Outside the hall, on the square.
Blood was already thick in the air...
Ning Xian held an ordinary spirit sword in one hand.
The sword's tip pointed diagonally toward the ground as blood slowly dripped down the blade's spine, blooming like eye-catching crimson plum blossoms on the bluestone slabs.
She breathed slightly, her plain white robes stained with mottled blood, though it all belonged to her enemies.
Her cold face remained expressionless, but her gaze was even more frigid than usual.
Around her, seven or eight corpses lay in various states of disarray. Three of them clearly emitted the residual spiritual pressure unique to Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, their deaths particularly gruesome.
Further away, four or five wounded Nascent Soul elders surrounded her in shock and rage, yet none dared to step forward easily.
Just moments ago, they had been secretly monitoring Ning Xian.
To their surprise, Ning Xian had suddenly struck first with absolute decisiveness, killing three Nascent Soul fellow disciples who tried to block her in just a few exchanges.
The sharpness of the sword intent she displayed was entirely unlike that of a Golden Core Realm cultivator!
"Enchantress! You dare commit murder before the sect leader’s hall?! To slaughter your own fellow disciples!"
A white-haired old man shouted sternly.
Ning Xian didn't even lift her eyes. She simply gave her spirit sword a light flick, causing the blood droplets on the blade to splatter out in an arc.
She had placed a mark on Fang Xuan.
She could clearly sense Fang Xuan's aura inside the hall. Although it was fluctuating violently, it remained stable; he was not in mortal danger.
Compared to Lu Qingsong inside the hall, the truly difficult ones to deal with were those ancestors of the Qingyun Sect...
Still, it was better to clear them out now.
It would save trouble later.
The reason the Qingyun Sect could maintain such dense spiritual qi in this relatively barren Southern Wilderness was due to an ancient inheritance stone hidden deep within the restricted area: the "Mystic Spirit Stone."
This item was originally one of the resources she planned to take after returning from the Central Plains.
Now, it seemed the plan had to be moved forward.
Although it would require a price to forcibly take the Mystic Spirit Stone, it was worth it.
"Attack together! Capture this enchantress and let the sect leader deal with her!"
Another elder with a sinister expression shouted, inciting the others.
The remaining Nascent Soul elders looked at each other. Although they feared the terrifying strength Ning Xian had just shown, they thought of the sect leader's orders and their numerical advantage. They gritted their teeth and prepared to surround her again.
But before they could move—
"A bunch of trash! You can't even take down a single Golden Core girl. What use do I have for you?!"
A cold, majestic shout filled with age-old authority came from behind.
A withered old man dressed in simple gray robes appeared at the edge of the square like a ghost.
His aura was restrained, yet it exerted a suffocating pressure on all the Nascent Soul elders present.
Initial-stage Transformation Realm!
He was one of the supreme elders of the Qingyun Sect who had been in seclusion for years, ignoring worldly affairs!
The gray-robed elder's cloudy gaze swept over the corpses of his fellow disciples before finally landing on Ning Xian.
There was no ripple of emotion in his eyes, only a coldness as if he were looking at a dead object.
"Junior, surrender now, and I will leave your corpse intact."
Ning Xian finally lifted her eyes to look at this Transformation Realm elder.
In her clear, cold eyes, there was still no fear. Instead... a hint of weariness flashed through them.
So noisy.
She didn't want to waste any more time.
Her junior brother was still waiting inside the hall...
........
"Hmph! Overestimating your own strength!"
The gray-robed elder snorted coldly. He raised a withered palm and spread his fingers.
Against a Golden Core Realm cultivator as a Transformation Realm expert, he didn't even bother to use an artifact.
......
Only half a quarter of an hour later...
Ning Xian let go of a sword hilt and casually tossed the elder's corpse aside...
However, she also had multiple wounds on her body that were constantly seeping blood.
The spiritual power within her was nearly exhausted, and her right hand, which held the sword, trembled uncontrollably.
The remaining Nascent Soul elders had long since been scared out of their wits. They looked at Ning Xian as if they were looking at an asura climbing out of hell.
"You... enchantress! You will die a horrible death!"
"When my grand-martial uncle leaves seclusion, he will certainly tear you into ten thousand pieces! He will extract your soul and refine your spirit!"
They cursed with false bravado, yet none dared to step forward a single inch.
Ning Xian slowly raised her trembling hand. Her fingertips struggled to condense the last trace of sword intent, and she made a slash through the air toward the elder who was cursing the loudest.
Chii!
The elder's cursing stopped abruptly. A line of blood appeared at his neck, and his eyes bulged as he fell backward.
The others instantly became as quiet as cicadas in winter, scrambling and crawling further away, not daring to make another sound.
Ning Xian no longer looked at them. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the swaying Main Hall, a flash of worry appearing in her eyes.
Junior Brother...
........
Inside the hall.
The battle had reached a fever pitch.
Fang Xuan was covered in blood. His disciple robes were already tattered, revealing deep wounds that reached the bone.
Yet he still stood straight, the black sword in his hand as steady as a mountain. With every swing, he could cleave through several sharp spiritual power attacks aimed at him.
Lu Qingsong's appearance wasn't much better. His hair was disheveled, and his sect leader robes were damaged.
But Fang Xuan wasn't at the level where he could truly wound him yet.
Lu Qingsong's face was ashen, his eyes filled with unbelievable rage and a faint, hidden unease.
Why?!
