Who could have imagined that Zhao Mingde, the venerable ancestor of the Zhao family whose power could shake the heavens and shatter spiritual tables at the peak of the Tribulation Ascension stage, would arrive in terrifying fashion—only to ask immediately, “What’s the fastest learning method?”
[……What kind of learning is BEEPing?]
[Oh my, the Zhao family’s ear-blocking mechanism has been triggered again. I feel like I’ve gone back to those nine thousand trials overnight.]
[Didn’t you just ask? Didn’t you hear Zhao Keran’s “beep beep woo-hoo” when she spoke earlier?]
[I thought it was just an ordinary cultivation technique, but the venerable ancestor at the peak of Tribulation Ascension actually asked about it!]
[Looks like the persuasion to study is working!]
“Heh.”
But the next moment, a mocking voice from an old man sounded.
“Little one, don’t think you can exchange the fastest learning method for one of my Zhao descendants.”
[……Still no luck.]
Yet Lin Shuang raised her brow, “Hmm, I didn’t even think about it. I haven’t even considered answering your question.”
Zhao Mingde and his wife: “……”
The voice of the Zhao family’s ancestor instantly disappeared, silenced by her words.
Zhao Keran quickly nodded, “In the fastest learning method, there’s a lot of VIP content from Senior Sister, Grandfather. You don’t have access.”
The ancestor: “……”
[……!]
Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan immediately wore subtle and complicated expressions.
They had originally thought that her close friends were just random flattery.
But never expected that she didn’t even tell someone at the Tribulation Ascension stage.
Yet she was completely open with them.
She truly trusted them with her heart.
Meng Zi lowered his head, looking at the Yanning Pavilion mask hidden in his pouch, his eyes flickering.
Huangpu Yuan looked at the several fur capes in his pouch—these were all the tail hairs he shed as he grew up, and she always wanted to touch them…
As they lost themselves in thought, a young, dashing figure appeared at the main seat in the hall of the projection screen, dressed in gray and looking even younger than Zhao Mingde and his wife.
His gaze was sharp, and everyone present, whether bowing their heads or looking up, felt as if he were staring directly at them.
In an instant, their figures were immobilized by the pressure of his overflowing spiritual energy.
“You little thing, so it’s you who summoned this old man.”
Zhao Mingde respectfully handed him a teacup, which the youthful Zhao ancestor accepted and placed beside him.
He squinted at Lin Shuang.
“I manage my own family affairs—how dare you interfere! Do you know how audacious you are?”
“I don’t know. Learning from each other’s strengths through discussion is what promotes cultivation. What crime is there?”
Lin Shuang was completely unafraid.
After all, he had been eavesdropping this whole time and hadn’t done anything to her.
“It was my mistake to disturb your retreat. But you also wasted several of my sound-amplifying talismans. I think we’re even.”
[!]
[You really know how to call it even.]
The Zhao ancestor had been eavesdropping at the door, pretending he was in retreat and unavailable, which indeed wasted her talismans.
Sure enough, the corner of Zhao Mingde’s eye twitched. He looked at the teleportation talismans on their pouches and reached out his hand.
Instantly, the pouches flew into his palm.
“From the Shanhai Sect? Hmph.”
He tossed them back as he spoke, smirking slightly at Lin Shuang, “Don’t think that with these things, you can escape whenever you want.”
Lin Shuang nodded.
Yes, rational discussion, no violence.
“Venerable ancestor, I can roughly guess why the Zhao family set the five-year deadline.”
Lin Shuang raised her head, “Let me explain and see if I’m right.”
Under the strange gazes of the Zhao family members, she began counting on her fingers.
“First, the Zhao family has been reclusive. If the descendants stay outside for too long, their hearts will become wild, and it will be hard to call them back to the valley.
So they set a five-year agreement, so that even if the descendants play outside, there’s always an invisible kite string pulling them tightly back home.”
“Not returning home becomes a heart demon.”
Zhao Mingde’s eyes flickered subtly.
Zhao Keran even gasped, it was indeed like that.
She had always felt she must return home.
The closer it got to the five-year mark, the tighter that string felt.
“Second, the Zhao family indeed needs the descendants to stay in the valley to care for the spirit silkworms, collect silk threads, and do these chores to maintain a hundred years of livelihood. They can’t have all the young people run off and leave the elders to do everything.”
