Ten Directions Sword Master

The founder of Zhenwu Temple obtained a scroll of the Daoist Ancestor's Heavenly Book and established the sect.

They traced their lineage back to the True Martial Emperor and always believed that their family was a descendant of the Heavenly Venerable of Taoism.

But many people think this is just Zhenwu Temple trying to elevate its own status.

Baiyun Temple is the ancestral temple of Taoism, and Louguan Temple is the origin of palace temples. Both are clearly recorded in writing, and their lineage has not been interrupted. They can withstand scrutiny.

Even in the medieval era, when immortals and gods emerged and stars shone brightly, this was a lineage that would attract attention.

In comparison, Zhenwu Temple indeed has the shallowest historical foundation.

The martial arts techniques in the temple seem to be forcibly oriented towards the direction of the True Martial Emperor, and there is no evidence that the core techniques of this Taoist celestial being who was famous throughout the heavens before the Middle Ages fell into the hands of the True Martial Temple.

Of course, no one would be so tactless as to bring this up in front of the disciples of Zhenwu Temple.

Du Mocun's question represented the views of most people in the room, all wondering where such an image came from.

"The final move of the True Martial Subduing Demon Fist, shattering the tortoise and snake to cross the threshold of supernatural powers!"

Su Qingdai made her judgment without hesitation, her tone firm.

"The common lineage has three major stance training methods, two fist techniques, and one sword technique that can cultivate supernatural powers, but only the True Martial Subduing Demon Fist possesses the imagery of a tortoise and snake... This fist technique is said to have been dissected from the Heavenly Book, making it unique."

"Fist techniques and supernatural abilities? Did Little Sword Immortal Lu underestimate them, allowing Duan Ci to gain the upper hand? What should we do?"

Du Mocun felt that he had become friends with Lu Li, and unconsciously began to favor him.

"Throughout this journey, he has been fighting against powerful enemies despite the difference in their cultivation levels. He doesn't seem like the type to make such a basic mistake... Let's observe how things unfold."

Similar comments were made at every VIP table.

Even behind the thick, bright yellow curtains, palace maids would use long poles to lift a corner so that the emperor could clearly see the competition process.

Duan Ci's posture was strange; his arms were like snakes, and as he struck out with his right palm, his body remained stationary, like a giant tortoise.

The force of the punches was so fierce and powerful that it shook the entire arena, making it seem as if it might collapse at any moment.

Yet it also possesses a profound and stable earthy aura, connecting the arena to the land, so that even if the earth dragon were to overturn, it wouldn't damage the arena.

Amidst the howling wind, the phantom images of a tortoise and snake appeared and disappeared, accompanying me.

With every gesture, he exuded an aura no less imposing than someone in the early stages of the Spirit Refinement realm.

"The imagery of the tortoise and snake is intertwined, but we haven't yet reached the point of crushing the tortoise and snake and completely mastering them; the supernatural power is only half complete!"

Su Qingdai spoke quickly and urgently, her eyes unable to keep up with the changes, but her comments were accurate and precise, attracting several juniors to listen.

"Miss Su is exceptionally intelligent and knowledgeable, truly admirable... In your opinion, what are the chances of Little Sword Immortal Lu winning?"

"Does Fairy Su know how difficult it is to master the True Martial Subduing Demon Fist? I've heard that this divine skill is open to all lay disciples. Isn't the True Martial Temple afraid of its techniques being leaked?"

"I wonder if Lu Li's Unobstructed Heaven and Earth technique can break the nascent Crushing Tortoise-Snake formation?"

The chatter around her made Su Qingdai frown slightly. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed a change in the atmosphere.

Lu Li held his long sword low, then suddenly leaped out of its sheath. The instant it was drawn was like the rising sun, bursting forth with countless rays of light.

With just this one sword strike, all the noise and commotion were overshadowed, and its light shone into every corner.

The two slowed their movements simultaneously, their swords and palms colliding perfectly without a deafening roar, falling into an eerie, brief silence.

