This wasn’t a gorgeously stunning blade strike, nor a devastatingly powerful one, much less one that could block Its attack, but it was absolutely the highest level blade strike in Jian Chou’s cultivation journey!

It surpassed her proper strength, surpassed her inherent understanding, even…

Surpassed her very existence!

It was a completely new strike, and a wholehearted strike!

Two chi of snow-bright blade light—half was light and clean spiritual power, the other half was obscure and dark soul power!

The former was commonplace throughout the vast Shijiu Zhou lands, visible everywhere; the latter belonged to a domain that few cultivators today could reach.

These were two forces that should have been mutually exclusive.

But in this critical moment, in this unthinking instant, they were almost perfectly infused into the same magical artifact and almost perfectly merged together.

As if submitting to some power, willingly being driven by it, going to their deaths!

In this narrow corridor, not one cultivator recognized this kind of power, not one cultivator understood, and not one cultivator knew how it appeared!

Jian Chou still hid within the wind. Even though she had swung this blade strike, the “Riding the Wind” state hadn’t suffered any damage.

In everyone’s eyes, where she was positioned was just a void wrapped in black aura.

Ahead of the void were the attacking “centipede” tail spikes; behind the void was Bai Yin’s swaying figure, raising his long sword high. The racing sword light painted a waterfall-like ink painting in the void, pouring toward the tail spikes ahead.

But just as his sword light hadn’t yet arrived, that void—that void where nothing existed in his vision and perception—actually burst forth with such precipitous blade light!

Though clearly chaotic, in his perception it had the color of endless brightness.

As if it could illuminate the firmament!

That feeling was like witnessing a suspended ocean suddenly appear in empty mid-air where nothing existed!

Miraculous skill, unbelievable!

“How—”

At this moment, Bai Yin’s surprised voice was already nearly hoarse, almost about to cry out in shock, but in the blink of an eye it caught in his throat.

That strange gust of wind that had swept past him earlier immediately appeared in his mind.

Thus, everything before and after was connected.

Good heavens!

So that gust of wind hid an expert!

So this person was right five zhang in front of him!

So what this centipede-like evil monster was actually attacking wasn’t him!

Understanding all this, Bai Yin almost wanted to gnash his teeth in hatred: this was clearly someone stepping on his back to pick up scraps, probably planning to ambush him, and had never been discovered.

The tail spikes, this hidden person, and Bai Yin himself—all three were originally on the same straight line.

From his position, he only saw this fierce creature’s tail spikes coming forward and thought it was attacking him, but seeing the blade light suddenly appear at this moment, almost directly confronting this fierce creature…

One could guess that this fierce creature’s target was clearly this blade-wielding hidden person!

He should have taken this opportunity to directly escape!

But at this point, it was already too late.

Because of that fierce creature’s tail spikes’ fierce momentum, before the blade light appeared, Bai Yin had already judged himself to be in a dangerous situation. He had already swiftly raised his sword and used his most treasured skill.

At this moment, power flowing through his five organs, spirit reaching his Nascent Soul, his technique was already committed—not like when fighting Liang Tingyu earlier when he could easily withdraw!

A huge loss!

This was a huge loss!

Bai Yin’s heart ached as if bleeding. At this moment, not only could he not escape, but he could only watch helplessly as his “Silver River Suspended” sword strike, with an unstoppable momentum, followed behind that precipitous yet chaotic blade light toward the fierce beast’s tail spikes!

To others, this blade light and sword light connected, forming one piece, the timing so subtle. It was as if the blade-wielder and sword-wielder had agreed beforehand, working in tacit cooperation.

Liang Tingyu, behind them, who had been shocked speechless by the changes in the corridor, now felt even more alarmed.

A cultivator suspected to be Yashan’s Bai Yin—she believed she could still handle; but behind Bai Yin there was actually another person. If not for Night Sailing Ship’s unspeakable “It” appearing, they probably wouldn’t have exposed their tracks.

Moreover, there was such a heart-stirring blade strike!

