Genius Boy

The moment the two armies collided, Li Jinshui knew this battle was unlike any they had fought before.

The Di soldiers surged forward like a tide—not in a disorganized charge, but in an orderly, coordinated advance. Shield-bearers led the way, followed by spearmen, then swordsmen and axemen, layer upon layer, packed tight as a wall.

But he didn't retreat.

He unleashed the White Tiger Blade Technique with all his might. His blade flashed like snow, every strike carrying the force of a fierce tiger descending from its mountain.

The first Di soldier, at the ninth layer of Body Forging, raised his shield to block—

Crack!

Shield and soldier split in two!

[You killed a Northern Di Squad Leader (ninth layer of Body Forging), points +9]

The second, the third, the fourth...

He was a tireless killing machine, charging through enemy ranks. The full might of the perfected White Tiger Blade Technique was on display. His blade qi was solid as steel; one swing cleaved through man and armor alike.

[+3]

[+4]

[+6]

[+2...]

The points began to climb.

But he had no time to look. All he knew was to kill.

After cutting his way fifty paces into the enemy formation, he suddenly sensed a sharp killing intent coming at him from the side.

Without even turning his head, he activated Inch Step and darted three feet sideways.

A spear thrust past his ribs, its force carving a deep groove in his armor.

He turned and saw a Di Squad Leader at the early stage of Inner Strength, grinning viciously as he pulled back his spear.

"Quick reflexes—"

Before he could finish, Li Jinshui's blade was already upon him.

White Tiger Blade Technique: Tiger Pounce!

His blade flashed like a tiger pouncing on its prey, aiming straight for the man's throat!

The Squad Leader paled and desperately swung his spear around to block.

Clang!

The shaft snapped in two. The blade sliced across his neck, and his head went flying.

[You killed a Northern Di Squad Leader (early stage of Inner Strength), points +10]

Li Jinshui sheathed his blade and charged onward.

The battle in the sky was even more intense.

He stole a glance upward—

Yun Ruoxi stood in midair in a purple robe, true qi swirling around her as she fought three Di warriors at the Pulse-Opening Realm.

Calling it a fight was almost too generous. It was more of a one-sided crushing.

The three Di warriors at the Pulse-Opening Realm—two at the middle stage and one at the late stage—attacked her together, yet couldn't even get close. She wielded a long, azure sword, its light streaking like a rainbow. Every swing forced the three men to dodge in disarray.

"The Azure Underworld Sword Technique of the Yun Family of Yun Province." A cold laugh rang out from afar. "That's all it amounts to?"

The Di warrior at the late stage summoned all his strength and swung his blade. His blade qi turned into a black dragon and lunged straight at Yun Ruoxi.

A trace of disdain flashed in her eyes.

She turned her wrist and swept her sword through the air with casual ease—

Shhk!

The black dragon split in two and dissolved into specks of dark light.

Her sword's momentum didn't slacken. It shot straight for the Di warrior's heart!

The man was horrified. He dodged with all his might, but the tip of her sword still cut across his shoulder, spraying blood.

Seeing the tide turn, the other two Di warriors at the middle stage turned to flee.

Yun Ruoxi gave a cold laugh. "Running away?"

She took a single step, her figure as elusive as a ghost, and instantly caught up with one of them. Her sword pierced through his back.

The other one ran faster, already dashing into the ranks of his own army.

Yun Ruoxi didn't pursue. She simply lowered her sword and stood there, coldly surveying the Pulse-Opening Realm warriors in the Di Army.

For a moment, not one of them dared meet her gaze.

Elsewhere, Zhao Zheng was locked in a stalemate against two opponents.

The two Di warriors at the Pulse-Opening Realm—one at the middle stage, the other at the early stage—worked in perfect tandem, attacking with blade and sword until Zhao Zheng was forced back step by step. His old injuries still plagued him. Each time he blocked a blow, his face grew a shade paler.

But he didn't give an inch.

Behind him stood the infantry formation of North-Rejecting City.

If he retreated, the shockwaves from those Pulse-Opening Realm fighters could kill hundreds or even thousands of soldiers.

"Zhao Zheng!" the Di warrior at the middle stage sneered. "You can't hold out much longer!"

