Reverse Deduction

Before countless eyes, Zhang Wudao's hundred-zhang golden body exploded. Amid the howling snowstorm, under the gaze of innumerable spectators, he died on the spot.

Li Qingshan dispersed all his sword energy and stood in the air, looking over the surrounding mountains and rivers. He was intimidating the onlookers.

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

Across the mountains and plains, people from every walk of life who had come to watch were all dumbstruck.

What had happened?

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

One sword strike!

Just one sword strike had slain the arrogant, disdainful Zhang Wudao.

"Th-this... what sword technique was that?" someone asked in shock.

"This is the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique], created three hundred years ago by Li Tianxian, the Peerless Sword Immortal of Shangqing Palace. She had once been expected to reach the Ancestor Realm, but Emperor Wu of Zhou shamelessly bullied the weak and forcibly killed her. At the very end, she used the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique] to sever Zhang Wudao's golden body and destroy his Ancestor Realm foundation. Everyone in the world believed that the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique] had vanished with Li Tianxian's death, yet Shangqing Palace still has someone who can use it." An elder explained, revealing this hidden history.

"Li Tianxian died at Emperor Wu of Zhou's hands, and now a disciple of Shangqing Palace has used her ultimate art to kill Emperor Wu of Zhou's disciple, Zhang Wudao. This, too, is a cycle." Someone sighed.

"From tomorrow onward, this man will be renowned throughout the world. If he does not fall, Shangqing Palace will surely rise under his leadership," someone declared with certainty.

"It will be too difficult. Zhang Wudao is dead; can his Master, Emperor Wu of Zhou, truly remain indifferent? When an Ancestor is enraged, can Shangqing Palace withstand it?" Someone shook his head, holding little hope for Shangqing Palace or Li Qingshan.

"Emperor Wu of Zhou has not appeared for a hundred years. Who knows what state he is in now? What if?" Others argued back, believing nothing was absolute.

Li Jiusheng knew nothing of the discussions outside.

At that moment, he was continuously gaining insight.

After Li Qingshan used the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique], the sight of sword energy filling the sky and resonating with the mountains and rivers had deeply shaken Li Jiusheng. Only then did he realize that his own understanding of the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique] still had enormous room for improvement. He began comprehending it at a rapid pace, seeing the direction of his future cultivation through Li Qingshan's sword technique.

Although he had begun cultivating the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique] first, Li Qingshan's cultivation and talent far surpassed Li Jiusheng's current level. Li Jiusheng had started from nothing and improved bit by bit, while Li Qingshan advanced at breakneck speed. In just one month, he had comprehended the "aura," "essence," and "domain" of the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique].

When a cultivation method was practiced to its peak, one would gradually need to comprehend its "aura."

Once "aura" had been comprehended to a profound level, one could understand "essence."

Once "essence" was understood deeply enough, it could evolve into a "domain."

As for what lay beyond a "domain," Li Jiusheng did not know.

By observing Li Qingshan's [Grass and Wood Sword Technique], Li Jiusheng gradually perfected the "aura" of his own [Grass and Wood Sword Technique].

During those more than twenty days of sword practice, Li Jiusheng had already touched upon the "aura" of the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique], but it had not been complete. Now, as he observed Li Qingshan's "aura," inspiration burst forth, filling in the gaps in his own.

When the "aura" of the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique] reached perfection, True Qi roared and shook within Li Jiusheng's body. Like a raging gale, it swept around his Void Core.

"After watching this battle, I am going to condense a Real Core." Sensing the change, Li Jiusheng immediately returned to the Scripture Repository Pavilion to meditate. He frantically absorbed spiritual energy into his body, compressed his True Qi, liquefied it, and merged it into the Void Core, gradually filling it.

After an entire day, the Void Core in Li Jiusheng's dantian solidified. Like an iron ball, it stored an inexhaustible amount of True Qi.