What cultivation level was this person?

This Zuoliu…

Could he really attract experts at the level of Yashan and Kunwu?

Liang Tingyu’s heart was filled with uncertainty, but out of some fear, she didn’t dare advance. She only stared intently at the attacks ahead that were about to collide—

And counterattack!

Blade light in front, sword light behind!

At this moment, even Jian Chou herself noticed and was slightly stunned. But thinking briefly about her current hidden state and considering the positions of all three, she immediately understood the reason for this situation.

At the moment, she only thought silently: “Just in time!”

She didn’t know if the person behind her hated her to madness, nor did she care at all. She only knew that at this time, any attack that joined her in striking toward this fierce existence was what she desperately needed, was her help!

Because only she, locked onto by its aura, could experience that hair-raising terror!

Even though this was her swiftest reaction, even though this was her complete transcendence of limits, even though this was a blade strike she herself didn’t understand…

But the moment she swung it, she was clearer than anyone—

It wasn’t enough!

Such a blade strike was completely insufficient to block these two seemingly simple tail spikes!

Even adding Bai Yin’s sword behind, it only added a thread of hope, and still a precarious thread…

Jian Chou understood this clearly, and the existence in this hundred-zhang corridor obviously understood very clearly too.

That lofty sneer had already dissipated, but that contempt and disdain hadn’t changed at all. In fact, because of this sword light’s addition, it became even denser.

Because Its dominance had already surpassed the limits that ants could understand.

The spear-like tail spikes, swift as lightning yet floating and swaying, shimmering with void-like light and shadow.

As if coming from the silent abyss, as if coming from the source of eternal night, as if already merged with the surrounding heaven and earth, as if neither the rising blade light nor the brilliant sword light could shake this power extending from ancient times!

It made the weak unable to generate resistance, it would be unstoppable, irresistible!

Victory and defeat would soon be decided!

But in this unblink-able instant, another amazing sword qi actually rose into the air! From five zhang ahead of Jian Chou—that is, from the corridor entrance—racing over!

At the critical moment, together with the earlier blade light and sword light, striking toward the tail spikes!

The sword light was azure-green, the sword qi vast!

The narrow corridor seemed to expand as the sword qi flew past.

What charged over seemed not to be sword light, but a thatched cottage with green pines, emerald cypresses, and white clouds, a field ridge with evening light and no one to disturb, a patch of quiet, dark deep mountain forest…

As the sword qi swept through, there seemed to be a hermit’s chanting:

“Walking to where waters end, sitting to watch clouds rise…”

In obscurity, hiding true meaning; in vastness, close to nature.

Without desire or seeking, following heart and nature.

A small boat drifts with the water, from now entrusting the rest of life to rivers and seas.

What was this?!

In great shock, Jian Chou couldn’t help but look up toward the corridor entrance covered and obscured by black aura. Apart from the few threads of azure-green sword light mixed in the sword qi, she could see no other shadows of things or people.

Bai Yin behind her was undoubtedly also quite surprised.

But the expression on his face, besides surprise, held three more parts horror!

Tonight, in this dungeon corridor, besides that mysterious person who had hidden their tracks and struck with a blade, another person had actually followed silently!

And this person…

Bai Yin’s gaze swept over those few threads of azure-green light mixed in the sword qi, and his heart almost immediately had an answer: if he remembered correctly, this was…

For Yashan, discovering Kunwu people in Night Sailing Ship, regardless of who they were, wasn’t good news.

His two handsome long eyebrows immediately furrowed.

But his hand movements weren’t affected in the slightest. Instead, borrowing the imposing power of this sword qi’s attack, he accelerated his own sword’s speed!

“Boom!”

One chaotic blade light and two sword qi—one black-white, one azure-green—though released at different times, almost miraculously struck those two ferocious tail spikes at the same moment!

Jian Chou believed that any Worldly Entry stage cultivator in Shijiu Zhou would be unable to retreat unscathed under this nearly perfect three-strike siege. Even Return to Void stage cultivators would probably change color slightly upon seeing it.

