Although Li Bo and Li Zhan had been successfully provoked, they were no fools. Having fought for the Li Family for many years, their tacit understanding needed no explanation.
After a brief exchange of looks, the two swiftly split left and right, launching a pincer attack on Li Mu.
Li Mu still appeared calm and unruffled on the surface, but inwardly, he was somewhat uneasy. From the memories he had inherited, he knew that the previous Li Mu had given up cultivation more than a decade ago, much less fought anyone.
Though Li Bo and Li Zhan were not among the very best below the Foundation Establishment Realm, neither was a mediocre nobody.
Both had cultivated the Li Family Sword Style to the point where their sword intent was restrained within. Like Li Mu, they only needed to take one more step to truly reach the realm of Perfection in the Three Basic Sword Techniques. When that time came, their standing among the Li Lineage's branch families would rise by another great step.
The Li clan had a vast household and great holdings. Li Yubai's word had carried absolute weight for many years. Though the branch families had contributed much to the Lineage, the resources and status their descendants received were simply incomparable to those of the main family.
This made every branch family descendant hold their breath, determined to surpass the main family in every respect. Naturally, Li Bo and Li Zhan were no exception.
So, while they had drawn their swords because Li Mu provoked them, once blades truly faced one another, Li Bo and Li Zhan would certainly not hold back in the slightest.
"Second Young Master, since you have given our branch family this chance, don't blame us for stomping the main family's pride into the dirt."
This was the true monologue in Li Bo and Li Zhan's hearts.
Li Bo and Li Zhan moved with astonishing speed. Within half a breath, their two refined iron longswords had already reached Li Mu. Li Bo, on his left, thrust forward, aiming straight for Li Mu's chest, while Li Zhan, on his right, swept his sword horizontally at Li Mu's waist.
The two worked together seamlessly. To an ordinary observer, this single move had already forced Li Mu into a dead end.
But Li Mu, having maxed out his talent, was clearly no longer the Wu Xia Amon of old. He charged directly toward the two sword edges, rushed forward a few steps, leapt into the air, and spun sideways. Like a lone leaf crossing a river, he forcibly found a sliver of space between the two longswords.
Slipping through the blockade of the twin swords, Shadowless Sword lightly touched the ground. Li Mu moved like a ghost, circling directly behind Li Bo. Before Li Bo could withdraw his sword momentum, Li Mu stepped into a bow stance and thrust his sword at him—the Bow Stance Thrust from the Three Basic Sword Techniques.
Brimming sword intent filled Shadowless Sword. Its blade trembled, carrying astonishing power. If this strike landed, the battle would likely end at once.
Seeing Li Bo in danger, Li Zhan let out a loud shout. The longsword he had swept out continued to exert force, and as he turned, he swung it toward Li Mu.
With a crisp ring, Shadowless Sword collided with Li Zhan's longsword. Both swords were wrapped in sword intent, neither yielding an inch.
When his first strike failed, Li Mu swiftly withdrew his sword and sprang upward. Like a great roc spreading its wings, he turned his thrust into a slash—the Knee-Raising Level Slash—still targeting Li Bo.
Unfortunately, Li Bo had already been prepared. With a standard Turning Back Chop, he blocked Li Mu's sword momentum once again.
This series of exchanges unfolded in the blink of an eye, and all three realized that none of the others was an ordinary opponent.
"Second Young Master, I never expected you not to be entirely useless. It seems you've been hiding your strength deeply all this time."
Li Bo felt that the Second Young Master before him was practically a different person from before. His former meekness and timidity had vanished without a trace, replaced by blazing battle intent.
"Continue. Today, I'll use you two to test my sword."
With a sweep of Jueying, the three clashed once more.
The battle lasted a full two hours. The three fought until heaven and earth seemed darkened, Sword Qi crisscrossing the entire Training Ground amid a succession of furious roars.
In Lineage competitions, people generally stopped at the right point. Battles like this, where all three had fought until true fire rose in their hearts, were rare. More and more Li clan descendants gathered to watch. When they saw the Second Young Master, who had spent years indulging in pleasure and never cultivating, fighting one against two without falling even slightly behind, they could scarcely believe their eyes.
Li Mu had now completely shut out the gazes and discussions of the outside world. Only Shadowless Sword in his hand remained in his eyes. Thrusts, slashes, chops—his sword moves flowed without end. The sword intent that had once been restrained within began to stir, struggling free from the blade's confines alongside the sound of ringing steel.
After knocking aside Li Bo's level slash once more, Li Mu's sword followed through in a sweep. Shadowless Sword in his hand gradually vanished from his sight, while the sword in his heart grew ever more solid.
This sword was graceful as a startled swan. The powerful sword intent finally burst forth from his body, transforming into a dazzling ray of light that struck directly at Li Bo's face.
In his haste, Li Bo raised his sword to block. But how could he possibly stop this sword intent, like a startled swan reflecting its shadow, as it bore down with tremendous force?
With a bang, Li Bo was sent flying by the strike. His longsword left his hand, and he crashed heavily onto the ground, instantly losing consciousness.
"Ah!" Seeing his companion knocked down, Li Zhan flew into a rage and thrust his sword at Li Mu.
But now that Li Mu had comprehended sword intent projected outward, how could Li Zhan possibly contend with him? With another chopping slash, Li Zhan's sword was sent flying as well.
Looking at the elegant young man before him, who had already sheathed his sword, Li Zhan smiled bitterly.
"Second Young Master's swordsmanship is exceptional. We have lost."
After this battle, the two had truly been beaten into submission by this main family young master they had always looked down upon.
Glancing around, Li Mu discovered that the eyes of these Li Family descendants watching him had changed. From their initial mocking amusement to their current shock and confusion, every manner of human expression was displayed upon their faces.
I did it. I really did it. In three days, I reached Great Perfection in the Three Basic Sword Techniques.
If Li Mu had previously only sympathized with the tragic experiences of this body's former owner and wanted to help him start over, then at this moment, he truly loved the feeling of growing stronger. He loved this different world, and he had genuinely accepted the fact that he had transmigrated.
Then, a figure in red robes within the crowd suddenly caught Li Mu's attention. It was his elder brother, Li Yue. Their gazes met, but there was no need for many words. Li Yue simply turned and walked out of the Training Ground.
"Heh, my big brother couldn't even give me a word of praise."
After learning the truth from Lin Qingzhu, Li Mu no longer bore hostility toward this elder brother of his. But returning to how they once were would indeed take time.
Dragging his exhausted body back to his residence, Li Mu heard discussions about his battle all along the way.
"Have you heard? The Second Young Master fought one against two and defeated Li Bo and Li Zhan from the branch family."
"I heard the Second Young Master has already mastered the third of the Three Basic Sword Techniques. It seems that playboy appearance he usually puts on was all an act."
"Do you know that the Second Young Master bribed Li Bo and Li Zhan to restore his image? He wants to whitewash himself. How shameless."
"I heard the sword in the Second Young Master's hand is a divine weapon with the ability to attack on its own. That's how it helped him win the match."
The discussions grew more numerous, and the claims became increasingly outrageous. Li Mu's head began to ache faintly, and he could only sigh that keyboard warriors existed everywhere.
When Li Mu returned to his courtyard, he was utterly exhausted. He hurriedly instructed Chunxiang to prepare hot water, then stripped off his clothes in no time at all, intending to climb into the bath.
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.
"Brother Mu, you really did it? That's amazing! Zhu'er knew you were the best."
Before you continue