A small boat was gone, following the broken river water and plunging straight into the mud at the bottom of the river. Lin Zhao had already dodged to the side with his flying sword, Hongye. The battle between two twelfth-realm experts was not something he could interfere with.
The female sword immortal hovered in the wind, her green dress fluttering. She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but her aura was extraordinary. Her eyes held a profound charm, and her appearance did not detract from her beauty. Her immense sword intent, the sword she held, and her indifferent gaze exuded an aura of unquestionable dominance, unlike any mortal woman.
Xie Yiying of the Lingyan Sword Sect…
Lin Zhao frowned. He hadn't done much research on the sects of Furong State and knew little about the Lingyan Sword Sect. However, with a twelfth-realm sword immortal, the Lingyan Sword Sect must be significant.
In the fierce wind, Long Dongjun walked with his hands behind his back, arrogantly riding the wind. His grey short shirt fluttered. He looked at Xie Yiying but did not immediately attack. Instead, he focused his voice into a line and spoke to Lin Zhao, "The Lingyan Sword Sect is the foremost sword sect in Furong State. This Furong State, led by our Tie Fushan, is filled with fist sects. Therefore, in the mountains, the Lingyan Sword Sect is quite weak. They can only guard their territory around Wangxin Lake. This is why the sect leader of the Lingyan Sword Sect, Xie Yiying, frequently challenges me to a duel."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Are the conflicts between the sword sects and fist sects in Furong State so great?"
"Yes."
Long Dongjun said, "Because martial arts are prevalent in the southern Furong State, and the previous sect leader, my master, was quite ambitious, wanting to unite all the mountain forces of Furong State. This led to strong resistance from the spiritual cultivation sects of Furong State. For years, Xie Yiying, the sword immortal of the Lingyan Sword Sect at Wangxin Lake, has taken it upon herself to 'lead the mountains and never bow,' leading the mountain sects that have allied with the Lingyan Sword Sect to confront Tie Fushan."
"I see…"
Lin Zhao chuckled, "Sect Leader Long, please forgive my presumptuousness, but Tie Fushan might not necessarily be in the right."
"Indeed…"
Long Dongjun laughed. "Sometimes I feel my master was too overbearing and unreasonable. But as a disciple, I cannot truly disobey him. Therefore, regarding the Lingyan Sword Sect, I try to be merciful when I can and avoid conflict when possible. Otherwise, do you think I, a martial artist of the Reborn Realm, would fear a twelfth-realm sword cultivator like her?"
In fact, a martial artist of the Reborn Realm is on par with a thirteenth-realm sword cultivator!
Otherwise, the old marshal Chen Wanli would not have been qualified to fight alongside Lu Xing to kill demons back then.
However, it was not impossible for some monstrous twelfth-realm sword cultivators to contend with Reborn Realm martial artists, just like Lin Wanhua and Su Qingjiu, who were both twelfth-realm sword cultivators capable of fighting against Reborn Realm experts.
"This battle won't be a fight to the death, will it?"
Lin Zhao frowned. "After all, this is an internal matter of Furong State. As an outsider, it's not good for me to say too much."
Long Dongjun smiled. "At least I won't fight to the death. But Xie Yiying might. This woman has a fiery temper and tends to be reckless. If she is determined to trade her life for mine, perhaps I won't be able to hold back. After all, if I don't fight to kill, I might be the one who dies. Xie Yiying, as the sect leader of the Lingyan Sword Sect, has profound sword heritage and is quite strong."
"What benefit would trading lives bring her?"
"The Lingyan Sword Sect and Tie Fushan have a deep-seated grudge. Xie Yiying's master… actually died in a duel with my master. The two sides are essentially sworn enemies. Secondly, if they succeed in trading lives, Tie Fushan would no longer have a martial artist of the Reborn Realm, while the Lingyan Sword Sect still has many eleventh-realm sword cultivators. With the balance shifting, the Lingyan Sword Sect might become the leading sect in Furong State and the ruler of the mountains."