Lin Shuang thought for a moment and knew, similar to sects, there was always a need for outer disciples to do chores.
Zhao Mingde picked up his teacup, sipped it, and remained noncommittal.
“Third, children are playful, but parents and you, as grandfather, always miss them. Returning every five years brings family reunions and universal joy.”
Zhao Mingde couldn’t help but look at her again.
“That should be the origin of the five-year agreement.”
“I have a way to resolve these three issues. If so, Venerable Ancestor, would you break the five-year agreement and allow Senior Brother Zhao Ming and my junior sister to continue their studies outside?”
As soon as Lin Shuang spoke, Zhao Keran looked at her in surprise.
What method?
“First, to ensure their hearts don’t become wild and they remember they are Zhao descendants. This is simple. My junior sister just said it herself—whenever the Zhao family needs her, she will return immediately. So she doesn’t need the five-year restriction to remain deeply devoted to the Zhao family.”
Deeply devoted…
Zhao Mingde and Huangpu Yuan couldn’t help but twitch at the sentimentality.
Zhao Keran blushed.
“So the first point doesn’t need to be considered.”
Lin Shuang continued, “The second point is the need for labor from the descendants, and the third is the elders’ longing for family reunions. These are also easy to solve.”
“Hmph.”
Zhao Mingde let out a sound that almost made Lin Shuang feel chest tightness.
“Don’t suggest the foolish idea of having them return periodically. The Zhao family has secluded itself, and our main gate doesn’t open daily for them to come and go as they please!”
Lin Shuang nodded, “I know. I have a way to let them stay in Qingshui and Shanhai while solving the labor issue and the elders’ longing for family.”
Zhao Mingde narrowed his eyes.
Zhao Mingde’s parents raised their brows.
[?]
As Lin Shuang spoke, she reached into her pouch.
Huangpu Yuan had a sudden bad premonition and took half a step back.
Sure enough, Lin Shuang pulled out a straw doll covered in talismans.
She put a black long straight wig like Barbie’s on it, dressed it in a small Qingshui Sect robe similar to Zhao Keran’s, and then drew flaming red lips and big round eyes on the paper face.
She threw it on the ground.
Xiao Ai No.12 flew out, instantly merging with the straw doll transformed into a stiff-limbed, pale-faced ‘Zhao Keran’ zombie.
‘Zhao Keran’ immediately grinned, her empty eyes staring at Zhao Mingde.
The blue dress floated forward, drifting toward Zhao Mingde.
“Grandpa~”
Xiao Ai’s talisman had originally adopted Zhao Keran’s high-fidelity voice because Lin Shuang thought her voice was cute and soft.
Now it was seamless.
Immediately, ‘Zhao Keran’ opened her red mouth and ran to snuggle up to the Tribulation-ascending Zhao ancestor, “Xiaoran misses Grandpa so much.”
[!]
[!]
Zhao Keran herself opened her mouth wide, “A puppet…”
Lin Shuang nodded and immediately commanded Xiao Ai No.12’s ‘Zhao Keran’, “Aren’t you going to give Grandpa a shoulder massage?”
Zhao Mingde: “!”
She floated over and really lifted her empty sleeves, pressing them on the Tribulation-ascending shoulders!
Her crimson lips seemed to be bleeding, her face as pale as paper, with two dark and vacant eyes…
This ugly thing!
He almost slapped her to death!
He exhaled a breath of Tribulation-ascending energy, instantly sending ‘Zhao Keran’ flying to the door.
With a ‘plop’, half of ‘her’ body was destroyed.
“Wahhh, Grandpa hit me…”
Zhao Mingde: “!”
“She can do simple tasks like harvesting wheat or pouring water, but be careful—if she gets splashed with water, she’ll fall apart.”
Lin Shuang sighed, holding her forehead.
“Of course, she can’t withstand fighting either—she’ll fall apart, just like now.”
She picked up the half-remaining ‘Xiao Zhao Substitute’ and sighed.
Zhao Mingde: “……”
Zhao Mingde’s couple: “……”
Zhao Keran: “……”
Lin Shuang had learned this wheat-harvesting puppet technique after reaching the 3,333rd layer, ‘May I assist you in harvesting?’ and carefully studying the puppet talisman patterns.
