“Commenting on sword techniques?” Meng Qi took the invitation and repeated the words of the man in front of him.
The man with a tall hat had a sharp nose and slightly raised his head: “I am Tang Wenyuan from the Falling Star Sword Sect. Tomorrow at noon, I shall await Master Su at Luojia Mountain in Luo City to ‘comment’ on sword techniques.”
He openly displayed his aura and sharp sword intent, which was already quite impressive among human immortals.
Meng Qi hesitated briefly, then smiled: “Since you insist, tomorrow at noon, I shall go to Luojia Mountain to ‘comment’ on the sword techniques of your five great sword sects.”
He also emphasized the word “comment,” as if genuinely offering critique, adopting the posture of a sword master looking down upon others.
Tang Wenyuan’s eyes flickered a few times, saying nothing further, merely leaving behind one sentence:
“The superiority of sword techniques lies not in words.”
…
The next noon, Meng Qi, accompanied by He Qi who wished to witness famous sword techniques from the ancient era, flew to Luojia Mountain.
The mountain terrain undulated gently and abruptly, with the highest peak shrouded in mist, seemingly leading to another realm.
Entering the mist, Meng Qi’s eyes brightened as he saw a vast yet desolate plain, with endless withered yellow, and an unshakable silence.
The five sword sects, either using magical treasures or sword techniques, jointly established this temporary paradise to prevent the aftermath of “commenting” from destroying Luojia Mountain and Luo City.
This matter didn’t involve life or death, but cultivators of the Law Body were akin to living deities, possessing immense strength and extraordinary abilities.
On the plain stood six hillocks resembling lotus pedestals, five occupied by swordsmen in different-colored robes, while one remained empty, covered in weeds.
Seeing this, Meng Qi understood immediately and, together with He Qi, descended onto the vacant hillock.
As their figures stabilized, a mighty voice came from the leftmost hillock:
“Fang Hanjing of the Sea Heaven Sword Sect greets Master Su on behalf of our disciples.”
The Sea Heaven Sword Sect favored blue, with star patterns on their robes. They had come to Luo City to capture the Supreme Heaven Demon, so only a few disciples were present nearby, while two Law Bodies were among them—one tall and thin human immortal, the other a middle-sized earthly immortal with arms as long as a monkey’s, the speaker being the latter.
“Wang Wenzheng of the Falling Star Sword Sect greets Master Su on behalf of our disciples.” Before Fang Hanjing’s words faded, a thunderous sound followed, like a meteor falling into the real world.
The Falling Star Sword Sect had a similar number of members to the Sea Heaven Sword Sect, all wearing tall hats and feathered robes, exuding an air of lofty immortals. Wang Wenzheng was tall and stout, with a ruddy face, majestic and imposing, also an earthly immortal, standing beside Tang Wenyuan, who had delivered the invitation the day before.
“Chen Yueqi of the Yaoguang Sword Sect greets Master Su on behalf of our disciples.”
“Lin Yi of the Great Wisdom Sword Gate greets Master Su on behalf of our disciples.”
“Li Liang of the Moon Inviting Sword Sect greets Master Su on behalf of our disciples.”
Three voices followed one after another, some scattering light across heaven and earth, some filled with piercing sensation, some ethereal and unfathomable, pushing the momentum of the five generations of sword sects to a peak.
The Yaoguang Sword Sect was mostly composed of women, dressed in elegant attire. Chen Yueqi had black hair like clouds, styled into a high bun, wearing a plain-colored palace robe. Her features weren’t delicate, but she exuded a natural grace that made her very pleasant to look at. The Great Wisdom Sword Gate had equal numbers of men and women; Lin Yi wore a female Daoist’s attire, appearing fresh and refined. The Moon Inviting Sword Sect was similar to the Yaoguang Sword Sect, with more female members, but its leader, Li Liang, was an elderly man whose appearance seemed marked by the passage of time, his white hair carrying a sense of decay.
These five voices echoed through heaven and earth, sometimes distant, sometimes near. Those with lesser abilities would likely be stunned into immobility. Meng Qi, however, remained composed, bowing slightly and saying: “Su Meng greets the five sects’ fellow Daoists.”
He Qi followed suit, not introducing himself, fully assuming the role of an observer.
After the formalities, Fang Hanjing of the Sea Heaven Sword Sect spoke from afar: “Master Su, you pointed out the world’s sword techniques at Yaoguang Tower, listing the seven supreme ones, drawing widespread attention and sparking discussions. We are not as capable, but we humbly request Master Su to observe the five sects’ sword techniques and offer your comments, pointing out their flaws and explaining why they cannot be considered supreme.”
