Tracing the Spirit Stone, the Sword Mark... Was Gone?

Around noon, a light drizzle began to fall.

The surrounding area of Spirit Stone still resembles the scene of a waterfall and clear spring, only now it is filled with lush green grass, melodious birdsong, and a secluded pool under the bright moon.

There's an extra hole.

Whenever someone appreciates Spirit Stone and leaves their mark on it, various wondrous sights are created.

After Li Mo gained his insight, a pit appeared on the mountain wall behind the waterfall.

"It really does resemble the Water Curtain Cave to some extent..."

We walked around the Spirit Stone and entered the cave.

Little Li felt a sense of familiarity, unsure whether it was because it resembled the hole he had dug near the Autumn Water Pavilion, or because it matched his imagination of a certain Christmas burrow.

Sitting cross-legged inside the cave, my consciousness settled into the World Seed.

Buzz--

Within the World Seed, the Calamity Meteor Hammer trembled gently.

What else does Hammer Treasure want to hammer?

"Sweetie, this stone can only be placed face down now."

"I'll let you hammer it again when the stone is facing down on both sides."

Li Mo offered sincere words of comfort.

Sensing his seriousness, Hammer Treasure believed him and obediently went to play with the Crimson Firmament Sword.

Taking out his writing implements and a pile of rare treasures for replenishing his Will Soul, Li Mo took a deep breath.

"Last time I copied Spirit Stone, I didn't even get a tenth of it."

"Now I have Divine Observation, my Will Soul have greatly increased, and my energy and spirit are abundant."

He swallowed a five-patterned Void-Filling Pill.

Li Mo spread the Green Vein Jade Slip out on the bluestone, then focused his spiritual energy on the tip of his nose and began to write.

To draw a stone, you can't just draw a stone in its entirety.

You must paint it after countless years of wind and rain...

Countless birds and beasts have passed by it, and it has witnessed countless sunrises and sunsets.

It might even have been hit by a hammer...

Li Mo flow like dragons and snakes.

If there's even the slightest mistake in his drawing, he'll pick up a new sheet of paper and start all over again.

While I was engrossed in painting.

Tread--

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the Water Curtain Cave.

Li Mo looked up.

Then a woman with short, ear-length hair, wearing the simplest robes of Cloud-Crossing Sword City disciple, and round crystal glasses walked over.

Because of the various implications of the spectacular scenery, she seemed unaware that there was an extra cave behind the waterfall, and an extra person inside the cave.

He sat there skillfully, earnestly studying the Spirit Stone.

"Senior Xu's disciple?"

Senior Xu is the Dharma Body of that white-haired youth.

When he came up, he mentioned his disciple, who was also the senior sister of Cloud-Crossing Sword City.

Many of the famous martial arts techniques in Sword City today were developed by her. She spends her time studying Spirit Stone and practicing swordsmanship, and she rarely leaves her house.

"I can smell the scent of tech geeks."

Li Mo shrugged and continued doing his own thing.

The two sides will not interfere with each other.

Another half hour later.

Looking at the painting in front of him, which already bore a striking resemblance to the Spirit Stone outside, Li Mo shook his head.

"This is my best painting today."

"It seems that my current Will Soul strength and Art of Painting are insufficient to depict the Upper Form..."

Little Li was not discouraged.

Senior Brother Ouyang has been immersed in the art of painting for over ten years, yet even now, he has only managed to paint the Upper Form at most.

He has made rapid progress.

Keep practicing copying, and you will eventually succeed; that future is not far off.

"Ice Block's lessons are almost over."

After glancing at the sky, Li Mo got up to leave.

But they had just reached the cave entrance.

The woman wearing round, crystal-clear glasses was deathly pale and muttering something to herself.

The Heavenly Mandate Divine Eye activated!

[Name: Wei Zhaoliu]

[Age: 26]

[Root Bone: Eight-Direction Sword Body]

[Realm: Seven Apertures of Divine Observation.]

[Destiny: Purple]

[Comment: Having observed the Sword Mark Stone for decades, he reveres the sword marks as divine miracles and believes that all his martial arts skills originate from them. He aims to surpass his master one day.]

[Recent encounter: After emerging from seclusion, she tried to comprehend the Spirit Stone again, but could no longer sense the sword mark.]

Li Mo: "..."

Didn't the elders of Sword City say that one can still comprehend the Spirit Stone even without sword marks?

Is that sword mark mostly symbolic?

"This... junior brother?"

Wei Zhaoliu noticed Li Mo and asked:

"Junior brother, don't you think this Spirit Stone is a little different today?"

"Haha... that's a bit of a truth."

Li Mo nodded.

Wei Qingliu suddenly seemed to have discovered something:

"Hmm, I remember now."

"My master said that there was a girl with unparalleled swordsmanship talent who, while comprehending the Spirit Stone, actually made it turn around."

"Junior brother, have you seen that girl?"

"..."

After a moment of silence, Li Mo said, "We've had some exchanges and gotten to know each other."

"I heard she's preaching at the Sword Pool now; I'll definitely go see her when I have time."

As he spoke, a keen interest shone in Wei Zhaoliu's eyes.

"Her preaching is truly impressive."

"So, junior brother, you've heard of it?"

"Yes, often."

"With such high talent in swordsmanship, I wonder who will be the first to imprint their sword mark on the Spirit Stone, her or mine."

Wei Zhaoliu sighed.

She felt that her talent might not be better than that girl's, but she had studied the Sword Mark Stone for more than ten years, so she still had a chance.

As she spoke, she walked over and casually prepared to flip the Spirit Stone over.

"Wait..."

Thud, the Spirit Stone flipped over.

"Wait for what?"

Wei Zhaoliu was stunned.

As she lowered her gaze, the look in her eyes suddenly froze.

"The sword mark... is gone?"

The light in her eyes vanished, and she seemed to have lost her soul.

"..."

Li Mo covered his face.

He hadn't expected Wei Zhaoliu to flip the table, and it was too late to stop him.

Wei Zhaoliu had lost his soul; his entire body seemed to have turned pale.

"This is... this is... a hammer?"

Upon seeing it clearly, my pupils dilated in shock.

"If we're not mistaken... yes."

Li Mo noticed something while speaking.

Within the Heavenly Mandate Divine Eye, Wei Zhaoliu's condition changed.

[Recent encounter: The sword mark has turned into a hammer, causing my Dao heart to tremble and showing signs of collapse.]

Not far away.

Wei Zhaoliu collapsed to the ground, his body radiating sharp Sword Qi that cut deep gashes into the surroundings.

That wasn't something she actively urged to release; it was leaked.

Wei Zhaoliu wanted to calm himself down, but he couldn't.

What she had spent her entire life searching for had now vanished.

It even turned into a hammer.

That...

What exactly did she glean from that?

Suddenly, a bright moon shone, illuminating her chaotic mind.

She seemed to calm down all of a sudden.

Her scattered gaze refocused, and she saw her junior brother not far away, with a faint moon shadow appearing behind him.

It carries a sense of tranquility and peace, like an invisible hand smoothing out the wrinkles in one's heart.

After Divine Observation.

Li Mo's Will Soul power thus gained the ability to soothe negative emotions.

At the same time, a notification sound rang.

[Congratulations, host! You have successfully invested in 'Wei Zhaoliu', preventing damage to his Dao heart.]

[Investment Feedback: Thirty Years of Martial Arts Insights]

However.

After regaining his senses from the shock, Wei Zhaoliu gritted his teeth and asked:

"Who... did this?"

"Junior brother, you've watched the Martial Dao Summit, do you have any ideas?"