Welshing on a Bet

"Huh? What was that force just now, stopping me from studying further?"

Qin Hao slowly came back to his senses, confusion showing in his eyes.

He had been engrossed in studying the third sword move when a sudden surge of power forced him to stop.

Just then, an intense wave of exhaustion rose from deep within him.

Only now did Qin Hao notice how terrible his condition was!

His eyes were bloodshot, his face was pale, and he seemed to have lost a whole layer of flesh.

"Whew. I can't keep studying. My body can't take it."

Qin Hao gave a bitter smile. If not for his yearning for the Sword Dao, he would probably have been forced to stop long ago. "Besides, I haven't fully digested the first two sword moves yet. That's probably why I failed to comprehend the third, isn't it?"

"I'll recover first."

"Great Dao Spirit-Seizing Art!"

Qin Hao circulated his cultivation technique. In just a short while, his mental state had fully recovered.

Qin Hao opened his eyes and looked to the side.

The same people who had been studying the Sword Monument ten days ago were still in the clearing.

Every one of them was utterly absorbed.

None had noticed Qin Hao's arrival at any point.

"What powerful sword force these people have. I wonder how many sword moves they've comprehended?"

Qin Hao was startled. Before he had comprehended the sword blade, he had not noticed it, but now he could tell at a glance.

Elsewhere, Mu Ziqing was practicing her swordsmanship.

Her swordsmanship was extraordinarily graceful. Lotus flowers blossomed with every sweep of her sword, and he could even vaguely make out sword blades.

"The Ninth Sword of the Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus? No, it's stronger and fiercer than the Ninth