The arrivals were naturally Hu Zhou and Gao Junyu, along with Feixiong Mountain’s guard Gao Zhen and Dingfeng Mountain’s guard Hu Dalu.
Hu Zhou and the others had gone to Chuandong Circuit to deliver a letter. After sending it, they stayed for quite a while. Then they toured various places in Chuandong Circuit, befriended local demons, and sparred a bit. Only then did they prepare to return to southern border Feixiong Mountain.
They flew along the way. When passing this area, they spotted people fighting from afar.
Because of the distance, Hu Zhou and the others followed the principle of not stirring trouble or watching spectacles. They curbed their curiosity and planned to veer far away.
However, the escorting Gao Zhen and Hu Dalu edged a bit closer. Spotting Lu Zheng, they sent a voice transmission to Hu Zhou and the others. At the same time, they revealed themselves and flew over together.
In any case, Hu Zhou and Gao Junyu had handled all matters along the way well. Now they were ready to head home. Their appearance would not cause issues.
So, the four arrived nearby. Hu Zhou and Gao Junyu drew their blade and spear, ready to join the fray.
This was no time for politeness. Lu Zheng shouted loudly. “The opponent is a Yuan Shengjiao saintess. You two are no match for her. Retreat quickly and let the two seniors assist!”
Gao Junyu turned back. “Fifth Uncle!”
Hu Zhou also called out. “Uncle Dalu!”
Hu Dalu had shared drinks with Lu Zheng at the same table. Gao Zhen had met Lu Zheng once before and knew he had gifted the young lady a top-grade mortal spear. Their ties were not shallow. He was also the master’s disciple-in-law.
Hearing the young master’s call, the two wasted no words. Demonic qi surged skyward from their bodies. Each drew their weapon and charged straight at Xueyi Saintess.
Hu Zhou glanced at Fan Boyu and Zhao Wuji, who were locked in fierce combat. His eyes flashed. He swung his long blade and asked loudly. “Master, which of these two is on our side?”
Lu Zheng did not even look. “The ugly one is the enemy.”
“Got it!”
Zhao Wuji was furious. What did he mean, the ugly one was the enemy?
I am not ugly at all, alright? It was Fan Boyu who was a bit too plain-looking!
But before Zhao Wuji could speak, a blade came from the left and a spear from the right. Both reached his side in an instant.
The qi from the left was crimson and billowing, majestic and fierce, faintly carrying a tiger’s roar. The momentum was astonishing, seizing the heart.
The qi from the right was rolling black mist, bloodthirsty and savage, like a black bear standing in the void, slapping down with a heavy paw.
Two half-demons with deep foundations unleashed combat power beyond their own levels. Teaming with Fan Boyu, they fully held Zhao Wuji at bay and even faintly suppressed him.
…
On the other side.
Gao Zhen and Hu Dalu’s entry greatly eased Lu Zheng’s pressure.
Xueyi Saintess was formidable, but after all, she was badly injured. Gao Zhen and Hu Dalu were elite figures sent to protect their young masters closely. Though not on par with a Yuan Shengjiao saintess, they far outclassed the likes of Fan Boyu.
Hu Dalu let out a tiger roar. Ripples of sound waves surged towards Xueyi Saintess.
Gao Zhen followed right behind the sound waves. He transformed directly into his black bear true form, over five zhang tall. His bear paws, each large as a door, slapped down at Xueyi Saintess.
Against experts, there was no reason not to use the black bear true form, which was so powerful.
The tiger roar subdued the spirit, the black bear loomed like a mountain.
Both were experts. They saw through Xueyi Saintess’s weaknesses at a glance and targeted her vulnerabilities directly. Why bother duelling her in spells?
Lu Zheng laughed heartily. He patted his gourd in turn. Six red jade swords shot out, three front and three rear, forming a six harmonies formation. They came from behind Xueyi Saintess, cutting off her retreat.
Xueyi Saintess’s eyes were like blades. She guarded her true spirit and sea of consciousness, blocking the tiger roar. Facing the black bear true form, she pointed with one hand, controlling its entire body’s qi and blood.
“Roar!”
With a bellow, the black bear’s qi and blood churned. A blood arrow sprayed from his back. He was wounded by Xueyi Saintess’s curse.
