At the same time.

In the mountains and forests.

"A ninth-grade early-stage exotic beast couldn't even scratch my skin."

Li Mo glanced at his own fist.

They say to strike a snake at its seven-inch point.

But he had intentionally tested the limits of his physical body just now.

The result was that, without even using his vital energy, he shattered that winged python with a single punch.

Strangely enough.

Li Mo had never even killed a chicken before.

Yet, during his first kill of an exotic beast, he felt no tension or discomfort, and his punch was calm and steady, as if he had done it countless times before.

"Is this also a benefit of the Mystic Yin Immortal Physique?"

Li Mo couldn't help but think.

It seemed that apart from practicing swordsmanship, he was quick to pick up anything else.

He flicked the blood off his fist.

"Moonwatch Cliff..."

Li Mo checked the map.

Then he drew his Bluesteel Sword and headed deeper into the forest.

In the vast forest, sporadic shouts could be heard.

New disciples could occasionally be seen battling exotic beasts.

Li Mo did not stop.

Along the way, he encountered a few more ninth-grade early-stage exotic beasts, but the outcome was the same as with the winged snake.

All were killed in one strike, and Li Mo didn't even use any sword techniques.

Soon, he arrived at an area marked as 'Streamstone Forest' on the map.

Peculiar stone pillars stood like leafless, withered trees, with a river over ten meters wide flowing between them.

"This river flows down from Moonwatch Cliff."

"I just need to follow it upstream."

Li Mo thought to himself.

Footsteps approached from ahead, and he looked up to see an Inner Sect Steward dragging the body of a black-horned, sheep-like exotic beast clad in scales.

An old acquaintance.

The Black-Horned Ram.

Though it often appeared on the dining tables of Autumn Water Pavilion, it was actually a late-stage ninth-grade exotic beast. Despite being herbivorous, it was exceptionally aggressive and strong.

Yet now it had been killed with a single sword strike.

"Ying Bing's doing?"

Find the original at "pawread.com".

Li Mo immediately recognized it.

A clean and decisive strike to the throat, the wound was frozen, not a drop of blood spilled.

The Black-Horned Ram probably didn't even realize it was about to die.

"Yes, it was indeed True Disciple Ying's handiwork."

The steward nodded.

He stood still, watching Li Mo, not moving a step.

Li Mo was initially puzzled, then his brow relaxed.

He sensed it too.

In the next moment.

Suddenly, a massive shadow emerged from the water, leaping high into the air.

It was a large, rugged turtle!

A late-stage ninth-grade exotic beast, the Thornback Turtle.

Turtle blood could be used in medicine, the meat was extremely delicious, and even the shell was valuable; the bathtubs at Autumn Water Pavilion were made from its shell...

Of course, as a late-stage ninth-grade exotic beast, the Thornback Turtle was also very ferocious. In waters where it resided, there were usually no other fish.

"Another late-stage ninth-grade exotic beast."

The Inner Sect Steward watched with interest.

These two True Disciples had joined the Qingyuan Sect at the same time and both reached the hundredth step of the Heaven-Climbing Stone Steps.

True Disciple Ying could kill a Black-Horned Ram with one strike.

He wondered how True Disciple Li would fare against the Thornback Turtle.

Of course, being a late-stage ninth-grade exotic beast, the Thornback Turtle would certainly be harder to kill. If it retracted its limbs into its shell, a Vital Energy Realm warrior would be left helpless.

Just as he was thinking this.

Li Mo had already moved.

The Bluesteel Sword suddenly emitted dozens of sword lights, each infused with restrained vital energy.

"Not bad swordsmanship."

The Inner Sect Steward couldn't help but show a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Even among the True Disciples throughout Qingyuan Sect's history, this swordsmanship was remarkable.

If he hadn't seen Ying Bing's swordsmanship, he might have been even more surprised.

Sensing danger.

The Thornback Turtle across from him let out a low roar and immediately retracted its limbs.

The dozens of feather marks formed by the Thousand Feathers of the Fire Crane exploded on the turtle shell, instantly covering it with tiny cracks.

Not only was the turtle shell damaged.

The Bluesteel Sword also chipped in several places, each the size of a grain of rice.

Li Mo: "..."

