Chapter 42: The Domain of Sword Dao
The Inheritance Space had refilled its power. At this pace, it would need about three days to recharge fully. This allowed a maximum of ten days to be spent inside. But time inside was different. Ten days within meant only one day outside.
Tomorrow, Li Shuang had a duel to attend. She could not stay in the space forever. After careful thought, she decided she could remain inside for about five days this time.
Last time, she had trained without rest for ten full days. She had dived deep into the mysteries of the Sword Dao. When she emerged, her mind swirled like a vast, endless ocean, filled with a new understanding of the sword.
Later, when she shared her thoughts with her fellow disciples from Emotionless Peak, those insights slowly became a firm mastery of the Sword Dao.
In the Arena battle, if she had not taken that leap in her sword understanding, her victory would not have been as marvelous.
Now, Li Shuang longed to meet Su Mu once again.
In a flash of light, she stepped into the Inheritance Space. This time, a pure-white void awaited her. Standing at its center was Su Mu. He seemed to have been waiting for her.
“Senior, I—”
Before she could finish her words, the long sword in Su Mu’s hand slipped from his grip. It flew toward her like a striking falcon.
Li Shuang moved quickly and dodged the attack. In the next heartbeat, Su Mu closed the gap. His sword came from behind at a tricky angle.
[It had already begun!]
Suppressing her surprise, Li Shuang steadied her breath. She raised her blade and met his attack with determination.
After a few exchanges, Su Mu’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Excellent,” he murmured.
Her previous training had borne fruit. For many years, Su Mu had waited for a prodigy of the Sword Dao. At last, one had come.
He saw that Li Shuang was like an uncut piece of jade in the way of the sword. She had little formal instruction. Most of her techniques were learned by her own hard work and intuition.
This gave her swordplay a wild and unpredictable quality that sometimes shone with brilliant new ideas.
Unlike those who followed strict sword styles, she was not bound by old forms. For her, those restrictions only blocked the path to true Sword Dao.
With these thoughts in his mind, Su Mu’s strikes grew even sharper. Yet his voice stayed calm.
“Continue.”
“You spoke boldly before. Why do you now seem so weak?” Su Mu teased.
“The Emotionless Sword Technique is not for just anyone. If you can knock my sword from my hand, I will let you challenge the first form of the technique. Otherwise, return to your old, useless sword forms.”
Li Shuang looked at him calmly. “Senior, I have cultivated the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art.”
Su Mu raised an eyebrow. His face stayed still. “I was only teasing you. I did not expect you to take it to heart.”
He knew that those who practiced the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art rarely felt anger.
Li Shuang nodded and struck with her sword, speaking evenly. “It seems you have not talked to anyone for a long time, Senior.”
Su Mu was silent.
“It’s fine. Next time, I will make sure to chat with you more,” she said.
Su Mu gritted his teeth softly.
[Did all Sword Cultivators have to speak so plainly?]
Her words were both annoying and, strangely, warm.
Su Mu’s sword moves became even faster. Li Shuang barely avoided his strikes. Her expression grew serious.
In the vast Inheritance Space, the only sounds were the clashing of steel that rang like celestial bells.
Li Shuang’s focus grew intense. She knew Su Mu, her Senior Brother, was a fearsome swordsman. The moment she showed even a small flaw, his sword would strike without mercy.
That constant pressure drove her to move her sword even faster. Her techniques began to flow smoothly.
A storm of Sword Dao insights filled her mind.
Without her knowing, within the Black Abyss Sword, a clear Sword Spirit began to glow. Li Shuang had plunged into the mysteries of the Sword Dao.
She watched Su Mu’s sword stance closely.
Why could he always predict where her Black Abyss Sword would go?
She felt as if she were being led by the nose.
There had to be something she missed.
There must be!
Li Shuang fixed her gaze on every move of Su Mu. She did not miss even a slight twitch in his muscles.
A faint, knowing smile played on Su Mu’s lips. He held Li Shuang in high regard, yet he followed the rules.
He raised his sword. Its gleam danced in the light. His ordinary long sword cut through the air at an eerie angle.
At that very moment, Li Shuang had no time to think.
Her hand moved on its own. The Black Abyss Sword intercepted the falling strike perfectly.
“Oh?” Su Mu’s eyes shone with surprise.
But Li Shuang did not pause.
Seizing the chance, she launched a counterattack. Her eyes were closed the entire time.
Su Mu’s smile deepened with intrigue. Li Shuang had finally understood.
One must have eyes to see the world. Yet a true swordsman does not always need eyes to see the sword.
Sometimes, sight can deceive. A heart that is one with the sword sees clearly.
With her eyes closed, Li Shuang saw everything with clarity.
She knew the blade’s path and the next strike. In her heart, everything was as clear as crystal.
As the Black Abyss Sword swept, a small domain began to form around her.
This was—the Sword Domain.
Normally, it would take time for a Sword Domain to grow strong. But Su Mu broke down her sword techniques and refined her Sword Dao insights. The young domain grew steadily.
Her years of understanding nourished its growth.
No one knew how long it lasted. Li Shuang poured all her Sword Dao insights into the domain. It expanded until it reached a ten-meter radius. Then it stopped.
A ten-meter radius was her current limit. To grow further, she needed deeper understanding.
Then—a sharp crack echoed as Li Shuang’s sword struck Su Mu’s wrist.
His sword fell to the ground.
Li Shuang’s eyes flew open, a spark of joy lighting them. Without hesitation, she bowed deeply to Su Mu with sincere gratitude. “Many thanks, Senior Brother.”
She understood well that knocking the sword from his hand did not mean she had surpassed him. The gap between them was as wide as the moon and drifting dust.
Su Mu had held back part of his strength to spar with her.
Her Sword Domain had grown because of his guidance.
For a swordsman to help another form a Sword Domain was proof of Su Mu’s deep mastery of the Sword Dao.
Su Mu accepted her bow easily and smiled. “Someone outside is calling you. You should go. When you return, I will teach you the first form of the Heartless Sword Art.”
“Yes,” Li Shuang replied.
The moment she answered, she was sent out of the space.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation