Oh no, the persona is still about to collapse

Since the founding of Hengyun Sword City, the sword mark that had accompanied the mystical stone had been erased?

The sword mark... well, now it could only be called the mystical stone.

Everyone stared at the stone, their eyes blank and minds bewildered.

The origins of this stone were shrouded in mystery.

Even a Seventh-Realm Palm Mystic Sage could not leave the slightest trace upon it.

That sword mark had been overwhelmingly powerful, cutting across time itself, enduring the rise and fall of Hengyun Sword City without being worn away by the ages.

Yet now, such a feat had been accomplished by someone merely at the Observation Spirit Realm.

No wonder there had been such a commotion earlier.

Looking at the solitary young woman standing there, the elders were momentarily speechless, unable to find words to describe their emotions.

"Erasing the sword mark..."

Huang Donglai's back was drenched in cold sweat as he hastily pulled out a booklet titled [Survival Rules of Martial Arts].

He crossed out the first line on the first page—"Never act on impulse"—and replaced it with "Never provoke Ying Bing."

"She..."

Cao Mu's expression shifted through a myriad of emotions before he suddenly laughed in resignation.

Hahaha, had he really thought he could one day reclaim his pride?

He was truly foolish, really.

"Old Bai."

"Hm?"

Bai Jinghong snapped out of his daze and turned his head.

Wu Chushu, his eyes vacant, had clawed his hair into a disheveled mess:

"Suddenly, I don’t feel like practicing the sword anymore. Tell me, how is the gap between people even wider than the gap between people and dogs?"

"...Why insult dogs?"

"?"

"Haha, just lightening the mood."

Bai Jinghong had matured, learning to find humor in hardship.

Wu Chushu said, "Just award her the Sword Hero title already."

"It’s not that we can’t..."

Bai Jinghong opened his mouth but suddenly recalled a scene.

In the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm, he had seen it clearly.

The young woman before him, now serene and ethereal like a celestial being, had once stood behind a man, sheltered by him.

That man was present right now.

Bai Jinghong couldn’t help but glance to the side.

"Sister Bing... is amazing."

The light in Jiang Chulong’s gray-white eyes seemed to pierce through the cloth covering them.

Though overjoyed, she also felt an inexplicable familiarity.

Sister Bing’s comprehension of the sword path... why did it carry a hint of their teacher’s style?

Could it be... that the teacher... had also guided Sister Bing?

The teacher is truly incredible...

Little Princess Jiang, who firmly believed that the Celestial Venerable teacher was the GOAT, noticed nothing amiss.

"I’m used to it. I’m already used to it."

Li Mo was no longer the inexperienced young boy he once was.

Didn’t they know what the Phoenix Heaven Empress was capable of?

If she didn’t stir up some commotion, would she even be the Ice Block?

"...Looks like my faith won’t be shattered."

Li Mo sighed in relief.

Well, no need for grand words of gratitude, but he ought to reward the Ice Block somehow... just to show appreciation...

...

"Young lady, what have you... comprehended?"

Elder Zeng rubbed his hands together, speaking on behalf of the elders.

The elderly masters were somewhat embarrassed.

By tradition, the outstanding talents who gained insights from the mystical stone were expected to leave behind their realizations—a mutual exchange of benefits.

But now, not a single one of these old-timers dared claim they could remain indifferent to that sword technique.

"I will leave behind my understanding of this sword."

Ying Bing gave a slight nod.

If someone truly could learn it, so what?

"Excellent!"

"As expected of you!"

"Truly a celestial maiden descended to earth! Given time, you will undoubtedly rise to the top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking—no, even the Heavenly Ranking!"

"I declare henceforth, whoever opposes Lady Ying opposes Hengyun Sword City itself!"

The old men and women beamed, their wrinkled faces creasing with smiles.

The scene was rather surreal.

Numerous powerhouses, each capable of dominating a region, were showering a young woman—who had just entered, no, was now at the Observation Spirit Second Aperture Realm—with effusive praise.

