After Refusing Marriage to the Dao of Slaughter Patriarch (24)

The consequence of Lu Dengming trying his best to stop Yun Liu was being injured by Yun Liu's sword qi.

Although he and Yun Liu were both at the Nascent Soul stage, he was two minor realms lower. Moreover, because Yun Liu was a senior and Lu Dengming was in the wrong first, he did not fight back or defend himself. He allowed Yun Liu to charge at him with sword qi, standing perfectly straight and motionless.

A lock of his hair was severed, and as the sword qi invaded his body, a faint taste of blood rose in his mouth.

Lu Dengming staggered two steps before being supported by Fang Jian and Fang You, barely managing to steady his figure.

Ji Zhaixing's gaze swept over Lu Dengming's bloodstained lips. That glance brushed past like a feather, careless and impassive.

"Since it is a situation that cannot be resolved without life or death, I won't trouble Daoist Lu to plead for me." Ji Zhaixing's tone was slightly deep, incredibly distant, and so cold that it even seemed somewhat unfeeling.

If Lu Dengming hadn't noticed that rather concerned glance of his just now, he probably would have thought so too.

Even the painful wound seemed to be mixed with a drop of honey water, becoming incredibly peculiar. Lu Dengming subconsciously revealed a faint smile, not responding to Ji Zhaixing's words, and only spoke to Yun Liu on his own, "Please think twice, Martial Uncle Yun."

Yun Liu had also failed to hold back in the moment. Seeing Lu Dengming injured by him, he even suspected for a split second whether this was a self-injury ruse—but this thought was quickly overwhelmed by the rising feelings of guilt.

He had learned quite a few unorthodox spells. At this time, he slightly restrained his expression, whispered something to Lu Dengming, and then cast a Heaven-Tier Forbidden Spell.

Lu Dengming was slightly startled, his expression showing some panic, but under the effect of that spell, he still fell into a deep slumber, his brows tightly furrowed.

Yun Liu then turned back to face Ji Zhaixing, clearly unswayed. His heart was as hard as iron.

Ji Zhaixing did not object to his actions.

After all, he had made use of Lu Dengming a lot, and he didn't want to drag him down in this matter as well.

And aside from them, a gloomy gaze swept over the cultivators opposing them, like a vicious beast on patrol, full of hostility.

Tang Huaimeng's gaze passed from the man holding a half-immortal artifact, went through the fallen demonic cultivators, and finally landed on the cultivator with white clothes and black hair, who was holding a longsword.

From the Lower Three Thousand Small Worlds, surnamed "Ji", a sword cultivator.

These incredibly coincidental points collided in his mind, yet it always felt as though the crucial missing link in a nine-ring puzzle was absent, causing Tang Huaimeng to frown slightly, feeling endlessly irritable.

Perhaps he... needed to go into seclusion to cultivate his heart.

Just like every time before.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have frantically recalled that person just from running into a sword cultivator.

It was also because of this hesitation, and that bit of subtle emotion towards Yun Liu, that when the black-haired sword cultivator was already confronting and exchanging blows with Yun Liu, Tang Huaimeng did not take any action. He stood to the side with a frivolous expression, as if watching a play, wanting to see to what extent the black-haired sword cultivator could go.

This was a good thing for Ji Zhaixing, but for Yun Liu, the situation was not so wonderful.

Yun Liu originally thought that relying on himself alone, he would be able to firmly suppress three Golden Core cultivators. After all, the gap between major realms was like a heavenly chasm; countless Golden Cores would spend their entire lives unable to cultivate into Nascent Soul Zhenjuns. But the truth was not as he thought—after all, someone who could kill Chunming Sect cultivators in just a few days with the identity of a lower realm cultivator would certainly not be any ordinary Golden Core.

Those two were each crazier than the last. If Yun Liu slightly shifted his target towards Ji Zhaixing, even just a tiny bit of momentum would make them go even crazier. However, one of them had a treacherous cultivation method, and the other possessed a half-immortal artifact that could injure a Nascent Soul Dao body, so neither could be taken lightly.

Furthermore, the person who truly gave Yun Liu a headache was exactly that Cultivator Ji who seemed to be protected. He occasionally struck out with his sword, moving like flowing water and floating clouds, lifting heavy weights as if they were light. Not only did he block Yun Liu's attacks, but he could also unexpectedly injure him with a move.

Both being sword cultivators, Yun Liu was very clear about the other party's level; every strike of the sword was executed to perfection. If Yun Liu hadn't been the person crossing swords with him, he would probably be clapping his hands and smiling from the side, praising that if this person could cross the Golden Core threshold and become a Nascent Soul, he would become a renowned sword cultivator Patriarch in the cultivation world.

