Kendo Exchange

Most of the time spent cultivating is dreary and uninteresting. Sitting in meditation to refine spiritual energy is dreary, and practicing the same spells over and over is boring.

Yet cultivators will likewise look for fun ways to pass the time during these constant dreary and monotonous days. In this regard, they are no different from ordinary people.

Among them, martial arts contests are the most common recreational activity. This method will gain a lot of combat experience and notoriety among strangers.

For example, Li Shiyin really enjoys going out to fight people, waiting at the Debate Platform when she has nothing to do. And because her swordplay is sharp, never missing a vital point, and she shows no mercy at all when fighting, those weaker than her don't even need to be mentioned - three or two moves and they will certainly be defeated. Even those stronger than her don't have it easy either - the slightest inattention will allow her to seize upon a flaw and take them down. Thus, she has gradually gained a reputation at Dan Peak for being a tyrant... and her fans have secretly nicknamed her the Sword Demon, spreading it around Dao Sword Sect.

And so the legend of the Dan Peak tyrant Sword Demon Li Shiyin came about.

In addition to martial arts contests, there are also zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. For cultivators with long lifespans, they are especially fond of anything that helps pass the time.

For example, it is said that master players of Go have played continuously for thousands of years. Of course, there are also geniuses at Go like Li Shiyin, who can play dozens of games in an afternoon against Chasing the Wind.

In addition to zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, there are also scripture discussions. After all, cultivation is still the most important thing for cultivators. If you can sit with two or three good friends, burn incense and make tea while discussing scriptures, and add zither music and chanting songs, it is truly the greatest pleasure in the human realm.

And from scripture discussions, there are also large debate meetings. For example, when a senior produces an exceptional magic treasure, they invite friends from all around to appraise it; or when a supreme master celebrates their ten thousandth birthday, forces from all sides compete to congratulate them; or well-connected people organize large dao discussion conferences.

Among them, the sword dao conference to be held today at Sword Peak of Dao Sword Sect is one such event.

Qin Ran didn't know exactly what was the background of this sword conference, since pill cultivators like him are never invited. But what it was for could be seen at a glance - to exchange sword dao experiences. So this year, Li Shiyin had received an invitation. After all, her fame had greatly expanded, known as the Dan Peak Sword Demon, Peerless Sword Immortal, Top Ten Arrogant Geniuses of Dao Sword Sect - many resounding titles.

In the morning, Li Shiyin dragged Chasing the Wind by the tail to stop him from leaving, pleading: "Chasing the Wind, go with me!"

Chasing the Wind forcibly dragged her outside, croaking: "I already agreed with Elder Brother, I can't go with you today."

"I'll be so lonely by myself..." Li Shiyin played the emotional card, "Those people are so fierce, I don't know any of them!"

"Who could be fiercer than you?" Chasing the Wind smiled wryly, "Really can't do it, Elder Brother is going to teach me Dark Divinity today..."

In the end, Li Shiyin was unable to keep Chasing the Wind, who scurried off waving his tail happily to go get beaten.

She went and found Qin Ran under the old spirit tree, lying back leisurely reading a book. She sat down on the grass and grabbed Qin Ran's hand, shaking it while dragging out her voice, "Mast~er~~ go with me!"

Qin Ran glanced at her, seeing her batting her big eyes trying to look pitiful. Fortunately his heart was made of iron, replying: "Why would I go? I'm not a sword cultivator."

"Master, your comprehension of the sword dao is so high, how can you say you aren't a sword cultivator?" said Li Shiyin.

"Heh!" Qin Ran let out a cold laugh, "My understanding of the sword dao is just armchair speculation, enough to fool you. Go to some sword conference? Forget it!"

"Master, you are the best..." Li Shiyin shamelessly flattered.

"I'm not going!" Qin Ran said coldly.

Li Shiyin lingered by Qin Ran's side for a long time, but was unable to get him to change his mind and accompany her to the sword conference. Finally, she could only go to the conference alone and forlorn.

