Chapter 326
Chapter 326: Vindicating Your Name
Though neither used battle techniques, cultivators at their level sought mastery with every sword stroke. Each strike aimed to seize control, anticipating the opponent’s next move. They countered each blade with perfect precision, reflecting not just sword skill, but their grasp of combat and understanding of the enemy’s intentions.
Before the sword moved, none could predict its path.
In the Sword Court, countless disciples stood amazed. A cultivator in the same realm matching Yuan Mu’s swordsmanship was unbelievable. Even the wandering-star realm experts of Sword Court could rarely compete with Yuan Mu’s pure swordsmanship. How was Wang Jie doing this?
In a dark valley, a pair of eyes stared at a screen of light visible only to him. His name was Yuan Bai—Yuan Bai, bearer of the Sword Heart Demon Seed.
Almost no one knew how profound Wang Jie’s swordsmanship truly was.
Yet now, everyone could see it.
Hou Qing Ge’s gaze toward Wang Jie changed. How could a mere Full Star Realm cultivator from the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar have such astonishing mastery of sword techniques, matching even Yuan Mu?
If it came to pure sword control without the supreme sword arts, even she would lose to Yuan Mu.
The sword battle continued fiercely.
Yuan Mu’s expression grew heavier. He couldn’t suppress Wang Jie, no matter how hard he tried. Why? He always saw three moves ahead, but this person, although initially a bit slower, was quickly adapting and even starting to counter him perfectly. Was this man’s comprehension truly so terrifying?
No one understood better than Yuan Mu just how rapidly Wang Jie’s swordsmanship had improved during their brief exchange.
Wang Jie himself silently thanked Yuan Mu. He had never truly practiced swordsmanship before now. His sword skills had always come from battle techniques. Today, he finally experienced the profoundness of pure swordsmanship. [Only true combat could bring such growth.]
Seeing the faint smile on Wang Jie’s face, Yuan Mu’s eyes flashed coldly. He erupted with Star Force, pressing through his sword. He could not let this continue. Though reluctant to admit it, this man’s comprehension of sword technique was indeed monstrous—he couldn’t help him improve further.
Since pure swordsmanship couldn’t overwhelm him, he would crush him with Star Force.
He didn’t believe Wang Jie’s Star Force could match his own. Wait—this man cultivated Lock Force, even weaker.
Boom!
The entire arena shook from the sudden explosion of Star Force.
Everyone who knew Yuan Mu was shocked. He had changed his tactics, meaning he had failed to suppress Wang Jie through swordsmanship alone. Wang Jie could truly rival Yuan Mu with sword skill.
Sword Court disciples were utterly confused.
Yet Hou Xiao was different. She knew Wang Jie cultivated Zhong Yi’s swordsmanship. Yi Sword Technique seemed to lack distinct forms, but every move was a sword form. Under Sword Rain Technique, he passively controlled every sword qi from the beginning.
Given the slightest chance, Wang Jie’s mastery would rapidly soar.
That fool Yuan Mu was the perfect training partner: not as formidable as Yuan Bai, but not easily crushed either. How convenient.
Clang, clang, clang!
The swords collided heavily, with Yuan Mu’s Star Force surging and Wang Jie naturally countering with Lock Force.
The Star Force flowed endlessly, but Wang Jie’s Lock Force was even greater. Wang Jie’s Lock Force absorption outpaced even a genius like Yuan Mu’s Star Force cultivation.
Gradually, Yuan Mu’s Star Force began to falter.
Yuan Mu’s expression darkened. How could Wang Jie possess so much Lock Force?
Strength, sword skill, and Star Force—all had failed to overpower him. Was this why Wang Jie had been gifted Enlightenment Tea? So be it.
“Careful now,” Yuan Mu warned suddenly. “My next sword will sever your right arm.” He gripped his sword, rushing forward. Wang Jie quickly turned and swept his sword horizontally to meet the strike. Their swords clashed ordinarily enough, but a man like Yuan Mu was too proud for tricks. If he said it, he meant it.
Wang Jie felt the clash clearly and stared intently at Yuan Mu, observing the qi closely.
