Chapter Sixteen: Where the Sword Points (Part Two)

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—

Two figures suddenly parted.

Wang Wei grunted, his face pale, his right hand gripping the spear trembling slightly. He had failed to fully block Li Fu’s sword; Li Fu’s ruler technique was indeed domineering, both offensive and defensive, a seamless unity. Lord Wei had only crudely invented this staff technique in the past, but after generations of Grand Tutors refined it, it had reached near perfection. Meanwhile, his own spear technique could never truly break through Li Fu’s ruler style.

Face to face, spear against sword, he should have held the advantage of weaponry, yet he found himself falling behind.

Wang Wei was unwilling, his expression growing ever more grim and cold. In the next instant, he flexed his numbed wrist, tightened his grip, and advanced once more.

His spear broke through the air without reservation, infused with a powerful true force, thrusting straight for Li Fu’s face. The spear’s aura sprayed forth, half a foot of thunder radiance, but at that moment, a piercingly clear howl echoed in the distant night.

A cry like a phoenix’s song!

Everyone watching beneath the gallery showed shock. This was the Divine Strategy Manor’s "Three Strikes of the Breaking Army!"

The spear came too swiftly!

Facing this blow, Li Fu felt as though there was nowhere to evade, as if the force enveloped him completely. Whether he used the Lotus Step or the Imperial Ruler, he could find no opening.

Li Fu poured all his true force into his sword, using it as a shield, held horizontally before his chest.

A crisp collision resounded—Li Fu’s sword shook violently, a silvery sheen appearing along its blade, a vigorous power emanating forth. Though he blocked the intense spear intent, he could not resist the invasive force coursing along the blade.

Li Fu’s hand trembled, then his arm, then his entire right hand shook violently as if unable to hold onto the sword any longer, as if the blade would slip from his grasp the next moment.

Just then, Wang Wei’s second strike followed immediately. It seemed the third would arrive at any moment.

Four sharp cracks rang out in quick succession.

Unable to hold his ground, Li Fu was forced back, step after step, each retreat leaving a faint imprint on the hard platform. After retreating more than ten steps, he finally steadied himself.

Wang Wei stood with his spear raised to the sky, unmoving in the center of the platform, watching Li Fu’s retreat with a hint of contempt and mockery in his eyes.

From the initial Thunder Fist to the Breaking Army spear technique, Wang Wei had begun to use his most familiar, most powerful killing moves. After more than ten years of arduous training, he could claim near mastery of Divine Strategy’s Breaking Army spear art. No matter the adversary, this barrage would leave them flustered and defeated.

Li Fu could not withstand these spear techniques for the moment, retreating in disarray, his right hand shaking from the shock of true force, barely holding his sword. Yet his stance remained steady, his mind calm.

He knew how to respond to this spear art.

Among the nine thousand volumes in his master’s collection were not only Confucian classics, but also military treatises, state strategies, and martial arts. Though he had not studied some, nor had his master taught them—perhaps his master found it beneath him to instruct Li Fu in martial arts—it did not mean Li Fu was ignorant.

The sword held before him suddenly gave a soft sound, faint azure radiance enveloped the entire blade.

Everyone present fell silent, awestruck. The distinguished figures beneath the gallery showed varied expressions—some delighted, some worried. Wang Wei’s three strikes had sent a clear message.

His aura carried a significant hint of the Morning Dew realm. He was on the verge of breaking through to that realm! A sixteen-year-old about to surpass the peak of Heaven’s Origin—what a prodigious talent! His cultivation rivaled Yang Ning’s, both at the threshold of Morning Dew.

Yet Li Fu’s performance was even more astonishing. Against Wang Wei, he had never truly fallen behind; before Wang Wei used the Breaking Army three strikes, Li Fu had even held the upper hand. More importantly, many in the crowd recognized his steps and staff techniques as being tied to the Grand Tutor!

Beneath the gallery, the Divine General of Loyalty and Prestige and the Divine General of Eastern Feather raised their brows, as if noticing something amusing. On the other side, the Grand Steward and Grand Protector remained calm, unmoved.

Li Fu glanced at his sword—the one his master had bestowed. Turning his wrist with a deft flick, the sword radiance scattered, and at the sword’s tip a lotus bloomed, its gentle azure light illuminating the entire platform!

A lotus truly rose atop his blade.