His words were courteous, but the implication was clear: if you believe our five sects’ orthodox sword techniques are not supreme, then provide your reasoning and convince us.
As for how to be convinced, for martial cultivators, a direct “demonstration” was the most intuitive.
Meng Qi smiled in response: “I listed the seven supreme ones based on my own standards, considering those capable of matching my sword techniques at equal strength as supreme.”
He intentionally answered this way, and as expected, the other party loudly asked: “Master Su, have you seen all sword techniques under heaven to claim our five sects’ sword techniques cannot match yours?”
The speaker was Li Liang of the Moon Inviting Sword Sect, already somewhat confrontational.
“There’s no need to have seen all sword techniques under heaven to make a judgment. Seeing one fallen leaf allows one to know autumn is coming. Though I may not be talented, I do have some confidence in sword techniques.”
Wang Wenzheng of the Falling Star Sword Sect laughed heartily: “Without seeing or hearing with one’s own eyes and ears, it’s ultimately lacking in authenticity. Please, Master Su, comment on the five sects’ sword techniques before making such claims.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Wenyuan stepped forward and solemnly said: “Tang Wenyuan of the Falling Star Sword Sect invites Master Su to ‘comment’ on my sword techniques!”
Meng Qi stood with his hands behind his back, smiling at Tang Wenyuan: “Your cultivation level is insufficient. Perhaps you should send another earthly immortal. I never like to overpower the weaker.”
Upon hearing this, the entire wasteland fell into a silent stillness. Tang Wenyuan’s face turned deep red, almost purple. Su Meng himself was merely a human immortal, yet he dared to look down on Tang Wenyuan’s low cultivation level and wanted to “comment” on an earthly immortal?
How arrogant!
Though he had blocked the Heaven Demon King’s attack and slain the Multi-Eyed Heaven King, it was only by leveraging the might of a Celestial Immortal sword, and the Multi-Eyed Heaven King had already been gravely wounded, retaining but a sliver of his strength—Su Meng had merely seized the opportune moment. Now, since this was a “commentary,” external factors would be disregarded, focusing solely on swordsmanship. How could he dare to underestimate a Human Immortal so carelessly?
“Haha, this is indeed the first time I’ve heard such a request. Then, with respect, I shall comply.” Wang Wenzheng of the Falling Star Sword Sect laughed heartily and flew off the hillock.
He drew a sword made of condensed light, assuming a starting posture: “Master Su, please.”
Meng Qi stepped forward, ascending into midair, his hands still behind his back: “Since it’s a comment, Master Wang, please go first.”
What? He even wanted the earthly immortal to strike first? Either too arrogant or truly possessing supreme sword techniques, each Law Body cultivator’s thoughts turned serious, and Wang Wenzheng became even more cautious, not daring to be careless.
After a moment’s thought, he slowly swung his sword, which suddenly vanished.
The wasteland abruptly darkened, with countless brilliant stars appearing from all directions, instantly transporting everyone into an endless starry sky, making it impossible to distinguish up from down.
The stars hung suspended, faintly glowing, constantly shifting, leaving behind brilliant trails, seemingly forming a mysterious grand formation about to unleash an unparalleled attack.
“It bears some resemblance to the Grand Formation of the Celestial Stars…” Meng Qi said while drawing the Five-Colored Li Xian Sword, suppressing its aura to the earthly immortal level.
The Grand Formation of the Celestial Stars was one of the three greatest formations of the ancient era, slightly inferior only to the Sword Formation of Slaughtering Immortals, and was a grand formation used for protection and conquest by the Celestial Court in ancient times.
The Falling Star Sword Sect had no such legacy passed down through generations. Unexpectedly, they truly had some skill, and it was not unreasonable to consider them supreme. However, surely he couldn’t go against his own judgment?
“Master Su’s insight is indeed extraordinary,” Wang Wenzheng’s voice came from somewhere within the starry sky, vast and mighty, before the stars transformed into sword beams, raining down one by one, brilliant and radiant, attacking Meng Qi from all directions—up, down, left, right, front, and back—with no visible gaps.
Meng Qi had already activated the Jade Void Divine Calculation, observing the sword formation derived from the Grand Formation of the Celestial Stars through his sword mastery, identifying several weaknesses. However, each weakness was accompanied by numerous transformations, constantly shifting and potentially becoming traps that even a normal earthly immortal would struggle to seize.
At this moment, five-colored lights shone forth, making the starry sky dazzling, as if immersed in water ripples, all changes slowing for an instant.
An instant was enough to determine victory or defeat.
