After breakfast.
The carriage set off under the morning light.
In the distance.
A towering structure resembling a colossal sword—the Sword Tower—refracted dazzling rays under the sun, casting a radiant glow upon the misty clouds.
It stood solitary, as if the sole existence between heaven and earth.
Ying Bing gazed absentmindedly at the scenery beyond the carriage curtain.
"This Sword Tower is seamless, truly a masterpiece of nature's craftsmanship."
Suddenly, Li Mo's voice reached her ears.
She turned, and her eyes reflected his figure once more, causing a faint ripple in her gaze.
"This Sword Tower is not a creation of nature.""Oh?"
"It has stood on the land of Yunzhou for ages. Legend has it that long ago, a second-grade calamity beast, the Qiongqi, wreaked havoc upon the world. As it rampaged through Yunzhou, a massive sword formed from mountain rocks descended from the heavens, crushing it beneath its weight."
"That sword is now the Sword Tower we see today."
Ying Bing spoke softly.
"Was this the work of human hands?"
Li Mo gazed at the Sword Tower, as if he could glimpse the earth-shaking power of that single strike.
"How incredible."
Jiang Chulong blinked, her lips parting slightly.
"You'll surely achieve the same one day. Perhaps after witnessing the Hengyun Sword Mark, you'll even comprehend that very strike."
Li Mo nodded with conviction.
He harbored no doubts about the future of the Phoenix Heavenly Empress and the Natural Sword Body, as judged by his Heavenly Eye of Destiny!
...Can I really do it?
Jiang Chulong pressed her lips together, but seeing the determination in Li Mo's eyes, she clenched her fists and steeled herself.
"The Hengyun Sword Path..."
Ying Bing's eyes flickered.
In her past life, she had seen Jiang Chulong wield it—a technique that dominated the Seventh Realm.
By her original plan, she should have already attained a heart as clear as a sword's edge.
Yet now...
The carriage fell into silence.
"Uh..."
To Li Mo's eyes, the usually icy-faced Ying Bing now bore two distinct expressions.
Perhaps it was the play of sunlight.
Half her face was bathed in radiance, resplendent and divine, while the other half lingered in shadow, complex and melancholic.
Though he didn't know the reason, $2er state of mind was clearly troubled.
Had she even lost confidence in comprehending the Hengyun Sword Mark?
What to do...
The young genius Li Mo racked his brain.
......
This morning marked the final day of the Sword Trials.
Many had long exhausted their two chances to step onto the stage, yet the gathering of Yunzhou's heroes only grew larger, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
Take, for instance, the stage of a certain "Little Li the Sword Immortal," where that infamous sign still stood.
And below it...
Even before his arrival, a long line had already formed, resembling a ticket queue for a concert.
"Li the Sword Immortal is here!"
A sharp-eyed onlooker shouted.
Countless heads turned.
"..."
Under the weight of so many stares, the initial novelty had long faded for Li Mo, leaving only overwhelming pressure.
"Young Hero Li, when will you claim the title of Yunzhou's greatest swordsman?"
"Even the Holy Maiden of the Drizzle Pavilion fell to Li the Sword Immortal's blade!"
The crowd showered him with praise.
What they didn't know was...
For a fleeting moment, Li Mo even considered throwing a match.
Who on earth spread these rumors?
This was nothing but setting him up for a fall!
He clasped his hands toward the crowd:
"The Holy Maiden of the Drizzle Pavilion is not dead, nor did she ever cross swords with me."
"Any minor achievements I've made are purely by luck."
"If we're comparing, Ying Bing and Jiang Chulong are far more likely to shine brightly in the path of the sword."
Young Li spoke with utmost sincerity.
However, the people below the stage thought he was feigning modesty and showered him with another round of flattery.
Li Mo let out a light sigh.
He activated his Heavenly Fate Divine Eye, observing everyone present while engaging in the spar.
Suddenly, his gaze paused.
There was an unremarkable-looking woman on a nearby dueling platform.
Moments ago, she had narrowly won and become the new platform champion.
