LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 145 - 145: Zhenyi Sect Suffers Heavy Losses (10,000 Word Update, Please Subscribe)
Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Zhenyi Sect Suffers Heavy Losses (10,000 Word Update, Please Subscribe)
Both of them looked at each other across the space, neither speaking.
To the bystanders, the last exchange appeared to be a draw, with no clear winner or loser, but He Chen knew he had been at a slight disadvantage.
He Chen glanced at his palm and said softly, “Your strength has surpassed that of Yan Shaoshan back then.”
The wind grew stronger, messing up both their hair and the hems of their clothes.
The onlookers who had been wandering around had long disappeared without a trace, leaving only some people from Jianghu hiding in the distance and watching quietly, not daring to blink for fear of missing a battle that could shake the martial world.
Yan Shaoshan was the elder who had once passed on the Daluo Heart Method to An Jing.
Truth be told, when he saved Yan Shaoshan, the latter had mentioned nothing about the grudges between the Zhenyi Sect and the Daluo Sect, merely imparting this mental method to him.
Although this Daluo Heart Method was incomplete, it was still of the True Martial level, and its Qi Mechanism was enduring and profound, which suited him well and helped him cultivate to the First Grade.
The next moment, An Jing’s Evil Suppressing Sword vibrated in his hand.
“Buzz! Buzz!”
A light humming sounded, subsequently spreading out towards the heavens and earth.
“Swoosh!”
A piercing Sword Light shot out from the blade, rushing towards He Chen.
An endless surge of thousands of Sword Lights came tumultuously, continuous and unending.
He Chen immediately felt immense pressure, his Inner Strength rushing to the center of his palm in an instant, before he fiercely pushed forward.
“Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang!”
With this palm strike, a majestic Eight Diagram shimmered in alternating black and white, taking shape.
He did not choose to fight head-on but instead opted for defense.
A Fifth Realm swordsman, along with the might of the incomplete Evil Suppressing Sword, and the Ghost Swordsman’s incredibly powerful body…
In conclusion, he knew that the Ghost Swordsman in front of him was a formidable opponent.
The fierce Sword Qi overflowed, striking the Eight Diagram fiercely, and with the collision, a tremendous noise erupted. The Eight Diagram, however, stood firm and unyielding like an immovable rock.
He Chen’s expression was as calm as still water, without the slightest disturbance, as Inner Strength continued to flow into his palm.
“You won’t be able to block it.”
An Jing’s eyes were indifferent as the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand suddenly flew out.
Hundred-step Flying Sword!
The Hundred-step Flying Sword was not a single move or technique but a habitual method of swordsmanship that allowed the sword to be controlled even when it left the grip of the hand, achieving a state of being manipulated as desired.
However, few people could actually reach the Ninth Realm of the Hundred-step Flying Sword, and reaching the Tenth Realm was even rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Once the Evil Suppressing Sword left his hand, it displayed a series of frightening lights, then began spinning faster and faster. In just an instant, its form was no longer discernible, resembling a swift arrow shooting forth.
“Hiss! Hiss!”
The moment the tip of the Evil Suppressing Sword touched the Eight Diagram, both seemed to fall into a stalemate.
But in the next moment, a sharp and chilling aura was released from the body of the sword.
“Crack! Crack!”
The Eight Diagram suddenly appeared riddled with countless cracks, then burst apart with a loud ‘bang.’
He Chen felt a powerful force travelling from his arm to his internal organs, causing his feet to stagger backwards repeatedly.
“Not good!”
He Chen’s heart clenched, and he instinctively dodged to the side. The cold light brushed past his sleeve.
“Rip–!”
He Chen’s black Daoist robe was shredded instantly, and had his reaction not been fast enough, his arm might have been sliced in two by the chaotic Sword Light.
The Evil Suppressing Sword returned and stabbed towards He Chen.
Sword Light erratic, figures flickering, they fought so fiercely that it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand.
“Thump! Thump!”
Suddenly, He Chen felt his heart beating rapidly out of control.
“Yu Lin, block him quickly!”
He Chen hurriedly shouted to the Great Master Yu Lin in the distance.
Great Master Yu Lin was slightly taken aback; he had thought that He Chen would surely prevail with ease and had not expected him to be at a disadvantage fighting the Ghost Swordsman.
Hearing He Chen’s shout, his reaction was extremely swift. He tossed his horsetail whisk, which turned into hundreds of silver lights charging towards An Jing.
An Jing controlled the Evil Suppressing Sword with one hand while pointing forward with the other.
