Chapter 477: An Epiphany During Battle is Truly Too Cool! (Second Update)

"Wait! What is he trying to do?"

Seeing that the plot was developing differently than she had imagined, Empress Zhao Chaofeng grew anxious and spoke without thinking, "Is the Sword Casting Pavilion intentionally showing favoritism? This..."

After Ren Yidao's previous mockery, the momentum Gongyang Ke had built up while taking the stage was broken, but this did not affect everyone's judgment of his strength.

A powerful Void Realm cultivator who also practiced physical strength—such a powerhouse is very difficult to defeat unless there is a massive gap in strength.

Even if one's cultivation realm is inferior to the opponent's, one can rely on their physical body to remain invincible, and in the end, perhaps even exhaust the opponent to death.

"Shut up."

Having endured for a long time, Zhao Yundan finally could not hold back; she swept a cold glance over and whispered a reprimand, "Even if the Sword Casting Pavilion wanted to cheat, it wouldn't be to let a brat from the Divine Path Sect win."

What on earth is Zhao Chaofeng thinking?

If the Sword Casting Pavilion wanted to win, there would be plenty of ways to do it; why would they need to go to such trouble?

The Empress's expression changed after being scolded by Zhao Yundan, and she felt she was losing face.

But although she was arrogant, she was not an idiot without a brain; she did not retort, but instead took a deep breath and changed her approach.

"But... but is it within the rules? Does the Immortal Sect Grand Competition allow such behavior?"

"Naturally, it is allowed."

Zhao Yundan also considered her status as Empress and explained in a slightly softer tone, "Unless there is a vast gap in strength between two Heaven Realm combatants, it is difficult to determine a winner, so aside from death matches, conditions are usually agreed upon in advance."

She had finally figured it out: this distant relative of hers truly did not understand cultivation and had been stuffed to her current realm entirely by the heavenly treasures given to her by the Zhao family.

This was just a puppet pushed forward by the Zhao family, and a self-important, oblivious puppet at that.

"Then does the Valley Master know what kind of request Gongyang Ke will make?"

"I cannot guess."

Zhao Yundan shook her head, her gaze falling on the two people in the arena, "But it certainly won't be about raw strength, and Ren Yidao will have a certain chance of winning."

Ren Yidao was somewhat surprised by Gongyang Ke's request, but it was within his expectations, so he was not too shocked.

"Tell me, what are your thoughts?"

Only a fool wouldn't take advantage of a bargain.

In any case, let's first hear what medicine he is selling in this Gourd.

Gongyang Ke anticipated that Ren Yidao would not refuse, so he immediately began to state the conditions he had prepared long ago:

"Fellow Daoist Ren previously caused the Heavenly Gate Sword Shadow to fall into slumber during the first round; perhaps this matter seems like nothing to you, but to my Sword Casting Pavilion, it is a matter of utmost importance."

"Therefore, for the duel between you and me, this old man would like to ask you to try it once more."

This Sword Casting Pavilion Elder laid his cards on the table, bluntly stating the purpose of their actions:

"We want to figure out exactly how you communicate directly with a Sword Spirit."

Not everyone is a Sword Spirit Body; for a normal person to be able to communicate directly with a Sword Spirit like Li Qiushui, the required conditions are simply too difficult.

Only by truly reaching the realm of unity between person and sword, like Mo Yushuang, can one successfully communicate with a Sword Spirit, and such cultivators are far too rare—they are sought but never found.

But Ren Yidao is clearly not a swordsman; he does not possess a sword-like temperament, nor is he a master of the sword.

Yet, such a person is able to communicate directly with a Sword Spirit... how could this not shock the Sword Casting Pavilion?

If the principle behind this could be understood, it would be of astonishing help to the Sword Casting Pavilion and even all the sword cultivators in the world.

If Ren Yidao were just a minor cultivator from a small sect, he would have already been invited away to "voluntarily" hand over his secrets.

But Ren Yidao is not.

A Void-Refining cultivator with no weak strength, hailing from the mysterious and unfathomable Divine Path Sect, and the current generation's world-traveler of the Divine Path Sect.

With these layers of identity stacked together, the Sword Casting Pavilion could not act rashly at all; they even had to protect him to ensure he wasn't attacked while at the Sword Casting Pavilion, for fear of damaging the relationship between the two sects.

When dealing with such a person, many underhanded methods cannot be used; if the hard approach doesn't work, one can only use the soft one.

Saving the nation through a roundabout path.

This was the goal of Gongyang Ke, and indeed the entire Sword Casting Pavilion.

Defeating Ren Yidao is not important; even losing doesn't matter.

But if they could figure out the principle behind it, that would be the most important thing of all!

"Then how do you intend for me to do it? You wouldn't have brought that Sword Shadow here, would you?"

