Chapter 1164: Chapter 1162: Opening of the Land of Fate (Part 1)_1
While still on the road, Shi Xiaole had already recovered from his injuries, at least he didn’t look as frightening. He was not in a hurry to return to the Overlapping Land. Whenever the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower rested due to exhaustion, he would take out the leaves of the Supreme Sword Way to comprehend.
"The Supreme Sword Way is so vast and divine that a strand of its essence is equivalent to a lifetime of my sword comprehension," he said.
Shi Xiaole was immersed in the world of swordsmanship, unable to extricate himself, sometimes frowning in deep thought, at other times showing a smile. His changing expressions often made the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower watch intently.
When Shi Xiaole awoke from his comprehension once again, the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower couldn’t help but ask, "Young Master Shi, I really want to know, which is more important to you, emotion or Sword Realm?"
Not understanding the other party’s intent, Shi Xiaole still answered, "Both are indispensable."
"Why do I feel that you are the type who would abandon everything for the Sword Realm? You seem gentle, but you’re actually cold inside, and very few people can get close to your heart."
The master of the Illusion Orchid Tower had seen countless people and was confident that she was not mistaken.
A person who can be so ruthless to himself is definitely not one prone to amorous feelings. If Shi Xiaole did not have that dedication to abandon everything, he probably would not have achieved what he did today.
Thinking of Bai Ruiting and Qu Ni, the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower could only sigh for them. Perhaps, any woman who falls in love with Shi Xiaole, in the end, gets only his feigned gentleness, not his truly passionate emotions.
And yet, this man possesses all the qualities that fascinate women, truly a demonic distraction.
"Is that how you see me, senior?"
After pondering for a moment, Shi Xiaole said, "In fact, contrary to what you think, I, Shi Xiaole, am willing to give up everything for the one I love."
"Unfortunately, there is no one you love in this world, right?"
The master of the Illusion Orchid Tower replied with a cold smile.
Shi Xiaole said, "There’s no point in talking more, senior already has prejudice against me, saying more is useless." As he spoke, four willow leaves emanating boundless mystical aura floated in front of the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower.
Instantly, it was as if countless fists and palms were striking the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower, making her feel an insignificance as though facing the heavens, unable to resist.
"What is this...?"
The master of the Illusion Orchid Tower looked at Shi Xiaole incredulously.
"Two leaves of the Supreme Fist Way and two of the Supreme Palm Way, I believe they will be helpful to you," Shi Xiaole said.
"You’re willing to give these to me?"
Although she did not know how many leaves of the Supreme Martial Way Shi Xiaole had obtained, she knew that any single leaf was extremely precious. In the entire South Sea, apart from the six Fake Sky Origin Realm masters, who wouldn’t want them?
Shi Xiaole, a master of swordsmanship, did not mean he couldn’t comprehend other Ways, especially with his extraordinary talent, analogical learning was simpler for him than others.
Frankly, the value of these four leaves was no less than that of a top-ranked martial art. In many people’s eyes, they were even superior to top-ranked martial arts.
Shi Xiaole said, "If senior doesn’t want them, I will take them back."
Making a gesture to retrieve them, he was preempted by the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower, who caught them in her palm and snorted, "Since when can a gift given be taken back?"
When she realized her petulant demeanor was completely out of character with her usual temperament, she hurriedly composed herself, only to find that Shi Xiaole had once again fallen into contemplation.
"Hmph!"
The master of the Illusion Orchid Tower couldn’t help but let out a cold snort, although it was unclear what had angered her.
Following that, the two of them slowed down even more on their journey. Sometimes, they would remain in one place for several days, without moving.
The four leaves of the Supreme Martial Way had already been consumed, but the realizations they brought to the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower were too numerous to count. She was so unwilling to waste any time, fearing these insights would slip away.
Shi Xiaole was even more fearsome.
The thirteen leaves of the Supreme Sword Way almost drowned him in the ocean of swordsmanship. He was like a sponge that never tired, greedily absorbing the moisture of the ocean, allowing himself to expand continuously, not caring even if he burst.
Days went by.
Shi Xiaole’s proficiency in the Sword Realm was improving at an astonishing rate. Those thirteen strands of supreme sword silk were melting into essence and being completely absorbed by him, internalizing bit by bit to become his own Sword Realm.
The master of the Illusion Orchid Tower finished her contemplation before Shi Xiaole did.
In her perception, the aura of the youth opposite her seemed to be changing every moment, becoming sharper, deeper, and more contained, as if evolving into a divine sword, inching closer to the essence of the Sword Realm.
A month passed.
Adding the time before, it amounted to more than two months passed.
Shi Xiaole, sitting cross-legged, suddenly drew his sword and stabbed towards a big tree in front of him. The sword moved incredulously slowly, and with great effort, yet within ten thousand meters centered on this sword, including the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower, everyone felt caught in a vortex, unable to control themselves.
With a faint piercing sound!
The large tree, which three people could not encircle with their arms, disappeared on the spot, not turning to ash, but simply vanishing as if erased by an eraser. And the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower didn’t even realize when the Cleansing Evil Sword had been sheathed.
"Fast is slow, slow is fast. It all comes down to acting with the heart and changing with the circumstances. Sharpening the axe will not delay the work of cutting wood. Although I have wasted two months, I have successfully perfected the technique of Old Ox’s Broken Cart, and it did not disappoint me."
Shi Xiaole revealed a rare smile. The speed of sword technique cultivation is related not only to comprehension but also to the depth of one’s inherent Sword Realm.
At this moment, Shi Xiaole’s Sword Realm foundation was incredibly substantial, substantial to the point where even if he received new leaves of the Supreme Sword Way, he would temporarily be unable to transform them into his foundation.
Looking back to contemplate the Four Great Sword Techniques, the previously perplexing and difficult points, while not easy to decode, had become apparent, and were sure not to trap him for long.
"Is this the swordsmanship you’ve been practicing recently? It is indeed formidable. Relying on this technique, your competitiveness in the Overlapping Land has increased by a few degrees," said the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower as she inhaled softly.
She had witnessed the "Lightning Startling Swan" and "Returning Sword", but compared to them, "Old Ox’s Broken Cart" seemed even more terrifying—not because of its power, but because it indicated a higher realm in swordsmanship.
With over ten months to go before the Overlapping Land opened, it would be difficult for Shi Xiaole to make sudden leaps, but securing and surpassing his current strength was achievable.
Only, it was a pity. He was simply too young. In another two hundred years, by the next opening of the Overlapping Land, the master of the Illusion Orchid Tower had no doubt that Shi Xiaole would become the biggest winner.
Shi Xiaole just smiled and didn’t explain that what he aimed to master was not just "Old Ox’s Broken Cart".
In fact, Shi Xiaole’s goals had changed.
His previous minimum standard was to master the Four Great Sword Techniques. Now, in addition to this, he also wanted to refine the later moves of the Saintly Spirit Sword Technique and even attempt to break through the Supreme Martial Way of life and death! If time allowed, he would use the Demon Bone to practice the Purple Blood Great Method.
In short, over the next ten months, he would be extremely busy, he had to give it his all, but it would also be very meaningful.
Shi Xiaole truly wanted to see, before the Overlapping Land opened, to what extent he could reach and whether he could shine with his own brilliance in that world-shaking competition!
