Kuang Diao exploded into the air, his body drenched in blood. Although his strength was not weak, after being relentlessly pursued by Lu Xing for three days, he had already depleted too much True Qi.
Other people were equally in bad condition; Zhuang Ziruo's treasure sword let out a burst of white Sword Qi that shot into the ground, trembling delicately like the wings of a cicada and developing several fine cracks on the blade.
Zhuang Ziruo curled her flawless palms into a fist, a trace of heartache showing on her pretty face.
Wu Yihan, Chen Yanghao, Li Yang, and Zhang Yesheng, among others, were also staggered by the Sword Qi, a thread of striking crimson blood escaping from the corners of their mouths.
Lu Xing stepped back a few paces, his face turning somewhat pale as a grave expression emerged in his eyes.
Separated by a kilometer, an ordinary sword strike had put the top warriors of the Huaxia Martial Arts World's Qingyun List in such a disheveled state.
But when the Sword Qi finally reached Lin Mo, his face remained unchanged. With a gentle flick of his thumb against his middle finger, he shattered the last bit of Sword Qi into dust.
The shattered Sword Qi transformed into a gentle breeze, stirring the hair of Yingzi and Xiao Zhu. Even so, both felt a chilling coldness within the wind.
"It must be him, Liu Zhengming," Xiao Zhu said with a face full of dread.
A legendary figure from the Martial Arts World of Han Country—Sword Master Liu Zhengming.
Yet, what shocked everyone more was Lin Mo's strength; with a flick of his finger, he broke the Sword Qi, while they had been left in such a sorry state despite using their signature skills. The difference in their levels became immediately apparent.
"All the new-generation geniuses of the Huaxia Martial Arts World are here, aren't they? What a pity that none of you will leave here alive today."
A voice, indifferent yet tinged with a hint of age, rose in the air.
Accompanying the voice, a staggering figure gradually appeared in everyone's view, approaching step by step.
Lu Xing, Li Yang, Wu Yihan, Zhuang Ziruo, Chen Yanghao, and Zhang Yesheng all turned their heads, their eyes widening as they watched the other person, whose hair was black as a waterfall and whose face showed neither joy nor sorrow—a middle-aged swordsman.
"Is this Sword Master Liu Zhengming? Why would it be a middle-aged man?" Wu Yihan frowned deeply.
Li Yang said in a grave voice, "I've heard from the elders of my family that if one reaches a new realm in Martial Arts, one can rejuvenate, preserving their appearance and vitality, and their muscles and cells can be reinvigorated."
"Could it be the legendary realm..." Chen Yanghao's eyes widened in shock.
"The one who injured me earlier, do you know who my master is..." Kuang Diao, lying on the ground, raised his head, his eyes filled with resentful venom as he stared at the middle-aged man.
But before he could finish his sentence, Liu Zhengming simply swept him with a glance. The light in Kuang Diao's eyes instantly dimmed, his pupils turned gray, and he was dead from the stare alone.
Although Kuang Diao had been injured in the fight with Lu Xing, he was still a presence ranked fourth on the Qingyun List; to be stared to death was unthinkable.
The others' faces turned pale, sensing the horror radiating from the man.
This was true Martial Arts mastery, a peerless genius whose cultivated Martial Arts Will could become tangible and kill, similar to the Divine Sense cultivated by Lin Mo.
Indeed, the Second Generation Sword Saint from Han Country, a spiritual leader within the Martial Arts World.
The opponent took deliberate steps forward, an indifferent expression on his face, but the distance between the placements of his feet was exactly the same with each step. Whenever his foot landed, there was no sound, yet it struck the hearts of onlookers like a peal of thunder.
Sword Master Liu Zhengming's gaze swept across everyone and settled directly onto Lin Mo, his eyes flashing like thunder striking across the void.
Lin Mo maintained an indifferent expression as well, hands clasped behind his back. The gazes of the two collided in the void, sparking fierce thunder and lightning.
A flash of surprise swept across Liu Zhengming's face as he stared fixedly at Lin Mo.
He had started practicing martial arts at the age of seven. Although he wasn't a genius, losing challenges against famous masters from various sects in his youth, it was his relentless passion for martial arts and his extraordinarily resilient Martial Arts Will that enabled him to defeat all the geniuses and become Han Country's Second Generation Sword Saint.
In terms of Martial Arts Will, Liu Zhengming was absolutely second to none, not even to the person he had once been defeated by.
However, he hadn't expected Lin Mo's will to be on par with his, seemingly even more rigid. Despite being just a teenager, Lin Mo seemed like an old monster who had cultivated for hundreds of years, possessing a tenacious will as unyielding as rock.
"If he grows up, he might become a disaster for the entire Han Country Martial Arts World."
Liu Zhengming shook his head, his gaze suddenly sharpening. Now, he had reached the highest realm he could break through. As for whether there was a path ahead, he did not know. For decades he had retreated to the president's palace to meditate and seek the Way, yet he could not find the road ahead.
Moreover, now over two hundred years old, if he couldn't break through, his lifespan would also be nearing its end. The only thing he could do before death was to eliminate some obstacles for the Han Country Martial Arts World.
"Are you Lin Tanyu?" Liu Zhengming stopped in his tracks.
With a furrowed brow, Lin Mo responded indifferently, "You are the Second Generation Sword Saint, Liu Zhengming."
"You and I have no personal enmity, but today we must determine a victor. To win is to live; to lose is to die. I, Liu Zhengming, have not personally taken a life in sixty years. It may be seen as bullying the young, but if I do not kill you, and give you a dozen or so more years, you will become a great enemy to my Han Country's Martial Arts World."
Liu Zhengming said softly, breathing out a sigh.
Zhuang Ziruo, Zhang Yesheng, Chen Yanghao, Wu Yihan, Li Yang, Lu Xing, and others clenched their fists as they heard in his words the intention to slay them all right there.
The relationship between Huaxia and Han Country had always been tense, and so it was with the Martial Arts Worlds as well. Their initial plan was to come to Han Country to challenge Lin Tanyu, but they hadn't anticipated Liu Zhengming coming out of seclusion to kill Lin Tanyu. Instantly, they found themselves standing by Lin Tanyu's side.
"Bullying the young, how shameful," Lu Xing murmured under her breath in silent rebuke.
Indeed, from everyone's perspective, Liu Zhengming was an old monster who had lived over a hundred years, while Lin Mo was a youth who had burst onto the scene. Given ten years, Lin Mo might stand a chance to defeat Liu Zhengming and become a legend in Huaxia. Yet now, the opponent sought to nip such a genius in the bud - a deplorable act!
"Whatever you say today is futile. The last thing I can do for my Han Country is just this," Liu Zhengming shook his head, seemingly resolved.
Lin Mo stepped forward, unafraid as he faced Liu Zhengming.
Liu Zhengming was hailed as the leader of Han Country's Martial Arts World, the last Sword Saint. His challenge to Lin Tanyu had long spread throughout the entire Han Country Martial Arts World.
This day, he had walked all the way from Seoul to Nara County, followed by countless masters from Han Country's Martial Arts World, accompanying him on his journey. However, they all dared not follow too closely, fearing to offend the great Sword Master.
At this moment, these people stood on a hillside a kilometer away from the ancient courtyard, attentively watching the impending battle.
(The excitement continues tomorrow.)