Sword Intent Reaches Perfection

Li Bo and the other man had been successfully provoked, but they were no fools. After years of fighting for the Li family, their unspoken understanding was beyond words.

With a simple exchange of glances, the two quickly split left and right, launching a pincer attack on Li Mu.

On the surface, Li Mu remained as calm as a gentle breeze, but inwardly, he was somewhat uneasy. From the memories he had inherited, the previous Li Mu had abandoned cultivation for over a decade, let alone fought anyone.

Li Bo and Li Zhan were not top-tier before the Foundation Establishment Realm, but they were no idle mediocrities either.

Both had cultivated the Li Family Sword Style to the point where their Sword Qi was fully contained. Like Li Mu, they needed only one more step to reach the Perfection of the Three Basic Sword Techniques. At that point, their standing among the Li family's branch lines would leap forward.

The Li clan was vast and powerful. For years, Li Yubai's word was law. Though the branch family had contributed much, the resources and status their disciples received could never compare to the main family's.

This drove every branch disciple to grit their teeth, striving to surpass the main family in every way—including Li Bo and Li Zhan.

So if the fight had been sparked by Li Mu's provocation, once blades were drawn, Li Bo and Li Zhan would show no mercy.

"Second Young Master, since you've given us branch disciples this chance, don't blame us for trampling the main family's face into the dirt."

That was the true thought in both their hearts.

Their footwork was swift. In half a breath, two fine iron swords were already before Li Mu. On the left, Li Bo thrust straight for his chest; on the right, Li Zhan swept his blade toward Li Mu's waist.

Their coordination was flawless. To an ordinary observer, this single move had already cornered Li Mu.

But Li Mu, having just allocated his talent points, was no longer the same man. He charged straight into the path of the two blades, took a few quick steps, leaped into the air, and twisted his body sideways like a leaf crossing a river, squeezing through the narrow gap between the two swords.

Passing through the blockade, the Shadowless Sword lightly touched the ground. Li Mu's form moved like a ghost, circling behind Li Bo. As Li Bo's sword momentum faltered, Li Mu stepped forward in a Bow Stance and thrust his sword—the Bow Stance Thrust from the basic techniques.

The Shadowless Sword brimmed with dense Sword Qi, its blade trembling with devastating power. If this strike landed, the battle would end then and there.

Seeing Li Bo in danger, Li Zhan roared. His sweeping sword pressed on as he turned and slashed at Li Mu.

A sharp clang rang out as the Shadowless Sword clashed with Li Zhan's blade. Both swords were wrapped in Sword Qi, neither yielding.

Failing the first strike, Li Mu quickly withdrew his sword, leaped upward like a roc spreading its wings, and turned his thrust into a chop—the Knee-Lift Horizontal Slash—aiming again at Li Bo.

But this time, Li Bo was ready. A textbook Turning Backward Chop blocked Li Mu's momentum once more.

A flurry of exchanges happened in a flash. All three realized their opponent was no pushover.

"Second Young Master, I didn't expect you weren't completely useless. Looks like you've been hiding deep."

Li Bo felt the young master before him was a completely different person from before. The old cowardice was gone, replaced by a blazing will to fight.

"Let's continue. Today, I'll test my sword on you."

With a flick of the Shadowless Sword, the three clashed again.

The fight dragged on for two full hours. They battled until the sky darkened, the entire training ground filled with crisscrossing Sword Qi and endless roars.

In family sparring, fights usually stopped at the point of contact. A battle this heated was rare, drawing more and more Li family disciples to watch. When they saw the second young master, who had spent years indulging in pleasure and never cultivating, holding his own against two opponents without falling behind, they couldn't believe their eyes.

By now, Li Mu had completely shut out the stares and whispers around him. His world had narrowed to the Shadowless Sword in his hand—thrust, slash, chop. He swung the blade relentlessly. The Sword Qi that had been contained within began to stir, trembling as it strained against the sword's confines.

Blocking another Horizontal Slash from Li Bo, Li Mu's sword flowed forward. The Shadowless Sword in his sight gradually vanished, but the sword in his heart grew ever more solid.

This strike was breathtakingly graceful. The powerful Sword Qi finally burst free, transforming into a dazzling beam that shot straight at Li Bo's face.

Caught off guard, Li Bo raised his sword to block. But how could he stop that radiant Sword Qi, carrying immense force as it rushed toward him?

Bam! Li Bo was sent flying by the strike. His sword flew from his hand, and he crashed heavily to the ground, unconscious in an instant.

"Ah!" Seeing his partner fall, Li Zhan roared in fury and thrust his sword at Li Mu.

But Li Mu, who had now grasped the release of Sword Qi, was no longer someone Li Zhan could contend with. Another chop sent Li Zhan's sword flying.

Looking at the graceful young man before him, who had already sheathed his sword, Li Zhan gave a bitter smile.

"Second Young Master's swordsmanship is extraordinary. We admit defeat."

After this battle, the two were truly beaten into submission by the main family's young master they had always looked down on.

Li Mu glanced around. The watching Li family disciples now looked at him with different eyes—from mockery and teasing to shock and confusion. Every shade of human emotion was written on their faces.

"I did it. I really did it. Three days, and the Basic Sword Techniques have reached Great Perfection."

If before, Li Mu had only felt sympathy for his predecessor's tragic life and wanted to start anew for him, now, in this moment, he genuinely loved the feeling of growing stronger. He loved this strange new world. And he truly accepted the reality of his transmigration.

Just then, a figure in a red robe caught his attention in the crowd—his elder brother, Li Yue. Their eyes met. Without a word, Li Yue turned and walked out of the training ground.

"Hey, my big brother didn't even give me a word of praise."

Having learned the truth from Lin Qingzhu, Li Mu no longer held any hostility toward his brother. But mending their relationship would take time.

Dragging his exhausted body back to his residence, Li Mu heard nothing but talk about his battle along the way.

"Did you hear? The second young master took on two opponents and beat Li Bo and Li Zhan from the branch family."

"I heard he's already mastered the third form of the Basic Sword Techniques. Looks like that playboy act was all fake."

"Do you know? The second young master bribed Li Bo and Li Zhan to clean up his image. Shameless."

"I heard the sword he used is a divine weapon that can attack on its own. That's how he won."

The rumors grew wilder and more absurd. Li Mu's head throbbed. He could only sigh that keyboard warriors existed everywhere.

Back in his own courtyard, utterly spent, Li Mu quickly told Chunxiang to prepare hot water, stripped off his clothes, and was about to climb into the bath.

Just then, the door burst open.

"Brother Mu, you really did it? Amazing! Zhu'er knew you were the best!"