But he smoothly reached her front. One paw slapped down!
Xueyi Saintess formed seals with both hands. Three plain-coloured runes grew from small to large, blocking the bear’s paws.
“Boom!”
A massive crash. Gao Zhen stepped on the void and retreated three zhang. Xueyi Saintess borrowed the force to fly back. She spat another small mouthful of blood. Then her hands drew circles. Streams of true qi surged out, sweeping away the six red jade swords one by one.
However, one red jade sword still grazed past her side, tearing and slashing her left water sleeve.
Lu Zheng smirked at the corner of his mouth. Now it seemed it was no longer Xueyi Saintess trying to keep him here, but rather him possibly keeping her here.
Could I counter-kill her?
Bloody hell? Stay calm, stay calm! Be careful, careful! No standing flags!
Lu Zheng pointed with his sword finger. The red jade swords aligned in a line. Each sword shot out several zhang of sword light, momentum soaring, sharpness exceptional. They pierced back and forth, forming a sword net that enveloped Xueyi Saintess.
Xueyi Saintess flipped her palm. The jade pearl from before appeared again. Three-coloured lights flashed, blocking all the sword qi three to five zhang away.
A defensive treasure!
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed. Earlier, Xueyi Saintess had activated this jade pearl to block thunder and cloud arts. Lu Zheng thought it only countered spell attacks. He did not expect it could block physical strikes too?
“What a treasure!”
You have a treasure? Do I not?
Lu Zheng drew his peachwood sword in turn. His feet stepped on the void. He drew in the celestial phenomena above and grounded qi below. Lightning flickered at the peachwood sword tip, building but not releasing. Yet it emitted a heart-seizing power.
Since obtaining the “Qingwei Jade Vault Thunder Arts”, Lu Zheng had nurtured this millennial peachwood sword with thunder arts. Though far from completion, it now counted as a millennial thunderstruck wood.
Lu Zheng built up power. Gao Zhen clapped his paws. Xueyi Saintess felt the sky darken above, as if two invisible hands descended from heaven, locking onto her.
Hu Dalu saw the jade pearl’s prowess. His arms tore his clothes. His figure pounced, wrapped in gusts of wild wind, straight at Xueyi Saintess.
Xueyi Saintess gritted her silver teeth. This jade pearl struggled against physical attacks.
With a shake of true qi, she broke free from Gao Zhen’s momentum lock at the cost of injury again. Her figure flickered. She exchanged three moves with Hu Dalu, trading wounds, dodging the knife-like gales. Then she looked at Lu Zheng and shuddered all over.
“Qingwei Jade Vault, Taiyi Five Thunder, strike!”
Lu Zheng used the peachwood sword as a trigger, mana reservoir, and amplifier. He unleashed the strongest Taiyi Five Thunder spell of his life.
“Crack!”
Heavenly thunder descended!
Thunder carrying exorcism and demon-breaking spirit power fell from the sky. Gao Zhen and Hu Dalu, who had dodged far enough, still showed shock on their faces. Their eyes on Lu Zheng were full of astonishment.
Even Xueyi Saintess’s expression changed.
In her prime, she would naturally scorn this thunder spell. But now she was badly injured and had just traded blows with two great demons, worsening her wounds.
If this continued, would she not grow weaker with each fight, making success impossible?
No! This battle could not drag on! She needed a swift victory!
Xueyi Saintess’s eyes sharpened. Seizing the moment when Gao Zhen and Hu Dalu pulled back slightly, she tossed the jade pearl at the thunder. Her figure flashed. She tore through the void directly and appeared before Lu Zheng in an instant.
In the sky, the Taiyi Five Thunder struck the jade pearl. Three-coloured lights flashed. The thunder dissipated. But the jade pearl also dimmed without lustre and flew back abruptly.
In mid-air, Xueyi Saintess paled from the backlash of the jade pearl taking the thunder strike. But she had closed in while Lu Zheng unleashed full power.
“Die!”
Xueyi Saintess extended her fair hand. Her slender jade finger pointed at Lu Zheng’s brow.
But from the corner of her eye, she saw Lu Zheng’s eyes fierce, the corner of his mouth hooked.
“Supreme Wuji, Three Pure Ones edict, bind!”
