Today, the Sword Master was still explaining the most fundamental sword styles, his face perpetually clouded with dissatisfaction: "A platform of a thousand li begins with a heap of earth; the tree that embraces requires the tiniest seedling. Yet do you truly think you've mastered it? I tell you—eight out of ten of you are blind practitioners!"
The person seated first on the left side of the lower tier was Lu Yangchen, who had advanced far ahead by defeating eight sword boys on the day of the sword trial. According to the Sword Master's rules, he had automatically become the Sword Hall's chief.
The Liangzhou Nichiren Sect's holy maiden Miao Huanxi had defeated seven opponents and ranked second, seated to Lu Yangchen's right.
The Song siblings—Song Yuanye and Song Lanzhen—had both defeated six opponents and tied for third place.
Below them sat Zhou Guang, descendant of the Sword Sect, who had defeated five and ranked fourth.
The remaining thirteen disciples had basically defeated four or fewer sword boys.
Particularly Jin Buhuan and Li Pu—they had only defeated one sword boy each and occupied the back row of the Sword Hall. Yet they felt no shame whatsoever. On the contrary, they seemed rather proud. The very next day, they'd cheerfully dubbed themselves "the Left and Right Door Gods of the Sword Hall" and written it out to paste on their desks.
They didn't care at all—
After all, someone worse still sat outside the door.
Fortunately, the Divine Sword Hall was spacious enough, its eaves wide enough, more than adequate to accommodate a few desks outside.
Wang Shu sat behind one such desk.
The Sword Master's lecture on swordsmanship drifted out from within. When he heard crucial points, Wang Shu would lift his brush to make notations. Just as he was about to set pen to paper, he suddenly heard a strange sound outside.
It sounded like something striking the ground.
Who would dare come to the Sword Hall to knock and beat while the Sword Master was teaching?
Wang Shu instinctively frowned and looked back.
With just one glance, he froze.
Zhou Man stood in a deep black robe at the bottom of the thirty-three steps. She was raising her head to look up, her dark pupils reflecting the vast skylight. When she saw him turn around, her eyebrows lifted slightly, and she actually smiled.
She had been standing below for some time, still holding a sword.
At this moment, the sword rested against the ground like a staff.
Presumably, the sound of striking stone just now had come from this.
Zhou Man didn't bother calling out to him. Knowing this clay Bodhisattva had a good temperament, she simply raised her sword and pointed toward the interior of the Sword Hall under his gaze.
Wang Shu looked in that direction and understood her meaning.
The Sword Master was still lecturing inside. At that moment, he descended from above with the Shuri sword manual. Looking up, he spotted the sickly seedling Wang Shu outside the door watching him, so he asked, "Is something the matter?"
Wang Shu considered for a moment and said softly, "Sword Master, someone is looking for you outside."
The Sword Master's first reaction was to roll his eyes: "I'm teaching. Looking for what? Tell them to get lost."
But Jin Buhuan sat at the back, closest to Wang Shu. He spotted what seemed to be an inconspicuous smile on Wang Shu's lips and instantly thought of something. He stood up and stepped out to look, then immediately laughed. Turning back to the Sword Master, he announced, "Sword Master, Zhou Man is here."
Zhou Man?!
Upon hearing this, the Sword Master's eyes lit up. He almost laughed immediately but quickly realized this couldn't be so obvious, so he hastily coughed and resumed his cantankerous demeanor.
He only snorted: "Does she dare come? I suspect she wants another look."
The words were disdainful, but his steps proved extremely honest as he quickly headed out.
The remaining disciples in the hall were surprised: Zhou Man has returned?
They exchanged glances, all feeling somewhat restless.
Miao Huanxi was fastest, showing not the slightest hesitation as she followed directly out. Immediately after came young Zhou Guang. Li Pu, seated at the door, should have been quickest, but he remained stunned for a while before realizing there was excitement to witness. He quickly pulled his legs out and turned outward, though unfortunately he'd already fallen behind Zhou Guang.
With a leader, what remained to fear?
Thus a great mass of disciples rushed out of the Sword Hall.
After thirteen days, Zhou Man didn't seem to have changed much. Yet when everyone's eyes fell upon her, they could vaguely sense something different from before.
If Zhou Man that day had been fiery and brimming with sharp edges, at this moment she was deep and restrained.
