Three days later, Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the gate of Pingyang City to meet the enemy as promised.
Yellow sand filled the sky as Qinghui disciples stood together on the city wall, watching the situation below.
"Senior brother, that demon is at the Nascent Soul stage, while senior sister was only at the Core Formation stage two years ago. Do you think senior sister can win?"
When asked, Qi Lin felt uneasy, but he couldn't say it aloud. He could only boost morale by saying, "Senior Sister is the top-ranked contestant at the Golden Banquet, and the sect leader has appointed her as the acting sect leader. Of course we will win."
That's what they said, but in reality, they weren't sure at all.
Lu Zhaozhao stood quietly with her sword in hand, waiting for her opponent to arrive.
A fragrant breeze wafted by, blurring my vision. In the wind, a bird's cry rang out, and a figure appeared and disappeared.
The swan maiden wore a deep purple outer robe, which accentuated her snow-white skin, adding to her nobility and mystery. Her hair, as black and lustrous as clouds, flowed freely. Beneath her arched eyebrows were a pair of eyes as beautiful as stars, and her high, delicate nose and luscious cherry lips created a face that could topple kingdoms.
She walked slowly towards Lu Zhaozhao, her steps light and graceful, as if she were walking on clouds, each step revealing endless elegance and composure. Her figure was lithe, like a willow branch swaying in the wind, beautiful yet powerful. When she raised her arm slightly, her sleeves fluttered, like a swan spreading its wings, bringing gentle breezes that touched people's hearts and left them with endless reverie.
"You are Lu Zhaozhao?"
Her cherry lips parted slightly, and she stood smiling. Her tone was gentle and kind, her voice as soft as a spring breeze, making one's body feel weak.
Lu Zhaozhao nodded slightly and responded with a soft smile.
The swan maiden reached out, and a feather fan appeared in her hand, obscuring half of her face.
"Young friend Lu, you don't mind me addressing you this way, do you?"
The swan maiden had lived for at least several hundred years, and Lu Zhaozhao was indeed a junior in her eyes, so she did not refute the title. However, the fact that the two were so close despite their opposing positions made many people frown.
"To be honest, I really had no intention of fighting you."
Her eyes sparkled, and Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head, amused, and said, "If that's the case, why issue a challenge?"
"Alas, the past is full of bitterness, and time flies by. If we don't find something to do, wouldn't we be wasting our time?"
She approached and placed her hand on Lu Zhaozhao's face, her slender fingers tracing her cheek, her eyes revealing a sense of reluctance.
"They're so beautiful," the swan girl exclaimed. "I've seen so many beauties in just a few days. You and that little girl from the Heavenly Sound Sect, I just can't bring myself to do it."
Tianyin Sect? Yaotong!
Lu Zhaozhao immediately turned cold and stared at Hu Nu, asking, "What did you do to her?"
"So bold? You know her? Don't worry, I didn't do anything. She was rescued by a madman covered in blood."
The young woman sighed softly, somewhat regretfully.
Lu Zhaozhao brushed her hand away, creating some distance, and said, "There's no point in saying more. Let's finish this quickly and go back to rest."
"How heartless," the swan girl scolded, but a hint of seriousness appeared in her eyes.
She flashed forward like a white lightning bolt, instantly closing in on her opponent. Her wings suddenly spread out, like a swan about to take flight. With each flap of her wings, a sharp gust of wind was generated, as if it could cut through the air, aiming straight for Lu Zhaozhao's vitals.
The swan maiden's eyes sharpened at that moment, like two gleaming swords piercing the depths of one's soul. She slightly turned her palms, and a light seemed to flicker within them—the surging power she had long accumulated. Then, she flashed again, like a white whirlwind, rushing straight towards Lu Zhaozhao.
Lu Zhaozhao had been waiting for a long time. She flipped her wrist, drew the sword Niye, and the sword light shocked all directions.
The murderous intent was revealed, and even the swan maiden was taken aback, her attack speed pausing almost imperceptibly for a moment.
The next moment, the sword struck in front of her. The swan maiden's hands formed claws, her fingertips gleaming with a cold light, as if she had gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Her claw strikes were swift and precise, seizing the sword and attempting to fling it away.
Lu Zhaozhao sneered. As the two drew closer, she said, "Senior Hu Nu, as a demon, how come your killing intent is lower than mine?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she shuddered her sword, and a cold light emanated from it, as if she had actually struck it.
The first target was the swan woman's hands; her palms were slashed so many times that flesh and bone were visible.