[The puppet from the nine thousand trials? Was she actually a high-level talisman master!?]
[I remember now! In the battle against Yunyang Sect, she took all their fire talismans, saying she needed to submit them for a talisman assignment.]
[……]
[So her ultimate move is talismans! Ah! Why can’t Baihua Sect explain anything! We have to guess everything ourselves. Damn Baihua, even charging us for the projection!]
[……Don’t shout anymore. How long has it been since Baihua Sect last explained anything?]
[Oh, I forgot.]
Baihua Sect had secluded themselves.
The disciples watching the projection on the mountain, even the elders secretly ‘peeping’ in, all remained silent.
[Side Bo Cai, Lin Shuang’s ultimate move is talismans. Hurry up and write it into the book. No need to thank us.]
But just as this message floated by, they saw Zhao Mingde, his couple, and Zhao Keran all twitching their mouths, looking at Lin Shuang.
They even wanted to escape.
“Senior Sister, can you put ‘her’ away?” Zhao Keran coughed lightly, “Maybe take her out after I leave.”
Put her away, and we can still be friends.
Lin Shuang’s eyebrow twitched. Even her junior sister didn’t appreciate her art.
Too refined for common appreciation!
But she still nodded, withdrawing the spiritual seal controlling Xiao Ai No.12 and handing it to Zhao Keran.
“Then you manage her for now.”
“This substitute can free your hands and save time answering routine questions. Keep her and cultivate her for a while.”
Zhao Keran’s eyes lit up, as if she finally understood the substitute’s usefulness.
She had her own Xiao Ai now!
But when she turned around and saw her own zombie-like body missing half of it, she twitched her temple and quickly stuffed it into her pouch, “Thank you, Senior Sister. I’ll just make a doll body for her myself.”
“……”
Zhao Mingde and his couple’s mouths twitched simultaneously.
“The five-year agreement remains unchanged.” Zhao Mingde immediately vanished.
Zhao Mingde’s couple turned to leave, “I’ll go check why lunch isn’t ready yet.”
Lin Shuang took three steps back.
Huangpu Yuan closed his eyes.
“Wait, Senior Zhao,” Lin Shuang spoke up, “If their cultivation outside is more beneficial than staying in the Zhao family’s spiritual mountains, would you still force them to return?”
This time, the three elders finally stopped.
“Flowing water never rots; a door hinge never gets worm-eaten.”
“You set the five-year return rule, seemingly forcing them home, but without going out, how can they return? In fact, your original intention was to remind them to go out periodically for trials, not to stay home for long.”
“The elders of the Zhao family have long transcended worldly matters, experienced changes, and honed their temperament and experience. Long-term retreats are no problem for them.”
“But the younger generation, after retreating, staying in the valley, even if their cultivation improves, their temperament is not enough to support them through the Tribulation Ascension and Flying Immortal transformation.”
Without entering the world, there can be no transcendence.
Just like Zhen Chuan gives his disciples opportunities for self-realization, not direct instruction.
Each realization is an invaluable transformation for the disciples.
Even elders cannot help.
“So-called seclusion means not assuming sect responsibilities or interfering in others’ affairs. There’s no need to literally lock them at home.”
Lin Shuang looked toward the direction Zhao Mingde had vanished, “If I can prove that being outside is better for Zhao family disciples than staying in the valley, can I take them with me?”
“How to prove it?”
A voice filled with pressure echoed in the air.
[!]
[Really… is it going to work?]
[I remember my master told me when I was little that clever people negotiate by first making an extremely absurd, unreasonable demand.
Then they propose a more moderate condition.
The other party will feel, hey, this proposal seems acceptable after all!]
[……She just pulled out that ugly straw puppet, offered it to them, and thoroughly annoyed the Zhao ancestor.
Suddenly, this proposal to prove the outside is better seems much more appealing?]
Lin Shuang couldn’t see the projection text at this moment, but she would have clapped for her senior brothers and sisters if she had.
Exactly.
This is the psychological “door-in-the-face” effect.
First, make an excessive, unreasonable request. After the other party refuses, propose a relatively moderate request.
The other party will easily agree, thinking, “At least this one is reasonable.”
