In early November, the construction of Sword Palace officially commenced.

The location was chosen on the other side of the Divine Capital, separating it from Datong Mountain where the Mountain River Academy is situated.

There was no choice; getting too close to Datong Mountain would be overtly provocative. Right now, Qing Yu did not want to directly clash with Mountain River Academy.

Therefore, he chose to establish the Sword Palace on Beijian Mountain on the other side of the Divine Capital.

"At this rate, it should be completed in about three months," Qing Yu stood atop the peak, watching the bustling construction site in the distance, estimating the time.

With the court mobilizing resources, both manpower and materials were abundant. Moreover, with the help of skilled artisans, construction could proceed day and night in shifts, so three months was already considered ample time.

"With the Imperial Family exerting effort, I think the completed Sword Palace should be worthy enough to serve as my resting place. Don't you think, Master Xiao?"

Mo Guming, dressed in a scholar's robe and looking the part of a romantic scholar, also gazed at the site of the Sword Palace in the distance, speaking with a smile.

"That may not be the case, maybe Demon Sword Dao will serve as my vanguard for a year?" Qing Yu returned a similarly meaningful smile.

As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain unless they are a male and female. Although the factions in Northern Zhou were led by the tigress Yin Demon Sect, the Demon Sword Dao could not tolerate a newly built Sword Palace.

Thus, Mo Guming, the Sect Leader of Demon Sword Dao, came knocking.

The rule among swordsmen is to let the sword do the talking. Although Qing Yu wasn't a qualified swordman, he didn't mind using force to determine the victor.

If Mo Guming won, the Sword Palace under construction would belong to Demon Sword Dao. Furthermore, in Northern Zhou, people from Yu Jian Manor would have to avoid Demon Sword Dao members.

If Qing Yu won, Demon Sword Dao would serve as his vanguard for a year, and even provide excellent apprentices from its Sword Halls to the Sword Palace.

In short, the winner eats meat, the loser eats dust.

The two locked horns, and with their gazes intertwining, the sound of swords resonated in the air, and sparks occasionally appeared out of thin air. The clash had already begun; their eyes transformed into swords, their pupils indicating the path of the sword.

"Hmm?"

Mo Guming suddenly turned his head, and an invisible Sword Qi flew past his face, taking a few strands of his hair with it.

"An invisible sword, even my Spiritual Sense almost missed it, what kind of Sword Qi is this?"

Attacked by an unknown Sword Qi, Mo Guming turned his head first, conceding the first round to Qing Yu in this gaze sword duel.

"With Heart as Thought, Intent as Sword, this is the Only Consciousness Heart Sword," Qing Yu said calmly.

To this day, Qing Yu's strength had long surpassed that of the leader of the "Ten Thousand Paths" cultivators, and wielding the Only Consciousness Heart Sword came naturally to him.

The Only Consciousness Heart Sword relies on one's thoughts as the sword edge, formless and intangible. The stronger one's thoughts, the sharper the sword edge. Qing Yu's ability to quickly transform his will into Sword Intent, in conjunction with the Piaomiao Swordsmanship, made the Only Consciousness Heart Sword remarkably effective.

"What a move, Only Consciousness Heart Sword, I look even more forward to battling Master Xiao,"

Mo Guming's sleeves billowed as a dark red Demon Sword extended from his sleeve, its edge dark red with a faint golden glow, and claw-like metallic protrusions extended from the sword handle, exuding a menacing and rebellious aura.

This was the exclusive Demon Sword of the Sect Leader of Demon Sword Dao — Reverse Heart.

"Reverse Heart, once ranked eighth on the Famous Sword List. It's said that a certain Sect Leader of Demon Sword Dao once infiltrated Sword God Lake, entered the Sword Discussion Hall, and nearly became the Hall Master. Is this true?" Qing Yu examined the renowned Demon Sword, speaking.

The Sword Discussion Hall of Sword God Lake was said to be the essence of Sword God Lake. Anyone in the Sword Discussion Hall was among those with Divine Communication. And the Hall Master of the Sword Discussion Hall was second only to the Master of Sword God Lake.

That particular Sect Leader of Demon Sword Dao, who owned the Reverse Heart, infiltrated Sword God Lake to learn swordsmanship, nearly becoming the Hall Master of Sword Discussion Hall, similar to an undercover agent almost becoming a top boss.

"That was my ancestor," Mo Guming's face now bore a proud and defiant expression, "I once wanted to visit Sword God Lake, but back then, Sword God Lake, heh—"

A scornful laugh revealed Mo Guming's disdain.

Demon Sword Dao was never a sect known for sticking to the rules; its core was reverse. Reverse people, reverse momentum, reverse the world, and walk against the world. Anyone in Demon Sword Dao who could reverse the world and survive usually became one of the strongest.

Thus, the strong in Demon Sword Dao were essentially experts at courting death.

Things like limiting oneself by sealing the five senses were considered mild. Courting destruction every few days was the most direct way to progress.

Like Mo Guming's ancestor, who stealthily infiltrated Sword God Lake to the point of almost becoming the Sword Discussion Hall's Hall Master, and then suddenly revealed his identity to enjoy Sword God Lake's hunt, finding a sliver of life in that dire situation, he became a model in the art of courting death.

Mo Guming initially wanted to emulate his ancestor's actions, but by then, Sword God Lake had begun to rot and initiated seniority-based routines. Just having strength wasn't enough to ascend; one also needed seniority.

To do what his ancestor did and get nearly as close to becoming the Hall Master of Sword Discussion Hall, Mo Guming would not only need the strength, but he'd also have to endure over two hundred years.

The one who set this rule as the Master of Sword God Lake back then, coincidentally, was the ancestor of the current Xiao Qianxiu.

Facing the descendant of the Xiao Family today, Mo Guming was unhesitant in revealing his contempt.

"Though Sword God Lake was decaying then, had the Sect Leader joined Sword God Lake at that time and survived until now, could've likely become one of the strongest," Qing Yu said with a mysteriously knowing smile.

Mo Guming was almost contemporary with Nangong Duanjian, the Sword God. Had he joined Sword God Lake a hundred and fifty years ago, he would have had to face the Sword God's blade directly.

If he could transcend himself under the Sword God's Sword Force, Mo Guming might have become one of the strongest.

Of course, more likely, his Sword Heart would be broken, or he would die on the spot.

Qing Yu used these words to mock Mo Guming for playing victim despite profiting. If Mo Guming had joined Sword God Lake back then, perhaps today, even the grass at his grave could've grown into a tree.

"Enough with the nonsense; draw your sword."

Mo Guming, somewhat annoyed, swung his sword, and a sweep of Sword Qi grazed past Qing Yu, leaving a long sword mark on the ground.

Hearing this, Qing Yu also set aside his teasing. With a clear ring of a sword, the Heavenly Divine Artifact was drawn, contending fiercely with the Reverse Heart Demon Sword.

Sword Qi shot forth, and the two swordsmen spurred their sword momentum, countering each other.

"Boom—"

Sword Qi left numerous sword marks on the mountain peak, and some mountain rocks cracked and fell to the ground.

One was the Sect Leader of Demon Sword Dao, with the Demon Heart Reverse Sword having reached a certain peak after resisting the Demon Lord, able to cut all things by reversing people and momentum.

The other was the avatar of a power-gamer, wielding formless and invisible Piaomiao Swordsmanship with a mental state akin to the heart of the heavens, not inferior in Sword Dao.

The confrontation between the two would decide the new peak of Northern Zhou Swordsmanship.

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