Chapter 27

The clear wind stirred on the river, and the boats burned more fiercely. The tongues of fire flickered wildly into the night sky, casting a mottled and eerie light on the riverbank.

Su Zhong's internal energy circulated at an unprecedented speed.

Bang!

He suddenly vanished from his spot, transforming into a black shadow that rushed toward Zuo Lengshan. His swift movements created a strong wind, and the grass and trees were flattened in his wake.

Zuo Lengshan stood calmly, his broadsword in hand. "Brother Yue, take your time. I'll test the power of the Exorcism Sword Technique first. Let's see if it can match the heads of a few people."

His Ice True Qi had reached its peak, and he had fully opened the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians. His internal energy formed a grand cycle that enveloped his entire body. Every movement he made was infused with his internal energy, making it immensely powerful. His broadsword swept upward casually, emitting a faint blue light.

Clang!

Su Zhong retreated at an even faster speed, his feet tapping the ground, causing countless mud lotuses to bloom.

Yue Buqun's face turned grim. He had advanced his Purple霞Mist Divine Skill, believing he could match Zuo Lengshan. However, he never expected Zuo Lengshan to have already reached the pinnacle of innate perfection!

Zuo Lengshan's casual sword strike felt to Su Zhong like being hit by a large hammer. The icy internal energy traveled up his arm from the sword hilt, causing a numbing sensation.

"Such a domineering Ice True Qi, it can even slow down the body," Su Zhong marveled internally.

Su Zhong pushed the Bodhi Sutra to its peak, feeling a slight pain in his meridians. Ignoring it, he used the pure Bodhi True Qi to continuously flush out the invading Ice True Qi.

His long sword flipped, and he leaped again, transforming into a black shadow that charged at Zuo Lengshan.

Su Zhong had always emphasized lightness in his sword practice. His first target was Yu Canghai, and the Songfeng Temple was famous for its lightness skills. To deal with Yu Canghai, his lightness skills had to be excellent.

To practice lightness, Su Zhong practiced the Thousand Pound Drop technique at all times, increasing his physical strength. Eventually, he mastered the simple Swallow's Three Flights, making it as fast as a galloping horse.

Now, his superior lightness skills were finally on display. The spectators could not see Su Zhong's figure; under the flickering firelight, they only saw a black shadow jumping, turning, and leaping, continuously attacking Zuo Lengshan.

Zuo Lengshan's face remained cold, and his broadsword moved as naturally as his arm. The Great Songyang Sword Technique was broad and expansive, and every strike accurately hit Su Zhong's sword, sending him flying.

The broadsword, with its faint blue glow, danced in the air, and the temperature around Zuo Lengshan rapidly dropped, creating a light mist in the air!

"Is this the Exorcism Sword Technique?" Zuo Lengshan asked, disappointment in his eyes.

"The speed is impressive," he thought, recalling his previous desperate desire for the Exorcism Sword Manual. He felt ashamed of his shortsightedness. His perfected Ice True Qi was immensely powerful, and Zuo Lengshan, with his innate perfection, was resolute, understanding that Ice True Qi was his foundation.

"Disappointing, Brother Yue. Is this the Exorcism Sword Technique you placed such high hopes on? Your judgment is lacking," Zuo Lengshan said casually, his long sword waving, completely disregarding Su Zhong.

Su Zhong remained undeterred, fully activating the Bodhi Sutra. He unleashed the Twelve Deadly Swords without hesitation.

However, as time passed, Su Zhong's speed gradually slowed, and the black shadow that had been a blur began to form distinct black lines. Su Zhong's speed was decreasing.

Zuo Lengshan immediately noticed the change in Su Zhong's attack rhythm and chuckled. "How is my Ice True Qi? Do you feel your body becoming uncontrollable and gradually stiffening?"

As if in a friendly conversation, Zuo Lengshan suddenly changed his relaxed stance, twisting his waist and swinging his arm, delivering a fierce downward strike with his broadsword, the blue light intensifying.

"Ice True Qi!"

Clang!

Su Zhong was sent flying like a cannonball. His body was already stiff, and Zuo Lengshan's strike was both fast and ruthless. He had no way to dodge, and his body skidded backward, crashing into a crooked willow tree.

Boom! Crack!

The thick willow tree snapped instantly, revealing a pale trunk that resembled a human bone.

"Brother Yue, have you made your decision? However, the terms have changed. I no longer want the Exorcism Sword Technique; I want the Purple霞Mist Divine Skill," Zuo Lengshan said firmly.

"Out of the question!" Yue Buqun was furious, his face turning purple, indicating he had pushed the Purple霞Mist Divine Skill to its limit.

Zuo Lengshan raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to fight to the death?"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The masters of the Shaolin Sect drew their long swords, their eyes cold.

"Kill!"

Zuo Lengshan's broadsword was planted in the ground in front of him, one hand on the hilt, the other behind his back. "Brother Yue, think carefully."

Su Zhong lay on the ground, his eyebrows frosted over. He had always used his internal energy to freeze others, but this time, he was the one being frozen.

He couldn't move a single finger. Su Zhong began to understand how Tian Boguang felt.

But he was not Tian Boguang; he was Su Zhong. Since his rebirth, a sword had hung over his head—a sword named Yu Canghai. Sixteen years later, he had easily shattered this sword.