But at this moment, their opponent, or rather their opponent, had no excess reaction whatsoever!

The explosive blade light and sword qi ground the Nether Void Stone of the surrounding corridor walls into scattered rubble. Among the chaotic spiritual energy threaded Jian Chou’s dark soul power that didn’t belong to Shijiu Zhou lands, making the power even more explosive…

But the thick insect body still came with utmost ferocity!

The terrifyingly powerful combined attack of three people only made those two ferocious tail spikes slightly slower than before!

However…

A thread was enough!

“Go!”

A sharp shout rang from the dungeon corridor entrance, followed by the expansion of an array diagram like a star chart, with waves unique to arrays rippling again!

Both Jian Chou and Bai Yin, though one hidden and one visible, one ahead and one behind, at this moment simultaneously understood where the opportunity lay!

Taking advantage of the brief delay the three-person combined attack caused this fierce evil creature, without hesitation, they shot out like lightning!

The massive insect body toppled like a mountain, the ferocious tail spikes advanced like spears!

Whoosh whoosh!

Just two swift sounds were heard. A gust of wind accompanied by a snow-white, elegant figure had already broken through at this critical moment, suddenly darting into the array and disappearing without a trace!

Liang Tingyu, who had been observing from the side, hadn’t expected a second person besides Bai Yin to appear, much less this suddenly appearing third person and the subsequent series of changes.

The moment she saw Bai Yin escape, her madness and composure finally returned simultaneously!

“Pursue—kill without question!”

The solemn voice, enhanced by spiritual power, transmitted through layer upon layer of buildings.

At this moment, the entire Night Sailing Ship poured out in full force!

At the shadow wall of the hall in the deepest part of the night, three figures leaped out one after another!

The foremost figure was completely hidden in the void, then enveloped by a mass of azure-green radiance, and moments later directly disappeared before the shadow wall.

Undoubtedly, he had teleported away!

Following closely was Jian Chou.

She was within the wind—strictly speaking, she hadn’t revealed half her form, only because she had been forced to counterattack that centipede-like fierce beast earlier, she had actually revealed some traces.

After coming out, she was still racing swiftly but didn’t hurry to teleport away. Instead, she turned back to look at the statue in the hall!

The deep black statue was enormous, its hundreds of dancing feet spread out like blades and halberds, its eyeless head pressed against the deepest shadows at the top of the hall.

When she came, it had only looked somewhat sinister and eerie.

But at this moment, golden runes stretched into long lines actually appeared on its surface, constantly flowing like blood vessels pulsing on the body surface, and also like a binding net, flexible ropes.

The statue itself had no movement.

But when Jian Chou looked at it, she actually felt it seemed to be struggling in pain, roaring in anger, howling in resentment!

Bai Yin only emerged from the corridor at this time. Though he also saw something wrong with the statue, considering tonight’s dangers and the pursuers behind, he didn’t dare have any reckless thoughts.

At the moment, he neither pursued the hidden Sword King Que nor sought that mysterious hidden blade-wielder. After coming out, he directly teleported!

He actually chose a direction and fled!

Even though Wang Que’s intervention was assistance, he couldn’t judge Kunwu’s attitude toward Zuoliu’s matter, so there was no need to pursue. As for that mysterious blade-wielder, one could guess they probably weren’t simple-minded, with a great possibility of harboring ill intent—even less reason to stop and ask if they could be friends.

So Bai Yin escaped very freely, without the slightest hesitation.

Thus, Jian Chou, originally the second to emerge, became the last person remaining in the hall at this moment.

She knew she shouldn’t linger at this moment, but the strong unease and premonition in her heart urged her to observe this statue again and again, wanting to memorize every detail in her mind.

It wasn’t until ripples appeared again on the shadow wall behind the statue that Jian Chou turned around, hid in the wind, and decisively threw herself into mid-air, heading due south!

The matter of rescuing Zuoliu was temporarily shelved due to tonight’s sudden change.

