Chapter 90

The Demon's Blade (90)

A rain of red plum blossoms falls like a meteor shower.

Han Xuehua, who must know that each plum blossom before her eyes is a tangible manifestation of sword qi, still maintains her composed gaze and stands her ground.

The moment the swarm of falling plum blossoms engulfs Han Xuehua.

"Damn!"

Exclamations of shock burst from the mouths of the onlookers.

The technique of Starfall Dense and Dense leaves no room for evasion.

It is evident that, unless she is invulnerable like a diamond, she will be torn to shreds.

Zing!

A red mist created by the red plum blossoms.

At that moment, a sharp sound erupted from within.

Along with the sound of shattering ice, the plum blossoms scattered into the air.

Then, Han Xuehua's figure was revealed once more.

Within a ten-zhang radius centered on her.

The eyes of the onlookers were filled with shock as they discovered dozens of large and small ice blades densely filling the air.

They were stunned by the divine power of the perfected technique of transforming reason into form.

In contrast, Zhen Ming Zhenren moved his sword calmly.

The moment his sword pointed at a spot in the air, the shadow of the red plum blossoms enveloped Han Xuehua like a massive river.

The seventeenth move, Plum Shadow Creates a River.

The brilliant and vivid sword flowers formed a massive vortex, pressuring Han Xuehua. In comparison, Han Xuehua casually waved her sleeves.

It wasn't a sophisticated move, nor did it carry terrifying power, but the simple action began to scatter the red plum blossoms.

Even the crimson sword qi, which flickered with red, was helplessly cut into pieces by Han Xuehua's gestures.

That wasn't all.

The ice blades floating in the air twitched once, then, following Han Xuehua's will, they all rushed towards Zhen Ming Zhenren.

Zing!

Sharp explosions erupted from all sides as the red plum blossoms shattered. The path of the ice blades left the air frozen, leaving behind a white trail.

The intense cold seeped through the gaps in the shattered red plum blossoms.

Zing.

The white frost that started at Han Xuehua's feet spread at a terrifying speed, reaching Zhen Ming Zhenren in an instant.

"…!"

The eyes of the Huashan disciples were intensely shaken.

The frost had climbed up to their ankles and, in the blink of an eye, enveloped Zhen Ming Zhenren.

The sight of Zhen Ming Zhenren covered in white frost left them in shock.

At that moment, Zhen Ming Zhenren slowly extended his sword forward, opening his eyes.

A red aura began to stir above the frozen air.

The aura slowly gathered and began to form a flower bud.

As if refusing to allow this, Han Xuehua waved her sleeves again.

A chilling cold, far more terrifying than before, enveloped Zhen Ming Zhenren.

In that state, the two stood still, not moving an inch.

The situation had shifted from a battle of techniques to a contest of inner strength.

Despite the considerable distance between them, the overwhelming aura centered on the two left the onlookers in awe.

Fragments of the aura's force shot out like blades.

Even facing this was enough to send shivers down one's spine.

How much time had passed?

In the midst of the intense cold, Zhen Ming Zhenren finally bloomed a red plum blossom.

The eighteenth move of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Plum Endures Snow and Cold.

The single flower that bloomed in the frozen air was redder and more vivid than any plum blossom.

At that moment, their gazes met in the air.

Without a word, the two launched themselves at each other.

Bang!

Despite the clash of sword and hand, an unbelievable shockwave erupted. Simultaneously, a massive cloud of dust enveloped the two, created by the storm of aura.

"…"

No one in the arena spoke a word.

A battle that transcended human limits, shocking the heavens and the earth!

The overwhelming spectacle left everyone breathless.

Indeed, the onlookers had forgotten to breathe as they watched the duel in awe.

As the dust settled, the scene in the arena was revealed.

"Ah!"

An exclamation burst from someone's mouth.

Shattered ice particles scattered in the air.

The falling ice flowers, like a celestial river, were as red as plum blossoms.

The feast of ice plum blossoms, bathed in the glow of twilight, was truly a magnificent sight.

Moreover!

"Dark Fragrance Floats…"

Ming Jian muttered to himself.

The deep fragrance of plum blossoms that gently enveloped the surroundings.

