One sword plunged forth, a single tear shed.

Ning Jianke’s sword style was one of cloistered sorrow and longing. This very stance, “Regret Teach Husband Seek Seal Marquis,” was born from emotion deepening into resentment, an act of pure, heavenly grace. It was a perfect continuation of the previous “Autumn Ripple” sword, yet further sublimated. Like a scholar wielding his brush, a master hand finding a perfect phrase by chance. How many parting thoughts were severed within, to await transmission through the ages?

And Jiang Wang’s response remained so exquisitely clever. Like a dialogue between estranged lovers, like a discourse continuing and unfolding, like a story in the making…

Your autumn ripples brimmed, and I drifted with the waves. You resented me for years of silence, for knowing only fame, forgetting old friends.

But these years of my wandering… I never attained the marquisate. Ten years I fell, half a life I drifted in confusion. Now that you both accuse me, I shall draw a sword horizontally, cancelling all grace and enmity with life and death.

That horizontal line was pulled open in the air, like a burst of inspiration from deep intoxication, seizing the brush. It directly cleaved that single “tear” Ning Jianke had stabbed out, splitting it in two!

Wondrous! Too wondrous!

Ning Jianke, immersed in the perfect harmony of the sword style, felt as if she had met a soulmate across the horizon. A profound emotion swelled within her. At this moment, she vaguely forgot everything, absorbed only in the wondrous realm of sword art. Her wrist trembled lightly, and following the trace where that single tear had been drawn open, the sword light transformed into two paths.

With one stance, she delivered two swords!

The sword on the left was to “Ask of Old Friends.” The sword on the right was to “Never Again Recall.”

Two streams of sword light, born from the same source. One sword of lovesickness, one sword to cleave lovesickness. Though she lamented teaching her husband to seek the marquisate, harboring a unique cloistered resentment, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are old friends safe?” But while worrying, she simultaneously reminded herself to sever past emotions, to never again recall.

This was a continuous extension upon the original sword intent. A duality of form, two emotions coexisting. It did not harm the previous sword nor sever the subsequent one. It carried on the past while unfolding myriad possibilities. This was a near-perfect sword, a fusion of momentum, intent, and technique!

“Ning Jianke” rejoiced. She felt a thrill, for in today’s battle, she had met her match in the way of the sword, encountered true talent. Although her opponent’s sword art attainment was not yet equal to hers, that spark of spirit and talent was already astonishing. She eagerly anticipated what kind of extraordinary response she would see next. She also eagerly anticipated what kind of marvelous self would emerge thereafter, what kind of extraordinary sword she would expound. Battling such an opponent, seeking the sword with such a kindred spirit, only then was her many years of studying the sword not in vain. It could stimulate even more inspiration in her sword art. She was full of anticipation!

She even stared intently at the opposing sword, her eyes unblinking.

Then she saw… fire.

Crimson firelight swept over everything. Across the sky, it drew a trail of fireworks and meteors. Upon the ground, it surged like a sea of flames giving birth to waves. The piercing whistle of a flame sparrow drew a thin, long fiery tail, flying freely between heaven and earth.

Heaven and earth, fire and fire. Firelight filled her vision. It was a world of ultimate gorgeousness, ultimate brilliance. It was a world of fire! Fire born in the beginning, and also ending in the last. All brilliance, all dazzling display, all conviction and lack thereof… all contained within it, and all burning within it.

Ning Jianke should not have made such a mistake, but she had just been immersed in the exchange of sword art, still moved by the “horizon meeting a kindred spirit,” still anticipating even more excellent performance in her opponent’s sword art…

The Fire Realm Technique descended, submerging both her and her sword. So abruptly, yet so naturally!

