Deep within the lush forest of the rear mountain.
Xu Qi’an sat cross-legged beneath a tree, holding half of a bronze mirror in his hands.
The mirror reflected the fierce battle unfolding.
Didn’t I blind Jingyuan with poison? How has he recovered already? He doesn’t have the ability to regenerate flesh, he must have used medicine or some special means…
There are no enemies lurking around the various parts of Quanrong Mountain, and the military garrison hasn’t been attacked either. Has Xu Pingfeng really only sent Ji Xuan and his group to attack the Wulin Alliance?
…It seems Xiao Yuenu and Liu Hongmian are enemies? How could such a stunning beauty be handed over to that tiger spirit for nothing? Wait, could Li Lingsu’s sweetheart be Xiao Yuenu?
Tsk tsk, if that’s true, then among the Holy Son’s confidantes, there’s finally someone whose looks can match the little fish in my fish pond.
I wonder how Li Lingsu is doing.
…
To sever the connection between them… Is the Alliance Leader planning to use human-wave tactics?
The fourth-rank martial artists present were experienced enough to immediately understand Cao Qingyang’s meaning.
When facing an opponent whose explosiveness was on par with third-rank, using human-wave tactics meant any one of them could die.
Cao Qingyang said in a deep voice,
“Dai Zong, you take the lead!”
The Sect Leader of the Shenxing Sect felt a chill run down his spine but stepped forward as called. His movements were agile and graceful, like a leaf dancing in the wind, sometimes drifting left, sometimes right.
“Amitabha, turn back and see the shore!”
At this moment, Jingxin pressed his palms together and recited a Buddhist mantra.
Along with his compassionate voice came the power of precept.
The Shenxing Sect Leader’s movements suddenly faltered. Unable to resist, he turned around in front of the enemy and actually exposed his back.
At the same rank, the effects of the precept’s control were brief. The moment the Shenxing Sect Leader turned, he broke free.
But at that very moment, Dongfang Wanqing, light as a paper kite, drifted above his head and gently pressed her palm down.
Immortal’s Palm!
In the nick of time, Han Xie from the Qianji Sect flicked out a soft whip, wrapping it around the Sect Leader’s waist and, with a shake of his arm, pulled him back.
Bang!
A palm strike hit the ground with a rumble, carving a ten foot wide crater.
Dai Zong, who had narrowly dodged disaster, scarcely had time to breathe before a sudden blast of wind swept over him.
The one-armed White Tiger appeared before the barely-steady Sect Leader like a spectre in the gale, grinning fiercely as he threw a punch.
Thump, thump, thump… Fu Jingmen darted forward, seizing the initiative and clashing head-on with White Tiger.
Bang! A strong wind swept through the woods.
Both took half a step back. Fu Jingmen gritted his steel teeth and stomped down hard with his right foot, forcibly absorbing the force before unleashing a flurry of punches, landing dozens of strikes on White Tiger’s chest in an instant.
The one-armed White Tiger was overwhelmed by his opponent’s fists and forced to retreat continuously.
Suddenly, Fu Jingmen sensed a surge of murderous intent from the side. His martial artist’s instincts warned him of danger.
He decisively retreated a step, giving up on relentlessly pursuing White Tiger, and punched to the side.
At the same time, he saw his would-be assailant, a leopard lurking in the grass.
“Hm?”
Fu Jingmen paused. If it was just a leopard, there was no need to concern himself.
But that bloodthirsty killing intent just now, and his martial instincts, had made him mistake it for an opponent of the same level.
A mere leopard dared to attack him?
That made no sense.
White Tiger seized the opportunity to retreat, breathing quietly to calm the ache in his chest.
“A Heart Gu master?”
The Head of Baihe Temple scrutinised Qihuan Danxiang.
Qihuan Danxiang let out a sharp whistle, releasing invisible soundwaves that swept across the mountaintop.