"Yes, I understand."
Lin Zhao nodded. "I'll stay far away. You be careful."
"Okay!"
...
Above the river, Xie Yiying's beautiful eyes looked at Long Dongjun, but it was clear his attention was not on her. Thus, Xie Yiying also looked at the white-robed sword cultivator standing on a flying sword in the distance. She immediately frowned. Such a young Golden Core realm cultivator, and exuding a considerable aura. This young sword cultivator had come with Long Dongjun. Who was he?
She frowned and decided not to dwell on it. She would ask after killing Long Dongjun! Perhaps, there would be no need to ask. If she could trade lives with Long Dongjun today, that would be the best outcome.
Xie Yiying, clad in a green dress, her beautiful eyes fixed on the Reborn Realm martial artist, slowly raised her hand to the hilt of her sword. As she slowly drew her sword, everything in heaven and earth seemed to freeze. The next moment, the blade slid out of the scabbard, and the entire Qingfu River seemed to boil. With Xie Yiying's sword intent, her sword light swept across, carrying the boundless river water, devouring the martial artist in mid-air like a colossal green dragon.
"..."
Long Dongjun's expression became solemn. Xie Yiying's attack was so fierce, leaving no room for maneuver. Clearly, she had a strong killing intent. There was nothing to say about it. It was not her fault; after all, her master had killed his master. Now, the enmity had passed down to the next generation, and Xie Yiying naturally wanted to kill him.
He frowned slightly, and his fist intent surged, enveloping him in a fist aura. The river water beneath his feet continuously rose, transforming into mighty water columns controlled by his fist intent. Although he did not punch, the aura unleashed by his fist intent directly clashed with Xie Yiying's sword strike. Instantly, the sky-filling sword energy collided with the fist aura, and the entire Qingfu River churned violently.
Lin Zhao watched from afar, his brows tightly knitted.
Such a scene was rare. A Reborn Realm martial artist against a Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator. Most people would not have the opportunity to witness it. However, he couldn't discern much. His realm was too low; at best, he could only watch the spectacle. As for observing sword intent or comprehending the true meaning of fist techniques, it had nothing to do with him.
In the blink of an eye, Xie Yiying unleashed over ten sword strikes. The sword light was incredibly sharp, even cutting the Qingfu River into several tributaries. Fortunately, the surrounding area was open and far from villages and cities, otherwise, many would have been affected. Long Dongjun, however, maintained a dominant posture. After Xie Yiying's ten-plus strikes, he had neutralized them all with just eight punches.
"Sword Immortal Xie."
Long Dongjun's brows furrowed. "My Tie Fushan can take a step back. I also ask Sword Immortal Xie not to press further. There is no need for this."
"Take a step back?"
Xie Yiying unleashed another sword strike, her eyes filled with intense killing intent. "If Tie Fushan takes a step back, can my master come back to life?"
"..."
Long Dongjun sighed inwardly. This was an insurmountable obstacle. He threw a punch into the air, forcing Xie Yiying, along with her sword, to fall back above the river, creating a concave spherical area behind her as water splashed everywhere. He raised an eyebrow slightly. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?"
Xie Yiying laughed. "I want to challenge Tie Fushan, to open the ancestral hall of Tie Fushan, to challenge your old ancestor behind your mountain, and to cut off his head with a sword to avenge my master!"
Long Dongjun's gaze turned cold. "Do you think I will agree to these things?"
"Then why the nonsense?!"
Xie Yiying gritted her teeth, and countless sword lights erupted from her Spiritual Ruins. In an instant, she controlled over a hundred flying swords, including three life-bound flying swords. Suddenly, countless flying swords filled the space between heaven and earth, attacking Long Dongjun in the air from all directions. The terror of a fifth-realm sword cultivator lay in the sheer number of flying swords, which could always catch an opponent off guard!
