Chapter 38

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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The person who intercepted Luo Fan's sword was Hao Datong, who was in the Kaiyang position. Although Luo Fan suppressed the returning sword, his guard was exposed.

Seizing the opportunity, Ma Yu in the Tian Shu position and Sun Bu'er in the Yao Guang position simultaneously attacked Luo Fan from both sides with their palms. They did not intend to kill, so their swords were all tucked at their waists, and they only used their bare hands to fight.

Luo Fan, with his eyes observing all directions and ears listening to all sides, had already seen the movements of the two people, as the Nine Swords of Dugu were nearly perfected. He pointed his sword at Sun Bu'er's "Tiantu" acupoint and simultaneously lifted his left foot to kick at the exposed area of Ma Yu's waist.

However, the two ignored everything and continued to attack. Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi simultaneously extended their palms to defuse Luo Fan's attack. Ma Yu and Sun Bu'er's palms had already reached in front of Luo Fan!

Luo Fan activated the Lingbo Weibu and took a step back to the Qian position. His figure seemed to drift backward, and the two palms that came at him passed through his afterimage, clapping together in the air.

The two separated after their attack. Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi, who were blocking Luo Fan, parted like a door. Liu Chuxuan, who was in the Tian Ji position behind them, extended his palm. Since his view was blocked, Luo Fan did not anticipate this attack and had to step sideways and retreat to the Kan position.

In a moment, Luo Fan had already fought with the six people for eight or nine rounds. Although the formation of the six people was highly sophisticated, it was incomplete. The Lingbo Weibu was extremely adept at dodging and maneuvering, and the six people did not deliberately attack Xiaolongnü. Therefore, they could not do much to Luo Fan for the time being.

Luo Fan, however, knew his own predicament. As the saying goes, "If you defend for too long, you will eventually lose." The power of the Exorcism Sword Technique, which is a preemptive attack, had greatly diminished. In the formation, the Nine Swords of Dugu often had their line of sight blocked, making it difficult to accurately judge the opponent's moves. Additionally, he had to be wary of the Quanzhen disciples attacking from the side. Although he could still hold his ground with the Lingbo Weibu for the time being, the Lingbo Weibu was restricted to the area around Xiaolongnü. If the others drew their swords, he would surely lose!

"Should I use the Six Pulse Sword?" Luo Fan actually did not want to use the Six Pulse Sword in front of others, as it was stolen. If the news reached the ears of the monks, it would surely cause more trouble.

While defending against the six people's attacks, Luo Fan thought, "If I use the Six Pulse Sword, I should be able to catch them off guard and severely injure one of them. Then, using the Pursuit Sword, I should be able to severely injure another, giving me a chance to break through. However, the Six Pulse Sword will be exposed."

Previously, Hao Datong had only seen part of Luo Fan's Six Pulse Sword, which could be explained as the Finger Flicking Skill. However, if the six people were to see it up close now, they would surely notice its extraordinary nature. Once the news spread, if the monks from Tianlong Temple deliberately investigated, they would definitely find out about him.

"Right! The Pursuit Sword!" Luo Fan's mind suddenly flashed with an idea. "How could I be so stupid? Since the Six Pulse Sword can borrow the principle of the Pursuit Spear, why can't the Nine Swords of Dugu?"

Luo Fan's mind became clear, and the sword light opened like a peacock spreading its feathers, enveloping several people in front of him, making it difficult to distinguish reality from illusion.

The formation of the seven people changed. Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi, who were in the Tian Quan and Yu Heng positions, stepped forward, while the others retreated. Two of Luo Fan's sword lights turned real and simultaneously stabbed at the two. Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi extended their palms to strike Luo Fan's sword, trying to deflect it.

However, before their palms reached Luo Fan's sword, Luo Fan's sword, as if it had been anticipated, deflected downward, narrowly avoiding their palms and stabbing towards their chests!

At this moment, the sword was only two inches away from their bodies, and there was no time for any other action. The two hurriedly sidestepped, but they let out a muffled groan as blood splattered from their shoulders, and cold sweat appeared on their foreheads.