The first request must be very unreasonable, like exchanging Zhao Keran for a paper puppet.
Then propose a second, clearly more reasonable request.
The two requests must be made in quick succession and by the same person.
Unconsciously, the other party is more likely to agree to the latter.
Of course, people are also more likely to soften when they’re in a good mood.
Just now, she pulled out the paper puppet, which also eased the tense atmosphere on-site, giving the Zhao ancestor a “good laugh.”
Lin Shuang was very satisfied with the current negotiation results.
She looked up at the sky, “How to prove it…”
The cultivation world is different from other worlds.
The best result is only—ascending to immortality.
An unblemished Dao heart is important, and powerful cultivation is indispensable.
“It’s simple. I, Senior Brother Meng, Senior Brother Huangpu, and the three of us all come from outside the valley. We can fight against Zhao family disciples who have been staying in the valley for years.”
“Whoever is stronger can prove whether it’s better outside or inside?”
Who is stronger, who has a greater chance of ascending, naturally proves which place is better!
In an instant, the Zhao ancestor’s figure reappeared in the sky!
His youthful, spirited eyes sharply stared at Lin Shuang.
“You dare!”
But Lin Shuang didn’t retreat, staring back at him.
“Fine!”
Zhao Mingde snorted.
In an instant, the three of them had their Qingshui Sect disciple pendants activated.
The three pendants shot into the air.
—Lin Shuang: Joined Qingshui Sect 10 years ago.
—Huangpu Yuan: Joined Qingshui Sect 23 years ago.
—Meng Zi: Joined Qingshui Sect 21 years ago.
“My Zhao descendants, heed my command! Those who have trained for 10, 21, and 23 years, step forward!”
[!]
[!]
[We’re doomed…]
[She’s implying the Zhao family’s way of nurturing people is completely useless, that they can’t beat her! Will the Zhao family accept this? They won’t be able to return unless they kill them three!]
[……]
Instantly, several disciples at the peak of the Condensation Realm and the ninth layer stepped forward, along with even a few at the Refinement Realm!
“Hmph, the Divine Refiners step back!”
Zhao Mingde shouted.
“Let it not be said that our Zhao family has no honor, bullying juniors by crossing cultivation realms! At the Condensing Yuan stage, fight!”
In an instant, a young man at the peak of the Ningyuan realm and two youths—a man and a woman—at the ninth layer of Ningyuan soared into the sky on their swords.
Confronting Lin Shuang, Huangpu Yuan, and Meng Zi, all at the sixth level of the Ningyuan cultivation stage, stood three opponents from the Zhao family.
A three-on-three battle!
The Zhao family’s ancestor had no patience and disliked beating around the bush.
“Let’s just go straight for our strongest attacks!” he declared.
A contest of attacks.
[…]
[Is Lin Shuang regretting it now?]
[This old fox! Proposing a contest of strongest attacks, pitting a peak Ningyuan against a sixth-level cultivator? With a best-of-three format, the Qing Shui Sect stands no chance of winning.]
The Zhao family’s ancestor vanished into the air, seemingly uninterested in the outcome of this mismatched contest.
Even before the battle began, the outcome had already been decided.
“Mingde, once it’s over, show them out.”
His authoritative voice faded into the air.
In an instant, groups of Zhao family descendants rushed over.
Some wore farmer’s clothing, others wore the fine silks of merchants, while some wore the robes of scholars or martial artists.
Like the proverbial nine sons of a dragon, each different.
“She’s Xiao Ran’s senior apprentice sister.”
“She even drew the attention of the ancestor.”
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen Grandfather. Did he trim his beard today?”
[What beard? Does the Zhao family ancestor even have a beard? Isn’t he just a young man?]
[Damn, it’s an illusion technique.]
[Wait, did the Zhao family ancestor project an image of himself as an eighteen-year-old?]
[…]
“Please, three.”
The leading young master of the Zhao family, at the pinnacle of the Ningyuan cultivation realm, appeared to be about the same age as Meng Zi, likely around twenty years old.
The older one is when a cultivator begins training, the harder it is to reach the peak.
Gifted disciples and family descendants are selected for training in sects at a very young age.
At this moment, this peak Condensation Realm youth stood at the entrance of the hall with his arms crossed, waiting for Lin Shuang and the others to emerge.
