Chapter 54

"——If you can block my hundred sword strikes today without using innate energy, I will never mention the matter of the cauldron and the primordial fetus again, and I will even offer you three fetal refining pills and three snow soul pills. If you cannot, you will serve me from now on!"

Zongshou was taken aback by this, truly stunned for a moment. He had thought this woman would never bring up the matter again, and that there would be no further connection between them. He never expected that Zhao Yanran would suddenly leap to a new line of thought and want to duel with swords again. From her expression, she seemed extremely serious, as if she would not give up until he agreed.

Tilting his head, he pondered for a moment, and then Zongshou decisively drew his Pine Pattern Wind Sword. Although it was troublesome, it was not bad to resolve things this way. Three fetal refining pills, three snow soul pills—this battle, he was betting on it! In fact, being forced to this point, he had no choice.

However, before he could step forward, Chuxue held him back tightly, exclaiming, "Young Master, don't pay attention to this demoness! Even without innate energy, her true energy is much stronger than yours. This battle is completely unfair! How can this demoness even talk about a sword duel! If it comes to it, we can fight to the death. Chuxue is not afraid of dying."

Yin Yang's hand, holding a knife, also emitted a few sparks. The area around him, covered in water slurry, suddenly gave off a lot of steam, but his face was as cold as a thousand-year-old ice weapon: "Young Master, Yin Yang is now confident he can hold back this woman! There's no need to worry—"

Zhao Yanran sneered, not bothering to argue with Chuxue. She was only slightly concerned about Yin Yang. She wondered if he had been confined by those two golden threads for too long. His foundation was incredibly solid. Now, after breaking through the nine meridians of the Body Wheel, his energy was not only stable but rapidly solidified. He was already at the peak of the Body Wheel, and there were signs of another breakthrough.

He was like a volcano that had been dormant for a long time, gathering immense heat, ready to erupt.

Zongshou felt a warmth in his heart. He lightly tapped Chuxue's wrist, making her arm go limp. He easily broke free and stood in front of Zhao Yanran, pointing his sword forward with a smile: "A hundred sword strikes, three fetal refining pills, three snow soul pills—this is what Miss Yanran said! Don't go back on your word—"

Strangely, when Zongshou raised his sword, he no longer had the previous carefree and relaxed demeanor. He was solemn and dignified, like a newly sharpened sword, its edge flashing. After a moment, he returned to a calm state, hiding all his sharpness.

Zhao Yanran was initially stunned, then her face showed admiration. Only someone with such sword talent could break through the eighteen puppet swords of Lingyun Sect in such a short time. She was excited and eager for the battle.

As a gentle breeze swept through the marsh, Zhao Yanran's ethereal figure suddenly disappeared from where she stood. Her entire body seemed to merge with the wind, making her almost invisible to the naked eye.

Yin Yang's hand, holding the knife, clenched tightly, his muscles tensing. Chuxue could not see Zhao Yanran's movements at all. When she finally reacted, she heard a loud clashing of weapons that almost burst her eardrums.

Zongshou stood in the middle of the field, his face expressionless, his eyes fixed on the front. His sword suddenly stabbed to the left, then slashed to the right. A series of clashing sounds echoed around him, but he remained in place, calm and composed. He counted aloud: "Nine, ten, fourteen, fifteen—"

Both of their sword speeds were extremely fast, sometimes too fast to count, so he skipped some numbers. He thought to himself that although this woman's character was a bit strange, she was still keeping her promise. She did not use innate energy and kept her sword power at the level of a martial artist.

But the body technique that incorporated the spirit master's wind control—how could a first-level Body Wheel martial artist possess such a technique? It was cheating! It was like she had an external boost.

Another 'ding' sounded, much louder than the previous dozen clashes.

Zongshou's eyes narrowed, feeling a slight numbness in his right hand and a surge of blood in his chest. He clearly felt that the power had increased by at least ten times. A cold force traveled up the sword, instantly covering a small section of the blade with frost.

He smiled coldly and, without hesitation, slapped a Body Flame Charm on himself, feeling a warm sensation. He had no intention of retreating, focusing all his strength on the tip of the sword and stabbing it to the side.

Another series of sword clashes followed, over twenty strikes, each one louder than the last, the power and energy increasing with each strike. Zongshou showed no fear, facing her sword with his own, standing firm.

Chuxue was amazed. How could Zongshou, with his cultivation, possibly match Zhao Yanran, a martial artist with innate energy?

As her vision gradually adjusted, she realized that each of Zongshou's strikes hit either the spine or the edge of Zhao Yanran's sword, always at the point of least resistance.

She was even more astonished, stepping forward to get a better look. How could Zongshou, with Zhao Yanran's speed, predict her sword movements so accurately and find the best point of resistance so precisely?

By the time they reached the sixty-fifth strike, the area was enveloped in a dense fog of sword shadows.

Zongshou no longer insisted on staying in one place. Whenever the cold sword power became too strong, he would step back. He moved forward and backward freely amidst the sword shadows, using his steps to interfere with Zhao Yanran's high-speed movements. He also instructed Chuxue: "Xue'er, did you see? You come from the Tiger Cat clan, naturally agile. But if you only use your speed to dodge and tangle, it's a waste!"

At this moment, not only Chuxue but even Yin Yang was enlightened, watching intently. Zhao Yanran, however, was furious, her face turning pale. She let out a cold snort, and all the illusory figures she had created converged into one. A sword shot out, like a bolt from the sky, piercing through the air with a whistling sound.

Zongshou's expression also tensed. Even before the clash, he felt an overwhelming force. He smiled coldly, his body swaying left and right, causing the sword tip to change direction.

Just as the fierce sword power began to weaken, he took several steps back, and his Pine Pattern Wind Sword suddenly stabbed out. The swords clashed, creating a series of spinning movements. Zongshou seemed to be trying to deflect the sword to the side, while Zhao Yanran aimed to knock his sword out of his hand.

Just as the spinning force was about to end, and the Pine Pattern Wind Sword was about to be knocked out of his hand, Zhao Yanran's eyes showed a hint of regret. Zongshou changed his steps, pressing down on the sword. Using the spinning force, he leaped forward, a sword shadow sweeping directly toward Zhao Yanran's throat!

Close and ruthless, it was sudden and fierce.

At that moment, Zongshou's sword seemed like a fierce blade from the River of Hell, flashing instantly, cold and decisive!

Zhao Yanran felt a sense of panic, her body retreating quickly, moving back ten meters. But when she landed, a deep blood mark appeared on her neck.

Looking at Zongshou, he had already returned to his original position. The sharpness he had shown earlier had disappeared, and he was once again calm and indifferent.

Zhao Yanran's hand trembled, her face full of disbelief. Even when she had heard from Long Ruo that this young man had broken the Small Heavenly Sword Array and copied the Heavenly Talisman, she was not as shocked as she was now.

—What did she just see? Sword intent! It was actually sword intent!

Unlike the flying knife, which was just a facade, this was a truly powerful and overwhelming martial intent that made her heart tremble and almost unable to avoid.

—This should not be possible for this young man. This power far exceeded the level of a martial artist, even she, as a martial artist with innate energy, could not touch it. But that sword just now seemed to have both form and spirit, or at least very close to it.

For a moment, Zhao Yanran was extremely frightened. Then her disbelief and surprise reached their peak.

She never thought that even Long Ruo could make a mistake.

To be able to glimpse the mystery of sword intent at the level of a martial artist—how could this young man be limited to the word 'genius'? With such talent, how could he be limited by his physical condition?

If Long Ruo were to find out later, she would surely regret it—

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