Ten Directions Sword Master

Learning the Dharma Body martial arts does not mean that you can use the Dharma Body techniques.

For example, the Phoenix Shadow Step can only be fully mastered when the principles of magic intertwine, revealing the true mystery of the Dharma Body martial arts.

Recreate the magical fairy-like figure who travels between the two realms and transcends Yin and Yang.

Just like Lu Li's use of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique, Zhu Rong's Blazing Flame and Autumn Wind's Golden Qi Severing Cause and Effect cannot be activated at will; they can only be used as decisive killing moves.

Duan Ci's tactical plan was not bad; upon his first appearance, he seized the initiative by crushing the tortoise and snake with a move he had never shown before.

He then used a mysterious finger technique that even his fellow disciples at Zhenwu Temple were unaware of, hoping to gain an informational advantage and achieve a quick victory.

As a result, Lu Li's sword moves changed drastically, his preparations failed, and he had to face two more swords from Zhu Rong Ta Yan in succession. How could he defend himself?

The fault was not in the fight, but rather in the difference in perspective.

"Such intense killing intent... It's different from the killing intent from the Nine Netherworlds. It's not as pure. It's mixed with grayish-white death energy and eerie bloody aura, condensing into a deadly blood hand."

As Lu Li adjusted his sword techniques based on his gains, he also watched the entire exchange between Gan Xiao and Lu Yezhuo.

Lu Yezhuo was quite skilled, agile and ethereal, surrounded by mist and haze, as if he were about to ride the wind away.

His demeanor was untouched by worldly affairs, exuding an ethereal, otherworldly air.

His punches and kicks may seem light and casual, but they actually contain a chilling power, and his strength is worthy of his ranking on the leaderboard.

But in front of Gan Xiao, it was like a beautiful piece of porcelain encountering a fierce and unfeeling axe—gorgeous but impractical.

The blood-red hand advanced relentlessly, its intense killing intent permeating the body, captivating the soul, and causing movements to slow unconsciously.

Gan Xiao possesses an almost instinctive fighting talent; even the slightest, most fleeting flaw will be magnified and captured in his eyes.

Each time their bodies crossed paths, a mark would be left on Lu Yezhuo.

After a few moves, the once refined and aloof Lu Yezhuo was covered in blood and could barely stand.

As Gan Xiao jumped off the stage, he seemed to sense the gaze. His eyes darted around and met Lu Li's.

He grinned, revealing a vicious nature; though he wore a smile, his murderous intent was almost overflowing from his eyes.

It resembled a monstrous demon, displaying its ferocity.

"What a lawless and ruthless thug!"

The white ape in Lu Li's chest seemed to have been provoked, suddenly standing up straight, pounding its chest with both fists, and baring its teeth.

A maid brought him wine, but she placed it too forcefully, and a few drops spilled.

He felt a little strange that a palace maid who could work at Zhanghua Terrace was so clumsy.

I picked up the cup and found a note underneath, with a few lines of tiny handwriting on it.

With his eyesight, he could see everything without even raising his eyes to his face.

Gan Xiao, a native of Xupu Kingdom, whose lineage is unknown, has fought in hundreds of villages in the southwest for several years without ever being defeated.

The village leaders revered him as a god, elevating him to the heavens.

Furthermore, it seems to have an inexplicable relationship with the sky burial building.

Since entering the capital, they have always had the strength to spare in every battle, and there has never been a single battle where the two sides were evenly matched.

It is speculated that the martial arts he practiced were achieved by overdrawing his body's potential, resulting in increased strength.

After each match, it was clear that Gan Xiao's control over his killing intent had improved significantly.

After reading the words on the note, Lu Li pinched it between two fingers and crumpled it into tiny pieces.

I don't know which force is extending goodwill to me by sending me information about my next opponent.

Could it be that the royal family is trying to curry favor with him by doing this at Zhanghuatai?

