Chapter 97: Being defeated

The Dao is the Law.

When manifested in the great world outside, it is the natural Law and the Law of heaven and earth.

When manifested in the small world of the human body, it is a person's code of conduct and their thought activities.

Such a broad concept clearly cannot be encompassed by the ability to wield a sword.

That's why Shen Shuibi, as a true seeker of the Dao, was so indignant.

In her opinion, the art of swordsmanship is merely a technique, and cannot be called a Dao. When she saw Jing Yan claim 'Sword Dao,' it made her even angrier than Li Qi stroking her fur.

Therefore, she had to slap her face! She had to pull out her sword! She had to make her understand the weight of the word 'Dao'!

"Her swordsmanship is overly focused on trivial details, with too many flaws—a full one thousand five hundred sixty-two of them!" Shen Shuibi spread out a cloth and began to draw on it with charcoal.

Li Qi was stunned.

Oh my god, the rabbit is so serious!

What he hadn't expected was that Shen Shuibi was actually skilled at drawing. With just a few strokes, she depicted the sword moves vividly, and when viewed consecutively, they even had the dynamic feel of an animation.

Small dots marked different weaknesses and flaws in various movements.

Shen Shuibi explained to Li Qi: "Look, her sword moves, though seemingly exquisite, are actually too focused on minor details, strengthening the branches while weakening the trunk. Her inner Qi is chaotic; it's completely a show-off. She claims to have reached the realm of 'minute detail,' but in reality, she has nothing but minute detail. She'll collapse with a single push."

"The saying 'one who knows its comings and goings knows the reversal,顺, and fullness of Qi; one who wants to deal with it knows when Qi can be taken' means that I will now explain to you the changes in the reversal,顺, and fullness of Qi during the comings and goings of Qi when she performs her swordsmanship. As long as you grasp this, you can make her face swell with just two punches!" Shen Shuibi said, full of Aura and excitement.

Li Qi looked at the rabbit.

She's so excited…

Never mind, I'll learn it. After all, it's a good thing.

Li Qi studied until late into the night.

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By the next morning, even Manager Jing had come to watch the commotion.

It seems… the Jing Family really wanted to see Jing Yan get humiliated.

Li Qi inwardly mused about this Sister Jing's popularity, then, holding his long saber, walked into the crowd.

The area where the ox cart was parked for rest was circled by a human wall, forming a small arena. A group of people, some guards from the Martial Affairs Hall, some merchants from other halls, laborers, accountants, and other miscellaneous staff, as well as some managers like Manager Jing, were all gathered, full of excitement.

All that was missing was a handful of melon seeds.

Li Qi felt like he was being treated as entertainment.

Did these people usually have no entertainment activities?

"Sir Li, go for it!" A group of laborers cheered for Li Qi from behind, pumping their fists.

Some women were more reserved. They hid behind, whispering, but their gazes were not reserved at all, scrutinizing Li Qi from head to toe, as if trying to see through him, wanting to know who dared to provoke that fierce woman.

Manager Jing saw Li Qi and walked up with a cheerful laugh: "Sir Li is indeed wise and courageous! To think of such a method to deal with Officer Jing, this is much more effective than directly going to her door to request a spar. You truly are someone who ventures out into the Jianghu on your own!"

Li Qi was bewildered.

Never mind, if everyone thinks so, then so be it.

However, wouldn't Jing Yan be enraged by this? Her own family members are coming to support an outsider?

As Li Qi thought this, he walked into the circle formed by the crowd.

Shen Shuibi was also outside, her hands clasped in front of her chest, looking at Li Qi with full confidence and great anticipation.

She wasn't worried at all. She had completely seen through Jing Yan's sword moves, and from her commanding position, there would absolutely be no mistakes!

Li Qi thus walked out, bearing everyone's gaze.

However, what he didn't expect was that Jing Yan was not affected in the slightest.

On the contrary, when this elder sister arrived, she actually apologized to Li Qi first.

"Your name is Li Qi, right? Then I'll address you directly by your name." Jing Yan stepped forward and spoke first: "Li Qi, yesterday I was a bit too hasty and attacked your little sister. Thankfully, you stopped me in time, and no one was hurt. That was my fault, please forgive me." She said to Li Qi.

Li Qi didn't expect the other party to be so polite and immediately cupped his hands in return: "It was my little sister who spoke out of turn first. It's only natural for you to be anxious when your skill is being critiqued. There's really no need to apologize for this."

"Wait, I only apologized for my hasty attack, but I didn't say she was right." Jing Yan stopped Li Qi's next words.

"As for her arrogant words, we'll settle that after I win." As she spoke, she drew a new longsword, also a fine sword forged from hundred-refined steel.

It seemed she didn't possess a ninth-grade sword herself; otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen only this kind of ordinary, unranked good sword, even knowing Li Qi had the advantage of a weapon.

Li Qi looked at her sword-wielding posture, and it seemed he could feel her pride, just like the sword itself, straight up to the sky.

She truly was… a solitary and strange person.

However, after Li Qi finished sighing, he drew his long saber and assumed a strange posture.

Sighing was one thing, but the fight still had to happen.

"That's not a saber-wielding posture." Jing Yan frowned.

"This is a sword-breaking posture," Li Qi explained.

Then, the two stopped speaking. Jing Yan raised her hand, and her entire being vanished in an instant!

"Whoosh!" The sound of a sharp sword tearing through the air, a powerful energy, swirling like a vortex, tugged at Li Qi's saber, as if trying to pull it directly away!

Li Qi's original stance was directly ripped open, his entire posture twisted and skewed, his body's balance shattered by the sudden whistling.

Oh my god! We agreed to fight casually, so why did she immediately break me with brute force!

Li Qi's body was pulled by the immense force, nearly causing him to fall, but the longsword's edge had already lunged!

The surging Sword Qi stung Li Qi's skin, making him feel like a goat and the sword-wielder, Jing Yan, was a hunting tiger!

Li Qi had only truly begun cultivating for a little over a month, so he was far too lacking in both experience and technique.

Fortunately, he immediately burst forth with Carp Current Intent, temporarily unleashing double his strength, and in an instant, forcefully stabilized his body. His long saber clanged, blocking the sword.

However, that strike was just the beginning.

Jing Yan's speed suddenly erupted; her already extremely fast sword speed now became like a furious storm.

Despite facing a swordsman with only a single sword in hand, Li Qi felt as if he was being swept by a machine gun. The sword tip, like a bullet, continuously thrust, with dozens of swords attacking every second!

Li Qi only managed to resist for two or three seconds by relying on his physical fitness and reaction ability before he had to unleash Carp Current Intent again, withdrawing several meters away to avoid the frontal assault.

After two bursts of Carp Current Intent in a short time, Li Qi only felt his heart pounding, and the scenery before his eyes took on a reddish hue.

The ill effects of his unrefined heart, among his five internal organs, were beginning to show.

His heart simply couldn't support the vast Life Qi brought by his liver; as soon as he started fighting, it would operate under overload.