Chapter 206: Knowing One's Limits

After the eighth person stepped down, a graceful figure walked up.

It was a woman in white robes with a strikingly beautiful face and a fiery, alluring figure, but her expression was cold, as if a layer of ice covered her face.

The woman murmured incantations, her jade-like hands forming seals and gestures before her.

Strands of white light flowed from her body like water, coalescing into a full-moon-like white orb that spun with a faint sizzling sound.

In the next moment, the woman in white abruptly changed her hand seals, and the white orb around her split apart, suddenly dividing into three, which then vanished in a flash into the three stone swords.

The onlookers were startled, their eyes shining with curiosity, clearly wanting to see if this woman could succeed in driving all three swords at once.

The woman in white radiated intense white light, rapidly chanting incantations, while her jade hands formed seals like lightning.

Hum!

A white ring appeared on each of the three stone swords, enveloping the blades, and then lifted them sharply upward.

The three stone swords trembled slightly simultaneously, resonating with each other as if about to rise together.

But then the black patterns on the sword surfaces flared with dark light, and beams of black light, like sharp swords, stabbed fiercely at the white rings around the blades.

The white rings flickered wildly, but they managed to hold on.

The three stone swords trembled again and slowly rose into the air.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then many let out exclamations of surprise.

Finally, someone had driven three stone swords!

Han Li was also quite amazed.

He remembered this woman; she was also an elder from a loose cultivator background. Thus, those who exclaimed were mostly loose cultivator elders. In contrast, the native elders' expressions turned somewhat unpleasant.

This feeling carried a sense of being suppressed in momentum, quite frustrating.

Driving three stone swords was clearly the limit for the woman in white, but she did not give up trying to manipulate a fourth.

As a result, when a mass of white light entered the fourth stone sword, the patterns on all four swords resonated again, and the black light suddenly doubled in brightness, easily tearing apart the white rings on the swords.

"Three stone swords!" Xiong Shan nodded lightly.

The woman breathed a sigh of relief and stepped aside.

The test continued. With the example of the woman in white driving three swords, the subsequent participants seemed to have a breakthrough, performing increasingly well. Among the next dozen or so, three in a row managed to drive three swords, one being a loose cultivator elder and the other two from the sect's native elder faction.

Although it seemed like a sword test, the two sides were subtly competing. However, with Xiong Shan present, no one dared to make a big fuss, at most letting out a few low murmurs of admiration.

For now, it seemed the two sides were temporarily tied.

Xiong Shan was well aware of this, but he clearly had no interest in which side would win.

Qi Liang suddenly thought of something and closed his eyes, as if gaining some insight.

A moment later, his eyes snapped open, revealing a hint of excitement.

Having observed until now, coupled with Han Li's seemingly casual pointers, he was confident he could raise three stone swords.

"Only three stone swords may not be foolproof. Brother Qi must go a step further to secure victory," Han Li said, giving Qi Liang a deep look and transmitting his voice.

"I know that well, but four stone swords are too difficult. With my sword cultivation, even if I trained for another thousand years, I might not be able to raise them," Qi Liang was startled and replied with a bitter smile.

"You don't have to actually raise them; just use some cleverness to perform better than those with three swords, that's enough..." Han Li's lips moved slightly as he explained a few key points for controlling four swords.

Qi Liang's eyes lit up, and he fell into thought again.

While they were communicating, most of the elders had already taken the test. The number of those who controlled three stone swords had reached seven, four of whom were native elders and three were loose cultivator elders.

The native elder faction felt a sense of vindication, casting contemptuous glances at the other side, while the loose cultivator elders naturally looked displeased.

Unfortunately, no one had yet managed to control four stone swords.

"Vice Dao Lord Xiong's Inverse Origin Stone Swords are indeed profound. I would like to give it a try and seek your guidance," Zhu Feng suddenly stepped forward, cupping his fist to Xiong Shan.

"These Inverse Origin Stone Swords were not created by me. They were a special treasure used by the renowned Wusheng Sword Sect in the Northern Cold Immortal Domain to test their disciples' sword cultivation. I acquired them by chance and spent considerable effort to refine them. It is said that only those who have reached the pinnacle of sword insight can hope to achieve the ten-sword level. Your sword cultivation is good; try to see if you can break through to the four-sword level." Xiong Shan's attitude toward Zhu Feng was noticeably different, carrying a hint of expectation.

"Yes. I will do my best." Zhu Feng said respectfully.

But when Han Li heard the words 'Wusheng Sword Sect,' his heart stirred slightly.

He had once read about this sect in a classic; it was a very ancient sword cultivation sect that believed in breaking all laws with the sword, using offense as defense, with a sword in hand, leaving no gods or ghosts.

