Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Sect Leader Fang's gaze held a mixture of wariness and admiration.

She was the one who destroyed the sword technique, and she was also the one who wrote the preface for it.

Without exception, everyone who obtained this sword manual followed her misleading advice and attempted to release cold energy with their swords.

For many years, only this person has gone against the grain and grasped the truth.

“Ah Guan, go and ask him.”

"Yes, Master."

Behind Sect Leader Fang stood a dignified woman dressed in a dark blue robe. Her brows and eyes were sharp, and she stood there like a strong bamboo in the cold wind, inspiring respect in all who beheld her.

Gu Yiguan was the second disciple of Zhaixinglou.

He possesses a mutated lightning spiritual root and had already established his foundation at the age of twelve. After years of cultivation, he has now reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage and is only one step away from entering the Nascent Soul stage.

The Star-Picking Tower consistently ranked low in the Immortal Cultivation Conference.

Because those with real ability will not remain in the Qi Refining stage.

She and her third junior brother had been down the mountain for a long time, and today they returned, gazing at the aura of the Star-Picking Tower, soaring high into the heavens like a roc.

Gathering in Zhongling City, the Star-Picking Tower is about to rise.

In the small courtyard.

Zhu Wuyao's sword flashed and swirled, dominating the world. In just one night, he unleashed this chilling sword. The old tree in the neighboring courtyard withered and died under his sword tonight, its countless fallen leaves shattered into dust and scattered throughout the courtyard.

A north wind swept in, stirring up huge waves.

The wind never stops, and neither does my heart.

When the wind rises, it is also a time to seek one's own path.

The moonlight, though it seemed to care for the world, illuminated the figure dancing with a sword beneath the moon, yet it could not dispel the illusions in one's heart.

With such a vicious sword technique at his disposal, it's hard to suppress evil thoughts.

The faster her sword moved, the more confused she became. What was good? What was evil? Was she righteous or wicked?

In this world, strength reigns supreme. Once you reach the pinnacle, no one can stop you, and no one will dare to criticize your actions.

If everything around you—mental techniques, spells, swordsmanship—seems to be guiding you onto a path fraught with sin.

Once you ascend to that level, your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds.

You may have even done something irreversible, using other people's lives to keep yourself alive.

Before good is done, evil is already committed.

Are you afraid of making even more mistakes?

Do you really think you can still be a good person?

What are you persisting in?

Zhu Wuyao's swordsmanship was mastered, but her mind was in turmoil. She was thinking too much. The sword in her hand could kill a tree today, and it could also kill a person tomorrow.

If we cannot see the way we came from today, we will have no way back tomorrow.

When a sword reaches its dead end, it breaks and wounds the user.

She couldn't suppress her chaotic thoughts, because from this day forward, she deserved a place in the struggle for the Great Dao.

The sound of swords piercing the air, withered leaves rustling, and thoughts churning, creating a bustling and chaotic atmosphere.

Everything ended with the knock on the door—

"Knock knock knock".

Zhu Wuyao suddenly stopped his sword, the blade hanging in mid-air, moonlight rolling down the black iron sword and burning the person holding it.

Her breath stopped for a moment.

I feel a little uneasy.

It seems that when one is alone in the courtyard, those dark thoughts are about to be revealed to others.

His breathing seemed to become a little heavier, then slowly calmed down, and the bladeless sword slowly fell to his side.

"Enter."

The courtyard door opens.

Zhu Wuyao looked up and saw the figure.

The newcomer was a woman. She walked with a calm and unhurried pace, exuding an aura of righteousness and dignity. In particular, her eyes were clear and open.

Once upon a time, Zhu Wuyao imagined himself as a sword cultivator in this way.

"What brings you to my humble abode so late at night, distinguished guest?"

"Drawn by the sword energy, I'd like to have a contest."

Where is your sword?

"Sword? I don't practice with swords, I practice with halberds."