A golden light rippled out from behind him, grand and indestructible, as if carrying great wisdom and compassion.
“Buddhist Body Refining Martial Arts!?”
Both Great Master Yu Lin and Master Moyun were shocked to see this.
Just who was this Ghost Swordsman?
Not only did he master the Ghost Valley Sect’s Hundred-step Flying Sword, but he also practiced Buddhist Body Refining Martial Arts, which seemed to be even more formidable than the Vajra Immortal Body.
The Finger Light was vast and boundless, like an unending blaze of flames, accompanied by a crisp ringing sound.
Nine Yang Divine Finger! Phoenix Facing Phoenix!
In the next moment, a fiery phoenix burst forth, surging towards the front.
As the Fire Bird passed, the silver light was instantly scorched into ashes.
“How powerful!”
Grandmaster Yu Lin’s face changed, and he dared not hold back any Inner Strength as he rushed towards the fiery phoenix.
With eighty percent of his strength, An Jing, at the perfection of Golden Bone and bolstered by two Heavenly Martial Level martial skills, was naturally more than a match for a typical expert of the Heavenly Flower Realm.
“Bang!”
The fire phoenix surged past, striking Grandmaster Yu Lin and sending him staggering back inelegantly.
Meanwhile, He Chen took this opportunity to catch his breath, slapping away the Evil Suppressing Sword, then forcefully suppressed his heartbeat. Despite this, he still felt a sweetness in his mouth.
“Wow!”
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and only then did He Chen feel much better.
“Tap, tap, tap…”
An Jing, connected with the Evil Suppressing Sword, took several steps backward, catching the returning Evil Suppressing Sword.
Seeing this, An Jing didn’t hesitate and ran towards the distance.
Who knows where that old fox Lou Xiangzhen has hidden himself. With unknown numbers of experts from Zhenyi Sect behind him, it is clearly unsafe to stay here. It’s best to leave quickly.
“Where are you going!?”
Suddenly, a cold shout came from afar, and the cold Sword Light flashed, like icicles piercing through the air.
Not far away, the figure of a female Taoist appeared.
The person was indeed Grandmaster Yu Jiu from Zhenyi Sect.
An Jing extended his hand, and golden light flowed over his body, directly crushing the cold Sword Qi, with a suddenly frosty gaze.
“Sister Yu Jiu, be careful, he is the Ghost Swordsman.” Grandmaster Yu Lin took a deep breath and said.
Yu Jiu’s eyebrows were tightly knitted as she watched the scene unfold before her. Neither Grandmaster Yu Lin nor He Chen had been able to capture the Ghost Swordsman, even appearing somewhat inelegant in the process.
Was the strength of this Ghost Swordsman so profoundly unfathomable?
An Jing, on the other hand, furrowed his brows and looked into the depths, focusing on the stone steps in the distance.
A Taoist in a black Daoist robe calmly stepped forward, his demeanor as tranquil as the abyss, inscrutable, his eyes bright with divine light emerging.
“A Half-step Master expert.”
An Jing raised an eyebrow and murmured softly to himself.
The strength of the newcomer was not much less than that of He Chen, also a Half-step Master expert.
The Taoist glanced at An Jing and greeted with a fist hold, “Zhenyi Sect’s Ling Yuanjing.”
Ling Yuanjing!?
An Jing’s eyes locked onto the senior Taoist in front of him. It was well-known throughout the world that Zhenyi Sect had four great Peak Masters, especially the name Ling Yuanjing. After Xiao Qianqiu entered seclusion, it was this person who took charge of the entire Zhenyi Sect, the one who had set a trap for him with a feast in Yu State City.
Then two more people came out from behind Ling Yuanjing, standing behind him, including An Jing’s old acquaintance, Grandmaster Yu Huai.
“Zhenyi Sect’s Yu Zhen!” Grandmaster Yu Zhen said indifferently.
Grandmaster Yu Huai looked at An Jing with a smiling face and said, “I think my name should be clear to you, so I will not introduce myself.”
Hearing this, An Jing immediately knew that he had now been surrounded by Zhenyi Sect, and a chill ran through his heart. The Yu-level experts present were all Grandmasters sitting under the Heavenly Venerate Hall, their cultivation was at the Heavenly Flower Realm, and there were three Half-step Masters.
Such a lineup, as long as the Grandmaster doesn’t make a move, was enough to sweep through most of Great Yan. He didn’t expect that in order to obtain the Daluo Heart Method, Zhenyi Sect would send so many experts.
