Twelve Hammers of Settling the Wind and Waves, Ying Bing's Terrifying Progress

"The Six-Pattern Heart-Clearing Pill I invested in Brother Murong last time was worth about the same as a superior martial art."

"But this time, the reward is the Ancient Bronze Heavenly Book Seal."

"Isn't solving the problem once and for all better than merely putting out the fire at your eyebrows?"

Li Mo thoughtfully stroked the small bronze seal in his palm.

He began searching the fifth floor again.

There were not many superior martial arts here to begin with, and hammer techniques were even rarer.

Yet after half an hour, he truly found something.

"Twelve Hammers of Settling the Wind and Waves."

Li Mo brushed the thick dust from the booklet and saw its title clearly.

A superior martial art, and a short-handled hammer technique at that.

It had twelve forms in total. Once mastered to great accomplishment, a single hammer blow could shake the earth and mountains.

Hmm...

If he cultivated it to perfection, and his realm was high enough, could it possess the might of Master's punch?

Li Mo looked toward the chunk missing from Divine Weapon Peak and pondered silently.

He continued flipping through the pages.

Then he discovered...

"This martial art only has two-thirds of it?"

The martial art abruptly ended at the eighth form.

Little Li fell into thought.

After a moment, he still picked up the booklet and went downstairs.

Mainly because he had no other choice at present.

He could only take it back first and think of a solution later.

Upon reaching the first floor,

the same inner sect deacon was still there.

"Junior Brother Li, have you made your choice?"

"Yes. I'll trouble Senior Brother to register it for me."

Li Mo handed the booklet over.

"Er... hmm?"

The inner sect deacon took the booklet. Just as he raised his brush to record it, he froze when he saw the name of the martial art.

"Junior Brother Li, this is a hammer technique."

He seriously glanced at the longsword hanging at Little Li's waist.

It was already common knowledge throughout the sect that Disciple Li had obtained the Crimson Firmament Sword, a weapon famed alongside the Heavenly Frost Sword, in Divine Blade Cave.

Thus, many people, himself included, believed that

even if he was not as exceptional as Junior Sister Ying Bing, he was certainly one of those sword dao prodigies beyond ordinary understanding.

After all, Ying Bing was far too frightening. With a mere beckoning gesture, famous swords flew through the air and lined up to acknowledge her as their master. That had already surpassed the limits of their comprehension.

Junior Brother Li, on the other hand, had passed the Crimson Firmament Sword's trial through his attainments in swordsmanship. That was what a genius looked like in their imaginations.

A sword dao genius had chosen a hammer technique?

"I didn't choose wrongly."

"Stones from other hills may serve to polish jade. I already have sword techniques, so studying other martial arts may help me draw parallels and gain insight."

Li Mo shook his head.

Stones from other hills may serve to polish jade?

That was polishing from awfully far away...

"Although this martial art is incomplete, it will still consume one opportunity. Junior Brother Li, you should think it over carefully."

The inner sect deacon reminded him again.

"Yes, I've already looked through it."

"Very well. Please return the martial art within one month, Junior Brother Li. Do not pass it on to others."

Seeing that he had no intention of changing his mind, the inner sect deacon said no more.

At the same time,

within the Sword Dao Arena of Clear Abyss Main Peak,

Ying Bing crossed the threshold with her sword in her arms. Her pale dress was as cold and serene as the longsword she held.

The moment she entered the Sword Dao Arena,

several gazes landed upon her as though they were admiring a priceless treasure.

"After more than four hundred years, the Heavenly Frost Sword has found its master once again. They are truly a perfect match."

Qian Bufan clicked his tongue in wonder.

Xue Jing looked travel-worn, as though he had only just returned from beyond the mountains, yet the smile on his face could not be dispelled.

"The last time a Mystic Weapon acknowledged a master in the sect was fifty years ago. Yet this time, two Mystic Artifacts have acknowledged masters at once—and they are the Heavenly Frost and Crimson Firmament, those two swords."

"Rare. Truly rare."

"Han He, stop looking so sour as well. Mystic Artifacts are kept in Divine Blade Cave to be used, after all. Besides, fine swords are meant for heroes. They have both found worthy masters."

Ever since Elder Han He entered the Sword Dao Arena, he had not spoken a word.

Everyone assumed his complicated expression came from reluctance to part with the Mystic Weapons.

"You've already said all the praise there is to say. This old man is not eloquent, nor can I be bothered with pretty words."

Han He shot Xue Jing an irritated look.

The "Divine Weapons" in my Divine Weapon Peak had all been taken away!

"Enough. Let this group of old fellows open their eyes as well."