"Hahaha, naturally not, but we have our own methods."

As Gongyang Ke spoke, he took off the bundle he was carrying on his back and held it respectfully with both hands.

The bundle was long and thin, wrapped entirely in what looked like ordinary coarse burlap, and one could vaguely see that a Long Sword was hidden inside.

Gongyang Ke did not unwrap the sword, but instead looked down at the Long Sword in the bundle with reverence, recounting its origin.

"In the Sword Casting Pavilion, there is a Spirit Sword passed down from our three founders; although it is not a Supreme Treasure, it possesses the capabilities of a Supreme Treasure, and it is a Supreme Treasure in the hearts of our sect's disciples."

"If you can use your previous method to communicate with it and gain its recognition, then this old man will immediately concede and hand the position of arena champion over to you."

"This old man will not lie to you; do not underestimate this sword. Aside from the three founders, it has never truly recognized anyone." Gongyang Ke frankly admitted that this condition was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

"And if you fail to gain its recognition, that is fine too; I do not need you to concede. At that time, you and I will fight a real battle with blades and spears, and if you win, this position of arena champion will still belong to you."

Because of his confidence in his own strength, Gongyang Ke was not worried about Ren Yidao playing tricks, and even generously gave him two chances.

"…Hmm, fine."

For Ren Yidao, the conditions offered by the Sword Casting Pavilion could not be considered ungenerous; there was simply no reason to refuse a deal where he was guaranteed to profit without loss.

Success would be a huge gain, and losing would cost him absolutely nothing.

Furthermore, even without this additional condition, it would be hard for Ren Yidao to refuse such an interesting matter.

Communicating with a Spirit Sword on an arena stage sounds exactly like the kind of thing a gifted novel protagonist would do.

It is the kind of thing that can be listed on a bucket list of one hundred things to do in life!

It is a man's romance.

"Alright then, shall I just go ahead like this?"

"Good!" Ren Yidao's crisp and decisive attitude made Gongyang Ke appreciate him even more, finding this junior... *cough*, this peer, increasingly pleasing to the eye.

Gongyang Ke walked up to Ren Yidao and respectfully handed the Spirit Sword he was holding in both hands over to him.

Ren Yidao also reached out with both hands to receive it, and the moment he caught it, he nearly fell over entirely!

"Hmm!?"

The instant the bundle landed in his hands, Ren Yidao's expression changed, and he nearly blurted out a profanity.

Heavy.

Incomparably heavy!

Ren Yidao felt as if he had directly lifted a small mountain.

And this was not a hyperbolic figure of speech, but a description of fact!

Ren Yidao finally realized why Gongyang Ke had made such a huge commotion when stepping onto the stage.

It wasn't that Elder Gongyang had cultivated his physical body to the Heaven Realm, but that this guy was truly carrying a small mountain on his back!

Seeing that Ren Yidao had only raised an eyebrow and returned to calm after catching the bundle, Gongyang Ke's eyes were filled with surprise.

He had just been testing him, and had even prepared to step in and help, but now it seemed that was no longer necessary.

This kid was actually a freak of nature who cultivated both body and technique, and his physical body was also at the Void Star stage!

And just as Gongyang Ke was shocked, Ren Yidao had turned his attention to something else.

"Hmm?"

The moment he unwrapped the burlap and saw the sword hilt, a strange feeling suddenly arose in his Heart Star.

This thing...

Why does it feel somewhat familiar?

It seems like I've seen it somewhere before.

At the same moment.

"The match begins!!!"

In the Elimination Tournament arena, Li Qiushui was just preparing to draw her sword to deal with the two small fry opposite her when she suddenly felt the Sanlu Sword in her hand tremble strangely.

"Hmm?"

【It seems... someone is... touching my true form...】 The message transmitted by the Sanlu Sword was intermittent, as if it had suffered some damage.

Feeling the message coming from the Sanlu Sword, Li Qiushui's expression changed.

What is going on?

Could the Sword Casting Pavilion be in danger, for even the Sanlu Sword to be touched by someone!

"I'll help you!"

Li Qiushui could not care about anything else; she just closed her eyes, sat cross-legged while holding the sword, and poured her own consciousness into the Sanlu Sword.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Qiushui, as if having a sudden epiphany, entered a state of meditation without any warning.

This made countless people watching Li Qiushui unable to help but sigh.

"As expected of a sword Dao prodigy!"

"The talent of a Sword Spirit Body is truly enviable."

But one person did not think so.

At this moment, Shi Xue, who had been standing behind Li Qiushui pretending to be an expert, widened her eyes beneath her bamboo hat.

???

Hey!

Qiushui, open your eyes!

Don't fall asleep!

This is still a match!!!