But it just so happened that they were on opposite sides, and for the moment, Yun Liu could do nothing to him.

Although Ji Zhaixing's expression was relaxed, cold sweat was seeping from his back, faintly dampening his white clothes.

The biggest difference between him and Yun Liu was the true essence stored in his sea of consciousness. Each of those sword strikes was rapidly depleting his true essence and spiritual energy. When Ji Zhaixing slightly lowered his eyelashes, there was even a bit of faint moisture on those dark, heavy lashes.

The situation ended in a stalemate.

Yun Liu was such a proud person.

Even if he couldn't take down Ji Zhaixing right away, he would absolutely not ask Tang Huaimeng for help, nor would he let other Mingling disciples make a move. Otherwise, it would mean he, as a sword cultivator, had lost a step.

Yun Liu calmed down slightly and silently recited a spiritual art. His sleeves were buffeted by the abundant spiritual energy, fluttering and billowing gently. The surrounding spiritual energy all gathered towards his spine and into his Dao Bone. Finally, it transformed into a speck of pure spiritual energy at his fingertips, converging on the edge of his spiritual sword.

It was simply like cleaving open a sliver of the scorching sun, dazzlingly brilliant.

This was an extremely unusual sword strike.

Ji Zhaixing's expression remained placid with a faint smile, but as he met this move, he slightly channeled his spiritual energy, pushing away Qi Baishan and Yong Lianyin who were by his side, and faced the sun-like sword strike head-on.

His wide sleeves slipped down slightly, revealing a section of extremely pale and jade-like skin and bone. That hand gripped the sword extremely tightly; the slender joints, slightly prominent wrist bone, and the faint cyan veins connected to them were all clearly visible.

And such a hand that seemed born suitable for holding a sword was also trembling slightly when facing Yun Liu's Snow Melting Sword head-on.

It wasn't that Ji Zhaixing was afraid, but rather that Yun Liu truly wanted to put him to death; the momentum of that strike was extremely ruthless.

Ji Zhaixing also poured all his true essence into his sword, his lips moistened to a crimson color by a bit of hot blood in his mouth.

He couldn't afford to slip up.

Otherwise, only death awaited him.

Yong Lianyin's pupils slightly dilated in terror, and Qi Baishan's handsome face instantly turned into that of an Asura fiend, his expression incomparably ruthless and fearful: "Senior Brother—!"

Ji Zhaixing managed to block the sword in the end. He and Yun Liu were extremely close, and at the moment their sword blades clashed, their breaths almost mingled into one.

Yun Liu once again saw those black pupils up close, dark as an abyss and yet seemingly dotted with falling stars, so beautiful that one couldn't help but indulge in them.

Ji Zhaixing took a step back without letting go of the sword in his hand; they were still at a draw for this move. However, the longsword with a scarlet bloodline down its middle gradually saw the red color dim, and then fine lines emerged from the center of the blade, gradually cracking open.

The blade of the sword was destroyed.

Ji Zhaixing leaned forward slightly, subconsciously using his spiritual energy to catch the broken half of the blade, casually sending it into his Sumeru Ring.

The scene became awkward for a moment.

After all, the sword Ji Zhaixing used, although considered of excellent quality in the Lower Worlds, was still a notch inferior compared to Yun Liu's world-renowned famous sword forged from ten-thousand-year meteorite crystal and Qilin blood.

Just as Ji Zhaixing was pondering whether he should take out a few spare longswords kept in his Sumeru Ring to use, he saw Yun Liu's face turn slightly red from anger, clearly a bit infuriated.

—The sword cultivator he viewed as an opponent before him had actually used such an inferior longsword to spar with him.

Yun Liu had completely forgotten that the other party had stepped onto the battlefield at the last minute.

"You..." Yun Liu wanted to say something more, but he suddenly froze.

Because at this moment, a bit of mist suddenly surfaced on the cheeks of the cultivator before his eyes, and his appearance underwent some changes.

Although the effect of the Appearance Concealment Spell was good, it was a spell that required a continuous supply of minor spiritual energy to maintain.

Just now, when Ji Zhaixing poured all his true essence into his sword, he naturally forgot that he still had an insignificant minor spell to maintain on himself.

And Ji Zhaixing still hadn't realized that under his momentary slip, the Appearance Concealment Spell had already lost its effect.

Yun Liu could barely hold onto his sword.

All his life, he had maintained a gentle and elegant demeanor, and he had never had a moment where he lost his composure like this.

A person like Yun Liu also didn't really value external appearances; after all, he was originally a famous beauty within the Mingling Sword Sect.

