Jingliu found an opening, bent down, and swung her arm, sweeping her wooden sword towards Qi Zhimu's calf.
The latter's wooden sword sank, perfectly intercepting the incoming strike.
Jingliu changed her move with the momentum, switching from a sweep to an upward slash, aiming directly for Qi Zhimu's wrist, but it was still deftly avoided.
She didn't pause, continuing to search for an exploitable weakness.
Even though she knew all the openings were intentionally left by Qi Zhimu, he always managed to resolve them at the last moment.
Not by blocking, but by evading.
His movements were minimal, often just a tilt of the head, a shift of the body, or a step, but each time the wooden sword just barely grazed past him.
More than two minutes passed, and Jingliu hadn't even touched the corner of Qi Zhimu's clothes.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her breathing became rapid.
It was almost three minutes... Jingliu didn't ignore the time. Her eyes flickered for a moment, then she changed her rhythm, intentionally exposing an opening, and her sword thrust was half a beat slower.
Qi Zhimu's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward and seized Jingliu's wrist with the momentum.
But it was a trap.
Jingliu suddenly let go of her sword, crouched down, and caught the falling sword with her left hand, sweeping it upwards in a reverse slash.
Her target was not Qi Zhimu's body, but the helmet he wore!
The change in move was too sudden. Gasps of surprise erupted from the audience, many believing that Qi Zhimu might lose.
Qi Zhimu's expression remained unchanged, with no hint of surprise in his eyes.
His empty right hand pressed down, and two fingers precisely flicked the wooden sword in Jingliu's hand.
Jingliu's tiger's mouth throbbed with pain, and the sword flew out of her grasp.
At the same time, Qi Zhimu's palm landed on her shoulder, without force, but Jingliu froze completely.
"A good trap."
Lord Zhimu nodded slightly.
"But letting go of your sword is too risky. Against an opponent of equal strength, it can easily become a genuine weakness."
Three minutes had passed.
Qi Zhimu curved his fingers and made a guiding motion. The wooden sword, which had flown several steps away, seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, flying back into his hand. He then offered it to Jingliu.
Jingliu took the wooden sword, as if she had gained some enlightenment.
A hint of longing flashed across her face, only to turn into sadness the next second.
Qi Zhimu noticed something but didn't point it out.
Becoming a Cloud Knights is not an easy job.
Although the future Yu Huai arranged for her might not be to her liking, it would at least be stable and peaceful.
The wind grew more restless.
The first drop of rain fell on the high platform, splashing a dark water stain and wetting Jingliu's long hair and shoulders.
"Thank you for your guidance, Guard Qi."
"You've done well. If you have the intention and opportunity in the future, keep up the good work."
Qi Zhimu acknowledged Jingliu and watched her leave the stage.
He then contacted the Department of Terrestrial Surveys, asking the relevant personnel to change the simulated climate in that area back to clear skies.
The challenge tournament was in full swing, and subsequently, some young people emerged who could defeat 1-3 Cloud Knights through their personal abilities, experience, and skills.
Perhaps because Jingliu had set a precedent, and with Qi Zhimu adopting a defensive stance focused on guidance, more students gradually chose to challenge him.
By the end of the two-day challenge tournament, out of all registered participants, 15 people had managed to strike the helmets of the Cloud Knight Vanguard.
Among these 15, three had defeated multiple Vanguards, a number sufficient to satisfy the various Cloud Knights departments.
This year's Cloud Knights military camp tour concluded successfully. Just two days after sending off all the students, the expeditionary force sent to clear out Abominations returned victoriously.
Every expedition, comrades always remained on the battlefield forever.
The best comfort the living could bring them was to pay the highest respect and tribute with the blood and heads of the Abominations.
Before they could catch their breath, new enemy intelligence arrived.
Based on the current main navigation route of the Star Skiff, the Divination Commission and Sky-Faring Commission reached the same conclusion:
In about half a year, the Azure City will enter a star system encirclement with Abomination activity.