After speaking, a bronze halberd appeared in her hand. The halberd shone with a blue light. The woman held it in her palm and supported it on the ground. The halberd lost its brilliance and looked like an ordinary weapon. No longer did it have any divine weapon light.

Zhu Wuyao suddenly felt like laughing; it seemed she had been envious for nothing.

"You're not practicing swordsmanship?"

"What's so great about practicing swordsmanship? You might like it, but I don't."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wuyao raised an eyebrow. The visitor was quite arrogant. She had just learned the sword technique today, and now a guest was visiting her so late at night. It seemed rather strange.

In other words, if someone practices swordsmanship behind closed doors, the person drawn to them by the sword energy must have an extremely broad spiritual sense, capable of observing the Star-Picking Tower.

Zhu Wuyao dances with his sword alone late at night; it would be a wonderful thing if someone came to challenge him.

pity.

She shook her head and said, "I won't compete with you."

The woman raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression unwavering, and asked, "Why?"

"If you are much stronger than me, I can't beat you, and it will only make me feel frustrated."

"If you are equal to me in strength, or only slightly stronger, my sword will take your life. If you can't repay it then, go and complain to me, and I will be expelled from the Star-Picking Tower."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the woman in front of him scoff, seemingly quite disdainful.

The next instant, a cold glint appeared before him.

The halberd was pointed directly at her heart.

"With your current skills, you can't hurt me. Pick up your sword."

Zhu Wuyao glanced down at the dagger that was just an inch away from his heart, then looked at the woman whose cultivation level he couldn't discern, and knew that this battle was unavoidable.

"it is good."

He abruptly retracted his halberd, holding it upright behind his back, waiting for Zhu Wuyao to make the first move.

Does this mean... I'll give you three moves?

Zhu Wuyao took a deep breath. She couldn't beat Shen Anzhi who blocked her way during the day, and at night, she was even looked down upon by a woman who came to challenge her. So, in the Zhaixing Tower, anyone could look down on her?

This life lacks clarity.

The sword intent struck first, carrying the pent-up resentment of the swordsman who had been suppressing it all night, and the halberd blocked it, advancing along the sword's blade towards Zhu Wuyao.

She bent down to dodge, her wrist flicked, and the sword suddenly turned and attacked. Taking advantage of this opportunity, she used her spiritual power to unleash the chilling aura of the bladeless sword. The halberd also deflected, its forehand hooking the sword and producing a crisp metallic clang.

With a slight turn of the halberd handle, the sword's edge was held in place by the end, returning the chilling aura.

Zhu Wuyao discovered that the halberd was indeed a formidable weapon, capable of blocking, thrusting, and hooking. No wonder there's an old saying: "An inch longer, an inch stronger."

He turned around, drew his bladeless sword, and as the blade rubbed against the ground, the buzzing sound intensified.

The moment they were completely free, a sudden frost rose, and a layer of white condensed at the point of impact.

Gu Yiguan turned around to block the broken sword that was coming at him. His halberd flew out of his hand, circled around, and then returned, circling in a beautiful arc, just enough to deflect a sword that Zhu Wuyao had pierced through the gap.

Holding the halberd upright in front of him to block the black sword, Gu Yiguan said:

"Why didn't you use that sword strike you just did in the courtyard?"

He does not respond to invitations, only uses sword techniques, and does not generate sword intent.

Fortunately, the person he was fighting did not use any spiritual power or magic; it was just a contest of swordsmanship and halberd techniques.

She remained silent, blocking the halberd's attack and pressing its tip to the ground. With her other hand, she pressed down on the blade, tracing the halberd's shaft and thrusting forward from the tail.

Wherever it passed, frost and cold spread.

The halberd was suddenly pulled up by Gu Yiguan, swirling in the air several times. She saw Zhu Wuyao's left palm, which was pressed against the blade, being cut by her own blade.

Gu Yiguan gripped the halberd, its tip thrusting towards Zhu Wuyao, but she blocked it with her sword.

"Why didn't you use that sword move?"

"Because it can't hurt you... but it can hurt me."