His two stone-blue trouser legs were rolled up to his knees, revealing solid, tanned calves. He wore straw shoes, and in his hand, he seemed to have just put away some white silk thread.
As he spoke, he handed the silk thread to Zhao Jiuba beside him.
He actually didn’t use a storage bag.
“Please don’t laugh,” the youth chuckled awkwardly, “you can call me Xiaobai or Elder Brother Xi.”
“Xiaobai Ge.”
Zhao Ke Ran called out, her eyes red, wanting to say something but hesitating.
The youth waved his hand, “I won’t go easy on you, so don’t say anything.”
He happened to be the hundredth in his generation.
Zhao Yibai, also known as Zhao Xi, both belonged to the “Jin” (gold) generation like Zhao Ming.
The two cultivators at the peak of the ninth level of the Ningyuan stage beside him were the pair of sisters who had escorted Lin Shuang and the others into the valley earlier.
“If it’s about our strongest attacks…”
The sisters exchanged glances and looked toward the leading Zhao Yibai. “Then shall we go to the Sword Tablet?”
Zhao Ke Ran couldn’t hide her concern.
[Sword Tablet? That’s where they practice sword techniques. Haha, Lin Shuang is a talisman master. What’s she going to do?]
[I remember during the first round of the inner sect competition, when she fought against a disciple from Yunyang Sect, she seemed to use sword techniques. Although she submitted talismans during the arena match, she might be skilled in both sword techniques and talismans?]
[Ah, forget that! She’s still an outer sect disciple, haven’t you forgotten! In the Donghua Realm, outer sect disciples from various sects must learn basic sword techniques, beginner talismans, and Dan music fundamentals. After entering the inner sect, disciples choose one specialty. Unless they later reach the Soul Cultivation or Void Entry stages, significantly extending their lifespan, they won’t specialize in two areas. Human capabilities are ultimately limited. So, she’s still in the stage of learning everything but not mastering anything.]
[… I… I often forget she’s still an outer sect disciple. Isn’t this an inner sect competition I’m watching!]
[Learning but not mastering? She can draw puppet talismans. I bet her talisman skills are at least third-tier. During the first round against Yunyang Sect, she used sword techniques, deliberately hiding her third-tier talisman master status!]
[This fits her usual personality.]
[?]
[She used sword techniques on the arena but openly claimed she submitted a talisman assignment: though holding a sword, I’ve already told you all that I’m more proficient in talismans. I didn’t lie or hide anything; I’m so honest, my Dao heart is pure. How could anyone fall for my tricks!]
[…]
[That’s the vibe.]
[I’m kind of looking forward to the Zhao family’s Sword Tablet! Will the real talisman master Lin Shuang finally meet her match! Haha, Lin Shuang, let’s see you act arrogant now!]
“Sword Tablet?”
Out of the three, Meng Zi was the only one who showed any reaction to the word.
Because he was a blade cultivator. Although he knew sword techniques, they didn’t resonate with him as much as his blade did.
Using a sword would reduce his strength.
Lin Shuang and Huangpu Yuan, however, remained expressionless, following Elder Brother Zhao and his sister out of the reception hall.
“It’s okay, it’s a best-of-three anyway,” Lin Shuang calmly patted Zhao Ke Ran’s shoulder, who was visibly tense.
Huangpu Yuan, on the other hand, took out “Elder Water’s Sword Technique Notes” from his sleeve and immediately started flipping through it while walking.
[?]
[What? Is this round about sword techniques? Oh no, I need to study first.]
[…]
“Xiaobai Ge, may I ask, how far is the Sword Tablet from here?”
As soon as she stepped out the door, Lin Shuang humbly asked.
“What are the rules for the Sword Tablet competition?”
Zhao Yibai turned around and saw Huangpu Yuan reading a sword manual. Even this honest young man’s eye twitched slightly.
Were they bullying them?
No way?
“Cough,” he immediately said, “we’ll walk slowly. It’s just a cup of tea’s worth of walking distance without flying.”
“This… maybe we can walk even slower?”
He also felt bad about not giving them time to study!
Walking slowly would at least allow them to learn a first or second-tier sword technique?
