Wandering Swordsman |

His gaze was fixed on Shen Mo, his heart filled with turmoil. The last move that defeated Toyotomi was so pure in its power, so righteous in its intent, and so fast that he could vaguely sense that it was from the same level of martial arts as his own!

This young man's strength is actually approaching the martial arts pinnacle that I had only reached after years of arduous cultivation using unorthodox methods!

His fingertips trembled slightly, and cold sweat seeped from his palms hidden in his sleeves, but he suppressed his emotions and coldly shouted, "Fine! Since you seek death, I will grant your wish!"

His words were like ice blades thrown to the ground, sharp and piercing, attempting to intimidate people with his imposing manner.

At this moment, a gentle breeze rises again, and the battle flags flutter in the wind, as if drumming up support for the upcoming duel.

The world was completely silent.

Tens of thousands of eyes, both on and below the city walls, were focused on the two of them.

A true showdown of titans is about to begin.

And this time,

It's no longer a matter of deciding the outcome in three battles.

It is one person who decides the fate of the world!

The backbone of the Central Plains, the divine emperor of the East.

This battle will decide the fate of the martial arts world in the Central Plains!

Shen Mo stood in the center of the arena, his black clothes fluttering, his Green Ox Sword pointing diagonally at the ground, the tip of the sword reflecting the blood-red setting sun.

He did not use the slightest bit of demonic energy—at this moment, everyone's attention was focused on him, and all the eyes of the Central Plains martial arts alliance city were on him. If he used demonic power, even if he won, he would be regarded as a heretic by the Central Plains martial arts world.

He knew that this battle was not for personal revenge, but to establish the reputation of righteousness and to uphold justice in the Central Plains!

Therefore, he only used his pure martial arts to fight his enemies. He relied on the essence of the "Tiangang Sword Manual", "Taiji Sword", "Sunset True Qi", "Wuxiang Scripture" and "Tianxu True Qi", all of which are open, upright and honorable martial arts!

On the other side stood Jianzhen—the Emperor of Japan. His black robes were as dark as night, his eyes as deep as ancient wells, and his aura was extremely restrained, yet it was like a volcano about to erupt, ready to ignite at any moment.

He slowly raised his hand, his palm empty of weapons, yet it seemed to hold the pivot of heaven and earth: "Today, you and I will prove our Dao through martial arts, and life and death will be determined by fate."

The words had barely left his lips when the battle began!

Jianzhen took a step forward, causing the earth to crack. His figure flashed like a ghost, and his palm wind tore through the air like a dragon, aiming straight for Shen Mo's heart meridian! This was the "Formless Divine Palm," a secret technique passed down by the Eastern God Emperor, so fast that it was beyond thought, and so ruthless that it was beyond self!

Shen Mo did not retreat, but instead welcomed the attack!

He didn't draw his sword, but only used the scabbard to block. His Heavenly Void True Qi surged like a river, pouring into his arm bones, and he took the blow head-on!

"boom--!"

The shockwave exploded, scattering rocks like rain! Shen Mo staggered back three steps, his feet carving three deep gashes, yet his expression remained unchanged, his eyes gleaming even brighter. He laughed loudly, "Excellent palm strike! Again!"

Before the words were even finished, the Green Ox Sword was finally drawn!

The sword light poured down like a galaxy, clear and vast, and the "Heavenly Gang Sword Technique" was once again unleashed!

Jianzhen's pupils shrank sharply—he actually felt a sense of "man and sword as one" pressure from this sword technique!

The two figures flashed past each other, as fast as lightning.

Jianzhen's palms flashed and danced, like a thousand-armed demon.

Shen Mo's sword light flowed like the Milky Way in the heavens.

A palm strike and a sword strike, one hard and one soft, one yin and one yang, intertwine in the wind to create a breathtaking martial arts spectacle!

After a hundred moves, Shen Mo gradually reached his peak. He seamlessly integrated the sharpness of the Tai Chi Sword, the profoundness of the Sunset True Qi, and the grandeur of the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique. His sword momentum surged like a tide, advancing layer by layer, forcing Jian Zhen to retreat for the first time!