However, Qiu Chuji, who had been through countless battles, was not greatly affected by this. He quickly regained his composure and shouted, "Draw your swords! Return to your positions!" The six people simultaneously drew their swords from their waists. Luo Fan took advantage of the situation, stepped forward, and used the Lingbo Weibu to step to the Ken position, stabbing his sword at Qiu Chuji.

At this moment, Wang Chuyi raised his sword to block Luo Fan's sword. However, Luo Fan's sword suddenly deflected upward, still narrowly avoiding Wang Chuyi's sword and stabbing towards Qiu Chuji's throat.

Qiu Chuji's face was cold and composed, and a silver light appeared at his throat. Luo Fan's sword was blocked by Qiu Chuji at the last moment with a "ding" sound!

As Luo Fan's sword technique became more familiar, he could always calmly avoid the various blocking swords, making the six people feel uneasy. However, the six people cooperated extremely well, and the sword was different from the palm. When the six people extended their palms, Luo Fan could sidestep to avoid them, and their arm length was not enough to reach Xiaolongnü behind him. However, if it was a sword, when a sword came, Luo Fan could sidestep, but the sword would definitely stab Xiaolongnü! Therefore, Luo Fan could not dodge certain moves, otherwise, Xiaolongnü would be in danger. As a result, Luo Fan could only struggle to hold on.

After several dozen more moves, the sword circle became tighter, and Luo Fan's fighting became more difficult. The smaller the sword circle, the greater the advantage for the six people, and the smaller the space for Luo Fan to dodge and maneuver, the greater the pressure. At this point, Luo Fan was forced to expose himself. He moved his left index finger and used the One Finger Zen to point at the six people, while his right hand held the sword to block the incoming swords. The middle finger on the sword hilt suddenly extended, pointing at Hao Datong in the Kaiyang position.

"One Finger Zen?!" Several of the seven people who had seen the One Finger Zen immediately recognized its power and continuously blocked with their swords. The formation also changed, and Wang Chuyi suddenly moved to Hao Datong's position.

Luo Fan was startled. His Zhongchong Sword was originally aimed at Hao Datong's heart. Luo Fan had no particular fondness for this old Taoist, and his earlier words had made Luo Fan extremely uncomfortable. Therefore, Luo Fan's Zhongchong Sword was the first to target him. This sword, if it hit, would definitely severely injure or kill Hao Datong!

However, at this moment, a change occurred. Wang Chuyi stood in Hao Datong's original position, and Hao Datong retreated to the back!

Like Hao Datong, Wang Chuyi did not recognize the power of the Zhongchong Sword and did not pay attention to Luo Fan's middle finger, still thrusting his sword forward!

To say that Luo Fan had no feelings for Wang Chuyi was absolutely impossible. When Luo Fan first arrived in this world, he met Wang Chuyi and Cui Zhifang. It was Wang Chuyi who brought him to Quanzhen and taught him martial arts. Wang Chuyi's status in Luo Fan's heart was more than just a master; he was the one who introduced Luo Fan to the world of martial arts and ignited his dream of being a hero. For six years, Wang Chuyi had always treated Luo Fan sincerely. How could Luo Fan not feel this? His disappointment with Quanzhen led him to rebel, but he could never bring himself to kill Wang Chuyi.

Unlike Hao Datong, Wang Chuyi had just moved to this position, and his old strength had just run out while his new strength had not yet been generated. There was no way for him to dodge, and he was completely unaware of Luo Fan's sword. If Luo Fan's sword was released, it would surely pierce Wang Chuyi's heart! Luo Fan, thinking of this outcome, was suddenly drenched in cold sweat and quickly deflected his finger. An invisible sword energy grazed Wang Chuyi's arm, making him feel a chill. A transparent small hole appeared on his clothes. At the same time, Luo Fan, whose mind was in chaos, failed to dodge Wang Chuyi's thrust, and was instantly pierced through the chest!

"Fan'er!" Wang Chuyi did not expect this outcome. He thought Luo Fan's martial arts were strong enough to dodge, but the sword pierced through solidly, and he let out a cry of shock!

