Chương 46: White Deer Splitting-Light Sword — Li Shanyun's Test

Seeing that Wang Shan had no objections, Li Shanyun gave a slight nod. Everyone present immediately understood. The slot for Sword-Casting Manor had undoubtedly been snatched away by Su Zhe.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother! Your path in the Forge Dao has finally borne fruit!" Guo Ju roared in his deep, booming voice, raising an arm in celebration.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother!"

"You've brought glory to the Artisan Hall!"

"Haha! I knew this kid would make something of himself the moment he joined us!" The disciples of Artisan Hall erupted into cheers, crowding around Su Zhe with heartfelt congratulations. Su Zhe returned their greetings with a respectful clasp of his fists. His performance today had simply been too astonishing. A transformed physique. Three martial arts perfected to completion. The forging of a peak third-rank mortal weapon. Any one of those achievements would have been enough to shock the entire county.

Together, they felt almost unreal. Without question, Su Zhe had become the most talented disciple in the Blacksmiths' Guild. Sun Tiexin stood proudly, practically glowing with satisfaction. Compared to the gloomy Wang Shan, he looked like a victorious rooster strutting around the yard, his head held so high it seemed ready to pierce the heavens. Even Yang Dingtian now looked at Su Zhe with unmistakable goodwill.

"Good! Good! Excellent, boy!"

"When you become a great figure someday, remember to support your old master! If anyone dares piss me off again, crush their family jewels for me!" Sun Tiexin's palm—large enough to resemble a fan—slapped repeatedly against Su Zhe's back as he shouted shamelessly. Su Zhe nearly broke into a cold sweat.

"Master, let's persuade people with reason... with reason." He hurriedly cut off his master's increasingly outrageous remarks. Sun Tiexin merely snorted and shot Wang Shan a provocative glance. At that moment, Li Shanyun spoke.

"Brother Su, may I have a word with you in private?" Su Zhe instinctively looked toward Sun Tiexin.

"Go, go. If you enter Sword-Casting Manor in the future, you'll be fellow disciples. Building a relationship now isn't a bad thing." Sun Tiexin shrugged. Truthfully, Su Zhe was already feeling uncomfortable beneath the blazing gazes of his fellow guild members. He quickly bowed.

"Lady Li, allow me to show you around the guild." Li Shanyun nodded, still carrying the Young Phoenix Sword in her hand. The guild disciples exchanged meaningful looks. A stunning woman of such status personally inviting Su Zhe away? Their expressions instantly turned mischievous. Each looked like a hungry wolf. The kind of look that said: Every man knows what's going on here. Unfortunately, Sun Tiexin and the elders had strictly forbidden anyone from disturbing them. The crowd could only suppress their curiosity.

It was late autumn. The season's chill drifted through the air with the gentle breeze. Golden parasol tree leaves floated lazily from the branches like delicate bookmarks tumbling from an ancient tome. Every so often, a leaf would land softly upon a stone pavilion, its faint rustle sounding like autumn whispering stories of passing years. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Su Zhe and Li Shanyun walked together.

Su Zhe remained one step behind her, his expression calm and unreadable.

"The scenery here is quite pleasant," Li Shanyun said softly while running her fingers along the Young Phoenix Sword.

"But once you enter Sword-Casting Manor, you'll see an entirely different world. Treasure the days you still have here."

"Yes." Su Zhe nodded. Li Shanyun smiled and shook her head.

"You don't have to be so formal. Sword-Casting Manor has three ranks of disciples—Outer Disciples, Inner Disciples, and True Inheritors. It's not much different from your guild."

"Although I study under Jishi Manor's Lord, I'm merely an ordinary Inner Disciple."

"With your talent, once you enter Sword-Casting Manor, your status will be no lower than mine. If you're still this cautious around me, it makes me seem rather unapproachable." Su Zhe nodded.

"I don't feel constrained. Lady Li is approachable and gracious, like a spring breeze. It's hard not to admire you." Seeing the obvious politeness in his words, Li Shanyun laughed.

"You say that, yet you've deliberately kept one step behind me the entire time as a sign of respect."

"I dislike such formalities."

"And stop calling me 'Lady Li.' It makes me sound old."

"Just call me Shanyun." Su Zhe relaxed slightly.

"Very well, Shanyun. My name is Su Zhe." Having grown up in humble circumstances, Su Zhe had long adopted the habit of showing courtesy whenever he entered unfamiliar territory. He treated his fellow disciples that way. He treated Sun Tiexin that way. And he treated Li Shanyun that way. No matter how friendly she appeared, Su Zhe had not forgotten one crucial fact. Outside the Blacksmiths' Guild waited more than a hundred Black Cavalry riders. A force powerful enough to trample Lu County into dust.

