"Hmph! You ignorant and arrogant woman, I advise you to be sensible and not meddle in the affairs of our Demon-Suppressing Army. Otherwise, don't blame me for making you regret it later!"

General Zhou's face was gloomy, and he coldly snorted, his true energy surging wildly like a tidal wave.

The sharp sword energy from Hongxiu just now struck him like a heavy hammer. Although it did not cause any serious injury, it still made his blood and qi surge. The impact still makes him feel lingering fear.

At this moment, he managed to suppress the chaotic energy within his body.

Recalling the exchange of swords just now, General Zhou couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension.

Indeed, he hadn't used his full strength in that previous sword strike; after all, he didn't need to use his full strength to kill Yelü Hong, the second elder of the Divine Doctor Valley.

But the moment Hongxiu's sword energy struck like lightning, he felt an overwhelming force rushing towards him. He subconsciously unleashed his true energy and unknowingly used seventy or eighty percent of his combat power.

Even so, the oppressive feeling brought by the sword energy still made him feel uneasy.

At this moment, he secretly calculated that even if he unleashed his full power, he might not be entirely confident that he could win over the seemingly weak woman in front of him.

The woman had a graceful figure and an exquisite face, but at first glance she appeared frail and delicate.

However, the calm and composed demeanor she exuded was like an invisible blade, making him inexplicably uneasy.

Zhou Shenjiang knew in his heart that if he could avoid fighting this woman, that would be the best possible outcome.

He had fought on the battlefield for many years; what kind of dangerous scenes hadn't he seen?

Facing those ruthless and bloodthirsty demons, he never flinched or showed any fear. In every battle, he fought bravely and risked his life.

But now, facing the woman before him, an indescribable fear welled up deep within him.

This fear, like a cold snake, slowly crawled down his spine, making him feel uneasy all over.

He knew that this could only mean one thing—this woman's strength was unfathomable, far beyond his ability to easily fathom.

He has always trusted his own judgment, and at this moment he is even more certain.

But at this moment, how could he show the slightest fear in front of Zhao Wu?

After all, Zhao Wu was the prospective son-in-law highly valued by Li Wentian, the commander of the Demon Suppression Army.

Although Li Qionghua was only Li Wentian's adopted daughter, Li Wentian always treated her as his own daughter.

If he showed weakness in front of Zhao Wu, he, General Zhou, would lose all face and how could he stand in the Demon Suppression Army in the future?

Therefore, he could only use the name of the Demon Suppression Army to scare the woman.

After all, the Demon Suppression Army is the army of the Dragon Flame Kingdom. In the Dragon Flame Kingdom, no one who is not a real major sect would dare to offend the military. In particular, the commander of the Demon Suppression Army is Prince Li Wentian. If they oppose the Demon Suppression Army, it would be the same as opposing the military and the imperial court.

"General Zhou, I think you know in your heart that you are no match for me, and you dare not fight me, right?"

Hongxiu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mocking sneer, her eyes full of disdain. "Originally, I had heard that you had killed countless demons, and I had some respect for you, thinking that you were a courageous person. But I didn't expect that after seeing you today, you are nothing more than a coward who is afraid of death."

Hongxiu's voice was clear and melodious, like a string of silver bells swaying in the wind, but to Zhou Shenjiang, it was like a series of sharp daggers, piercing his pride.

"You lowly servant, how dare you humiliate this divine general like this? Then I'll show you my skills!"

Zhou Shen was immediately enraged by Hongxiu's words. His eyes widened as if they were about to spit fire.

He moved suddenly, like an angry lion, and swiftly leaped forward, instantly arriving in front of Hongxiu.

Suddenly, the giant sword in his hand struck out, its blade flashing and flickering, like an angry dragon ready to devour its prey at any moment.

He had already made up his mind that he would not engage in long-range combat with Hongxiu, but would instead choose close combat.

In his view, close combat allows him to better utilize his strength and martial arts skills.

He was always confident in his strong physique. In the Southern Region, where demons roamed, their bodies were extremely powerful, as if forged from steel. Yet, he was able to defeat them utterly with his own physical strength, leaving them helpless.

Therefore, he decided to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, using close combat to suppress Hongxiu.

At this moment, although he was extremely angry, he had not truly lost his mind.

On the contrary, this anger was like a raging fire, igniting the fighting spirit deep within him and giving him even greater combat power.

Zhou Shen wielded his long sword like a dragon emerging from the sea, carrying an incomparably sharp sword intent, and slashed at Hongxiu.

Almost simultaneously, Hongxiu also flashed forward like a ghost, her sword gleaming coldly, blocking Zhou Shenjiang's sword at an indescribably exquisite angle.

"Buzz!"

In an instant, the two swords collided with a deafening roar.

The sound was sharp and piercing, as if it could penetrate one's eardrums and strike the depths of one's soul.

Those watching the battle felt a powerful sound wave rush towards them, making them dizzy and their eardrums ache. They instinctively covered their ears, their faces showing pain.

At this moment, Zhou Shenjiang's expression changed drastically, as if he had seen a ghost.

He knew in his heart that he had already unleashed his full power, and the true energy around his body surged wildly like a raging tide, all of which was poured into this sword.

However, even so, he still could not withstand the immense power emanating from the Red Sleeve Sword.

The force was like a surging, turbulent wave, one after another, without end, and it also carried a strange spiraling force, like a nimble venomous snake, winding its way up his sword as the swords clashed, heading straight for his arm.

Zhou Shenjiang felt a sudden tingling and numbness in his arm, and a sharp pain in the web of his hand; the long sword in his hand almost slipped from his grasp.

He tried his best to steady himself, but was still forced back by the powerful force.

With each step he took back, he left a deep footprint in the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Finally, he regained his balance, but at this moment, he was knocked back three steps by Hongxiu, and his feet were already sinking into the ground.

Although the distance he was knocked back after unleashing his full power this time was shorter than before, it was clear to anyone with eyes that he still suffered a great loss.

At this moment, although Zhou Shenjiang had no obvious external injuries, his internal blood and qi were surging wildly like a turbulent sea.

He felt a tightness in his chest, as if a mouthful of blood was stuck in his throat, but he forced himself not to spit it out.

In order to neutralize Hongxiu's powerful and chilling sword intent, he exerted force with both feet, causing his true energy to sink down, and he actually managed to sink his feet into the ground at least a foot deep.