Stepping back from the vast river of stars, retreating to her private space. Ning Jianke looked at her own sword, silent for a long time. She finally realized that the natural tacit understanding, the so-called “meeting a kindred spirit in the sea of people,” was merely her unilateral illusion. From beginning to end, she had been immersed in the beautiful world of sword art, deeply trapped in the wonderful changes of sword move dismantling, unable to extricate herself. While her opponent, clearly… only wanted to win.

I originally set my heart towards the bright moon, alas, what bright moon shines into a ditch!

Du Gu Wu Di ascends to the top of the Five Elements rankings! Achieves the title: Tai Xu’s Strongest Inner Mansion!

Upon first achieving this title, rewards: two thousand merit, two thousand law. Maintaining this title: mid-month, rewards one hundred merit, one hundred law. Owning this title: Yan Dao Tai gains one layer of effect.

This battle for the Tai Xu’s Strongest Inner Mansion title was won a little too easily. Her opponent’s sword art was indeed very powerful, and one sword stacked upon another, not only in the convergence of sword qi and the neatness of the sword style, but terrifyingly, not a single iota of sword intent was wasted. She certainly had a very vast world of sword dao. In battle, she could make her sword art continuously appear, continuously evolve, each sword more advanced than the last, to the point where the sword momentum expanded more and more. (Remember 《 》 in one second for you to provide wonderful novel reading on your mobile phone)

Jiang Wang admitted that purely in terms of sword art, he was not her match. In fact, by the time her sword momentum evolved to its later stages, he could no longer withstand it. It was hard to imagine how strong her sword momentum could evolve if the battle continued.

But this was a battle, a fight to the death. Even in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, life and death were not real. But stepping onto the Sword Discussion Platform, one must strive for victory or defeat. Therefore, Jiang Wang had already been brewing his secret technique. At the right moment in the opponent’s sword momentum change, he directly unleashed the Fire Realm Technique – he had originally prepared other backup plans, but unexpectedly, this already ended the battle.

The power of the Fire Realm Technique was one aspect, but in Jiang Wang’s view, the biggest reason lay in the opponent herself. At that moment, she was still trapped in the dismantling of sword momentum, obviously making the wrong choice. It was hard to imagine such battle judgment appearing in the battle for the Tai Xu’s Strongest Inner Mansion title. Besides sighing, Jiang Wang had nothing much else to say…

These young people nowadays!

The Fire Realm Technique, with Samadhi True Fire as its origin, could be considered the ultimate development of Samadhi True Fire in its current state. Its effect was also very outstanding. Additionally, the title of Tai Xu’s Strongest Soaring Dragon was also a real harvest.

Leaving aside the merit, the newly acquired two thousand points of law had already brought his accumulated law points to twenty-six thousand four hundred. He was only short three thousand four hundred points of law to unseal another layer of the Yan Dao Tai. The current three layers of the Yan Dao Tai, stacked with the effects of the four major titles: Tai Xu’s Strongest Soaring Dragon, Tai Xu Messenger, Tai Xu Five Elements Cultivator, and Tai Xu’s Strongest Inner Mansion, already had the efficacy of a seven-layer Yan Dao Tai.

Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, walked to the Yan Dao Tai, and directly contributed the Fire Realm Technique to the Tai Xu Illusion Realm. Although the Fire Realm Technique was powerful, it lacked originality, borrowing from Lei Zhan Qian’s Thunder Realm Technique. Although the concept had changed under Yi Xing Chen’s guidance, the structure of the technique was consistent. And the Tai Xu Illusion Realm’s demand for techniques always leaned more towards originality. This was an experience summarized from multiple contributions.

Although he hadn’t encountered Lei Zhan Qian within the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, with the expansion of the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, it was uncertain when he might appear here. To avoid Lei Zhan Qian contributing the Thunder Realm Technique later and occupying the vast majority of the Yan Dao Tai’s contribution, he simply contributed the Fire Realm Technique first. This way, even if Lei Zhan Qian entered the Tai Xu Illusion Realm later and contributed the Thunder Realm Technique, he would only receive a very small portion of “law.”