"Fan-ge!" Xiaolongnü also let out a cry of shock, her pale hand covering her lips, her face full of panic.

"Good! Good! Good!" Luo Fan's eyes were fixed on Wang Chuyi, and his mouth was already filled with blood. He said three "good" words, then said, "Master, this is the last time I call you Master. This sword is my way of repaying you for the six years of teaching and guidance. From now on, I, Luo Fan, have no ties with Quanzhen!"

With that, Luo Fan used the Nine Yang True Qi, and with both hands, he broke the sword in front of his chest, which "zing" and snapped! Wang Chuyi just stood there, not knowing what to say.

"Rogue! Rogue!" Ma Yu shouted from the side. He had always held Luo Fan in high regard and had intended to cultivate him as the next leader, but he never expected it to come to this.

Wang Chuyi's strength was second only to Qiu Chuji, and his position in the Yu Heng position was extremely important. Without Wang Chuyi, the Tian Gang Beidou Formation had a significant flaw. Luo Fan, holding Xiaolongnü, used the Lingbo Weibu to leap out of the encirclement. Without the Tian Gang Beidou Formation, the Quanzhen disciples could not stop him and were instead cut down by Luo Fan, creating a bloody path!

However, when he broke through, he realized that this was not the direction to the ancient tomb. He had been so focused on the fight that he had not considered this. Looking at the vast sea of people behind him, he knew he could not return.

"Screech!" A clear cry of a bird came from the sky. Luo Fan looked up and saw a large bird already landed in front of him.

"Brother Bird!" It had been two years since they last met, and it seemed even more majestic. The scars on its body from before were gone, replaced by feathers that shone with a black light.

Seeing it again, Luo Fan felt a sense of joy at their reunion, but now was not the time to reminisce. He quickly said, "Brother Bird, take us away."

The divine bird nodded, flapped its wings, and a strong wind blew, scattering the Quanzhen disciples who were still trying to pursue. The others were also blown back by the wind. The divine bird crouched, allowing Luo Fan to hold Xiaolongnü and sit on it, then leaped off the cliff and glided down the mountain!

The seven people and the others pursued to the cliff but could not follow without wings. They could only throw their swords to the ground in frustration. At this moment, a song could be heard:

The river is the enemy's blood, the mountain is the enemy's bones. Those who follow me live, those who oppose me die.

Laugh at the world's flattery and hypocrisy, preferring false kindness to self-redemption.

The sky is vast, and the dust is thick. Life and death are determined by heaven, but my fate is determined by me.

Fools speak of virtue, not knowing that the human heart is the world of martial arts.

The three realms and the six paths are full of suffering. Is there anyone in the world who is innocent?

Desire and greed are innate, and understanding good and evil may not be different paths.

Black is not black, white is not white. Where in the world is there a place for me?

Only when the blood stains the home do I know that a man is not a man without poison.

This life, even if it is full of sin, what does it matter?

There is no way to retreat.

The Buddha does not save.

By what standard do we judge right and wrong? By what standard do we determine truth and error?

By what standard do we judge right and wrong, and by what standard do we determine the rise and fall of the world?

Laugh at the world's rules, which are self-imposed.

Laugh at the sky's control of the world, which loses the ability to forgive.

Laugh at the sages' calculations, which are also mired in the mud.

Laugh at the common people's lack of understanding of the original nature, which follows the tide.

Life and death are but a step.

God and demon are but one.

From now on, my life and my path will not be controlled.

I am free, and only the wicked are free.

"Is this the world of martial arts?" Luo Fan, sitting on the divine bird, thought of his former dream of being a great hero and shook his head. After a wild laugh, he said with determination, "From now on, I, Luo Fan, will follow my heart and be free, and why should I be burdened by a little fame!"

At the cliff, a mother eagle flapped its wings and pushed the young eagle off the cliff. The young eagle flapped its wings, falling lower and lower, and was about to be crushed to pieces. Suddenly, its wings trembled, and its body suddenly rose, then flew higher and higher, as if it were about to soar to the heavens...

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