Moments later, everyone present heard a cacophony, countless rustling sounds from shrubbery, wings beating as great flocks of birds took flight, cries of apes and monkeys, the roar of big cats…
In the sky, dozens of wild birds circled and swooped at the Wulin Alliance crowd, feigning attacks before spiralling back upward midway.
With each feint from the birds, the members of the Wulin Alliance felt their martial intuition warn them of danger.
Snakes and poisonous insects slithered out of the bushes, and from the woods, apes, leopards, wild boar, and great cats sprang, glaring hungrily at the alliance members.
They surrounded but did not attack, only venting their hostility.
As a result, the alliance fighters were bombarded with wave after wave of murderous intent. The crisis intuition honed through Refining Spirit cultivation now became a burden.
Qihuan Danxiang said,
“For me, countering a martial artist’s danger sense is too easy.
“Without the instinct to foresee danger, how can you fight an expert of the same rank?”
As his words faded, Liu Hongmian’s skirt fluttered, her silver-bell laughter ringing out:
“Senior Sister, years ago you colluded with men from the outside, spread rumours, and soiled my reputation.
“Such a great kindness, I could never forget. Today, shall I return the favour?”
She drew a soft sword from her waist and swept across dozens of feet to stab at Xiao Yuenu.
Xiao Yuenu, perfectly composed, slipped an exquisite sword from her sleeve, clang, clang… In a shower of sparks, the two peerless beauties clashed fiercely.
“Tower Master Xiao, I will help you!”
You Shi of the Ironclad Sect charged forward, causing minor tremors. He leapt high, turning himself into a human boulder and hurtling towards Liu Hongmian.
From the side, a golden light shot past, knocking You Shi away.
It was Monk Jingyuan.
The two martial artists, famed for their physical defence, tumbled together, bowling over tree after tree.
The Shenxing Sect Leader silently drew near Qihuan Danxiang, thrusting a dagger with murderous resolve.
The multicoloured robe suddenly billowed, transforming into a wall of five colours.
It was only a diversion, his dagger pierced the robe with ease, but Qihuan Danxiang had already slipped away. The surge of energy from the blade shot out for hundreds of feet, kicking up dirt and pebbles.
Elsewhere, the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations wasted no time, slowly approaching the stone gate.
“Roar!”
The Quanrong opened its bloody maw and roared at the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations, spittle flying.
Its human face showed distinctly human fear. Even as it roared and retreated, it tried to frighten them off.
“Quanrong, stand down.”
Cao Qingyang drove the beast from the battlefield before it could go berserk.
The brute strength of a monster’s massive form was a natural advantage, but in this case, it was a fatal flaw.
A bigger target was easier to hit. Facing a beyond-mortal-level enemy, a couple of slashes of a sabre could easily take its head.
In this, martial artists skilled in agility had the upper hand.
“Alliance Leader, there are too many beasts and so much hostility everywhere, it’s affecting our judgement.”
Yang Cuixue, Head of the Ink Pavilion, gripped his iron sword, unable to hide his anxiety.
Cao Qingyang said sternly, “You handle the birds and beasts. Leave him to me…”
Before he’d finished the sentence, Yang Cuixue shouted, “Watch out!”
He needn’t have warned him, Cao Qingyang had already darted aside, narrowly dodging the sabre light from Azure Dragon.
The sabre missed and struck the mountainside. With a rumble, the cliff cracked, and stones tumbled down.
Thump, thump, thump… After evading the blow, Cao Qingyang charged full speed towards the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations.
“Whoosh!”
A blazing sabre light came hurtling towards him.
Cao Qingyang did not dodge, but instead took the initiative to meet it, because this strike was aimed directly at the stone gate behind him.
He gathered his qi into his fists, his intent exploding forth as he struck with both fists together, perfectly “clamping” the sabre light.
He held the sabre light within his fists, which in turn forced him backwards.
Bang!
Cao Qingyang’s back slammed hard against the stone gate, sending rubble clattering down.
“Alliance Leader!”
