Lightness Skill, Ride Things, Roam the Mind Manual

"Were they starting from the First Layer of Meridian Opening to probe my full strength?"

Lu Li remembered how Thousand Theater verified a martial artist's strength: they controlled paper figures of varying power, gradually testing a person's limits from the First Layer of Meridian Opening to the peak of the Astral Condensation Realm.

Had he not known Thousand Theater's purpose, he might have found it strange as well.

As his thoughts turned,

the young man had already rushed forward, his fingers curled into claws as fierce wind howled around them.

Lu Li glanced over. Knowing the fight was unavoidable, he casually threw a punch.

With his current strength, even a martial artist at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening was no match for him, much less someone at the First Layer?

To Lu Li, killing the paper figure before him was scarcely more difficult than crushing an ant.

Like a meteor hammer smashing down, the instant they collided, the young man's arms shattered completely. He was sent flying off his feet by the punch and knocked from the stage.

Strangely, the instant the young man landed, he abruptly stiffened and ceased moving.

Before Lu Li could inspect him closely, a second paper figure stepped onto the stage, its aura unmistakably at the Second Layer of Meridian Opening.

This paper figure took the form of a burly man wielding a broadsword with bronze rings.

The instant he stepped onto the stage, the burly man charged straight at Lu Li and brought his blade down upon his head with immense force.

The blade's edge reflected in Lu Li's eyes. He neither retreated nor dodged, merely tilting his head slightly. The broadsword struck his shoulder with a sharp metallic clang.

It was as though the blade had struck a piece of extraterrestrial iron, unimaginably hard.

The burly man clearly had no consciousness. When one slash failed, he tried to raise his blade again, only to seem as though he had sunk into a muddy swamp, his body freezing in place.

Lu Li activated Poison Blood Hand. His five fingers descended and pressed down upon the burly man's head. With a hiss, the figure shattered on the spot into fluttering scraps of paper.

"This Paper Effigy Art is rather mysterious."

Lu Li gave it an appraising look. Paper Effigy Art belonged to the category of unusual arts, similar to beast taming and raising gu. It was not commonly seen in the martial world.

Yet one thing was certain: if someone truly mastered this art, they would be exceedingly troublesome to deal with.

"If I learned Paper Effigy Art, traveling the martial world in the future would be far more convenient."

In theory, Paper Effigy Art could do far more than create puppets comparable to martial artists. It had many other uses—scouting, deception, ambushes, and more.

Lu Li was tempted, but he also knew that Paper Effigy Art was Thousand Theater's closely guarded secret. Only by becoming the master of the Phoenix Spirit Fan would one have a chance to learn it.

Setting aside those thoughts, Lu Li stood upon the stage as paper figures continuously came up from below. Throughout it all, he dealt with them effortlessly, appearing entirely at ease.

Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening, Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening, Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening, all the way to the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening—the paper figures that came up one after another were all slain on the spot.

Above the stage, three figures silently watched the scene below, all briefly stunned.

"This person's strength... isn't right."

The old man wore a strange expression. The burly man nodded in agreement.

"He's strangely strong. Our paper figures are somewhat weaker than genuine martial artists of the same realm, but the gap is not great. Yet even against a paper figure at the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening, this kid looks relaxed."

A peculiar light seemed to flicker in the beautiful woman's eyes as she suddenly spoke.

"No need to continue. Send Wind Sword up to test him."

At those words, both the old man and the burly man frowned.

"This... seems against the rules, doesn't it?"

Wind Sword had reached the peak of the Twelfth Layer of Meridian Opening. After being enlightened and trained, he was skilled in swordsmanship, scarcely any different from a true sword cultivator.

But the beautiful woman's status was clearly higher. She lightly waved her hand.

"Do as I say."

On the stage, Lu Li raised his head slightly. Watching the three paper figures whisper among themselves, a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.

At that moment, he also saw through the truth. These three paper figures were puppets out front, while real people—the inheritors of Thousand Theater—were controlling them from behind.

Thud, thud!

A series of heavy footsteps interrupted Lu Li's thoughts. He turned and saw an utterly ordinary-looking man approaching with a longsword in hand.

"This aura..."

Lu Li frowned. At the same time, the burly man's voice rang out from above the stage.

"This is Wind Sword, at the peak of the Twelfth Layer of Meridian Opening. If you can receive a single move from him, this demonstration will be considered complete."

"If you cannot receive it, Wind Sword will withdraw on his own."

The instant those words fell, the young man vanished from where he stood, and a sharp streak of sword light slashed toward Lu Li.

Fast—far too fast for the naked eye to catch.

The air tore apart like ripped silk. Sword qi swept out, its sharp radiance rippling like waves as cold light dazzled the eyes.

Lu Li's expression turned solemn. Xuandu left its sheath, and God-Devouring Blade Qi erupted alongside the Intransigent Qi Field Domain.

He did not dare underestimate his opponent in the slightest, going all out from the start.

Over these past days, Lu Li had also studied the God-Devouring Blade Qi that Xuandu generated on its own.

When the blade qi erupted, its mental interference effect was essentially akin to killing intent and baleful aura, capable of corroding a person's mind.

Ordinary people who faced it would suffer splitting headaches at best and become witless at worst.

And if one's cultivation and inner qi were sufficient, its increased power would make it difficult even for martial artists to resist.

It involved the spiritual level, a power only possessed by the Divine Intent Realm. This was why Xuandu could rank ninth on the Treasure Weapon Ranking!

Of course, it was not without limitations. It placed extreme demands on one's personal comprehension, yet after the panel recorded Xuandu's information, Lu Li discovered that his compatibility with God-Devouring Blade Qi was very high.

A paper figure that crossed realms had to undergo enlightenment, meaning it contained the will of the person controlling it from behind.

At this moment, under the layered Field Domain, the young man's body indeed fell into disarray for an instant. Combined with the Field Domain's restraining effect, the speed of this strike was greatly reduced.

Lu Li's gaze sharpened, and Xuandu slashed out at once.

Bang!

A dull impact rang out. Lu Li staggered backward, his tiger's mouth split open as sword qi slashed down upon him.

"Cough, cough..."

Lu Li coughed softly. A slight wound appeared near his shoulder blade. The gap in their realms was far too great; even with the reinforcement of Intransigent Qi and the force of the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body, he had still been injured.

Of course, the injury looked serious, but to Lu Li, it was nothing worth mentioning.

Apart from its Field Domain, Intransigent Qi's inherent ability was to reinforce the flesh, turning the body metallic, including the internal organs.

Even if a sword pierced his heart, it would not be a fatal injury to Lu Li.

Still, there was no need to reveal that. Thousand Theater was difficult to read, and Lu Li had not even activated Weapon Lord.

He feared drawing even more attention and scrutiny.

"Is that enough?"

Lu Li covered his wound. Wind Sword had already stepped down and vanished. He looked up at the three figures in the air and asked calmly.

The expressions of the three figures in midair changed strangely. Then, a manual fell from above.

Lu Li caught it in one hand. At a glance, he was briefly startled.

Ride Things, Roam the Mind Manual

"This is the reward?"

Lu Li had not expected Thousand Theater to directly give him a lightness skill.

But it was indeed something he currently lacked.

Since he began cultivating, he had never practiced movement techniques. Most of the time, he relied on his body to withstand others' attacks. If not for Intransigent Qi, he would have died hundreds of times over already.

"This performance has come to an end. Young master, you still lack a blade technique. If you can kill the Drooping-Ear Monk within two months, Thousand Theater will offer you a superior blade technique."