In the dense forest far from the back mountain.

Xu Qi An sat cross-legged beneath a tree, holding half of a bronze mirror in his hands. The mirror reflected an intense battle scene.

“Wasn’t Jing Yuan’s eyes blinded by my poison? How did they recover? He doesn’t possess flesh regeneration abilities – must have used pills or some special technique…”

“No enemies are lurking around Quanrong Mountain, and the military garrison hasn’t been attacked. Did Xu Ping Feng only send Ji Xuan and the others to attack the Martial Arts Alliance?”

“Xiao Yue Nu and Liu Hong Mian seem to have a grudge. How could such a stunning beauty be wasted on that tiger spirit? Oh right, could Xiao Yue Nu be Li Ling Su’s lover?”

“Tsk tsk, if that’s true, then among the Holy Son’s romantic interests, there’s finally one whose beauty can rival the little fishes in my pond.”

“Wonder how Li Ling Su is doing…”

…

Break apart their connection… was the Alliance Leader planning to use human wave tactics?

The fourth-grade martial artists present were experienced and immediately understood Cao Qing Yang’s intention. Facing an enemy with burst power comparable to Third Grade meant that any one of them could die.

Cao Qing Yang said in a deep voice: “Dai Zong, you take the lead!”

The Swift Movement Sect Leader’s scalp tingled as he stepped forward. His movement technique was agile and graceful, like a leaf dancing in the wind, floating left and right.

“Amitabha, turn back to shore!” At this moment, Jin Xin clasped his hands and chanted the Buddha’s name. Along with the compassionate voice, the power of precepts spread.

The Swift Movement Sect Leader’s graceful movements suddenly stuttered. Before the enemy, he irresistibly turned to walk back, actually exposing his back to the enemy.

Under equal cultivation levels, the control of precepts was very brief. The Swift Movement Sect Leader broke free the instant he turned.

But at this moment, Dong Fang Wan Qing floated like a paper kite above the Swift Movement Sect Leader’s head, her palm gently pressing down.

Immortal’s Head Pat!

In the critical moment, Han Xie of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect threw out a soft whip, wrapping around the Swift Movement Sect Leader’s waist. With a flick of the hand, he pulled him back.

Bang!

The palm force struck the ground, causing a thunderous tremor. The depression formed a circular pit one zhang in diameter.

Dai Zong, who had barely escaped the crisis, hadn’t had time to breathe a sigh of relief when he felt a fierce wind sweep over him.

The one-armed White Tiger appeared like a ghost in the wind before the Swift Movement Sect Leader who had just steadied himself, grinning viciously as he threw a punch.

Deng deng deng… Fu Jing Men rushed forward, arriving first despite starting later, meeting White Tiger’s punch head-on.

Bang! A strong wind swept through the forest.

Both parties stepped back half a step. Fu Jing Men gritted his teeth, and forcefully planted his right foot to dissipate the force, and his punch intent exploded, landing dozens of punches on White Tiger’s chest in an instant.

The one-armed White Tiger struggled to defend against the opponent’s punching technique and was forced to continuously retreat under the barrage.

Suddenly, Fu Jing Men sensed intense killing intent from the side – a martial artist’s instinctive warning of danger.

He decisively retreated a step, abandoning his relentless assault on White Tiger, and threw a punch to the side.

At the same time, he saw his attacker – a leopard lurking in the grass.

“Hmm?”

Fu Jing Men was stunned. If it was just a leopard, he did not need to pay attention to it.

But the bloodthirsty killing intent just now, as well as his martial artist’s response to danger, had made him mistake the enemy for an expert of equal cultivation.

How could a mere leopard dare to attack him?

This was very unreasonable.

White Tiger took the opportunity to retreat, breathing lightly to ease the pain in his chest.

“Heart Insect Master?”

The White Crane Observatory Leader examined Qi Han and Dan Xiang.

Qi Han Dan Xiang let out a sharp cry, and invisible sound waves spread out, sweeping across the mountaintop.

