On the mountain peak, in the direction of the Qingliang Sect Ancestral Hall, figures soared down the mountain.
...
The Sect Master, Vice Sect Master, Elders, Guardians, and Esteemed Guests were all present. Several Elders and Guardians were in the Star River Realm, while only Elder Zhao Chuzhou was at the eleventh realm. Vice Sect Master Zhao Guangyi was aged, but he carried a black ancient sword on his back and was an eleventh-realm Sword Cultivator; otherwise, he likely wouldn't have been able to usurp the position of Vice Sect Master. The Sect Master, Zhao Suiguang, was a middle-aged man whose divine light was contained, a twelfth-realm Spirit Cultivator, exuding an air of majesty.
In the wind, a figure descended like a soaring celestial light. It was none other than the Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu, clad in a yellow robe and exuding a majestic aura. Even a mere glance from Fu Zhi told her that the legend was true; this Old Ancestor of the Qingliang Sect had indeed entered the Ascension Realm. However, it seemed he had only recently stepped into the thirteenth realm, his foundation weak, making him a mere paper tiger of the thirteenth realm. But even a paper tiger was still a thirteenth realm.
"Sword Immortal Fu Zhi."
Zhao Jingyu smiled faintly. "I heard that Sword Immortal Fu Zhi intends to challenge our Qingliang Sect with your sword. This is perfect timing. I, Zhao Jingyu, can also open my eyes and see just how strong the legendary strongest eleventh realm in the world truly is!"
"Old Ancestor Zhao."
Fu Zhi nodded in greeting and said, "I did not come to challenge your Qingliang Sect without reason. It is because your sect's Elder Zhao Chuzhou, under a false identity and disguised, entered my Snow Region Heavenly Pool, intending to abduct people from my Snow Region Heavenly Pool. I wish to ask if your sect is aware of this matter?"
For a moment, Zhao Chuzhou's face turned deathly pale.
"Hmph~~~"
Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu waved his sleeve and chuckled, "Let's settle the sword challenge first, and then we'll discuss matters. What do you think, Sword Immortal Fu Zhi?"
Fu Zhi couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "So, that's how it is. Old Ancestor Zhao and Zhao Chuzhou are birds of a feather... No matter. Then let us have the sword challenge. I, Fu Zhi, came to Qingliang Mountain for a sword challenge, and I never intended to return alive."
With that, Fu Zhi raised the sword she was carrying and pointed it directly at Zhao Jingyu. "Does the Old Ancestor wish to come himself, or shall your disciples and grandchildren suffer humiliation first?"
"Sword Immortal Fu Zhi, you are too impatient..."
Zhao Jingyu smiled faintly. "Let the eleventh realm go first. No hurry, no hurry."
...
"Hmph!"
Zhao Chuzhou's gaze turned cold. "Fu Zhi, you dare to kill the disciples guarding our Qingliang Sect's mountain gate. This debt will not be settled so easily. Since you dare to be so arrogant, I, Zhao Chuzhou, am willing to experience your swordsmanship!"
"All of you, make way!"
An Elder raised his long sleeve, ordering the many disciples to clear a battlefield.
Immediately, half of the Dew-Gathering Platform was cleared, serving as the battlefield for two eleventh-realm cultivators. As for Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu, his hands were tucked in his sleeves, his eyes narrowed, and his expression was indifferent. He watched the graceful Sword Immortal Fu Zhi, his heart filled with hesitation. Truth be told, he could have suppressed this Sword Immortal Fu Zhi immediately, with at least a seventy percent chance of victory. But ultimately, it was only seventy percent. He had only recently entered the thirteenth realm, and the strength he could exert would not be much greater than that of a twelfth-realm peak cultivator. As for this Sword Immortal Fu Zhi, who was rumored to be able to fight twelfth-realm cultivators, what if he suffered a loss?
Therefore, letting his disciples and grandchildren go first was the best strategy to wear down Fu Zhi's patience and pride, and then crush this eleventh-realm cultivator with his thirteenth-realm power. This was the best outcome. He, Zhao Jingyu, had walked the martial world his entire life, always seeking stability. When had he ever suffered a loss?
