Countless masters inhabit the world of "Jiang Ye," and many more are truly astonishing. Among them, Jian Sheng Liu Bai's invincibility during his reign stunned countless people.
Because he saw a great river upon his emergence, he was known as the foremost cultivation genius in a millennium. Later, by the river, he comprehended the Great River Sword, founded the Sword Pavilion, and subsequently, Liu Bai alone challenged the South Sea Sword God, achieving the name Jian Sheng.
In truth, Liu Bai also suffered a defeat at the East Sea Long Di battle, injured by Yan Se Tu Bi Fu Yi, which led him to realize the principle that a thousand miles of swordplay is inferior to one foot in front of him.
He once told you slowly, "The foot in front of me is my world. Even if the Abbot and the Master of the Sect personally came, they would not dare to stand here. Besides Hao Tian and the Master, the foot in front of them is Liu Bai's world, and no one can defeat him."
Although Liu Bai's realm was the peak of Zhi Ming, his actual combat power had already surpassed many great cultivators above the fifth realm. So why did he not break through the fifth realm? As a distinguished guest of Xiling, Liu Bai, at heart, believed in the War God Hao Tian.
Or perhaps he feared Hao Tian. Hao Tian paid special attention to cultivators above the fifth realm, and the fate of all rebels was to be smitten by heaven and die.
The most typical example is Ke Hao Ran of the Academy. The Master, while seemingly impertinent, actually took inspiration from Liu Bai, and this was precisely the reason why Liu Bai, after the Master's forceful borrowing, was not angered but respectfully bowed and thanked him.
Liu Bai was indeed a talent capable of great things. After the Master's inspiration, he gradually understood the path of man conquering heaven, no longer fearing divine will, and began to comprehend the "Sword of Man" spoken of by the Master.
In the Battle of Qing Xia, Liu Bai clashed with Jun Mo, a peerless warrior at his peak. Jun Mo lost an arm, and Liu Bai was gravely wounded. This battle was also an opportunity for Liu Bai. After returning to the Sword Pavilion, he entered closed-door cultivation and achieved the supreme state of unity between the Human and Teachings.
With swordsmanship covering a thousand miles, he could traverse a thousand miles in an instant, for he was the sword, and the sword was him. At this moment, Liu Bai could indeed be called the strongest in the human world. The original work stated that if there was a threshold before him, he would cut it with his sword.
Then why did he still not break through at this point? Because he disdained it. In Liu Bai's eyes, perhaps only Hao Tian mattered.
Ultimately, his daring to show his sword to Hao Tian was not just for the Academy's sake, but more so to release the fear that had been suppressed in his heart for many years.
Facing the dual suppression of time and space rules by Hao Tian, Liu Bai, with the powerful sword intent of his undefeated sword heart, gradually approached Hao Tian step by step.
"I am invincible in the human world. If I do not fight against heaven, whom shall I fight?" It was at this time that Liu Bai understood how ridiculous his previous avoidance had been, and he understood why Ke Hao Ran had drawn his sword against the heavens, because Ke Hao Ran was also invincible in the human world at that time.
Although Liu Bai died fighting against heaven, the legend of him never ceased.
With a wave of his fan, Su Mu summoned a Great River Sword that descended slowly through the clouds.
The image of the last man appeared on the sword's body.
In the story of "Jiang Ye," if one were to speak of dashing freedom, it would be Chao Xiao Shu of Chun Feng Ting's stronghold. He spoke little, but every word struck to the heart of the matter. Though not sentimental, his brotherhood was higher than the heavens.
Willing to be a pawn of the Tang King for over ten years, he revealed his hand but sought no official position, nor did he act foolishly. He roamed the martial world with his sword, continuing his cultivation.
Chao Xiao Shu was originally a member of the Liang family in Chang'an. Intelligent and dashing, he was noticed by the Academy. Due to his camaraderie with the Tang King, they made a pact of brotherhood. He refused the opportunity to study at the Academy and instead founded the Yu Long Gang for the Tang King.
He secretly controlled the gang forces within Chang'an, considering himself the second brother of the Yu Long Gang, Chao Er Ge. His most classic battle will forever be remembered by those three words: wielding his umbrella sword at Chun Feng Ting, he walked leisurely in the pouring rain, and any talk of impending war was dismissed with a casual wave.
He possessed his own pride, a pride deeply rooted in his bones, yet he was reserved, so his pride was only displayed before his enemies.
After the Battle of Chun Feng Ting, Chao Xiao Shu refused the Tang King's invitation to join the court. Having been in a cage for so long, he found immense joy and freedom after more than a decade of worldly shackles, feeling utterly at ease.
Regarding the fate of Zhi Ming, Chao Xiao Shu was a sword practitioner. Having entered Zhi Ming, he naturally had to fight. His sword was the finest in the world. Although the Great River Sword would inevitably be no match for it, he still wanted to fight with unbridled exhilaration.
Leaving the capital, Chao Xiao Shu sought out Liu Bai of the Jian Ge in Nan Jin for a spar. Unluckily, he was framed by Xiling's informants, not only severely injured by Liu Bai in a single move but also had his long sword taken away. However, being able to witness the splendor of the Great River Sword filled him with immense satisfaction.
The heavily wounded Chao Xiao Shu was rescued by a village woman. Despite being a great cultivator of the Zhi Ming realm, in front of this woman, he was merely an awkward man. From then on, the world lost the old Chao of Chun Feng Ting, but gained a rural husband.
After the Master ascended to heaven, the world waged war against Tang. As a citizen of Tang, Chao Xiao Shu took up his sword and entered the battlefield. Using the Imperial Cavalry Division of the capital as his model, he formed a volunteer army and charged into the ranks of the nomadic cavalry. For years he fought relentlessly.
After the war against Tang concluded, Wei Shu Jie, who had once been unable to withstand even a single sword strike from Liu Bai, entered Jian Ge again to fight Liu Bai. His goal was to withstand one of Liu Bai's sword strikes. Although his Qi Sea and Snow Mountain were shattered in the end, he managed to receive one of Liu Bai's sword strikes.
Liu Bai respected Chao Xiao Shu's surname Qin and wished to lend him the Great River Sword, hiding it within himself. In the final sacrifice of Jiu Tu, Chao Xiao Shu used himself as a formation to trap Jiu Tu, and then gravely wounded him with the Great River Sword, creating the conditions for Ning Que to obliterate Jiu Tu.
Chao Xiao Shu was not bound by fame or profit, not coerced by power, not deluded by martial arts cultivation. He simply did what he wanted to do and became the person he wanted to be, living with carefree self-assurance. He was a true man.