Immortals of the Mortal World Gather at the Inn!

"Young man, you are exceptionally talented! In just ten years, you have mastered the art of swordsmanship. Truly, you are a force to be reckoned with!"

"Yes, if my master hadn't already passed away, I would definitely have made him take you as his disciple."

Just as Li Daoxuan was about to continue his conversation with the sword spirits, Heavenly Punishment appeared.

Following the appearance of the Heavenly Punishment, the first ancestor, Gu Zimo, also appeared.

Upon seeing the two appearing sword spirits, the eighteen sword spirits immediately bowed in respect.

"We pay our respects to Your Excellency!"

"We pay our respects to Your Excellency!"

"We wait------"

Li Daoxuan bowed to the two of them.

"Hmm, not bad talent."

In the air, Gu Zimo nodded in praise.

"The patriarch's praise is truly wonderful!"

Li Daoxuan said modestly.

Gu Ziming glanced at Li Daoxuan and realized that he was in his best condition right now.

Gu Ziming brought his right hand together to form a sword finger and gently slashed it in the void in front of him. A crack slowly opened in the void and then, under Li Daoxuan's shocked gaze, formed a small world.

Ignoring Li Daoxuan's shocked gaze, Gu Ziming asked the Heavenly Punishment beside him, "Shall we fight side by side one last time?"

Upon hearing this, Tianfa's thoughts seemed to return to the time when he and Gu Zimo fought side by side. He thought of Gu Zimo attaining the status of a saint and becoming invincible. Then he thought of how he had spent ten thousand years doing nothing. Then he came to his birthplace. Finally, until now, he was too tired and wanted to rest.

However, before resting, it would be enough to have one last battle with him, so that we would have no regrets!

Heavenly Punishment did not answer; instead, its form transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the very heart of this sword mountain.

Gu Ziming understood the meaning of the divine punishment, smiled, and then raised his right hand. A blood-red longsword flew into his hand from the center of the sword mountain.

"Swish, swish, swish~"

Looking at his former companion in his hand, Gu Ziming realized that he had become somewhat rusty at even holding the sword without realizing it.

When Li Daoxuan saw Gu Zimo personally stepping into the arena, he was immediately dumbfounded and hurriedly said, "Master, if you step into the arena, how am I supposed to win!"

Gu Ziming was clearly in a good mood, and replied, "I will suppress my strength to the Nascent Soul stage; that's feasible!"

When Li Daoxuan heard that Gu Zimo wanted to suppress his strength, he was about to agree, but when he heard that it was to be suppressed to the Nascent Soul stage, he frowned and said, "Grandmaster, there is no need for that. I am now a Nascent Soul cultivator. Grandmaster, you only need to suppress your strength to the Nascent Soul stage. Even if I lose, it is because I am not skilled enough."

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Gu, I never thought that after living for so many years, you'd become more and more like those self-important old masters!"

Just as Gu Ziming was about to speak, a crack opened in the void, and Mr. Zhang walked out from it.

Gu Ziming gave a wry smile, clearly agreeing with Mr. Zhang's words. Then, Gu Ziming said to Li Daoxuan, "Once again, I apologize to you for what happened before."

Seeing this, Li Daoxuan, though a little petty, dared not let his ancestor apologize to him, and hurriedly replied, "Ancestral Master, there's no need for that."

Gu Ziming didn't say anything, and walked towards the small world with the Heavenly Punishment Sword in his hand.

Li Daoxuan naturally also went to the small world. Interestingly, the most powerful sword spirit among the eighteen swords volunteered to become the sword in Li Daoxuan's hand, indicating that he wanted to challenge himself.

The other sword spirits gritted their teeth upon seeing this. As expected of the swift sword "Qingfeng," it was indeed incredibly fast!

Mr. Zhang concealed his presence from beginning to end, making him completely invisible to Li Daoxuan, whose strength was so weak.

Within the small world~

Gu Ziming stood in the void, his sword strapped to his back with one hand.

As soon as Li Daoxuan entered, he heard Gu Ziming say to him, "Let's change things up. Just let me have my fill of beating you, and you'll pass!"

Hearing these undeniable words, Li Daoxuan did not refuse. After all, it was in his best interest, so why should he refuse?

"Let's start the war!"

As soon as Gu Ziming finished speaking, he drew his sword and charged forward, eager to experience the long-lost feeling of close combat!

This pleased Li Daoxuan greatly, because if Gu Zimo didn't take the initiative to get close, he wouldn't be able to get close to him at all!

The imagination is beautiful, but reality is cruel!

Gu Ziming's first move was a single sword strike, and even the Qingfeng Sword, a top-grade immortal artifact, trembled slightly!

Li Daoxuan felt as if his tiger's mouth was about to split open from the shock; he had almost been unable to withstand just an ordinary sword strike.

Li Daoxuan hurriedly retreated a hundred meters to distance himself from Gu Ziming, but Gu Ziming, having experienced that long-lost pleasure, couldn't stop and instantly appeared in front of Li Daoxuan, then delivered a simple and unadorned sword strike.

"Boom~"

Li Daoxuan raised his sword to defend himself, but he was still knocked into the ground, leaving a crater with a diameter of one kilometer.

"Pfft~"

"So strong!"

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Li Daoxuan continued to retreat.

"A sword is for offense; offense is the best defense!"

Seeing Li Daoxuan continue to flee, Gu Ziming said something and continued to chase after him.

"Your opponent is a monster; if I attack, I'm afraid I'll be asking for death!"

Li Daoxuan spoke very softly, but Gu Ziming still heard him.

"The sword is the king of weapons; even knowing you are no match, you must fight!"

Gu Ziming changed his attack and thrust his sword toward Li Daoxuan's location.

In an instant, an extremely swift sword aura suddenly shot out.

"Oh no! There's no way to dodge it!"

Li Daoxuan cursed inwardly, knowing he couldn't dodge it, and unleashed his full sword energy, thrusting forward with his sword.

The two sword energies clashed, but in less than a breath, Li Daoxuan's sword energy dissipated.

"That's right, that's the kind of aura that sword cultivators need."

Seeing Li Daoxuan raise his sword to block the attack head-on, Gu Zimo praised him, saying that although he knew Li Daoxuan couldn't dodge that attack, it was still quite good!

Li Daoxuan, looking at the sword energy so close to his eyes, felt the sensation of death for the first time in his life!

"Disperse!"

Gu Ziming waved his hand, and the sword energy dissipated!

"Again!"

Li Daoxuan's fighting spirit was ignited. He picked up the Qingfeng Sword and charged towards Gu Zimo. The Qingfeng Sword in his hand seemed to sense Li Daoxuan's fighting spirit as well, and the blade began to tremble slightly, as if it wanted to fight right now!

"Haha, I haven't felt like this in a long time."

"Come, let's fight!"

Gu Ziming also charged forward, wielding the Heavenly Punishment Sword.

The two began to compete in sword intent and sword momentum, until finally, they competed in pure swordsmanship.

Gu Ziming's swordsmanship needs little introduction; it can be said to have reached its peak.

Li Daoxuan's swordsmanship has reached a certain level after being taught by eighteen sword spirits who have lived for an unknown amount of time over the past ten years. However, compared to Gu Zimo, he is definitely no match!

"Your swordsmanship is too eclectic; you haven't grasped your own path in swordsmanship. Following the paths of those who came before you will surely lead you nowhere!"

"Find the essence, and combine it into one sword."

"Having sword intent does not mean that your swordsmanship is strong."

"A swordsman must possess an invincible heart!"

While suppressing Li Daoxuan, Gu Ziming also instructed Li Daoxuan in swordsmanship!

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Covered in blood, Li Daoxuan parried Gu Zimo's sword strikes while pondering the swordsmanship Gu Zimo had spoken of.

Finally, at one moment, Li Daoxuan seemed to have an epiphany. He knocked Gu Zimo back with a single blow, then gripped his sword with both hands and raised it above his head in front of him.

Seeing this, Gu Ziming showed a look of being able to learn, and stood still, quietly waiting for Li Daoxuan to draw his sword!

"Swordplay First Form: Shattering Star!"

Li Daoxuan silently recited a phrase, then slashed with his sword. As the sword fell, the void instantly darkened, and countless stars appeared. A majestic figure, wielding a sword in both hands, slashed downwards. The earth-shattering sword light fiercely struck the starry sky, destroying all those countless stars!

"A decent sword strike!"

Gu Ziming praised!

"boom!"

The sword struck Gu Ziming, and an explosion erupted around him, sending up dust and shattering the void.

"Buzz~" Time and space stood still, and Mr. Zhang walked out of the void!

"How is it!"

Gu Ziming was not surprised to see Mr. Zhang and replied, "To comprehend such a sword technique at the Nascent Soul stage is something I couldn't have done back then!"

Mr. Zhang was somewhat surprised. Gu Ziming's words clearly showed that he agreed with Li Daoxuan!

"And what about you!"

Mr. Zhang then turned his attention to the Heavenly Punishment Sword.

The spirit of the Heavenly Punishment Sword appeared, cupped its hands in a gesture of respect to Mr. Zhang, and said, "I have no regrets in this life!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Tianfa's body gradually became ethereal. In the moment before he disappeared, Tianfa cupped his hands and bowed to Gu Zimo.

"Thank you!"

Then, it completely disappeared, vanished from this world, leaving no trace!

From that moment on, the Heavenly Punishment Sword ceased to exist in the world; only a nameless, spiritless mortal sword remained!