She needed to return to the inn, then sort out everything that happened tonight and find another solution.

At this time, the remaining night was nearly at its end.

The waves on Lan River were still ice cold. The river wind carrying the sound of waves passed through every ship moored at Crow’s Crossing, brushing past every empty, sail-less mast.

A hundred zhang high in the dark clouds above the crossing, a heroic male cultivator in luxurious purple robes with a jade belt, pressing a treasured sword at his waist, was silently approaching Night Sailing Ship’s direction.

It was none other than the “Western Sword” who was once called “East-West Twin Swords” with Sword Emperor Qu Zhengfeng—

Purple-Robed Sword Marquis, Xue Wujiu!

Though his current cultivation wasn’t equal to Qu Zhengfeng’s, he had already reached Worldly Entry stage. Even if only early stage, it was definitely sufficient in Mingri Xinghai. Tonight, on a whim, he wanted to probe Night Sailing Ship’s reality and see Zuoliu’s situation.

After all, he was quite curious about Night Sailing Ship’s trump cards.

Thinking this, Xue Wujiu narrowed his eyes and prepared to stop here to check the situation below. But before he could stop his swift aerial form, an abnormal demonic wind was already sweeping toward him from ahead!

Wind?

No!

Wrong!

This wind seemed to hide someone!

After all, his cultivation was a full major realm higher. Even if Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators were completely unaware of the concealment technique, when it reached him, even if he couldn’t clearly perceive it, he still had instinctive intuition!

Having been in Mingri Xinghai for so many years, Xue Wujiu had dealt with various emergency situations.

At this moment, he almost instinctively slapped his waist. With a “snap,” his treasured sword responded and emerged, immediately rising with swaying sword light, sweeping toward the wind!

“Vile creature, how dare you ambush!”

Ambush?

Who could be hidden in the wind? Naturally, it was Jian Chou who had just frantically escaped from Night Sailing Ship!

Hearing his words, her heart was simply shocked and furious: shocked that this person’s cultivation was so high that she, hidden in wind, hadn’t discovered him but was discovered by him instead; furious that this person drew his sword and attacked without a word!

Jian Chou already had pursuers behind her. If delayed for even a moment, at such close distance, she would almost immediately be discovered by Night Sailing Ship people!

People, including that scarred female cultivator, she wasn’t afraid of.

But if that statue from the hall jumped out, that would be unbearable!

No matter what, Jian Chou at this time couldn’t be delayed.

Quick escape was urgent!

But at this time, why did she have to encounter such a person?!

In a flash, completely unable to notice the other party’s appearance, she could only see this silk-like cold sword light that forcibly tore apart the wind she hid in, reaching toward her neck!

This was a life-taking move!

One careless moment, and what awaited her was decapitation!

The instant fury almost made all the hair on Jian Chou’s back stand up.

This brief, urgent attack, which could even be called a precise ambush, left her with even less reaction time than when confronting that fierce existence in the dungeon moments ago!

In haste, she only had time to raise her blade to block!

“Clang!”

The sword blade carrying sword qi heavily struck the bright-as-autumn-water blade edge. Jian Chou’s wrist strained, and she smoothly turned rigid to soft with a twist, already gripping the Deer Cutter and spinning once, following the opponent’s blade edge to slash horizontally toward them!

At the same time, her free left palm raised high, also striking toward the opponent!

“Clang!”

The sound of the blade edge scraping against the sword blade was clear as dragon song, yet particularly shocked Xue Wujiu’s heart.

Such swift reaction!

Such nimble wrist!

Both blade edge and blade force pressed upward, actually forcing him to withdraw his sword. If he didn’t withdraw, his arm would probably fall to the ground before his sword could cut off the opponent’s head!

Absolutely someone who had licked blood on blade edges and experienced life-and-death trials!

Xue Wujiu immediately made this judgment, momentarily aroused to fighting spirit. His sword-holding five fingers clenched, his whole aura immediately climbed steadily, wanting to battle this mysterious opponent in the wind.