"Impossible!" Jianzhen's heart trembled violently. "He's only in his early twenties, even younger than me. How could he surpass me without cultivating the Divine Emperor's Heart Sutra?!"

Just then, Shen Mo suddenly sheathed his sword, closed his eyes slightly, as if entering a meditative state, as if comprehending the Dao. The next instant, he opened his eyes, his gaze devoid of joy or anger, only clear as a mirror.

"The final strike," he said softly.

Then, the Green Ox Sword was slowly raised, its tip pointing straight to the sky.

When the wind stopped, the world seemed to hold its breath for him.

He did not use any moves, but concentrated all his true energy into one point and controlled the sword with his mind. It was neither a move nor a style, but could only be understood by the word "righteousness"!

The sword falls!

A pure and supreme sword aura descended from the sky, like divine punishment or a divine decree, devoid of demons or evil, righteous and unyielding!

Jianzhen unleashed both palms, attempting to use all his internal energy to meet the attack head-on. However, the instant the sword light touched his palms, his meridians were struck as if by lightning, and his protective aura shattered inch by inch! He staggered backward, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His black robe was torn open by the sword energy, revealing a faint bloodstain on his chest—not deep, yet the outcome was already decided!

The entire room fell silent.

Then, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted from the city walls!

"Shen Mo has won!"

"The Central Plains will never be defeated! The righteous path will forever prosper!"

......

At that moment, on the city wall, Elder Huangfu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his blood seemingly freezing in an instant.

He leaned against the cold arrow sack, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably. His eyes reflected the black-clad figure below the city, but he felt as if he were seeing a ghost.

He had assumed the situation was settled—Situ Dengfeng was gravely injured, Guiguzi was alone and unable to hold the line, the main force of the martial arts alliance had been transferred west, and Nanjing was like an isolated island on the verge of sinking. This was the Huangfu family's once-in-a-millennium opportunity to rise! He had already sent a trusted envoy to forge a blood pact with Jianzhen: the day the city of Dongying fell would be the day Huangfu surrendered; the Divine Emperor would enter the Central Plains, Huangfu would take control of the new martial arts world, and the nine sects and the entire clan would bow down in submission!

But now... Shen Mo broke the deadlock with a single sword strike, not only saving the Martial Alliance from the brink of collapse, but also defeating the Japanese Emperor in a righteous and honorable manner! — Such a victory is more awe-inspiring than a thousand armies!

Huangfu Hui's eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched so tightly they almost bled. He stared intently at the black-clad figure in the center of the arena, as imposing as a pine tree and as solid as a mountain. Hatred burned within him like a poisonous vine, coiling around his internal organs and suffocating him: "Shen Mo… why do you always ruin my plans?! Are you the chosen one, or the nemesis of the Huangfu family?!"

They originally thought that there were no more changes in the martial arts world, and that the power struggles had already determined the fate of the world.

Who would have thought that this young man, who was usually regarded as a "promising young talent", would descend like a divine soldier and turn the tide!

Even more terrifying is that after this battle, Shen Mo's name will surely resound like thunder throughout the world! Situ Dengfeng will definitely regard him as a pillar of the state, and Guiguzi will certainly entrust him with his trust.

If he seizes the opportunity to rise to power, how could anyone else possibly have a chance to claim the position of the future leader of the martial arts world? The Huangfu family can only swallow their pride and forever grovel at his feet!

……

In the arena, Jianzhen's black robe was stained with dust, and blood still clung to the corner of his mouth. He looked down at the shallow sword wound on his chest, his eyes filled with complex emotions, like a churning abyss.

"I...lost?"

These three words echoed repeatedly in his mind, like a thunderclap.

He was the Emperor of Japan, his martial arts had reached a state of perfection, and he believed himself to be the pinnacle of martial arts. Yet today, he was defeated by a young man even younger than himself?

"No...impossible!" He suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with renewed arrogance. "Just now...it was my carelessness! This battle is not over yet!"

Before he finished speaking, he sprang up like an angry dragon emerging from the abyss, his palms flashing and the world changing color! This time, he held nothing back, unleashing all the evil cultivation energy within him, his body enveloped in a surging tide of black energy!

"Shen Mo! Let's fight again!"

The palm strike was like a prison, pressing down and cracking the earth!