The Five-Colored Immortal Sword pierced through the incomplete traps, entering a gap among the brilliant sword beams.
Clang!
The meteor shower vanished, the starry sky disappeared, and Wang Wenzheng’s sword blocked Meng Qi’s sword tip across his chest, his protective sword light completely shattered, leaving him full of vulnerabilities.
In a life-or-death struggle, Wang Wenzheng could still rely on his divine weapon and secret techniques to escape this predicament and regroup to launch another sword attack. However, in terms of “commenting,” he had already been defeated, thoroughly and completely.
“Actually breaking the formation with a single sword strike…” Wang Wenzheng and the other members of the five sword sects stared at Meng Qi, unable to speak.
Meng Qi sheathed the Li Xian Sword calmly and said: “Using sword techniques to manifest a sword formation is indeed an excellent path. The sword formation derived from the Grand Formation of the Celestial Stars is also quite remarkable. Unfortunately, you are not a legendary figure. Your control is limited, unable to reach the subtle level. The sword formation is more superficial, essentially still sword techniques, and, in fact, has many flaws due to the forced imitation of the formation.”
Wang Wenzheng trembled, awakening as if from a dream: “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is…”
No wonder every time he used this highest secret technique of his sect, he could only bully the weak, and against strong enemies, it was of little use.
It wasn’t that the sword techniques were inferior, but that his cultivation level was insufficient. However, even the founding ancestor of the sect at the time wasn’t a legendary figure; the sword techniques he created likely had many flaws…
“Thank you, Master Su, for your comments.” Wang Wenzheng bowed, returning to the hillock with a mix of realization, understanding, and dejection.
“Master Wang, don’t be discouraged. The previous sword strike subtly contained the mysteries of time, slowing down the changes. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible to strike the weakness with a single sword strike.” Li Liang of the Moon Inviting Sword Sect flew out, revealing the essence of Meng Qi’s sword technique victory.
A sword technique subtly containing the mysteries of time? Lin Yi, Fang Hanjing, and others looked toward Meng Qi with a sudden jolt in their hearts. Sword techniques involving the mysteries of time and space were rare and seldom seen. They never expected Su Meng to possess such a technique!
The upcoming “commentary” would be extremely difficult!
Moonlight shone from behind Li Liang, covering the surroundings like water, cold and detached, ancient and unchanging, untouched by time, yet seemingly resistant to it.
No wonder Li Liang volunteered for battle!
He proclaimed loudly: “Master Su, please receive my sword strike!”
Suddenly, the sky and earth shrank, and a clear moon appeared in the air, its moonlight shining like a swarm of dancing demons, making it impossible to distinguish reality from illusion, unable to discern which was the true sword strike and which was false.
Meng Qi suddenly sighed, and the five-colored sword light slashed out again.
The sword light split, becoming extremely subtle and hard to detect, each sword beam forming its own formation, connecting into a grand formation, vast and overwhelming, descending upon them.
A single sword forming a formation?
A true single sword forming a formation?
Wang Wenzheng took a couple of quick steps to the edge of the hillock, while Chen Yueqi, Fang Hanjing, and others fixed their gaze on this sword strike.
To form a formation with a single sword, and such a complex one, the control power likely surpassed that of a Celestial Immortal!
The sword formation changed, part of it manifesting the Sword Formation of Slaughtering Immortals, part transforming into the Sword Formation of Absolute Immortals, part delving into the microstructure of matter, and part revealing the vastness of energy. These four parts suddenly overlapped, rapidly contracting, encircling Li Liang and his sword beams within.
Sword qi crisscrossed, sword beams surged, then suddenly scattered. Li Liang was thrown out disheveled and disarrayed, looking extremely battered.
“Next.” Meng Qi said flatly.
His true soul was dizzy, his Law Body felt hollow, but outwardly, he showed no sign. Forcibly manifesting the Sword Formation of Slaughtering Immortals with precise control was a nightmare. The increase in power wasn’t much, but the consumption was enormous. Fortunately, Li Liang faced it for the first time and couldn’t perceive the truth or falsehood, thus unable to resist.
The voice echoed, “Next,” but Fang Hanjing and others stood like wooden statues, no one responding.
Su Meng’s sword mastery had reached a level surpassing that of a Celestial Immortal. They had no chance of victory; the commentary would merely be a critique.
But this did not mean their sword techniques could not be considered supreme!
Beside him, He Qi frowned: “It will be hard for them to acknowledge your sword techniques if you dominate with superior sword mastery.”
Meng Qi glanced sideways at He Qi and smiled slightly: “Why should I care whether they acknowledge it or not?”
“All I want is to make a splash.”
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