Chapter 7

After emerging from Lu Man娘's quiet room, Li Chun couldn't stop smiling bitterly.

He originally intended to go and tell people not to have too much hope, but instead, he ended up making a solemn vow of victory, pushing himself to the edge of a cliff.

"If I lose this time, I'll be so embarrassed in front of Man娘!"

The four days passed like a white horse galloping through a gap. No matter what, Li Chun couldn't come up with any new tricks.

During these few days, Li Chun indeed didn't see the old man again. It seemed that, as he had said, he had suddenly traveled far away, disappearing without a trace.

The sword discussion meeting was held on schedule.

Five sword appraisers, led by the venerable old man, had already taken their seats.

The hall master of the Thunderclap Hall, Yue Tianying, had also taken his seat with a smile. Beside him, the towering Lie Ba glared at Li Chun with disdain.

"Relax, it's just the first time. The outcome isn't important; just show your understanding of the sword."

Lu Man娘 gently patted Li Chun's arm.

At this moment, Li Chun wanted to say, "I will never lose," but after looking at the current situation, he finally gritted his teeth and held back.

"Please, the two representatives, step onto the stage!"

The last of the sword appraisers called out loudly.

About to step onto the stage for the sword discussion meeting, Li Chun, despite maintaining a confident appearance, was already disheartened and dejected. In his mind, the two white jade gates remained motionless, and the golden paper floating above them showed no sign of the琅嬛 book repository opening.

"Enough!"

Li Chun clenched his fists, embracing the courage to face death, and stepped onto the stage step by step.

"Go, Senior Brother!"

The disciples of the Clear Spirit Pavilion shouted together, the little junior sister's scream piercing the clouds, and Xiao Hu led the applause!

"Senior Brother will surely win! Senior Brother is mighty!"

Li Chun felt his face burning. He glared fiercely at Xiao Hu, gripped the hilt of his sword, and slowly walked to the center of the stage.

Lie Ba also stood up abruptly, the giant sword at his waist clanging, and he strode to stand opposite Li Chun.

"The sword discussion meeting between the Clear Spirit Pavilion and the Thunderclap Hall is held annually in September to verify the progress of the students in both martial arts and studies..."

Before the sword discussion meeting began, the sword appraisers, as usual, gave a long-winded speech that made people's ears ache. Li Chun closed his eyes and ignored it.

Until suddenly, a sentence drifted into his ears,

"According to the agreement of the previous dynasty..."

"Whoever loses ten times in a row will become the other party's subordinate and be merged..."

"Please don't forget this rule, everyone!"

The tone of the sword appraiser was flat, but Li Chun was startled.

—Last year's sword discussion meeting, no one mentioned this. In fact, none of the Clear Spirit Pavilion disciples knew about this agreement.

Mentioning it now, could it be...

He suddenly opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the face of the Thunderclap Hall master, Yue Tianying, who wore a smug smile.

"...Up until last year, the Clear Spirit Pavilion has lost nine times in a row. If they lose again this time," the sword appraiser paused and nodded at Lu Man娘, "Pavilion Master Lu, you should fulfill the agreement!"

Lu Man娘 bowed slightly, "Of course."

Her expression remained calm, as if she didn't care.

"Man娘, you didn't tell me that the Clear Spirit Pavilion has already lost nine times! You didn't tell me that if we lose again, we would have to fulfill this damn agreement!"

Li Chun felt dizzy and roared in his heart.

The Clear Spirit Pavilion has already lost nine times in a row. This tenth sword discussion meeting is not just his debut battle! If he loses, the Clear Spirit Pavilion will become a subordinate of the Thunderclap Hall, and the name of the Clear Spirit Pavilion will disappear from Qingfeng City!

Lu Man娘 has been determined not to marry, striving for so many years, all for the continuation of the Clear Spirit Pavilion?

In the end, this heavy responsibility has fallen on his shoulders?

"Since there are no objections from either side, the sword discussion meeting today will now begin!"

The sword appraiser coughed and lightly tapped the table, "Please, the Thunderclap Hall disciple Lie Ba, demonstrate your sword technique first!"

"Here!"

Lie Ba responded loudly, glanced sideways at Li Chun, sneered, drew his sword, and raised it high to the sky!

This is the starting posture of the Thunderclap Hall's Thunder Sound Sword Technique.

Although he was demonstrating a newly created sword move, it was impossible to just swing the sword once and finish. For beginners in swordsmanship, it was natural to first perform a complete set of existing sword techniques and then incorporate the new move to ensure the integrity of the sword intent and make it easier for the sword appraisers to judge.