What was particularly special was that the sect had very few members, never exceeding ten at its peak, making it quite mysterious.

However, the sect's fame largely came from its founder, Wusheng Daoist, who once roamed the Northern Cold Immortal Domain alone with his sword, leaving behind many undefeated legends.

But a million years ago, this sect suddenly vanished without a trace, and now it has completely disappeared.

As he pondered, Zhu Feng had already entered the field and begun his technique. Without any apparent movement, his entire body radiated intense blue light.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle!

Countless blue threads shot out from his body, numbering in the tens of thousands.

Waves of blue light rippled outward, and a fierce sword intent suddenly erupted, enveloping the entire main peak of Heavenly Sword Peak.

Everyone present immediately felt as if thousands of small knives were piercing and cutting their bodies, a bone-chilling cold penetrating deep into their hearts.

To Han Li, this sword intent was like a spring breeze, but beside him, Qi Liang shuddered, snapped out of his thoughts, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes.

Han Li's few words had begun to clear some fog in his sword cultivation, and he was at a critical moment of insight when he was interrupted.

Seeing the situation, Qi Liang snorted softly, concealed the anger in his eyes, and continued to meditate with his eyes closed.

Zhu Feng formed hand seals, and the myriad blue threads shot out, directly wrapping around three stone swords and sinking into them.

Rumble!

The three stone swords trembled and slowly rose into the air.

Bright black light burst from the stone swords, trying to break free from the blue threads, but the threads were extremely tough, trembling under the impact of the black light yet remaining taut and unbroken.

Although Zhu Feng's expression was solemn, he did not seem overly strained. He opened his mouth.

Another burst of blue threads shot out, wrapping around the fourth stone sword.

Hum!

The four stone swords blazed with black light, and black sword qi materialized, slashing fiercely at the blue threads.

Bang bang bang!

Most of the blue sword threads were cut off, and Zhu Feng's face suddenly turned pale as he grunted.

These threads were not ordinary sword threads; they were formed from his vital essence mixed with soul power. Being severed had already damaged his soul.

Although most of the blue threads were cut, some stubbornly remained.

A sharp light blazed in Zhu Feng's eyes as he let out a loud shout.

The remaining blue threads shone brightly, pulling at the fourth stone sword.

Boom!

A soundless thunderclap exploded, and the fourth stone sword actually lifted off the ground, hovering in midair.

In the next moment, even sharper black sword qi emerged, easily cutting off all the remaining blue threads.

Zhu Feng's face turned pale again, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, but a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

Though brief, he had indeed controlled four stone swords.

"With each additional sword, the difficulty increases tenfold. Although it was a struggle, you have reached the four-sword level. Considering your cultivation time, that is quite impressive." Xiong Shan nodded, a satisfied expression on his face.

"Thank you for the praise, Vice Dao Lord Xiong." Zhu Feng's face lit up with joy as he cupped his fist in thanks.

"Continue, next person." Xiong Shan waved his hand and announced loudly.

Zhu Feng stepped back, took out a pill, and swallowed it. His pale complexion quickly recovered.

As soon as he stepped down, the native elders immediately surrounded him, showering him with praise like a tidal wave.

In contrast, the loose cultivator elders looked even more grim, their morale significantly diminished.

The test continued. Fewer than ten people remained, but after observing and contemplating for so long, some had gained insights. Soon, three more achieved the three-sword result, two of whom were from the loose cultivator elder faction.

Thus, both sides had five people who achieved three swords, but the native elder faction had Zhu Feng, who reached four swords, giving them a clear advantage in momentum.

Qi Liang's expression darkened. To be selected, he would need to perform better than those with three swords to have a chance.

"Brother Qi, I'll go first," Han Li's voice came from beside him.

"With Brother Li's skills, this small test is naturally no problem. If possible, please challenge the four swords and show those sect elders the power of us loose cultivator elders!" Qi Liang transmitted back.

"I'll do my best." Han Li's mouth twitched as he replied.

Then he took a deep breath, as if gathering his courage, and walked to the stone swords.

At this moment, he had already made a decision. He had observed until now not because he was worried about not being able to control more swords, but rather because he was concerned that if he controlled too many, he would attract too much attention.

Especially in front of Xiong Shan, a deputy dao lord at the peak of the True Immortal realm, he had to know his limits and did not want to stand out.

Xiong Shan saw Han Li, paused slightly, and seemed to recognize him immediately. Han Li had deliberately stood in a corner earlier, so he hadn't paid attention.

Seeing Han Li, Xiong Shan immediately recalled the incident at the Zhaoyao Hall and couldn't help but sneer, directly averting his gaze.