This was, until now, the strongest technique Jiang Wang had contributed within the Tai Xu Illusion Realm. The feedback did not disappoint him… The Tai Xu Illusion Realm gave a feedback of a full hundred eleven thousand three hundred seventy points of law! This was, until now, the largest single harvest of “law” Jiang Wang had received within the Tai Xu Illusion Realm.

The Fire Realm Technique, in terms of originality and power, had reached a certain height, far exceeding all of Jiang Wang’s previous contributions to the Yan Dao Tai. He had worked hard to accumulate so long, only managing twenty-six thousand four hundred points of law. Of course, there was also the reason that he had always been vigilant, unwilling to contribute core unique secret techniques, such as the Voice Heard in the Immortal State, Human Dao Sword Style, and so on. But the feedback brought by the Fire Realm Technique was indeed too shocking. The Tai Xu Illusion Realm’s encouragement for this type of technique was obvious.

Jiang Wang not only smoothly unsealed the fourth layer of the Yan Dao Tai but also smoothly advanced towards the fifth layer of the Yan Dao Tai… Well, it wasn’t that smooth. The promotion to the fifth layer of the Yan Dao Tai required a full million points of “law.” Even if, due to Zuo Guang Lie’s legacy, he only needed to unseal it now, it still required thirty ten thousand points of “law.” From this perspective, how many original and powerful techniques must Zuo Guang Lie, who originally pushed the Yan Dao Tai to the nineteenth layer, have contributed to the Tai Xu Illusion Realm? How astonishing was his talent!

Of course, with Zuo Guang Lie’s background and status in that year, the resources he could mobilize if he wanted to impact the number of layers of the Yan Dao Tai were far beyond what Jiang Wang could compare with today. Even to the point of being hard to imagine… He could only look up.

Jiang Wang sorted his mood, just about to use the Yan Dao Tai, which had accumulated the effect of eight layers, to deduce and perfect the Fire Realm Technique, when suddenly a paper crane with sword-shaped feathers flew over. He took it, unfolded it and looked—

Will you participate in the Yellow River Assembly?

Sender: Ning Jianke.

Ning Shuang Rong, a true disciple of Jian Ge, suffered a great loss in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm today. She was obsessed with the sword, and in the way of the sword, she also possessed absolute top talent. She stood out among her sect’s generation and had a smooth journey in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, all the way to the top. She was preparing to participate in this round of the Yellow River Assembly, so she had been in secluded cultivation for some time, not engaging in battles within the Tai Xu Illusion Realm. Unexpectedly, after much difficulty, she found a gap and came for a trip… the title of Strongest Inner Mansion had just changed hands.

Due to the different systems of the state and the sect, the countries of the world cannot leave “human qi” and have more responsibility to “enter the world.” The Yellow River Assembly is only participated in by the column countries of the world. She wanted to participate in the Yellow River Assembly, not under the name of Jian Ge. Besides her identity as a true disciple of Jian Ge, she was also a daughter of a family from a small country. She originally wanted to represent that small country in the Yellow River Assembly, wanting to test her sword against the heroes of the world and see if she was invincible among those of the same rank. After all, the strongest in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm had limitations. Secondly, it was only to raise the name of the country and help her native country strive for benefits. But truthfully, her sense of belonging to that small country was not strong. Jian Ge was the place she recognized more.

Of course, these considerations were unnecessary to tell others. Regarding today’s battle, she was very puzzled at first. Clearly, both sides had an extreme tacit understanding in dismantling sword styles, evolving the sword dao, and colliding inspiration. She was also confident that she could ultimately win, immersed in the beautiful world of sword art, unable to extricate herself… Then her opponent suddenly unleashed a killer move-level technique. Divine power combined with a technique, forming its own realm. That kind of wonderful technique was clearly long planned.