A few seconds later, everyone present heard chaotic and disorderly sounds – countless rustling sounds from bushes; the sound of massive bird flocks beating their wings; the cries of apes; the roars of great beasts…

In the sky, dozens of wild birds formed flocks, circling and crying out, occasionally diving toward the Martial Arts Alliance crowd in feigned attacks, wheeling back to high altitude midway.

With each feigned attack by the bird flocks, the Martial Arts Alliance crowd received their martial artists’ intuitive feedback about danger.

Poisonous snakes and insects emerged from the bushes, while monkeys, leopards, wild boars, and great beasts sprang out from the forest, staring intently at the Martial Arts Alliance crowd.

They surrounded but did not attack, only venting their hostility.

Thus, the Martial Arts Alliance martial artists received wave after wave of hostility. The crisis warning honed by the Spirit Refinement realm had instead become a burden.

Qi Han Dan Xiang said:

“For me, dealing with martial artists’ crisis warning is too simple.”

“Without the instinct to predict danger in advance, how will you fight against experts of the same grade?”

As the words fell, Liu Hong Mian’s skirts flew up as silver bell-like laughter echoed:

“Senior Sister, back then you colluded with men from outside, spread rumors, and sullied my reputation.”

“Such great kindness and virtue, this junior sister will never forget. Today I’ve come to repay your kindness, how about it?”

She drew the soft sword at her waist, sweeping across dozens of zhang to stab at Xiao Yue Nu.

Xiao Yue Nu calmly slid out an exquisite small sword from her sleeve. Clang clang… amid flying sparks, the two beautiful women fought intensely.

“Madam Xiao, let me assist you!”

You Shi of the Iron Clothes Sect charged forward with thunderous steps causing minor earthquakes. He leaped high, treating himself as a stone, viciously smashing toward Liu Hong Mian.

From an angle, a golden light shot over and knocked You Shi flying.

That was the monk Jin Yuan.

The two martial artists who excelled in bodily defense rolled, crashing through one tree after another.

The Swift Movement Sect Leader silently approached Qi Han Dan Xiang, thrusting forward the dagger in his hand as killing intent erupted.

The multicolored robe suddenly billowed up, transforming into a five-colored wall.

This was just a diversion – the dagger easily pierced through the robe, but Qi Han Dan Xiang had already taken the opportunity to break free from targeting. The qi blast shot from the dagger traveled dozens of zhang, splashing up soil and rock fragments.

On the other hand, the Azure Dragon Seven Stars didn’t delay, slowly approaching the stone gate.

“Roar!”

Quanrong opened its blood-filled maw, howling at the Azure Dragon Seven Stars as saliva rained down.

Its human face revealed humanlike fear. Facing the approaching Azure Dragon Seven Stars, it kept retreating fearfully while trying to intimidate them away with its roars.

“Quanrong, fall back.”

Cao Qing Yang drove it from the battlefield before the strange beast could go berserk in a death match.

The strength brought by the beast’s huge body was a natural advantage, but at this moment, it was a fatal weakness.

Large size meant difficulty dodging. When facing a Transcendent realm strong enemy, it might lose its dog head in just two or three cuts.

In this aspect, martial artists skilled in movement techniques had the advantage instead.

“Alliance Leader, there are too many beasts, hostility everywhere – it will affect our judgment.”

Yang Cui Xue, the leader of the Ink Pavilion, held an iron sword with anxiety apparent on his face.

Cao Qing Yang said in a deep voice: “You go handle clearing the bird flocks and beast groups, leave him to me…”

As soon as the words fell, Yang Cui Xue shouted: “Watch out!”

Without needing his reminder, Cao Qing Yang had already side-jumped, avoiding the blade light slashed by Azure Dragon.

The blade light missed and struck the mountain. Rumble! The cliff cracked and rocks tumbled down.

Deng deng deng… After avoiding this cut, Cao Qing Yang sprinted madly toward Azure Dragon Seven Stars.

“Whoosh!”

What came face-to-face was intense blade light.

Cao Qing Yang didn’t evade, and even actively met it because this cut was aimed at the stone gate behind him.

Gathering qi in both fists, punch intent erupting, Cao Qing Yang’s combined fists perfectly “clamped” the blade light.

