Chapter 44: Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, Second Level

The Next Day, At the early hour.

The bronze bell in front of the main hall of Qingxuan Sect suddenly started to vibrate.

The sound of the bell echoed through the mountain gate. The voice of Murong Yue resounded throughout the entire sect.

"Two months from now, our sect will send ten disciples to participate in the Hundred Gates Ceremony hosted by the top five sects of Xuanjiang."

"Therefore, one month from now, the sect will conduct a disciple selection."

"Any disciple who can pass the selection and become one of the ten will receive a Profound-Grade spiritual weapon, ten bottles of Foundation Stabilizing Pill, and one hundred mid-grade spirit stones!"

As soon as the news spread, the disciples went wild.

"Wow! I've been an inner disciple for six or seven years, and I've only saved up eighteen mid-grade spirit stones!"

"They're giving out such rewards just for passing the selection?!"

"Starting today, I'll only sleep three hours a day and spend the rest of the time cultivating!"

"Hmph, I'll only sleep one hour a day!"

"I...I won't sleep at all!"

"Stop competing on who sleeps less and take a closer look. It seems like there are ten slots, but in reality, there are only six."

"Right, the four true disciples are the strongest, no one can compete with them, the top four will definitely be among them."

The disciples were abuzz with discussions, their hearts filled with excitement.

However, many believed that at least a Foundation Establishment stage level was necessary to win the selection.

Otherwise, with just a Qi Condensation Realm, it would be too difficult to pass the selection.

Even at the peak of Qi Condensation, facing an entry-level Foundation Establishment stage opponent, one would certainly lose within two moves.

The gap between the two stages was just too great. Amidst this commotion, Shen Mo didn't pay much attention.

He didn't even care about the rewards of the selection. Those items, while plentiful to others, were not significant to him.

In his storage ring, just the spirit stones given by Murong Yue amounted to five hundred mid-grade ones.

In addition, he had dozens of bottles of Foundation Stabilizing Pill.

As for the Poround-grade spiritual weapons, they were somewhat useful, but Shen Mo didn't lack them.

After all, for daily combat, he had the Thunder Sword; for daily defense, he had the Forest Python Skin Inner Armor; and as a trump card, he had the Grass Character Sword Book.

Shen Mo spent his days in his courtyard, cultivating martial skills.

He had been busy snatching opportunities everywhere recently, and had not settled down to hone his martial skills.

His Thunder Shadow Sword Technique was still at the first level.

"I possess the innate talent of a Sword Dao Enthusiast and a Innate wisdom far superior to others."

"Even without snatching opportunities, through my own efforts, I can comprehend the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique to the second level."

Shen Mo nodded slightly. Half a month later, he indeed saw changes on his life panel.

[Recent Opportunity: Today, while practicing the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, it suddenly started thundering and raining, leading to an epiphany. The Thunder Shadow Sword Technique was comprehended to the second level.]

Shen Mo smiled, indeed!

He practiced his sword as usual. Before long, the sunny weather suddenly changed.

Dark clouds pressed down, thunder roared. In no time, torrential rain poured down.

Shen Mo stood motionless in the rain, entering a state of enlightenment.

A dozen breaths later, the thunder boomed, and lightning tore through the dark sky like a sharp sword.

At that moment, the lightning seemed like a ray of wisdom, piercing through his chaotic mind.

Shen Mo suddenly felt his thoughts become clear. He immediately picked up the Thunder Sword and resumed practicing. Sure enough, the power greatly increased!

"The Thunder Shadow Sword Technique has reached the second level!"

Shen Mo was pleasantly surprised.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed. As usual, Shen Mo headed to the fire stove hall for a meal.

On the way, he noticed a group of disciples surrounding Liu Yunxuan, who seemed to be engaged in a lively discussion.

From a distance, he saw Liu Yunxuan wearing a proud expression.

Shen Mo couldn't be bothered with his trivial matters and planned to head straight to the fire dining hall.

However, Liu Yunxuan spotted him from afar.

A thought flashed through Liu Yunxuan's mind, and he suddenly shouted, "Shen Mo! Long time no see!"

