The Name of Eternals

Chapter 174: Swift Attack on Liangzhou

"I'll give it a try," Li Hao said.

Hearing this, Lu Chunsheng glanced at him, nodded, and stepped aside. "Although I hope you can surpass him, the rules cannot be broken. You only have ten chances to observe the stele."

"Got it."

Li Hao fixed his gaze on the top-ranked Heavenly Shadow Stele, where he saw the middle-aged Jian Wudao raising his sword. Even through the stone tablet, the projection emanated a grand and overwhelming sword intent, almost as if it could pierce through the stone.

The sword light suddenly slashed out, seemingly trying to shoot out from the stone tablet. The sword aura flowed continuously, as if traversing the void, with the sword intent being both reserved and sharp.

Li Hao quietly watched. Soon, the system panel displayed a notification.

Li Hao chose to record it.

Despite the vast difference between the swordsmanship exhibited by this projection of Jian Wudao and the other sword techniques, the system's judgment was consistent.

As he recorded it, Li Hao also learned the name of the technique:

Sixteen Rhythms

It was an unusual name, seemingly unrelated to swordsmanship and more akin to calligraphy or musical notation.

Li Hao was surprised, but the system's records were infallible. Perhaps this was indeed the original name of the sword technique.

At this point, the Sixteen Rhythms sword technique had already been analyzed to the Transcendent level on the system panel. Moreover, the system had extrapolated additional sword moves, advancing up to the ninth move.

Earlier, the projection of the middle-aged Jian Wudao had only demonstrated three moves.

Lu Chunsheng had mentioned that this sword technique, with just one and a half moves, had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

The remaining one and a half moves were deduced by the middle-aged Jian Wudao.

Now, Li Hao, leveraging his six-tier swordsmanship, had extrapolated three moves to the ninth move.

Li Hao speculated that Jian Wudao's understanding of swordsmanship back then might have been at the fourth tier.

"Even with my swordsmanship level, I still can't complete this sword technique..."

Li Hao's eyes grew serious.

Having internalized the extrapolated sword techniques, Li Hao could sense the profound intricacy of this sword technique, containing a mysterious essence.

His understanding of music theory had reached the fourth tier, and now, he felt that this sword technique might originally have been a piece of music rather than a sword technique. Someone must have listened to the music, recorded its essence, and transformed it into a sword technique.

If that were the case, then the peculiar name made sense.

But what kind of music could allow someone to extract its essence and refine it into a supreme sword technique? Li Hao couldn't help but be curious and intrigued. He also pondered a question: If he were to advance his music theory to a certain level, could he produce the original sound of this sword technique?

If he could achieve that, then could his musical compositions evolve into other supreme techniques?

Reining in his thoughts, Li Hao focused on the Heavenly Shadow Stele before him. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back slightly and swung the branch in his hand, executing nine successive moves.

The sword intent flowed like a melodious ancient tune, rising and falling dynamically, each move carrying a force and momentum akin to tracing back to the source.

Around Li Hao, there was a faint hum from heaven and earth, resonating with the sword's true state.

Not far away, Lu Chunsheng watched in a daze.

Although he wasn't a practitioner of swordsmanship, he could still perceive the terrifying power of Li Hao's sword technique.

He even felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness, as if Li Hao, with this sword technique, could effortlessly defeat him in an instant if they were of the same level.

The sword light flowed continuously. After executing all nine moves, the branch in Li Hao's hand disintegrated into ashes.

On the Heavenly Shadow Stele, the previous projection of the middle-aged Jian Wudao vanished, replaced by the image of the young Li Hao performing the sword technique.

Nine Sword True State.

To surpass this, even the current Jian Wudao would have only a slim chance.

Lu Chunsheng snapped out of his shock and looked at the young man. Initially, he had only harbored a sliver of hope that the young man might create a miracle. But Li Hao did create a miracle, one that exceeded his wildest expectations!

Li Hao had not only mastered but perfected an apex sword technique after just one observation, advancing it to the True State.

Moreover, it seemed he had extrapolated additional moves seamlessly, which was simply unfathomable.

Li Hao exhaled softly, feeling a bit mentally taxed after absorbing this sword technique. He had taken in numerous techniques from the Tianji Tower and the Heavenly Shadow Steles today, and he felt the need to organize his thoughts and memories.

"Master Lu, if there's nothing else, I'll return to Tianmen Pass first," Li Hao said to Lu Chunsheng.

Lu Chunsheng, taken aback, quickly responded, "You don't want to stay a few more days? You haven't even experienced the charm of our Yongzhou. The Tianji Tower also has a special training ground..."

Li Hao shook his head slightly. "There will be time for that in the future. Master Lu knows I guard Tianmen Pass and have angered several demon kings. I'm worried that if my departure is discovered, they might vent their rage on the people of Cangya City."

Tianmen Pass was no longer just his solitary outpost.

Cangya City was bustling and lively. Besides the young people seeking fame and visiting the city, many merchants had come to do business, and some displaced people had also settled there.

If the city were breached, countless lives would be lost.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Lu Chunsheng realized it was inappropriate to insist further.

After all, Li Hao was a general with military duties, and this involved the lives of border citizens.

"In that case, let me see you off."

