"You are courting death!"
The old stoat, covered in blood, went berserk. Unleashing his full Nascent Soul realm power, he gripped a magic artifact in each hand. These artifacts were etched with human script, clearly plundered from other cultivators. With a raised arm, the artifacts burst forth with dazzling light. In a single blow, he sent Mu Zha flying!
"Cover Mu Zha!"
Xuan Zhi thrust her sword forward, a fierce劍光 (jian guang) slicing through the air.
"With you alone?!"
Enraged, the old stoat hurled the artifact in his left hand towards the distant Mu Zha. Simultaneously, he spread his left hand's fingers, catching Xuan Zhi's sword tip.
"Be careful!"
Lin Zhao had already activated his third Divine Speed Talisman. He blurred past, rolling with Mu Zha across the snow. Behind them, a deafening explosion shattered an entire ginkgo tree into dust by the old stoat's artifact. At the same time, Gu Luan landed a heavy punch on the old stoat's jaw, followed by a spinning hook kick to the back of his head.
However, the old stoat, though wounded, was still alive. His ferociously glinting eyes fixed on Xuan Zhi, knowing she was the strongest among these sixth-realm humans. Ignoring Gu Luan completely, he shoved his right hand forward, sending Gu Luan flying. Fortunately, the old stoat's injuries were severe, and his usable strength was less than half of his Nascent Soul realm power. Otherwise, Gu Luan would likely have died from that blow.
"Sister Xuan Zhi!"
Luo Yang cried out, descending from the air, her sword energy raining down on the old stoat's head.
"Oh?!"
The old stoat laughed heartily, tilting his head back to face Luo Yang. He suddenly raised his right hand, and the artifact smashed into Luo Yang's body, sending her flying. Blood splattered in the air. Fortunately, Luo Yang's sixth-realm foundation was stable, and her sword aura deflected more than half of the old stoat's power. Otherwise, she would have been certain to die.
"You..."
The old stoat's ferocious gaze fell upon Xuan Zhi. She didn't even have time to retract her sword and retreat; an immense suction seemed to emanate from the sword hilt, preventing her from letting go.
"It's your turn!"
The old stoat roared, his left fist hurtling towards Xuan Zhi's face.
"Ah?!"
Without thinking, Xuan Zhi sent a stream of fiery red light from her Inner Sword Lake towards the old stoat's brow.
"I've been waiting for you!"
The old stoat's left fist struck, then abruptly pulled back. He suddenly opened his hand, directly grasping Xuan Zhi's flying sword. The sword vibrated, attempting to break free from his grip, its edge drawing blood and flesh from his left hand. But the old stoat's physical body was too strong, and his killing intent had reached an unprecedented level. Blood-soaked fingers wrapped in his Nascent Soul realm power desperately sought to crush the flying sword.
Once the sword was destroyed, Xuan Zhi's realm would surely fall. For this genius sword cultivator, this would be worse than death.
"Tch!"
Xuan Zhi gritted her teeth and sent her second flying sword.
"Good timing!"
The old stoat roared with laughter. Ignoring the attacks from behind, he suddenly opened his mouth, which became like a deep abyss. He actually swallowed Xuan Zhi's second flying sword whole.
"Ah!?"
Xuan Zhi's face turned ashen. If her second flying sword was also destroyed, it wouldn't just be a realm drop; she might lose her qualification as a sword cultivator entirely, her Great Dao collapsing!
...
Just then, a fist landed heavily on the old stoat's jaw. It was Lin Zhao's punch. At this moment, Lin Zhao had not only used a Divine Speed Talisman but also a Valiant Charge Talisman, concentrating all his true qi into his fist. This rushed attack was arguably the most potent he could deliver. It sent two of the old stoat's back molars flying. Simultaneously, a silver glow shot from Lin Zhao's Inner Sword Lake towards the old stoat's eyes.
"Pfft!"
Amidst splattering blood, a sword pierced the old stoat's right eye. The Bright Moon, like a fine needle, plunged into his pupil, then attempted to penetrate his brain. Lin Zhao, enduring his own pain, delivered another punch to the back of the old stoat's head, pushing the creature's skull onto the sword's tip!
"Waa..."
The old stoat wailed. His formidable physical body finally reached its limit. He let go of Xuan Zhi's sword and stumbled backward on the snow, seemingly intending to flee.
"Don't let him escape!"
Under the Formation Horse Formation, Lin Zhao moved with lightning speed, landing a punch on the old stoat's side. He then ignited another Mirror Sword Talisman. Xuan Zhi's sword light flashed, leaving a terrifying bloody gash on the old stoat's head, while continuously agitating the second flying sword within the old stoat's mouth to tear him apart!
"Shatter his Golden Core!"
Lin Zhao pointed to a golden spot on the old stoat's chest.
"Come!"
Zhu Zhi roared, his fist descending from the sky, striking the old stoat's broken body and flinging him onto the ground with his limbs splayed.
"Mirror Sword Talisman!"
Lin Zhao shouted.
At this moment, Xuan Zhi and Luo Yang were injured, or their spiritual energy severely depleted. Their sword strikes were no longer at their peak. However, the sword energy contained within the Mirror Sword Talismans was definitely at their peak level. Instantly, Hua Ping, Lei Yue, Dong Hu, Gu Luan, and Wu Lian all ignited Mirror Sword Talismans. In a flash, over ten sword energies bombarded the old stoat's chest.