Zhao Zheng said nothing. He simply gritted his teeth and blocked each blow.

The four guest warriors were also locked in their own desperate battles.

The youngest of them was besieged by two Di warriors at the Pulse-Opening Realm and was already showing signs of defeat. Another, a middle-aged guest warrior, was barely holding his own against two opponents. The remaining pair had joined forces against three Di warriors, and for the moment, neither side had gained the upper hand.

On the Pulse-Opening Realm battlefield, our six fighters were outnumbered thirteen to six. The disadvantage was obvious.

But they had to hold on.

They had to last until Elder Chen killed the enemy's Origin-Opening Realm expert, or until someone could break away and come to their aid.

Li Jinshui turned his attention back to the enemy and kept killing.

More than twenty Di soldiers already lay dead around him, but still more surged toward him.

Suddenly, a sharp aura locked onto him.

The hair on his body stood on end. He jerked his head up—

A young Di warrior burst out of the crowd, a gleaming curved saber in hand, and charged straight at him!

Late-stage Inner Strength!

And a late-stage fighter with deep, solid foundations—not some worthless dabbler who'd bought his way there with pills.

The man looked to be in his early twenties, with a stern face and keen, hawk-like eyes. His armor was clearly finer than that of an ordinary Di soldier. A golden wolf's head was engraved on his chest—the mark of the Di Kingdom's royal guards.

"So Great Zhou has young prodigies like you, too?" he said in heavily accented Great Zhou speech. "Let me test your mettle!"

Before the words had left his mouth, his blade was already upon Li Jinshui!

Fast!

So fast that Li Jinshui barely had time to react!

He frantically activated Inch Step and only just managed to dodge. The blade swept past his cheek, carrying away a strand of hair.

So fast!

Li Jinshui's pupils contracted. Instead of retreating, he pressed forward and unleashed the full force of the White Tiger Blade Technique!

Clang!

The two blades collided, sparks flying!

A tremendous force surged through Li Jinshui's arms. His palm went numb, and he was thrown back three steps.

The young Di warrior retreated a single step as well, surprise flashing across his eyes.

"Not bad." He licked his lips. "You're at the middle stage of Inner Strength, yet you can take one of my strikes?"

He charged again!

This time, his blade came faster and with even greater force!

Li Jinshui gritted his teeth and met him head-on, unleashing the White Tiger Blade Technique as they traded blows!

Clang, clang, clang, clang—!

A rapid series of metallic clashes rang out as the two men traded furious strikes on the battlefield!

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Li Jinshui became.

The man wasn't just at the late stage of Inner Strength—his blade work was incredibly refined. Every stroke had been honed through countless trials.

Worse still, the curved saber in his hand was clearly no ordinary weapon. A faint glow shimmered along its edge, and every time the blades met, it left another notch in Li Jinshui's military saber.

Ten strikes.

Twenty strikes.

Thirty strikes.

Li Jinshui was gradually pushed onto the defensive.

It wasn't that his blade work was inferior. His weapon simply couldn't hold out much longer.

His military saber was already covered in notches, its edge badly rolled. At this rate, it would break in fewer than ten strikes.

The young Di warrior noticed as well and sneered. "Great Zhou's blades really are all junk!"

His attacks grew fiercer, one strike after another, each aimed squarely at Li Jinshui's saber.

Li Jinshui could only block. With every strike, another notch appeared in his blade.

On the fortieth strike—

Crack!

The military saber finally broke.

Half the blade flew away and stuck in the ground.

All Li Jinshui had left was half a broken blade.

The young Di warrior roared with laughter and swung down at him!

A cold glint flashed in Li Jinshui's eyes. Instead of retreating, he charged forward!

Inch Step!

He darted into the man's guard, thrusting the broken blade toward his heart!

The Di warrior was horrified and dodged with all his might. The broken blade scraped across his ribs, leaving a bloody gash.

But his own blade struck Li Jinshui's shoulder!

Clang!

The blade hit his shoulder, but his minor Rock Body cultivation kept it from cutting through. It left a deep gash, his flesh torn open, but didn't reach the bone.

The Di warrior froze.

His blade hadn't cut through?

In that moment of hesitation, Li Jinshui's left fist slammed into his chest!

