Jian Jiu.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes sparkled with brilliance.
"You took this title; your Spirit must be a sword, no doubt."
"The sword is the king of all weapons, one of the top-tier tool Spirits."
"However, rigidity breaks easily. My book, 'The Ten Core Competencies of Spirits,' discusses this, and you…"
Before he finished speaking.
A brilliant sword light tore through the night, directly piercing Yu Xiaogang's throat.
Flender and Liu Erlong's expressions changed drastically. They had never expected Jian Jiu to attack so suddenly.
Liu Erlong reacted extremely quickly, flashing in front of Yu Xiaogang, and a burst of flames erupted from her palm, meeting the incoming sword light.
Flames and sword energy collided violently.
A wave of air exploded outwards.
Ultimately, the sword light was swallowed by the scorching flames.
Yet, a trace of shock flashed in Liu Erlong's eyes.
"What a sharp sword…"
Yu Xiaogang's face was pale. He stood frozen for a long moment before gritting his teeth and saying:
"Jian Jiu, the first two Soul Rings of a Spirit Master, the gap has not yet widened!"
"Wait until the Soul Master Competition in more than half a year, and you will witness even stronger genius Spirit Masters!"
"And these genius Spirit Masters will all come from Shrek!"
Li Dixian shook his head and chuckled.
Was he telling him, "Don't bully the poor in middle age"?
He looked at Dugu Yan.
"Sister Dugu, please trouble Senior Dugu to make a move."
"Alright, I've long found them displeasing."
Dugu Yan pulled out a snake-shaped bone whistle from her in my arms and was about to blow it.
The Golden Triangle's expressions changed dramatically.
The name Poison Douluo was thunderous.
"Go!"
Flender immediately used his Spirit Avatar, transforming into a blue owl with a five-meter wingspan.
Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang carried the bed and leaped onto the eagle's back.
A blue shadow flashed, and the three disappeared into the night.
Li Dixian retracted his gaze and asked Dugu Yan:
"I just said it casually, can Sister Dugu really summon Senior Dugu?"
Dugu Yan tucked the bone whistle back into her pocket, her lips slightly curved.
"Just to scare those three."
Upon hearing this.
Xue Qinghe, Ye Lingling, and the members of the Royal Fight Team couldn't help but laugh softly.
That night.
Everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest, not dispersing until midnight.
It's worth mentioning that because Li Dixian's original residence was destroyed, everyone enthusiastically invited him to stay at their mansions temporarily.
The tranquility of the Ye Family, the heritage of the Dugu Family, and even the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace were all places ordinary people dreamed of.
However.
Li Dixian politely declined each invitation.
Those grand mansions had countless servants and strict rules.
He was used to his free-spirited nature.
If the mood struck him, he might enjoy a small drink and practice his sword under the moonlight, or stroll in the rain and listen to the wind.
Living in a deep courtyard, he would feel restricted everywhere.
It was truly not comfortable.
Therefore.
This morning, he found another secluded small courtyard in the eastern suburbs of the Imperial City and settled down there.
Hmm.
Li Dixian just didn't believe it.
Could there be a second Zhao Wuji in this world to kill him?!
Creak—
The courtyard gate opened gently.
Under the hazy moonlight, an elegant courtyard came into view.
At the base of the right wall, a plum tree had lush foliage, its branches weighed down by abundant fruit, as if sweet juice would drip at any moment.
In the opposite corner, a Four Seasons Plum was quietly blooming. As its name suggested, this flower bloomed regardless of cold or heat, constantly emitting fragrance.
The clear plum fragrance and rich fruit aroma permeated the courtyard.
Looking at the three main rooms with their grey bricks and dark tiles.
Li Dixian casually picked a plum and threw it into his mouth, nodding in satisfaction.
"Not bad, very good."
"Her Royal Highness, the Saintess, indeed handles matters appropriately."
Perhaps he had slept too much during those two days in the bird's nest.
Li Dixian felt no sleepiness at all at this moment.
After a simple wash.
He changed into a loose, plain robe, his collar slightly open.
He strolled into the courtyard.
Dusk settled.
The ground, paved with bluestone, seemed to be infused with the sweet scent of plums.