But though her blade remained sheathed, she radiated a sense of danger.
When the Sword Master saw her in such a state, a flash of light crossed his eyes, but he sneered: "What, are you still trying to enter my Sword Hall?"
Zhou Man said flatly, "Yes. I've come to test the sword."
The Sword Master declared, "Since you don't know repentance and wish so badly to humiliate yourself, then I cannot help you. Sword boys—"
He bellowed loudly.
Ten sword boys emerged from the Sword Hall, lined up along the thirty-three steps exactly as on the day of the sword trial.
Sword Boy One at the bottom raised his eyes to regard Zhou Man.
Zhou Man wasted no words. She directly tossed the iron sword in her hand aside. Sword Boy One produced a wooden sword and handed it to her.
The two still exchanged the word "please" with each other as they had that day.
Sword Boy One stepped back and stood still. The Sword Master wondered—in his heart, he wanted to accept this student. Should he release some water today so she could pass earlier?
But the moment this thought emerged, a fierce blade on the opposite side slashed over!
Sword Boy One was shocked. Instinctively raising his sword to block, he quickly retreated.
However, Zhou Man's person followed her sword, pressing down on the wooden sword he was holding. When she drew closer, she laughed: "Distracted, wanting to release water—isn't that improper?"
Sword Boy One's heart turned cold. Then he saw that today she had changed to a left-handed sword—
Today's Zhou Man was no longer the Zhou Man of that day!
His water-releasing thoughts were all put away in an instant.
His expression grew solemn as he spoke just three words: "Full strength ahead!"
A fierce sword battle commenced.
Compared to the left-right difficulties and frequent flaws of that day, today's Zhou Man could be called flawless in swordsmanship!
In just ten days, her left-handed sword had been practiced to this extent?
Sword Boy One felt puzzled, but the more he fought, the more wrong it felt. The more he fought, the more familiar it became.
Every one of Zhou Man's strikes carried a cool sensation.
Heavy.
Extremely heavy!
Almost all the opponents he'd met before used right-handed swords. But Zhou Man wielded a left-handed sword today. Whether in direction or angle, it differed from the right-handed swords he was familiar with. Adjusting and adapting in such a short time proved difficult. He accidentally misjudged once, revealing a flaw.
Zhou Man instantly seized the opportunity, pursued him, and slashed down with a heavy sword.
Sword Boy One had to step back.
Zhou Man then slashed another sword!
Sword Boy One retreated again and again.
Yet Zhou Man still had another sword!
"Clang clang clang"—three swords slashed continuously, their heavy force like a massive mountain falling, crushing Sword Boy One until his palm tingled.
At this point, he finally recognized where the familiarity came from.
Zhou Man's face was stern as she finally split forth a fourth sword!
Sword Boy One's right hand felt somewhat numb with pain. He was about to lose grip on the wooden sword.
Perhaps if he changed hands now, he could still put up a fight.
Yet he knew better than anyone that he'd used this same strategy against Zhou Man that day. Even if she changed hands, she'd simply walk down another dead end.
With a "pop," the sword in Sword Boy One's hand finally flew from his grasp and immediately fell to the ground!
This situation and scene were so similar to that day!
Sword Boy One looked up at Zhou Man.
The people on the steps couldn't believe their eyes: "Her strategy for defeating Sword Boy One is exactly the same as the one Sword Boy One used against her that day..."
Especially those final four swords carried suffocating oppression!
—The calm surface had been torn apart. Fire burned in the depths. Zhou Man's edge finally ceased converging and was released from its sheath.
If the feeling that day had still been vague, today's sensation was too obvious—
The intensity of her temperament was truly astonishing.
When untouched, she might be as calm as water, lukewarm, even difficult to notice her presence. However, once encountered or violated, her fierce and dangerous nature would unabashedly surge forth, allowing people to instantly experience the true meaning of the word "fear."
Zhou Man merely sheathed her sword with an extremely ordinary expression and said flatly, "I accept your guidance."
Everything was the same as that day, yet the sides of victor and vanquished had already reversed!
The feeling in Sword Boy One's heart proved extremely difficult to describe.
It seemed he'd been retaliated against—tooth for tooth, blood for blood. However much embarrassment he'd given Zhou Man that day, that much embarrassment had been reclaimed today.
Undoubtedly, Zhou Man had done this deliberately.
