"You finally understand," Li Miao said with a smile. "It's not that you couldn't see clearly; it's that you didn't dare to believe."
Zuo Lishan remained silent, not answering.
Li Miao didn't mind and continued, "Legend has it that several centuries ago, there was a reclusive sect called the 'Carefree Sect,' which possessed a martial art called 'Lesser Xiang Skill.'"
"As long as one mastered this skill and knew the moves of other martial arts, they could imitate others' ultimate techniques, even surpassing the original."
"Before today, Master Zuo probably thought this was just a rumor, didn't he?"
Zuo Lishan still didn't utter a sound; his right hand once again gripped the hilt of his sword.
That dark right hand could no longer be called a "hand" but rather a deformed claw, with the index finger displaced, the sword hilt wedged between the index and middle fingers, three above and two below, locking the hilt firmly in his grasp.
Even the tempered steel hilt had been indented by his fingers.
His wrist extended, as if boneless, and the long sword swayed slightly beneath his sleeve.
Li Miao paid no heed and continued, "Of course, no such martial art exists in this world, but that 'Carefree Sect' and the person who could use other sects' martial arts with greater profundity should both exist."
"It's just that those who can surpass the peak are truly few and far between; ordinary martial artists couldn't comprehend it, so it became exaggerated through word of mouth, fabricating the legend of this strange martial art."
"A martial art is nothing more than moves, internal cultivation methods, and physical conditioning. A single move is nothing more than true qi, force, and technique."
"Beyond the peak, it's merely a further step in these few aspects."
"Like Ji Tianrui, his true qi is vast as the sea, and every move is like overturning mountains and seas, unstoppable."
"Like me, my force and true qi are perfectly integrated, moving as I please, no longer confined by old ways; all martial arts can be used effortlessly. That senior from the 'Carefree Sect' should be just like me."
"And like Master Zuo… using evil arts to mend flesh and blood, replacing meridians with insanity worms, not only shortening your lifespan but also making further progress impossible in the future."
"You've only gained great strength and become hard to kill, that's all."
"Enough!" Zuo Lishan roared.
He gritted his teeth, yellowish-green pus oozing from the corners of his eyes: "Good, good, good."
"In terms of martial arts, I have lost."
"But to fight to the death… you won't necessarily win!"
"That smug expression of yours… I will personally tear it to shreds!!!"
Before he finished speaking, Zuo Lishan instantly erupted, his wrist flicking, the sword edge slicing through the air like a long whip, pointing directly at Li Miao.
Li Miao stepped forward, attacking where the enemy had to defend, and pointed his fingers at Zuo Lishan's heart meridian.
But Zuo Lishan acted as if he hadn't heard, ignoring everything, just frantically swinging his long sword, as if wanting to perish together with Li Miao.
His fingertips were only an inch from Zuo Lishan's heart meridian, and the long sword was already above Li Miao's head.
"Alas."
Li Miao sighed, dodged the long sword by shifting his body, and reluctantly withdrew the finger he had aimed at Zuo Lishan.
Zuo Lishan thrust another sword at Li Miao's chest, forcing back Li Miao's claw-like fingers that had reached his ear.
Zuo Lishan's eyes lit up, and he cackled maniacally, "That's it, that's it, I was mistaken!"
"You also fear death; no matter how much you use true qi to circulate your body-hardening techniques, you wouldn't dare to take a sword from me in a vital spot!"
"If we exchange injuries, my body can withstand it, but you will surely die!"
"Come on! Come on! Come on!"
Zuo Lishan laughed hysterically, his long sword dancing wildly in his hand, and the heavy bluestone slabs beneath his feet, merely grazed, instantly shattered into pieces.
Exchanging injury for life! Exchanging blood for blood!
"Bright Moon Without Clouds"!
"Stone Pass Returning Horse"!
"Crane Welcoming Clear Spring"!
"Seven Stars Falling Across the Sky"!
The essence of Mount Tai Swordplay poured out as if it were worthless; Zuo Lishan no longer cared for himself, only wildly attacking Li Miao's vital points!
You attack my head, I attack your groin! You attack my eyes, I attack your chest!
Blood bloomed continuously around Zuo Lishan. His techniques were far less profound than Li Miao's. Now, abandoning defense, in just a few moves, his left wrist was twisted off, his right ear torn off, and a large patch of skin scraped from his chest by Li Miao.
But he seemed oblivious, laughing maniacally, fiercely attacking the frowning Li Miao.
The courtyard instantly became a scene of fallen trees and shattered stones, as if a hurricane had passed through. Even a bluestone table the size of a man's embrace was smashed to pieces, and the small tree in the courtyard scattered wood chips and crashed down with a roar.
The Huashan disciples hiding in the surrounding rooms trembled, not daring to make a sound, fearing they would be dragged into it.
A moment later, the courtyard finally quieted down.
Zuo Lishan leaned on his long sword, saliva drooling from his mouth, and several insects fell from his clothes, struggling on the ground for a few moments before losing their life.
He gasped for air, looking at Li Miao opposite him.
Li Miao raised his hand; there was a long, narrow sword wound on his right forearm. The wound was not deep, and blood was slowly oozing out.
Zuo Lishan smiled, "Hahahahahahaha!!"
"You can also be injured, you can also die! Your so-called beyond the peak is nothing more than this!"
"Today you won. If you're not afraid of death, feel free to pursue me! Master Zuo will accompany you to the end!"
With that, he swiftly retreated, flipped over the courtyard wall, and vanished in an instant.
Li Miao did not pursue him, quietly watching Zuo Lishan depart from where he stood.
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The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
A moment later, Mei Qinghe pushed open the door and quickly walked to Li Miao's side, asking worriedly, "My Lord, you're injured..."
"I still have some wound medicine; I'll go—"
"Hah." Li Miao laughed, raised his hand to stop Mei Qinghe, and turned to find a railing to sit on.
"Little Mei, I told you tonight we were just putting on a show for him. Why did you take it seriously again?"
"Injure me, him?"
With that, Li Miao raised his hand and wiped it over the wound, and blood energy surged. Looking again, the wound had already disappeared.
"Ha—"
Li Miao stretched, letting out a long breath, "Acting with a madman is truly tiring. He laughs at every turn, and I was afraid his saliva would splash on me. When fighting, I even had to dodge his spit."
Mei Qinghe walked to Li Miao's side, hesitatingly opening her mouth, "My Lord, you..."
Li Miao glanced at Mei Qinghe and smiled, "Life is like a play, Little Mei."
"Did I gauge the situation just right?"
"If I had appeared any stronger, I'm afraid Master Zuo would have fled down the mountain tonight. If I had appeared any weaker, I'm afraid Master Zuo would have come again tomorrow night, and I'm a man approaching forty; I can't stand a madman's torment. Don't I need to sleep?"
Mei Qinghe suddenly understood.
"Alright—" Li Miao stood up and walked towards his bedroom.
"After all this commotion tonight, Master Zuo should somewhat know his own limits. I should be able to get a good night's sleep these next few days."
"What the Ming Cult wants is the Five Mountains Sword Sect, and if he's going to call for people, it should be at the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting."
"Go rest. The preparations are almost complete now. Once Wang Hai and Little Four bring their people, our mission will be complete."
"Actually, putting those two together, I'm quite worried that without me watching, they'll kill too many people."
"One is ruthless, one is venomous."
At this point, Li Miao glanced at Mei Qinghe: "And one dazed beast."
He sighed.
"None of them make things easy."
"When can I work from home... Ha—sleep, sleep."