Free Web NovelThe massive Sword City was situated between two mountain ranges.
The towering Sword Pagoda pierced the sky, resembling a colossal sword propping up the heavens. It was sunrise, and the sun illuminated the Sword Pagoda, casting its enormous shadow in front of the mountain gate.
Underneath that shadow, ten platforms were perfectly encompassed.
After the Elder from Sword City finished speaking, the field fell silent.
"Which hero will step up and set an example for us?"
"Where are all those great heroes from earlier?"
.....
Stepping onto the stage now meant having to endure three days on it, the difficulty of which was imaginable.
Only those with extreme confidence in their own strength would dare to step up at this moment.
"I'll give it a try first."
Suddenly, a voice came from within the crowd.
Li Mo, who was just putting away his brush, looked towards the sound.
He saw a man dressed in beast-patterned armor, with a resolute face, holding a long spear in his hand, and surrounded by dozens of personal guards, exuding solemn authority.
The Hengyun Sword Scar did not necessarily only lead to insights into swordsmanship.
There were many swordsmen here because Martial Artists throughout Yunzhou, and even the entire world, revered the practice of swordsmanship.
"It's Young Marquis Zhong."
"Young Marquis is mighty! A true general's demeanor."
Everyone praised him, and a flurry of flattery erupted from below the stage.
Li Mo couldn't help but look over with his Tianming Divine Eye.
Hmm?
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
【Name: Zhong Zhenyue】
【Age: 22】
【Bone Structure: Iron Horse Golden Spear Body】
【Realm: Guan Shen Five Apertures】
【Destiny: Blue with a hint of Purple】
【Evaluation: Son of Zhennan King, joined the army from a young age, a complete straight man.】
【Recent Encounter: On his way to Yunzhou, he was deceived by Yin Mianmian, the Saintess of Rain Listening Pavilion. She didn't even need to use any mind-controlling techniques; he simply insisted on marrying her... He unintentionally helped Rain Listening Pavilion seize the Hengyun Sword Scar, and was severely punished by his father afterward.】
Li Mo: "...."
An inexperienced, straight-laced rich second generation encountering a top-tier 'sea queen,' is that it?
This was a bit tricky.
Firstly, the other party wasn't poisoned; secondly, it wasn't due to some chaotic martial arts charm; and thirdly, he truly wasn't from Rain Listening Pavilion.
Hengyun Sword City wasn't Qingyuan Sect; they wouldn't believe whatever he said.
"Let's take it one step at a time."
Li Mo shook his head.
He currently had two things to do.
Firstly, to refine the Dugu Nine Swords to a new level through the sword trials.
Secondly, to help Ice Cube and Xiao Jiang Princess observe the Hengyun Sword Scar.
Rain Listening Pavilion had designs on the sword scar, but he didn't seem to see any assassins from Rain Listening Pavilion through his Tianming Divine Eye.
However, as long as the Martial Arts Summit continued, they would eventually make their move.
"Ice Cube....."
Li Mo was about to speak when he noticed that Ying Bing had already ascended the stage.
A series of exclamations also rang out in the arena.
"Isn't that the overbearing female emperor? Liu Wuyan?"
"It's her! She's exactly the same!"
"Bro, you also watch 'the overbearing female emperor falls in love with me'?"
"So the characters in this comic really are based on reality, huh?"
"Wuwu... I really want to be Sister Wuyan's dog."
"Empress Wuyan, invincible throughout the world!"
"I raise the great banner for the Empress, who dares to be her enemy!"
.....
The arena instantly became incredibly lively, even more so than when Zhong Zhenyue ascended the stage.
The scene showed signs of turning into a fan meeting.
Ying Bing's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
She hadn't expected that comic to be so popular.
Firstly, her name wasn't Liu Wuyan.....
However, as soon as she frowned like that, the cheers grew even louder.
Li Mo: ".....So Senior Brother Ouyang, you drew your Liu Wuyan based on Ying Bing?"
