Chapter 245: Chapter 240 Jiuli Saber Scripture
The sword momentum of "Wind and Rain Sword" covered all directions, and Ling Wujue, who was charging head-on, could not avoid it.
He didn’t want to either.
"The Jiuli Saber Scripture" derived from the "Chi You Three Disks Scripture," embodies the pinnacle of slaughter and supreme domination, excelling in overpowering the strong with strength; retreating would only weaken its momentum and dissipate its Qi.
"Red Copper Primordial Body."
At that moment, Ling Wujue’s body turned crimson red, a metallic sheen glimmered, and his hair stood on end like sword spears, as if his human form had transformed into a body of metal and iron.
He faced the "Wind and Rain Sword" head-on, drawing his sword blade from his waist, instantly unleashing a torrential surge of Sword Light, "Canghai Hengliu."
If Jiang Li’s "Wind and Rain Sword" was about converging wind and rain into unity, turning chaos into order, then Ling Wujue’s sword style was wildly domineering, like the turbulent Canghai Hengliu.
"Boom!"
The surge of Sword Light clashed with the "Wind and Rain Sword," the rain turned into sharp blades, spinning rapidly with the wind, instantly tearing through the berserk tide of Blade Energy. The sword light, formed by natural phenomena, engulfed Ling Wujue.
From their first confrontation, the battle tilted overwhelmingly in one direction.
When Jiang Li used this move, Yang Ji, the Young Master of the Taiping Sect, did not dare to confront its sharpness directly. Although part of this was due to Yang Ji not being a Martial Cultivator, it still shows the overwhelming strength of this move.
Now, Jiang Li, having practiced the "Wind Queen’s Strange Gate," had deepened his strength significantly. Even though he did not fully exert himself to avoid harming Ling Wujue’s life, it wasn’t something easily contended with.
The sword light swallowed Ling Wujue, countless gusts and rain blades spiraled and struck him, tearing through his vestment robe, creating sounds of metal clashing against his Red Copper Primordial Body.
In just a moment, Ling Wujue was already showing bloodstains.
However—
His sword momentum still persisted. Ling Wujue wielded his long sword wildly like a raging river, executing his sword styles amidst the fierce wind and heavy rain, growing even more intense.
Jiang Li’s "Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill" meticulously scrutinized Ling Wujue’s True Qi and discovered the secret behind his increasingly fierce sword momentum.
Ling Wujue’s True Qi surged through his limbs and was firmly locked within his body, raging madly through his meridians. Even the force from the fierce wind and rain blades that struck him was forcibly contained within his body, constantly stimulating his flesh’s potential.
It was like sealing a bottle of water and shaking it vigorously, causing the water inside to become more tumultuous and the kinetic energy of the bottle itself to rise.
Similar to Zhong Shenxiu’s berserker style, the more intense the battle, the stronger he became, which required an extraordinarily sturdy physical body. If the body wasn’t strong enough or the meridians weren’t tough enough, then the rampaging True Qi would first tear through the meridians, bursting out of the body.
Such a technique, harming oneself before hurting others, the deeper one’s self-harm, the stronger the force generated, the closer to death, the more ferocious the True Qi.
Zhong Shenxiu relied on the power of his Dao Fruit Ability to forcibly endure, while Ling Wujue relied on the Red Copper Primordial Body cultivated from the "Jiuli Saber Scripture" to withstand the surging True Qi.
"Heavenly Gifted Divine Weapon."
"Heavenly Mandate."
"Patrol the Four Directions."
The Merit Dao Fruit’s "Patrol the Four Directions" bolstered strength within its zone, the Divine General Dao Fruit’s "Heavenly Gifted Divine Weapon" added an extra sharpness to an already exceptional blade, and "Heavenly Mandate" meant enforcing the will of the Heavenly Court to subjugate the wicked and disloyal.
Although Jiang Li was neither a demon, ghost, nor monster, because his Dao Fruit was not within the related system, it was similarly subjected to some targeted restraint, just not as strong as against demons, ghosts, and monsters.
"Bone Burning into a Hill, Kill!"
