After an unknown length of time, the Snowfield regained its light.
The Sword Intent within the black greatsword receded back into the blade like a falling tide. Tu Shi stood where he was, lowering his head to look at the slash across his robe. The cut was neat as if made by shears.
"I lost."
Tu Shi showed no reluctance as he spoke those three words. Instead, his smile became even more carefree.
"It wasn't an unjust loss. Your sword... it isn't in your realm, nor is it in your strength. Your sword is up there."
He raised a hand and pointed at Ye Lin's brow.
"There's something there. I can't sense what it is, but my sword sensed it. My sword fears you."
With that, he gave a free-spirited smile.
At that moment, Tu Shi's projection began to fade.
He turned and walked toward the stone stele, while the black greatsword automatically flew back and planted itself beside it once more.
Before vanishing completely, he looked back. An unprecedented curiosity lay on his rugged face.
"If there's a chance in the future, I want to meet the real you—not projection against projection, but living man against living man. Then, we'll have another fight."
As his words fell, Tu Shi's projection dissipated completely.
The stone stele on the Snowfield returned to silence. Yet the stele carved with Blackwater · Tu Shi now bore an extra horizontal mark.
Its position, length, and depth were exactly the same as Ye Lin's slash, as though someone had carved it anew with an incomparably sharp blade.
Only after a long while did Cangfeng's voice sound.
There was a touch of emotion in that voice, a trace of amusement, and shock that could not be concealed.
"Second trial, strength trial, passed. You chose an opponent