Wandering Swordsman |

Jianzhen's pupils suddenly contracted, and one of the prayer beads in his hand snapped off with a "crack"!

This person has white hair and a youthful face, coupled with such profound skill... Could it be that he has already reached the state of "returning to simplicity"?

He was deeply shaken: Although their cultivation level was not as high as his, they had already reached the pinnacle of martial arts!

—But Jianzhen was unaware that in the Western Regions Heavenly Demon Sect, there were already four Demon Lords who had reached the "Return to Simplicity" realm. And Shen Mo had already surpassed them.

......

Mr. Wang stood in the center of the venue, his white robe fluttering lightly in the biting cold wind, like a lone cloud hanging between heaven and earth.

He was slender with snow-white hair, seemingly unassuming yet possessing an aura of profound composure.

His gaze was calm, yet like a deep pool concealing thunder, slowly sweeping across the entire room. His voice was not loud, but it seemed to descend from the heavens, clear and resonant like a bell, each word piercing the heart:

"If I mention your name, you might not recognize it—"

He paused, and even the gentle breeze seemed to freeze for a moment.

The next instant, a sharp light suddenly burst forth in his eyes, like a spark igniting a prairie fire; his voice suddenly rose higher, like a dragon's roar breaking through the clouds and a phoenix's cry soaring through the heavens.

"But if I mention another name, you might have heard of it—I am Guiguzi!"

The moment the name "Guiguzi" was uttered, it was as if an invisible thunderbolt exploded from the sky, causing the accumulated snow to tumble down and even the withered trees in the distance to tremble slightly!

In an instant, all was silent; even the wind held its breath.

—Then, there was a deafening roar, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing!

"Guiguzi?!"

"Guiguzi has actually shown up?!"

"No wonder the alliance leader is always so respectful to him!"

A deafening roar erupted from within the martial arts alliance!

Countless disciples were filled with fervor, their eyes brimming with a mixture of tears and fire. Some beat their chests in excitement, others raised their weapons and roared, and still others, young martial artists with tears in their eyes, murmured, "So... that legend of the Central Plains martial arts world has always been right beside us!"

The "Martial Arts Alliance" banner, which had been drooping due to Situ Dengfeng's defeat, suddenly rose up amidst the shouts of the crowd. The banner fluttered like a dragon soaring into the sky, as if a lion that had been sleeping for a hundred years had suddenly opened its eyes and roared to the heavens!

The students of the Elite Academy stood there dumbfounded, looking at each other in disbelief.

"That strict teacher who made us practice our sword moves a hundred times if we made even the slightest mistake..."

"That person who always sweeps the courtyard alone at night, his lonely figure like a painting..."

"The one who's always the first one to arrive at the academy's training grounds every morning..."

"It's actually—Guiguzi?!"

A disciple's voice trembled, almost choking with emotion: "No wonder...no wonder he always said 'Martial arts are not about form, but about spirit'...It turns out he had already reached a peak we could never see, yet he willingly humbled himself to guide us in refining our martial arts..."

Their morale was like spring thunder, shattering the frozen river, reigniting the embers and setting the flames ablaze once more!

The dignity that was shattered by Oda's sword just now is now being reforged inch by inch by the three words "Guiguzi", and forged into steel!

Atop the city wall, Situ Meng gazed tearfully at the slender figure in the arena. The cold wind tousled her hair, but it couldn't dispel the faint yet stubborn hope in her eyes. Her lips moved slightly, her voice as light as falling snow, yet carrying a weight of destiny: "Mr. Wang... no, Senior Guiguzi... I entrust everything to you now..."

On the ground, Tokugawa's hand gripping the sword tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white, and his eyes burned with a fanatical fervor like hellfire, almost consuming his reason.

An uncontrollable ambition surged within him: If I win this battle, my name, Tokugawa, will resound throughout Japan, surpassing Oda and becoming the number one general under the Emperor! What about Guiguzi? He's nothing but a stepping stone for my ascent to the top!