This kid's spiritual power level was clearly only at the Nascent Soul level, so how could he fight a mid-stage Transformation Realm expert like himself for so long without being defeated?!
Even though he was using most of his spiritual power to maintain the Spirit-Severing Array that sealed the space...
He knew Fang Xuan’s background wouldn't be simple.
Therefore, to prevent Fang Xuan's family from sensing the commotion and sending reinforcements, he had to keep this place locked down.
But even so, the power he was using far exceeded that of an ordinary initial-stage Transformation Realm expert!
What frustrated him most was that black sword!
No matter what attribute of spiritual power attack he used, as soon as it got close to that sword, it would be directly severed by an overbearing and unreasonable force.
Furthermore, the boy's own defense and recovery speed were terrifyingly absurd. Many attacks that would have heavily injured or even killed someone of the same rank only left deep wounds on him.
And those wounds were constantly and rapidly healing!
This... "I’m Not a Masochist" constitution... was actually unexpectedly useful.
Fang Xuan complained helplessly in his heart as he wiped the blood constantly leaking from the corner of his mouth. He felt the rapid restorative power brought by the frantic operation of his fragmented cultivation method.
As well as the occasional system prompt: 【Detected host has sustained high-intensity attacks; toughness increased, training value +...】
.......
Unable to win for a long time, Lu Qingsong’s anxiety grew.
He let out a loud roar, no longer caring about his consumption. His hands formed seals as spiritual power surged wildly around him.
At the top of the hall, a giant ten-zhang-long sword phantasm condensed. Carrying a terrifying momentum that seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth, it slashed down toward Fang Xuan's head!
Fang Xuan's eyes sharpened. He didn't dodge. He poured all the spiritual power in his body without reservation into the black sword.
The black sword let out a low, vibrating hum. On the blade, the pitch-black sword astral that swallowed light suddenly surged.
He gripped the sword with both hands and slashed upward from below, striking against the sky!
"Boom!!!!!!!"
Crack!
The first crack appeared on the Heavenly Sword Phantasm, quickly spreading across it!
The double consumption of maintaining the array and activating his killing move, combined with the recoil force, turned Lu Qingsong's face pale.
Meanwhile, Fang Xuan was also sent flying by the recoil force, slamming hard against a half-collapsed pillar before sliding to the ground.
The black sword flew out of his hand, embedding itself in the floor nearby.
Seeing this, a ruthless glint flashed in Lu Qingsong's eyes. He pointed his fingers like a sword.
He shot a beam of sword qi directly at Fang Xuan's right wrist as the boy reached for his sword!
He wanted to cripple the kid's reliance first!
Chii!
The sword qi accurately sliced across Fang Xuan's wrist, drawing a spray of blood and nearly severing his right hand entirely!
Fang Xuan let out a muffled groan, his right hand hanging limply.
Damn it, I shouldn't have turned on this constitution.
... It felt a little too good.
.......
Just as a cruel smile appeared on Lu Qingsong's face, he saw Fang Xuan acting as if he felt no pain at all. Fang Xuan's left hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the hilt of the black sword embedded in the ground.
Then, under Lu Qingsong’s stunned gaze, Fang Xuan held the sword with only his left hand.
Using the black sword like a heavy hammer, he swung it in a wide arc and slammed it viciously toward Lu Qingsong, who had just managed to steady himself.
Yunchang · Heavy Smash!
"Bang!!!"
Caught off guard, Lu Qingsong was struck solidly in the chest by the flat of the blade, sending him flying once more.
Fang Xuan himself also felt the violent force pull at all his wounds. He knelt on one knee, supporting his body with the black sword just to keep from falling.
He was covered in blood, the injury on his right wrist was horrifying, and his face was as pale as paper.
But his eyes still held a nearly indifferent calm as he looked up at Lu Qingsong, who was struggling to crawl back up in the distance.
That gaze actually caused a hint of chill to arise in the heart of Lu Qingsong, whose cultivation far exceeded his own.
"Ha... hahahaha!" Lu Qingsong coughed up blood but laughed maniacally, looking like a madman.
"Impressive! Kid! You truly are something! But that’s as far as you go!"
He could see that Fang Xuan was at the end of his rope, his injuries so severe he could collapse at any moment.
As for himself, although his spiritual power consumption was massive, his foundation as a mid-stage Transformation Realm expert remained.
"Once I capture you, I will extract your divine soul and search your memories. All your secrets and all your opportunities will belong to me! Including the family behind you... I will find them one by one and slaughter them all! To avenge today's shame!"
Lu Qingsong hissed, his eyes filled with pure malice.
He walked toward Fang Xuan step by step. Though his gait was somewhat staggered, his killing intent was more intense than ever.
Fang Xuan watched him approach, his face still devoid of expression.
He was simply calculating silently.
It was about time.
Maintaining this "Spirit-Severing Array" for so long and undergoing such high-intensity combat...
Lu Qingsong's spiritual power should be near its limit, and his control over the array must have weakened.
Furthermore, outside... Senior Sister should have finished things up, right?
He gripped the black sword with his left hand, seemingly wanting to make one last stand.
Seeing this, Lu Qingsong sneered. He raised his hand again, aiming a beam of sword qi at Fang Xuan's left arm, intending to completely strip him of all resistance.
Right at that moment.
On his left index finger, a seemingly ordinary storage ring flashed with a faint light.
An ancient-looking token appeared in his palm.
Then, he used the last of his strength to crush it.
......
Wait until I call someone in. Let's see if they don't beat you to death.
Rate on N.U.