He laughed heartily with considerable heroic spirit: “Fellow Daoist, don’t leave, let me fight with—”

Before he finished speaking, before even expressing his intention!

In the night sky filled with dark clouds, a black three-zhang large hand suddenly appeared, like swatting a fly, without explanation, slapping down toward Xue Wujiu’s head and face!

A Heaven-Flipping Seal!

“Boom!”

Wild spiritual power scattered and exploded. Even with Xue Wujiu’s cultivation, he was caught off guard and slapped until he saw stars, dizzy and disoriented!

For a moment, he only heard wind howling in his ears.

When Xue Wujiu came to his senses, where was that demonic wind, that mysterious cultivator hidden within?!

There were only dark masses of Night Sailing Ship pursuers floating in mid-air, and that person holding mandarin duck axes, standing five zhang before him with a dead face…

One of Night Sailing Ship’s three great sacrificial wine officials, Liang Tingyu.

The female cultivator most favored by Night Sailing Ship’s hall master in recent years, the female cultivator with the most ruthless methods in recent years, and also the female cultivator many in Mingri Xinghai were optimistic about in recent years.

“I thought it was some vile creature trespassing, stirring Night Sailing Ship upside down. Didn’t expect it was Sword Marquis Xue gracing us with his presence. What a poor reception!”

The long scar on her left face made Liang Tingyu look cold and hard. Her lips seemed to hook but didn’t, conveying wordless mockery.

Her gaze fell on Xue Wujiu in mid-air; Xue Wujiu also heard those three words “Sword Marquis Xue” very clearly.

But trespassing?

And stirring Night Sailing Ship upside down?

Xue Wujiu looked at Liang Tingyu, who seemed to be smiling but actually looked extremely ugly, then at the many Night Sailing Ship cultivators surrounding him as if facing a great enemy, looking like they would swarm him at the slightest disagreement!

This…

What flashed through his mind instantly was that demonic wind he encountered when coming, and the mysterious cultivator hidden in the demonic wind.

“…”

Really a mouthful of old blood stuck in his throat!

The moment he understood the cause and effect, Xue Wujiu’s eyes almost went black, tears flowing from both eyes, nearly stepping on air and tumbling down from mid-air!

Damn it!

The instant battle with that mysterious cultivator had already been beyond his expectations, suffering a not-so-small loss. Now he was actually surrounded by almost all of Night Sailing Ship’s cultivators at the crossing!

What cosmic injustice!

He had indeed come today for Zuoliu’s matter, but hadn’t even had time to step into Night Sailing Ship, much less cause any destruction!

He was taking the blame.

This marquis was taking the blame for someone else.

Xue Wujiu’s mouth twitched. At this moment, he particularly wanted to cry and ask Liang Tingyu: “Fairy, if I said I just arrived, would you believe me?”

The sky had no stars or moon.

Mingri Xinghai would never see the star sea.

For Jian Chou, this was a night full of danger, mystery, confusion, and unease.

After delivering a sudden Heaven-Flipping Seal, she quickly shook off that purple-robed male cultivator she “met on a narrow road,” then took a detour around Shattered Immortal City before returning to the inn.

But when she sat cross-legged to organize her thoughts, those endless doubts not only didn’t get answers but deepened another layer.

Night exploration of Night Sailing Ship—gaining nothing would have been fine, but she encountered three people who seemed to have the same purpose as herself:

The first was the white-robed four-fingered cultivator, very likely connected to Kunwu or Wang Que himself;

The second was probably Wang Que. Jian Chou understood Hidden Sword intent. Though his performance was quite different, the artistic conception was correct. Comparing his cultivation and temperament, plus his reason for staying in Mingri Xinghai, it was probably eight or nine out of ten.

The third was naturally that purple-robed male cultivator. His sword techniques were absolutely exquisite, his cultivation at least a full major realm above hers—that is, at least Worldly Entry!

Zuoliu, oh Zuoliu.

