Chapter 299: Chapter 57: Rapid Attack on Liangzhou (Fifth Update, Requesting Monthly Pass)
“I’ll give it a try.”
Li Hao said.
Upon hearing this, Lu Chunsheng glanced at him and nodded in agreement before stepping aside,
“Although I hope you can surpass him, we must not break the rules. You only have ten chances to observe the stele.”
“Alright.”
Li Hao gazed at the first-ranked Heavenly Shadow Stele and saw that Jian Wudao, already a middle-aged man, had raised his sword.
Even across the stele, even though it was just a projection, Li Hao felt an overwhelming Sword Intent rushing toward him.
The sword light suddenly slashed out, as if wanting to pierce through the stone itself.
The Sword Qi flowed and extended, as if wandering in the Great Void, concealed yet sharp with Sword Intent.
Li Hao watched quietly and soon received a prompt on the panel.
Li Hao chose to record it.
Although the swordsmanship practiced by this Jian Wudao was quite different from that of the other Heavenly Shadow Steles, in front of the panel in Tao Realm, all beings were equal.
As the recording commenced, Li Hao learned the name of the swordsmanship:
“Sixteen Rhythms”
A strange name, seemingly unrelated to swordsmanship, more akin to some form of calligraphy or musical rhythm.
Li Hao was somewhat surprised, but the panel’s recording would not be wrong; perhaps that was the original name of this swordsmanship.
At this moment, the “Sixteen Rhythms” swordsmanship had already been deduced to the level of True Form.
Moreover, subsequent sword techniques had been extrapolated, all the way to the ninth sword.
The sword techniques practiced by Jian Wudao earlier comprised only three swords.
Lu Chunsheng had said that with just one and a half moves, it had already ranked among the peerless sword techniques.
The remaining one and a half moves were extrapolated by Jian Wudao himself.
Now, based on the Sixth Stages Sword Tao, Li Hao had deduced these three moves to the ninth move.
Li Hao speculated that Jian Wudao’s initial comprehension of swordsmanship was probably around the Fourth Stage.
“Even with my swordsmanship, I still can’t complete this technique…”
Li Hao’s eyes were solemn.
The deduced swordsmanship had already merged into his memory; Li Hao could sense the sophistication of the technique’s level, subtly bearing a certain marvelous charm.
Li Hao’s understanding of Musical Rhythm had already reached the Fourth Stage.
At this moment, he faintly felt that the original form of this swordsmanship might not be a sword technique at all, but some kind of musical rhythm.
It was just listened to, recorded, its essence captured, and then cultivated into a sword technique.
If so, that bizarre name might just make sense.
But, what kind of musical rhythm could inspire someone to derive from it and refine a peerless sword technique?
Curiosity and longing filled Li Hao’s heart; he also pondered a question.
If he developed his Musical Rhythm Tao to a certain extent, could he produce the most primitive sound of this sword technique?
If he could reach that level, could the music he played evolve into other supreme cultivation techniques?
Li Hao reined in his thoughts and looked back at the Heavenly Shadow Stele before him. He took a deep breath, stepped back slightly, and then began to wave the withered branch in his hand, executing nine swords in succession.
The Sword Intent, like an ancient melodious song, moved vivaciously with each strike, each embodying the power and momentum of tracing back to the origin.
A humming resonated in the world around Li Hao, the true state of this sword technique that could elicit a response from heaven and earth!
Not far away, Lu Chunsheng was stupefied.
Although he did not practice swordsmanship, he could tell how terrifying Li Hao’s sword technique was.
He even felt an overwhelming sensation, as if at the same level, Li Hao could defeat him in an instant with this sword technique, leaving no room for resistance!
The sword light was unending, and after the ninth sword was spent, the withered branch in Li Hao’s hand also shattered, turning to ash.
Upon the Heavenly Shadow Stele, something appeared to break, and the image of the middle-aged Jian Wudao vanished, to be replaced by the youthful figure of Li Hao, who had just practiced the sword technique.