For a time, the atmosphere became tense and frozen.
“My goodness, Zhenyi Sect has brought four Grandmasters and two Peak Masters; they seem hell-bent on capturing the Ghost Swordsman today.”
“Heavens, how many years has it been since Zhenyi Sect mobilized so many experts.”
“The last time was against the Demon Sect, right?”
“For the Ghost Swordsman to have drawn such attention from Zhenyi Sect, even if he falls today, he can still be proud.”
“Today, it seems he has no chance of escape.”
…..
A few people hiding in the distance were shocked at the sight, their faces showing astonishment.
They too had not expected that such a momentous battle would take place on Xuanqing Mountain today.
Zhenyi Sect’s encirclement and suppression of the Ghost Swordsman had mobilized so many experts with four Grandmasters and two Peak Masters. The scale of the mobilization was sufficient to demonstrate the importance they placed on the Ghost Swordsman.
It is worth noting that Zhenyi Sect’s delicate position in Great Yan Martial World and the vastness of its power meant it rarely took action, and such grand movements as today were practically unheard of.
Seeing the unfolding situation, the Taoist surnamed Luo also became extremely shocked, involuntarily shrinking back his neck.
An Jing held the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand and gently exhaled, “You’ve really ‘gone to great lengths’.”
Even he hadn’t anticipated that the Zhenyi Sect would deploy so many experts to deal with him.
Only a fraction of the Zhenyi Sect’s most powerful openly came, but given that it was the National Religion of Great Yan, rightfully the premier power, the grandeur of their name alone was enough to deter many martial artists of Jianghu.
“In truth, what transpired today was not my desire.”
Ling Yuanjing said with a trace of regret, “After all, by affiliation, you and I are from the same Sect.”
Zhenyi Sect, Daluo Sect, and Ghost Valley Sect, all three originally belonged to the Mystical Sect.
An Jing glanced at the Zhenyi Sect experts around him and said, “I dare not claim to share fellowship with the likes of you.”
Ling Yuanjing fell silent for a moment, a glint of determination in his eyes as he declared, “Today, the Zhenyi Sect is determined to obtain the Daluo Heart Method. The grand momentum of the Mystical Sect is in the hands of our Zhenyi Sect, and none can stand in our way.”
Yu Zhen, Yu Lin, and Yu Jiu, the great transcendent beings, stepped forward, their eyes fixed intently on An Jing.
“Grand momentum?”
An Jing’s hand spun a sword flower with the Evil Suppressing Sword, “Whether the momentum lies to the left or the right, it isn’t for you to decide.”
“Are you unwilling to hand over the Daluo Heart Method?” Ling Yuanjing inhaled deeply as he asked.
In a flash, all eyes turned to An Jing, waiting for his response.
An Jing replied indifferently, “My sword is unwilling.”
Monk Moyun also stared at An Jing with a heart full of doubts and wonders.
Did this Ghost Swordsman not realize the predicament he was in, daring to make such bold statements?
Who, exactly, was he speaking to?
That was Ling Yuanjing, someone whom even he treated with careful courtesy and respect.
With several Zhenyi Sect Transcendent Beings surrounding him, and He Chen present as well, did the Ghost Swordsman have the courage of a bear and a leopard, or did he have another trick up his sleeve?
The next moment, An Jing’s body turned into a streak of light and vanished from the spot.
“I want to see just how fast the Ghost Swordsman’s sword is!”
Yu Jiu, the great transcendent being, brandished the Water Stopping Sword to meet An Jing’s charge.
“Ding!”
Their sword tips collided, followed by a cacophony of clashing metal. At the epicenter, a storm swirled into being, spreading outwards.
Yu Jiu was forced to retreat by a single strike, a look of surprise in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhen shouted sharply, his palm aiming for the crown of An Jing’s head.
Creation Palm of the Mystical Void!
A True Martial level hand technique of the Zhenyi Sect!
The glow was as brilliant as glazed glass, spreading over the area and stirring up a storm, resembling a mountain range made of glass from afar.
An Jing, seeing the glaze-like palm print approaching, reflected a pitch-black radiance in his dark pupils. From his position, fierce and boundless sharp Qi radiated outwards.
The Nine-character Sword Technique! The Lin Character Secret!
With one slash, it seemed as though the sword radiance split the sky, revealing a strange gap, which suddenly burst forth with countless black sword radiances.
“Be careful of that sword light!”
He Chen shouted vigorously.