Xiao Yuenu and the others wore anxious expressions, unconsciously distancing themselves from their opponents and turning to check on the situation here.
“Cough, cough…”
Cao Qingyang coughed violently, his fists and chest stained with blood.
The members of the Wulin Alliance felt a chill in their hearts, a single sabre strike had left Cao Qingyang, who was half a step into the third rank, in such a sorry state.
“Not bad, you’re only half a step from the third rank now. Your vitality and resilience have already started to exceed the fourth rank,” Azure Dragon observed Cao Qingyang, his hoarse voice tinged with jealousy. “Give you a few more years and surely you’d reach the third rank? Cao Qingyang, you are not dying unjustly.”
His cape suddenly billowed as he held his sabre high.
The seven companions behind him mimicked his movement, their qi distorting the air as it linked the eight of them together, gathering all their power for Azure Dragon.
The sabre in Azure Dragon’s hand became burning hot, as if unable to withstand the immense qi, on the verge of melting.
Azure Dragon no longer hesitated and unleashed the sabre aura he had long been charging.
After striking, Azure Dragon became highly alert to his surroundings. Cao Qingyang definitely could not take this blow, and behind him was where the Wulin Alliance ancestor secluded himself.
Therefore, Xu Qi’an or Sun Xuanji would surely appear.
However, what happened next went against Azure Dragon’s expectations: neither Xu Qi’an nor Sun Xuanji came forward, but instead, Cao Qingyang, clearly doomed, crossed his arms in front of his chest, actually trying to block a beyond-mortal sabre with mere flesh and blood?
“Alliance leader, dodge!”
“Cao Qingyang, don’t be reckless…”
Cries of alarm sounded one after the other. Xiao Yuenu repelled Liu Hongmian with a sword sweep and lunged towards the stone gate.
Dai Zong sprinted madly, his face contorted as if racing the sabre aura for speed.
Yang Cuixue, Fu Jingmen, Master Qiao and other fourth-rank experts all moved to aid at the stone gate.
Boom!
The sabre aura exploded on Cao Qingyang’s body, the shockwave nearly tearing everyone’s eardrums.
Bang, bang, bang… The cliff face kept cracking, the blast sent Xiao Yuenu flying, forced Fu Jingmen back, and pushed a number of Wulin Alliance experts to retreat.
“Fool!”
Azure Dragon stood proudly, his robes billowing in the gale whipped up by the shockwave.
Not yet third rank, anyone taking this blow head on would almost certainly meet a predictable fate.
Qihuan Danxiang, White Tiger, Liu Hongmian and the others suppressed their joy and stared intently at the stone gate.
…
On the Wind-riding Boat.
Ji Xuan, watching the battle intently, twitched his ear and looked back.
Dongfang Wanrong and Xu Yuanhuai made the same movement, while Xu Yuanshuang, seemingly calm, continued watching, until she heard the whistling wind and turned around in surprise.
She saw a young man in a black robe embroidered with gold and silver threads flying towards the Wind-riding Boat, standing on a flying sword.
His looks were unmatched, skin fair, with an elegant air, truly a fine gentleman in a fallen world.
Any maiden with a romantic heart would feel her heart flutter upon seeing such a man.
Li Lingsu? Xu Yuanshuang had a deep impression of this exceptionally handsome Holy Son of the Heaven Sect, but had no time to admire him, she cast a vigilant glance around.
Ji Xuan and Xu Yuanhuai did the same.
Since Li Lingsu was here, could Xu Qi’an be far behind?
At this moment, Dongfang Wanrong spoke indifferently, “Don’t worry, that Xu isn’t here.”
The three of them felt a sense of relief. Ji Xuan gave a bitter smile, thinking to himself that Xu Qi’an had truly left them traumatised.
Dongfang Wanrong ignored the three, walking straight towards Li Lingsu, and coldly looked at him:
“Why are you here?”
Li Lingsu leapt down from his flying sword, gazed at her beautiful, blossom-like face, and said with deep feeling,
“I came to see the girl I yearn for day and night.”
