Chapter 42 - 17: Sword Dao Domain

The Inheritance Space had finished recharging. At this rate, it would take about three days to fully recharge. A single charge allowed her to stay inside continuously for a maximum of ten days. Ten days in the space equaled one day outside. She had a match tomorrow, so she certainly couldn’t stay inside the whole time. Li Shuang calculated the hours. This time, she could probably spend about five days inside.

Last time, she had practiced her Swordsmanship day and night for ten days within the space. Upon coming out, her mind felt vast and boundless, overflowing with her comprehension of Swordsmanship. Later, when several fellow disciples from Heartless Peak discussed the sword with her, these insights gradually transformed into actual Sword Dao accomplishments. During the daytime arena match, if not for this sudden leap in her Sword Dao Understanding, she still would have won, but the outcome likely wouldn’t have been so astounding. This time, Li Shuang couldn’t wait to see Senior Su Mu again.

With a flash of light, Li Shuang’s body directly entered the Inheritance Space. This time, Su Mu was already waiting in the pure white space.

"Senior, I..." Li Shuang was about to speak.

Suddenly, the longsword in Su Mu’s hand slipped from his grasp, flying straight toward her. She dodged instinctively. The next moment, Su Mu was already behind her, gripping the sharp blade. He thrust the longsword at her from an impossibly tricky angle.

She wondered if it had already begun. Li Shuang steadied her mind and met his attack with her sword.

After a few exchanges, a nearly imperceptible smile touched the corners of Su Mu’s lips. He thought it was very good. She had already digested most of the Sword Dao Understanding she gained from her last practice session so quickly. After waiting all these years, he had actually encountered a Sword Dao prodigy.

Moreover, Li Shuang was still a completely unpolished gem when it came to the Sword Dao. It was obvious she hadn’t received much guidance in this area; she had figured out most of her Swordsmanship on her own. Therefore, her Swordsmanship was unparalleled in its agility, frequently producing astonishingly innovative moves. Not having been trained according to conventional sword routines was actually a good thing for her. A Sword Dao genius like her naturally needed to walk her own path. If she had been bound by rigid sword moves too early, it would have been harder for her to step onto the true Sword Dao.

With these myriad thoughts flashing through his mind, Su Mu’s Swordsmanship grew even more fierce. Yet, he merely said indifferently, "Continue!

"You spoke so grandly before, but why do you look so weak now?

"The Heartless Sword Technique isn’t something just anyone can learn. Disarm me, and I will give you a chance to challenge the first stance of the technique.

"Otherwise, you can just obediently go back to practicing your garbage Swordsmanship."

Li Shuang looked at Su Mu calmly. "Senior, I cultivate the Supreme Forget Emotion Technique."

Su Mu raised an eyebrow and said expressionlessly, "I just wanted to scold you. I didn’t actually expect you to feel any emotions."

Su Mu was well aware that Cultivators who practiced the Supreme Forget Emotion Technique almost never generated negative emotions.

Li Shuang nodded. She met his attack with her sword and said calmly, "So, Senior hasn’t spoken to anyone in a long time, has he?"

Su Mu remained speechless.

"It’s all right," Li Shuang continued. "Next time, I will focus entirely on keeping Senior company and chatting with you."

Su Mu glared at her, his teeth grinding audibly. He wondered if these Sword Cultivators really needed to speak so bluntly. It was a bit infuriating, yet inexplicably somewhat heartwarming.

In an instant, Su Mu’s sword sped up a fraction more. Li Shuang dodged by a hair’s breadth, her expression growing increasingly solemn. For a while, the only sound in the vast Inheritance Space was the metallic CLANG of their longswords clashing.

Under this extreme focus, Li Shuang slowly entered a peculiar state of mind. Senior Su Mu was indeed a terrifying Swordsman. If she revealed even the slightest opening, his sword would thrust toward her without mercy. This feeling of always being seen through one step ahead forced her sword to move faster and faster, pushing her sword moves to become increasingly flawless and unified.

A chaotic flood of Sword Dao Understanding continuously surged into her mind. Li Shuang didn’t notice that within the Black Abyss Sword, the translucent Sword Spirit was also shimmering with faint traces of light.

Right now, Li Shuang was completely immersed in her Sword Dao Understanding. She stared intently at Su Mu’s sword momentum. She wondered why Senior Su Mu could always predict the Black Abyss’s landing point one step in advance. She was constantly being led by the nose.

There had to be something she didn’t know—there absolutely had to be! Li Shuang stared fixedly at Su Mu’s every move, refusing to miss even the subtlest twitch of his muscles.

A subtle curve appeared at the corner of Su Mu’s lips. He had high hopes for Li Shuang, but rules were rules. Su Mu raised his weapon. With a flash of sword light, the seemingly ordinary longsword in his hand descended from the side at an incredibly bizarre angle.

At this moment, Li Shuang had almost no room to think. Her hand moved completely naturally on its own, and the Black Abyss Sword perfectly blocked the descending longsword.

"Oh?" A hint of surprise flashed in Su Mu’s eyes.

But Li Shuang didn’t stop. Seizing the opportunity, she instantly counterattacked. And throughout the entire process, her eyes... were actually closed.

Su Mu’s smile deepened.

Li Shuang finally understood. People used their eyes to see things. However, a Swordsman didn’t necessarily need to use their eyes to see a sword. Eyes could sometimes deceive, but a peerlessly clear sword heart never would. By closing her eyes, Li Shuang actually saw everything much more clearly. The trajectory of the blade, the landing point of the next sword move—everything became incredibly clear within her mind.

As she swung the Black Abyss, a small spatial domain appeared around her, with Li Shuang at its center. This was... the Sword Dao Domain.

Normally, it would take quite a lot of time for a Sword Dao Domain to grow from its inception to a noticeable scale. But right now, she had Su Mu tirelessly helping her deconstruct sword moves and consolidate her Sword Dao experience. As a result, this tiny domain slowly expanded. The Sword Dao Understanding Li Shuang had accumulated over so many years served as the fuel for this Sword Dao Domain.

An unknown amount of time passed. Li Shuang poured all of her Sword Dao Understanding into the domain. Its range expanded to a radius of ten meters before coming to a complete stop. A radius of ten meters was the current limit of Li Shuang’s Sword Dao Domain. If she wanted to expand it further, she would need even more comprehension.

With a heavy THWACK, Li Shuang struck Su Mu’s wrist with her sword, knocking the longsword from his grasp. Su Mu’s sword... hit the ground.

Li Shuang suddenly opened her eyes, a hint of joy in her gaze. She immediately and earnestly bowed to Su Mu. "Thank you, Senior."

Li Shuang knew very well that disarming Su Mu didn’t mean she had surpassed him in the Sword Dao. The gap between them was like the difference between the bright moon and floating dust. She couldn’t even fathom how much of his Sword Dao Cultivation Su Mu had suppressed to spar with her. She was only able to condense a Sword Dao Domain because Su Mu had been constantly guiding her from the side. Being able to help a Sword Cultivator condense a Sword Dao Domain—based on this alone, Su Mu’s Sword Dao Cultivation was unimaginably terrifying.

Su Mu calmly accepted her bow, then smiled faintly. "Someone is calling for you outside, so you should head out for now. Next time you come, I will pass on the first stance of the Heartless Sword Technique to you."

"Understood."

Li Shuang had barely agreed before she was sent out of the space.