Nine Swords True Form.
To surpass it, perhaps only if the current Jian Wudao personally came, there might be a slim chance.
Lu Chunsheng regained his senses, looking at the young man in shock. He had only harbored some hope that maybe this youngster could create a miracle again, but Li Hao indeed made a miracle, and one he didn’t even dare to dream of!
With just one look, Li Hao actually managed to practice the supreme sword technique up to the level of True Form.
Moreover, it seemed he had deduced additional moves to follow it seamlessly, an unthinkable feat!
Li Hao exhaled lightly, having absorbed the sword technique. He felt his head swelling a bit.
Having recorded many secret tomes from Tianji Tower today and absorbed dozens of cultivation techniques from the Heavenly Shadow Stele, he felt a bit overwhelmed.
He needed to properly organize his thoughts and memories.
“Master Lu, if there’s nothing else, I shall return to Heavenly Gate Pass now,”
Li Hao said to Lu Chunsheng.
Lu Chunsheng was taken aback but promptly said, “Won’t you stay a few more days? You just arrived and have not yet seen the beauty of Yongzhou. Tianji Tower also has a treasure land for cultivation…”
Li Hao shook his head slightly, “There will be time in the future. I will visit another day, Master Lu. As you know, I’m stationed at Heavenly Gate Pass, and I’ve provoked a few Demon Kings. I’m worried that if news of my departure leaks, they might vent their anger on the people of Cangya City in my absence.”
Heavenly Gate Pass was no longer the place for a solitary man.
Cangya City was bustling and lively. Besides those young men and women coming to seek fame and pay their respects, many merchants also came to conduct business, and some refugees with nowhere else to go settled down there.
If the city were to fall, countless would die or be injured.
Hearing Li Hao’s words, Lu Chunsheng knew he could no longer detain him.
After all, Li Hao was a general with military duties, and it also concerned the people of the frontier.
“If that’s the case, let me accompany you on your journey,”
Lu Chunsheng said.
Li Hao nodded, and this he did not refuse.
The two immediately took to the air, heading away from Tianji Tower.
When he first invited the youngster, Lu Chunsheng had only sent Hermit Tianji to greet him, but seeing Li Hao’s terrifying aptitude today, he finally understood that this young man was not his junior but would soon become his peer or even surpass him.
“`
Therefore, his thoughts had undergone a transformation, from initially just wanting to do Li Hao a favor to now genuinely wishing to befriend Li Hao.
In the training grounds at the foot of the mountain.
Many disciples of Tianji Tower watched as their master and the young man departed, and it took a long time before they could regain their composure.
The previously silent training ground suddenly erupted with earth-shattering shock and bewilderment.
Amidst the clamor, several leading figures of Tianji Tower just stood there silently, feeling a chill throughout their bodies as their resolve neared shattering.
At that moment, their fervent desire to advance was crushed.
The gap was too vast.
Is this the disparity between one person and another?
It felt more like the gap between humans and gods!
“Is this what they mean by the talent that at fourteen can accept a military title and be ennobled? A glance into the true form, cultivation techniques all mundane…” someone murmured to themselves, feeling as though something was choking their heart, wanting desperately to break down and cry.
It wasn’t jealousy, but despair.
Tang Zhixi silently gazed into the distant horizon, her eyes hollow and entranced, unable to utter a single word.
She felt as if a gust of wind could knock her over.
Her pride in her talent and comprehension had allowed her to rise from her humble beginnings and catch up with the prodigies.
Even against the geniuses of the Divine General Mansion, disciples of the Sword Saint, and descendants of Buddhas and Immortals, she harbored a trace of defiance in her heart.
She believed that if she was given the same background, she could do even better.
Because she was smart.
But today, she suddenly realized that her pride seemed insignificant in front of that young man.