Yet suddenly, sharp pain flared through his right arm, blood splashing onto the stage.
Looking down in disbelief, Wang Jie then glanced back at Yuan Mu. [What just happened?]
Yuan Mu turned slowly, sword edge icy. “I said your right arm. My next strike, your left arm.” With that, he lunged forward again.
Another wound opened on Wang Jie’s left arm.
Wang Jie frowned deeply. He still couldn’t clearly see the strike. [Was it speed? No, it felt slow.]
Countless onlookers were bewildered, unable to see Yuan Mu’s sword clearly either.
Only those who had fought against Sword Court knew:
“It’s Sword Court’s hidden skill—Delay.”
“Hmph, a nasty sword art. The Delay doesn’t slow the sword itself. Wang Jie must see through it, or he’ll surely lose. He’ll be slowly worn down.”
“Next strike—your stomach.” Yuan Mu swung his sword again, remaining in place while sword qi pierced space toward Wang Jie.
Wang Jie lifted his sword, deflecting the sword qi while retreating. Yet another bloody mark opened across his abdomen.
His eyes narrowed sharply. He clearly stepped back—it should have missed by being one step slow. Yet he still took the hit?
Within Black White Heaven, Realm Lord Bai leaned forward gravely. “Sword Court truly is a giant matching the Armor One Sect. Their sword arts are indeed strange—though a bit dishonorable.”
“Next strike—your back.”
Sword qi flashed forward.
Wang Jie suddenly turned, facing the sword qi head-on. Under countless astonished gazes, he passed straight through unharmed.
Yuan Mu’s gaze grew intense. [He saw through it this quickly?]
Most still couldn’t comprehend.
Wang Jie looked curiously at Yuan Mu. “The sword isn’t slow—it’s my thoughts that lag behind. So, this is Sword Court’s swordsmanship? Quite impressive.”
Yuan Mu nodded appreciatively. “I acknowledge you, Wang Jie. You saw through my technique in merely three moves. No wonder you earned Enlightenment Tea.”
Wang Jie chuckled. “You’ve made your move. Now it’s my turn. Let’s see if you can see through mine.” His figure flashed, Sword Step carrying him swiftly toward Yuan Mu.
Yuan Mu frowned. “I didn’t intend to get injured fighting you.” As the words ended, he released his sword, which floated strangely. Grabbing it again, he vanished instantly.
Wang Jie stabbed forward but struck only empty air. Quickly spinning, he swung again, but Yuan Mu dodged like a ghost.
Wang Jie observed closely—Yuan Mu used no special stepping technique, yet always evaded him perfectly. Frustrated, Wang Jie unleashed Armor Eight Steps, fiercely pursuing, yet Yuan Mu still avoided him effortlessly, as if reading every move.
“What footwork is this?”
“It’s not footwork—it’s swordsmanship, the Guiding Sword.”
“The legendary Sword Court art no one has mastered for ages. At its peak, Guiding Sword is unbeatable, ranked alongside Sword Heart Demon Seed. Yuan Mu’s fame rests entirely upon this skill.”
“Has Star Dome Visage gone blind? Yuan Mu mastered the Guiding Sword, yet he wasn’t worthy of even one cup of enlightenment tea?”
“Who knows? Actually, Yuan Mu’s power is strong enough to rank in the top ten even in the last Full Star Realm Martial Meet. Had he participated then, he surely would have received enlightenment tea. But this year, they gave out only seven cups. Many guess the tea leaves might have become scarcer…”
No matter how Wang Jie struck, Yuan Mu effortlessly avoided every attack.
Wang Jie halted, and rain began falling from the sky.
Yuan Mu’s movements quickened, weaving swiftly through the curtain of rain. Suddenly, astonishment filled his eyes. [This rain—it holds sword qi?]
Raindrops, charged with sword qi, continuously sliced toward Yuan Mu. Yet, even so, they could not touch him.
Then, a sword rose, floating in midair, soon followed by a second, a third, until six swords hovered above.
Luo Kui stared in shock.
Hou Xiao was also stunned.
[A six-sword rain technique? Wang Jie truly hid his strength well.]
