Chapter 24

"Wasn't there supposed to be an assessment? I, Zongshou, though not very talented, want to test whether this Lesser Luo Heaven Sword Array is truly as renowned as they say—"

As the words fell, the entire training ground suddenly fell silent. Not only were Yin Yang and Chuxue taken aback, but the group of young Daoists in front of the Dao Palace were also silent. Even Liang Miaozǐ was stunned.

After a while, a loud laugh echoed. A figure soared into the air and landed on the Bright Sword Platform. It was the elderly man surnamed Lin whom Huang Yi had called Master. He smiled at Zongshou: "You, little one, though not very big, have quite a big mouth. That's interesting. But since you know our sect's rules, you should also know that once you step onto this Bright Sword Platform, it's a matter of life and death, and we take no responsibility. Unless you can last for more than a hundred breaths without using any true qi or spirit techniques—"

Zongshou nodded slightly, holding the Pine Pattern Wind Sword in his hand, and without any hesitation, stepped towards the center of the stone platform: "No need for empty talk, I, Zongshou, am well aware of your Lingyun Sect's rules!"

How could he not know? In his previous life, after learning about the Bright Sword and Heavenly Talisman Platforms here, he had created a new character specifically for this purpose and came to challenge them every day.

Others avoided this stone platform as if it were a plague, but he treated the Lesser Luo Heaven Sword Array and the talisman set as a means to hone his sword skills and talisman drawing techniques.

He still remembered, it was exactly 2,372 times, 365 days and nights.

When the Lesser Zhou Tian Sword Array was finally broken, his sword skills had reached their peak.

In just three short years, Sword Emperor Tan Qiu emerged in the game "Divine Emperor."

The old man did not get angry upon hearing this, but nodded: "Good to know! Since the end of the ancient opportunity, a total of 13,700 people from the Eastern Lin Yun Continent have come to our sect to challenge the Lesser Luo Heaven Sword Array. From the highest rank of Xuanwu Master to the lowest rank of novice warrior, none have won. Those who have died on this platform number 3,000. In recent years, the number of people challenging this array has decreased. In the past 400 years, I, Lin Fei, have only seen three people. Although you have a dual-meridian body and cannot cultivate, your courage in stepping onto this platform is commendable—"

Chuxue was immediately startled and instinctively wanted to step forward. But Yin Yang held her back, saying: "No need to worry, you've seen the World Prince's sword skills. They are extraordinary, and lasting a hundred breaths should not be difficult."

Chuxue felt slightly reassured, but when she turned her head, she saw that Yin Yang's expression was also very serious and filled with worry.

Not far away, Liang Miaozǐ sneered coldly: "Challenging the Lesser Luo Heaven Sword Array? Truly reckless!"

Lin Fei, who was speaking, saw that Zongshou's face had already shown signs of impatience. He smiled awkwardly and stopped talking. He cast a talisman, which transformed into more than ten points of spiritual light, penetrating the bodies of the wooden figures the size of real people.

The eyes of the eighteen puppets immediately glowed red, and their bodies creaked, like old machines being restarted after hundreds or thousands of years.

Zongshou had just stepped to the center of the platform, his sword pointing diagonally. The game "Divine Emperor" claimed to have completely recreated this sword array in the virtual world, and even improved upon it. However, the real Lesser Luo Heaven Sword Array was still somewhat different from the replica in the game. Having seen many unscrupulous merchants' exaggerated advertisements, he was not surprised.

He wondered if he could withstand it.

The puppets moved for a moment, until all the creaking sounds from their joints disappeared. Then they suddenly took a perfectly synchronized step forward, making a 'whoosh' sound.

They then took several more steps, advancing in unison. Eighteen bright swords, radiating cold light!

Zongshou smiled slightly and took three steps to the left. The eighteen puppets immediately shifted their positions. Every movement, every step, was rigid and precise, perfectly synchronized. Then, nine swords from all directions stabbed directly at him.

Even in his previous life, having seen countless such scenarios, Zongshou still marveled inwardly. Indeed, there was not even the slightest flaw to exploit.

This sword array was indeed exquisitely crafted. The eighteen sword puppets, supporting and assisting each other, were perfectly coordinated.

If a human were to use it, it might have even greater power, but it would never be as flawless as this.

However, this feeling was slightly different from the sword array he was familiar with.

With no intention of resisting, Zongshou took another step, two steps to the right. He almost brushed past the sharp edges of the swords, slipping out of the small circle. Then his figure moved like a butterfly among flowers within the sword array, somewhat awkward but extremely agile.

Chuxue, standing below, involuntarily clutched her own collar.

Lin Fei, who had seemed to fall asleep after activating the sword array, opened his eyes again, exclaiming in surprise.

"This footwork is quite good, indeed, he has some foundation—"

After a moment of contemplation, more confusion appeared on his face. No matter how good the footwork, it was impossible to move freely within the puppet sword array. The Lesser Luo Heaven Sword Array was not static.

Unless this person had an incredibly strong combat talent and intuition, or an extremely deep understanding of sword techniques!

But either of these, placed on a thirteen-year-old child, was too astonishing.

Originally, laughter and conversation were echoing at the entrance of the Dao Palace. Now, it had gradually fallen silent, and everyone was looking up at the stone platform.

What was supposed to be a battle that would end in just a few rounds had not ended yet.

The figure they had mocked was still standing on the platform, his face exquisitely handsome, with a faint smile that made people involuntarily feel enchanted.

"Indeed, not bad! This person is not truly incompetent, and his talent should be extraordinary. It's a pity. It's just that his bloodline is not pure, and with a dual-meridian body, even the best talent is useless!"

"It's already 48 breaths! If he continues to dodge so easily, it's not just a hundred breaths. Even 400 breaths would be easy to pass—"

But some still had a mocking look in their eyes: "Easy to pass? The reputation of the Lingyun Sect's Lesser Luo Heaven Sword Array is not baseless. My ancestor once challenged it and, with the cultivation of a Xuanwu Master, lasted 420 breaths before failing. This person can move freely, but the real killing moves haven't even started yet!"

In the crowd, a fourteen-year-old boy was staring intently at Zongshou's feet on the platform. His eyes flickered, revealing a hint of intense heat.

Beside him, a girl of the same age, youthful and charming, suddenly turned and smiled: "Feibai, you always claim to be a martial fanatic and say that within ten years, you are the only talent in the Eastern Lin Yun Continent. But from what I see, Zongshou is even stronger than you. Want to make a bet? Guess how long he can last?"

"No bet!"

The boy shook his head decisively, then looked at Zongshou's right hand. "I heard that a thousand years ago, a Heaven Rank expert fought this sword array and could only achieve a draw. But this person hasn't even used his sword yet. It's hard to guess—"

The Pine Pattern Wind Sword had not moved at all! In the boy's eyes, this sword was like a venomous snake hidden in the grass, extremely dangerous. It would remain still until it struck, delivering a fatal blow.

The girl's eyes narrowed, then she shook her head: "No bet, then no bet. But I bet Liang Miaozǐ is regretting it so much that his intestines are turning green. I can't see through Zongshou, but I know he's holding back a lot. 400 breaths is not a problem. I heard he has a deep relationship with the sect's master, helping him openly and secretly. But this time, our future senior brother will probably lose face!"

At this, the girl laughed with a touch of schadenfreude.