He actually felt a measure of admiration. Bowing convincingly and returning the salute, he stepped aside.
The Sword Master had thought she could win, but he hadn't expected her to win so thoroughly—practically crushing her opponent!
The surprise in his heart was truly hard to describe to others.
He only said, "You have already won. This old man has nothing more to say. Come up. You may enter the Sword Hall."
Everyone also thought she'd regained face this time, and even the Sword Master no longer embarrassed her about the finger-cutting matter.
Jin Buhuan had already laughed and quietly waved to Zhou Man.
But Wang Shu stood beside him and merely watched quietly.
Everyone waited for Zhou Man to ascend.
Unexpectedly, she stood there without moving and actually said, "It's not over yet. Not too late to enter after I finish fighting."
Everyone was shocked.
Song Yuanye said, "She's..."
Zhou Man didn't even glance at the people above but turned toward Sword Boy Two on the steps with her sword: "You come."
—She would continue!
Only then did everyone realize that Zhou Man probably hadn't come merely to enter the Sword Hall.
She harbored bigger and deeper ambitions!
The sword trial rule stated that defeating the previous sword boy allowed one to challenge the next.
The Sword Master had no objections.
Only at this time did he think that in just thirteen days, Zhou Man could defeat Sword Boy One with overwhelming advantage—this was already very impressive. Even if she fought backward, she could at most battle two or three more, and each battle would prove more difficult than the last.
But he never expected that Sword Boy Two, who should have been stronger than Sword Boy One, would be defeated at an even faster speed than Sword Boy One after battling Zhou Man!
The Sword Master's face suddenly filled with astonishment.
Immediately afterward came Sword Boy Three, Sword Boy Four, Sword Boy Five...
All the way to Sword Boy Eight!
Today's Zhou Man was like a different person—advancing forward with none able to stop her!
Though it was a wooden sword, it actually emanated a sense of killing intent.
Amidst the shock, he only heard the harsh sound of two sword blades crossing each other. Zhou Man's right hand slapped her opponent's forearm, knocking his long sword away. The tip of her own sword struck his throat accurately!
She had won again!
"Eight..."
Finally, someone slowly exhaled the breath they'd been holding for ages, yet the shock couldn't be hidden in their voice.
At this moment, an extremely subtle atmosphere suddenly pervaded the scene. Many people quietly turned their heads to look at the only person in the Sword Hall who had defeated eight sword boys before—
Lu Yangchen.
As long as Zhou Man defeated one more person, she could surpass him and become the first sword chief in Sword Hall history who wasn't from a noble family!
Lu Yangchen didn't speak, showing a somewhat solemn expression rarely seen. His eyes fell on Zhou Man below.
Miao Huanxi also frowned, as if sensing a threat.
The Sword Master hadn't spoken for a long time. Only then did he ask, "Do you wish to continue?"
Answering him were two words Zhou Man fearlessly uttered: "Of course."
A bottle of ten Star Transformation Pills hadn't been taken in vain. Thirteen consecutive days of sword practice hadn't been wasted!
If one must do something, be the best at it!
How could she be satisfied with merely defeating eight sword boys, tying with Lu Yangchen, and giving up?
Zhou Man still had strength to spare. After defeating Sword Boy Eight, she would face Sword Boy Nine.
At this point, one could already discern the different styles she displayed against different opponents.
Lu Yangchen observed, "The stronger the opponent, the less frequently she uses her sword. Most of the time she conserves her strength, never wasting it, waiting for opportunities. Once the opponent shows a flaw, she delivers a fatal blow. This style isn't like a swordsman but more like a..."
He didn't speak that word.
But Miao Huanxi continued, "More like an assassin."
It wasn't because Zhou Man's strength was merely adequate, but because she wanted to completely defeat Sword Boy One using Sword Boy One's very own tricks from that day!
So waiting until the second sword fight—the third and fourth sword fights—the swordsmanship grew faster and faster.
Originally, her three biggest problems had been that her body techniques weren't fast enough, her sword-holding wasn't stable enough, and her strength wasn't sufficient. These flaws were completely invisible now.
Song Lanzhen couldn't believe it: "Has it really only been thirteen days?"
Song Yuanye added, "She still uses a left-handed sword."