The sword style, from surging, turned into a fire-like invasion, the Sword Light turned crimson, and the Blade Energy furiously rolled.
"Boom!"
The sword light that was about to plunge into the lake suddenly exploded, and the furious dragon-like Blade Energy bent in the air, covering the sky as it descended.
Ling Wujue used Jiang Li’s offensive momentum to amplify his own sword strength. While sustaining injuries, he also pushed his own power to the peak, breaking through the "Wind and Rain Sword" and seizing the opportunity to counterattack.
The ferocious Blade Energy, like a fire dragon, swooped in, teeth bared and claws flashing, casting Jiang Li and the surrounding lake surface in a glaring red hue.
"Bang!"
The Fire Dragon struck the water, slashing through the lake, causing countless waves to burst forth, fine as snow. Jiang Li’s figure was also covered by the intense crimson Sword Light and splashing water, barely visible.
Ling Wujue charged across the water, every muscle filled with force. He switched hands gripping the sword, like a fierce beast holding a blade, a single strike split into six slashes, each streak of Sword Light turned into a red fire wheel, crushing towards that blurred figure.
Too strong!
Only after officially crossing swords with Jiang Li did Ling Wujue truly understand his opponent’s strength. His recent move "Bone Burning into a Hill" was ferocious, but it definitely could not endanger Jiang Li’s life, nor was it likely to injure him. Hence, despite seemingly gaining the upper hand with that strike, Ling Wujue still relentlessly pursued his attack.
The fiery blade wheels were brutally swift and relentless, indestructible, and instantly split the water spray and residual Blade Energy, revealing an unharmed figure.
Jiang Li stood above the lake surface, in the Kan Position, utmost like water. Suddenly, countless parts assembled in his hand, forming a pitch-black long sword, its Sword Light like fire, invading everything.
Incredulously, it was a similar sword style.
Collecting, transforming, operating, unleashing, Jiang Li absorbed Ling Wujue’s Blade Energy and, using the "Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill" to discern his sword style, he struck with the same sword technique, indistinguishable from Ling Wujue’s.
Eight Trigrams Shifting, transforming Kan into Li, Jiang Li leaped forward, his body following the blade, slicing into the blade wheel like a fine line, the intense and ferocious Blade Energy erupted.
"Boom!"
That fine line precisely cut into the gaps of the six paths of Sword Light. The Blade Energy explosion, the clash of similar Qi Mechanisms, disrupted the blade wheel, and Jiang Li, like a fish weaving through streams, emerged from amidst them. The Mo Wu Blade left his hand, the parts reassembled, and the blade grew at least twice its size.
A phantom dragon arm extended from Jiang Li’s right shoulder, like a third arm, grasping the large sword, and with the force of "Power Splitting Huashan," he slashed down through the air.
"Clang!"
This sword strike was parried by Ling Wujue using his long sword, emitting a loud noise; yet the unparalleled force intended to shock Ling Wujue directly into the water.
Left with no choice, Ling Wujue had to release the tumultuous Qi Force from the soles of his feet, striking the surface of the lake.
"Bang!"
The lake’s surface exploded with water splashes, and the fierce Qi Force burst out, forcibly halting Ling Wujue’s descent; but then, the broadsword struck again.
"Bang!"
A horizontal slash.
"Bang!"
A vertical chop.
Then a diagonal cut.
Simple sword styles yet possessing boundless power, every strike though blocked by Ling Wujue, also caused his arms to bleed and skin to crack, revealing the flesh beneath while his internal Qi Force continuously leaked.
Ling Wujue retreated step after step, retreating a total of seven steps; his tumultuous Qi Force was nearly exhausted, and his True Qi was also depleting.
Another strike.
The dragon arm raised high, as the blade edge fell, the pressure immense like Mount Tai bearing down; the watching disciples couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, marveling at Jiang Li’s merciless strike. If it connected, Ling Wujue would not die, but he would be gravely injured.
Only Elder Kaiyang remained standing on the boat, simply watching.