Facing the chaotic barrage of flying swords, Long Dongjun still maintained his arrogant posture. He punched and repelled two life-bound flying swords, and with a kick, he sent Xie Yiying, sword and all, flying back. His body spun, and the fist aura from his entire being descended like a storm, engulfing and blending all the incoming flying swords. He then conjured a fist intent to wrap around them and smashed them fiercely towards Xie Yiying above the river.
Xie Yiying's body trembled slightly. Her arms, neck, and the tiger's mouth gripping the sword were all cracked and bleeding. Facing a formidable Reborn Realm martial artist, Xie Yiying's sword techniques, no matter how powerful, were suppressed.
Long Dongjun was also not having an easy time. The chaotic flying sword attack was fierce and unpredictable. His injuries were accumulating, and his calf was even pierced by a life-bound flying sword. However, the strength of a Reborn Realm martial artist lay in their powerful physique; their flesh and blood could regenerate, so these injuries were insignificant to him. He would grow stronger as the battle progressed. In contrast, Xie Yiying's spiritual energy reserves were limited, and her attacks would only grow weaker.
...
Lin Zhao watched with his brows tightly furrowed. Judging by the situation, Xie Yiying would lose.
"Sword Immortal Xie, that's enough!"
Long Dongjun suddenly spread his arms, grabbing a life-bound flying sword from each of her hands. He frowned. "Why do you have to be so persistent? The matters of the previous generation are for the previous generation. Why force me, Long Dongjun, into a corner? Do you really think I cannot kill you?"
"You can try."
Xie Yiying flipped her wrist, and streams of river water gathered on her sword blade. In an instant, river water sword qi peeled away from the river and shot towards Long Dongjun.
In fact, Xie Yiying chose to intercept Long Dongjun on the Qingfu River for a reason. Her third life-bound flying sword, "Great Dao Near Water," could exert its strongest power in the river water, simultaneously providing a chance to kill Long Dongjun.
At that moment, the life-bound flying sword in Long Dongjun's right hand spun rapidly, trying to break free from his restraint and shred his palm into bloody pulp. At the same time, Xie Yiying's third life-bound flying sword shot out, carrying streams of river water, instantly battering Long Dongjun's chest into bloody pulp. The sword's edge hummed, directly pressing against Long Dongjun's brow, aiming to pierce the primordial spirit of the Reborn Realm martial artist!
"You... are courting death!?"
Long Dongjun was furious. He threw a fierce punch, shattering the shoulder bone of Xie Yiying's sword-wielding arm, and blood splattered everywhere. But Xie Yiying moved like a dragon, and as she swept past, the water droplets behind her transformed into sword light, shooting towards Long Dongjun. At the same time, Long Dongjun's killing intent ignited. He raised his left fist and punched straight towards the back of Xie Yiying's head!
...
They were really going to trade lives!?
Lin Zhao was stunned. At that moment, he almost without hesitation, summoned his flying sword Haoran. On the tip of the sword, streams of Confucian righteousness manifested, and with a "swish," it carved out a small Confucian world, enveloping Xie Yiying while repelling Long Dongjun's body. In an instant, Long Dongjun's punch missed, and the countless water droplet sword qi unleashed by Xie Yiying also missed.
"Ah?!"
In an instant, Xie Yiying's sword strike missed. As her body slid, she turned back and looked at the tip of the sword in astonishment, her heart trembling. It was as if she saw a scene from hundreds of years ago again. At the end of the green peak, a refined young scholar, carrying a satchel, holding an oiled paper umbrella, looked down at the boundless mortal world, and with a smile, said, "May every year and every month be thus, and the lights of ten thousand homes never extinguish."
That year, that person wore a gentleman's sword at his waist, and the tip of that sword was precisely the flying sword before her.
Xie Yiying was somewhat lost in thought. That scholar was the most captivating man she had ever met in her life.