"Come!"
Zhao Chuzhou let out a low roar, his aura surging, unleashing his full eleventh-realm strength. This was him, in his capacity as an Elder, accepting a challenge from an eleventh-realm peak Sword Immortal. Regardless of whether he could win, it didn't matter if he lost. The Old Ancestor had an account to settle. For the sake of the mountain gate, even if he were to be defeated, the compensation he would receive would only be greater.
Who would have thought that with three swift sword strikes from Fu Zhi, her sword light blazing, Zhao Chuzhou's airborne body would fall back to the Dew-Gathering Platform in an instant? A sword mark ran across his chest, and he continuously vomited blood. Zhao Chuzhou never would have imagined he would be defeated in a single exchange!
He had originally hoped to fight Fu Zhi for dozens of rounds, to perform his best in front of the Old Ancestor, and then feign a defeat. He had never expected to be defeated so thoroughly.
"Old Ancestor, I..."
Zhao Chuzhou, supported by two disciples, was still spitting blood.
"Chuzhou."
Zhao Jingyu's expression was calm. "It is not your fault. Go and heal."
"Yes, Old Ancestor!"
"Next, who will come?"
Zhao Jingyu's gaze had become quite cold.
"I will!"
From the crowd, Vice Sect Master Zhao Guangyi surged forward. He raised his hand, and the sword on his back unsheathed with a clang, its blade pointing directly at Fu Zhi. "I heard that Sword Immortal Fu Zhi is hailed as the strongest eleventh realm in the world. Qingliang Mountain's Zhao Guangyi is also an eleventh-realm Sword Cultivator. Please, enlighten me!"
Fu Zhi smiled faintly.
The bodies of the two men soared into the air almost simultaneously. The next moment, five sword lights collided in mid-air. It was also the strongest sword strike within a breath. Fu Zhi could unleash three sword strikes, while Zhao Guangyi could only manage two. The gap between them was already crystal clear. After two strikes, Zhao Guangyi could no longer hold on and directly summoned his flying sword for assistance. Fu Zhi also conjured her first flying sword.
The result was that within ten moves, Zhao Guangyi's arm was already injured by a wisp of Fu Zhi's sword energy. Within twenty moves, Zhao Guangyi would gain a new sword mark with almost every move, his injuries becoming increasingly severe.
"Both of you, hold!"
Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu frowned. "Guangyi, admit defeat. There's no need to fight desperately."
"Yes, Old Ancestor!"
Zhao Guangyi floated down.
"Don't let her have time to recover her breath."
Zhao Jingyu said calmly, "Suiguang, you go."
"Yes, Father!"
Qingliang Sect Master Zhao Suiguang was Zhao Jingyu's own son. He was a twelfth-realm cultivator. With a swing of his arms, he soared upwards, conjuring a cyan treasure cauldron. He engaged Fu Zhi in a fierce battle. This exchange lasted for over fifty moves. Fu Zhi even had to summon ten demon soul swords to assist her. Fu Zhi, as a Sword Cultivator, excelled in offense, while Zhao Suiguang cultivated the "Turtle Technique." The cyan treasure cauldron spun rapidly around him, its surface incredibly tough, constantly blocking Fu Zhi's sword energy for Zhao Suiguang.
Although the ten demon soul swords were exceptionally sharp, the strength of the cyan treasure cauldron was equally formidable. After fighting for a hundred moves, Fu Zhi was already sweating profusely. Continuous sword strikes indeed consumed too much energy, and facing Zhao Suiguang's twelfth-realm defensive style was too exhausting. He seemed to be fighting solely to deplete Fu Zhi's spiritual energy.
The next second, a sword heart within Fu Zhi hummed. She abandoned the technique she had intended to save for the Old Ancestor and instantly entered the realm of a clear sword heart. As she struck again, each beam of sword energy became even more intense. In just seven or eight strikes, Zhao Suiguang had sustained multiple wounds. However, the long robe he wore was a magical treasure, which absorbed a significant amount of damage. Finally, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his figure retreating back to the Dew-Gathering Platform.