The black sword radiance, unrivaled in sharpness, appeared as if it could pierce everyone’s eyes, causing all to shut their eyes, not daring to look directly.
Countless black sword radiance fell from the sky, with the force of an autumn breeze sweeping fallen leaves.
Both competitors made their moves without the slightest reservation.
Boom!
Tens of thousands of black sword radiance swept across, eventually colliding hard with the jade-colored glaze palm seal, causing heaven and earth to tremble at that instant.
Crash!
The jade-colored glaze palm seal shattered instantly, and the remaining sword radiance continued to charge forward. Yu Zhen, the great transcendent being, wavered and hastily avoided the sharp sword light.
“Together!”
Yu Lin, the great transcendent being, exchanged glances with Yu Huai, and without giving An Jing a chance to catch his breath, they attacked from left and right.
Their hand seals whirled, their vast inner strength surged like tides.
An Jing, caught between them, immediately felt an immense pressure, as if going deaf for a moment.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
An Jing didn’t clash head-on with them; instead, his Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique vibrated, and he rose into the air in an instant.
“Thud!” “Thud!”
Two handprints viciously struck the ground, causing the earth to tremble with a tremendous noise.
As the violent airwaves surged anew and bore down like mountains from above, An Jing’s inner strength gathered once again. In his hands, the Evil Suppressing Sword shot out a stream of cold brilliance, like a swath of silk.
Bang!
Above the sky, a beam of Finger Light collided with Sword Radiance, emitting a dull thud.
“Sir, hand over the Daluo Heart Method, and I can assure you remain unscathed,” someone said.
Ling Yuanjing took a slight step back, his face a picture of solemnity as he gazed at An Jing before him.
Several True Grandmasters plus two Peak Masters were battling the Ghost Swordsman, yet he had managed to hold on for so long. How could those present not be moved?
An Jing remained silent, taking the opportunity to regulate his breath.
“Why waste more words?”
He Chen let out a loud shout, then his body suddenly leapt forward. He stretched out his palm and the surrounding Inner Strength swept up like rolling waves, instantly submerging the air in front of him.
Eight Diagram Wandering Dragon Palm, Lifeless and Borderless!
In mid-air, the giant palm, black and white in alternate turns, suddenly appeared, carrying an overwhelming and destructive force as it plummeted towards the ground below.
Besides, Great True Masters Yu Jiu and Yu Zhen had also reacted by this time. Two vast Qi Mechanisms emerged suddenly, their immense power causing the heavens and earth to tremble as wind howled ceaselessly.
Whoosh!
Both unleashed their techniques, piercing through the void and howling towards An Jing.
An Jing knew he could no longer retreat and dared not take any chances. He hastily waved his sleeve and activated the Buddhist Heavenly Martial Level martial arts, Brahma Heart Sees Me.
A golden light enveloped his body, shining brightly.
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Several Qi Forces struck the Light Shield, causing alarmingly terrifying sounds.
One Half-step Master and two Heavenly Flower Realm experts were going all out—this was not something an ordinary person could withstand.
An Jing’s body, as if struck by a heavy blow, fell like a kite with its string cut, plummeting towards the ground.
Thud!
His body hit the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Cracks spread rapidly from where he lay outwards.
“Heh, has the Ghost Swordsman been defeated?” Mo Yun Shangren quickly looked over.
This search for the Ghost Swordsman’s whereabouts had indeed been costly for him. Although he had received compensation from the Zhenyi Sect, his Spirit Seeking Rat had perished.
He did not want the Ghost Swordsman to die so easily; he was determined to torture him thoroughly later.
The next moment, a chanting sound resonated in all directions, followed by a blinding gold light.
An Jing’s aura surged even more powerfully.
“Is that the Vajra Immortal Body?” Yu Jiu couldn’t help but comment upon seeing this.
“No, absolutely not.”
Yu Huai, the Great True Master, shook his head with a grave expression. “The Vajra Immortal Body is not this tenacious, nor is it this magnificent…”
Hearing these words from Yu Huai, everyone present was taken aback; Yu Huai had personally witnessed the great battle between Universal Benefit Bodhisattva and Lin Yiyang and was very familiar with the Vajra Immortal Body.
An Jing’s robe was slightly torn as he slowly stood up, coughing crisply. Scanning his surroundings, he thought to himself, “The top experts of the Zhenyi Sect joining hands is truly formidable. If I don’t use some techniques, I might really not be able to escape today.”
Mo Yun Shangren’s pupils shrank slightly as he watched this.
