Walker Of The Worlds-Chapter 2966: The Weight of a Sword, The Measure of Flesh

Lin Mu, who had been seated quietly with the other examiners, looked up in surprise.

"You wish to spar... with me?" he asked, genuinely caught off guard.

"Yes," High Elder Yan Dao said, stepping down from the elders’ section and slowly approaching the center of the arena. "But not like the others. No handicaps. No dull blade. No restrictions. I want you to use everything—your body, your qi, your sword intent. Fight me as you would fight a true enemy."

Another wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.

Was this truly happening?

A High Elder challenging Lin Mu—without restraint?

Lin Mu stood, his long robe billowing gently in the breeze. He thought for a moment, then gave a respectful nod.

"Very well. I accept."

Lin Mu stood with his hands behind his back, calm as a still lake beneath a moonlit sky. His two swords—Afternoon Pine and Ocean Raker—remained sheathed at his side. Across from him, Elder Yan Dao waited with the poise of a seasoned warrior.

The High Elder had spoken clearly: "Use everything you have."

But Lin Mu knew better.

If he truly unleashed everything—his spatial manipulation, the terrifying teleportation, and warped dimensional control—it would be unfair. The match would end before High Elder Yan Dao even drew breath for the second move.

This wasn’t meant to be a decisive battle, after all.

It was an exhibition. A celebration of swordsmanship. A test of understanding.

’He wished for my full strength... but what he meant was my full sword.’ After all they didn’t know of Lin Mu’s true capabilities.

So far, they only knew that he was a qi and sword cultivator with Buddhist insights. They didn’t know he was a body cultivator and could use the Spatial element as well.

Lin Mu took a slow breath and made his decision.

He would use his Qi cultivation, refined and deep like the heart of a sea. His sword techniques, sharpened to precision through a thousand duels. And his Boundless Dominator Physique, that impenetrable fortress of flesh and bone granted by his body cultivation.

But not the devastating strength of the Tyrant Bull Marrow Secrets. That would turn this duel into ruin. He also didn’t intend to use the Dominating Gravity Dao Embryo. While it came under qi cultivation, its power would have the same kind of decisive victory as his Spatial Skills.

More than that... he wanted to test something.

"Let’s see if Elder Yan Dao’s sword intent can leave even a scratch."

This thought stirred something almost mischievous in him.

He hadn’t truly tested the limits of his new physique.

What better way than to pit it against a High Elder whose sword was said to split rivers and crack mountains? One who had overcome the Path of Sealed Swords before.

If he could overcome this, he would be a lot more confident in facing the Path of Sealed Swords.

The Duel finally began.

The air shifted.

Elder Yan Dao unsheathed his legendary blade—Sky Severing Radiance—a sword with a reputation that stretched across regions. Its edge shimmered like starlight condensed into steel.

The platform formation locked into place, suppressing external qi fluctuations and isolating the battlefield with a glowing boundary.

High Elder Yan Dao raised an eyebrow.

Lin Mu hadn’t drawn his sword.

He hadn’t moved an inch.

"Are you... not going to draw?" Yan Dao asked, puzzled.

Lin Mu gave a faint smile and replied evenly, "You asked me not to hold back. I’m doing exactly that."

He nodded toward the elder.

"You’ll understand shortly."

The audience stirred, exchanging murmurs. Even the Grand Elder leaned forward slightly.

Yan Dao didn’t press the point. He simply gave a respectful nod and took his stance.

"Then I’ll begin."

With a single breath, he launched forward.

Like a Still Mountain

The movement was clean. A precise forward thrust—a straight-line stab powered by flowing Sword Qi and decades of honed instinct.

Even the swordless disciples could tell it wasn’t simple.

It was a test of reaction. A gauge of readiness. And a strike that could pierce the protective array of a small sect if delivered without restraint.

And yet...

Lin Mu still hadn’t moved.

Closer and closer, Yan Dao came. His blade glowing with a piercing brilliance, aimed straight at Lin Mu’s heart.

The arena tensed.

Whispers turned to held breath.

"He’s not dodging..."

"He’s not even defending..."

"Is he insane—!?"

Then, just as the sword tip reached his chest, Lin Mu raised one hand with deliberate calm.

He opened his palm.

And caught the blade.

Steel met flesh!

CLANG!

A sharp, metallic crack resounded across the Floating Platforms, louder than any cheer or roar before it.

Sparks erupted.

It was as if Elder Yan Dao’s full-powered sword had struck a wall of divine steel—unyielding, immovable.

Gasps exploded from the crowd.

Lin Mu hadn’t flinched.

His hand—bare, unarmored—had caught the strike effortlessly.

No blood.

No wound.

Not even a blemish on his skin.

Only a faint, radiant glow shimmered across the surface of his palm, revealing the resilient aura of the Boundless Dominator Physique beneath.

Elder Yan Dao blinked in disbelief, eyes darting from his sword to Lin Mu’s hand.

"You blocked that... barehanded?"

Lin Mu smiled faintly.

"You asked for everything. So I gave you this."

"This body," he said, slowly releasing the blade and letting it fall back to neutral, "is also part of my cultivation."

Then came the Roar of Realization

It took a moment, but when the shock wore off, chaos broke loose.

Disciples shouted in awe.

"Did he really just block that barehanded?!"

"Was that body cultivation? What kind of monster trains to that level!?"

"He didn’t even draw his sword yet!"

Even some elders couldn’t hide their astonishment.

Meng Bai in the distance, had nearly jumped out of his seat. Daoist Chu clapped softly, shaking his head in disbelief.

"He used the elder’s own expectations as the opening lesson," Daoist Chu muttered, amused. "Subtle. Elegant."

Yan Dao stepped back, eyes narrowing—not in offense, but deep respect.

"So... this is your foundation," he said softly.

"In that case—" His expression sharpened. "—I shall strike again. Properly."