He sighed,
“I know I have no right to say that. Because I always leave without saying goodbye, always abandon you and Sister Qing.”
Dongfang Wanrong’s pretty face was frosted with cold:
“Li Lingsu, you need not speak such sweet words any longer.
“I fancied you, so I was willing to listen. But ever since you chose to follow Xu Qi’an and abandoned me and my sister Qing, we sisters have nothing more to do with you.
“Grudges and affections, severed with one blow. There’s no need for you to come looking for me again.”
Li Lingsu was slightly moved, a complicated look on his face, sadness, despondency, dejection, all as if he were a pitiful soul out of luck in love.
“Sister Rong, I’m sorry…”
Dongfang Wanrong gave a cold, disdainful laugh.
“Your words truly stab at my heart like a knife, making me realise in that moment that I had lost something important, more important than life itself,” he said.
Dongfang Wanrong glanced at him and said coldly,
“Leave at once, don’t make trouble here. Otherwise, don’t blame me for forgetting our past.”
With that, she drew the dagger at her waist.
Li Lingsu shook his head slightly,
“Those six months, I really did feel that your and Sister Qing’s love was overwhelming, so much so that I felt no happiness at all, my back even ached a little.
“But none of this should be my reason for leaving you. I’m not here to beg your forgiveness or to make excuses for myself.
“I’m here because I care about you.”
Seeing Dongfang Wanrong’s cold face, he suddenly grew agitated, pointed at Ji Xuan and his group, and said angrily,
“Do you know how terrifying Xu Qi’an is? Do you know that, outside Yongzhou city, he beat this lot so badly they were shedding their armour and fleeing? So badly they almost died?
“So why are you and Sister Qing still mixed up in this? With your cultivation, you can’t even touch a single hair on Xu Qi’an.”
Dongfang Wanrong sneered, “What’s it got to do with you?”
Li Lingsu said loudly,
“Nothing, but if you insist on staying here, even if I die, I’ll take you away. I don’t want you and Sister Qing to die in vain.”
Dongfang Wanrong threw the dagger at his feet, her tone as cold as the wind,
“You may end it yourself.”
Ah… Li Lingsu was silent for a moment, then forced a smile,
“Sister Rong, you really don’t love me anymore…”
He left with tears in his eyes.
Watching Li Lingsu fly off on his sword, Dongfang Wanrong remained silent for a long time.
“Why didn’t you kill him?”
In her mind, Nalan Tianlu’s voice sounded.
Dongfang Wanrong shook her head slightly, “He’s the Holy Son of the Heaven Sect. If we killed him, it would bring the Heaven Sect down on us as an enemy. I don’t want to make enemies for teacher.”
Nalan Tianlu gave a small laugh,
“You still love him. Just now, if I hadn’t forced you to try to kill him, you wouldn’t even have driven him away.
“Wanrong, deep love is ill-fated. We might not be from the Heaven Sect, but we should learn a bit of their supreme detachment, otherwise, we become victims to our own feelings.”
Dongfang Wanrong pressed her lips together.
…
On the other side, after Li Lingsu rode his sword away, he did not return to Mount Quanrong but wandered aimlessly outside.
This way, he could avoid being followed and spied upon.
He took out the Earth Book fragment and poured out a small wild bird.
The wild bird fluttered its wings and landed on his shoulder, speaking in human tongue, “How did it go?”
Li Lingsu looked solemn and said,
“There were two Vajra on the Wind-riding Boat, Sister Rong, as well as Ji Xuan and that pair of siblings.
“Then, I detected an unusual fluctuation in Sister Rong’s primordial spirit. As expected, Nalan Tianlu’s primordial spirit is in her.
“Apart from these people, there’s no one else at all on the Wind-riding Boat.”
The wild bird listened, pondered for a moment, and then pecked at its own head:
“You did very well.”
Li Lingsu quickly said, “Remember you promised me to show mercy to Sister Rong and Sister Qing, not to take their lives.”
