Atop a high mountain in the Capital, clouds and fog wreathed the peak, adorning it with ribbons of auspicious clouds. Within a pavilion, an elder in plain clothing played Go against himself, occasionally pausing to sip his tea.

Just then, a figure clad in black appeared outside the pavilion to report, "Commander, the battle over there has begun."

The elder waved a hand dismissively. "I know." He signaled for the man to withdraw.

"Shen Lang, who do you think will win this battle?" the elder suddenly asked.

After a long while, two words drifted out from the clouds and mist. "Yun Xu."

A strange smile appeared on the elder's face. "Why?"

The voice replied, "The Green Lotus Sword Technique is the strongest in the world. When it is drawn, none can stand against it."

The elder laughed heartily. "Though the technique is strong, it can hardly be called the strongest when facing the Sword God himself."

"There is only one Shen Lang in this world." The speaker's tone was placid, yet it contained an absolute, unshakeable confidence.

The elder laughed heartily again. "Hahaha, how about we make a bet?"

"I don't bet for money," the voice refused.

The elder smiled. "Don't worry. This time, we are not betting money."

"If Lin Mu wins this battle, you will take a trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain," the elder said, taking a light sip of his tea.

Shen Lang fell silent for a moment. "Elder Xiao, you can't be serious..."

The elder laughed cheerfully. "What's the matter? Don't you dare? Or are you not confident in your own judgment as the Sword God?"

"Fine. I accept."

The elder burst into laughter. As he left, he placed a single stone on the board. Instantly, all the black stones across the board connected, forming the shape of a great dragon that trapped all the white stones within. Slaying the dragon, Black wins.

"After this battle, bring Lin Mu into the Dragon Protection Hall." The elder descended the mountain with a flourish, and as he did, a figure emerged from the mist.

He stared intently at the Go board on the table, a strange light glinting in his eyes. Could I have been mistaken? But once Yun Xu unleashes the Green Lotus Sword Technique, how could that boy possibly defend against it?

Shen Lang shook his head, refusing to believe he could lose this bet.

「」

The Green Lotus Sword Technique was one of the ancestral arts of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion. It had been refined by countless generations of Heavenly Masters, leaving it with fewer flaws and even greater power. Only direct disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion were permitted to learn it, and the conditions were exceptionally strict.

However, as a direct disciple from the previous generation, Yun Xu had naturally learned this technique and had even achieved a very high level of mastery.

Now, he wielded his horsetail whisk as a sword, channeling all his True Qi and transforming it into Sword Gang.

In an instant, the very air between heaven and earth became saturated with a dense, sharp sword intent.

FSSSHHH!

The surface of the Bolan River was carved with countless crisscrossing gashes, all from the sword intent alone. Even boats that were already far away were affected, their hulls scored with innumerable cuts from the pervasive sword intent.

"Quick, fall back! Fall back!" the spectating Martial Artists screamed, their faces etched with terror. They were utterly shocked by Daoist Master Yunxu's mastery of the Sword Dao.

Yun Xu gave a vicious sneer. "Brat, I don't care how many tricks you have. This time, you die!" He stroked the whisk with his left hand as if caressing the body of a sword.

CLANG!

A clear sword cry rang out as a terrifying sword intent erupted, lunging straight for Lin Mu.

Lin Mu's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He chuckled. "The Green Lotus Sword Technique?" As his clothes fluttered, he raised a single finger.

Lu Tong, watching from a distance, shouted as if he'd seen a ghost. "Is he insane?"

"It's over. Master Lin has gotten truly arrogant. He must think the current Daoist Master Yunxu is the same as he was before."

"This is just asking to be killed. He'll have no one to blame but himself."

Previously, Lin Mu had broken one of Yunxu's moves with a single finger, and now he intended to do it again. It was just too arrogant!

"As expected of the Master of the Three Rivers, but he's still going to die!" Liu Xiu sneered, her voice dripping with mockery.

Yun Xu also believed Lin Mu was being far too arrogant. "Boy, if this is the only trick you have, then let me tell you, your death in this battle is certain!" Yun Xu sneered as his True Yuan erupted. The sword intent swirled, vowing to shred Lin Mu to pieces.

"Is that so?" Lin Mu chuckled softly, joining two fingers together and raising them before his chest.

VSHHHH!

Yunxu's whisk, carrying a supreme sword intent, tore through the air as it closed rapidly on Lin Mu.

"It's over!" A murderous glint flashed in Yunxu's eyes, his expression that of someone who had already secured victory.

The others also thought the battle would end just like this.

But at that very moment, Lin Mu, standing upon the churning waves, gently swiped his two fingers downward as if cutting the very air.

In that instant, everyone saw a dazzling light flash before their eyes. It was immediately followed by a stinging pain across their skin, as if they were being sliced by countless sharp edges. The eyes of some weaker Martial Artists instantly streamed with tears from the pain.

SCHRRRKT!

The next second, a grating sound of tearing air followed. Before Lin Mu, the air itself was split open by a fine crack, as if sliced by a sharp sword.

CRACK!

The whisk in Yunxu's hand instantly disintegrated into dust and slowly dissipated.

"This..." Before he could even react, an impossibly sharp power howled toward him.

WHOOSH!

A dazzling beam of sword light shot up from the surface of the river.

"No!" Yunxu screamed, retreating swiftly in an attempt to dodge the sword light.

SLSHHH!

With a bloodcurdling scream, Yunxu's entire body was slammed into the river. The beam of sword light, its momentum unchecked, carved a terrifying scar across the sky.

The waves churned and rain poured down in sheets, now mixed with fresh blood. Lin Mu stood upon the river's surface. He slowly retracted his fingers and said softly, "The Green Lotus Sword Technique... is nothing special after all."

After what seemed like an eternity, cries of alarm finally broke the silence. "What was that just now?" Everyone's face was a mask of shock and terror.

If that sword attack had been aimed at any of us, we'd be corpses by now.

"I don't know! I just felt like I was about to die! It was terrifying!"

"That was a beam of sword light! Master Lin knows swordsmanship too!" A shriek jolted the dazed crowd back to their senses.

Master Lin knows swordsmanship? This...

The expressions on the faces of Lu Tong and the others turned impossibly dark.

Liu Xiu gritted her teeth, staring intently at the figure on the river. "Is there anything he can't do?!"

"Wait, where's Daoist Master Yunxu?" The question sent the crowd into an uproar.

Daoist Master Yunxu had been knocked into the water but still hadn't resurfaced. Could it be... that he was already dead?

"Impossible! Daoist Master Yunxu's strength is incredible! He can't have died just like that!"

"That's right! With Daoist Master Yunxu's abilities, it's too soon to say if he's dead or alive!"

RUMBLE...

Just as everyone was searching for him, the clouds in the sky above began to roil, threatening an imminent downpour.

"How come it's about to rain all of a sudden?" Everyone looked up at the sky, a deep unease settling in their hearts.

"This is..." Jiang Yawei muttered. A moment later, his expression changed drastically. He grabbed Jiang Mingyue and began steering their boat frantically in retreat.

"Grandfather, that is..."

Pushing the boat to its maximum speed, Jiang Yawei said gravely, "Don't speak! We have to go now!"

The Martial Artists who realized what was happening also scattered in terror, fleeing into the distance.

In an instant, for a hundred miles around on the Bolan River, all was clear except for a single spot at the very center. There, a figure as small as a black speck bobbed on the surface.

In the vast sky, dark clouds gathered directly above his head, heralding a heavenly lightning punishment.

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