He could hardly believe that the Ghost Swordsman could still stand unharmed after such an intense attack.
“He’s at the end of his rope, don’t be deceived by his performance,” He Chen said coldly.
The murderous intent in his eyes was like a sharp ice blade, stabbing at An Jing, but An Jing stood calm and composed.
Whoosh!
He Chen’s body turned into a shadow and vanished from view in an instant.
The next moment, he had rushed in front of An Jing, leaped into the air, and slammed his palm down on An Jing’s crown.
Eight Diagram Wandering Dragon Palm!
Just as He Chen’s voice fell, a Jade Dragon appeared high in the sky, unleashing visible sound waves that roared down viciously.
An Jing’s eyes narrowed at the sight of the oncoming Jade Dragon, then he began to lift his sword. Instantly, the temperature around them dropped dramatically.
The splendid golden light was dazzling, surging from behind him.
An Jing swept his sword horizontally, pushing the Fifth Realm Sword Skill to its limit.
Crack! Crack!
The Inner Strength turned Jade Dragon paused abruptly, its ferocious form directly cleaved by the soaring Sword Light.
Seeing this, He Chen couldn’t help but exclaim, “Such a vigorous Inner Strength, such a domineering Body Refining martial arts!”
Boom!
Several berserk Qi Forces shot into the high sky, and the surrounding atmosphere instantly converged on a climax.
The numerous experts of the Zhenyi Sect, discarding any notion of martial world etiquette, charged towards him.
An Jing could clearly sense the awe-inspiring authority rushing towards him. Brahma Heart Sees Me activated, and coupled with his Golden Bone refined to Perfection, his rolling Inner Strength gathered in his arms. Then grasping his sword tightly, he forcefully swept it towards the five people in front of him.
The Evil Suppressing Sword instantly exhaled a frigid Sword Radiance at the group, like thunder, intimidating in its momentum.
“Well met!”
Ling Yuanjing narrowed his eyes and immediately stretched his fingers toward An Jing’s sword radiance.
Crack!
The sword light violently shattered between Ling Yuanjing’s two fingers, but his body shuddered, and he slowly retreated several steps backward.
“Ling Brother!”
“Ling Brother!”
People from the Zhenyi Sect were all astonished to see Ling Yuanjing retreat. They couldn’t understand how such an ordinary sword light could force Ling Yuanjing to step back continuously.
Who was Ling Yuanjing? He was the current spokesperson of the Zhenyi Sect, already a Half-step Grandmaster, with the potential to break through to the Grandmaster level in the future.
At that moment, An Jing also saw a perfect opportunity. He approached Yu Lin the Great True Person with an effortless stride, his sword sending the surrounding air into turbulent waves, filled with an earth-shattering Qi Mechanism.
With one strike of his sword, the world darkened.
Sword Control Technique!
The Evil Suppressing Sword slackened then transformed into a black streak of light that shot out.
“Szzz, szzz, szzz!”
The sword light penetrated the void with incredible speed, emitting trembling sounds.
Yu Lin the Great True Person felt his breath catch, and almost instantly, he seemed to lose his focus. Instinctively, his Inner Strength began to operate, trying to block the swiftly approaching Evil Suppressing Sword.
But in just an instant, an eternity for Yu Lin the Great True Person.
“Pu-chi!”
The sword beam pierced through, passing right through Yu Lin the Great True Person’s throat, the Evil Suppressing Sword coated with his blood.
The light in Yu Lin the Great True Person’s eyes gradually solidified, his eyes wide open in anger.
“Yu Lin!”
“Junior Brother Yu Lin!”
…
Everyone who saw this was shocked and horrified.
“Thump!”
Yu Lin the Great True Person fell heavily to the ground. His mouth hung open, his neck pierced by the Evil Suppressing Sword, unable to utter a single word.
Yu Lin the Great True Person was dead.
One of the seven Great True Persons of the Zhenyi Sect’s Heavenly Venerate Hall, Yu Lin the Great True Person, was dead.
“How dare you!”
Upon seeing this, He Chen’s chest surged with roaring rage, and he struck at An Jing with his palm.
Boom!
The robust Inner Strength created thunderous tremors in the air.
An Jing clenched his teeth, his breath circulating within, and he faced He Chen’s punch with the fastest speed he could muster.
Bang!
Their Fist Forces collided first, and after their fists met without any flair, An Jing quickly executed a series of unstable moves.
His body shook, leaving a long, narrow trail in the sky as he flew towards the distance.