With a thud, the Real Core trembled, releasing surging True Qi that nourished Li Jiusheng's body, bones, and meridians.

Replenishment.

The Void Core's transformation into a Real Core had consumed an enormous amount of True Qi. Once this True Qi entered the Real Core, it became even more powerful. Now, as it replenished his flesh, Li Jiusheng's strength and physical resilience increased dramatically.

Four strands of Dragon Elephant Power.

Five strands of Dragon Elephant Power.

Six strands of Dragon Elephant Power.

Seven strands of Dragon Elephant Power.

In just a few moments, Li Jiusheng's strength rose from three strands of Dragon Elephant Power to seven.

"Keep improving. Only then will my rebirth be a true transformation." Li Jiusheng rejoiced inwardly. After rising to his feet, he stretched his body.

He walked out of the Scripture Repository Pavilion and looked upon the mountains and rivers. Everything was still blanketed in white snow.

His secluded breakthrough had taken an entire day. Shangqing Palace seemed no different from usual today, but as Li Jiusheng gazed into the distance, he noticed something new.

Vigorous vitality.

Before yesterday, everyone knew that Zhang Wudao was coming after Shangqing Palace. Most believed this confrontation would have no suspense.

Shangqing Palace was declining by the day. Though 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 aside talented geniuses from every path since his emergence, establishing his reputation through an absolute record of victories.

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

The two were simply incomparable.

As a result, the disciples and elders of Shangqing Palace had been filled with worry and sorrow. Left with no other choice, they pushed Li Qingshan into the spotlight and tried to take a gamble.

Unexpectedly, they had succeeded.

The disciples and elders of Shangqing Palace seemed to have received a powerful stimulant. Their faces glowed with excitement as they surrounded Li Qingshan, already regarding him as Shangqing Palace's hope for revival.

That was where this vigorous vitality came from.

Li Jiusheng watched for a while and smiled. He thought it was quite good. So long as Shangqing Palace flourished, he could steadily improve himself in the Scripture Repository Pavilion.

If something happened to Shangqing Palace, his peaceful and stable life would also be disrupted.

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

Li Jiusheng raised his teacup and savored the tea, but his mind was recalling yesterday's fierce battle between Li Qingshan and Zhang Wudao.

He was not thinking about the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique] Li Qingshan had used. Instead, he was thinking about the [Invincible Golden Body] Zhang Wudao had displayed.

This ultimate art was far from weak. It was Emperor Wu of Zhou's signature technique. Zhang Wudao had been able to act so arrogantly and remain invincible throughout his rise, and the [Invincible Golden Body] was undoubtedly a major reason.

When cultivated to its peak, this cultivation method could render one immune to all attacks. Otherwise, it would not bear the word "invincible" in its name.

Li Jiusheng carefully recalled Zhang Wudao's every movement when he used this method, as well as the changes in his aura and the flow of energy through his body.

As he continued recalling it, Li Jiusheng became immersed in it and began reverse-deducing the [Invincible Golden Body].

Li Jiusheng now 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 fist and kick techniques. Only a defensive cultivation method was missing.

That was why he was reverse-deducing Zhang Wudao's [Invincible Golden Body].

He needed a defensive cultivation method.

Of course, Li Jiusheng did not know whether he would succeed. Zhang Wudao's cultivation had been far above his own, after all. He was merely giving it a try.

As expected, this attempt was exceedingly difficult.

The [Invincible Golden Body] was not something a mere Innate cultivator like him could reverse-deduce. Moreover, Zhang Wudao's cultivation had been so much higher than his that Li Jiusheng simply could not see through many of its finer details.

After several attempts, he had not even managed to get through the door.

Li Jiusheng sighed and was about to give up.

But at that moment, two lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[You have reverse-deduced the Invincible Golden Body. Your courage is commendable, but you have oversimplified it.]

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

A stream of water-like information flowed into Li Jiusheng's sea of consciousness, making him feel as though he had been immersed in a hot spring, utterly at ease.