"Why didn't you ask me?" But just as she flew away on her sword, Long Qiqi, who was drying medicinal herbs in the old spirit tree, suddenly called out to her.

Li Shiyin's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly turned back, pleasantly surprised: "Qiqi, you want to go?"

But Long Qiqi flatly refused: "I'm not going!"

Li Shiyin screeched to a halt, wrinkling her little nose: "Humph! I knew it. Now you know why I didn't ask you!"

The sword conference was at the peak of Sword Peak, in the deepest fog.

The sheer cliffs touched the stars in the sky, with pavilions and towers. Among the buildings, rocks, and pines, cultivators who had attained enlightenment in the sword dao alighted everywhere.

Some appreciated the scenery, some drank and discussed swords. Those in high spirits might make appointments to go between the rocks - there was a platform there called the Sword Inquiring Summit, where they could exchange insights on the sword dao.

For example, now that the conference had just begun, the current senior disciple of Sword Peak, Liu Baixuan, went on stage to first give an opening speech to the sword cultivators who had come for the conference. Then he called out in a loud voice to the audience: "Brother Lu, we haven't sparred for some time. Why don't we exchange a move or two on stage today, to set an example for the junior disciples?"

In one of the pavilions below, there was a handsome man in white clothes and a black shirt, lying on the eaves gazing at the stars above, also holding a jug of wine - the very image of carefree elegance.

Hearing the call from the stage, he let out a long laugh, staggering tipsily to his feet. First he took a big gulp of wine, then guffawed: "Seeking immortals and questioning the dao is too lonely, not as good as a jug of wine here."

After reciting this, he flung the remaining wine at Liu Baixuan, drunkenly reaching out to pull a shining three-foot green blade from thin air.

"Brother Liu, come fight! Let's fight!" His form wavered tipsily, and in a flash, several afterimages appeared and he was already at the Sword Inquiring Summit.

Liu Baixuan was fifty-two years old, the senior disciple of Sword Peak, at the half-step YuanYing stage, ranked second among Dao Sword Sect's Top Ten Arrogant Geniuses. He cultivated the sword in hand, using the Great Desolate Indestructible Sword Art. His sword qi was vast and torrential, surging with the grandeur of nature.

Just as his sword qi, so his temperament was also vast and bold.

Lu Junxing was thirty-six, a core disciple, at the Golden Core Great Perfection stage. He was ranked first among the Top Ten Arrogant Geniuses of Dao Sword Sect in this generation.

He was the most powerful existence among the current disciples of Dao Sword Sect.

He was also a sword cultivator, cultivating the sword in hand. He used the Timeless Mountains and Rivers Sword. His sword intent was carefree, his sword qi uncanny, with the timelessness and elusiveness of nature and mountains and rivers.

That's right, this person had awakened to both sword intent and sword qi. Up until now, he was the only one in all of Dao Sword Sect who possessed both sword qi and sword intent.

Just as his sword intent, his temperament was also the most carefree and unrestrained.

With the two strongest disciples of this generation exchanging moves on stage, it immediately caused an uproar below.

With just a single exchange, mountains and rivers appeared on the stage, and the entirety of the Sword Inquiring Summit was filled with sword qi.

The spectators looked on, only to see layered peaks and surging great rivers. Among the peaks, there was an unchanging brilliant sun, and the rivers flowed with inexhaustible torrents.

In a flash, they realized that the peaks and rivers were not real, but sword qi, and the brilliant sun and torrents were also sword qi.

They felt that the cultivators on stage had comprehension of sword qi that bordered on the dao, making it nearly an art form.

Just as the fight was becoming intense on stage, someone below softly said: "Look, the Dan Peak Sword Immortal Li Shiyin has arrived."

Immediately, all the sword cultivators' gazes shifted in unison, all looking to find the peerless beauty Sword Immortal Li Shiyin, and few continued watching the stage.

The two on stage exchanged a look and smiled helplessly. Then Liu Baixuan saw Lu Junxing put away his sword, also turning to look at Li Shiyin below...