Wandering Swordsman |

The scene shifts to the Murong family's training ground. A martial arts competition is about to begin, and the training ground is now surrounded by members of the Murong family. Everyone holds their breath, the air thick with tension and unease.

Bai Yijue stood in the center of the arena, his cold face expressionless, as if he were about to face not a life-or-death battle, but a casual sparring match.

Shen Mo slowly stepped into the arena, each step firm and powerful, as unshakable as a mountain. His eyes were calm as water, yet they revealed an invisible sharpness, like an unsheathed sword, ready to cut through any obstacle at any moment.

"Boy, swords have no eyes. It's not too late for you to kneel down and beg for mercy now." Bai Yijue's voice was deep and cold, as if it came from the deepest hell, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

Shen Mo smiled slightly, showing no anger. A faint smile appeared on his lips, as if he didn't take the warning seriously.

Seeing Shen Mo's attitude, Bai Yijue's figure suddenly vanished from his spot, like a bolt of lightning streaking across the night sky. In an instant, the flashing blade light, like countless stars, swept towards Shen Mo. This move was one of his signature techniques—the "Shadowless Blade Technique," swift as thunder and incomparably fierce.

However, Shen Mo remained calm and composed. With a slight movement, his steps were as light as the wind, effortlessly dodging every fatal attack. His movements appeared casual, but in reality, they contained profound internal strength and precise judgment. Each dodge was perfectly timed, as if he had already foreseen every move Bai Yijue would make.

"Your martial arts are not bad, but unfortunately..." Shen Mo suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery, "your speed is not fast enough."

Before he finished speaking, a flash of cold light appeared in his hand, and the Tai'a Sword was already drawn. The blade reflected a dazzling light in the sunlight, like a silver dragon soaring into the sky. Shen Mo flicked his wrist slightly, and the tip of the sword drew a graceful arc, pointing straight at Bai Yijue's heart.

Bai Yijue was startled and quickly swung his sword to parry. With a crisp "clang," their weapons clashed instantly, sparks flying everywhere. However, to everyone's astonishment, Bai Yijue's long sword was knocked out of Shen Mo's hand by the force of Shen Mo's Tai'a sword and flew into the air.

"How is this possible!" Bai Yijue's eyes widened in disbelief. As one of the top 100 martial arts masters, he had been defeated by an unknown young man. However, what Bai Yijue didn't know was that Shen Mo's current strength was less than one-tenth of what he was capable of.

Without giving him a chance to catch his breath, Shen Mo moved with lightning speed, appearing before Bai Yijue in an instant. The Tai'a Sword swept out, unleashing a chilling sword aura that seemed to cleave the air itself. Bai Yijue tried to dodge, but found his body frozen in place, unable to move at all.

With a muffled "thud," the Tai'a sword pierced Bai Yijue's body without any suspense. Blood gushed out, staining his chest clothes red. Bai Yijue's eyes were filled with resentment and despair as he slowly fell to the ground, lifeless.

The entire arena fell silent; everyone was too stunned to speak. The faces of Huangfu and his son turned extremely grim. They had initially thought it would be an easy victory, but the result was far more devastating. Murong Wei was even paler, his legs weak, and he could barely stand.

Everyone present was shocked. They never expected that Shen Mo, at such a young age, would have the strength to instantly kill Bai Yijue. This could only prove one thing: what Shen Mo said was true.

Murong Qing clenched her fists tightly, tears of excitement glistening in her eyes. She knew that at this moment, Shen Mo had proven his strength and shown everyone that he was worthy of the Murong family.

Shen Mo sheathed his sword, his gaze sweeping across the entire scene, his voice calm and firm: "I have no intention of hurting anyone, but since someone insists on provoking me, I have no choice but to play along to the end."

These words silenced the entire room. Everyone then realized that this seemingly ordinary young man had far surpassed their expectations. He was not only the personal disciple of the Sunset Swordsman, but also possessed the strength and courage to awe the entire martial arts world.

With Shen Mo's victory, the atmosphere within the Murong family underwent a subtle change. Those who had once harbored doubts about Shen Mo now found themselves involuntarily filled with awe and respect for him.

Huangfu Haotian witnessed Bai Yijue fall, his blood staining the training ground red, and his face instantly turned ashen. Although he was somewhat incredulous at the outcome, he quickly regained his composure, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. "Kill him!" he commanded, his voice cold and resolute, as if carrying endless chills that pierced the hearts of everyone present.

In an instant, the warriors of the Huangfu family surged forward like a tidal wave. They held sharp blades, their eyes flashing with murderous intent, clearly intending to kill Shen Mo. The entire scene instantly became extremely tense, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if a single spark could ignite a bloodbath.

Seeing this, Murong Liang was greatly alarmed. He knew that if the chaos continued, it would not only endanger Shen Mo's life but could also trigger a full-scale conflict between the two powerful families. Without hesitation, he stood up and shouted, "Stop!"

However, the warriors of the Huangfu family did not stop, continuing their relentless advance, seemingly having lost their minds. At this critical moment, Shen Mo remained unusually calm. He showed no panic, instead meeting the gazes of the crowd with a resolute expression, as if unmoved even by a collapsing mountain.

"Patriarch Huangfu," Shen Mo's voice was calm yet powerful, each word striking like a hammer blow to everyone's heart, "Does the prestigious Huangfu family have no integrity whatsoever? We clearly agreed that life and death would be irrelevant during the duel. Why are you breaking your promise and attacking me now?"

His question was resounding and powerful, echoing throughout the training ground. Hearing this, everyone stopped in their tracks, their faces showing hesitation. Huangfu Haotian's expression grew increasingly grim. He knew he was in a dilemma—if he continued to order the attack on Shen Mo, he would not only be branded as untrustworthy but might also thoroughly enrage the Murong family; however, if he gave up now, he would find it difficult to swallow his anger.

"Hmph, sophistry!" Huangfu Haotian suppressed his anger and sneered, "Since you dared to accept the challenge, you should have been prepared to die at any time. What happened today is nothing but your own fault."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile. "Patriarch Huangfu, are you so eager to take my life? Is it possible that the prestigious Huangfu family cannot afford to lose?" He deliberately slowed his speech, looking directly into Huangfu Haotian's eyes.

These words caused another uproar. Whispers began to circulate. Huangfu Haotian's face darkened further; he realized he was in a passive position, and any further forceful action would only drag him deeper into a quagmire.