Zhou Guang, descendant of the Sword Sect, was extremely excited: "It's precisely because of her left-handed sword that she can win so many consecutive victories. All opponents use right-handed swords. They're all familiar with right-handed swords but unfamiliar with Zhou Man. And her swordsmanship is so exquisite..."
Holding her sword and moving in the field, Zhou Man's figure was graceful as a swan, lithe as a dragon.
Sword Boy Nine's strength was already formidable. When Zhou Man battled Sword Boy Eight before, he'd been watching from the steps. He could basically judge Zhou Man's methods and habits of drawing the sword, even considering countermeasures in advance.
Lu Yangchen had been defeated by this person.
Was it because the swordsmanship personally taught by Marquis Lu wasn't exquisite enough?
No—it was simply because he'd been seen through!
Just like Zhou Man at this moment. Every sword had been anticipated by her opponent. Not only were all her sword paths sealed by her opponent, but the swords produced by her opponent were also more mature and seasoned!
After a full moment of exchanging moves, she was stunned to not find even a single flaw in her opponent!
How could she win like this?
Zhou Man's heart slowly sank. She knew she couldn't keep dealing with Sword Boy Nine like this. The opponent awaited in leisure while she'd already faced eight people before. Her physical strength was seriously depleted. Her physical and mental state had reached a certain limit.
If she dragged this out any longer, there would only be one loser!
Once she realized this, her sense of urgency about victory and defeat urged her to quickly conceive strategies that could achieve a swift decision.
The patient and cautious hunter who had faced others previously suddenly vanished.
Instead emerged a bold and risk-taking gambler!
She began to attack—fast attack, fierce attack. Sword Boy Nine could only respond more quickly. All that could be heard in the field was the sound of sword strikes. All that could be seen were afterimages of sword wind. One couldn't distinguish who struck first and how the other responded.
Miao Huanxi immediately said, "Does she want to attack for a quick victory?"
Lu Yangchen was the only one among several people who had fought against Sword Boy Nine. Precisely because of his defeat, he knew how amazing Sword Boy Nine's strength was. He only said, "Once you start attacking for a quick victory, you'll become anxious and easily show flaws. But the opponent won't show flaws—they'll only seize your flaws and capitalize on them to win!"
As if confirming his words—
As soon as Lu Yangchen finished speaking, Zhou Man was forced to retreat by her opponent due to a sword that failed to connect.
Since she'd started attacking, Sword Boy Nine had been waiting for this moment. Though a doubt of "is this flaw coming a bit too fast" had skimmed through his heart, Zhou Man's consecutive rounds of fast attacks had made him accustomed to responding at maximum speed. So when this doubt arose, his person had already attacked with the sword.
Heaven knows Zhou Man had been waiting for this moment!
She majored in the "Yi Shen Technique." Those who practice archery pay more attention than those who practice swordsmanship to stabilizing their lower body. One must firmly root oneself to the ground before the arrows shot can be stable. Anyone could show flaws in their lower body—but Zhou Man couldn't!
Sword Boy Nine's blade came toward her. But she quickly transferred her left-handed sword to her right hand at this moment. At the same time, she made a stroke with her feet and directly pivoted on the "flaw" she'd just exposed.
At this time, Sword Boy Nine's sword aimed at her right flank. If she didn't retreat even one point, even a wooden sword would probably pierce through one of her ears!
Sword Boy Nine was shocked and instinctively tilted his sword aside to avoid it.
However, at the same moment, Zhou Man had already used her right hand—the hand with the severed finger—to place her sword against his neck!
This brief moment of confrontation was truly lightning-fast. Many people didn't have time to analyze the tricks and intentions of both sides in their minds before the victor was already clear.
Only...
Everyone saw that Sword Boy Nine had just withdrawn his sword, and they felt somewhat hesitant for a while.
Song Yuanye questioned, "If Sword Boy Nine hadn't withdrawn his sword, the outcome would be unpredictable. She was lucky, right?"
Song Lanzhen had just wanted to shake her head.
But Miao Huanxi's mouth beside her proved faster. She glanced at Song Yuanye mockingly, then said, "It's courage!"
At this point, it would be foolish to not realize Zhou Man's previous flaw had been deliberately sold.
It was just that Sword Boy Nine felt inevitably somewhat unwilling to lose this time: "If I hadn't withdrawn my sword, you would have lost one ear."
Zhou Man said, "But you would have lost your head."