This sword was a standard issue weapon from the sect, supposedly sufficient for slaying ninth-grade exotic beasts.

Unfortunately, he encountered a tough opponent.

If he had used a bit more force just now, the shell might not have broken, but the sword would have.

"Roar..."

The Thornback Turtle seemed intimidated, flipping over and trying to escape back into the water.

"Don't run!"

Li Mo chased after it without hesitation.

It had damaged his weapon and now wanted to leave?

"True Disciple Li!"

"That beast is cunning!"

The steward's words had barely left his mouth when Li Mo had already dived into the water after it.

Watching the bubbles rise, the steward felt a surge of anxiety.

In the water, the Thornback Turtle was at least ten times more troublesome, even a peak ninth-grade exotic beast wouldn't dare tangle with it in its element.

Li Mo's swordsmanship was good.

But in the water, he might not be able to exert even half of his full potential!

Just as he decided to dive in and rescue him if things went south.

Gurgle—boom!

The river surface suddenly erupted with muddy waves, and the massive figure was flung into the air.

Li Mo followed closely behind.

His whole body descended like a meteor crashing into the earth.

The Thornback Turtle's pupils were filled with terror, as if it could already smell the scent of death.

But this time, it couldn't return to the water, and could only retract its limbs and head into its shell again.

"!"

The Inner Sect Steward watched, mouth agape.

The Thornback Turtle had been thrown out of the water?

But that wasn't the end.

In the next moment, something even more shocking happened.

Li Mo didn't use his sword this time; his entire body was tensed to the extreme.

The Six Harmony Integration of the Six Harmony Fist, the vital energy of ten meridians, was pushed to the limit, accompanied by the killing intent of the Ultimate Weapon Slaughter Body.

He threw a punch!

That fist landed on the turtle shell.

The shell, like a fragile eggshell, was smashed inwards and shattered.

The force even transmitted through the shell, creating a web of cracks in the ground.

"I really..."

"Want to be a swordsman!"

Li Mo clenched his fist, filled with grief and indignation!

Hearing his roar.

The steward's face twitched uncontrollably.

He looked over, and from the shattered shell, dark red blood slowly seeped out.

The Thornback Turtle was clearly dead, killed with a single punch.

And it died a very unpleasant death.

Looking at Li Mo again, his sleeves were completely torn, steam rising from his body, and his exposed muscles looked as if they were forged from metal.

You... a swordsman?

If the Thornback Turtle were still alive, it would surely protest.

...

A short while later.

The two exotic beast corpses were laid out at the entrance.

One of them was immediately recognizable as the Black-Horned Ram, undoubtedly killed by Ying Bing.

But when they saw the 'lump' behind it.

The elders were momentarily unable to identify what species it was.

"Is this the Thornback Turtle?"

"Reporting to the elders, it was in life."

"This..."

The elders' expressions were a sight to behold.

Ying Bing was impressive, having killed all exotic beasts with precision, as if knowing their weak points.

Li Mo... they truly didn't know how to evaluate him.

"Shang Wu, are you sure you taught him swordsmanship?" Xue Jing confirmed again.

"Why would I lie?"

Shang Wu sniffed.

The Inner Sect Steward also testified:

"True Disciple Li did use a sword, and his swordsmanship was exceptional, but the quality of the weapon was too poor to break the Thornback Turtle's shell."

"When he punched the Thornback Turtle to death, he was shouting something about wanting to be a swordsman."

"....."

Doesn't that mean his fists are harder than the turtle shell?

The elders fell into silence once more.

After a long while, Elder Han He slowly spoke:

"After the trial, let Li Mo go to the Divine Edge Cavern to choose a weapon. There are plenty of swords among the named weapons, and one more won't make a difference. If he's not satisfied, he can pick a couple from my private collection."

"Hmph, as if you need to agree."

Shang Wu raised her chin and said:

"Alright, someone tally the scores!"

The steward standing by the scoreboard wiped his sweat and began writing.

Everyone glanced over.

On the scoreboard.

Li Mo and Ying Bing had overwhelmingly left everyone else far behind.

The gap between the two of them was very small.

Ying Bing was leading by a mere 5 points.

As for third place...

Wang Hu?