"I couldn't help it. With such a gem already existing, you know how unfairly beautiful Junior Sister is. I racked my brains but couldn't come up with anyone who fit the Empress's Aura better."
Ouyang spread his hands and added:
"Oh, and Jiang Chen was drawn based on you, Junior Brother Li. After all, art comes from life, and you taught me well."
Looking at the overwhelming cheers and shouts before him, Xiao Li would never have imagined, even if he died.
That one day, he would be hit on the head by his own boomerang. freёwebnovel.com
Nor did he expect to become a popular idol.....
"Wow, is that Jiang Chen?"
"He looks so gentle and handsome, he must be a true gentleman." freewebnovёl.ƈom
"Ah? So 'the overbearing female emperor falls in love with me' is based on the two of them?"
"Yingyingying, I really want to have monkeys with Brother Jiang Chen."
.....
The attendees included not only Jianghu heroes but also various onlookers, nobles, and commoners from Yunzhou.
The serious atmosphere of the sword trial was completely gone.
On the high platform of Sword City.
"How did your Outer Affairs Hall manage this!"
Elder Zeng was furious, slamming the table, causing the fruits to float up and then fall back down.
"Elder, we couldn't help it."
"We invited over a hundred storytellers to take turns promoting the three True Disciples, and the price of pang da hai has even been driven up because of us."
The Outer Affairs Hall's steward looked distressed.
Even if the storytellers talked until their throats were hoarse, could they compare to that comic?
"You don't know, but now at all the major bookstores, people queue up every day, and some even offer a hundred taels just to read the latest chapter of 'the overbearing female emperor falls in love with me'."
"In terms of promotion, our methods are too outdated!"
"Outdated methods...."
Elder Zeng snorted coldly, looking at Wu, Cao, and Bai who stood there.
"These are just minor tricks. Ultimately, it still comes down to real skill."
"The three # Nоvеlight # of you, make sure to display your Aura and your demeanor later!"
"Yes."
The three bowed, and among them, Bai Jinghong sighed.
After they descended from the high platform of Sword City, Elder Zeng narrowed his eyes and looked at the steward again:
"By the way, how do you know people are queuing at the bookstores?"
"Ah, well, I was just strolling around, so...."
"As a steward of Sword City, do you not feel ashamed? Hand it over!"
"Ah? I haven't finished reading it yet....."
The steward eventually obediently handed over the comic.
Elder Zeng took the comic, and seeing the steward leave, he quickly flipped it open, as if he had found an antidote after being poisoned.
"Hehe, the latest chapter..... Hehehe....."
Elder Zeng was a good Elder.
He kept his personal life and work very separate.
......
On the stage.
The ten high platforms were finally filled.
The rules of the sword trial were very simple~
Each person could only ascend the stage twice. If their cultivation exceeded a major Realm, they had to suppress it to the same Realm, as this was a friendly martial arts exchange, not a competition of who had a higher Realm.
Among the ten people currently on stage, nine were in the Guan Shen Realm.
Only Xiao Jiang Princess was in the Inner Breath Realm.
Naturally, many who wanted to gain fame by ascending the stage also turned their gaze towards her.
"Whose child is this?"
"She looks like a Little beggar. I saw her feeding stray cats outside last night."
"Hey, kid, hurry up and get down, you'll be scared to tears later."
A Xuan Dan Realm swordsman jumped onto the stage.
This was an intention to challenge.
Jiang Chulong held the Jade Sword Peach Blossom Branch, standing there timidly, looking somewhat lost and helpless.
She could only purse her lips and look at the adjacent platform.
There, Li Mo smiled slightly, and the hand beneath his robe gave her a thumbs-up.
Jiang Chulong immediately gained confidence and quietly asked:
"Has it begun?"
"Mm, it has begun."
Whoosh--
The Peach Blossom Branch appeared from nowhere, and fell at an unknown time.
But, there was no turning back, and no catching up to the departing intent.
Like a spring breeze.
It was over.
