Wandering Swordsman |

Shen Mo's lips curled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. It wasn't anger, but composure, the indifference of a tiger lying in the grass, waiting for the wolves to pounce.

Shen Mo finally spoke, his voice not loud, but like a bell, making the eight people's hearts tremble, "I know you come from prestigious families and have outstanding talents, and you look down on me, the captain appointed by the alliance leader."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd, as clear and profound as the moon reflected in a cold pool: "But the Martial Alliance isn't a place to compare family backgrounds, it's a place to compare who has the most ability..."

"Arrogant!" The young man in brocade robes, Peng Chengxiao, roared, interrupting Shen Mo's words, his true energy suddenly erupting! "I am a direct descendant of the Peng family. I began learning the sword at seven, and by thirteen I could defeat the elders of the family. Today I will show you what the weight of a 'rising star' truly means!"

Before the words were even finished, the blade was already flashing!

With a single, lightning-fast strike, "Azure Phoenix Piercing the Clouds," the blade aimed straight for Shen Mo's throat—leaving no room for retreat, solely to establish his authority!

Everyone held their breath, a cold smile of anticipation already playing on their lips, as if they could see this arrogant young man's blood splattered on the spot in the next second.

But the next moment—

Shen Mo moved.

There was no dodging, no parrying, and not even a slight movement of the feet.

He simply raised his right hand.

With a light tap of the index finger, it's like plucking a flower or brushing off dust, or a dragonfly skimming the water.

"bite--!"

With a clear, crisp sound like jade chimes striking each other, the blade tip, which was powerful enough to pierce metal and tear through the gale, was actually held firmly by his single finger!

The blade energy dissipated, the wind whipped back, and the ground cracked open with spiderweb-like fine lines!

Peng Chengxiao's pupils shrank suddenly. He felt a vast, unfathomable force surge upwards from the tip of the knife, causing his tiger's mouth to split open and his entire arm to become numb and useless instantly!

"Impossible!" he roared, trying to draw his sword and attack again.

Shen Mo had already withdrawn his fingers, stood with his hands behind his back, and said calmly, "Your martial arts are not bad, but you used a killing move in your first move. Your mind is restless and your foundation is in disarray."

Peng Chengxiao was struck as if by lightning. He staggered backward, his face full of horror. The long sword in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang", and he couldn't hold it for a moment!

The entire room fell silent.

"Let's all come at once." Shen Mo glanced at the other seven people, his tone as calm as if he were talking about everyday matters, "It'll save us time if we do it one by one."

"Arrogant!" "You're asking for it!"

The seven roared and attacked instantly! Their swords clashed like a net, their energy linked like chains that bound their souls, their killing intent chilling, aimed directly at Shen Mo's vital points! The seven different sword intents overlapped, subtly forming a combined attack, specifically designed to counter experts who fought alone!

As the sword net pressed down, the air hissed as it was cut, and rubble floated in the air, as if we were in the eye of a storm!

Shen Mo finally smiled.

That smile was like the first rays of the sun on a snow-capped peak, gentle yet concealing a chilling glint.

"Clang!"

A dragon's roar echoed through the heavens!

He reached back with his right hand, and the long sword behind him was drawn with a sound—the blade was ancient and heavy, with hidden patterns of mountains and rivers, it was the famous sword known in the martial arts world—Tai'a!

The moment the sword was in his hand, Shen Mo's aura changed drastically!

Shen Mo did not move, but his sword aura was like a surging river, flowing smoothly and freely, as gentle as a spring breeze and as powerful as thunder – it was the Wudang Sect's ultimate martial art, the Tai Chi Sword!

The sword moves with the body, the body moves with the breath, and the breath moves with the will!

The sword light was neither fast nor slow, yet it flowed like the tide of a great river, endless and continuous; the sword intent did not reveal its sharpness, yet it was like the sky pressing down, leaving no place to escape!

"Clang! Ring! Clang!"

Seven swords attacked simultaneously, but he deflected them with one sword, neutralized their force with another, and transformed their energy with yet another—like parting the clouds to reveal the sun, like guiding a flood into a channel. He used softness to overcome hardness and guided all seven fierce attacks into the void!

"This is... Tai Chi sword?!" the woman exclaimed, her swordplay momentarily halting. "Could it be a true disciple of Wudang?!"

