“Su Muyu.” After navigating through various formations along the way, Xie Buxie had sustained several injuries by the time he reached the corridor, but his eyes revealed an unusual excitement.

“I’ve never met you before. It seems the Xie Clan has been keeping quite a blade hidden away,” Su Muyu said flatly, looking at Xie Buxie.

Xie Buxie stepped forward slowly. “I often ask my master about my blade work. He always tells me that my skills are unmatched in the Dark River region, but compared to Su Muyu, the master of the sword, I still have a long way to go.”

“Who is your master?” Su Muyu asked.

“From the Xie Clan, Seven Blade Xie,” Xie Buxie replied solemnly.

“Uncle Seven Blade is an excellent teacher. No wonder you’ve made it this far, being his disciple,” Su Muyu nodded in approval.

“I don’t seek your verbal praise. The highest compliment you can pay me is to face me in battle.” Xie Buxie lightly brandished his Dragon Fang Blade.

Mu Xuewui arrived at this moment. Seeing Su Muyu, her pale pupils brightened, though her tone remained calm. “Su Muyu, you no longer have a chance. You should give up now.”

“Ah, Xuewui, you’re here.” Su Muyu smiled.

Xie Buxie turned slightly. “You know each other?”

“We carried out missions together in the past,” Mu Xuewui replied.

“Many years ago,” Su Muyu said wistfully.

“Regardless, do not interfere with our duel. Whether you help him or me, if you make a move, I will kill you,” Xie Buxie said coldly.

“Are you threatening me?” A flash of light gleamed across Mu Xuewui’s gloves.

“Let’s grant your wish then.” Su Muyu stepped forward swiftly, appearing beside Xie Buxie, striking directly at him with the paper umbrella.

Xie Buxie swung his Dragon Fang Blade forcefully, batting the umbrella aside. “I want to fight against your sword, not some broken umbrella,” he growled.

“The umbrella is my sword.” Su Muyu’s paper umbrella whirled, and an invisible sword energy wrapped in rainwater struck at Xie Buxie. He blocked with his blade but was forced back ten paces.

“You know what I want to see. Am I not worthy of facing your Eighteen Sword Formation?” Xie Buxie asked deeply.

“Indeed, not yet enough,” Su Muyu answered honestly.

“Good.” Xie Buxie took a heavy breath, then gradually relaxed his muscles. He stepped back and slowly closed his eyes.

Mu Xuewui started. “The Art of Weapon’s Breath.” She had heard of this secret technique of the Xie Clan, reserved only for those who had reached the pinnacle of blade work. Those who employed this art could ignore all external distractions for a short time, seeing only their blade and their opponent. Combined with exquisite blade work, it was considered invincible in one-on-one combat.

“Strike!” Xie Buxie suddenly opened his eyes and moved with speed invisible to the naked eye, appearing before Su Muyu. His long blade swept down from above, cutting a perfect arc.

Su Muyu frowned slightly, blocking with his umbrella, but the strike forced his feet a foot deep into the ground.

“Su Muyu!” Mu Xuewui cried out, completely forgetting they now stood on opposing sides.

“Return!” Xie Buxie thrust his blade forward, then suddenly pulled back. Su Muyu, already hindered in movement, couldn’t dodge in time and lost a sleeve to the blade.

“Rise!” Xie Buxie’s blade swept upward from below. If this strike landed, Su Muyu would surely be defeated. Mu Xuewui could no longer remain still, black smoke slowly rising between her hands.

“Eighteen Sword Formation, arise!” Su Muyu suddenly said quietly. His paper umbrella bloomed like a flower, and eighteen blades shot out from beneath the umbrella ribs. Xie Buxie hurriedly withdrew his blade and retreated, as several sharp weapons struck toward him. He dodged at extreme speed, his blade work reaching its peak. Even Mu Xuewui at the side could barely track his blade movements, feeling only the bitter blade energy – standing far away, her face stung as if cut.

Finally, Xie Buxie knocked away the last blade and stopped, taking a deep breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow. “So this is the Eighteen Sword Formation?” Looking ahead, he saw sharp weapons planted in the ground, all gleaming with deadly light, each attached to an extremely fine thread that gathered in Su Muyu’s left hand. How could one person control eighteen blades simultaneously with just their left hand? Xie Buxie swallowed, experiencing fear for the first time in his life.

“You have now witnessed the Eighteen Sword Formation,” Su Muyu said quietly. “So, do you think you can overcome it?”

Xie Buxie suddenly smiled. “I don’t think I can. But isn’t the meaning of crossing a threshold found in facing what seems impossible? Victory only has meaning when defeating what seems undefeatable.”

“You’re obsessed with the blade,” Su Muyu said slowly.

“Perhaps so, many people say that.” Xie Buxie held his blade before him. “What about you, Lord Puppet Master? Are you obsessed with the sword?”

“I am not,” Su Muyu shook his head.

“If not, how could you master such miraculous swordplay? Though I’ve never seen the incomplete manual of the Eighteen Sword Formation, to recreate such an incredible formation from an incomplete manual – I’d say your obsession matches mine,” Xie Buxie said.

Nearby, Mu Xuewui was surprised. She had known this Xie Buxie for many days but had barely heard him speak. Why had he become so talkative at this critical moment? And why did his blade-holding hand keep trembling slightly?

Was it fear?

No, it was excitement.

Su Muyu lightly pulled the threads in his hand. “If we continue, it will be a fight to the death.”

“Master often says that one can only see heaven and earth when facing death. If I have the chance, then I thank Lord Puppet Master.” Xie Buxie suddenly shouted and charged at Su Muyu with his blade raised.

Su Muyu’s left hand whipped out, and the eighteen blades rose from the ground, crashing down toward Xie Buxie. His movements were ghostly as he dodged the blades while swinging his own, creating patterns of blade work that clashed with the weapons, producing crisp sounds that rose and fell like an intense melody.

“Master often said I was just one blade short of surpassing him. This eighth blade is what the master always wanted to comprehend. Today is the chance to unleash that blade.” Xie Buxie leaped high into the air.

Su Muyu frowned slightly, his left hand moving rapidly as the eighteen blades formed a forest of swords beneath Xie Buxie…