Zhao Yibai pressed his palm against his forehead, feeling that his grandfather’s arrangement was indeed a bit unfair.
It made him feel like he was developing a heart demon of bullying the weak.
But he couldn’t back down.
If he lost, the entire Zhao family’s younger generation would lose, and he’d be beaten up by his brothers and sisters.
“The Sword Tablet doesn’t have many rules. It’s just our usual sword practice area,” he explained.
“The competition is simple too. Just unleash your strongest attack and see who can strike the highest position on the tablet and leave the deepest mark.”
Zhao Yibai looked back at Lin Shuang’s group, feeling alarmed.
Two at the sixth level of Condensing Yuan, one at Transforming Qi.
How was this possible?
He could win with his eyes closed.
“Oh, this is somewhat similar to the sword technique competition in our Lingquan Nine Events,” Lin Shuang understood.
It was about who could generate the most powerful single sword strike.
At the Perfection stage of sword techniques, the depth of the sword marks on the tablet would differ from those who had only mastered the basics.
And cultivation level determined the height at which one could carve their mark on the Sword Tablet.
The Sword Tablet competition had clear winners and losers, not even needing a third party to judge.
Lin Shuang nodded directly, “Then, are there any additional rules?”
As she spoke, they had already passed through the corridor outside the hall and walked past the spring silkworm shadow wall into another world.
As soon as they came out, they found the Zhao family descendants blocking the way completely.
Everyone was curious about what kind of young cultivators had drawn the attention of the ancestor.
Those with nothing better to do had all come to watch.
In an instant, Lin Shuang’s dantian began to awaken one by one.
“Eighty-six, you came out too?”
“Yes, Elder Brother Seventy-three.”
“Where’s Seventy-two?”
“Here! With Ninety-seven.”
“Eighty, don’t run. Have you finished collecting your silk threads?”
“One hundred! You must win!”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Her dantian was trembling violently.
They all thought they were being called.
Mencius gazed at these young men and women tilling the fields and gathering silk threads, resembling clusters of plump grapes on a vine. As soon as they emerged, there were already over thirty Soul Cultivators and eighty Yuan Condensation practitioners… He fell silent.
Huangpu Yuan also shifted his gaze slightly from the book, a flash of solemnity in his phoenix eyes.
Lin Shuang was equally serious.
There was no way around it. Without seriousness, she couldn’t control the dantian inside her body that were being awakened one by one by these people.
“Xiaobai Ge,” Lin Shuang took out an earpiece talisman and called out, “is there any rule that says we can’t do strange things before the competition?”
[?]
[??]
Zhao Yibai: “?”
Zhao family descendants: “?”
They all looked puzzled and turned to Zhao Ke Ran.
Had they been out of touch with the sects for so long that they couldn’t understand the secret language of other sects?
But Zhao Ke Ran was just as confused as they were.
Zhao Yibai turned around and saw Huangpu Yuan still reading the sword manual. His mouth twitched slightly, “You… do as you please.”
He was at least four cultivation levels ahead of them, with one foot already in the Soul Cultivation stage.
“Just don’t call my father to fight me, and it’ll be fine, hehe.”
But he was cautious after all and added a sentence.
“Oh, by the way, in the Sword Tablet competition, you can only use swords. Talismans are not allowed.”
As he spoke, he looked at the unknown talisman in Lin Shuang’s hand.
Lin Shuang followed his gaze to the earpiece talisman and asked, “Oh, not even for playing music?”
“?!”
“……?”
[…]
“Erm, that’s okay, as long as you don’t use talismans for attacks,” Zhao Yibai scratched his head.
Lin Shuang nodded, “No problem, we’ll all use swords.”
“Alright, then we’ll start our warm-up preparations.”
Warm-up? What was that?
Zhao Yibai turned around.
Dozens of Zhao family descendants turned around too.
They saw Lin Shuang glance at Huangpu Yuan and Meng Zi, saying, “Let’s go. We might as well test our three-person inflation technique.”
“??”
Chong… what? Inflatable?
As they spoke, the projected images of Lin Shuang and the others suddenly stepped back ten paces, landing in an open space behind the Zhao family’s gathered descendants.
Lin Shuang inserted the earpiece into her ear, and in an instant, a hundred dantians within her body awakened, coalescing into a sphere!
