32: Chapter 32: Prodigies Gather in Snowmoon City!

The purpose of coming to Snow Moon City this time was to spar with the swordsmen of the world and hone my own Sword Dao.

On the other side, seeing that the matter seemed to be settled, several people prepared to turn and leave.

"Young Master, this Li Hanyi's Sword Cultivation is extraordinary. I fear she will be a major rival in this Grand Competition."

A man with a small mustache and a slightly stout figure cupped his hands and said.

"Cousin, her sword technique seems to carry shadows of the Yue Maiden Sword Technique, but the Concept is vastly different!"

A charming and lovely young woman in white interjected, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity.

She was followed by two other young women, one dressed in a red skirt and the other in a green gauze long dress, appearing to be her personal maids.

"Let's not discuss this for now. Let's find a place to settle down first before making further plans."

A handsome young man whose eyes held a hint of harshness spoke, leading the way as he departed. The others quickly followed suit.

On another side, a young man whose eyebrows exuded Killing Intent, with a brocade sash tied around his forehead, slowly stroked the hilt of the long sword at his waist.

Prodigies gathered, all converging at Snow Moon City.

However, Su Rui paid no mind to all of this.

After returning to the Martial Arts School, Sikong Qianluo still wanted to chat and laugh with Li Hanyi, but Su Rui promptly pulled her back.

"Aren't you going to participate in the Grand Competition? Why aren't you cultivating diligently?"

Su Rui's tone was serious.

"Teacher!" Sikong Qianluo looked miserable, sneaking a glance at Li Hanyi, hoping Senior Sister could say a word for her.

But Li Hanyi was intently watching Su Rui and didn't notice her glance at all.

"You just comprehended Sword Intent and just had a Breakthrough to the Zizai Earth Realm. Your Realm is still unstable. You must spend this time solidifying yourself well. Ask me anytime if you have questions."

"Yes, Teacher."

Li Hanyi naturally understood that the Teacher's admonition was out of concern for her.

Afterward, Su Rui's gaze fell upon Sikong Qianluo, Mu Liangyue, and the other two.

"Are you also participating in this Grand Competition? Quite a few young geniuses have arrived this time, not limited to just Northern Li; many experts from other nations have also come."

"I want to participate!" Sikong Qianluo immediately raised her hand, her face full of eagerness to try.

Mu Liangyue and the other two exchanged glances and also nodded.

"Very well. For the next few days, I will conduct special training for you. Be mentally prepared."

Su Rui nodded in assent, then looked towards Li Hanyi.

"You go back first and consolidate your Realm."

"Teacher, the sword."

Li Hanyi held up the Cheng Ying Sword with both hands.

"You can borrow it for now. Return it to me when you find the sword that truly belongs to you."

Upon hearing this, a flash of joy crossed Li Hanyi's eyes, and her heart warmed.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

After expressing her thanks, she turned and headed to the room in the back courtyard to Cultivate wholeheartedly.

Sikong Qianluo and the other four looked on with envy.

Senior Sister has the Divine Sword of the Teacher, so what about them...?

Thinking of this, the four of them looked towards Su Rui simultaneously, their eyes filled with expectation.

Su Rui cleared his throat lightly, his expression sinking.

"Why aren't you quickly going to train!"

With an order, the four women were driven to the back courtyard.

Su Rui's gaze suddenly shot towards a certain direction, as if piercing through the roof tiles of the Martial Arts School.

...

At the peak of Cang Mountain, a meteor abruptly streaked across the night sky, plunging directly toward a corner of Snow Moon City, accompanied by piercing screams.

When the meteor landed, two figures appeared in a sorry state.

Baili Dongjun, who was investigating the environmental impact of the plague toxin, turned around upon hearing the commotion and saluted with cupped hands.

"Greetings to the City Lord!"

That "meteor" was none other than Li Changsheng and Sikong Changfeng.

It was just that the appearance of the two of them at this moment was quite wretched.

Li Changsheng's clothes were disheveled, and his hair was messy.

Sikong Changfeng's face was pale, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as if he were still savoring the feeling of that extreme speed from just now.

Earlier, the two had split up. Baili Dongjun was responsible for controlling the epidemic.

Sikong Changfeng went to find Li Changsheng.

As a result, Li Changsheng was resting. Upon being awakened, he immediately rushed over with Sikong Changfeng after hearing that the Gushan Sect might have released the plague toxin.

This journey of rapid travel left a deep impression on Sikong Changfeng.

"How is the situation?"

"Thanks to the intervention of an expert, the plague toxin did not spread on a large scale, but highly toxic residue remains on the ground nearby."

Li Changsheng nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon the corpses with bluish skin not far away.

He walked over slowly and picked up a bit of dust from the ground.

"City Lord, this poison...?"

"Heh, the poison is not the main concern!"

Baili Dongjun's words brought Li Changsheng back to his senses, and he let out a light sigh.

"This is the last bottle of plague toxin.

Actually, I researched this type of poison earlier and already have a solution, it was just inconvenient to announce it."

"There is a solution? Then this area..."

Baili Dongjun had been full of worry.

The poison on the ground was difficult to clear. He had even considered digging away this entire layer of earth before.

"Why not announce it?"

Sikong Changfeng, having recovered his senses, frowned and spoke, then seemed to realize something.

"Are you afraid that if the world knows there is an antidote, it will encourage the overuse of this poison?"

"Precisely."

Li Changsheng nodded in affirmation.

"Back then, I was acquainted with the Old Ancestor of the Gushan Sect, which is why I allowed them to settle in this area. I never expected it would lead to today's disaster."