"No! Tai Chi sword isn't that fast! It's not that heavy! He... he's infused it with his own sword intent!" Another youth's face turned pale, and his longsword was knocked out of his hand by Shen Mo's sword spine!

Shen Mo's swordplay continued unabated, his feet stepping in the Bagua formation, his figure like a dragon soaring through the clouds, his sword shadows like moonlight spreading across the ground—

"Grasp the Sparrow's Tail!" "Like Sealing and Closing!" "Cloud Sword Transforms into Force!"...

Every move is authentic Tai Chi, yet it conceals a sharp edge, appearing soft but actually strong, slow but actually fast!

The seven men grew increasingly alarmed and powerless as the fight progressed—their opponent's sword speed was not fast, yet he always managed to strike first despite being behind; the sword's momentum was gentle, yet it repeatedly made their hands go numb and their blood surge!

"Bang!"

One person was struck on the shoulder by the sword wind and stumbled out of the circle;

"Splash!"

Their swordplay was misdirected, and they ended up colliding with each other, looking utterly disheveled!

In less than ten breaths, the seven-man formation collapsed, their sword light scattered, their breathing became rapid, and beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads like rain!

Shen Mo sheathed his sword, Tai'a, with fluid movements, as if the thrilling attack just now was nothing more than brushing a fallen leaf off his shoulder.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm: "Want to do it again?"

The seven men looked at each other, none of them daring to answer.

The wind suddenly stopped.

A crow suddenly cawed and took flight from the distant treetops, breaking the deathly silence.

Peng Chengxiao clutched his numb arm, staring intently at Shen Mo, his voice trembling: "You...who exactly are you? When did Wudang produce a disciple with such extraordinary talent as you?"

Shen Mo didn't answer, only smiled faintly, and turned to leave.

But before taking a step, he left a soft whisper, like a breeze passing by, yet every word was like thunder:

"I am not a Wudang disciple."

"I merely—had a few days of swordplay discussion with the Wudang sect leader and received the true essence of Tai Chi from him."

boom--!

The seven people were stunned, as if struck by lightning!

Zhang Taixuan, the leader of Wudang Sect, is one of the most renowned martial arts masters in the Central Plains today!

This person... actually once debated swordsmanship with Master Zhang?!

Shen Mo's figure receded into the distance, his white robe fluttering lightly in the wind, like clouds emerging from a mountain peak, like a crane leaving the dust.

Behind him, eight proud young talents from prominent families lowered their heads for the first time.

The wind rises again, swirling up the fallen leaves and carrying away their contempt and arrogance.

Shen Mo's steps remained calm, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than practicing swordsmanship in the morning and drinking tea in the afternoon.

"Captain, wait!"

A hurried cry burst from Peng Chengxiao's throat, his voice devoid of any arrogance, only filled with awe and trepidation.

The other seven people also stepped forward in unison, their movements as synchronized as one, their eyes no longer showing contempt, but only shock and shame.

They exchanged a glance and saw the same emotion in each other's eyes—utter admiration and complete acceptance.

Peng Chengxiao took a deep breath, suppressing the numbness in his arm and the turmoil in his heart. He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist, and said in a deep and steady voice, "Peng Chengxiao was blind and offended the captain. I beg the captain's forgiveness!"

His kneeling was like a stone falling into a still lake, stirring up ripples.

"We—know our mistake!" The other seven echoed in unison, each kneeling on one knee, their sword sheaths touching the ground with a clear and solemn "clang," as if swearing an oath to heaven and earth.

The woman who had previously spoken coldly and mockingly now lowered her head and spoke in a soft but firm voice: "I, Liu Qingyi, pride myself on having a clear understanding of the sword's intent. Only today do I realize what true 'sword intent without edge, great skill appearing clumsy' means. The captain broke the blade with a single finger, using softness to overcome hardness. Not only is his martial arts divine, but he also possesses a magnanimous heart. I... am completely convinced."

Another young man, Zhao Jingming, the grandson of an elder of the Kunlun Sect, who had once defeated ten bandits single-handedly and was renowned throughout the Southwest, now looked ashamed: "I used to think that we, the pride of the martial world, were the pinnacle of martial arts among our peers. Today I realize that there are always people more skilled than you, and there are always higher levels to reach. From now on, Zhao Jingming of the Qingfeng Team will obey the captain's orders without question!"

Shen Mo paused slightly, then slowly turned around.

His gaze swept over the eight people, his expression remaining calm, yet with a hint of gentleness: "Get up."