As the blade fell, the momentum arrived first; Ling Wujue was about to be depleted of strength, and another shock like this would render him incapable of standing on the water surface. But he only felt the water rise past his shins before he was standing firm.
Unbeknownst to him, he had retreated to the shallow banks at the lakeside.
And this strike was about to land on him, already exhausted.
At that moment—
A surge of resplendent True Qi flowed into Ling Wujue’s body from behind, and his left hand instinctively rose, unleashing a grand palm force.
"Bang!"
Jiang Li transformed the chop into a vertical strike, unhurriedly controlling his energy with ease; the palm force struck the Mo Wu Blade, initially surging before suddenly weakening, split into two by the blade edge.
A faint starlight emerged around Jiang Li’s body, as his dragon arm slowly retracted, and the Mo Wu Blade once again transformed into a sword, settling in his hand.
He looked towards Ling Wujue’s rear, speaking lightly, "Utilizing the body to release force; worthy of being the eldest senior brother."
"Surviving a deadly place, blooming without defeat. Sixth Junior Brother, you have good comprehension."
The figure of Ling Wujue, who had entered the water, was now standing on the surface again. As his figure shifted, the presence of Yun Jiuye emerged behind him, entering Jiang Li’s field of vision.
"Is it only about surviving a deadly place?" Jiang Li asked with a light laugh, "Eldest senior brother, you probably want to see more than just that, right?"
His words almost explicitly stated that Yun Jiuye had sent Ling Wujue to test Jiang Li and tarnish his reputation.
Such a move would inevitably lead others to think that Yun Jiuye, the eldest senior brother, feared his junior brother.
Yun Jiuye understood this too, but he had no choice but to show up.
Because if he didn’t, it would be the same as watching his junior brother face danger and thus harming his reputation. Although Jiang Li would absolutely not truly deal a killing blow, and the sword strike would likely stop, the damage to his reputation had to be taken.
"Also, I must thank Sixth Junior Brother for helping Fifth Junior Brother release the True Qi within his body, preventing severe injuries," Yun Jiuye expressed his gratitude.
Jiang Li appeared aggressive and oppressive, yet he also allowed Ling Wujue to release the turbulent Qi Force within his body, preventing the injuries from worsening. Thus, despite Ling Wujue’s injuries being inflicted by Jiang Li, he still had to thank him.
Others, upon knowing this, wouldn’t criticize Jiang Li for his aggressiveness but would praise him for considering the brotherly bond, returning malice with virtue despite being provoked by Ling Wujue.
However, this explanation coming from Yun Jiuye added a bit of tolerance to his demeanor, slightly redeeming his reputation.
Jiang Li had asked if Yun Jiuye had discovered anything else about him, but Yun Jiuye skillfully diverted the topic. It must be said that the eldest senior brother was not lacking in tactics.
"Among brothers, thanks are not needed."
Seeing Yun Jiuye dodging the main issue, Jiang Li did not persist, especially with the elder watching. He smiled and said, "Senior brother, do you have any other matters? If not, your junior brother must take his leave first. I need to arrange for my clan members to join the sect, and later, I’ll go see if my senior sister has finished her closed-door cultivation."
Is Gongsun Qingyue in closed-door cultivation? Could she also be aiming for a promotion?
Upon hearing this, Yun Jiuye immediately speculated, then he smiled and said, "Then I won’t keep you any longer."
"Oh, by the way, please visit Yunlai Island in three days; at that time, your brother will be advancing, and I invite you to witness it."
He openly informed Jiang Li about his upcoming advancement without any intention of hiding it.
’Or perhaps, guessing that the senior sister is aiming to advance, he preemptively released the news to prevent any momentum after her advancement that could lead to support from our fellow disciples and elders?’ Jiang Li thought to himself.
This support wasn’t something that could be simply turned on and off at will.
If someone had already shown their intention and then reneged, Elder Tianxuan would have words to say.
Thus, Yun Jiuye’s actions could be said to directly nip any potential situations in the bud.
’Or perhaps, he intends to declare his advancement with a rightful stance, openly suppressing his peers?’
Regardless of the motive, Jiang Li had to commend, "Well played, Yun Jiuye."