A moment of surprise.

Jian Chou gazed at Zhou Chenjiang, understanding all his meaning in just that instant of eye contact.

Battle?

Battle!

She smiled slightly: “The frost moon is perfectly timed—Brother Zhou has chosen the perfect hour.”

“…”

The bewildered Wu Duan looked between them, his eyes showing some indescribable curiosity.

What riddle were these two speaking in?

Unfortunately, Zhou Chenjiang’s attention had never been on Wu Duan, so naturally he couldn’t answer his confusion.

His gray-black robes still looked somewhat worn, yet could hardly conceal the sense of power radiating from Zhou Chenjiang’s entire being—a person of exceptional talent and great ambition.

Seeing Jian Chou agree, Zhou Chenjiang’s face showed a smile as he said: “Then I shall await with anticipation.”

Jian Chou nodded, saying no more, only turning back to look at Wu Duan.

Wu Duan was looking at her with a strange expression: “Sister Jian Chou?”

“It’s nothing. Brother Zhou and I have history—now that we’ve met, we’re just catching up on old times.” Jian Chou didn’t directly call this a “battle appointment,” only saying they were “catching up on old times.”

Hearing this, Wu Duan immediately had an indescribable feeling.

Looking at Jian Chou, then at Zhou Chenjiang.

Tsk…

These two, could they possibly have that kind of relationship?

Meeting on the river, as if no one else existed—this was really something.

Only then did Zhou Chenjiang notice there was someone else present, showing not the slightest embarrassment as he also bowed in greeting: “This must be Kunwu’s White Bone Dragon Sword, Senior Brother Wu Duan? I’ve long admired your reputation.”

He actually recognized him?

Wu Duan suddenly found himself speechless. So it wasn’t that you didn’t recognize me—you simply didn’t notice me at all.

“Brother Zhou needn’t be so formal.”

He found it amusing inwardly but didn’t mind.

“Now I need to show Sister Jian Chou around Kunwu. Would Brother Zhou like to accompany us?”

“Master instructed me to wait here, so I won’t accompany Sister Jian Chou.”

Zhou Chenjiang shook his head, declining Wu Duan’s kind offer.

Jian Chou and Wu Duan didn’t insist, simply bidding Zhou Chenjiang farewell before descending from the Cloud Sea Plaza.

Walking one after the other, their figures quickly disappeared into the distance.

Zhou Chenjiang, standing in place, watched Jian Chou’s retreating figure. After it completely vanished, he finally raised his gaze to look at the sky.

The sun still blazed, the sky so blue it was almost white.

Flying birds couldn’t reach such heights, so the view was nearly completely empty.

He wondered what kind of grace would be displayed beneath tonight’s moon?

Zhou Chenjiang couldn’t help but anticipate.

On Jian Chou’s side, she followed Wu Duan on a tour around various parts of Kunwu.

Below the Cloud Sea Plaza was another great hall. Though different from the transcendent Heavens Hall at the peak, it also displayed the magnificent atmosphere of a great sect.

Further down were some cave dwellings in the mountainside, or constructed wooden houses and refined dwellings, as well as pavilions and towers built along the mountain, appearing quite elegant. Disciples in dao robes moved through these buildings.

The quarters Kunwu arranged for the Yashan group were located in this cluster of buildings halfway up the mountain—a separate courtyard in the middle with no gate, just an entrance to walk around and enter.

Jian Chou glanced around and discovered that the courtyard actually contained a stone pool formed by mountain streams flowing down from above, crystal clear with spiritual energy faintly hidden in the water.

Kunwu’s eleven peaks happened to be built on a massive spiritual vein, like Yashan, so spiritual energy was abundant. Even the mountain water carried spiritual energy.

Jian Chou wasn’t particularly surprised, remaining calm and composed.

Continuing down the mountain, they reached a vast martial arts field where many disciples were sparring and competing.

Jian Chou didn’t linger, walking all the way to the foot of the mountain before generally understanding Kunwu’s situation.

“There are ten more auxiliary peaks over there, and quite a few scenic spots in the middle area. Does Sister Jian Chou wish to continue?” Wu Duan stopped on the stone path at the mountain’s base, asking.

This place had reached the mountain’s bottom. Standing below and looking ahead, there was only a vast expanse of verdant green.

Walking down from above had actually taken quite some time, and the sun had slanted considerably.

Thinking of her earlier battle appointment with Zhou Chenjiang, Jian Chou’s curiosity about Kunwu diminished considerably. She smiled at Wu Duan: “I’ve seen much along the way. I have an appointment with Zhou Chenjiang later, so I won’t continue down. Thank you for your guidance, Brother Wu. I’ll just wander around below casually.”

White Bone Dragon Sword Wu Duan had been cultivating for quite some time, so he was naturally sharp-witted.

Hearing Jian Chou say “wander around casually,” he knew she probably wanted to go to the Nine-Head River bank. Understanding her meaning, he produced a blue jade carved with patterns and handed it to Jian Chou.