Not a dew-kissed morning lotus about to bloom, nor a night lotus closing beneath the sunset, but the fullest, most dazzling, most complete lotus of the day!

Seeing the lotus at Li Fu’s blade, Wang Wei’s expression grew grave, his spear unwavering. The Breaking Army spear technique struck again, and a chorus of exclamations erupted from the crowd, filled with shock and confusion.

“A lotus! How can this be?”

“The Song of the Azure Lotus Sword—is that one returned?”

“Impossible! He’s been away from the Eastern Capital for over a decade!”

“The lotus blooms again. Is he coming back?”

Li Fu’s sword was a technique only the Grand Tutor knew. Who would have thought that, regarding the man who once bathed half the Eastern Capital in blood in a fit of rage, his legacy would reappear at this year’s Lantern Festival!

“Senior brother, you’ve found yourself a fine successor,” the Grand Steward finally allowed himself a faint smile.

“The Song of the Azure Lotus Sword—there’s no mistake,” the Divine General of Loyalty and Prestige, Xu Changhai, said calmly.

“Is this your disciple?” the Divine General of Eastern Feather asked, unwilling to take his eyes from the lotus at Li Fu’s blade.

“You two have contended for so many years—was it worth it?” Xu Changhai recalled a scene from years past and gave a bitter smile.

“Not at all. This year’s Lantern Festival is what it is. Ah, I wonder when Marquis Diwu will return.” The Divine General of Eastern Feather gave Xu Changhai a serious look and suddenly turned to leave—heading out of the palace.

“Is that a warning? Hah, fool. Who in the Eastern Capital would dare openly move against the Grand Tutor’s heir now? If they’re not afraid of another bloodbath, let them try.” Xu Changhai watched the departing figure, a cold smile on his lips.

The setting sun hung low; even the vast crimson clouds could not conceal the gentle azure radiance blooming from the lotus at Li Fu’s sword, drawing the gaze of all present, whether they recognized its origin or not.

Wang Wei’s iron spear whirled swiftly—he too recognized the lotus as the Grand Tutor’s sword technique. From that lotus he felt a mighty pressure.

Wang Wei’s spear had not yet struck, but its intent already filled the air.

From the spear’s shaft, threads of thunder radiance spun, weaving a net that enveloped his body. Strands of lightning danced wildly before him.

Li Fu’s gaze sharpened, his expression solemn. Though Wang Wei’s thunder radiance obscured his vision, it did not affect his perception of the spear’s intent.

He knew clearly that, in the next moment, he would face Wang Wei’s strongest, most unreserved attack.

This blow would decide the outcome.

Of course, he could have stood there, waiting for additional changes to unfold. But that might only mean Wang Wei could make that attack even more terrifying, given enough true force.

Wang Wei unleashed his true force without reservation, and the spear in his hand began to emit a faint, mournful sound. After all, it was an ordinary iron spear, unable to withstand so much lightning for long.

His scholar’s robe billowed.

Li Fu closed his eyes.

Then, he opened them again.

The platform beneath his feet quivered gently. Though the two auras had not yet collided, the constant release of true force caused the hard platform to tremble.

At the front of the gallery, a Divine Strategy officer’s body suddenly shuddered, and the expressions of two other military officers changed drastically.

Their voices, shaken and trembling, rang out in shock.

“That technique?”

“The Heaven’s Net, evolved from the Divine Strategy Array?”

All three officers were at the peak of Heaven’s Origin—though not the strongest present, they served in the army and had fought alongside the Divine Strategy forces, well familiar with its arts.

Soon after, Yang Ning, Yang Zixu, and others understood as well.

The arena fell utterly silent.

All because of the two figures on the platform.

The lotus floated lightly, lightning surged, but nothing could distract the crowd’s gaze.

A gentle azure light drifted from the lotus.

The wild lightning raged in the air, like a flood breaking free.

The lotus trembled amidst the lightning. The thunder that struck the lotus dissipated instantly.

And then—it bloomed!

For a moment, lotus flowers blossomed everywhere above the platform, each lotus occupying the whole stage, devouring every trace of thunder radiance.

Silence reigned, still and soundless. Only the palm-sized lotus at the center of the platform bloomed gently and quietly!

With a muffled thud, Wang Wei, like a kite with a broken string, was hurled from the azure light, a thin line of red spraying from his lips, his body crashing heavily to the ground, raising clouds of dust from the black stone slabs.