The phantom of the tortoise and snake lunged forward, intending to tear Lu Li to shreds.

But the golden flames continued to emanate from the ground, from the void, and from all directions, blasting the tortoise and snake into countless fragments.

Duan Ci's left fist, which he had hidden behind his back, was thrown out just in time, then he changed his fist into fingers midway, pressing down heavily with his index and middle fingers.

With a flick of his finger, all rivers flowed into the sea, and within a radius of several feet, the air itself seemed to freeze and stop moving.

Seeing that Lu Li had no way to avoid it, he swayed and a blur was struck by a finger. Like a punctured balloon, he fell to the ground with only a withered shell, while his real body was unharmed and flashed several feet away.

"This swordsmanship is different from Little Lu Sword Immortal's previous style... It lacks the grim and desolate feel, and instead displays a domineering and violent nature, yet it is still a Dharma Body sword technique!"

"Duan Ci is the same. In addition to the True Martial Subduing Demon Fist, he has also learned a finger technique. His skill level shows that he has been immersed in it for a long time."

In the blink of an eye, the two top masters of the younger generation have completed a clash.

With a single sword strike and a single punch, they were forced to reveal their most powerful techniques, without needing a gradual process of probing.

Compared to the previous two matches, this one clearly featured players of a higher skill level, creating a more evenly matched and competitive atmosphere.

"The Zhenwu Sect has no famous finger techniques, but the finger techniques used by Young Hero Duan are all-encompassing and embody the principles of Yin and Yang, making them absolutely Dharma Body level martial arts... It seems that he has other opportunities and gains outside the sect."

Su Qingdai pondered for a moment. With her photographic memory and extensive reading, she analyzed the problem incisively.

Unfortunately, his cultivation level held him back, and he had to guess at many things because he simply didn't have that kind of experience.

"And Lu... Little Sword Immortal Lu obviously did not stop after his battle with Qu Shui Sword. He should be using the Summer Sword technique from the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Manual."

"If I remember correctly, this is the first time that I have ever mastered both sword techniques before reaching the level of refining the spirit... With each additional layer of sword intent, the mystery of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique has more than doubled."

She seemed to know a lot about the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique, and explained it to the people around her.

"Junior sister, in your opinion, who has a better chance of winning?"

Du Mocun was mesmerized. The speed at which the two on stage changed their moves and the subtlety of their legal principles were beyond his comprehension.

It's unimaginable how anyone could achieve this during the Foundation Establishment stage.

If I were in their shoes, I probably wouldn't even be able to withstand a single move.

At first glance, the intensity of their fight made it seem as if they were two senior cultivators at the Refinement Realm.

Moreover, it is even more unpredictable and elusive.

Since I can't understand it anyway, I'll still trust my junior sister's talent and intuition.

"Both are at the same cultivation level and have mastered more than one Dharma Body technique. The outcome will be decided by the slightest margin... It depends on whose accumulation is deeper and who can activate the Dharma Body technique more times..."

Su Qingdai's words came to an abrupt halt as a bright red sun rose over the arena, radiant and full of positivity.

Boundless crimson light, multiplying into infinity, danced around Lu Li, making him appear like the God of Fire of this world.

Where the sword pointed, a long dragon of fire swallowed Duan Ci whole, scorching the spectators below and nearly setting their clothes ablaze.

"break!"

Duan Ci had just punched the fire dragon when Yan Feng was already at his throat. His expression changed, and he helplessly lowered his hands.

He said, "I lost."

The entire audience was in an uproar. This anticipated fierce battle did not result in mutual destruction, nor did it end in exhaustion.

It ended with one side voluntarily conceding defeat!

Although he looked disheveled, with tattered clothes and charred skin, he was clearly still capable of fighting.

They gave up such a precious opportunity as the Gathering of Heroes so easily and failed to persevere.

"That's an exaggeration. This sword strike is even stronger than the previous one, and he doesn't seem to be exhausted. Many experts at the Refinement of Spirit level can't do that... No wonder Duan Ci conceded defeat. He didn't see any chance of winning if the fight continued."