But then I thought that after Gan Xiao won the martial arts examination, he raised the bar for this year's examination, and even the reward was increased by one level by the emperor.

He's the most popular person in the court right now!

Choosing Gansu to protect Lu is somewhat illogical.

It is more likely that it is the Lu family of Wu County, who have both the ability and the motive.

"After each battle, they become significantly stronger, which cannot be explained by mere talent or ability, unless, like me before, they have the backing of the Compass World to grow rapidly."

Lu Li would not underestimate any opponent. This person had risen suddenly without any foundation, and so had he.

Who knows, someone might just be blessed with good fortune and receive an extraordinary opportunity.

"Related to the Sky Burial Tower? Could it be that their family has actually made some progress on that mystical path to rebirth?"

As one of the seven evil sects, the Heavenly Burial Tower did not, like the Golden Cave Sect, choose the right side early on and clear its name.

The disciples of the Golden Cave Sect now have legitimate identities, and no one would associate them with the demonic path of the past.

Unlike the Xuanming Palace and the Taotie Gate, which went down a path that everyone feared and loathed, making them universally hated and attacked.

During turbulent times, they withdrew from the Central Plains and established themselves in several small kingdoms in the southern wilderness, building their own power.

Xupu Kingdom had only three or five major cities and a population of barely 100,000, making it one of the vast tributary states of the Great Chu.

It is now included in the sphere of influence of the Sky Burial Tower, and in recent years it has extended its reach into hundreds of villages in Southwest China.

Many village leaders firmly believed in their doctrines and their words carried more weight than those of the imperial court.

Considering the information Xiong Shengnan had previously revealed, the imperial court intended to take military action against two former tributary prefectures in the southwest that had surrendered but then rebelled again, actually because it coveted the fertile land suitable for cultivation and grain planting.

In times of great famine, having grain is the greatest asset.

Considering Gan Xiao's background and the extra favors he received, it can only be said that there are many mysteries behind this, involving complex schemes and collusion.

"Should I avoid his sharp edge?"

Lu Li chuckled, sheathed the Sun-Covering Sword in front of him, picked up the Cicada's Cry Sword, and leisurely stepped onto the stage.

Regardless of who is behind Gan Xiao, whether they have cultivated forbidden demonic arts or unlocked the mysteries of rebirth in the Heavenly Burial Tower, they will ultimately have to return to the stage and let their abilities speak for themselves.

Even if the imperial court wanted to take sides, it couldn't directly intervene.

"My sword strike could slay even a mid-stage Spirit Refinement cultivator, let alone a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator!"

……

"How much time does Gan Xiao have left to live?"

Wang Shaojian, who had served the emperor closely and never left his side, appeared in a corner of the palace with a gloomy face.

"According to the intelligence sent by the Sky Burial Tower, there is still one and a half feet left, so we should be able to fight three more battles."

The person who answered was only three feet tall, wearing a pointed hat, and holding a brush, scribbling on a notebook.

He had the build of a child and a deep, hoarse voice, like a broken gong.

"Have someone tell him that this battle must be won, not lost... If he succeeds, in addition to the conditions already agreed upon, he will be rewarded with ten bushels of Human Spirit Pearls."

Wang Shaojian's voice was cold and slippery, like a venomous snake crawling and writhing on one's body, sending chills down one's spine.

"Otherwise, don't even think about taking the saved lifespans back to Xupu Kingdom!"

"Here you go!"

The tiny figure quickly wrote a note, shook a silver bell, and a waiter with an expressionless face walked in and put the note away.

To outsiders, those who appear to have a bright future and suddenly rise to prominence are just expendable resources.

The imperial court wanted territory and grain, while the Heavenly Burial Pavilion wanted the Humanity Spirit Pearl and the ancient secret manuals to deduce subsequent cultivation methods.

The two parties hit it off immediately, as Gan Xiao was the most outstanding prospect that the Sky Burial Tower had found in its century-long history.

But in the face of the bigger picture, they are nothing more than pawns that can be discarded at will.

