Chapter 62

"Even if the Water Kingdom is in turmoil, Sir, your identity as a representative of the Lingcang Sect, and the presence of disciples from various sects who have come to celebrate the birthday, would there really be someone in the Water Kingdom who would deliberately make things difficult for you?" Lu Xiao was somewhat puzzled. Even if the Water Kingdom were to fall into chaos, it probably wouldn't involve Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan waved his hand and said, "Prince Zhen's actions are not discreet, making it easy for problems to arise. If he can safely preside over the Dan Assembly, then it would be fine. But if he is forced to abdicate or even imprisoned, even trivial matters from the past can become major crimes. For example, borrowing the Golden Book today, if it were to be revealed, would be an excellent charge. If I don't leave now, would I just wait to be implicated?"

The terrain of the Water Kingdom in the Dang Domain is unique; no matter how high your cultivation, you cannot fly away. If a major upheaval occurs, the eight exits will be sealed by whoever is in power to prevent important people from escaping. In such a situation, life and death would be in the hands of others, which is not what Zhang Yan wants to see.

Lu Xiao's expression turned serious, and she said, "Sir, your words make sense. I will quickly prepare the boats."

However, Zhang Yan stopped her and said, "Wait a moment. Before we leave, buy a batch of mermaid beauties first. I will take them back to the island to enhance the scenery."

He had been thinking about how to bring Lu Xiao into the sect. Now he realized that this trip to the Water Kingdom might be the best opportunity. Buying a batch of female demons and taking them back to the sect would not only help him connect with fellow disciples but also allow him to disguise Lu Xiao's identity and keep her by his side openly.

Lu Xiao's eyes twinkled, and she understood his plan. She nodded and left.

Zhang Yan looked at the lake surface shimmering under the night sky and thought to himself, "It's a pity that I only need three breaths of spirit energy to break through to the third level of the Ming Qi realm. Now it seems I must leave, but I can't waste the yin and cold energy from the underground veins here."

He took a deep breath and slowly absorbed the cold energy rising from the depths of the underground veins into his qi acupoints.

He now had three qi acupoints. The first acupoint was used for the Three Acupoint Technique, the second for storing sha qi and the yin-yang poisons, and the third was perfect for absorbing cold energy.

The cold energy in this acupoint should be enough to refine a drop of heavy yin water. Once back at the Lingcang Sect, he would find a cold cave to continue his cultivation.

About half an hour later, in the Shuiyu Garden on the west side of Nanguai Palace, Jiang Yue pushed the door open and saw her senior brother Shen Yuefeng polishing a flying sword. Although his eyes were as calm as usual, the fierce and murderous look in them could not be hidden, and even his wrist was trembling slightly.

Jiang Yue stepped forward and asked with concern, "Senior Brother, what's wrong?"

Shen Yuefeng, without lifting his head, said, "The person I sent to monitor Zhang Yan has returned with news. It seems that after midnight, he lifted the restrictions on the Biyun轩 and is looking for boats, indicating that he intends to leave."

Jiang Yue was startled and said, "Senior Brother, are you planning to...?"

Shen Yuefeng's expression remained calm as he grabbed the cloth in his hand and instantly turned it into pieces. "This is a good opportunity. As a disciple of the Lingcang Sect, I don't know when I can avenge my second brother. Now, heaven has given me a chance, and I cannot let it slip away."

Jiang Yue's face showed a hint of worry, and she said, "But, Senior Brother, the Sixteen Sects Sword Duel is only a few years away. Although I also want to avenge Senior Brother Shen, why rush it?"

Shen Yuefeng shook his head firmly and said, "You have seen how quickly Zhang Yan has advanced. He is already at the threshold of the third level of the Ming Qi realm. The Lingcang Sect is a major sect. If we wait a few more years, who knows how high his cultivation will be? If I don't kill him now, it will be even harder in the future."

Seeing that she couldn't dissuade Shen Yuefeng, Jiang Yue softly reminded him, "Senior Brother, the female cultivator by Zhang Yan's side seems very powerful. Are you sure you can handle it?"

Shen Yuefeng snorted and said, "I have the Yuan Fu in my hand, and my spirit energy is inexhaustible. What do I have to fear?" He stood up, waved his sleeve, and heard a series of "clangs" as six flying swords rose from the table and were all stored in his sleeve.

At the first crow of the rooster, Zhang Yan prepared to return. This time, Lu Xiao had bought over a hundred mermaid beauties, and five hired boats were lined up on the wide water surface, cutting through the waves and heading for the exit in the morning mist.

When they entered the Water Kingdom, they had descended from the high southern terrain. To leave, they needed to circle back to the upstream and exit through another passage, following a river northward.

After about an hour of travel, the originally ten-thousand-foot-high mountain walls gradually became lower, the lake surface gradually rose, and the sky became more open and clear. A pale white moon still hung in the sky, not yet fading.