The dense rain of swords was now impossible for even the Guiding Sword to fully evade. Yuan Mu’s body became covered in wounds, with cuts appearing on his face, wrists, and his clothes torn into shreds.
Wang Jie stood calmly with closed eyes. [No matter how you dodge, when the rain fills heaven and earth, there is nowhere to hide.]
Unless one could step into the void itself. But that was a power belonging only to those who walked the Pathless Peak and Void Mountains.
Yuan Mu continued to endure strikes from sword qi until he finally reached his limit. Stabbing his sword deep into the earth, the rain curtain was instantly torn apart by powerful sword qi. He grasped the sword hilt and swept it sideways with all his might.
All the scattered sword qi converged, turning toward Wang Jie and falling upon him.
A gleam flashed in Wang Jie’s eyes. [Bridge law from the Yuan Clan—Time Sword Trace.]
He had specially studied it before the martial meet began.
This bridge law was incredibly powerful, yet it wasn’t meant for attacking, but rather for training in sword arts.
With this technique, sword lights from the past could be preserved as afterimages, existing indefinitely through time. The strength of the Sword Court stemmed from this very method. Legends said the Sword Court held countless sword lights from old masters of the Way of the Sword.
Though it appeared similar to Armor One Sect’s Martial Demonstration Hall, it was entirely different.
The Martial Demonstration Hall merely preserved illusory shadows of combat techniques, but these sword lights carried not only power but also the very essence of swordsmanship, as if masters from the past were demonstrating personally.
At this moment, Yuan Mu was using this bridge law to recall sword lights he’d previously unleashed, disrupting Wang Jie’s sword rain technique.
Wang Jie lifted a finger, unleashing the Starry Finger method.
Countless finger shadows clashed against sword lights within the rain curtain. Yuan Mu could see clearly that the sword rain technique was a star method, yet he never imagined Wang Jie possessed another star method. This person’s sword techniques, star methods, comprehension, strength, and even lock force had no flaws.
A sense of helplessness overwhelmed Yuan Mu.
He never imagined facing such a situation.
[My opponents should be others who received enlightenment tea, not him.]
[Star Dome Visage indeed had sharp eyes. Wang Jie deserved that enlightenment tea for good reason.]
Yet, Yuan Mu was certain he would win this battle.
Grasping the sword handle in reverse, Yuan Mu shattered the rain curtain completely, scattering both Starry Finger shadows and Time Sword Traces. Raising his head, his eyes grew deeper. Within each pupil appeared the shadow of a sword, extending outward, peeling away reality wherever his gaze fell. Even breathing seemed filled with sword shadows.
Wang Jie glanced around, wanting to move, but the air rippled, shaped into swords wherever it shifted.
He did not recognize this sword technique, but those from Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper trembled with shock.
It was the broken sword that pierced the entire pillar.
At that moment, everyone from the Sword Court was struck speechless. “Where did Yuan Mu learn this sword technique?”
“The Ancient Sword—it’s the foundation of the Ancient Sword!”
“Our Sword Court doesn’t possess such a technique. Could it be he gained insight from the Ancient Sword itself?”
“Legends say the Ancient Sword seeks destined ones, bestowing its sword techniques upon them. Yuan Mu must be its destined recipient.”
“Wonderful! If we could control the Ancient Sword, our Sword Court would be invincible…”
Only the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper understood the profound shock of this moment. Other bridge-pillar disciples remained unaware. Yet there was one other person who grasped it fully—Wang Jie himself.
Surrounded by ethereal sword images swirling subtly in the air, Wang Jie felt an icy chill. He lifted his head. Though he saw nothing physical, he felt as if an invisible sword had pierced through space itself, its tip pointed at him, freezing his very breath.
[The Ancient Sword?]
“No one knows this sword technique because I have never shown it to the world. If they had known, enlightenment tea would surely be mine,” Yuan Mu spoke slowly, his eyes no longer visible, replaced only by sword shadows. “Wang Jie, you forced me to use this move. You are now qualified to receive enlightenment tea. Today, I shall acknowledge your strength yet still eliminate you, shattering your arrogance and ignorance. You should feel honored.”
With these words, Yuan Mu raised his head, thrusting forward with one sword strike.