Repeated explosions echoed, the old stoat's chest crackling like a string of firecrackers. His Golden Core was blasted to smithereens. As the Golden Core shattered, the old stoat's cultivation realm plummeted, dropping directly to the Lower Five Realms!
"Finish him!"
Lin Zhao slammed a punch into the staggering old stoat, sending him sliding forward. Xuan Zhi followed with a swift sword stroke. The next moment, the old stoat's bloody head flew off and landed on the snow.
...
"Ah..."
Lin Zhao collapsed onto the ground. After enduring several attacks from the Nascent Soul realm cultivator, he felt as though his entire skeletal frame was about to fall apart.
Xuan Zhi also sat down on the snow. Her two flying swords returned to her Inner Sword Lake. She looked at Lin Zhao not far away, her expression complex. She had previously looked down on this young martial artist, deeming him unworthy to be the master of the Mountain Peak Villa, let alone to lead sword prodigies like herself and Luo Yang. Yet, the scene before her forced her to admit that Lin Zhao's strength and composure were in no way inferior to hers. Most importantly, he was a full four years younger than her!
"Damn it..."
Mu Zha, covered in blood, sat down and said, "I almost thought I was going to die..."
"Yeah..."
Zhu Zhi rubbed his fist, which had been scraped by the Nascent Soul realm's gale-force wind, and sat beside Mu Zha. "It wasn't until we fought that I truly felt how terrifying the strength of the Nascent Soul realm is. Our ability to kill him was partly due to luck."
"It wasn't luck,"
Xuan Zhi looked up at him. "It was Lin Zhao's meticulous planning that allowed us to win in the end..."
"Mm."
Luo Yang nodded softly.
Hua Ping chuckled, "Indeed. Although Lin Zhao is young, his plan for this battle was truly profound..."
Xuan Zhi leaned against a ginkgo tree, recalling the moments just passed. Her main sword and two flying swords had been seized by the old stoat, and her flying swords would have been crushed within seconds. Just as she thought no one could save her, Lin Zhao had intervened with his fist and sword. In other words, without Lin Zhao, Xuan Zhi's future as a sword cultivator would have been crushed by the old stoat.
"Thank you... Lin Zhao!"
Xuan Zhi turned to Lin Zhao, suddenly smiling faintly. "No, I should say... Thank you, Captain..."
This "Captain" greatly relieved Lin Zhao. All his meticulous planning to kill the Nascent Soul realm old stoat and his desperate efforts to save Xuan Zhi's flying swords were worthwhile. From this moment on, the eleven talents of the Mountain Peak Villa had truly become united as one.
...
"The trial is passed. Very good, very good."
In the air, Huang Tingyu, supported by a streak of sword light, descended and arrived before the old stoat's corpse. With a wave of his hand, he drew a demon core from the old stoat's body. "Do you want to reminisce here in the snow, or return to the Mountain Peak Villa to recuperate?"
"Let's go back to heal?"
Lin Zhao smiled. "If another great demon from the Upper Five Realms were to appear, and Old Huang couldn't defeat it, we'd likely all be annihilated."
Xuan Zhi, Luo Yang, Mu Zha, and the others burst into laughter.
Xuan Zhi nodded. "Yes, let's go back. Please escort us back to the Mountain Peak Villa, Elder Huang."
"Alright."
Huang Tingyu waved his sleeve, and a soft sword light enveloped their bodies, lifting them from the ground. They sped through the wind, leaving the ginkgo forest in an instant. They then landed back at the Mountain Peak Villa. It was still morning, but everyone felt as though a full day had passed. The eleven individuals were either severely injured or utterly exhausted. Each needed time to rest and recover. The battle with the old stoat had benefited everyone, and the tempering required quiet digestion.
Military talismans, though activated by military aura, still consumed the user's strength and spirit. Take the Divine Speed Talisman, for example. While the speed increase was real, it consumed not only the talisman's power but, more importantly, overdrawn the user's own energy. Thus, after using five Divine Speed Talismans, everyone's strength was naturally depleted.
...
Lin Zhao's injuries were severe. Upon returning to his room, Miss Dong Cang had prepared a tub of bathwater and a large pile of medicinal herbs. As Lin Zhao bathed, he drifted into a dazed sleep.
In his dream, someone was calling his name.
"Xiao Zhao, wake up quickly. What's the point of lying in a game pod all day?"
It was a familiar female voice, pleasant to hear and inexplicably familiar. Yet, he couldn't recall who it belonged to, or what her relationship to him was.
He only knew that he originally belonged to another world and was merely staying here temporarily.
Would the other him be as good as the current him?
...
In the sky, the woman continued speaking.
"I'm sorry... For so many years, Sister has been busy with external matters, paying too little attention to you. I'm sorry..."
"It's alright. As long as you wake up, Sister will introduce you to a super beauty to compensate for all these years. She was once my subordinate, beautiful, with a sweet voice, and she can dance. Wake up quickly, Sister can't wait, and she should be impatient too..."
She chuckled to herself as she spoke.
"Oh dear, what am I saying?"
"What if that little girl Chen Xue doesn't fancy my Xiao Zhao? No, no... my Xiao Zhao is so good, unparalleled in the world. How could she not fancy him?"