"Whoosh—"

Lie Ba swung his long sword, and a whistling sound rose, full of power.

It was clear that he had put a lot of effort into the Thunder Sound Sword Technique.

However, this display did not satisfy the sword appraisers. In fact, two of them frowned slightly—this was inevitable, as the current trend favored more refined sword techniques, and brute force was not favored by the sword appraisers.

But Lie Ba was not worried. After all, the quality of the sword move was there. As long as he could perform normally, an eighth-grade evaluation was inevitable.

His sword swings became faster, and the sound of wind and thunder could be faintly heard in the sword light. The subtleties of the Thunder Sound Sword Technique were fully displayed.

"This big guy is not bad..."

Li Chun, who had secretly hoped for Lie Ba to make a mistake, was disappointed. Seeing his solid foundation and proficient sword technique, the possibility of making a mistake was very low.

As Lie Ba's sword swings became faster, his sword move finally reached its climax!

Swoosh!

Suddenly, the sword light was dazzling, as if lightning had flashed, and everyone's eyes were dazzled!

"Wild wind stirs the waves, thunder claps with the sound of drums!"

Lie Ba shouted loudly!

The move "Thunder Strike" was unleashed!

The sword moved like lightning, dazzling and brilliant.

It was like a thunderclap on the ground, and the audience below the stage were all shaken. Even two of the sword appraisers who had been dozing off suddenly opened their eyes wide.

A thunderous strike!

With this final move, it seemed that Lie Ba had used up his last bit of strength. He stood still, sweat on his forehead, and his chest heaving.

For a moment, the stage was silent.

This move was indeed impressive.

"Although a bit crude, it does have a wild charm. If I were to appraise it, I would give it an eighth-grade rating!"

"The gentlemen are right. From my perspective, the Thunderclap Hall student's sword is like an old soldier in the army, crude and unrefined, but with a strong and vigorous aura, hinting at a martial atmosphere. I also give it an eighth-grade rating!"

After a discussion among the sword appraisers on the stage, they all reached the same conclusion.

Eighth-grade?

This was a fair and objective evaluation.

Li Chun sighed. This was the expected result. Lie Ba's move was not flashy, but the momentum was good. If the focus was on the outcome, the evaluation might have been even higher.

But an eighth-grade rating was enough to defeat him.

Because he had no moves at all, and if he randomly created one on the spot, it would certainly not meet the standard.

He glanced at Lu Man娘, who was still sitting calmly, giving him an encouraging smile.

"Whatever! I'll give it a try!"

Li Chun gritted his teeth. At this point, he had no choice but to give it a try. He had heard that many geniuses, while dancing with their swords, naturally created moves that became supreme techniques!

Although he had never succeeded, he had practiced the Willow Fluff Sword Technique for more than two years, training hard every day. Perhaps he could become proficient and create a brilliant move on the spot!

"Please, the Clear Spirit Pavilion disciple Li Chun, demonstrate your sword technique!"

After the sword appraisers evaluated Lie Ba's move and asked him to step down, they called Li Chun up.

Li Chun glanced at the five sword appraisers. The leading old man had a cold expression and was stern, making Li Chun's heart chill. His palms were sweating, and he gritted his teeth, drew his long sword, and stood still, focusing inward, immersing himself in a state of self-forgetfulness.

To turn the tide, he must first overcome himself.

No matter whether he could succeed or not, he had to give it his all!

"I am destined to become a sword saint. What is there to fear in this small situation!"

He held the long sword still, his body motionless, eyes slightly closed, as if in a trance, with the light breeze gently fluttering his clothes.

"What is Senior Brother doing?"

"Why isn't he moving?"

The junior disciples whispered among themselves.

The people from the Thunderclap Hall sneered.

"Can't do it, right? I heard that Li Chun from the Clear Spirit Pavilion is good at pretending, but on this stage, it's real swordplay, and there's no way to bluff!"

"Right, how can he possibly compare to Senior Brother Lie Ba?"

"So long without moving, did he forget the basic sword techniques? Hahahaha!"

The unpleasant laughter from the Thunderclap Hall side made the Clear Spirit Pavilion disciples glare in anger, but they were also anxious.

"Senior Brother won't lose! Senior Brother must have a powerful sword technique! He promised Ke Xin!"

The little junior sister was anxious, her face tearful, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Cough..."

The sword appraiser on the stage also coughed in dissatisfaction.

"Li Chun, please hurry up!"

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