This guy’s market value was simply outrageously good!

The more Jian Chou thought, the more her head ached. Recalling that strange and abnormal existence in Night Sailing Ship’s dungeon that was intensely murderous toward her, and that statue standing in the hall, she tried to analyze by pulling out threads and peeling away layers.

But aside from the three words “Fu Chaosheng,” she really had no clues.

The complexity of the situation had already exceeded what she could currently handle.

After some consideration, she still sent another lightning message back to Yashan, this time to Sect Master Zheng Yao, fully describing everything she knew, hoping to get some definite news or help before the White Silver Tower auction.

After all…

Based on the current situation in Night Sailing Ship’s dungeon, rescuing someone was almost an impossible task. Then her hope of saving Zuoliu would mostly fall on the White Silver Tower auction two days later.

“What remains is waiting for a reply and gathering more recent information.”

Looking at the sky outside the window that was gradually beginning to brighten, Jian Chou thought of Fudao Shanren who hadn’t replied for so long. She inevitably felt somewhat puzzled, but this master of hers had low cultivation but heavenly abilities—there shouldn’t be any major problems.

“The one with problems is probably myself…”

She let out a long breath. The dark clouds that had covered her heart since escaping Night Sailing Ship’s corridor hadn’t dispersed at all.

That fierce, evil existence, that sinister, terrifying statue, and those golden runes like blood vessels yet like a prison…

She didn’t know their origins.

But that killing intent almost condensed into substance was crystal clear.

“Night Sailing Ship…”

Jian Chou murmured softly, brows tightly locked, but slowly spread open her palm. In the blink of an eye, the two-chi Deer Cutter was gripped in her palm.

That blade strike that even exceeded her own understanding continuously flashed before her eyes…

For Xue Wujiu, this was an extremely unlucky and bewildering night.

Not only did he fail to accomplish his goal, but he also fought at Crow’s Crossing for three hundred rounds, refusing to admit that the one who trespassed Night Sailing Ship to rescue Zuoliu was himself, completely losing face as the “Purple-Robed Sword Marquis” and probably leaving behind a mysterious case in Mingri Xinghai.

He returned to Jiexing Mountain Manor with a sigh.

It was already dawn.

The tributaries of Lan River merged into the main stream, with white mist surrounding Drinking Snow Pavilion. The manor was built on a small mountain not far from shore. Originally it was a place for an angler to rest. Later the angler left, Qu Zhengfeng came, and it gradually expanded into the current manor.

Green trees surrounded white walls, long corridors embraced peaceful lakes.

Lake stones were scattered, dotting the courtyard steps; artificial mountains overlapped, occasionally attracting fish.

Many cultivators who had visited the manor commented: except for the somewhat puzzling name, this was a place with mortal world atmosphere, suitable for leisure.

But obviously…

From any angle, Qu Zhengfeng wouldn’t be someone who might like leisure. So encountering him early morning by the lakeside corridor wasn’t strange at all for Xue Wujiu.

“I heard you did something big last night?”

Still knowing of his arrival without turning around, but this time Qu Zhengfeng sat by the lake, not washing his hands.

He was grinding a sword.

A long, square, deep black whetstone with an ordinary iron sword placed on it. Neither the forging craftsmanship nor the material itself was remarkable.

Perhaps the only remarkable thing was the act of sword grinding itself.

Everyone knew that Mingri Xinghai’s new Sword Emperor possessed two good swords.

One named “Sea Light.”

Made from thousand-year sea jade from a thousand zhang beneath the Western Sea; entirely dark blue, only showing sea-water-like transparent azure when infused with spiritual power, like the firmament, like gems; this sword took the meaning of “sea,” symbolizing accepting all rivers.

One named “Yashan.”

Left by Yashan predecessors, or passed down as born from Yashan mountain range, it was Yashan’s destiny sword. Its power couldn’t be blocked by heaven, unmeasurable by man.

Anyone possessing either of these two swords wouldn’t seek a second sword.