However, the feeling of always being on the brink of death had become a habit, growing even stronger.

He had died once and loved life more than anyone. He realized he was actually afraid of death. The Thirteen Deadly Swords were born from this, killing to survive.

If he couldn't break free from the ice, Su Zhong would face death—something he had been fighting against for sixteen years. The Bodhi Sutra ran wildly, and he once again felt a strong attachment to life.

The deadly sword intent filled his body, miraculously merging with every strand of internal energy! The already pure and cold Bodhi True Qi became dense and resilient, yet slippery.

The internal energy flowed through his meridians, causing no pain, only a cool and refreshing sensation.

"Break!"

Su Zhong shouted, and the remaining Belt Meridian was finally penetrated. Internal energy circulated throughout his body, and the Bodhi True Qi surged like a tiger among sheep, dispelling the Ice True Qi wherever it went.

"Ha ha ha... I've broken through!"

Su Zhong leaped up, his internal energy surging. His clothes inflated as if filled with air.

Beside the broken old willow tree, Su Zhong's long hair flowed freely, his sword gleaming. The firelight illuminated his face, filled with madness.

"Zuo Lengshan!"

With a loud shout, Su Zhong charged at Zuo Lengshan like an arrow.

His long sword emitted a brilliant green light, and he seemed to merge with the sword, reaching Zuo Lengshan in an instant.

Zuo Lengshan's brow furrowed, and his usually cold face became serious.

Innate Perfection?! He broke through to innate perfection at this moment!

What talent!

Gripping the broadsword with both hands, Zuo Lengshan slightly crouched, his aura changing dramatically. He stood like Mount Song, immovable. His Ice True Qi was activated, enveloping him in a pale blue mist.

"Such a powerful Great Songyang Divine Sword! Such a powerful Zuo Lengshan!" Yue Buqun said with mixed feelings.

Ning Zhongze was angry. "No matter how skilled his sword technique, he is a despicable person!"

"Admit it, although Zuo Lengshan is despicable, he is indeed powerful. Just this stance is like Mount Song. He has mastered the essence of the Great Songyang Sword Technique," Yue Buqun thought, feeling uneasy.

He was highly self-regarding and had never considered himself inferior to Zuo Lengshan, despite his deep respect for him. Today, he realized he was inferior to Zuo Lengshan in sword technique.

"Twelve Deadly Swords!"

Su Zhong shouted, the green sword light becoming even more brilliant. Like a bolt of lightning, he rushed at Zuo Lengshan.

Thud!

The green light and blue mist collided, producing a sound like a闷thunderclap?!

Su Zhong's strike missed, and he immediately retreated. After creating some distance, he accelerated and attacked again.

Zuo Lengshan stood his ground, his broadsword moving without a sound. The blue mist grew thicker, and the temperature around him dropped sharply. Even the raging fire on the riverbank could not warm the spectators.

Thud! Thud! Thud...

For a moment, rolling thunder echoed across the river.

Su Zhong grew more excited as he fought, his Bodhi True Qi flowing joyfully. The deadly sword technique became smoother.

Zuo Lengshan's heart, however, sank deeper and deeper.

He never expected the difference between Su Zhong before and after his breakthrough to be so great.

Before the breakthrough, he had used his Ice True Qi and the Great Songyang Divine Sword to overwhelm Su Zhong, never taking him seriously.

After the breakthrough, Su Zhong's internal energy did not become much stronger, but it became as pure as iron. His Ice True Qi was completely ineffective!

Most terrifyingly, Su Zhong's sword technique now contained a soul-piercing sword intent.

What seemed like an ordinary sword technique had a fatal allure. The moment he focused a little, he felt like he was trapped in a suction-filled quagmire.

The suction was ruthless, targeting his soul!

Zuo Lengshan's sword intent surged, and he stood firm like Mount Song, finally regaining his composure. However, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Only then did he realize that Su Zhong's rapid and fierce attacks before were not using sword intent. He was using Zuo Lengshan to hone his sword skills!

Damn!

He had underestimated Su Zhong, thinking he was just putting pressure on Yue Buqun. Now, he had created an enemy!

Su Zhong, like a madman, attacked fiercely, completely disregarding his own life!

Thud!

After another powerful clash, Su Zhong stood at a distance, not continuing his attack.

"Zuo Lengshan, thank you. I have finally broken through to innate perfection. To express my gratitude, I will show you the complete version of the Thirteen Deadly Swords!" Su Zhong's face was sincere, the madness in his eyes gone, as if inviting a close friend to appreciate his masterpiece.

Madman!

Even Zuo Lengshan, a ruthless leader, felt a chill.

No wonder the rumors about the deadly sword technique being ruthless and fierce. He finally understood the madness in Su Zhong's bones.

The Huashan Sect disciples shivered collectively.

Lin Shi looked at Su Zhong with concern. Su Zhong had always been cold and gloomy. She had always worried about him, and now it was clear he had a problem. This bone-deep madness pained her deeply.

"Monster, monster..." Lin Zhenan kept muttering these two words. The first time he saw Su Zhong's eyes, these words appeared in his mind. This faint unease had followed him for sixteen years, but it had never been as strong as today.

Su Zhong was very clear-headed, knowing exactly what he was doing. To others, his actions seemed mad, but his heart had never been so calm and peaceful.

"Zuo Lengshan, use your full strength. This will be your last performance!"