Crimson Firmament and Heavenly Frost's Bond, Target: Calamity Meteor Hammer!

The Crimson Firmament Sword was a double-standard blade.

It fawned over the ice block, yet for our classmate Li Mo, it presented a trial.

Ten strikes.

If he could receive them, he would become its master.

Li Mo's vision blurred.

Hum—

A familiar swordsman's silhouette had already appeared before him.

The atmosphere suddenly turned murderous.

The swordsman slowly cupped his hands in a salute toward him.

"Please, enlighten me."

Li Mo gripped the Green Steel Sword and returned the salute.

The next moment, the two figures collided.

The metallic clashing of blades echoed throughout the entire fourth floor.

On the third floor.

Every famous sword began to vibrate slightly at this moment.

"Is that commotion caused by Brother Li?"

Murong Xiao could not help but look back toward the pitch-black entrance of the fourth floor.

That sword hum from just a moment ago had actually made his hair stand on end.

"What happened?"

Xiao Qin looked up, clutching a broken greatsword in his hands.

This was a weapon he had found under the guidance of the Thousand Forms Martial Venerable; although it looked unremarkable among the many famous weapons and was only a broken half, its material was superior to all the others.

It was also one of the few famous weapons willing to acknowledge him as its master.

Its spirituality was just a bit weak, requiring him to nurture it himself in the future.

Xiao Qin himself was quite satisfied with it.

However, at this moment, the greatsword was trembling slightly in sync with that sword hum.

"Your Junior Brother Li is currently crossing blades with a Profound Weapon."

The Thousand Forms Martial Venerable spoke casually, despite not having seen it with his own eyes.

"Crossing blades with a weapon?"

Xiao Qin did not quite understand what that meant.

"The more powerful a martial artist, the more formidable their spirit becomes."

"The weapons they use year after year will eventually be imbued with their will."

"Do you know which is the most formidable sword belonging to the world-renowned Heavenly Mountain Sword Villa?"

The Thousand Forms Martial Venerable was happy to share some anecdotes with his disciple to broaden his horizons.

"Please enlighten me, Master." Xiao Qin listened with great interest.

"It is a wooden sword that once belonged to the Sword Ancestor."

The Thousand Forms Martial Venerable's tone sounded as if he had witnessed it himself:

"It carried an entire path of Pure Gang Sword Intent."

"Hundreds of years ago, this sword flew a thousand miles out of the Sword Mound, severing a river and slaying a wicked flood dragon with a single strike; to this day, the water of that great river remains severed."

"A single sword strike that has blocked a river for hundreds of years?"

Xiao Qin gasped as he listened.

To him at this stage, this was simply unimaginable.

The Thousand Forms Martial Venerable was satisfied with his disciple's shock and continued:

"The personal weapons of the Sword Ancestor are far beyond what a Profound Weapon can compare to."

"Of course, that Crimson Firmament is also a fine specimen among Profound Weapons."

"Whether he can master it depends on whether your Junior Brother Li has learned anything from that young girl."

Crimson Firmament and Heavenly Frost truly complement each other, Xiao Qin thought, pursing his lips.

He felt no envy; instead, he grew even fonder of his own broken, famous greatsword.

Clang—

Inside the fourth level.

Li Mo was already in his conscious space, receiving the sixth strike of the Crimson Firmament Sword.

The sound of the sword's chime actually gave him the sensation of his soul being electrocuted, his consciousness numbed.

Was this the aura of a Profound Weapon?

Or perhaps... was it the essence, energy, and spirit left behind by the master who once wielded this blade?

Li Mo couldn't help but recall the words the ice block beneath Clear Abyss had spoken to him.

Obsessions could actually transform into Yin Entities.

It stood to reason, then, that essence, energy, and spirit could condense into a swordsman with formidable sword techniques.

This sword chime seems to have the effect of tempering the spirit.

Li Mo was lost in thought.

At first, it had been relatively faint, but the further he went, the more pronounced that tempering sensation became.

"Come."

Li Mo focused his mind and calmed his breath, earnestly crossing swords with his opponent.

The seventh strike!

The eighth strike!

The ninth strike!

These three strikes were already completely and utterly perfect-level sword techniques.

He had exchanged nine strikes with it, feeling his essence, energy, and spirit improve significantly, his consciousness becoming slightly more agile.

Had it not been for the guidance of the ice block, relying solely on his own martial insights to brute-force his way through, he likely would have stopped here.

This was nothing strange.

It was like a profound mathematical problem; without mathematical talent, one might ponder it for a lifetime and never find the answer.

Ordinary people could only use the 'formulas' summarized by geniuses to take shortcuts.

"The tenth strike!"

The aura of the swordsman opposite him instantly became restrained yet powerful.

Li Mo exhaled a breath of stale air, his concentration reaching an unprecedented level.

The tenth sword chime rang out, echoing through the Divine Blade Cave.

It lingered without ceasing, sounding like a helpless sigh.

Outside the Divine Blade Cave.

"The Crimson Firmament Sword has recognized its master."

Elder Han He stroked his beard as he spoke, his expression appearing slightly strange.

