Wandering Swordsman |

Master Zhang smiled and said, "Yes, of course there's a wager. If you can reproduce more than 60% of it, then I will personally teach you this sword technique! If you can't reproduce more than 60%, how about you give me one tael of silver?"

Upon hearing the wager, Shen Mo was taken aback. One tael of silver for a set of sword techniques? The wager was clearly unequal. Shen Mo knew the odds were there and thought to himself: Master Zhang must have a deeper meaning behind this, but he didn't want to take advantage of the situation.

"The stakes are not equal," Shen Mo immediately stated. "If I lose, I will give the Tai'a sword to Master Zhang."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan were both taken aback. The Tai'a Sword was a treasure that Shen Mo had seized from the Black Wind Gang, making it exceptionally valuable. Upon hearing this, Master Zhang's eyes flashed with admiration; he hadn't expected Shen Mo to be so open and honest, preferring to offer the precious Tai'a Sword rather than take advantage of the situation.

"Good!" Master Zhang laughed heartily. "You are indeed an upright and honorable young man. In that case, we will do as you say."

The inn's backyard was quiet and still in the night, with only a few lanterns swaying gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows. The surrounding trees appeared exceptionally serene under the moonlight, as if the whole world had fallen silent for this moment.

Master Zhang slowly drew his longsword from his waist. The blade gleamed with a cold light, like a nimble silver snake. His movements were elegant and composed, each posture brimming with power and beauty. As he shifted slightly, the tip of the sword sliced ​​through the air, producing a soft whistling sound, as if playing a silent melody.

Shen Mo stared intently at Zhang Zhenren's every movement, trying to capture its essence. The sword technique Zhang Zhenren was using was called "Taiji Xuantian Sword," with unpredictable and ever-changing moves, combining illusion and reality. Each move contained profound internal energy cultivation and superb swordsmanship skills.

A moment later, Master Zhang sheathed his sword and turned to face Shen Mo. "How was it? Did you remember it? Do you want me to demonstrate it again?" His voice was gentle and full of expectation, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and encouragement.

Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan were shocked. They had seen Zhang Zhenren demonstrate the swordsmanship clearly, every movement vividly etched in their minds. However, after Zhang Zhenren finished, they found themselves unable to recall the complex sword techniques no matter what they tried. This strange phenomenon left them bewildered and astonished.

Thinking of this, Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan turned to look at Shen Mo, their hearts filled with worry. They knew that Zhang Zhenren's swordsmanship was not only complex and profound, but also contained a unique way of circulating internal energy, which even top-tier masters would find difficult to fully master in a short time. Whether Shen Mo could reproduce these sword moves was a huge question for them.

At this moment, Shen Mo closed his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were rapidly recalling every detail he had just witnessed. He took a deep breath, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze revealing determination and confidence. Then, his palms flew, and he began to imitate Zhang Zhenren's movements. His figure moved like lightning, his swordplay fluid and natural. He gripped the Tai'a sword tightly, perfectly replicating every move, as if he had completely mastered the essence of the "Taiji Xuantian Sword" technique.

Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan watched quietly from the sidelines, secretly admiring him. They discovered that Shen Mo could reproduce the sword technique so accurately after only watching Master Zhang demonstrate it once, which surpassed the realm of ordinary martial arts geniuses. In particular, Shen Mo's fluid movements and attention to detail left the two of them completely impressed.

Luo Wangchen couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "Shen Mo's talent is simply unbelievable."

Qu Yifan nodded in agreement: "Brother Luo, your disciple's future achievements are limitless."

Master Zhang watched Shen Mo replicate his swordsmanship, his expression betraying his excitement. His eyes were filled with nostalgia, as if he were seeing something long forgotten. He nodded slightly, a relieved smile playing on his lips. "Not bad, not bad at all! To replicate over 90% after only seeing it once!"

Shen Mo stopped what he was doing and respectfully bowed to Master Zhang: "Thank you for your guidance, Master Zhang. May I ask what kind of martial art this sword technique is, which is so unpredictable?"

Master Zhang stepped forward, patted Shen Mo on the shoulder, and said in a tone full of praise and expectation: "Shen Mo, you won this bet! Now I will pass on this Taiji Xuantian Sword to you."

"Tai Chi Xuan Tian Sword!" Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan were shocked. Wasn't this the third most powerful martial art in the Wudang Sect, after Tai Chi Sword and Tai Chi Fist?

Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan exchanged a surprised glance, clearly finding Zhang Zhenren's decision unbelievable. They knew all too well that the *Taiji Xuantian Sword* held a prestigious position not only within the Wudang Sect but was also a renowned martial arts technique throughout the martial world. To so easily impart it to an outsider was truly unbelievable.

Shen Mo seemed to sense something from the incredulous expressions on his master's and Qu Yifan's faces, and he too felt some apprehension. Therefore, he declined, saying, "Master Zhang, I am not a disciple of the Wudang Sect. It might be inappropriate for me to learn Wudang martial arts."

Master Zhang smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with wisdom: "Shen Mo, the way of martial arts lies in the heart, not in the distinction of sects. Your ability to reproduce the essence of the *Tai Chi Xuan Tian Sword* in such a short time demonstrates that you possess the aptitude to cultivate this sword technique. Furthermore, do you intend for me to break my promise and tarnish the reputation of the Wudang Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo's heart stirred, sensing the deeper meaning in Zhang Zhenren's words. He understood that Zhang Zhenren's teachings were not given casually, but rather after careful consideration. Therefore, he bowed respectfully again: "In that case, this junior thanks Zhang Zhenren and will certainly not fail your trust in the future."

Master Zhang nodded, a satisfied smile on his face: "Alright, let's begin now."

Seeing that Master Zhang was about to teach Shen Mo martial arts, Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan consciously left to avoid him.

Once only Shen Mo and Master Zhang remained in the backyard, Master Zhang slowly drew his long sword and began to explain in detail each move and stance of the Taiji Xuantian Sword. His voice was steady and powerful, each word revealing a profound understanding of martial arts. His movements were lithe and graceful; the tip of his sword sliced ​​through the air, producing a soft whistling sound, as if playing a silent melody.

Shen Mo listened intently to Master Zhang's explanation, not missing a single detail. His eyes were filled with a thirst for knowledge, as if he were in a completely new world. As Master Zhang demonstrated, Shen Mo gradually grasped the essence of this sword technique—the interplay of illusion and reality, the balance of strength and gentleness, with each move and stance containing profound philosophical principles.