He clamped the blade light as it pushed him sliding backward.

Bang!

Cao Qing Yang’s back slammed heavily into the stone gate, causing crushed rocks to shower down.

“Alliance Leader.”

Xiao Yue Nu and others had faces full of anxiety, unconsciously distancing themselves from their opponents, dividing their attention to check on the situation here.

“Cough cough…”

Cao Qing Yang coughed violently, his fists and chest covered in blood.

The Martial Arts Alliance crowd’s hearts trembled – just one cut had left Cao Qing Yang, who was half a step into Third Grade, in such a sorry state.

“Not bad, only half a step away from Third Grade, your vitality and toughness have gradually separated from Fourth Grade ranks.”

Azure Dragon examined Cao Qing Yang, his hoarse voice mixed with envy: “Given a few more years, wouldn’t you advance to Third Grade? Cao Qing Yang, your death isn’t in vain.”

The cloak suddenly billowed as he raised the blade in his hand.

The seven companions behind him made the same motion, qi that distorted space connected the eight people, gathering all power to Azure Dragon.

The blade in Azure Dragon’s hand became scorching hot, seemingly unable to bear the magnificent qi, on the verge of melting.

Azure Dragon no longer hesitated and slashed out this long-charged blade qi.

After slashing this cut, Azure Dragon focused alertly on the surroundings. Cao Qing Yang definitely couldn’t take this attack, and behind him was where the Martial Arts Alliance old fogey was in seclusion.

So Xu Qi An or Sun Xuan Ji would appear.

However, what happened next was beyond Azure Dragon’s expectations – neither Xu Qi An nor Sun Xuan Ji appeared to help. That Cao Qing Yang, ignorant of life and death, actually crossed his arms before his chest, presuming to block a Transcendent’s cut with mere flesh and blood?

“Alliance Leader, dodge!”

“Cao Qing Yang don’t be rash…”

Screams rose in succession. Xiao Yue Nu swept back Liu Hong Mian with one sword strike and flew toward the stone gate.

Dai Zong ran at full speed, face twisted, as if wanting to race against the blade qi.

Yang Cui Xue, Fu Jing Men, Qiao Weng, and other Fourth Grade experts all rushed to support the stone gate.

Boom!

The blade qi exploded on Cao Qing Yang, the qi wave nearly rupturing everyone’s eardrums.

Bang bang bang… The cliff kept breaking apart, the shock wave blew away Xiao Yue Nu, knocked back Fu Jing Men, and also drove back the crowd of Martial Arts Alliance experts.

“Brute!”

Azure Dragon stood proudly, his robes dancing in the fierce wind raised by the shock wave.

Not yet at Third Grade, the outcome of taking this cut head-on was almost predictable.

Qi Han Dan Xiang, White Tiger, Liu Hong Mian and others suppressed their joy, staring intently at the stone gate area.

…

On the Wind-Riding Boat.

Ji Xuan, who had been focused on watching the battle, twitched his ear and looked back.

Dong Fang Rong and Xu Yuan Huai made the same motion. Xu Yuan Shuang continued watching the battle with her head down, showing no abnormality until she heard the whistling sound – only then did she turn back in surprise.

They saw a young man wearing a black robe embroidered with gold and silver threads, standing on a flying sword, coming toward the Wind-Riding Boat.

His features were incomparably handsome, his skin fair, elegant as a noble young master of the mundane world.

Any maiden in the spring of youth would have their heart flutter upon seeing such a handsome young man.

Li Ling Su? Xu Yuan Shuang had a deep impression of this exceptionally good-looking Holy Son of the Heaven Sect, but she had no time to admire his appearance, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

Ji Xuan and Xu Yuan Huai did the same.

When Li Ling Su came, could Xu Qi An be far behind?

At this moment, Dong Fang Rong said flatly: “No matter, the surnamed Xu hasn’t come.”

The three felt relieved. Ji Xuan smiled bitterly, thinking they had truly been frightened by Xu Qi An.

Dong Fang Rong ignored the three and walked straight to Li Ling Su, coldly looking at him:

“What are you here for.”