Iron Thread Fist!

The punch looked light and effortless, but its inner force drilled in like iron threads!

Pfft!

The Di warrior spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back three steps!

He looked down at his chest. A fist-shaped dent had sunk deep into his flesh, cracking two of his ribs.

"You...!" Shock and fury twisted his face. He raised his saber, still intent on fighting.

But just then, a tremendous boom rang out from the sky.

Boom—!!!

Three figures separated, each retreating a hundred paces.

Elder Chen, Huyan Lie, and Huyan Zhuo faced one another from afar.

Elder Chen had gained several new wounds, but his breathing remained steady. Huyan Lie was deathly pale; his old injuries had torn open, and blood soaked half his body. Huyan Zhuo's cape was in tatters, his hair disheveled, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

A draw.

Neither side had managed to overcome the other.

"Sound the retreat!" Huyan Zhuo ordered gravely.

A shrill horn rang out from the Di Army.

The young Di warrior glared bitterly at Li Jinshui, clutching his chest as he backed away.

"What's your name?" he asked.

Li Jinshui gripped his broken blade and stared coldly at him.

"Li Jinshui."

"Good. I'll remember you." The Di warrior gritted his teeth. "My name is Tuoba Feng. Next time, I'll use your head to offer my blade a sacrifice."

He turned and disappeared into the crowd.

The Di Army began to withdraw.

The troops of North-Rejecting City didn't pursue them either. Their casualties were too great; they needed time to regroup.

Li Jinshui stood where he was, watching the Di Army retreat until the last soldier disappeared from sight.

He lowered his gaze to the broken blade in his hand.

That newly issued military saber had broken in less than half a day.

Then he looked at his own injuries. The gash on his shoulder was still bleeding. His left side had been cut, he'd taken a blade to the back, and he had seven or eight wounds all over.

Yet he was still standing.

He raised his head and looked toward the figure that had vanished in the distance.

Tuoba Feng.

Late-stage Inner Strength, royal guard, excellent saber.

He looked away and turned toward the city.

When he returned to camp, Monkey was the first to rush over. Seeing him covered in blood, Monkey's eyes reddened.

"Jinshui! Are you all right?!"

Li Jinshui shook his head and tossed the broken blade to the ground.

"I'm fine. The blade broke."

Er Gou ran over too and looked at the broken blade, grimacing with heartache. "This was brand-new... How'd it break already?"

Li Jinshui didn't explain. He only said, "I'm going to the armory."

The armory in North-Rejecting City stood in the west of the city, a large building of blue bricks with two old soldiers guarding the entrance.

When Li Jinshui went inside, several people were already choosing weapons. He walked straight to the sword rack and let his gaze sweep over the blades.

Standard-issue sabers, fine-iron sabers, hundred-forged steel sabers...

His gaze settled on a blade that was pitch-black from end to end.

It was three inches longer than an ordinary military saber, with a broad, thick blade and a faint, chilly gleam along its edge. Two small characters were engraved on the hilt: "Black Iron."

The Black Iron Blade.

Forged mainly from black iron mixed with refined steel, it could cut through iron like mud. Ordinary weapons would snap on contact with it.

He reached out, picked it up, and weighed it in his hand.

It was twice as heavy as an ordinary military saber, but with his mid-stage Inner Strength, it was just right.

"How many military merit points does this cost?" he asked.

The old soldier glanced at him. "This blade is for a centurion. It costs three hundred military merit points."

Li Jinshui fell silent for a moment.

Three hundred points.

He had killed so many Di soldiers that he had more than enough points.

He took the Military Merit Token from his clothes and handed it to the old soldier.

The old soldier checked it, nodded, and made a note in the ledger.

"Black Iron Blade, three hundred military merit points. It's yours."

Li Jinshui took the blade and walked out of the armory.

Sunlight fell on the blade, reflecting a faint gleam.

He gripped the hilt tightly, feeling its weighty heft.

Next time.

Next time he saw Tuoba Feng, he wouldn't let his blade break again.

He lifted his head and looked north.

The Di Army's camp was still there, cooking smoke curling into the sky.

But he knew this was only a temporary calm.

An even greater storm was still to come.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because he had a blade now.

A good blade.