[Name: Yin Mianmian]
[Age: 23]
[Constitution: Heavenly Enchantress Fiend Body]
[Cultivation Realm: Eight-Aperture Insight]
[Fate: Purple]
[Evaluation: A saintess of the Misty Rain Pavilion, ranked sixth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. She has slain several Hidden Dragon prodigies, unknowingly groomed as a cultivation furnace by the Misty Rain Pavilion Master. Her hobby is watching men fight to the death.]
[Recent Activity: Ordered numerous Misty Rain assassins to blend into the crowd and hype Li Mo’s reputation as a Sword Immortal.]
Li Mo: "......"
Thanks a lot.
The entire Yunzhou City, even the entire Hengyun Sword City, was under strict lockdown.
And she still dared to show up?
After a moment of silence, Li Mo moved his lips but made no sound.
Meanwhile, on another platform, Bai Jinghong suddenly stiffened slightly.
......
The morning passed swiftly.
At noon, the sword trial finally neared its conclusion.
On the high platform, the elders gazed at the ten figures standing on the dueling stages, their eyes burning with intense emotion.
Among them might be the strongest martial prodigy they had ever witnessed in their lifetimes.
"The ten young heroes of this sword trial have now emerged victorious," Elder Zeng announced, tucking a painted album into his robe before descending to the center of the arena. His gaze swept across the crowd.
Then, in a perfunctory manner, he announced the names of the ten.
Li Mo, Ying Bing, and Jiang Chulong were, of course, no surprise.
The "Three Heroes of Hengyun"—Bai Jinghong and his two companions—also made the list, having defended their positions in their second round on the platforms.
Aside from Huang Donglai and Zhong Zhenyue, there were two unfamiliar faces.
Suddenly, Elder Zeng formed a sword seal, his expression serene as his robes billowed dramatically.
Winds surged, and clouds gathered.
Layers of mist converged, forming floating stairways that connected the summit of the Sword Tower to the mountain gate.
Each step was imbued with various sword intents from within the tower, every one resonating deep within the hearts of those who beheld them.
"This is..."
Li Mo leaned back slightly.
Why did this look familiar?
His worst fears had come true...
Then came Elder Zeng’s voice:
"Ascend these steps to reach the peak of the Sword Tower."
"The first method is to climb the steps formed by the sword tower’s mist that I have summoned. This is also how our sect tests a disciple’s state of mind."
"The more one earns the recognition of the sword intents within the tower, the greater their talent. Typically, only true disciples can reach the summit."
This was the test for inner disciples of Hengyun Sword City to determine if they were worthy of becoming true disciples.
Given that these ten had made it to the top of the Martial Arts Summit, they should, in theory, all be capable of ascending.
Li Mo: "......"
Wasn’t this just the Stairway to Heaven Sword Dao—PLUS edition?
"What happens if someone falls?" Huang Donglai asked.
"Nothing dangerous. The elders will be watching."
"But what if the elders get distracted?"
"How could the elders possibly get distracted?"
"I just saw you secretly..."
"Hmm?" Elder Zeng raised an eyebrow, and Huang Donglai promptly shut up.
Having come this far, no one would back down now.
Bai Jinghong and his two companions had climbed the Sword Tower two years prior and had experience, so they took the lead without hesitation.
"Li... Li... Brother Li..."
Jiang Chulong's face turned pale as she tightly clutched Li Mo's sleeve.
"What's wrong?"
Li Mo was puzzled—how could the little Princess Jiang fail to endure the trial?
Yet her small frame trembled faintly with fear.
"I... I'm... afraid of heights."
"......Then lean on me. If you can't see, you won't be afraid. But following me might slow us down a bit."
Li Mo couldn't help but chuckle.
He let the little princess bury her face against his back as the two stepped onto the cloud-covered stairs.
A test of sword intent?
Even if he wanted to move faster, it wouldn't be easy.
The moment his foot touched the stair, an immense pressure weighed down on him. Jiang Chulong, however, seemed to relax slightly.
"By the way, where's the ice block?"
"She's probably already far ahead..."
Li Mo scanned the distance but saw no trace of her.
Huh?
He turned around.
Ying Bing still stood alone in the same spot.
...