Chapter 199

Chapter 199: Exchange Match

For three months, she did not stop training her skills. She had mostly mastered the upgraded Rhythm Method from the furnace.

Later, she tried something new.

She absorbed the power of the stars while forging with the Rhythm Method at the same time.

Then something strange happened.

With the Rhythm Method boosting her, her intake of Lunar Starlight rose sharply.

After three months, in her sea of consciousness, the Azure Lotus, the Nine-Petal Lotus, now had three petals fully solid.

Now the fourth petal was about to turn solid too.

Li Shuang’s soul strength had unknowingly reached Nascent Soul Peak.

She had a feeling that once the fourth petal fully set, her soul strength would likely break through to the Divine Transformation Stage. [Almost there.]

Her spiritual cultivation stayed at the Golden Core Stage.

Yet her soul strength was a single step from the Divine Transformation Stage.

That was very rare in the cultivation world.

But to Li Shuang, if not for those silent ten years, she would have broken through the Divine Transformation Stage long ago.

What she did now was simply take back, step by step, what she had lost.

Of course, once she truly stepped into the Divine Transformation Stage now, her power would be far greater than if she had reached it ten years earlier.

Past suffering had become the foundation of her new path.

She would walk a road of her own.

Moonlight draped over Li Shuang as her face stayed calm. [Soon.]

Once her soul strength broke through, she could leave seclusion.

When she came out, she planned to visit Lin Qing Ling right away.

Because of the rules in Myriad Arts City, the Rebirth Art could only be cultivated by herself and could not be passed on.

Her Soul-Sundering Sword also required insight into the Great Dao, so it could not be taught.

But lately, she had reached a deep understanding of the Rhythm Method.

Some parts were too mystical to say in words.

Even so, she could explain part of it, and she had organized those parts into a Breathing Method.

Though not as strong as the full Rhythm Method, if Sword Sect disciples practiced it, it would greatly help their souls.

She would study it more and try to describe it in a clearer way.

Li Shuang sank even deeper into forging.

Moonlight fell like a waterfall and wrapped her whole body.

Her soul kept changing bit by bit. [When the fourth petal settles, I can leave.]

Three days later.

At the Sword Sect mountain gate, Sword Sect disciples stared ahead with cold eyes.

Yan Zhong He arrived with several disciples and Ye Zhao Zhao. He wore a mocking smile as he said: “Sect Master Meng, your Sword Sect disciples do not look very welcoming.”

Meng Yi Fei answered in an even tone: “If the guests come with goodwill, Sword Sect will welcome them. If they come with ill will, we will not. You know very well which intent you carry.”

Yan Zhong He’s gaze moved as he said: “You speak too harshly, Sect Master Meng. Goodwill, ill will, who can say? We are both famous sects of the Righteous Path. It is normal to exchange and compete. Sword Sect is one of the top six. My Tyrant Blade Sect has shallow roots. We have come to learn from Sword Sect’s disciples.”

He paused, then smiled as he said: “Please, Sword Sect disciples, do not hold back.”

Meng Yi Fei said calmly: “We welcome all friendly exchange. Since you are so eager, Sect Master Yan, please follow me to the Martial Arena.”

Yan Zhong He chuckled and strode after him.

Ren Gu and the others followed close behind.

Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes flicked around the crowd as she searched for Li Shuang.

She saw the disciples of Emotionless Peak and Ling Xu Peak. The talented youths of Sword Sect stood ready.

But she did not see Li Shuang.

Ye Zhao Zhao slowed on purpose and greeted Sheng Yuan and the others as she said: “Fellow Daoist Sheng, Fellow Daoist Shen, and this is…”

She looked at Chang Le An on purpose and then felt a wave of dislike. After being locked up for a while, he carried a gloomy air, like a rat hiding in a ditch, which made her feel sick. [How did Chang Le An become like this? Disgusting.]

Surprised that she spoke to him, Sheng Yuan felt a little flattered and hurried to say: “This is my third Junior Brother, Chang Le An.”

“Daoist Friend Chang, hello,” Ye Zhao Zhao said.

Chang Le An lifted his eyes and gave her a dark look.

Ye Zhao Zhao quickly looked away and said with gratitude: “Fellow Daoist Sheng, Fellow Daoist Shen, back in Chenrong Kingdom, you both helped me a lot. I have kept it in mind and will not forget.”

Sheng Yuan looked more pleased as he said: “It was nothing. You had nothing to do with that evil Ye Zhao Zhao. The people of Emotionless Peak smeared you, and I could not stand it.”

“People like Fellow Daoist Sheng and Fellow Daoist Shen are true Sword Cultivators who hate evil,” Ye Zhao Zhao said with open admiration, then added, “This time my father is bringing Senior Brothers to challenge Sword Sect. I tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. I could not stop him.”

Sheng Yuan shook his head as he said: “You just returned to Tyrant Blade Sect. This is not yours to decide.”

“I am glad you do not blame me,” Ye Zhao Zhao said with a long breath, then asked, “Where is Fellow Daoist Li from that day? I still remember her one sword cutting through all the blood fiends. How could she miss such an important match?”

Shen Yue said: “Senior Sister Li has been in the forging room in seclusion. She should be upgrading Black Abyss to Third Tier.”

Sheng Yuan let out a cold laugh as he said: “If she is only raising it to Third Tier, one month is enough. Yet she has stayed in seclusion for three whole months. She must have heard something and does not dare come out.”

“That is truly a pity,” Ye Zhao Zhao said with a sigh.

Watching her, Sheng Yuan said: “This exchange between disciples is a major event. If she bears the name of a genius, she should not keep hiding. Do not worry, Fellow Daoist Fang, I will go call her out.”

“Really? Then thank you, Daoist Friend,” Ye Zhao Zhao said with a bright look.

“It is nothing. I will go now,” Sheng Yuan said, then turned and headed straight for the forging room.

Shen Yue wanted to call out, but in the end he stayed quiet.

At the Martial Arena, Meng Yi Fei looked at Yan Zhong He and said: “The Barrier Formation on the platform is ready. How do you want to compete, Sect Master Yan?”

Yan Zhong He smiled and said: “The Barrier Formation will trigger once either side is harmed beyond a set limit and will force both out of the platform.”

Meng Yi Fei said in a level voice: “Since this is a friendly exchange, is it not better to stop at the first sign?”