The Mo Yun Elder looked at the fallen Yu Lin the Great True Person and felt a shiver run through him, his teeth chattering.
This Ghost Swordsman was truly formidable, killing Yu Lin the Great True Person even while surrounded by six top masters. His strength was terrifying indeed.
“Mo Yun Elder, help us suppress this Ghost Swordsman, and you will be amply rewarded,” Ling Yuanjing called out without a moment’s delay.
So many top masters yet they were unable to subdue the Ghost Swordsman. If he escaped today, the Zhenyi Sect would become a laughing stock in the Jianghu.
“Alright.”
Mo Yun Elder hesitated for only a moment before agreeing.
Not only could he gain favor and benefits from the Zhenyi Sect by acting now, but he could also avenge the death of the Spirit-Seeking Rat.
Seeing An Jing retreating swiftly, Mo Yun Elder stomped his foot and broke through the sky, bringing down a short blade nearly as large as his body directly towards An Jing.
“Not good!”
An Jing’s heart suddenly began to pound violently with a sense of extreme danger. He quickly gathered his Inner Strength around himself.
Whoosh!
The blade light surged, its cold gleam suddenly bursting forth.
Like a flood, it erupted, tearing a massive, deep gouge in the earth ahead in an instant.
There was no holding back in his attack.
One had to admit, Mo Yun Elder was an old hand in the Jianghu, with a keen and ruthless eye.
The blade light moved incredibly fast, slashing down on the earth, peeling and shattering the stone slabs layer by layer. Even as An Jing rapidly retreated.
He struck fiercely upon that golden light!
Boom! Boom!
Everyone heard that chilling sound.
His body slammed into the great hall’s walls like an arrow released from its bowstring.
Crack! Crack!
Suddenly cracks emerged densely from the wall, and with a thunderous crash, the Thousand Mechanism Palace collapsed, burying An Jing within the rubble in an instant.
Suddenly, thick smoke rose high, spreading wildly in all directions like relentless tides.
Heaven and earth grew silent at this moment; all quieted down.
“Is he… dead?”
Yu Jiu gasped for breath while speaking.
Grandmaster Yu Huai’s face was extremely grim, staring fixedly at the ruins without a word.
“No, absolutely not dead.”
He Chen shook his head.
Hum! Hum!
Right then, the Evil Suppressing Sword fiercely plunged towards the rubble and inserted itself into a piece of the wall.
Rattle! Rattle!
The next moment, there was a tremor within the debris.
A hand stretched out from within, followed by a figure slowly climbing out.
It was An Jing.
His black robe was in disarray, but his body seemed mostly unchanged.
Even surrounded by numerous masters, he had still only suffered some minor injuries.
“When it rains, it pours; when a woman must marry, she will. Since you wish to die, I might as well oblige.”
An Jing seized the Evil Suppressing Sword.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sword light was icy cold as his body turned into a black whirlwind.
“So fast!”
Monk Moyun felt a chill in his heart, retreating continuously backwards. In the next moment, he gripped his long knife and advanced to meet the attack.
Clang!
The swords clashed, sparking a storm of metal.
Monk Moyun was forced back step by step, while An Jing was also repelled by the rebounding force.
Several masters from the Zhenyi Sect, especially Ling Yuanjing and He Chen, both Half-step Masters, attacked ceaselessly.
“Be careful!”
In the next instant, Ling Yuanjing felt a chill in his heart and instinctively glanced behind him.
He saw a massive Black Python approaching rapidly, its huge and fierce head immensely intimidating at a glance.
“Ling junior brother, you deal with this Exotic Beast Black Python, Yu Jiu and I will kill this Ghost Swordsman.”
He Chen shouted decisively, his Inner Strength surging as he charged towards the Ghost Swordsman.
“Alright!”
Ling Yuanjing nodded and then faced the Thousand-year-old Black Python.
The python, with thick skin and immense power, held Ling Yuanjing, Grandmaster Yu Zhen, and Grandmaster Yu Huai at bay only with great difficulty.
An Jing was about to deal with that dwarf when Yu Jiu and He Chen charged over.
Especially Yu Jiu, whose sword light was frigid, seemed absolutely relentless.
An Jing narrowed his eyes, then thrust the Evil Suppressing Sword forward.
The blade light was piercingly brilliant, as if it had punctured the air in front of it.
This move was incredibly deceitful, akin to an antelope hanging its horns, traceless and elusive, surprising even Yu Jiu, who could only rotate her sword to guard her chest in response.