"Since comprehending the Azure Lotus Sword Song, I've always used it in battles and conflicts, never for the clear breeze and bright moon."
"Tonight, the moonlight is just right…"
"Sword dance! Sword dance!"
Li Dixian's toes lightly touched the mottled moss on the stone steps, and his posture, like a flowing cloud, drifted into the center of the courtyard.
The Azure Lotus Sword was silently held in his palm.
In an instant!
Without him making any discernible movement.
A chilling sword energy, like a torrential downpour, instantly enveloped the hundred-square-meter courtyard.
His sword movements flowed, his body like a startled swan.
At times, he drew down a wisp of starlight from the nine heavens; at others, he erupted with dazzling sword light interwoven with ice and fire.
The sword edge cut through the air, emitting a subtle yet sharp hiss, startling the copper bells on the eaves into a jingling sound.
Sweat beads slid down his cheeks.
Before they could fall to the ground, they were evaporated into a misty vapor by the sharp sword energy swirling around him.
"What a thrill! What a thrill!"
The more Li Dixian danced, the more exhilarated he became.
Amidst the swirling sword shadows.
All the chilling killing intent floating around him.
Was completely tempered, restrained, and finally returned to the three-foot six-inch sword edge.
His sword became increasingly refined and unhindered.
"A sword, though an instrument of slaughter, needs constant sharpening."
"Only by constantly reviewing sword moves and forms can one conceal killing intent invisibly and truly grasp the sword within one's heart."
Li Dixian swept his long sword horizontally.
The sword energy stirred up the pink plum petals piled on the ground.
Immediately, petals fluttered down, like a dreamlike rain of rouge.
Just as the sword momentum reached its peak.
A crisp, ice-cracking sound seemed to emanate from within Li Dixian's body.
A surge of Soul Power, far more potent than before, erupted with a roar, spreading outwards.
It was a natural progression.
Soul Power — Level 30!
Li Dixian sheathed his sword and stood, tilting his head back to take a large gulp of wine.
His eyes were clear like cold stars, and he sat leisurely on a stone stool under the plum tree.
"Level 30…"
"It's time to hunt for a new Soul Ring."
Li Dixian pondered the direction for his third Soul Ring.
Originally, he had planned a detailed Soul Ring matching route for himself.
But his first two Soul Rings were both thousand-year-old, which had completely overturned that plan.
"The battle with Zhao Wuji…"
"Seems to have exposed my defensive weakness?"
"But defense…"
"Ultimately contradicts the path of ultimate offense in swordsmanship."
"I have many sword moves, and the Azure Lotus Sword Song has not yet reached its peak. Perhaps I should seek a Spirit Ability that amplifies sword power?"
"Ah, never mind, never mind. When the time comes, I'll go to Star Dou Forest and see which Soul Beast has an affinity with my sword."
"Hmm, it's best to invite a friend to come along."
The next day.
Li Dixian invited Xue Qinghe to purchase necessities for the courtyard.
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance's gazes were like torches. They swept over Li Dixian and exclaimed in surprise:
"You… you're Level 30?"
Li Dixian smiled and nodded.
Xue Qinghe's fingers traced a simple, antique sandalwood wine table in front of her.
Li Dixian always loved to drink in the courtyard, but the cold stone stools and tables were both chilly and uncomfortable. He needed to replace them with something better.
She asked softly:
"For your third Soul Ring, do you have a direction?"
Li Dixian smiled and said:
"Having a direction doesn't necessarily mean it will go as planned."
"We'll see when I go to Star Dou Forest."
Xue Qinghe paid for the sandalwood wine table and then said:
"Do you need me to have the Imperial Spirit Masters accompany you?"
"No need."
Li Dixian waved his hand.
"If outsiders accompany me, I'll feel constrained instead."
"Alright then."
Xue Qinghe said no more, knowing that Li Dixian had it all figured out.
After purchasing everything.
The two walked side by side towards the eastern suburbs of the Imperial City.
But Li Dixian did not notice.
In the crowd, a travel-worn figure, a beautiful woman, gazed at him excitedly, tears welling up in her eyes… There will be another chapter before 9:30 PM… Thank you, dear readers…