Unleashing the peak power of the sixth layer of Ningyuan cultivation!
Zhao family descendants: “!”
Meng Zi let out a loud shout and drew a plain first-tier long sword from his storage bag.
With one slash, he struck toward Lin Shuang!
“!”
Zhao family descendants: “!!”
“Are they practicing in advance, forcing themselves into the peak state of battle?”
“Are they trying to focus their sword hearts in advance?”
“What… does this mean?”
As soon as the words fell, they saw Lin Shuang facing Meng Zi’s sword, neither retreating nor dodging, not even blocking.
But the wide sword she took out from her storage bag automatically activated a faint sword light, as if absorbing the sword qi Meng Zi had sent toward her.
Lin Shuang’s sword qi ↑
Meng Zi’s sword qi ↓
Zhao family descendants: “???”
Soon, Meng Zi swung his sword again.
The precisely measured attack power didn’t hurt Lin Shuang but landed exactly one inch in front of her sword.
In an instant, this sword qi and the attached spiritual energy were strangely absorbed by Lin Shuang’s wide sword, increasing by two-tenths.
Lin Shuang’s sword qi ↑
Meng Zi’s sword qi ↓
Again!
-Lin Shuang ↑↑↑…
-Meng Zi ↓↓↓…
“!”
“???”
[Is this… the Shui Di Cheng He Sword from Qing Shui Sect?]
[Automatically activating, stealing the opponent’s spiritual energy to strengthen oneself?]
Meng Zi kept swinging his sword toward Lin Shuang.
The sword energy stored within Lin Shuang’s broadsword rapidly surged to the mid-stage of the seventh layer of the Ningyuan realm… then further advanced to the late-stage of the eighth layer…
With each slash Meng Zi made, his sword aura continued to diminish—from the sixth level of Ningyuan cultivation… down to the fourth level, then the third…
Lin Shuang’s sword aura rapidly surged to the ninth layer of the Condensed Essence cultivation!
Her face was flushed red, sweat dripping from her forehead. The sword in her hand seemed too heavy for her to bear!
Meanwhile, Meng Zi grew increasingly haggard and frail with each sword swing, soon only capable of releasing sword qi at the sixth level of Qi Transformation cultivation.
But in an instant, he caught a fifth-tier pill bottle thrown by Huangpu Yuan.
He swallowed one pill.
Meng Zi’s cultivation level: sixth layer of Qi Transformation → sixth layer of Yuan Condensation!
Recovered.
Then, he swung his sword toward Huangpu Yuan again.
Huangpu Yuan’s sword qi ↑↑↑
Meng Zi’s sword qi ↓↓↓
Huangpu Yuan’s sword aura: from the sixth level of Condensing Yuan to the ninth level of Condensing Yuan!
Meng Zi’s sword aura: sixth level of Condensing Yuan → sixth level of Transforming Qi!
“!”
“Ah, you two hurry up. I can’t hold it anymore…”
Large beads of sweat dripped from Lin Shuang’s pale forehead.
She dragged the overly accumulated ninth-layer Condensed Essence sword energy, her knees trembling.
“Where’s the Sword Tablet… hurry and show me the way!”
The power of this sword energy far surpassed the limits of her dantian.
After all, it was stolen. One slash and it would be gone.
Bearing this transcendent sword energy, her body was under immense strain. Her divine consciousness felt as if it were being torn apart, wracked with excruciating pain. The meridians in her arm were on the verge of shattering inch by inch, letting out an unbearable, agonized roar…
Lin Shuang looked up, blood almost dripping from her lips. Her body and skin were also on the verge of disintegration.
Zhao Ming, she would take him away.
Her junior apprentice sister, she would take her away too!
Right now.
This sword strike.
Lin Shuang – Ninth Layer of the Condensing Yuan Realm.
Huangpu Yuan – the ninth level of Ningyuan cultivation.
Meng Zi – Sixth Layer of Qi Transformation cultivation.
Arrived at the Sword Tablet!
Three rounds, best of two – Shui Di Cheng He, one charge two, internal inflation completed!
“Make way——”
Lin Shuang shouted, holding the wide sword, dragging its tip on the ground!
With one slash, she struck the Zhao family’s Sword Tablet!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage