Su Xi looked at Gu Santong, who seemed to be at the end of his days, and knew he was not as fragile as he appeared, her heart filled with caution.
Though Gu Santong's every movement suggested he was an old man, Su Xi could clearly feel the oppressive aura of a strong practitioner in his every action.
Even though his movements were peculiar, Su Xi could sense that all his actions were performed in the most economical way.
Having comprehended so much sword energy, Su Xi was no longer the novice she once was. While her cultivation had not visibly improved, her perspective had certainly broadened.
She knew that top swordsmen made no overly flashy moves when they fought. What they pursued was often to resolve all issues in the simplest way.
This was the principle of using a small force to overcome a great one.
It was their ultimate pursuit of the sword dao to defeat enemies with minimal effort.
Su Xi now understood this principle, and despite her outstanding talent, actually applying it remained difficult. After all, habits cultivated over many years were hard to change.
Especially for small details, she would not consider saving effort, but would simply do things in the most convenient way.
Yet, Gu Santong now executed all of this with the fluidity of flowing water, to the point where it was second nature, fully demonstrating the terrifying extent of his true strength.
Without years of comprehending the sword dao, it was impossible to reach this level.
Gu Santong walked up to Su Xi, bared his teeth, and smiled at her, saying, "Don't worry, old man isn't one to bully the weak, especially since you're a woman."
"As long as you can withstand three of my moves, I'll consider you to have passed."
After speaking, Gu Santong looked at Su Xi with an expression that suggested she was getting a good deal, "What do you think I'm saying?"
Hearing Gu Santong's words, Su Xi couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
In this situation, did she have a choice?
If she refused, would he not make a move? Since that was impossible, why waste her time and the readers' time?
Su Xi's expression flickered for a while, then she looked at Gu Santong before her and suddenly asked, "Senior, is it true that if I can withstand your three moves, I'll pass?"
"Of course it's true, I, this old man, keep my word," Gu Santong said, patting his chest and speaking with puffed-up indignation.
Gu Santong found Su Xi's questioning incomprehensible.
He was, after all, a renowned figure. Was he really being doubted like this?
If people outside knew that his words were being questioned by a junior, they would surely laugh until their teeth fell out.
Seeing that Gu Santong had agreed, Su Xi suddenly stepped forward and touched Gu Santong's hand twice.
Gu Santong had said he would only use three moves on her, but he hadn't specified whether she had to initiate them or he had to. As long as she could get Gu Santong to make three moves now, he wouldn't be able to make any more moves later.
"What are you doing?" Gu Santong was about to question if Su Xi had gone crazy when he suddenly realized.
Thus, just as Su Xi was about to touch him, he hurriedly retreated backward, avoiding the last touch.
Watching Gu Santong retreat, Su Xi sighed helplessly.
Just one move short, and Gu Santong wouldn't be able to make any more moves.
After dodging Su Xi, Gu Santong looked at her with fury.
How could this person do this?
Was there no martial ethics?
Gu Santong was extremely angered by Su Xi's actions but felt helpless.
He, who had been wise all his life, was actually tricked by a mere girl like Su Xi.
Moreover, if he hadn't reacted quickly enough, his lifelong reputation would have been completely ruined by Su Xi.
"You cheated!" Gu Santong looked at Su Xi, his heart filled with complex emotions, but after a long while, he could only utter this one sentence.
Facing Gu Santong's accusation, Su Xi shook her head indifferently, "Senior, you are mistaken."
"When you fight others, do you remind them to prepare beforehand?"
"The winner is king; this is a world that judges results."
Seeing the sharp-tongued Su Xi, Gu Santong knew that continuing to argue with her would yield no results and might even infuriate him to death.
In order to allow the plot to proceed normally, he steered the conversation back, saying, "Since I've said it myself, I will naturally stand by my word."
"Even if you have withstood two of my moves, now you only need to withstand one more, and I will consider you to have passed."
After speaking, Gu Santong deliberately suppressed his entire cultivation to the same Golden Core stage as Su Xi, as a gesture of fairness.
However, even though Gu Santong suppressed his cultivation, Su Xi did not let down her guard.
She knew that even with the same cultivation, Gu Santong's understanding and application of spiritual energy were far beyond her reach.
Even with the same cultivation, the power they unleashed would be incomparable. The gap between her and Gu Santong was not small.
Though Gu Santong had only one move left, it would certainly not be an ordinary move. It was likely the most powerful Golden Core stage move she would ever witness.
Gu Santong slowly raised the rusty sword in his hand and, without any superfluous movements, lightly and effortlessly thrust it towards Su Xi.
His movements appeared very slow, like an elderly person practicing Tai Chi sword in the park, devoid of killing intent.
But in Su Xi's eyes, Gu Santong's sword strike was as fast as lightning. No matter where she tried to dodge, everything she saw in her vision was sword light, with nowhere to escape.
Seeing all this, Su Xi immediately mustered her utmost concentration to deal with this seemingly effortless sword strike.
Although she knew in her heart that this sword strike was not simple, she had not expected it to be so powerful.
Having absorbed so much sword intent, she had already understood that the simpler the action, the more formidable it was.
This was the principle of "the great way is simple."
After all, killing someone only required the final moment of inserting the sword into the body. Any actions before that were merely superficial flourishes.
Gu Santong's sword strike had clearly embodied this principle with skill.
Su Xi held the Meteor God Sword and, channeling her sword control technique, threw the Meteor God Sword directly.
In mid-air, the Meteor God Sword transformed into countless flying swords, forming a giant green lotus, creating the Green Lotus Sword Array.
The green lotus slowly bloomed overhead, emitting a powerful pressure.
This move was a new technique Su Xi had comprehended from so much sword intent. Combined with countless simulated practice sessions on her supercomputer, she was very confident, despite it being her first time using it.
Gu Santong looked at the slowly blooming green lotus with a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
With his discerning gaze, he could tell that although Su Xi's move was still somewhat raw, it contained immense power.
Such outstanding talent was something even he could not have achieved before.
While inwardly impressed by Su Xi's talent, Gu Santong was even more confident in his own move.
Su Xi had good talent, but unfortunately, her time to grow was too short. Without the tempering of years, the sword array could not be fully integrated and unleash its intended power.
And he was destined not to let Su Xi grow.
No one knew that his purpose in the Sword Cave was not to hone the sword dao talent of these people, but to annihilate all talented disciples, cutting off their path of growth.
It was precisely for this reason that, over the years, no one had passed the seventh level. It wasn't that those people lacked talent, but that they had all been eliminated by him.
Su Xi's talent was among the top three he had ever seen, so he naturally had to complete his long-standing mission and absolutely could not let Su Xi live.
The sword in Gu Santong's hand did not stop. His grip was steady, and with unhurried movements, he thrust his sword towards Su Xi's chest.
The flying swords in the sky tried their best to stop him, but whenever they got close, they were instantly repelled, unable to even approach. Clearly, they could not prevent this situation from unfolding.
The distance between Su Xi and Gu Santong narrowed bit by bit, to a mere five steps.
Su Xi knew that the Green Lotus Sword Array she had just comprehended could not stop Gu Santong, but she had not expected it to collapse so easily.
However, even though her attack was quickly dismantled, Su Xi had a new realization.
In her mind, inspiration exploded.
The Green Lotus Sword Array had its form, but it lacked true spirit. Now, Gu Santong's approach of "great way is simple" could perfectly become the core of the Green Lotus Sword Array, helping her perfect her sword array and unleash its power.
A sword array with both form and spirit was the ultimate offensive method, capable of blocking all opposition.
Unfortunately, though Su Xi had a feeling in her heart, Gu Santong clearly had no intention of giving her the opportunity to ponder.
Watching the approaching sword, Su Xi could only take out her fire-poking stick again to block.
Instantly, the surrounding temperature began to plummet, and frost started to form around Gu Santong. This chilling aura continued to spread towards him.
Gu Santong's eyes lit up when he saw the fire-poking stick in Su Xi's hand, and his movements accelerated once more.
Su Xi not only had great talent but also incredible luck, possessing such a precious item. It was truly beyond his expectations.
The ice blocks offered no obstruction before Gu Santong, and he broke through them directly.
However, even though the ice blocks were broken, they bought Su Xi a moment to catch her breath.
During this time, Su Xi had already leaped into the air, instantly employing her Soul Ferrying technique.
After such a long period of cultivation, Su Xi's Celestial Talisman technique was already on the verge of breaking through to the sixth level. Now, with her comprehension of sword energy, she had an even different idea.
Why use other methods to draw talismans when one could use a sword?
She was always a person of action, and with a sudden movement, she began to engulf Gu Santong.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Su Xi's technique, Gu Santong was visibly moved.
Why did Su Xi know such a technique?
Could this all truly be the will of heaven?