"Ha! Lu's Thousand-Mile Steed... cripple his leg, shatter his invincible aura, let's see how smug you'll be then!"

Wang Shaojian nodded in satisfaction. He was used to being arrogant and domineering, but he couldn't overcome his inferiority complex in front of truly important people.

The difference in Lu Jia's attitude towards him and the Deputy Privy Councilor Yu Mo was so stark that it was as if his contempt was written all over his face.

Giving the most valued junior of the Lu family a lesson not only allowed them to vent their anger but also earned the emperor's tacit approval.

Having served the emperor for decades, he understood the emperor's thoughts very well.

The Lu family of Wu County is a target that we must rely on but also be wary of.

The existence of such a top-tier family right next to the emperor's bedchamber posed a significant threat to imperial power.

Anyway, they could push over the barbarians from small countries who didn't understand the rules of the Central Plains arena, and their moves got out of control.

The commanders of the Imperial Guards at the Refining Spirit Realm below the stage were intimidated by the imposing presence, so it was understandable that they were a beat slow to act.

No matter how angry the Lu family was, they still had to follow the rules on the surface.

"That Lu Li is truly a freak. His swordsmanship has reached this level at such a young age. Could it be that the twisted theories of the Heavenly Burial Tower actually have some merit, and that some innate wisdom from past lives can truly be awakened... However, Gan Xiao uses his life force to activate his technique, and his strength can double again without regard to the cost. Even the little monk Heng Jing here couldn't withstand his life-risking attack!"

Wang Shaojian's expression was solemn, and he did not look down on Lu Li just because Lu Li was a Foundation Establishment junior.

The level of detail in the information gathered by the martial arts school about this person is so thorough that even the person himself would be astonished upon arrival.

Even some of their deeds before they became famous were dug up and piled up into four or five thick volumes.

After countless studies, the emperor even considered recruiting him as a candidate for the next Ziwei Envoy.

However, this idea completely fell apart after it was confirmed that the Lu family of Pengcheng had migrated from Jiangxia and shared the same ancestor as the Lu family of Wujun.

"Let these sects and families be complacent for a while longer. If the idea of ​​the Sky Burial Tower succeeds, wouldn't the royal family be the biggest beneficiary? How can a mere sect in one place compare to the transformation potential of a dynasty that controls half the country? Once hundreds or thousands of seeds of rebirth have been cultivated, the threat from the Northern Dynasty will be nothing more than a minor ailment, not worth mentioning."

……

Only when he was this close could Lu Li have a direct sense of Gan Xiao's murderous intent.

His face wasn't bad-looking, with regular features, but he was as fierce as a hungry ghost, exuding a murderous aura.

If a child saw this, he would probably cry incessantly.

His body was slouching, his shoulders were drooping, and his fingers were outstretched, hanging down at his sides.

Where can you find the demeanor of a master?

The killing intent was about to materialize at his fingertips, a chilling black aura emanating from them. The eyes that looked at him were devoid of emotion, their icy depths revealing madness.

"How many days do you have left to live?"

Lu Li suddenly broke the silence, his words causing a sensation.

The news that Gan Xiao practiced the Overdraft Technique didn't just start today; it spread like wildfire after he won the martial arts exam, and even affected his ranking on the Human Ranking.

Others might not see through him, but he was different after returning from his studies in the Qingcheng World.

The scriptures in Tian Shu Hall weren't copied for nothing; he learned a rudimentary skill in observing qi.

In his eyes, Gan Xiao's face was ashen, his forehead was dark, and he was about to die.

Using the sword as his eye, he pushed his mental power to its limit, causing the cicadas to tremble wildly as they glimpsed the causal connections behind Gan Xiao.

Even among the demons of the Taotie Sect, the causal connections vary in thickness and severity.

But the young Gan Xiao actually carried five thick black and red lines on his back, radiating an extremely dangerous aura at all times.