“Clang!”
Yu Jiu blocked the thrust, then slightly frowned.
The force behind the sword wasn’t strong; could it be that the Ghost Swordsman was running on fumes?
But the next moment, her heart began to palpitate.
“Thump!” “Thump!”
Completely out of her control, it beat faster and faster, like a battle drum.
“I… I…”
Blood flowed rapidly, and her mind was a complete blank.
“Be careful!”
At that moment, An Jing continued thrusting the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand.
Seeing this, Ling Yuanjing quickly stepped in front of her, clamping the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword with his hands.
“Hm!?”
A frown crossed An Jing’s brow; unless Ling Yuanjing’s physique was on par with his own, daring to grasp the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword with bare hands was undoubtedly a death wish.
With that thought, he pushed the Evil Suppressing Sword forward.
“Boom!”
The blade pierced straight into Ling Yuanjing’s chest, and blood stained the steel red.
Ling Yuanjing’s complexion changed, and then he released his grip and threw a palm strike towards An Jing.
An Jing naturally wouldn’t receive the blow head-on. He shook the Evil Suppressing Sword and quickly retreated into the distance.
“Pfft!”
As the sword was withdrawn, Ling Yuanjing’s body softened, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. In a low voice he said, “Quick, use your inner strength to suppress your heart.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Jiu hurriedly did as told, and almost immediately, he felt much better.
Meanwhile, Mocloud, holding a short blade and concealing his presence, silently approached An Jing’s rear and then a sharp gleam appeared in his eyes.
“Shick!”
The blade flashed, swift as a thunderbolt.
“Clang!”
The once sure strike was suddenly blocked.
Such a fast reaction!
Mocloud was inwardly shocked, ready to retreat after his missing hit.
“Thinking of leaving? It’s too late!”
An Jing’s eyes turned cold as the sword Qi of the Evil Suppressing Sword burst forth, his inner strength pouring into it.
Sword Control Three Styles! Hidden Sword Skill!
Mocloud felt his hair stand on end, and in the next moment, a chilling sword light instantly surged toward him, piercing directly into his heart.
“Pfft!”
“Gurgle!”
Mocloud’s body stiffened, and the expression in his eyes gradually solidified. Until his death, he couldn’t understand how the sword had pierced through his heart.
“Huff….”
Watching Mocloud fall, An Jing’s forehead was covered in sweat; his inner strength was nearly depleted after the consecutive battles, and his steps felt unsteady.
Ling Yuanjing and Yu Jiu, witnessing Mocloud’s death, were even more shocked.
They never expected that Mocloud, the half-step Grandmaster with profound strength, could be killed in an instant.
“We must leave quickly!”
An Jing secretly urged himself, then headed towards the Thousand-year-old Black Python.
“We cannot let him escape…cough cough….”
He Chen also saw that An Jing’s inner strength was almost entirely depleted and urgently shouted to Ling Yuanjing but before he could finish, a spray of blood erupted, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Before Ling Yuanjing could regain his senses, An Jing had already stood atop the head of the Thousand-year-old Black Python.
“Hiss—!”
The Thousand-year-old Black Python opened its massive jaws, hissing furiously at everyone; then, its tail swept fiercely towards Ling Yuanjing and the others.
The force that nearly weighed ten thousand pounds came at them, the air itself ripping with a piercing sound.
“Boom!”
Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath and met it with a punch.
A deafening noise echoed as the Qi force exploded into waves, spreading out in all directions.
Yu Zhen, the Grand True One, was also repelled by the remaining force.
“We can’t let him get away.”
Yu Huai, the Grand True One, clenched his teeth, recalling the dead Yu Lin and the unconscious, seriously injured He Chen; he charged towards An Jing atop the Thousand-year-old Black Python.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Yu Huai, the Grand True One, burst forth with all his power, moving as fast as the wind.
“Yu Huai!”
Seeing this, Ling Yuanjing frowned deeply and couldn’t help thinking: Too rash!
An Jing watched Yu Huai, the Grand True One, approaching rapidly, his brow raising as he tightly grasped the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand.
Whoosh!
A piercing Sword Light shot up to meet it.
Upon seeing this, a cold smirk appeared at the corner of Grandmaster Yu Huai’s mouth, thinking that the Ghost Swordsman had indeed exhausted his oil and dried his lamp. This sword didn’t even possess half the might of his earlier efforts.
With this in mind, Grandmaster Yu Huai’s figure flashed, avoiding the streak of Sword Light, while his own Longsword thrust straight towards An Jing’s waist, throat, and heart.