After traveling another ten miles and turning through several river channels, it was already the hour of Mao. The sun was rising, and the morning light danced like a dance, casting a golden glow on the river, and the mist was swept away.

A huge mountain wall appeared ahead, with a cave entrance about sixty feet high in its belly. The rapid water flowed through, making a gushing sound, and occasionally a couple of immortal cranes flew by.

Lu Xiao said, "After this river, we will officially leave the Dang Domain Water Kingdom. Without the influence of the underground veins, we can fly away."

At this moment, she suddenly turned around and looked back, saying, "Sir, look at that boat that has been following us."

Zhang Yan turned around and saw a boat approaching from a distance. Soon it was about sixty to seventy feet away. A cultivator in a green robe stood at the bow, and Zhang Yan immediately recognized him as the Xuan Guang realm cultivator he had passed in the Nanguai Palace inn that day.

Seeing Zhang Yan's gaze, the man's face darkened, and he pointed his fingers, a bright light flashed, and a sword beam shot through the air. Lu Xiao quickly stepped forward to block it, and a black Xuan Guang emitted from her body, forming a screen to hold the flying sword.

Seeing that it couldn't land, the flying sword flew back.

Zhang Yan asked from a distance, "Who are you?"

The green-robed cultivator shouted, "Zhang Yan, do you remember Shen Jingyue?"

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "Of course I remember Senior Brother Shen."

The green-robed cultivator said fiercely, "I am Shen Jingyue's elder brother, Shen Yuefeng. That day at the Dang Yun Peak, you caused my brother to spit blood and die. Today, I am here to take your life."

Zhang Yan burst into laughter.

Shen Yuefeng was taken aback and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Zhang Yan sneered and said, "Those who kill others will be killed. I laugh because today you want to kill me, but you don't know that I can also kill you today."

Shen Yuefeng was furious and said, "Young man, today you will know my power!"

He waved his sleeve, and several sword beams flew over instantly.

Lu Xiao's Xuan Guang rose to wrap around a flying sword. Another sword beam came, and she extended her Xuan Guang to hold it. However, four more sword beams followed, and she took a step back, drawing a magic sword to fend off three flying swords. By the time the sixth sword beam came, she could no longer resist and had to retreat to avoid it.

Without a suitable weapon, the six sword beams rotated, forcing her to retreat step by step, and the situation was perilous.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan immediately threw something and said, "Daoist Lu, catch it."

Lu Xiao quickly caught it, and her mind calmed down. Seeing a sword beam fall, she waved her hand to block it, and with a "clang," she struck a flying sword, causing its spiritual light to fade and fall. Seizing this moment, she cast a spell and said, "Go!"

The magic treasure flew into the air, and with a metallic explosion, it knocked down a flying sword. It then struck another flying sword horizontally.

Seeing three flying swords broken, Shen Yuefeng was startled. Seeing the red light shining from Lu Xiao's hand, which resembled a hammer, he realized it was a magic treasure that could break flying swords. He quickly recalled the remaining flying swords. Lu Xiao, not willing to let go, pursued with the Heart Hammer and struck another flying sword, which fell into the river and disappeared.

When Shen Yuefeng recalled his flying swords, he found only two intact. He snorted and said, "Since they are not perfect, what use are they?" With a forceful effort, he broke the two flying swords and threw them on the deck.

He stared at the opposite boat with a sword-like gaze, cast a spell, and a golden light emerged from the center of his forehead. He pointed his fingers and said, "Kill!"

Lu Xiao's face changed slightly, and she shouted, "Sir, hide quickly, this is a Sword Pill!"

After a cultivator reaches the Xuan Guang realm, they can use refined metal to create a Sword Pill. After cultivation, it can be integrated with their mind, and the Xuan Guang can be寄托 on it, allowing them to control it remotely to kill.

The quality of the Sword Pill improves with repeated refinement, and it can be used as flexibly as an arm. Ordinary treasures can block it once, but they cannot withstand the continuous attacks.

In direct combat, those who use Sword Pills are often the hardest to deal with. Once the magic treasure is used, the sword user can escape using the sword light. When the opponent's magic treasure is recalled, they can return.

If the sword technique is more sophisticated, after a few rounds, they can find a weakness and cut down an opponent of similar cultivation.

Seeing the Sword Pill flying rapidly, Lu Xiao quickly drove the Heart Hammer to intercept it. Unfortunately, she had not refined it with her blood, so it was somewhat sluggish. The Sword Pill circled and headed straight for Zhang Yan. Lu Xiao, unable to block it in time, turned pale.

At this moment, the sky above darkened, and the wide river was blocked by a mountain wall. The boat had just turned a bend, and the Sword Pill, slightly delayed, flew back.

Lu Xiao sighed in relief and said, "Fortunately, this flying sword has not yet developed a spirit. Once it does, the sword and the soul will be integrated, and the Sword Pill will be able to sense its surroundings, making it impossible to miss the target."

She then sighed, "In the past,