Reverse Deduction

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhang Wudao's hundred-zhang Golden Body exploded directly. Amidst the swirling snow and the gazes of countless onlookers, he died on the spot.

Li Qingshan then dispersed all his sword energy and stood in the void, looking at the surrounding mountains and rivers. This was to intimidate the onlookers.

He knew that after today's battle, he, the newly appointed sect leader of Shangqing Palace, would become famous.

Among the mountains and rivers, the various people who had come to watch were all dumbfounded.

What happened?

Zhang Wudao, who had been invincible for decades, was dead just like that?

One sword!

With just one sword, he had slain the arrogant and conceited Zhang Wudao.

"What... what kind of sword technique is this?" someone asked, dumbfounded.

"This is the Grass and Wood Sword Technique, created by the Peerless Sword Immortal Li Tianxian of Shangqing Palace three hundred years ago. She had the potential to reach the Ancestor Realm, but Emperor Wu of Zhou shamelessly bullied the weak and forcibly killed her. In her final moments, she used the Grass and Wood Sword Technique to shatter Zhang Wudao's Golden Body and destroy his Ancestor Realm foundation. Everyone in the world thought the Grass and Wood Sword Technique had vanished with Li Tianxian's demise, but they didn't expect someone in Shangqing Palace would still know it," an elder explained, revealing this secret history.

"Li Tianxian died at the hands of Emperor Wu of Zhou, and now a Shangqing Palace disciple has used her ultimate skill to kill Emperor Wu of Zhou's disciple Zhang Wudao. This is also a cycle," someone remarked with emotion.

"Starting tomorrow, this person will be famous throughout the world. If he doesn't fall, Shangqing Palace will surely rise under his leadership," someone stated with certainty.

"It's too difficult. Zhang Wudao is dead. Can his Master, Emperor Wu of Zhou, remain indifferent? When the Ancestor Realm expert gets angry, can Shangqing Palace withstand it?" someone shook their head, not optimistic about the outcome for Shangqing Palace and Li Qingshan.

"Emperor Wu of Zhou hasn't appeared for a hundred years. Who knows his current state? What if?" someone countered, believing that nothing is absolute.

Li Jiusheng was unaware of the outside world's discussions.

He was currently in a state of continuous enlightenment.

After Li Qingshan unleashed the Grass and Wood Sword Technique, the sky-filled sword energy and the resonance of mountains and rivers deeply shocked Li Jiusheng. He realized that his understanding of the Grass and Wood Sword Technique had a vast room for improvement, so he began to comprehend rapidly, seeing the future direction of his cultivation in Li Qingshan's sword technique.

Although he had practiced the Grass and Wood Sword Technique earlier, Li Qingshan's cultivation and talent far surpassed Li Jiusheng's current level. Li Jiusheng progressed bit by bit from scratch, while Li Qingshan improved rapidly. In just one month, he had comprehended the 'Aura/Momentum,' 'Essence,' and 'Domain' of the Grass and Wood Sword Technique.

To cultivate a technique to its peak, one must gradually comprehend its 'Aura/Momentum.'

When the 'Aura/Momentum' is comprehended to a very deep level, one can then comprehend the 'Essence.'

When the 'Essence' is comprehended to a profound level, it can evolve into a 'Domain.'

As for what lies beyond the 'Domain,' Li Jiusheng did not know.

By observing Li Qingshan's Grass and Wood Sword Technique, Li Jiusheng gradually perfected the 'Aura/Momentum' of his own Grass and Wood Sword Technique.

During the previous twenty-odd days of sword practice, Li Jiusheng had already touched upon the 'Aura/Momentum' of the Grass and Wood Sword Technique, but it was not complete. Now, by observing Li Qingshan's 'Aura/Momentum,' his inspiration erupted, filling out his own 'Aura/Momentum.'

When the 'Aura/Momentum' of the Grass and Wood Sword Technique was perfected, within Li Jiusheng's body, his True Qi roared and vibrated, like a raging storm, swirling around his Virtual Core.

"Witnessing this battle, I am going to condense a Real Core," Li Jiusheng sensed the change and immediately returned to the Scripture Repository Pavilion to meditate, frantically absorbing Spiritual Energy into his body, compressing the True Qi within him. After liquefying it, he integrated it into his Virtual Core, gradually filling it.

After a full day, in Li Jiusheng's Dantian, the Virtual Core solidified, like an iron ball, storing an immeasurable amount of True Qi.