No one understood the meaning of this sword chime better than he, the Chief Elder of Divine Weapon Peak.

The Crimson Firmament Sword had recognized its master, certainly.

But it seemed to be doing so with a hint of reluctance...

It was as if it were not entirely satisfied with the talent of Disciple Li.

A bit disdainful, yet holding its nose and accepting him as master?

This left the old man Han He quite bewildered.

"Hahaha, you old fogey, both Profound Weapons have fallen into my hands now."

Shang Wu didn't care about all that; she was so smug she might as well have been standing with her hands on her hips.

Elder Han He remained expressionless: "Heavenly Frost belongs to Ying Bing; what does Ying Bing have to do with you?"

Shang Wu looked at him, a touch of pity and sympathy appearing in her eyes.

A vein throbbed on the elder's forehead.

That look was very impolite.

"Right, old man, even without mentioning Little Bing, it's still two weapons."

"We made a bet back then, after all."

"How about this, I won't let you suffer a loss; you don't need to balance the accounts for me. Whenever I have a need, I can come down to your Divine Blade Cave and take any weapon to use at will."

Shang Wu narrowed her eyes and smiled again.

"Hmph! Only one at a time!"

Han He let out a cold snort.

Even with his stubborn mouth, he dared not say that the outcome remained to be seen.

It was not that he lacked confidence in Murong Xiao, but rather that being acknowledged by a Profound Weapon meant Li Mo was certainly extraordinary in his swordsmanship.

Moreover, with a Profound Weapon in hand, who could defeat him at the same cultivation level?

Sending Shang Wu to Divine Blade Cave to retrieve a weapon—even if she broke it—was still better than paying off her massive debts.

"Old man, that's the only good thing about you; you never welch on a debt."

Seeing him accept the situation, Shang Wu offered a couple of pleasantries.

Ying Bing's expression remained calm, unsurprised by this turn of events.

This was her first time seriously teaching someone.

If he couldn't even manage to secure a Profound Weapon, it would be a total failure.

"Crimson Firmament, huh..."

"If I recall correctly, Disciple Ying holds Heavenly Frost. Don't those two swords have a combined technique?"

"I've seen records to that effect as well."

Some of the senior disciples on Divine Weapon Peak exchanged glances, simultaneously recalling the legends.

It was said that the Founder forged these two swords and bestowed them upon his two disciples.

The pair were a devoted couple who even created a combined sword technique that allowed them to fight opponents of higher cultivation levels, making them famous throughout the Eastern Wasteland Domain at the time.

After the two passed away, Heavenly Frost and Crimson Firmament never acknowledged the same master again.

The sword technique was subsequently shelved, and its brilliance was never seen again.

Today, these two Profound Weapons had unexpectedly found masters once more...

Everyone turned their gaze toward Ying Bing.

Yet, they could not discern a single flicker of emotion on the jade-like girl's face.

Meanwhile.

"Quite cold and aloof, aren't you?"

Li Mo gripped the longsword, which resembled flowing fire, unable to contain his joy.

His own talent for the sword was mediocre.

Yet, at his age, he had practiced a superior sword technique to the realm of perfection.

That was why the Crimson Firmament Sword had reluctantly acknowledged him as its master.

But... whether it was reluctant or not didn't matter; as long as he could use it, that was enough.

Young Master Li didn't care if the melon was sweet; as long as it quenched his thirst, it was fine.

"I have the sword technique, and I have the precious sword."

"If I'm not a swordsman, then who is?"

Li Mo laughed happily.

At this moment, he looked toward the end of the fourth level of Divine Blade Cave, at the cavern entrance where firelight and cold light intertwined.

The summons from that direction grew increasingly intense.

The matter of looking cool had already been settled.

Naturally, it was time to consider the things that could truly make him stronger.

"Calamity Meteor Hammer."

The light from the cavern entrance reflected in Li Mo's eyes.

Although using a hammer didn't quite align with his interests.

But... this was a Divine Weapon!

It was a supreme treasure that completely exceeded his understanding.

Furthermore, it resonated faintly with his Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body, complementing each other perfectly.

"It wants to come with me."

"But first, I have to be able to approach it and pick it up."

Li Mo walked past the entrance.

Instantly, he felt an immense pressure.

The bone-chilling ice spring, the scorching fire spring, and the overbearing aura of weapon-slaughter made it nearly impossible to breathe.

Had his body refinement not shown initial results, and had he not consumed a Six-Pattern Heart-Clearing Pill, he wouldn't even have the qualifications to stand here.

Thump.

He took a step forward.

In an instant, thunder resonated from the void.

His internal organs, meridians, and blood flow were all sent into a violent tremor.

The sensation of his very bones itching made it clear to Li Mo.

His physique had grown stronger once again.

I have only taken a single step forward...

Li Mo gained a clearer understanding of the divine weapon's immense power.

Furthermore.

This was likely the result of the divine weapon possessing a spirit and restraining the vast majority of its pressure!

"Continue walking!"

Li Mo channeled his Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body and moved his feet once more.

Simultaneously, the sound of heavy hammers falling echoed in his ears.