But Qu Zhengfeng was grinding a sword.

Grinding a sword made of ordinary iron, plain and unremarkable.

His long, powerful fingers pressed on the sword body, grinding stroke by stroke, making low, hoarse sounds like wind passing through forest.

Qu Zhengfeng watched intently, occasionally pouring water on the sword to wash away the grinding residue, making the blade snow-bright.

“His Majesty the Sword Emperor’s information is indeed most well-informed. Was it that big mouth Zhilin Sou who told you again?”

Should have gotten used to it.

Xue Wujiu said this, shook his head, and stood beside Qu Zhengfeng to watch: “Yesterday I planned to night-explore Night Sailing Ship to see the situation, but halfway met a mysterious blade-wielding cultivator. Looking at that blade-wielding stance, it quite had Yashan’s manner. And that palm technique was extremely fierce…”

“If it was Heaven-Flipping Seal, with your eyesight you should recognize it.” Hearing his answer, Qu Zhengfeng’s sword-grinding movements didn’t pause at all, remaining as before: “Moreover, my Yash…”

The voice stopped.

The sword-grinding movement also suddenly paused.

Xue Wujiu glanced at him but didn’t speak.

So Qu Zhengfeng continued lightly, as if nothing had happened, grinding on: “Moreover, Yashan has many sword users, few axe users, and blade users can’t be found.”

“That’s true. I also thought it couldn’t possibly be her, after all, that movement technique was strange, felt not much different from mine. If it really was, this progress would be too shocking…”

Xue Wujiu said this and naturally didn’t pursue the topic, only taking out an invitation from his chest and handing it over.

“For you. Want to look?”

“Hiss… hiss…”

One side of the blade passed over the whetstone’s fine surface, instantly producing a layer of snow-bright light.

Qu Zhengfeng picked it up, looked at it against the morning light, and smiled: “Night Sailing Ship’s invitation—what’s worth seeing?”

This was what Xue Wujiu received from Liang Tingyu after fighting Night Sailing Ship, for him to pass to Qu Zhengfeng.

Just as Qu Zhengfeng didn’t need to look to know the content, Xue Wujiu didn’t need to look to know what was written.

But at this time, he still opened it for a glance, touched his chin and said: “Two days later, Zuoliu’s auction at White Silver Tower, inviting you as a guest. I see Night Sailing Ship dares oppose you—they probably really have some trump cards. This trip might be a Hongmen Banquet. Will you go?”

Hongmen Banquet?

Qu Zhengfeng held up that ordinary sword, looked at the blade edge that had become sharp after grinding, slightly squinted, thoughtful: “In this star sea, there are still people who invite me to banquets…”

Xue Wujiu lazily leaned against the corridor pillar, hearing this and smiling with interest: “Ten years grinding one sword, the frosty blade never tested. You’ve been grinding swords for decades—time to test it?”

Ten years grinding one sword.

Xue Wujiu’s words sounded correct, only…

Qu Zhengfeng stood up, holding this already-ground ordinary iron sword, walking slowly through the courtyard covered with red leaves, leaving only a sentence with ethereal ending: “My sword isn’t ground for them.”

For whom was it ground then?

Xue Wujiu very much wanted to ask, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back, only watching Qu Zhengfeng’s tall figure in gold-threaded black robes disappear in the winding corridors.

Behind him, a figure wrapped in an alluring red dress quietly appeared, silver butterfly-wing patterns crawling all over the hem.

Xue Wujiu shrugged: “Red Butterfly, you’re a demon with high cultivation. Do you understand what he’s saying?”

“Grinding swords…”

White fingers hooked her soft hair. The red-dressed female demon slowly looked at the sky, but a meaningful shallow smile appeared at her lips.

“Just grinding swords.”

“…”

So sometimes Xue Wujiu really wanted to roll his eyes, but thinking of Red Butterfly’s origins and identity, he gracefully restrained himself.

“Forget it. I’d better inquire about White Silver Tower’s affairs. In case he wants to go then?”