"The Gushan Sect colluded with the Demonic Cult. Will they hand over the formula for this plague toxin?"

Baili Dongjun seemed slightly worried. Now that the Demonic Cult was restless, if they truly used this poison, even if they were defeated in the end, Northern Li would suffer heavy losses.

"There is no need to worry about that."

Li Changsheng explained calmly.

"The Gushan Sect does not possess the formula, only the poison, and there is only this one bottle of poison. There is no need to overthink it."

"When the Demonic Cult launched their eastern campaign back then, I forced them to retreat.

Now it seems they want to make a comeback again. It looks like they still haven't forgotten that throne in Tianqi."

"So, the Demonic Cult sending people to stir up trouble in Snow Moon City this time is likely aimed at trapping you here."

"It doesn't matter. I wasn't planning to intervene anyway; this matter has nothing to do with me."

Li Changsheng smiled upon hearing this and was about to leave, when he suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, you mentioned someone secretly assisted just now. Who was it?"

"..."

Only now remembering to ask?

"It was the master of a Martial Arts School in the city, suspected to be the person who executed the Po Yun Sword Intent."

"It's him!"

Li Changsheng was slightly startled. Even he felt a chill from that Sword Intent.

Judging by that Sword Intent alone, one could tell the opponent's strength was unfathomable.

It seemed that resolving the situation here was not merely accidental.

The reason he re-emerged into the Jianghu was precisely because of the appearance of that Sword Intent.

Perhaps that was the opportunity for him to continue moving forward.

"This is the antidote. Mix it with clean water and sprinkle it on the ground.

However, temporarily seal off this area; the antidote will take a few days to take effect."

Saying that, he took out a jade bottle and tossed it to Baili Dongjun.

"As for the rewards for this Grand Competition, besides what you prepared, I will also add a few items. You can collect them later."

"As you command."

Baili Dongjun and Sikong Changfeng responded with cupped hands.

Li Changsheng's figure flashed, and he vanished.

"I heard Old Man wanted to take you as a Disciple before. You didn't agree?"

Sikong Changfeng smiled and nudged Baili Dongjun with his shoulder.

"I was weighing my options. Old Man wanted to keep me confined to this Snow Moon City while he enjoyed himself freely."

Baili Dongjun replied with a bitter smile.

...

Li Changsheng had originally planned to return to the peak of Cang Mountain, but suddenly felt something and changed direction.

Inside the Martial Arts School, Su Rui was instructing several Disciples when he suddenly felt a jolt in his mind.

He looked up towards a certain direction, his fingers moved slightly, forming a Sword Art hand seal.

Li Changsheng, who was about to probe, changed expression immediately and retreated.

While retreating, he struck out repeatedly, but ultimately failed to completely dissolve that Sword Qi, though he barely managed to evade it.

"He really won't even let me take a look."

Li Changsheng shook his head with a wry smile, having no choice but to return to Cang Mountain first, planning to formally visit after the Grand Competition concluded.

He was quite accustomed to this.

With his skill, he had always acted casually while traversing the Jianghu, never adhering strictly to rules.

Most of the major and minor Schools in the Jianghu were considered his juniors.

Yet now he had suffered a small loss and had no recourse.

Su Rui shook his head lightly and looked at the four Disciples.

"Qianluo, the spear must be steady, the heart must be calm, do not be distracted."

...

In a restaurant near the Martial Arts School, a scholarly and refined young man looked towards the slightly dilapidated courtyard and spoke.

"Is this the place?"

"Indeed, Hall Master.

Li Hanyi joined this person's sect. It is rumored she has now stepped into the Earth Realm and mastered Sword Intent."

"It seems there is already a candidate for the top spot on this term's liangyu list."

Ji Ruofeng spoke. He had just taken over the position of The Knower of Everything.

...

"Hall Master, many talented individuals from other places have come to Snow Moon City this time. Should we investigate them?"

"No need.

The world is vast; how could we possibly know everything within it.

The liangyu list only concerns the geniuses of Northern Li."

Ji Ruofeng said calmly.

He knew his own limits well. With his current standing, trying to comment on all the heroes and prodigies in the world was still far from enough.

Moreover, this so-called liangyu list was merely his personal insight.

As for the thoughts of others, he neither understood them nor intended to understand them.

The Grand Competition in Snow Moon City was a gathering of outstanding talents, so he naturally had to come.

However, Ji Ruofeng felt a slight regret in his heart for not witnessing the majesty of Li Hanyi's sword strike firsthand; he only saw the scattered blue flames across the city.

But even that slight residual power allowed one to imagine the stunning beauty when that sword was unsheathed.

"According to rumors from the Hall, the Sword Qi that pierced the heavens that night might have originated from the master of this Martial Arts School.

Li Hanyi joined this sect after entering the city and broke through two Realms in just a few days, stepping into the Earth Realm. This is likely inseparable from this Martial Arts School Master."

"But setting these aside for now, let's discuss the liangyu list first."

Although Ji Ruofeng commented on many heroes, prodigies, and even Sharp Weapons, this list was extremely subjective.

He only ranked people from the Jianghu.

He did not include experts from the court, fierce generals from the army, or powerful figures who had pledged allegiance to various regional lords.

As for the older generation of experts who had retired from the Jianghu, he was unwilling to disturb them.

After all, they had withdrawn from the conflicts, and he did not want to drag them into turmoil because of his commentary.

He was considered a person with principles.

...

Inside the Ascending Heaven Pavilion.

"This time, it was all thanks to that person's intervention. Otherwise, the plague would have already spread. By the time you and the City Lord arrived, there would likely have been countless casualties!"

Baili Dongjun slowly spoke, swallowing a mouthful of wine.