"Thank you for the guidance."
Zhao Suiguang clasped his fists and frowned, "I concede!"
At once, all the disciples of the Qingliang Sect were in an uproar. The Sect Master was a dignified twelfth-realm cultivator, and even he lost to this young Sword Immortal who looked so delicate and radiant?
"Sword Immortal Fu Zhi."
Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu stepped forward, smiling. "Zhao Jingyu wishes to experience your swordsmanship!"
"..."
Fu Zhi raised her hand and sent out a sword strike, a wisp of sword light directly heading for Zhao Jingyu's forehead. The strike was fast and fierce. In fact, the person Fu Zhi most wanted to kill was this Old Ancestor. The moral decay of the Qingliang Sect was, to put it bluntly, all due to Zhao Jingyu's influence. Moreover, as a human thirteenth-realm cultivator, he consumed the destiny of the human world. Yet, during the Battle of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool a hundred years ago, this Old Ancestor of the Qingliang Sect had remained silent as if he had lost his voice. Such a person was a disgrace to the world.
"Too arrogant."
Zhao Jingyu revealed a cold smile. "Do you truly believe an eleventh realm is invincible in the world?"
With that, the Old Ancestor suddenly raised his palm, and boundless, majestic energy surged around him. His thirteenth-realm cultivation was no mere pretense. Furthermore, Zhao Jingyu had resided in the Qingliang Sect for many years, and his spirit had long merged with the spiritual energy of this region. As he raised his hand, the entire Qingliang Mountain vibrated. The next moment, the Old Ancestor let out a low roar, "Can your ten demon soul swords break open this entire Qingliang Mountain of mine?!"
An image of endless mountains emerged, and in an instant, it was as if the entire Qingliang Mountain had descended from the heavens!
"What?!"
Fu Zhi never dreamed that this Zhao family Old Ancestor had actually refined an entire mountain. This was a true thirteenth-realm technique! The next second, the ten demon soul swords transformed into soaring rainbow light and continuously collided with the roots of the Qingliang Mountain's dharma image with a 'peng peng peng' sound. However, the power of the demon soul swords was insufficient to cleave open the entire Qingliang Mountain. The difference in realms was too vast. An eleventh realm was, after all, still an eleventh realm. Even if Fu Zhi stood at the pinnacle of the eleventh realm, she was still two realms behind her opponent!
"Pfft—"
Suddenly, one by one, the demon soul swords were repelled by the majestic and vast mountain aura. Fu Zhi staggered back, spitting a mouthful of blood. She was instantly severely injured. It wouldn't have been so bad, but the spiritual energy consumed fighting the twelfth-realm defensive cultivator Zhao Suiguang was simply too much. At this moment, Fu Zhi's body felt like a spring that had been half-drained. How could she possibly fight a genuine thirteenth-realm cultivator?
"Fu Zhi!"
Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu stood in mid-air and sneered, "Everyone must pay the price for their actions. But rest assured, you, Fu Zhi, are a sword immortal who slays demons in the northern region. Although our Qingliang Sect has no grievances with demons or humans, we are ultimately cultivators of the human race. Therefore, I will not kill you. I will only cripple half of your cultivation!"
With that, Zhao Jingyu descended from the air, his fingertip flashing like lightning across Fu Zhi's brow.
...
Evening, the sun was setting in the west.
Lin Zhao stood at the southern foot of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool Mountain. Beside him stood Mu Zha, Chu Yu, Xiang Ji, and others. After he logged in, he found that Fu Zhi was missing, so he had been waiting here all along for Fu Zhi's return.
Just as dusk was approaching, a sword light wavered from the south.
"Sir."
Fu Zhi floated down in front of Lin Zhao, her white dress stained with blood. Her eyes were vacant, her entire spirit and essence seemingly scattered. Lin Zhao had seen this look before; it was the same as Lu Xun's back then.
Her sword heart was shattered.