Su Qingdai let out a long breath and said softly.

Most geniuses on the list can only use their secret techniques as a trump card, and they can only study the Dharma Body moves. It is already difficult to even grasp a trace of their meaning.

To be able to perform it continuously is pure fantasy, beyond everyone's comprehension.

She saw things clearly, could feel Duan Ci's powerlessness, and understood the helplessness he felt after suddenly admitting defeat.

The two may have similar bursts of power, but one has to build up their strength for a long time before unleashing a single move, which will deplete their internal energy and put a greater strain on their mental well-being.

The other is effortless and understated.

The differences within were thus revealed.

Gan Xiao and Lu Yezhu walked onto the stage, but the crowd was still caught up in the previous match and didn't react much.

……

Layer upon layer of curtains, a chilling atmosphere with guards.

At the top of the jade steps sat a middle-aged man dressed in bright yellow, with thick dark circles under his eyes, as if he had just recovered from a long illness.

"Minister Lu, this is Lu Li, whom you so strongly protected... He is indeed exceptionally brave and valiant. The Lu family has produced another outstanding talent!"

The emperor wore a smile, but no one could fathom his true thoughts.

The Lu family of Wu County wanted Lu Li to return to the clan, but this was only known within a small circle, and even within the clan, only the higher-ups knew about it.

However, once any action is taken, such as going to Pengcheng and Jiangxia to retrieve information and collecting data on Lu Li's past growth experience, traces will inevitably be left behind.

The imperial court appeared to be leaking from all sides, constrained by various forces, and in a very precarious situation.

However, if we look at the royal family separately, they are still at the level of a top-tier aristocratic family.

They even enjoyed the nominal privilege of being supported by seventeen counties, and the resources they could mobilize were far beyond what the five great families could match.

However, when applied to a national level, it seems somewhat insufficient.

It didn't take the royal family long to figure out the deeper meaning behind the Lu family of Wu County.

Of course, there's also the reason why the Lu family didn't deliberately hide it; it was intentional.

At the very least, it needs to be made clear to forces of the same level that this is a member of the Lu family, and no one else should even think about getting involved.

"This junior is unworthy of such praise from the Emperor; I can only say that I have a slight talent for swordsmanship."

The head of the Lu family stroked his beautiful beard with a hearty laugh. He had a plump appearance, and the phrase "generous and plump" was the perfect way to describe him.

This is quite different from the image of the Lu clan members in the public's mind, who are always elegant and carefree, enjoying the mountains and valleys.

In fact, the appointment of this patriarch was the result of a compromise among the major factions within the clan.

Of the three most popular choices back then, one was a direct descendant of the main branch, born with a talent for the zither, and was valued by the zither demon.

To keep a promise, he escorted the widow and young son of his old friend, who had died while plundering treasures in a secret realm, back to their hometown. Despite being ambushed by the Blood River Sect more than ten times, he ultimately fulfilled his mission.

However, he suffered several injuries and lost his right leg, after which he became despondent and gave up on himself.

Given his position, there are far too many ways for him to fulfill his promise.

Unfortunately, he was arrogant and proud when he was young, and refused to ask for help from his family or reveal his background, which led to this tragic situation.

Another martial arts talent was the highest. He had reached the mid-stage of the Refining Spirit realm before the age of thirty. He traveled to the Northern Zhou Dynasty in search of a rare item that would be of great use to his cultivation.

On his way back after succeeding, he encountered a mysterious and powerful figure, and was defeated and killed.

As for the third-ranked candidate, he was found to have colluded with outsiders. It was because he revealed his cousin's whereabouts that he was intercepted.

Faced with questioning from the clan elders, the man offered no explanation and instead took his own life.

At this point, the three with the highest approval ratings all withdrew from the competition for the position of family head. On the contrary, Lu Jia, who was originally ranked lower, was the most magnanimous and refined, and was the most acceptable to all parties.