"Just what kind of peerlessly brilliant individual could make Mystic Weapons flock to acknowledge them as master?"

Shangguan Wencang spoke gently.

"Alright."

Ying Bing nodded.

A streak of sword light suddenly illuminated the entire hall.

A breeze from nowhere blew down the pear blossoms around the Sword Dao Arena.

Everyone unconsciously narrowed their eyes.

For petal after petal began to move on its own with the dancing sword, despite there being no wind.

At times, they scattered. At times, they gathered.

When scattered, they were breathtakingly beautiful, yet concealed killing intent.

When gathered, their chill was startling, their dominance unmatched.

Crack—

All at once,

every single petal exploded into shards of ice.

"She has already formed a trace of sword momentum."

"Yes. Even if the creator of the Flower-Seeking Sword Technique performed it personally, they would likely be left eating her dust."

"This old man can scarcely recognize this sword technique anymore. What is strong is not the sword technique, but her."

The crowd looked at one another, as though awakening from a dream.

They finally understood why the Heavenly Frost Sword had been so eager to rush forward and acknowledge her as master.

This was not something that could be comprehended from a superior martial art.

Let alone in the Blood-Qi Realm—even among those in the Divine Observation Realm, exceedingly few could glimpse its mysteries.

This meant that while still in the Blood-Qi Realm, she already possessed martial foundations stronger than those of a Divine Observation Realm cultivator.

Was this what a true genius was?

The elders could no longer find words to describe her.

Ying Bing sheathed her sword and stood quietly.

"Little Bing, Li Mo's swordsmanship was guided by you, wasn't it?"

Xue Jing gradually came back to his senses and asked.

"Yes."

Ying Bing nodded.

"So that's how it was."

"Indeed, even if he had some attainments in swordsmanship, it would have been difficult for him to endure a Mystic Weapon's trial at this point."

"Still, this shows that Li Mo is a promising talent in the sword dao."

The elders all wore expressions of understanding.

Only Han He's expression remained complicated as he let out a sigh.

"In the way of the sword, even though this old man considers himself well-read and has perused countless historical records, I fear I would struggle to find anyone whose sword dao talent could rival yours."

Even Shangguan Wencang, the Clear Abyss Sect Master who had always been stern, could not help but sigh in admiration.

"There is one."

Ying Bing answered without hesitation.

"Oh?"

"Beyond one mountain lies another."

Ying Bing spoke softly.

The sword was the weapon she wielded most smoothly, but it was not her greatest strength.

Besides, a true sword dao prodigy...

Once again, an utterly deserving name flashed through her mind.

"Little Bing, how many meridians have you opened now? Has the icy aura contained in your bloodline changed recently?"

Xue Jing suddenly asked.

"Twelve meridians."

"The icy aura... has not changed."

Twelve meridians?!

Old Xue Jing's teacup silently slipped from his hand, soaking his trousers.

For an instant, the vast Sword Dao Arena was so silent that a needle dropping could be heard.

Then Ying Bing added,

"Almost thirteen."

The elders had already turned to stone.

Upon hearing that, their petrified bodies nearly shattered into pieces on the ground.

It was not merely Ying Bing's heaven-defying progress that shocked them.

Everyone knew that in the Blood-Qi Realm, a martial artist could open at most twelve main meridians.

What had she just said?

Thirteen meridians?

Did that not mean Ying Bing's upper limit in the Blood-Qi Realm was even more terrifying?

"Little Bing, how many main meridians do you think you can open at most?"

"Twenty-four meridians."

Ying Bing answered calmly.

Even though they had prepared themselves somewhat, waves of sharp inhalations still rang through the Sword Dao Arena.

All the so-called extraordinary talents they knew of were nothing but fart compared to this.

At the same time,

before a waterfall not far from Autumn Water Pavilion,

"Phew..."

Li Mo stopped cultivating.

Within his perception, the meridians strengthened by the Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body resembled crouching dragons. Blood-Qi seeds like lotus seeds had been planted within them, each surging with powerful force.

"This round of cultivation actually opened two meridians at once."

Li Mo exhaled a breath of turbid air.

He could feel that the body he had overdrawn when he forcibly lifted the Calamity Meteor Hammer had completely recovered.

It even carried the sense of rebuilding after destruction.

Combined with the extraordinary body-tempering effects of that divine weapon,

that was why he had crossed two steps of progress in one stride.

"I cannot slacken."

"I haven't even reached halfway through my Blood-Qi Realm yet."

Little Li rejoiced for a while, but he neither grew arrogant nor impatient.

Then he took the copy of Twelve Hammers of Settling the Wind and Waves from his robes.