The swordsmanship she had been laboring over for half a year, the young man only needed one glance.
Just one glance.
And he learned it, and what’s more, he surpassed it!
Surpassed it to a level beyond her reach!!
If she is a genius, then what is that young man? A monster?
If he’s just a genius, then what is she? A common fool? An idiot? A simpleton?
Or rather, an unenlightened beast?
She didn’t know, but suddenly, she felt an urge; she wanted to go to Liangzhou, to that frontier pass, to follow that young man’s side, to witness with her own eyes how such a person cultivated in their everyday life.
…
…
To the west of Liangzhou, two thousand miles away.
In a pitch-black lake, numerous dark shadows wrapped around each other. From a high vantage point, the shadows appeared extremely dark and their forms menacing, instilling dread.
The surface of the lake, however, was calm. As these enormous creatures swam, they did not cause a single ripple.
In this serenity, suddenly, the surface of the lake gently began to ripple.
Then, these ripples began to widen, like raindrops splashing on the surface, the serene water suddenly leaping up like jumping beans, sending droplets flying.
The droplets bounced vigorously on the lake’s surface, shaking the entire lake!
In the lake, the tranquilly swimming giant shadows were startled by this vibration. They quickly drew back into themselves and transformed into figures; some burst from the bottom of the lake into mid-air.
Others sped towards the depths of the lake.
Suddenly, in the center of the lake where the waves were most intense, the water rose high like a swelling mound.
Then it burst, and out shot a massive True Dragon!
Its dragon body was dark purple and near black, its scales sharp as divine weapons, covering its body wholly and densely.
The creature’s body was a hundred zhang long, with a ferocious head that could coil around a hill.
Roar!!
The True Dragon shot straight into the sky, piercing through numerous cloud layers, heading for the intense sunlight above, where its scales seemed to reflect a blinding divine radiance.
In its gloomy, blood-red eyes, the distant sun in the sky was reflected, before it suddenly plunged headfirst back into the clouds, diving down.
When it emerged from the last cloud layer, it had transformed into an old man wrapped in a dark purple robe.
“Elder!”
“Elder!”
Many transformed figures gathered around him.
In the lake, various water demons looked up, trembling, but in their eyes was a fervent reverence.
“Are there any in the Ultimate Study Realm stationed in Liangzhou?” asked the old man in a deep voice, carrying immense authority.
“As of now, we have not detected any,” replied a green-robed elder respectfully.
In the demons’ hierarchy, rank was met with strict enforcement, or else one faced being consumed.
“If that’s the case, then quickly attack Liangzhou. Have the forces of the Great Void Realm already assembled?” the dark purple-robed elder asked coldly.
“The armies from the Great Void Realm have been ready and waiting for battle for some time. The forces from the Saint Palace are still on their way. We, from the Dragon Gate, have our forces gathered at Si Shui Lake, Green Shadow Lake, and Sinking Horn Forest,” another elder reported quickly.
“Those fellows from the Saint Palace are always procrastinating; no wonder they have been entangled with the Li Family of Northern Yan for over a decade. They are reluctant to suffer losses yet covet the territory—truly useless!” The dark purple-robed elder snorted coldly.
Then he continued, “In this assault on Liangzhou, although I have personally come, the real striking force will be the armies of the Great Void Realm. We have previously agreed that they will break through the border, and we only need to destroy all those cities. If there are any high-level masters of the Peerless Technique, I will handle them.”
“At that time, your job will be to slaughter and consume all the remaining humans!”
“We must launch a bloodbath across the entire Liangzhou, leaving no survivors!”
“Let that old immortal, suffer intensely!”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Let’s go, to the Great Void Realm first!” declared the dark purple-robed old man coldly.
He led the charge, and from the deep lake, countless demons who had reached the Fifteen Li Realm rose from the water, transforming into thousands of streaks of light, following the True Dragon elder’s silhouette, streaking across the vast sky like shooting stars.
“`