Amidst a chorus of astonishment, he naturally became the current head of the Lu family.

"But I heard that Lu Li hasn't been honored with the ancestral tablets and included in the genealogy yet. Did something go wrong in the process?"

The emperor asked the question seemingly casually.

"Heh heh, this junior is too ambitious. He didn't expect that he would win the championship at the Gathering of Heroes so soon after recognizing his ancestors, which has attracted controversy."

Lu Jia remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he sneered.

Now, this obvious prodigy, whose development potential surpasses that of any younger member of the Lu family, is someone that no one, from the ancestors to the elders, is willing to let go of.

The higher you climb, the colder it gets. For the Lu family of Wu County, the lineage of Dharma Body Masters cannot be broken; even a half-step Dharma Body Master would be insufficient to maintain the family's glory.

Those born in the Lu family and below the age of forty are too far from attaining the Dharma Body; it's just wishful thinking.

Conversely, the middle generations of the Langya King and the Kuaiji Gu clan both had pillars of strength, retaining the hope of achieving the Dharma body.

If Lu Li were to return to his clan, there would be no need to consider finding a son-in-law.

No matter which side it is, as long as they dare to stand against the Lu family of Wu County on this matter, they will be met with a head-on blow.

"Lou Guogong's deep affection for his juniors is truly touching... I heard that the Lu family's secret guards fought a fierce battle with the Taotie Sect demons outside the city a while ago, leaving behind many corpses... If such a thing happens again, you can report it to the Inner Palace Service. Protecting the capital is also our duty."

The old man standing behind the emperor with his back bent over exuded an extremely sinister aura; anyone whose gaze fell upon him felt as if their skin was being pricked by needles.

Wang Shaojian, the head of the palace eunuchs, was deeply trusted by the emperor.

He and Zhang Huatai were in charge of affairs and served as the right-hand men of the royal family's private servants.

Lu Jia gave him a cold look and ignored him.

"How dare a mere eunuch speak to me?" he thought, raising his teacup and offering a toast to the dignified middle-aged man at the opposite table.

"Lord Yu, some information about the demonic leader of the Taotie Sect is about to be delivered to the Martial Arts Department."

"good."

The Privy Councilor, a man of extraordinary status, the contemporary Ziwei Envoy, who to some extent established the rules of officialdom in the martial arts world and instilled fear in countless people, nodded slightly.

Just then, a commotion broke out outside, and another competition came to a conclusion.

With blood on his hands, Gan Xiao defiantly leaped off the stage, leaving Lu Yezhuo with more than a dozen bloody holes in his body.

Lu Jia's face was gloomy. He had anticipated that Lu Yezhuo's chances of winning were slim, but how could he not be emotional after losing so miserably?

……

Lu Li looked into his nose, and from his nose into his heart, his heart was as still as a mirror.

Place both hands on the Sun-Covering Sword, quietly feeling the vibration of the blade and the feedback from performing the Zhu Rong's Flame-Treading Technique.

After the final group assignments were announced, he kept thinking about how to advance with minimal effort.

Duan Ci had met him once, while Gan Xiao had only heard of him.

As for Lu Yezhuo, who shares the same surname, he has never been considered a worthy adversary.

In terms of knowing himself and his enemy, he was far behind the other martial artists in his group.

Lu Li's name is known to everyone, and he has definitely been thoroughly studied among the contestants of the Heroes' Gathering.

Duan Ci and Gan Xiao are both new faces, and there are only a few battle records to refer to.

Therefore, Lu Li decided to abandon the Autumn Sword Technique, which made him famous, and instead use the Summer Sword Technique to overwhelm his opponent with legal principles in a direct confrontation.

Regardless of your background, at the same cultivation level, someone with a deeper understanding of the principles of law will crush you.

This part was obviously not in Duan Ci's preparations. What Foundation Establishment martial artist would practice the second form of the Dharma Body Sword Technique at this stage? It was completely unexpected.