Li Ling Su jumped off the flying sword, gazing at her face as alluring as peach blossoms, saying emotionally:

“To see the girl I think of day and night.”

He then sighed:

“I know, I have no right to say these words. Because I always leave without saying goodbye, always abandoning you and Qing Jie.”

Dong Fang Rong’s pretty face was covered in frost:

“Li Ling Su, you needn’t say these honey-coated words anymore.”

“I favored you, that’s why I was willing to listen to those words. But since you chose to go with Xu Qi An, abandoning me and Qing Mei, we sisters have nothing more to do with you.”

“Grudges and love, cut clean with one blade. You needn’t come find me again.”

Li Ling Su was slightly moved, his expression complex – sorrow, loss, dejection all present, like a pitiful wretch who had lost in love.

“Rong jie, I’m sorry…”

Dong Fang Rong gave a disdainful cold laugh.

“These words you speak truly make one’s heart ache like a knife twisting, making me know in that instant that I’ve lost something important, something more important than life itself.”

He said.

Dong Fang Rong glanced at him, saying coldly:

“Leave quickly, don’t hinder her. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not considering old affection.”

Saying this, she drew the dagger at her waist.

Li Ling Su shook his head slightly:

“For that half year, I did indeed feel at times that you and Qing Jie’s love was too heavy, making me unable to feel any happiness, even making my waist ache a bit.”

“None of these should have been reasons for me to leave you. I’m not here to beg your forgiveness, nor to make excuses for myself.”

“I’m concerned about you.”

Seeing Dong Fang Rong’s cold expression, he suddenly became grief-stricken, pointing at Ji Xuan and others, angrily saying:

“Do you know how terrifying Xu Qi An is? Do you know that outside Yong Province city, Xu Qi An beat these people until they fled in disorder, nearly losing their lives?”

“Why do you and Qing Jie still want to get involved? With your cultivation level, you can’t even harm a single hair on Xu Qi An.”

Dong Fang Rong sneered: “What does it matter to you.”

Li Ling Su shouted:

“It has nothing to do with me, but if you insist on staying here, even if I die, I’ll take you away. I don’t want you and Qing Jie to throw away your lives for nothing.”

Dong Fang Rong threw the dagger in front of him, her tone cold as the current winter wind:

“You can end yourself.”

Ah this… Li Ling Su was silent for a moment, then forced a smile:

“Rong jie, you truly don’t love me anymore…”

He left with tears in his eyes.

Watching Li Ling Su’s retreating figure on the flying sword, Dong Fang Rong remained silent for a long time.

“Why didn’t you kill him?”

Na Lan Tian Lu’s voice echoed in her mind.

Dong Fang Rong shook her head slightly: “He is the Heaven Sect’s Holy Son. Killing him would invite the Heaven Sect’s revenge. I don’t want to make enemies for teachers.”

Na Lan Tian Lu chuckled:

“You still love him. Just now, if I hadn’t pushed you to kill him, you wouldn’t have driven him away.”

“Wan Rong, deep love shortens life. We’re not Heaven Sect people, but we should also learn to practice the Supreme’s forgetting of emotions. Being too emotionally invested makes one easily controlled by emotions.”

Dong Fang Rong pressed her lips together.

…

Meanwhile, after Li Ling Su left his flying sword, he didn’t return to Quanrong Mountain, instead aimlessly circling outside.

This way he could avoid being followed and observed.

He took out the Earth Book fragment and poured out a small wild bird.

The bird flapped its wings and landed on his shoulder, speaking in human tongue: “How was it?”

Li Ling Su’s expression was serious as he said:

“On the Wind-Riding Boat are two Vajra, Rong Jie, plus Ji Xuan and that pair of siblings.”

“Then, I sensed an abnormal fluctuation in Rong Jie’s primordial spirit waves. Na Lan Tian Lu’s primordial spirit is indeed parasitic in Rong Jie’s body.”

“Besides these people, there’s no one else on the Wind-Riding Boat.”

The bird listened, pondered for a moment, and pecked its head:

“You did very well.”

Li Ling Su quickly said: “Remember what you promised me – to show mercy to Rong Jie and Qing Jie, don’t take their lives.”