Lu Chunsheng offered.

Li Hao nodded, accepting the offer.

The two of them took to the sky, heading out of the Tianji Tower.

Previously, Lu Chunsheng had only sent Tianji Shanzhu to receive Li Hao. But after witnessing Li Hao's terrifying comprehension ability, he understood that this young man was not merely a junior. Soon, he would be someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, perhaps even surpass him.

His perspective had shifted from initially wanting to extend a favor to now genuinely wishing to establish a connection with Li Hao.

At the foot of the mountain, the disciples of the Tianji Tower watched their master and the young man depart. It took a long time for them to recover.

The previously silent training ground suddenly erupted into a cacophony of astonished voices.

Amidst the noise, a few of the Tianji Tower's top talents stood quietly, feeling a chill throughout their bodies and their determination on the verge of shattering.

The fervor that had driven them was crushed at this moment.

The gap was too vast.

Was this the difference between people?

It felt more like the difference between humans and gods!

"This is the talent of someone who became a general at fourteen, entering the True State with a single glance, reducing all techniques to mundane..."

Someone murmured, feeling a weight in their chest, almost bringing them to tears.

It wasn't jealousy but despair.

Tang Zhixi silently gazed at the distant horizon, her eyes vacant and speechless.

She felt as if a gust of wind could knock her over.

Her pride in her talent and comprehension, which had allowed her to rise from a humble background and catch up with the prodigies, seemed insignificant now.

Even when facing the geniuses from the divine generals' families, or the disciples of the Sword Saint, or the personal disciples of the Buddhas and Sages, she had harbored a sense of defiance.

She believed that if she had the same background, she could do even better.

Because she was smart.

But today, she realized that her pride meant nothing in front of that young man.

The sword technique she had painstakingly studied for half a year was mastered by that young man in a single glance.

Just one glance.

And he had learned it and surpassed it! Surpassed it to a level she could never reach!!

If she was a genius, what did that make the young man? A monster?

If the young man was merely a genius, what did that make her? A commoner? An idiot? A fool? Or perhaps an uncivilized beast?

She didn't know, but suddenly, she felt a strong urge to go to Liangzhou, to that pass, to be by that young man's side. She wanted to see how such a person trained daily.

...

...

Two thousand miles away on the western side of Liangzhou.

In the pitch-black depths of the lake, shadowy figures coiled around. From high above, the dark shadows were deep and sinister, inducing fear.

Yet, the lake's surface remained calm, with these giant creatures moving without causing ripples.

But suddenly, the lake surface gently rippled.

The ripples gradually expanded, like raindrops splashing, turning the calm water surface into a bouncing bead.

The water beads violently bounced, making the entire deep lake tremble!

The giant shadows swimming quietly in the lake were startled by the vibrations. Some rapidly contracted and transformed into human figures, leaping out of the lake into midair.

Others dived deeper into the lake.

Suddenly, at the lake's center, where the ripples were most intense, the water surged high, like a bulging balloon.

Then it burst open, and a massive true dragon shot out!

Its body was dark purple, almost black, with scales as sharp and solid as forged divine weapons, covering its entire body.

The dragon was a hundred meters long, its head ferocious, capable of coiling around a hill.

Roar!!

The true dragon soared into the sky, piercing through numerous clouds, reaching the blazing sun, its scales reflecting an unapproachable divine light.

Its dark, red eyes reflected the distant sun, then it dived back into the clouds.

When it emerged from the clouds, it had transformed into an old man in a dark purple robe.

"Grand Elder!"

"Grand Elder!"

Many transformed figures gathered around him.

In the lake, the water demons raised their heads in awe and reverence, trembling but with fervent worship in their eyes.

"Is there any Supreme realm expert stationed in Liangzhou?" the old man's voice was deep, carrying immense authority.

"We haven't detected any so far," an old man in a green robe replied respectfully.

Among demons, hierarchy was strict; otherwise, the consequence was being devoured.

"In that case, launch a swift attack on Liangzhou. Is the Taixu army assembled?" the Grand Elder in the dark purple robe asked coldly.

"The Taixu army has been ready and waiting. The Holy Palace's army is still on the way, but our Dragon Gate's army has already assembled at Sishui Lake, Luying Lake, and Shenjiao Forest," another elder quickly reported.

"The Holy Palace is always dragging their feet, no wonder they've been entangled with the Li family in Yanbei for over a decade, unwilling to take losses but wanting land, they're useless!"

The Grand Elder in the dark purple robe snorted coldly.

He continued, "In this attack on Liangzhou, though I'll be leading, the main assault force will be Taixu. As agreed, they'll break through the border first. We're responsible for destroying the cities. If there are any Supreme realm experts, I'll deal with them."

"Then you all are responsible for killing everyone else. Leave no one alive, eat them all!"

"We'll bathe the entire Liangzhou in blood, leaving no survivors!"

"We'll make that old immortal feel real pain!"

"Yes, Grand Elder."

"Let's go to Taixu first!" the old man in the dark purple robe ordered coldly.

He led the way, flying out, followed by numerous demons at the Fifteen Miles realm. They soared out of the lake, transforming into countless streaks of light, following the Grand Elder's true dragon figure, streaking across the vast sky like meteors.