With a thud, the Real Core vibrated, emitting rolling True Qi that nourished Li Jiusheng's body, bones, and meridians.

Reversal.

The transformation from Virtual Core to Real Core consumed an immense amount of True Qi. This True Qi entered the Real Core and became even more potent. Now, it was reversing back to nourish the physical body, significantly enhancing Li Jiusheng's strength and physical toughness.

Four Dragon Elephant Powers.

Five Dragon Elephant Powers.

Six Dragon Elephant Powers.

Seven Dragon Elephant Powers.

In a short moment, Li Jiusheng's strength surged from three Dragon Elephant Powers to seven Dragon Elephant Powers.

"Continue to improve. This way, after my rebirth, it will be a true transformation," Li Jiusheng rejoiced inwardly. He stood up and stretched his body.

He walked out of the Scripture Repository Pavilion and looked at the sky and mountains, still white.

The breakthrough in seclusion had taken a full day. Today's Shangqing Palace seemed the same as usual, but as Li Jiusheng gazed into the distance, he noticed something new.

Vibrant vitality.

Before yesterday, the world knew that Zhang Wudao was going to deal with Shangqing Palace. The world generally believed it to be a completely one-sided match.

Shangqing Palace was in gradual decline. Although it bore the name of a great sect, it lacked the strength of one, and was looked down upon by many.

Zhang Wudao, on the other hand, had swept through various Prodigies since his debut, building his reputation with absolute victories.

Not to mention that Zhang Wudao had a Master at the Ancestor Realm behind him.

There was no comparison between the two.

This also caused the disciples and elders of Shangqing Palace to be filled with worry and gloom, forcing them to push Li Qingshan to the forefront in a desperate attempt.

Unexpectedly, their gamble succeeded.

Now, the disciples and elders of Shangqing Palace felt as if they had received a powerful shot in the arm. Their faces were flushed with excitement, and they surrounded Li Qingshan, already regarding him as the hope for Shangqing Palace's resurgence.

This vibrant vitality came from this very source.

Li Jiusheng watched for a while, smiled, and thought it was good. With Shangqing Palace flourishing, he could steadily improve himself in the Scripture Repository Pavilion.

If Shangqing Palace were to have an accident, his stable and peaceful life would also be shattered.

In the tea room, a pot of white tea was brought to a boil.

Li Jiusheng picked up his teacup and took a sip, but his mind was replaying the great battle between Li Qingshan and Zhang Wudao yesterday.

He wasn't thinking about the Grass and Wood Sword Technique Li Qingshan had used, but rather the Invincible Golden Body Zhang Wudao had unleashed.

This ultimate skill was no joke; it was Emperor Wu of Zhou's signature technique. Throughout his journey, his arrogance and dominance had allowed him to remain unrivaled, and the Invincible Golden Body was absolutely instrumental to his success.

When this cultivation method reached its peak, it could render one immune to all attacks; otherwise, it wouldn't have "Invincible" in its name.

Li Jiusheng meticulously recalled Zhang Wudao's every move when he displayed this technique, as well as the changes in his aura and the flow of his energy.

As he recalled, Li Jiusheng became immersed in it, beginning to reverse-engineer this Invincible Golden Body.

Currently, Li Jiusheng had the Grass and Wood Sword Technique for offense, the Mountain and Wild New Life Method for transformation, and the Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Strength for his physical combat. He was solely lacking a defensive technique.

That's why he was reverse-engineering Zhang Wudao's Invincible Golden Body.

He needed a defensive cultivation method.

Of course, Li Jiusheng didn't know if he would succeed. After all, Zhang Wudao's cultivation was far superior to his. He was just trying.

This attempt proved to be difficult.

The Invincible Golden Body was not something a mere Xiantian cultivator like him could reverse-engineer. Moreover, Zhang Wudao's cultivation was so much higher than his that Li Jiusheng couldn't see through many of the finer details.

After several attempts, he hadn't even grasped the basics.

Li Jiusheng sighed and was about to give up.

But just then, two lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[Your attempt to reverse-engineer the Invincible Golden Body is commendable, but you've oversimplified it.]

[The method of the Invincible Golden Body is as follows...]

A stream of information, like flowing water, entered Li Jiusheng's sea of consciousness, making him feel as if he were soaking in a hot spring, utterly comfortable.