To say she was not convinced was, in fact, true. But she was a very proud person, unwilling to find excuses for herself. After earnestly reviewing the entire battle, she thought that her opponent’s technique, the timing was just right, just as her sword momentum was about to rise again and reach another level – this proved that the guy named Du Gu Wu Di did indeed have astonishing talent in sword dao, completely capable of understanding her changing moves. And that Fire Element technique of his, its exquisite and powerful aspects, were also something she had never seen before. Putting aside other factors, objectively speaking, even with true preparation, it would not necessarily be possible to withstand it. After earnest review, she admitted that she had indeed missed a move. So she sent a letter to ask.

If her opponent also went to the Yellow River Assembly, then she wouldn’t need to go again. Losing was losing. If she couldn’t even contend for the top in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, what was the point of contending for the world’s top?

However, she thought so, but that certain Du Gu did not know. When Jiang Wang received this sealed letter, his first thought was – this person wants to find a way back on the Yellow River Assembly? Regarding the previous battle, he also recognized that the opponent had not shown her full strength. However… why wait until the Yellow River Assembly to fight again? The winner of the Tai Xu’s Strongest Inner Mansion title as a practice partner was undoubtedly very qualified. One could even say, where could one find such a good practice partner?

Jiang Wang thought for a while, deliberately using a somewhat arrogant tone to reply—

“If you are not convinced, you can come again now.”

When the paper crane brought such a sealed reply, Ning Shuang Rong’s mood could be imagined. What sword dao fit, what pretending to be a kindred spirit, what indeed my skill is not as good as I should encourage… for a time, all were thrown to the back of her mind.

That little thief Du Gu! How arrogant of that youngster!

She immediately replied, with only one word, saying—

“Come!”

And on the other side, Jiang Wang let the paper crane fly away and went to seek Ning Jianke in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm. He then placed the Fire Realm Technique back on the Yan Dao Tai, using the Yan Dao Tai, which had stacked to an eight-layer effect, to begin deducing and perfecting this technique.

In the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, a battle of Inner Mansion level could win one hundred twenty points of merit. Jiang Wang had won all the way to the top, accumulating quite a lot of merit. But at this time, looking at the sharply decreasing quantity of merit on the sundial’s virtual shadow, he couldn’t help but feel a heartache. He still hoped to use the remaining merit to deduce the Outer Building Chapter of Qian Yang Zhi Tong – this was obviously a daydream.

The Fire Realm Technique, combining the Scarlet Fire Bone Lotus, Samadhi True Fire, and integrating Jiang Wang’s insights into the Fire Element, was absolutely the strongest technique he had mastered so far. No wonder Lei Zhan Qian, who had learned the Thunder Realm Technique, was full of confidence at the ceremony, even daring to move it out under the circumstances that he could not yet thoroughly control. Perhaps he didn’t feel that someone could see the problem so quickly, and as long as he could hold on during that period of the Thunder Realm formation, he could control the war situation. It was a pity he met Jiang Wang. Compared to his divine speed in progress, Jiang Wang was more of a leap. Even if his Thunder Realm was truly leak-proof, he still wouldn’t have the possibility of controlling the war situation.

But the power of the technique brought another consequence, which was that it was also especially consumption of merit during deduction. Even though Jiang Wang had in fact completed this technique and successfully applied it in battle, the Yan Dao Tai only needed to perfect it, and it still consumed nearly ten thousand points of merit. It completely consumed Jiang Wang’s “savings,” leaving only a little over a thousand points of merit hanging there.

But the newly acquired Fire Realm Technique had basically completed the loopholes. At least at the level of the eight-layer Yan Dao Tai in the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, the loopholes were completed. Jiang Wang felt it carefully, firmly remembering the places that needed improvement, and after confirming that he had digested it, he grasped the paper crane with sword-shaped wings, smiled freely.

Stepping onto the Sword Discussion Platform, he howled and entered the river of stars.

To have a practice partner come from afar, isn’t that also a joy?

“Come on then!”