However, even someone like Yun Liu couldn't help but space out for a moment over the facial features of the sword cultivator before him. That appearance was truly exquisite in every aspect, with eyes like embedded stars and brows and eyes that were intensely captivating. Or perhaps it was because his previous appearance had truly been as ordinary as could be, this kind of impact particularly caused Yun Liu to feel a sense of dizziness.

Of course, what later caused him to lose his composure so severely was far from just because Ji Zhaixing's appearance was beautiful.

Although Yun Liu was pressed close to Ji Zhaixing, as he took a step back in panic, the face of the cultivator confronting him with a sword was fully revealed.

The Mingling Sect disciples who were watching the scene with extreme tension and a feeling of being at a loss were instantly plunged into shock. They dizzily wondered where this great beauty had come from, as if they had lost their souls.

In just an instant, not even the sound of heavy breathing remained in this piece of heaven and earth, as if a slight gasp would startle the beauty before them.

Cultivation disciples still possessed this level of composure. After being continuously subjected to shock, they sluggishly began to recall that this beauty with black hair and snow-white skin was actually quite familiar-looking.

'Patriarch Yun Shu. From now on, our love and hatred are cleared.'

The person before them was precisely that sword cultivator who had refused to become Patriarch Yun Shu's Dao companion, and on the day of the Dao Companion Ceremony, on Huanxi Terrace, used a Demonic Saber to forcefully carve out his own Transformation Dao Bone, saying he would use it to repay his debt of gratitude!

Speaking of which, the Dao Bone currently in Martial Uncle Yun Liu's body originated from...

Yun Liu's mind and soul palpitated violently, his face turning deathly pale. Clearly, he hadn't expected the past he was most unwilling to touch to be dug up so unexpectedly.

Ji Zhaixing also noticed at this time that those gazes were really strangely heated. Looking at Yun Liu's face full of shock and lost spirit, he wasn't completely oblivious. He touched his face and understood.

...A bit awkward.

Presumably, the opposing Mingling disciples were even more awkward.

After all, everyone almost became part of the same sect and clan, and his seniority was even above theirs. Furthermore, the way Ji Zhaixing left later couldn't be considered gentle and considerate at all.

Yun Liu was still lost in his daze, but Tang Huaimeng had already come to his senses. Like a vicious beast that had caught sight of fresh flesh and blood, his gaze landed on Ji Zhaixing with immense greed.

He was even a bit bewildered, suspecting that he was in a dream and everything before his eyes was just an illusion he had conjured up.

It was exactly at this time that Yun Liu shifted his steps slightly, as if about to take some sort of action—

Under the impact of the countless previous scenes, Tang Huaimeng's pupils suddenly contracted. Almost like the fierce resistance of a beast when under attack, in just an instant, Tang Huaimeng suddenly appeared within everyone's line of sight. With a sharp clash of magical artifacts, he and Yun Liu became locked in a melee.

The slashing magical artifact sent a dull pain into Yun Liu's wrist. He took a step back and looked at the seemingly deranged Tang Huaimeng—their cultivation levels were similar, and that strike from Tang Huaimeng just now had genuinely almost taken half his life.

"Are you crazy?" At this moment, Yun Liu's mind was in turmoil, no longer able to maintain his dignified and gentlemanly appearance. His tone was incomparably sharp and cold.

Tang Huaimeng replied, "I am indeed crazy."

He did not look at Ji Zhaixing once, his tone even carrying a kind of malicious revenge, like wanting to burn both jade and common stone.

"What," Tang Huaimeng's eyes were full of accumulated malice, "when he carved out his Dao Bone for you, he practically died once already. Now, are you going to personally send him to his death a second time?"

Dao Bone.

Yun Liu only felt all the blood in his body turn ice-cold in an instant, and he couldn't help but recall what Tang Huaimeng had said.

Right now, on him, inside his body, that which was indispensable to him, something even more important than a spiritual root, the karma that supported him through his Golden Core tribulation and allowed him to step into the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, originated from... someone else.

It originated from Ji Zhaixing. It originated from this cultivator before his eyes.

Yun Liu even suddenly had an absurd hallucination: was Ji Zhaixing coming to seek revenge against him?

After all, he should deeply resent him, resent him as a despicable thief who stole his Dao Bone.

Seeing the scene before him, Ji Zhaixing subconsciously thought it was an internal struggle among Yun Shu's disciples, which was why Tang Huaimeng spoke so sharply.

He even supplemented a thought in his heart: it wasn't given to Yun Liu, it was primarily to sever his karma with Yun Shu.

"Dao Bone?"

His junior martial brother's slightly trembling voice came from behind him.

Ji Zhaixing: "..."

It was a little hard to explain.