He realized that this was the miraculous creation of the final move of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Plum Fragrance for Ten Thousand Miles.

The onlookers, who had been entranced, shivered.

It was a truly thrilling duel.

How many times in one's life could one witness such a battle?

However, the two who had clashed were merely smiling quietly at each other.

"Indeed…"

Han Xuehua's eyes softened as she slowly spoke.

"A sword worthy of the name 'Five Great Peaks.'"

"It's been a worthwhile life."

"…?"

"To be recognized by a sage like you."

"Are you talking about age in front of me?"

"When else would I have the chance to speak frankly to a sage?"

Han Xuehua chuckled.

A bittersweet emotion filled Zhen Ming Zhenren's eyes as he looked at her.

"Time really flies."

At this moment, the years of his life felt like a fleeting moment.

Han Xuehua nodded slightly, meeting Zhen Ming Zhenren's complex gaze.

"That young swordsman has grown into a master worthy of the title."

Zhen Ming Zhenren's face softened at Han Xuehua's blunt words of encouragement.

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

Han Xuehua nodded and gestured to Duan Aoxian, who was standing far away.

Duan Aoxian ran over, her cheeks flushed, and looked up at Han Xuehua and Zhen Ming Zhenren with sparkling eyes.

"To think there are such beautiful sword techniques in the world! It's truly amazing!"

Her eyes were filled with the lingering excitement of the duel she had just witnessed.

"It's just the obsession I've poured into years of practice."

Zhen Ming Zhenren smiled bitterly, his eyes filled with complexity.

"What I truly wanted was something else. This sword is just what I obtained in its place."

Duan Aoxian, unaware of the secrets between the two, tilted her head in confusion.

"I thought your sword skills had improved, but your ability to embarrass people has also grown."

Han Xuehua's reprimand made Zhen Ming Zhenren laugh as he led the two.

Ming Jian, who had been watching them blankly, was approached by someone.

"Did you see it?"

Feng Xianzi asked, and Ming Jian sighed.

"I don't know."

"…?"

"I thought I saw it, but upon reflection… I don't know."

Feng Xianzi smiled and nodded.

"Yes. If you say so, that's enough."

He could easily imagine the shock Ming Jian had received from this duel, especially in a situation where he felt stuck.

"However, I now know what Grandmaster was captivated by."

Ming Jian murmured, as if in a dream.

"The sword of Huashan is truly beautiful."

* * *

Following Jia Duzhe's lead, Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiewei entered the inn.

It was a place that clearly had a long history.

The signboard, the old tables, and chairs all bore the weight of time.

"This place looks shabby, but it's the most famous inn here. It boasts a history of over a hundred years. It's the original of the Youpo Noodles, which has been passed down for four generations since the first innkeeper opened it."

Jia Duzhe continued his explanation in a lowered voice.

"They say that Huashan Sect's Taoists don't close their doors for meditation because of this dish. It's like monks secretly climbing over the wall for the Buddha's feast."

"So what? It's just a noodle dish. What's so special about it?"

Fan Jiewei's reprimand made Jia Duzhe frown.

"You haven't tried the Youpo Noodles here yet."

"…?"

"In the vast Central Plains, Shanxi and Shaanxi are traditionally famous for noodle dishes. However, there's a clear difference. Shanxi emphasizes the broth, while Shaanxi emphasizes the noodles. Especially, the Youpo Noodles, which are as wide and thick as a belt, have an excellent chewy texture. Add the spicy flavor of the chili, and… Wow! What's the point of talking? Just try it. You'll see that I'm not exaggerating."

Chao Ailiang chuckled at Jia Duzhe's continuous explanation.

"Anyone would think you're a local. How do you know so much about this place, given that you've never been near Huashan?"

"It's the power of prior investigation."

"Prior investigation?"

Chao Ailiang's question made Jia Duzhe nod as if it were obvious.

"Just breaking in on a whim is the lowest of the low. A true gentleman thief, like me, who has reached the realm of thievery, starts with a thorough investigation of the target."

Chao Ailiang gave him an incredulous look.

"You were planning to rob Huashan?"

Jia Duzhe laughed awkwardly.

"Not right away, but…"

"What's there to steal