As his voice fell, the surrounding disciples all turned their attention. The disciples were well aware of the conflict between Shen Mo and Liu Yunxuan.

Some of the more perceptive disciples even realized that the conflict between Shen Mo and Liu Yunxuan was actually a reflection of the tension between Sect Master Murong Yue and Vice Sect Master Liu Yuanfeng.

As soon as Liu Yunxuan spoke, all the disciples realized that a good show was about to unfold.

Shen Mo frowned, "What is it?"

Liu Yunxuan smiled slightly, "The selection for the Hundred Sects Ceremony is about to start. Shen Mo, do you dare to compete with me? Let's see who can take first place!"

Shen Mo was puzzled. Where did this guy get the confidence to challenge him?

Instinctively, he glanced at Liu Yunxuan's life panel.

[name: Liu Yunxuan.]

[stage: Peak Foundation Establishment.]

[fate: Fortunate Encounter, Graceful Appearance, Turning Danger into Safety, Smooth Sailing, Lesser Yin Mysterious Ice Body.]

[destiny: Stops at major achievement of the Core Formation realm, serves as an inner elder of the Divine Sword Sect. Dies forty-one years later during an external campaign of the Divine Sword Sect.]

[Recent opportunity: Three days later, participates in the Qingxuan Sect's Hundred Sects Ceremony selection battle, uses Ice Crystal Flame, secretly consumes Eternal Flame to try to defeat Shen Mo and take first place, but is sternly reprimanded by Murong Yue. After leaving Qingxuan Sect overnight, meets secretly with the granddaughter of the Divine Sword Sect's Great Elder, receives two Dark Fire Crystals from her, greatly enhancing the Ice Crystal Flame.]

Shen Mo's mouth twitched.

Ice Crystal Flame...

This type of flame is not a eternal fire but a beast fire born within an Ice Flame Wolf.

However, Ice Crystal Flame is quite rare.

It can only be found in an elder Ice Flame Wolf that has reached the fourth tier.

Presumably, this flame was obtained for Liu Yunxuan by Liu Yuanfeng.

It is indeed very suitable for Liu Yunxuan's Lesser Yin Profound Ice Body.

But to use it to compete with the Red Lotus Flame, while not exactly comparable, it is at least worlds apart.

Moreover, Liu Yunxuan's life panel also showed that he failed.

He only obtained a new opportunity after failing.

Seeing this, Shen Mo waved his hand, "Not interested."

First place would only mean more mid-grade spirit stones, what other rewards could there be?

He had plenty of treasures, he didn't need this so-called first place.

Liu Yunxuan wanted to continue provoking him, but saw that Shen Mo was already walking away.

He was somewhat annoyed. It felt like he had punched a piece of cotton.

"With my Ice Crystal Flame and my peak Foundation Establishment stage, who's stronger or weaker is still uncertain!" Liu Yunxuan snorted coldly in his heart.

...

Three days later.

It was time for Qingxuan Sect to select its disciples.

Shen Mo got up early, washed up, and headed to the martial arts field.

Along the way, every disciple he encountered would unconsciously stop and salute him respectfully.

They would also address him as "Senior Brother Shen."

The sect master had even gotten angry at Vice Sect Master Liu Yuanfeng and Great Elder Song Chaofeng for his sake.

One could see Shen Mo's standing in the sect master's heart.

When Shen Mo arrived at the martial arts field, the disciples naturally parted to make way for him.

Up ahead, Luo Shengnan laughed heartily, "Shen Mo, come over here, this spot has a good view of the whole martial arts stage."

Zhao Ting, sitting opposite Luo Shengnan, also waved at Shen Mo.

Shen Mo nodded slightly.

It made sense, given his high status, he shouldn't stand among the crowd.

Soon, in the pavilion beside the martial arts field, Shen Mo, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou sat opposite each other.

This table was by the window, allowing them to clearly see the battles on the martial arts stage.

"As true disciples, we don't need to fight right now."

Luo Shengnan waved his hand boldly, "We'll only step in after they have determined the top six."