“In that case, Sister Jian Chou may do as she pleases. This contains my spiritual consciousness imprint. If Sister Jian Chou has any questions, you can transmit messages to me anytime, or send wind-thunder letters.”

This blue jade was specially made, able to store a person’s spiritual consciousness imprint through the carved patterns.

Jian Chou knew about such things, but hadn’t expected Wu Duan to be quite considerate.

She took it with one hand, expressing thanks: “Brother Wu has been very thoughtful.”

“Then I’ll go up to see if Master has any summons. I’ll take my leave first.”

Wu Duan stood on the steps, bowing to Jian Chou.

Jian Chou returned the courtesy, then saw Wu Duan smile at her. A white light suddenly leaped from the ground—the White Bone Dragon Sword’s fierce presence burst forth, transforming into a swift white light with the vague outline of a ferocious dragon, immediately disappearing into the distance along the long mountain path.

White Bone Dragon Sword Wu Duan was quite a considerate person.

No wonder…

Jian Chou suddenly recalled Qu Zhengfeng’s evaluation of this person.

Most people in Kunwu were looked down upon by Qu Zhengfeng, but Wu Duan could probably be counted among them?

Thinking this, Jian Chou shook her head, not pondering deeper.

She simply emptied all her thoughts and walked toward the forest ahead.

Between Kunwu’s eleven peaks lay vast plains growing countless towering ancient trees. At this moment, countless people were coming from the distance, riding magical treasures and transforming into rays of light, passing overhead.

But Jian Chou only walked through the forest, with cool breezes by her ears, comfortable and pleasant.

The ground had a thin layer of fallen leaves. Jian Chou stepped on them, listening to their crackling sounds, slowly walking toward the Nine-Head River bank.

The Nine-Head River nearly encircled Kunwu, and the spot Jian Chou chose had no platform with teleportation arrays, so it seemed particularly quiet and quite distant from those areas. Besides Jian Chou herself, not a soul could be seen.

In the river’s heart was actually a small island, formed by years of sediment and stones accumulating in the river water. Around the small island were several black boulders.

Jian Chou flew over, her figure swaying like a white crane spreading its wings, lightly landing on the black stone in the river’s heart.

The sun had set in the west, painting the entire river with remaining red.

Sitting cross-legged on this river heart, Jian Chou’s moon-white robes were also suddenly dyed with touches of the evening sun’s lingering beauty. This was the Nine-Head River’s main stream, but not the same river that flowed before Yashan.

An extremely tranquil feeling made her entire heart sink down.

Her eyelids gradually drooped as Jian Chou sat motionless in the river’s heart.

When the sun set, the waves lapping against the black stone seemed to diminish slightly, and a frost moon began to gradually reveal its outline against the deep blue sky.

As the red sun completely sank into the Western Sea, dark shadows spread across the entire land of the Nineteen Continents.

The frost moon at the sky’s edge also gradually became clearer.

It was already early autumn.

White dew stretched across the river, water light meeting the sky.

The vast river water rolled onward; the ethereal river wind came hunting.

Sitting in the river’s heart, Jian Chou seemed to merge with this river, this wind, becoming one with nature, yet also seeming to transform into that stubborn stone in the river’s heart—washed by the vast river water yet remaining unmoved.

Rustle.

The sound of wind through the forest.

Strand by strand, the wind passed through the acupoints opened around Jian Chou’s body, carrying messages hidden in the wind into her heart.

In that moment, though there was no sound or disturbance, Jian Chou calmly opened her eyes and looked up toward the riverbank.

A figure had just arrived.

Zhou Chenjiang stood quietly by the forest riverbank, like a hidden dragon, also looking toward Jian Chou, his eyes full of complete admiration.

Her aura had merged with the wind, extremely close to nature.

If he closed his eyes, he would never notice there was still a person on the black stone in the river’s heart.

Moonlight fell upon her, softening her outline. Her raven hair cascaded like a waterfall behind her, adding an even more serene feeling.

Why did she have to have such a gentle appearance?

Yet when she moved, she was like thunder.

One person on the riverbank, one person in the river’s heart.

Only the river water flowed endlessly, never ceasing.

Zhou Chenjiang became somewhat entranced watching.

Perhaps making a battle appointment before the minor assembly was a wrong decision.

Two years ago, when Jian Chou was at middle Foundation Establishment, she could still match him evenly in their brief exchange. In these two years, he had leaped through Dragon Gate, awakened Dao Seals, endured countless hardships in cultivation, finally forming his core and advancing to a completely new level.

And what about Jian Chou?

Two years in Black Wind Cave—how could that be ordinary?

Fourth against one hundredth, a sure win?

Ridiculous!

This battle suddenly exceeded his original expectations.

Perhaps at this moment in the Central Domain, at this moment in Kunwu, only he could appreciate the power of this female cultivator before him.

Under Jian Chou’s calm, waveless gaze, Zhou Chenjiang stepped forward.

“Fairy, forgive the long wait. Dragon Gate’s Zhou Chenjiang comes to fulfill the appointment on the river.”

The moment his voice fell—

Wind and thunder already stirred!