From this, it is clear that after the exchange with Liam Carter just now, she had truly awakened her fighting spirit, unconsciously regarding Liam Carter as an equal opponent—to confront, to battle, to compete against.

"Miss Zhao, your swordsmanship truly lives up to its reputation. Only after today's match did I realize there are always people better than oneself, and the world is vast. It has truly broadened my horizons."

Liam Carter offered a polite remark.

"Excellent swordsmanship! Liam Carter, your skills with the sword are truly extraordinary."

Emily Clark praised sincerely. She had not expected that Liam Carter, in whom she had placed no hope at all, could give her such an exhilarating fight, pushing her to go all out, and that she would only win in the end by relying on the advantage of her treasured sword.

This is what a true swordsman is.

Compared to Liam Carter, someone of Matthew Hill's level wasn't even qualified to help her warm up.

"Miss Zhao, you flatter me. My skills are just random, undisciplined practice, hardly worthy of mention."

"Your swordsmanship is truly remarkable, and I am not exaggerating. If even this level of skill is unworthy, then ninety percent of the sword techniques in the world would be too shameful to show."

Emily Clark's words made Matthew Hill's face flush a little.

Clearly, among the so-called ninety percent of shameful sword techniques, she definitely included his Dahe Sword Technique, Three-Ring Sword Technique, and Locking Moon Sword Technique.

At this moment, one of the main guests of the banquet, the Green Bamboo Sect leader Owen Reed, suddenly asked, "Are you at the peak of the Internal Qi stage?"

"Yes."

"Why not break through?"

"Training at the Internal Qi stage is not so complicated. As long as you master the right method, eat the essence of grains, and refine the energy of the five organs, you can progress step by step to perfection. But the condensation and quality of true qi directly determine one's ultimate future achievements... I have yet to find a true qi cultivation method that satisfies me, so I have not yet refined my true qi or reached the next stage."

Owen Reed gave Liam Carter a deep look. "So young, yet truly ambitious."

"If I'm going to do something, I must do it to the best of my ability."

Liam Carter replied earnestly.

"Peak of Internal Qi."

At this point, Emily Clark looked at Liam Carter with new respect. "I didn't expect that with only Internal Qi perfection, you could master such profound swordsmanship."

Liam Carter smiled modestly and kept a low profile.

This scene, falling into Matthew Hill's eyes, only made him feel even more uncomfortable.

After all, he had lasted even less time under Emily Clark's sword than Liam Carter, and Liam Carter hadn't even cultivated true qi. Wasn't this implying that he, in his pursuit of true qi, only cared about immediate gains and neglected future development?

"This kid..."

Sophia took a deep breath.

When Liam Carter was fending off Emily Clark's Thunderclap Sword Technique just now, she had almost held her breath in suspense. The Thirty-Six Forms of Thunderclap, each faster and more powerful than the last—if Liam Carter had failed to block even one, he would have been seriously injured at the very least. Even though she had great confidence in Emily Clark's control, Liam Carter's risky fighting style was still tantamount to putting his life on the line.

Fortunately...

He blocked them all.

"How on earth did that kid block all thirty-six forms of the Thunderclap Sword?"

Sophia muttered to herself, "Could it be that so-called self-created sword technique of his?"

In fact, it wasn't just her—everyone present was curious about this point.

"This sword technique can actually withstand the attacks of a true qi-level expert. If we could learn it... wouldn't that mean that even if I encounter such a powerful opponent in the future, I'd at least have a way to survive?"

"Who would have thought swordsmanship could reach such a level of subtlety? How exactly did he do it?"

"I'm the head of the Suhe Sword Sect, and my strength is only at the true qi stage... A sword technique that can counter a true qi-level expert! If I master it, the position of sect leader will surely be mine. Su Bai, Wang Qi, Zhao Jiuge, all of them will be beneath my feet!"

Young swordsmen like Andrew Green, Daniel Morgan, and Samuel King, who had yet to cultivate true qi, were even more restless and ambitious, eagerly waiting for Liam Carter to explain.

To use the Internal Qi stage to contend with a true qi-level expert—just thinking about it was enough to make one's blood boil.

Fortunately, Emily Clark did not keep them waiting long and quickly got to the point: "Just now, the technique you used to block my Thirty-Six Forms of Thunderclap Sword—was that the self-created sword technique you mentioned earlier?"

"It was."

Even though she was prepared, hearing Liam Carter personally confirm it still made Emily Clark take a deep breath, her expression turning solemn and attentive. "Could you tell me how your sword technique managed to see through and block my Thirty-Six Forms of Thunderclap Sword?"

"In fact, what I saw through was not your Thirty-Six Forms of Thunderclap Sword, but you yourself, Miss Zhao. The moment you stepped out from the inner courtyard, my Chess Sword Technique had already begun—only you didn't realize it."

"You saw through me?"