He was adding another layer of protection for the Dongfang sisters.
The wild bird gently pecked its head,
“I can only do my best. You must know, with Nalan Tianlu lodging in her sea of consciousness, it is very difficult for me to deal with Nalan Tianlu without harming her.
“Besides, in the face of life and death, I might not be able to care for such things.”
Li Lingsu did not insist and said,
“I understand.”
He had just made a trip to the Wind-riding Boat. The risk was not great, nor was the task too difficult, so there was no reason to expect Xu Qi’an to guarantee the Dongfang sisters would remain unharmed in a fight.
Xu Qi’an would not agree either.
…
Deep in the dense forest.
On the Wind-riding Boat, apart from a few old friends, there is no one else… Xu Qi’an focused on watching the battle and at the same time pondered.
If there are only two Vajra, I’m not afraid as long as I rely on the edge of the Sovereign Sword, but the Sovereign Sword clearly won’t be very effective against Nalan Tianlu.
Li Lingsu did not see anyone else, but that does not mean there are no ambushers on board. With Xu Pingfeng’s abilities, if he wanted to hide a killer move, Li Lingsu would definitely not be able to detect it.
Besides, with the Jianzheng monitoring Yunzhou, Xu Pingfeng could not possibly leave in person. Even if he could evade the Jianzheng, if he dared leave Yunzhou, the Jianzheng might simply steal the crystal directly.
Ji Xuan and his bastards are thinking the same thing as I am, step by step probing my trump cards…
Xu Qi’an placed the Huntian Divine Mirror by his feet and took out the Earth Book fragment.
He upturned the Earth Book fragment and summoned from it the Taiping Sabre and the Sovereign Sword.
The aura of both legendary weapons was restrained, entirely without fluctuation.
“Long time no see, old friend.”
Xu Qi’an stroked the bronze sword.
The Sovereign Sword responded with a steady and kind intent, like a venerable and reliable elder.
The Taiping Sabre, on the other hand, was far more exuberant, repeatedly conveying to Xu Qi’an the idea of “I am no longer who I used to be”.
Just like a half-grown child, proclaiming to his father that he had grown up.
“Very good. After half a month of nurturing, you have become even sharper, Taiping!”
Xu Qi’an caressed the dark-gold blade, “Today, I shall use the blood of a Vajra to honour you.”
He planted the Sovereign Sword and Taiping Sabre at his left and right, picked up the Huntian Divine Mirror again, and looked at the half-kneeling figure at the stone gate, muttering,
“Cao Qingyang, that fool, actually could not bear to use the essence blood I gave him, thinking to keep it to digest and comprehend, so as to break through to the third rank.
“Does he really think he and the combined efforts of Yang Cuixue and the others could defeat the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations with only their own cultivation?
“And now, he has no choice but to use it.”
…
“I was too arrogant.”
Cao Qingyang sighed, “Even if you rely on a magic artifact and are not truly third rank, you are still not someone I can handle. Numbers are useless.”
When they saw Cao Qingyang unharmed, Fu Jingmen, Yang Cuixue and the rest felt as if the world had turned on its head. They found it both unbelievable and a cause for wild joy.
Xiao Yuenu stared intently, her delicate body trembling slightly:
“Alliance Master, have you— have you reached the third rank?!”
Cao Qingyang’s aura was now completely different, faintly emanating an aura that made them all tremble.
Even stranger, Cao Qingyang’s skin had turned a faint gold.
Third rank… Yang Cuixue and Dai Zong stared silently, unable to form an expression, but everyone’s hearts were racing furiously.
“Vajra Divine Art?!”
Suddenly, the Warrior Monk Jingyuan in the distance blurted out, his expression slightly changed.
The members of the Wulin Alliance, swept up by great joy, finally cleared their minds a bit.
“Alliance Master, when did you master the Vajra Divine Art?”
You Shi of the Ironclad Sect looked at his companions, hoping for an answer, but saw the same confusion in their eyes.
What is going on?
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