At this moment, the swan's eyes flashed with an unusual light, like two sharp swords, wanting to cut Lu Zhaozhao into a thousand pieces.
She took a step back, stopped, and checked her injuries, but immediately dodged away in the next second, revealing that her previous retreat was a feint.
Suddenly, its wings spread wide, and countless feathers transformed into sharp blades that attacked Lu Zhaozhao directly. Amidst the white expanse, the swan maiden also revealed her true form, spreading her wings and soaring into the sky.
Countless feather blades magnified before her eyes. Lu Zhaozhao watched the attack getting closer and closer and sneered.
She raised the sword above her head, bent her left fingers, closed her eyes, and whispered a prayer before opening them!
One sword cuts down all evil, one sword shatters the passage of time.
With a single sword strike, the energy of heaven and earth converged, causing the earth to tremble and mountains to shake.
The swan maiden was struck hard by the sword energy and sent flying backward.
She coughed up a mouthful of blood, collapsed to the ground, and reappeared in human form.
"How could this be? How could you..."
Her eyes were filled with surprise and disbelief.
Lu Zhaozhao approached with her sword drawn, pointing it at the swan's neck.
"Didn't Qinghui's inside man tell you? My current cultivation level is the Nascent Soul Realm."
Lu Zhaozhao looked at her indifferently, her eyes showing neither sorrow nor joy.
"You lost."
She delivered the final judgment.
"Take your men and get out of Qinghui territory!"
The woman looked serious; Lu Zhaozhao's situation was indeed beyond her expectations. However, under these circumstances, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"You vixen, what are you laughing at when you're about to die!"
Qi Lin arrived with his disciples, pointing his sword at the swan maiden.
"What? You're going to kill me?"
She provoked him by winking at Qi Lin, who became enraged and raised his sword to strike her.
The next moment, Lu Zhaozhao turned around and cut Qi Lin's sword in half.
"Have you had enough of this act? Do you want me to build you a stage so you can continue your performance?"
"What?" Qi Lin asked, puzzled. He frowned as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, as if he didn't understand what she was saying.
Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Do you really think I'm a fool? Qi Lin, or rather, the demon in disguise, are you going to keep pretending?"
"What!"
As soon as Lu Zhaozhao said this, the surrounding disciples were startled and immediately pointed their swords at Qi Lin.
"Wait, what are you saying!" Qi Lin looked completely innocent as he turned to the disciples around him and said, "I've been with you all the whole time. I am Qi Lin, and Qi Lin is me. You all know that better than anyone!"
Hearing him say this, the surrounding disciples hesitated again. They looked left and right, unsure of who to believe.
Lu Zhaozhao watched his performance coldly.
The next moment, to everyone's surprise, Lu Zhaozhao launched a powerful attack on the swan girl with lightning speed.
With the secret techniques from the Golden Platform and her profound cultivation, the swan maiden was utterly powerless against this attack.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she is certain to die.
The next second, Qi Lin's figure disappeared from the spot.
"bump--"
He blocked the attack and took half a step back to regain his balance.
The situation was clear, and the other disciples immediately pointed their swords at him.
The panic on his face disappeared, replaced by curiosity.
When did you discover it?
Qi Lin asked, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, his demeanor immediately changing.
"From the moment the challenge arrived, not only you but also the other disciples knew of my arrival, yet the demons did. This is too obvious, or perhaps you never intended to conceal it at all."
Lu Zhaozhao looked at Qi Lin, feeling slightly uneasy. She had a feeling that this person would be more difficult to deal with than Hu Nu.
"Heh, I thought you were long dead. I didn't expect that not only are you still alive, but you've actually broken through to the Nascent Soul stage."
Qi Lin squinted, his eyes gleaming with danger.
Lu Zhaozhao looked at him, and at that moment, she immediately knew who he was.
"Nanyuan".
She uttered two words softly, and those two words terrified the disciples around her.
"Senior sister, what did you say? He's the Demon Lord!"
Qi Lin forced a smile, and his face and body transformed into Nan Yuan's appearance.
"Long time no see. I was originally thinking of killing Ying Che and taking his head to Yun Xian, maybe I could see his Dao heart shatter. But you should be able to do it too, after all, you are both his disciples."
Nan Yuan looked at Lu Zhaozhao with the eyes of someone looking at an inanimate object, and under his gaze, Lu Zhaozhao chuckled.
"I may have to disappoint you, but my master doesn't like me. Even if you held my head up, he wouldn't be moved. But before that, you still owe me a life, so we should settle our score first."
A glint of killing intent flashed in Lu Zhaozhao's eyes.
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