Yet, looking at the young woman they praised, it somehow didn’t seem unreasonable...

"For Lady Ying to become this generation’s Sword Hero would be an honor for the title itself..."

"Um... is there a possibility..."

Li Mo raised his hand. "That we haven’t had our turn to comprehend yet?"

The elders: "..."

Ah, right.

Got a little carried away there.

Come to think of it, with the sword mark gone, might the mystical stone have lost its divine properties entirely?

That would be hard to say whether it was a blessing or a curse...

The elders hurriedly inspected the stone again, and after a moment, they set it down, their worries easing.

"Though the sword mark is gone, the mystical stone remains as extraordinary as ever."

"Indeed, it can still be used for comprehension."

"Perhaps the stone’s marvel does not depend on that sword mark."

One elder speculated, "Could it be that when someone comprehends an even greater martial art from it, they can leave their own mark?"

This explanation seemed quite plausible.

In other words, if Ying Bing wished, she could now leave behind the sword mark she had just comprehended.

Elder Zeng pondered for a moment before nodding.

"Let us first conclude the Martial Arts Summit properly, then invite Lady Ying to attempt it."

The summit was still ongoing.

The participants below had been waiting for a long time, yet there had been no movement from above.

Thus, the remaining participants—Zhong Zhenyue, Huang Donglai, and the others—stepped forward one by one.

Elder Zeng skipped Ying Bing and directly announced their insights:

"Zhong Zhenyue has comprehended a top-tier superior-grade martial art—Eight Gates Golden Lock Spear Technique!"

"Huang Donglai has comprehended a complete top-tier superior-grade martial art—Cloud-Soaring Movement Technique!"

...

In the past, this would have been enough to become the talk of the martial world, with factions and martial artists buzzing about such prodigious talents.

But now, the crowd seemed almost desensitized, their curiosity fixated solely on Ying Bing’s comprehension.

"Still, I should give it a try."

Li Mo thought it over.

After all, no one could tell exactly what he comprehended—they could only gauge its grade.

He had plenty of martial arts of various grades.

If he ended up comprehending a hammer technique, he could always substitute it with a sword art of the same grade.

Hengyun Sword City didn’t scrutinize such details.

As long as the grade matched, it was acceptable.

For instance, Zhong Zhenyue had exchanged the spear technique he comprehended for a superior-grade sword technique since no one in the city practiced spears.

Before long, only Li Mo remained.

The self-styled "Sword Immortal" Li Mo exchanged a glance with Ying Bing, accepted Jiang Chulong’s cheerful encouragement, and then cleared his throat.

Gripping the Scarlet Sky Sword, he strode forward with purpose, silently psyching himself up:

"Stay sharp, you’re the real deal—don’t embarrass yourself now!"

As he approached the mystical stone, an inexplicable pull tugged at his spirit.

The closer he got, the more extraordinary the stone seemed.

"A shame I can’t fully depict it yet."

The thought flickered through his mind.

Li Mo released his Intent Soul and immersed himself within.

The world around him seemed to dissolve, fading away.

In the haze, he found himself standing on a vast, primordial land.

Above him, countless stars wheeled through the heavens, each one seemingly cradling a hazy world within.

The earth beneath him felt ancient and immeasurably heavy, as if it were the very center of the universe.

Boom—

Amidst the chaos, Li Mo heard the rumble of thunder.

The starry sky shifted unpredictably.

He gazed up at the starry sky and instinctively grasped his most reliable support—Eighty.

A sudden enlightenment blossomed in his mind, visions of various techniques unfolding before him.

This wasn't something his will could control.

A thunderous voice roared through his consciousness:

"When Heaven's killing intent arises, stars shift and constellations change!"

Along with this revelation,

Li Mo, in his dazed state, inexplicably felt another stubborn thought emerge:

"Oh no, my persona's about to collapse."

.....

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