The surrounding sword cultivators suddenly felt that what Jiang Ke’er was participating in wasn’t a sword-fighting conference.
It was more like a fruit-slicing conference.
As a player, for Jiang Ke’er, cutting off other people’s heads was as simple and easy as slicing fruit, just a gentle swipe, seemingly without any technical skill.
But those who were cut down were all renowned sword cultivator geniuses, future pillars on whom major sects placed high hopes, not only having spent vast resources on their cultivation… but also representing the hope for their entire sect’s rise!
And just like that, they were gone.
In these brief few moments, Jiang Ke’er had already stormed to the 20th level; in these 20 levels, not a single so-called genius could make her stop, not even slow down.
Only the three surviving sword cultivators knew how perilous the clash was in that instant, and how many changes and helplessness existed.
“My swordsmanship focuses on technique, emphasizing control of force and agility, with sword stances that are strange and tricky, constantly changing… but her single sword strike, seemingly simple, concealed hundreds of millions of counterattack trajectories! I was utterly crushed in my own most proficient domain!” one surviving sword cultivator said with a bitter smile. “If my sword stance hadn’t been soft and without killing intent, I’m afraid my head would now be rolling down the steps like my other comrades.”
“It’s terrifying! I saw her previous battles; back then, she was clearly just a beginner with stiff movements, but now, whether it’s power, speed, the manipulation of true qi, or the prediction and control of enemy moves… she has reached an extraordinary level, like a grandmaster!” another survivor exclaimed with a look of horror.
“What’s even more frightening is that she could determine whether I harbored killing intent through my sword stance, which means all my subsequent sword move variations were completely understood by her! This shows that in the skill of sword control, the gap between us even surpasses the difference between immortals and mortals!”
So…
Are demon beasts truly stubborn and unsuitable for practicing swordsmanship?
Long-held, deeply ingrained notions were completely shaken.
It was as if some ancient barrier had been torn apart; the clear distinction between humans and demon beasts was no longer so defined.
This filled them with dread, making them afraid to ponder it deeply.
At this moment, not only were they pondering this question, but the demon beasts watching from behind the crystal were also thinking about it.
“Mom! Look! Jiang Ke’er won!” a demon beast boy in rough cloth clothing, hugging a small wooden sword, shouted, pointing at the image projected by the crystal.
“What does it matter if she defeats one or two useless individuals? She’ll still die in the end. Swordsmanship, swordsmanship, that’s not something we demon beasts can learn,” the woman sighed, setting out the bowls and chopsticks.
“Pei Min, come eat now, stop watching.”
“No, Mom, look! She won again! Maybe demon beasts really can learn swordsmanship. If you don’t believe me, just look at Jiang Ke’er! I want to apprentice myself to her!” The little boy’s eyes sparkled with stars as he nervously stared at the broadcast screen.
“She won again and again and again! Really, Mom, come look!”
The woman sighed helplessly, walked to the projection of the broadcast crystal, and picked up the little boy.
Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the screen.
She froze, watching the demon beast woman in white, whiter than snow, holding a long sword, charging towards the mountaintop with a proud demeanor she had never seen before, cutting off the heads of one human sword cultivator after another, her steps never pausing for a moment.
She couldn’t help but stare in amazement.
This… is a demon beast?
Is this something a demon beast can do?
Can demon beasts also stand so confidently and proudly under the clear sky, showcasing their best selves, making all their covetous enemies tremble, and making heaven and earth cheer for them?!
She didn’t know why, but the moment she saw that proud figure in the image, Pei Shi’s body trembled, and tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.
She quickly wiped away her tears, but forgot that her hands were still covered in flour.
“Mom, why did you turn into a big calico cat!” Pei Min laughed, dancing triumphantly.
“See, I didn’t lie to you! Sister Jiang Ke’er is really super cool and super amazing!”
“Mm-hmm!”
Pei Min was still young and innocent, filled with beautiful expectations for everything in the future.
He couldn’t comprehend Pei Shi’s complex emotions.
But Pei Shi knew that as demon beasts, she and her son were destined to be denied some of the things Pei Min yearned for.
She had never known how to tell Pei Min these truths; these things were simply too cruel for young Pei Min, tantamount to directly destroying all his beautiful aspirations and hopes.
But perhaps… there’s no need to destroy them?
Perhaps they, too, could live openly and fearlessly like that pure white figure in the image! Even if it meant madness, even if one day they were shattered like her, at least… they would have lived!
Lived loudly, lived magnificently, instead of cowering like a lamb awaiting slaughter as they were now!
—Win, Jiang Ke’er!
Please, survive.
Please.