The swords of both had come at almost the same moment, except that Sword Boy Nine's sword had stabbed at her ear while her sword slashed at Sword Boy Nine's neck.
But Sword Boy Nine had withdrawn his sword just now, while she hadn't.
This only proved one thing: Zhou Man was a madwoman. As long as she paid a smaller price than her opponent, then even losing one ear, she would still cut off her opponent's head!
Sword Boy Nine said slowly, "I have only seen such courage in desperate outlaws."
Zhou Man smiled but didn't respond. She only sheathed her wooden sword and bowed with it: "I accept your guidance."
She had defeated the ninth sword boy!
At this moment, before the Sword Hall, there was utter silence.
Lu Yangchen looked at her with a complicated expression. There was a sense of loss—disappointed that such a quick victory strategy hadn't been conceived by himself. He admired her even more—admiring her for such courage, willing to exchange the price of self-harm for this victory.
The long lie of thirteen days had been for today!
Only Sword Boy Ten remained standing on the steps.
Even the Sword Master was shocked by Zhou Man.
Especially when she'd been in danger, changing her left-hand sword to her right, holding the sword with the hand that had a broken finger and snatching back victory—this truly carried a meaning of trying to prove something in the darkness.
Who said that with severed fingers one couldn't learn the sword?
The Sword Master stared at her, unconsciously softening his voice: "Only Sword Boy Ten remains. Do you wish to try again?"
To be honest, Zhou Man's previous style had been too harsh and indomitable. There seemed no reason to retreat at all. Everyone thought that regardless of whether she could defeat Sword Boy Ten, she would try again.
Even if she lost, she would still be honored in defeat.
However, this time, Zhou Man shook her head.
Everyone was immediately surprised.
The Sword Master couldn't help his astonishment: "Not fighting?"
Zhou Man smiled and said, "Too much is as bad as too little. I won't fight. Nine is enough. One should still be humble."
At this moment, everyone nearly cursed in their hearts.
Jin Buhuan was made to laugh by her and thought to himself: If you call this "humility," then I truly don't know how to write the word "arrogant"!
Only Wang Shu didn't smile but frowned instead.
His eyes fell on Zhou Man. From a distance, he noticed her left hand hanging at her side seemed to be trembling slightly, beyond control. Only the next moment she clenched it tightly, making it invisible.
The Sword Master also laughed, scolded "what nonsense," then turned around to see that all the people who should have stayed in the hall had come out. He cursed loudly, "Did I say you could come out? After watching the excitement, why don't you hurry up and get back inside!"
Everyone was startled. Not daring to refute, they obediently went in.
At this time, the Sword Master snorted, "You come in too."
After speaking, he put his hands behind his back and went in.
Zhou Man set down the wooden sword, picked up the iron sword she'd thrown down before, and slowly ascended along the thirty-three steps to the front of the Sword Hall.
Wang Shu sat outside the door.
When Zhou Man came to the entrance, she glanced at his desk and couldn't help muttering, "Listening to a 'sword lecture outside the door,' the study preparation is thorough! Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—all present."
Wang Shu looked up at her.
But Zhou Man had already withdrawn her gaze. She stood at the door and merely looked inside, not entering.
The Sword Master turned around and noticed, asking, "Aren't you coming in?"
Zhou Man only asked, "This student defeated nine sword boys. I don't know where I should sit to enter the hall?"
Inside the Sword Hall, there was sudden silence.
All eyes fell on Lu Yangchen, who had originally been seated first in the upper left corner. He couldn't help but feel embarrassed for himself.
After all, who would have thought the top position in the sword trial could change hands!
And be seized by a female cultivator with a severed finger!
However, Lu Yangchen himself didn't seem embarrassed.
Hearing this, he rose, relinquished his original position, and stood aside quite gracefully. He said to Zhou Man, "Defeating nine sword boys makes one first in the sword trial. By right, this position is designated as the Sword Hall's chief!"
Zhou Man then walked in with her sword and sat down boldly.
Upon sitting, she casually threw the iron sword onto the desk, producing a "bang" that made people's hearts jump.
Everyone watched her posture all the way in, then looked at Lu Yangchen, who had become somewhat pitiful under her backdrop. They worried about his future fate for a while and couldn't help wondering: Is this really the new sword chief of our Divine Sword Hall, or some bully who oppresses men and women?
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