He stepped forward, his heavy black armor clanging, his long sword pointing diagonally at the snow, its sound like the hooting of an owl:

"Since you are Guiguzi—then you are certainly qualified!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly sprang into action!

The blade flashed like a black dragon emerging from the abyss, carrying a chilling killing intent, aimed straight at Guiguzi's crown! This strike was as fast as lightning and as ruthless as a scorpion; the ground cracked even before the blade arrived!

However, Guiguzi simply swung the sword at his waist.

He actually deflected the thunderous strike by three inches—the blade grazed his shoulder, severing a lock of his white hair, but not even touching the hem of his clothes!

Tokugawa's pupils contracted, then he roared repeatedly, his sword flashing like a torrential downpour: "Hundred Demons - Thousand Slashes!"

The blades flashed, each strike aimed straight for vital points—throat, heart, eyes, and knees! A relentless barrage of deadly attacks, leaving no room for error!

Guiguzi moved like a willow catkin in the wind, his footwork like treading on stars, deftly dodging the blade and his body half an inch away each time. His sword strikes were always the first to strike after the opponent's attack, completely neutralizing Tokugawa's deadly moves, as skillfully as a butcher dissecting an ox!

"clang--!"

With a crisp sound, Tokugawa's long sword was easily cut in half by his side sword!

The blade flew out, embedded itself in the ground, and trembled on its own.

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

Tokugawa staggered backward, his face filled with disbelief.

Just then, Oda's subordinate "Bloody Hand Judge" snorted coldly, flicked his wrist, and a long sword came flying through the air!

"then!"

Tokugawa swiftly snatched the sword, which felt as heavy as a mountain yet as warm and smooth as blood, its blade faintly emitting the sound of a dragon's roar—it was none other than the "Martial God Sword," one of the treasures of the Martial God's Tomb!

He was overjoyed: It really is a good weapon! With this sword in hand, his combat power will instantly increase by a whole level!

He roared and swung his sword again! The sword light was like crimson flames burning the sky, and his moves were even more ruthless, faster, and more unpredictable! Wherever the blade passed, the ground was scorched, and the air seemed to be torn apart!

Guiguzi remained calm.

He brandished his sword lightly, his figure like a lone crane under the moon, moving freely amidst Tokugawa's moves.

Although the Martial God's Blade was sharp, it couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

With a move called "Flowing Clouds Sweeping the Moon," the sword tip lifted the hilt of the knife, using the force against him, and actually flung Tokugawa three zhang away!

Tokugawa landed and tumbled, looking utterly disheveled, his eyes filled with horror and resentment.

A thunderous cheer erupted from within the martial arts alliance!

"Master Guiguzi is truly awe-inspiring!"

"Without even making a single move, he has already secured an invincible position!"

"This is the true demeanor of a master!"

Morale soared like wildfire, reigniting fiercely!

Even the dejected disciples on the city tower straightened their backs, their eyes regaining a glimmer of hope.

Jianzhen, however, frowned slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, while the evil cultivators outside the overseas sect formed a circle.

This won't do... Tokugawa definitely won't last ten moves!

He quietly raised his hand, his fingertips twitching slightly, and an invisible wisp of Yin energy, like a venomous snake, stealthily attacked Guiguzi's "Yongquan" acupoint on the sole of his foot from beneath the ground.

With Jianzhen's level of skill, his sneak attack was so silent that no one present could detect it, including Guiguzi!

Guiguzi paused slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes—someone was secretly attacking him!

But he remained expressionless. In the instant the evil force struck, his inner energy surged like a river flowing backward. With a light tap of his feet, he actually deflected the evil force into the ground! A ring of dust exploded on the ground!

At the same time, his right-hand sword flashed like lightning as he exchanged another blow with Tokugawa—

"Bang!"

The two men each took three steps back, leaving six footprints of equal depth on the ground.

—It's a draw!

But only Jianzhen knew that Guiguzi still managed to fight Tokugawa, who was wielding a divine weapon, to a draw even when he was being interfered with!