He was adding an extra layer of insurance for the Dong Fang sisters.

The bird lightly pecked its head:

“I can only try my best. You should know, that Na Lan Tian Lu is lodged in her sea of consciousness. It’s very difficult for me to deal with Na Lan Tian Lu without hurting her.”

“Moreover, at critical moments of life and death, we might not be able to consider such things.”

Li Ling Su didn’t insist, saying:

“I understand.”

He had just made a trip to the Wind-Riding Boat – the risk wasn’t high, and the task wasn’t difficult. There was no reason to demand that Xu Qi An ensure the Dong Fang sisters’ safety during battle.

Xu Qi An wouldn’t agree anyway.

…

Deep in the dense forest.

On the Wind-Riding Boat, besides a few old friends, there was no one else… Xu Qi An pondered while focusing on watching the battle.

“If there are only two Vajra, I’m not afraid of the Nation-Stabilizing Sword’s sharpness, but the Nation-Stabilizing Sword obviously won’t be very effective against Na Lan Tian Lu.”

“Li Ling Su not seeing others doesn’t mean there aren’t ambushes on the boat. With Xu Ping Feng’s methods, if he wanted to hide killing moves, Li Ling Su definitely couldn’t discover them.”

“However, with the Supervisor watching Yun Province, Xu Ping Feng can’t leave in his true form. Let alone whether he could hide from the Supervisor’s divine eye – if he dared leave Yun Province, the Supervisor might directly steal the crystal.”

“These dogs like Ji Xuan are of one mind with me, probing my trump cards step by step…”

Xu Qi An put the Universe Mirror by his feet and took out the Earth Book fragment.

He poured out the Earth Book fragment and summoned the Peace Blade and Nation-Stabilizing Sword from within.

The two divine weapons contained their auras, showing no fluctuations.

“Long time no see, old friend.”

Xu Qi An stroked the brass sword body.

The Nation-Stabilizing Sword transmitted a heavy and gentle intention, like an honest and steady senior expert.

The Peace Blade was much more cheerful, continuously transmitting thoughts like “I’m not who I was before” to Xu Qi An.

Just like a half-grown child, telling their father they’re grown up now.

“Very good, after half a month of nurturing, you’ve become sharper, Peace!”

Xu Qi An stroked the dark gold blade body: “Today, I’ll use Vajra blood to consecrate you.”

He stuck the Nation-Stabilizing Sword and Peace Blade on his left and right sides, picked up the Universe Mirror again, and looking at the half-kneeling figure at the stone gate, muttered:

“That fool Cao Qing Yang, actually reluctant to use the essence blood I gave him, wanting to keep it to digest and comprehend, using it to advance to Third Grade.”

“Did he think he could defeat the Azure Dragon Seven Stars with his cultivation and coordination with Yang Cui Xue and the others?”

“Now he has no choice but to use it.”

…

“I was too arrogant.”

Cao Qing Yang sighed, “Even if you’re relying on magical tools rather than being a true Third Grade, it’s still not something I can handle. Numbers don’t help.”

Seeing Cao Qing Yang unharmed, Fu Jing Men, Yang Cui Xue, and others felt the situation had turned around, both finding it hard to believe and overwhelmed with joy.

Xiao Yue Nu looked closely, her delicate body trembling:

“Alliance Leader, you, you’ve entered Third Grade?!”

At this moment, Cao Qing Yang’s aura was completely different, faintly emanating an aura that made them tremble.

Even more bizarre was that Cao Qing Yang’s skin had become a light golden color.

Third Grade… Yang Cui Xue and Dai Zong stared silently, momentarily unable to show any expression, but everyone’s hearts suddenly accelerated, pounding wildly.

“Vajra Divine Technique?!”

Suddenly, the martial monk Jin Yuan in the distance blurted out, his expression slightly changing.

The Martial Arts Alliance crowd, who had been immersed in great joy, now sobered slightly.

“Alliance Leader, when did you learn the Vajra Divine Technique?”

You Shi of the Iron Clothes Sect looked at his companions, trying to get answers from them, but saw only the same confusion in their eyes.

What was going on?