Chapter 14

Yu Sheng Mo was absolutely the strongest opponent Jiang Mu Ming had ever faced.

The title of First in Southern Decisive, Second in the World was admittedly a bit inflated—after all, there were still Profound Spirit Realm existences like Mo Yi and Xie Zhize above her.

But her swordsmanship had already reached a pinnacle.

Even so-called sword immortals would hang their heads before her.

Her strength had reached the terrifying level of Half-step Profound Spirit!

Yet Jiang Mu Ming was no slouch either, his cultivation also at Half-step Profound Spirit.

And he had the Great River Sword Intent to rely on.

Even facing Yu Sheng Mo's Demon Immortal Sword, he remained unmoved.

On the ancient road.

Two sword intents clashed head-on, as distinct as the Chu-Han divide.

One side was a tide of demonic energy.

The other was a surging great river.

Neither gave an inch.

Yu Sheng Mo held her longsword, casting an interested glance at Jiang Mu Ming.

"What sword intent is that?"

Yu Sheng Mo was a brilliantly talented swordswoman, so she could naturally see the extraordinary nature of Jiang Mu Ming's Great River Sword Intent.

But such an intent had never appeared in the martial world before.

Even Yu Sheng Mo had never seen it.

That was why she was curious.

"This is the Great River Sword Intent," Jiang Mu Ming replied, sword in hand.

Yu Sheng Mo pondered carefully.

She found that Jiang Mu Ming's sword intent was truly like the waters of a great river.

Vast, grand, and weighty!

Carrying the momentum of a river descending from the mountains, surging toward the sea.

Unstoppable.

"You're not bad," Yu Sheng Mo praised.

At such a young age, to possess such formidable sword intent and martial cultivation.

Given time.

There might be another Li Changsheng in this world!

"Worthy of my strike."

Yu Sheng Mo swept her long sleeve, and in an instant, a fierce sword intent transformed into a black dragon.

It lunged at Jiang Mu Ming.

The black dragon opened its maw and spat out an endless torrent of swords.

With just one casual move, the entire ancient road was reduced to rubble, as if plowed over by something.

"Truly a grand spectacle."

Jiang Mu Ming's strength had broken through to Half-step Profound Spirit, and he was itching for a fight.

He swung his sword.

In an instant, a boundless river fell from the nine heavens, each drop of water like a sharp blade.

It collided violently with the black dragon summoned by Yu Sheng Mo.

For a moment, the two were evenly matched, their overwhelming sword intent sweeping everything around them!

"Watch yourself."

Yu Sheng Mo warned, then a strange light flickered in her eyes, a flame seeming to burn within them.

This was a sign of qi deviation.

But Yu Sheng Mo wasn't falling into demonic deviation—she was actively embracing it, seeking more power.

To unleash a stronger sword technique!

This was the Demon Immortal Sword that Yu Sheng Mo cultivated!

And the moment Yu Sheng Mo entered this demonic state.

The sky grew heavy and gloomy, a sign of an impending storm.

Black clouds blotted out the sun.

As if the next moment, the heavens would collapse and the earth would shatter!

On the other side.

Jiang Mu Ming raised his sword toward the sky, and heaven and earth seemed to transform into a surging, torrential river.

Everywhere he looked.

There was nothing but endless water.

Crashing down!

This was a duel unique to sword immortals—every move and stance drew upon the wonders of heaven and earth, eclipsing all mortal splendor!

And as those two mighty sword intents collided head-on.

A tremor that shook heaven and earth spread across the four wilds and eight wastelands.

Even the city a hundred li away felt it!

Everyone in the city thought it was an earth-dragon turning over and fled their houses in panic.

But when they looked to the sky.

A Mysterious Bird wreathed in dark flames.

Was locked in battle with an endless river.

The Mysterious Bird beat its wings, and the flames it stirred seemed enough to scorch the entire sky.

Yet they could not burn through the boundless river.

The city folk were all stunned.

"This... what is this? Could it be an omen of the world's end?"

"How can such a breathtaking sight exist in this world?"

But some among them were men of great insight.

The Hundred Information Hall dispatched people out of the city at once, heading toward the source of the Dark Wind Burning River phenomenon.

Such a scene could only mean peerless sword immortals were crossing blades!

Yet by the time the Hundred Information Hall's people arrived.

Everything had already come to an end.

All they could do was sigh in regret. "That dark fire phoenix must be Yu Sheng Mo's Demon Immortal Sword."

"But who wields the Nine Heavens Long River?"

"There are still things unknown to the Hundred Information Hall in this world! We must find out!"

On the ancient road.

Jiang Mu Ming and Yu Sheng Mo walked side by side.

Jiang Mu Ming held a book.

Yu Sheng Mo held an umbrella.

The two looked nothing like the rivals who had just clashed.

That earlier battle.

Had only been a spar, neither going all out.

There was no victor or loser.

But each had acknowledged the other's strength.

"You're so young and already this accomplished—have you never thought of making a name for yourself in the world?"

Yu Sheng Mo asked.

Still direct, blunt as ever.

"Make a name for myself?"

Jiang Mu Ming smiled and replied, "For me, that's not as good as reading a few more books."

Yu Sheng Mo stopped walking.

She tilted her head to look at Jiang Mu Ming, curious. "You're so obsessed with reading."

"How can you have such mastery in the sword?"

Jiang Mu Ming countered, "Why not?"

"This Great River Sword Intent of mine, I comprehended it from books."

"If you read more."

"You might also comprehend even greater martial arts from books. That way, when you challenge Li Changsheng, you'll have a better chance of winning."

Yu Sheng Mo frowned.

"You know I'm going to challenge Li Changsheng?"

He then chuckled lightly and said, "Since you know the one I seek to challenge is Li Changsheng, you should realize that reading a few books won't do much good."

But Jiang Mu Ming handed him a book instead.

"You haven't read it yet—how do you know it's useless?" he said.

Yu Sheng Mo was about to refuse.

But after a moment's thought, she took it and glanced at the cover, which bore four large characters: Smiling Proud Wanderer.

"Then I'll take a look and see if it's truly as remarkable as you claim."

Half skeptical, Yu Sheng Mo opened the book.

But that single glance.

Drew her entire mind into its grip.

The vividly portrayed characters in the novel seemed to leap off the page—Dongfang Bubai, the one who declared, "The sun rises in the east; only I am undefeated."

Like her, he was a man with a woman's form.

But unlike herself, who could only dwell beneath Li Changsheng's shadow.

This Sect Leader Dongfang was the true Number One Under Heaven!

The Sunflower Manual he cultivated was a peerless martial art rarely seen in the world. If one could grasp the mysteries of the Celestial Being Incarnation, even the Profound Spirit Realm might not be beyond reach.

And that Senior Dugu in the book.

His realm of the sword was unfathomably deep. He even proposed the idea of having no sword in hand, yet a sword in heart.

The mountains, rivers, and heavens themselves—all could become a sword!

If she could comprehend these secrets, perhaps she would finally have a fighting chance against Li Changsheng...

And as she thought this.

Yu Sheng Mo, in a daze, seemed to glimpse a red figure practicing martial arts atop Blackwood Cliff.

"This... is this the cultivation method of the Sunflower Manual?"

She had actually grasped the technique from the book?!

At the same time.

A voice rang out beside Jiang Mu Ming.

[Ding, imparted the Sunflower Manual to Yu Sheng Mo. Reward: Sunflower Manual at Great Perfection!]