In the blink of an eye, he thrust his sword three times, targeting three vital areas.
Originally, it was supposed to be Seven Stars in a Row, but Grandmaster Yu Huai knew that the Ghost Swordsman opposite him was a master of swordsmanship, so he specifically aimed at these three points intending to deliver the final blow.
Seeing this, An Jing slightly narrowed his handsome eyes.
“Shi!”
The Evil Suppressing Sword swung out again, its Sword Light fiercely shooting out, boundless and irresistible, directly shattering all of Grandmaster Yu Huai’s offensive moves.
Fast!
The sword was like a flash of lightning, too quick to trace!
“Clang!”
The Longsword halted, subsequently emitting a clear sound as half of its blade fell to the ground.
“Pfft!”
A delicate red line appeared at Grandmaster Yu Huai’s neck, followed by a violent gush of blood that shot half a zhang high, like a spring gushing forth.
“Thump!”
The body heavily collapsed onto the ground.
“Brother Yu Huai!”
Yu Jiu shouted reflexively upon seeing this.
“Yu Huai!”
Ling Yuanjing’s eyes also overflowed with bloodshot veins.
In an instant, Yu Lin, Yu Huai, and Reverend Mo Yun perished, leaving Yu Jiu and He Chen severely injured; now, the only ones left with the capacity to fight were himself and Grandmaster Yu Zhen.
An Jing’s blood-drenched robe and the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand were already stained red. At this moment, he stood on the head of the Thousand-year-old Black Python, looking down indifferently at Ling Yuanjing below.
“I have no grudges or enmity with you all, yet you insisted on pushing me relentlessly.”
If his strength hadn’t reached the Heavenly Flower Realm, and if he hadn’t had the protection of the Thousand-year-old Black Python, then perhaps he would have met the same fate as Grandmaster Yu Huai by now.
As he finished speaking, An Jing steered the Thousand-year-old Black Python towards the distance.
“Brother Ling…”
Grandmaster Yu Zhen watched An Jing’s retreating figure, biting his teeth tightly.
“Forget it,”
Ling Yuanjing waved his hand and said with a bitter smile, “Only by asking Uncle-Master or Brother Xiao to come down the mountain can we subdue that Ghost Swordsman. If it weren’t for the Ghost Swordsman’s reticence, we might have been in danger.”
Upon hearing this, Grandmaster Yu Zhen turned pale and then glanced at the chaotic surroundings.
Not long ago, five of them descended the mountain together, originally thinking that dealing with the Ghost Swordsman would be an easy capture; now the situation was so bleak…
Out of the Zhenyi Sect’s six top experts, plus Reverend Mo Yun, totaling seven experts, three had died and the Ghost Swordsman departed in broad daylight, leaving them to suffer a great loss.
“Sigh!”
Ling Yuanjing looked at the two lifeless bodies and sighed deeply.
“Brother Ling, Brother He is badly injured and urgently needs treatment,” said Grandmaster Yu Jiu hurriedly.
“Give him the Healing Pill and let’s leave quickly; be careful of the Ghost Swordsman returning,” Ling Yuanjing said after taking a deep breath.
Then the few experts of the Zhenyi Sect also hurried away, disappearing on Xuanqing Mountain, leaving behind only devastation and chaos.
At this moment, the onlookers who witnessed the end of this great battle were all inwardly tumultuous.
“Too… too terrifying!”
“The Ghost Swordsman fought alone against six top experts and killed three, then he left calmly. The Zhenyi Sect really took a heavy loss.”
“Losing two Grandmasters, the Zhenyi Sect hasn’t faced such a huge shake-up in hundreds of years. The last time was when Duanmu Xinghua, the leader of the Demon Sect Heavenly Sect, killed three Grandmasters.”
“After today, there will be one more terrifying figure in the Great Yan Martial World.”
“Unexpected—truly unexpected to witness such a shocking duel today.”
“Quick, go down the mountain and spread the news to the Sect, and be wary of this Ghost Swordsman.”
……
Many people thought of something and rushed down the mountain hastily, seemingly eager to spread this firsthand news for discussion.
“Who… who said there were only five Great Sword Immortals in the world?” exclaimed a Jianghu swordsman with a flushed face, “After today, he will be the sixth Great Sword Immortal.”
The Taoist surnamed Luo saw this and shook his head, then strutted out, “The Ghost Swordsman has completely offended the Zhenyi Sect. He probably won’t have any good days ahead.”