Each of these connections surpasses even the most sinful causal link of the Gluttonous Sect's demonic leader.

With just a slight flick, utter ruin awaits.

There was also a white line burning from top to bottom, until it was reduced to only one and a half feet.

Lu Li suddenly had a sudden realization: if the white line were cut off, the person would die from exhaustion of lifespan.

That's what prompted him to ask that question.

He could understand why some people would choose a martial art that was powerful and harmful but allowed for rapid progress in order to gain an advantage and become famous as soon as possible.

If you cultivate this technique to the point of only having a few days left to live, what's the point?

It's impossible for the greatest meaning of life to be winning the martial arts exam, taking the crown at the heroes' gathering, and then dying at the most glorious moment.

Even a hundred years from now, some people will still lament that if Gan Xiao hadn't died young, there might have been another grandmaster.

"Someone like you wouldn't understand..."

Gan Xiao remained calm, offering neither rebuttal nor reacting with fury when his true intentions were exposed.

If you close your eyes and only listen to the voice, you would think it is a gentle and humble young man.

"My value lies in this... constantly killing, constantly proving myself."

Beneath his calm tone, one could hear the immense, suppressed hatred and resentment.

All these emotions transformed into a real killing intent, making even the air in the arena difficult to move.

With a clap of his hands, without any apparent starting motion, a palm and a claw suddenly slammed down simultaneously.

Without a strong wind or any particular image, it silently pierced through the distance between the two, instantly locking Lu Li's direction of movement.

The vital points exposed by a palm and a claw seemed to be stimulated by murderous intent, and they were all throbbing with pain.

Lu Li would not be swayed by killing intent or lose his composure. Besides, with the cicada's song already at hand, he instinctively wanted to meet it head-on and unleash his most powerful sword strike.

But he abruptly stopped his movements, changed his sword path, and swiftly unleashed three sword strikes with unpredictable trajectories.

After deflecting the blood palm, the blood claw slammed into the thin sword. He seemed unable to withstand the immense force and staggered back several steps.

"Such power! Such a bizarre move!"

Lu Li blurted out a statement that was different from what he had said when he watched Lu Yezhuo's duel earlier.

Not only did he use a completely new set of martial arts, but he also showed no signs of unfamiliarity, displaying a level of proficiency as if he had been immersed in the art for over a decade.

The moment their hands and swords clashed, Gan Xiao withdrew his five fingers and focused heavily on the sword, as if playing a variation.

The order in which the five fingers fell disrupted the direction of the cicada's chirping, causing it to pierce the empty space crookedly.

A chilling killing intent seeped into the cicada's chirping, unexpectedly harmonizing with the sword, causing its blade to emit a sound like the fluttering of cicada wings.

Lu Li drew his sword and tried to retreat, but Gan Xiao wouldn't give him an inch, not giving him a chance to breathe.

Another slap, without any fancy moves, just pitch black from fingertips to wrist.

Wherever they went, it was as if the sky had turned dark.

Deprive us of sight, and night falls!

Not only is he blind, but even mental probing is like throwing a stone into the sea, failing to create the slightest ripple.

Despite this extremely unfavorable situation, Lu Li remained calm and nimbly took another step back, splitting off a shadowy figure that was shattered by the black palm.

Taking this opportunity, Lu Li created some distance and unleashed the Autumn Sword Techniques one by one, displaying a chilling and desolate atmosphere.

When the hustle and bustle fades, the fire in one's heart naturally subsides.

Dew condenses into a blade, dividing heaven and earth in two.

Dew-laden stars, frost-covered blades merciless.

However, the stunning sword strike that made him famous, the one that allowed him to overcome the strong with the weak and had no obstacles in the world, was nowhere to be seen, as if he was having some kind of difficulty.

He preferred to put himself at a disadvantage and maneuver in dangerous situations, and several bloody marks had already appeared on his arm.

It hides a deadly move, using only ordinary solar terms to maneuver and evade.