Due to the extreme distance, more detailed intelligence cannot be obtained at present.
Someone from the Divination Commission proposed changing the route to avoid potential unknown risks, but this would lead to another problem.
Currently, most interstellar travel in the galaxy, including the Interstellar Peace Corporation, relies on the Silver Rails left by the Trailblaze to ensure maximum safety.
Rashly entering an area with no navigation records would undoubtedly make the already busy staff of the Divination Commission and Sky-Faring Commission utterly overwhelmed.
For example, planetary gravity must be considered, as well as the possible existence of extremely terrifying red giants.
Or disasters like quantum entanglement fields and cosmic imaginary storms, which can easily lead to ship destruction and loss of life if encountered.
The above are just a small part of the crises in interstellar travel; there are many more unknowns.
In summary, if the Star Skiff chooses a safe detour, it will inevitably have to turn back for at least a year.
This back-and-forth would result in a double loss of time and energy.
For an interstellar giant ship carrying hundreds of billions of lives, this would have a huge impact on commercial exchanges, social and humanistic balance, and so on.
For various considerations, the Sky-Faring Commission does not recommend changing the course.
Most of the merchant guilds responsible for foreign trade are affiliated with the Sky-Faring Commission, and such a major change in the route would shatter the livelihoods of many people.
The heads of the various departments had headaches, and Teng Xiao had an even bigger headache.
For such a major event, the General does not have sole decision-making power; it requires joint deliberation by the Six Sovereigns.
But as the General, his opinion is undoubtedly the most important.
Given the gravity of the matter, Teng Xiao solemnly announced the convocation of the Six Chariots Council.
The Six Chariots Council: A council composed of the Cloud Knights General, and the leaders of the Divination Commission, Department of Craftsmanship, Sky-Faring Commission, Alchemy Commission, and Department of Terrestrial Surveys.
It must not be easily convened for non-major events.
During the meeting, no one is allowed to disturb them.
Qi Zhimu and the other Vanguards and strategists withdrew.
"Alas... on one side, a formidable enemy like Shuhu is watching covetously, and on the other, the Abominations of Abundance are endless. It's truly a headache."
"It's hard to imagine how difficult the Xianzhou Alliance's situation would be today if the Reignbow Arbiter weren't relentlessly hunting the Abominations."
"Hey, do you think they'll change the route?"
Leaving the council hall, the Cloud Knight Vanguard couldn't help but discuss.
"Changing the route indeed has a huge impact. I have an acquaintance who works in foreign trade for a merchant guild affiliated with the Sky-Faring Commission. Their cargo turnover usually maintains a seven-system-month cycle; changing the route would throw everything into chaos."
"Who told our Azure City to be the most prosperous commercially among the Seven Star Skiffs..."
"Damn Abominations, damn Emanators of Longevity. They haven't stopped for thousands of years."
"I really want to catch Shuhu and kill it. Without the Emanators of Longevity to rally them, those Abominations of Abundance would at least be much easier to deal with."
"Killing Shuhu... you really dare to dream. It would probably take the Marshal's intervention to have a chance."
"But the Marshal needs to be stationed on the Xianzhou flagship, the Luofu, to guard against Shuhu's feint attacks on the Ambrosial Arbor, and cannot easily go on expeditions, unless Shuhu delivers itself to them."
"That's unrealistic. General Teng Xiao has defeated Shuhu twice. The tricky thing about that creature is that it's hard to catch and truly kill. How could it have the guts to seek trouble with the Marshal?"
"Changing the route involves too many factors; it's probably difficult to achieve. What does Guard Qi think?"
With that, Mo Tingquan looked at Qi Zhimu.
"Overthinking is useless. Strengthen your training and be prepared to set out and face a bloody battle at any time."
Qi Zhimu did not elaborate with a long analysis, his face calm.
"Behind us is our home; we have no retreat."