, where they saw dozens of framed long scrolls.

When only one person remained, Lu Li could no longer contain his excitement. How could there be such a wonderful place in the world, with the sword techniques of more than ten sword schools displayed in front of him?

Kuai Ling's grandfather also made annotations on all of them before his death, marking his insights.

Even among countless compass worlds, the floating island world is a unique existence.