Ye Qiu no longer hesitated. He clearly knew that there was only one way to resolve the crisis: to kill Long Jiu.
At this moment, Long Jiu was engulfed by thunder, presenting the perfect opportunity for Ye Qiu to strike.
“Whoosh!”
Ye Qiu’s body turned into a blur as he swiftly dashed forward, raising the Emperor’s Sword, Chi Xiao, and executing the Grass Script Sword Technique.
“Die!”
Boom—
The sword’s edge slashed toward Long Jiu.
Long Jiu, entangled by the thunder, suddenly felt a deadly danger as he saw the Emperor’s Sword descending upon him. His hair stood on end.
But he had no time to dodge. In a panic, Long Jiu abruptly turned, using his back to face the Emperor’s Sword, Chi Xiao.
Ye Qiu sneered. Chi Xiao was the sword of emperors, unparalleled in sharpness. Long Jiu’s action was nothing short of seeking death.
The sword’s edge struck Long Jiu’s back.
“Boom!”
Long Jiu was sent flying.
When Du’e Master saw Ye Qiu’s sword technique, he was utterly shocked. “The Grass Script Sword Technique? How does Ye Qiu know the Grass Script Sword Technique?”
“Before coming here, my master told me that I would meet a destined person in the capital.”
“Could it be that the destined person my master spoke of is Ye Qiu?”
Du’e Master gazed at Ye Qiu, his eyes deep and profound.
After executing the Grass Script Sword Technique, Ye Qiu felt as if all his strength had been drained. He could barely stand.
Looking ahead, he saw Long Jiu lying motionless on the ground.
A smile appeared on Ye Qiu’s face.
“I thought the people from the Forbidden City were formidable, but it seems they’re nothing special…” Before Ye Qiu could finish, his eyelids twitched as he noticed Long Jiu’s body move slightly.
Not dead?
The smile on Ye Qiu’s face instantly froze.
Then, Long Jiu stood up from the ground. His robe was tattered from the thunder, and a long sword wound stretched from his right shoulder to his lower left back, dripping with blood.
“Cough—”
Long Jiu coughed twice, spitting out more blood, then tore off the upper part of his clothing.
In an instant, a thin golden silk armor came into view.
Ye Qiu’s pupils contracted. Only now did he understand why the sharp Emperor’s Sword had failed to kill Long Jiu. The old man had been prepared all along.
“Chi Xiao truly lives up to its reputation as one of the Ten Great Swords. It’s indeed sharp. If not for the golden silk armor I’m wearing, I would have been killed by your sword just now.”
Long Jiu looked at Ye Qiu with a sinister smile. “I was careless earlier, caught off guard by you. But now, you won’t get another chance.”
“However, it’s been decades since I last suffered an injury. You should feel proud to have wounded me.”
After speaking, Long Jiu charged toward Ye Qiu like a thunderbolt.
Before he even arrived, an overwhelming killing intent surged forth.
Ye Qiu felt the intense killing intent pressing against him, like blades scraping against his face, causing sharp pain.
“Ye Qiu, retreat! I’ll hold him off!”
Du’e Master let out a long roar, unleashing the Buddhist Lion’s Roar. The sound waves shot through the air, attempting to block Long Jiu.
Boom!
Long Jiu shattered the sound waves with a single punch and continued his charge toward Ye Qiu.
Du’e Master raised his hand and pointed into the air.
“Whoosh!”
The Six Meridians Divine Sword technique was unleashed, and a sharp sword qi shattered the jade crown on Long Jiu’s head.
Long Jiu stopped in his tracks, his gaze shifting to Du’e Master. He spoke with a sinister tone, “You old bald donkey, since you seek death, I’ll grant your wish.”
Long Jiu abandoned Ye Qiu and charged straight at Du’e Master.
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Qiu quickly retreated and helped Elder Changmei to his feet. “Old man, how are you?”
Elder Changmei’s face was pale, and blood continuously trickled from the corner of his mouth. He was severely injured.
“I won’t die just yet,” Elder Changmei forced a smile and said, “That old bald donkey is no match for Long Jiu. Kid, let’s team up one more time.”
“Can you handle it?”
Ye Qiu could see that Elder Changmei was in a terrible state. He feared that if Elder Changmei fought again, he might die.
“I may be a Taoist, but I’m also a man. How can a man say he can’t handle it?”
Elder Changmei pulled out a porcelain bottle from his wide Taoist robe sleeve, removed the cork, and poured out twenty black pills.
Ye Qiu recognized them immediately—Great Return Pills.
Elder Changmei handed ten pills to Ye Qiu and swallowed the remaining ten in one gulp. In an instant, a healthy flush returned to his pale face.
At that moment, a loud bang echoed beside them.
Du’e Master was sent flying by Long Jiu and landed beside Ye Qiu. He struggled but couldn’t get up.
He was severely injured.
“Ye Qiu, I’ve done my best, but I still couldn’t stop Long Jiu. I’m sorry,” Du’e Master said apologetically.
“Master, there’s no need to feel guilty. I’m already grateful that you stepped in to help me,” Ye Qiu said, then gave Tang Fei a meaningful look.
Tang Fei quickly walked over and helped Du’e Master to his feet.
“Kid, get ready to fight,” Elder Changmei said with unprecedented seriousness. “If I die, make sure to send my body back to Mount Longhu.”
“If I survive, you must promise to help me find Mount Longhu’s treasure.”
“If we both die, then let’s drink together in the underworld. How about getting drunk with you thirty thousand times?”
“Deal!” Ye Qiu agreed, tears welling up in his eyes.
Although Elder Changmei was often unreliable and cowardly, at this moment, he was truly risking his life.
“What, moved to tears? Let me tell you, I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for myself.”
Elder Changmei laughed heartily, then his expression turned serious. “But kid, I still hope you don’t die.”
“If we can’t kill Long Jiu, find a chance to escape.”
“You’re still young, and there are many things you haven’t done yet, like… finding your father, Ye Wushuang.”
Ye Qiu’s heart trembled, and he stared at Elder Changmei in disbelief.
How does this old man know my father is Ye Wushuang?
“Be careful! Take care!” Elder Changmei patted Ye Qiu’s shoulder and resolutely charged forward, unleashing the Five Thunder True Method.
In an instant, five thick bolts of thunder descended, engulfing Long Jiu.
Ye Qiu quickly swallowed the Great Return Pills, channeled all his strength, and once again used the Grass Script Sword Technique.
“Clang!”
The sword’s cry shook the heavens.
After this strike, Long Jiu was sent flying.
Elder Changmei collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Ye Qiu’s internal energy was completely drained. He knelt on one knee, using his sword to support himself, his entire body trembling.
Half a minute later.
Long Jiu stood up from the ground. His golden silk armor was shattered by the Emperor’s Sword, and his shoulder was exposed to the bone from the thunder. He was covered in blood, severely wounded.
He still didn’t die?
Monster!
Ye Qiu felt a sense of despair.
“All three of you have lost your fighting strength. Now, prepare to die,” Long Jiu said as he stood up, clenching his fists, and began walking toward Ye Qiu.
“Bastard, you’re finally going to die,” Bai Yujing said with a smile.
Just as Long Jiu was about to reach Ye Qiu, a voice suddenly rang out:
“Try touching him, and see what happens!”