The enormous gap between their statuses made it impossible for him to truly relax. She deliberately arranged for a private conversation... but why? Su Zhe's thoughts churned. He barely knew Li Shanyun and had no understanding of her character. Her sudden friendliness only made him more cautious. There was no such thing as affection without reason. Nor hostility without cause. There had to be a purpose behind this.

As for those novels and dramas from his previous life, where beautiful women inexplicably fell in love with the protagonist wherever he went... The thought now seemed laughable. He didn't know Li Shanyun's exact standing within Sword-Casting Manor. But he did know she could command over a hundred Black Cavalry troops at will. Compared to her, his current status and abilities were no different from an ant standing before an elephant. Would an elephant ever take interest in an ant for no reason?

The gap between people was often greater than the gap between species.

"You're wondering why I asked you to come with me, aren't you?" Li Shanyun suddenly spoke, as though she had seen through his thoughts. Su Zhe nodded awkwardly. She sat down on a stone bench beneath a pavilion and began:"Within Sword-Casting Manor there are Four Great Branches—Jishi Manor, Heartforge Manor, Arsenal Manor, and Jade Body Manor."

"I come from Jishi Manor. Given your talent in the Forge Dao, the Lord of Heartforge Manor would likely be delighted to claim you."

"As for Jade Body Manor, its disciples focus on tempering the flesh. They pursue the ultimate limits of the physical body."

"It is said that the Lord of Jade Body Manor intentionally spread the Flood Dragon Art throughout the eighteen counties of Tang Prefecture, hoping to discover talented individuals through the technique."

"One such case happened right here in Lu County."

"A former disciple of Sword-Casting Manor believed he had murdered a fellow disciple and stolen the Flood Dragon Art. Thinking himself exposed, he fled here."

"What he never realized was that the entire incident had been orchestrated by the Lord of Jade Body Manor."

"The technique was meant to spread." Li Shanyun leaned casually against a pillar, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers as she calmly revealed one shocking secret after another. Flood Dragon Art. Mad Shark. The moment Su Zhe heard those words, every hair on his body stood on end. The supreme cultivation art obtained by Mad Shark... Had been deliberately released? All for the purpose of recruiting disciples? His mind raced. Caught in the center of the storm, he had never been able to see the bigger picture.

But why was Li Shanyun telling him this? A sharp sword cry suddenly rang through the air. Clang! Just as Su Zhe was sweating over how to respond, a streak of silver light tore across the sky. His head snapped upward. A sword flashed like a silver comet splitting heaven and earth apart. Li Shanyun moved in flowing white robes. Graceful as a soaring swan. Elegant as a swimming dragon. Her movements alternated between softness and power, fierce winds surging with every step.

"White Deer on the Azure Cliff!" Her figure became impossibly nimble. True qi burst from beneath her feet, allowing her to stride through the air itself. Several sword strikes shot forward, instantly sealing off every avenue of escape around Su Zhe. What is this woman trying to do? How does she know about the Flood Dragon Art? Sword-Casting Manor truly cannot be underestimated! Su Zhe reacted instantly. Several third-rank mortal weapons stacked within his body, amplifying his strength.

A forging hammer appeared in his hand. He swung it horizontally to intercept the Young Phoenix Sword. In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Li Shanyun laughed lightly.

"A mere peak second-rank martial artist, yet you dare let your mind wander before me?" Sword light exploded. Her swordsmanship became ferocious. Streams of sword qi screamed through the air, forcing Su Zhe into one dangerous situation after another. Every strike possessed enough power to kill a third-rank martial artist. There was nowhere to retreat. Su Zhe fixed his eyes on a single incoming sword ray. His Seven-Star Footwork activated. Veins bulged across his arms.

The strength of one flood dragon, two tigers, and four oxen erupted at once. His blood surged like a roaring river. Planting his feet firmly, he unleashed a two-handed strike.

"Wild Ox Horns!" The hammer smashed forward. The sword light shattered. Boom! Su Zhe was driven backward. One step. Three steps. Ten steps. By the time he stopped, he had retreated over thirty meters, leaving more than a dozen craters in the ground. He panted heavily. Across from him, Li Shanyun looked as light and graceful as a white deer dancing through mountain mist. With a casual movement, she dispersed his overwhelming attack and drifted back a single step. A smile appeared in her eyes.

"As expected."

"The strength of one flood dragon."

"Your power is mixed with the strength of oxen and tigers as well... but I wouldn't mistake that flood-dragon strength." Su Zhe breathed heavily, unsure how to answer. She's testing me. But she's far too powerful. Wang Shan is nothing compared to her. Even an ordinary fourth-rank martial artist might not be her match. Just how strong is she? Every nerve in Su Zhe's body tightened. If Li Shanyun were truly his enemy... No matter what methods or trump cards he possessed... He would not survive.

This— Was the crushing difference created by absolute power.