These two really knew how to keep their composure!
Just dangling the bait so deliberately and unhurriedly, like training a hawk, slowly grinding down Shangguan Yunzhu’s stamina and spiritual power with the dullness of a blunt blade cutting flesh.
Did they really not fear that Tianyuan Sect would send another immortal northward to search?!
Though Tianyuan Sect was not a top-tier sect, it was still one of the solid Three Teachings immortality sects, with profound foundations that couldn’t be underestimated.
If Xuanmo Shigu and her team failed to return on time, the sect would surely dispatch an immortal to track them down!
And here Qingfeng and his group dawdled and hesitated, as if they wanted to court death!
No matter how you put it, this fake warm guy’s real intention was just lusting after this ice queen’s body.
Tsk, despicable!
Lu Qiancha (Female) put her disguise back on and shifted her figure—the handsome Tianquan Peak Senior Brother reappeared.
Then, locking her spiritual sense on Shangguan Yunzhu, he activated a spell, casting the Wind Whisper Spell to send a voice directly into Shangguan Yunzhu’s ear.
“Treat the place you’re facing as the ‘Li’ position, retreat to the ‘Qian’ position, ten feet away.”
Shangguan Yunzhu, who had been desperately resisting the barrage of magical attacks atop her sword, was suddenly jolted.
That voice—was it Senior Brother Qiancha?
How could he be here?!
Though puzzled, Shangguan Yunzhu instinctively followed the instructions, stepping onto the flying sword and retreating close to the ground.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Two sharp, sinister streaks of light barely missed the spot where she had just hovered, smashing into the snow and sending a spray of shattered ice into the air!
“Retreat again, to the ‘Dui’ position, six feet.”
Lu Qiancha’s voice carried a faint urgency. Without hesitation, Shangguan Yunzhu bent her sword light once more! Another sneaky magical attack nearly grazed the back of her neck!
Immediately, Lu Qiancha’s voice flooded her ear continuously:
“Don’t daze off, seize the chance to counterattack! Control your expression, reveal no flaws! There’s a hidden Yin-Yang Killing Formation beneath the cliff—lure them over and use the formation to defeat the enemy. Move three feet into the ‘Kan’ position, then five feet toward ‘Kun.’”
Shangguan Yunzhu’s originally dim eyes swiftly brightened; she pressed her cherry lips tight, responding silently in her heart.
Soon, in the eyes of the four black-clad assassins pursuing her, as well as Qingfeng and Qiong Gong patrolling above, the once battered and struggling figure suddenly transformed!
Her steps became as nimble as a butterfly flitting through flowers, sword light weaving with ease.
Could this be a breakthrough in the heat of battle?
The combined assault of the four attackers was mostly dodged; the flying sword, which had only been used defensively before, immediately found an opening to counterattack.
With offense and defense shifting like this, Shangguan Yunzhu’s pressure lessened drastically. Guided by the voice, she moved cautiously as if treading on thin ice, approaching the area hiding the deadly trap.
Finally, she reached the base of the cliff.
Next…
Lu Qiancha’s voice continued:
“Move three feet further into ‘Kan,’ then retreat nine feet to ‘Li!’ Follow my guidance. You’ve stepped to the edge of the formation. When I say ‘retreat quickly,’ you must flee with all your strength—no hesitation!”
Shangguan Yunzhu silently acknowledged and pressed her slender fingers, summoning the hot glow of the surrounding flying swords.
They buzzed with a clear tone, weaving a nearly impenetrable sword net! Her long skirt fluttered in the snowy plain’s firelight, graceful as a celestial.
In the air, Qingfeng watched the agile, fairy-like Shangguan Yunzhu below, his eyes full of infatuation.
“General Qiong, this time we absolutely cannot let Yunzhu escape!”
“Fourth Young Master, rest assured. Last time, we were caught off guard by her teleportation talisman,” Qiong Gong replied in a low voice, “her spiritual power is nearly depleted.”
“Once she retreats to the cliff’s edge, I will strike to force her out. Then you can appear immediately to shield her from the ‘fatal blow.’”
“If I use Ying Poison again, that will complete the strategy.”
“Thank you for your efforts, General Qiong.” Qingfeng nodded slightly, coldness flickering in his eyes as he stared at the distant figure.
Qiong Gong’s voice deepened:
“Fourth Young Master, Ying Poison requires at least a sliver of affection to take effect. If the Sixth Princess feels only disgust toward you, the poison will fail. Then, we’ll have no choice but to kill her on the spot. Please keep that in mind.”
Qingfeng clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles whitened; a flash of fierce anger passed through his eyes, but he said nothing.
Below, under Lu Qiancha’s precise guidance, Shangguan Yunzhu danced like she was on a knife’s edge.
Her figure flitted, and with her pursuers circling the invisible boundary of the Yin-Yang Killing Formation, she successfully separated herself from the four black-clad assassins—dividing them on opposite sides of the formation.
At that moment, one black-clad figure accidentally stepped into the formation’s range.
Lu Qiancha’s eyes gleamed sharply as he watched from the side; a single word—“Retreat quickly!”—slipped into Shangguan Yunzhu’s ear.
With an explosive burst of fire from her flying sword, Shangguan Yunzhu’s graceful form darted backward, causing the incoming streaks of light to miss their mark.
The four black-clad men, focused solely on capturing their prey, failed to notice the deadly trap beneath their feet and lunged forward without hesitation.
Buzz!
A terrifying giant claw, condensed from pure destructive energy and wrapped in the power of tearing laws, suddenly reached out from the void with no warning, bringing with it a brutal force that crushed all in its path.
Sizzle—!
Like a hot knife slicing through butter!
The four black-clad warriors, along with the glowing shields of their protective treasures and their shocked expressions, were instantly cleaved into eight neat, bloody halves beneath that claw.
“What a vicious girl! She dared set this killing formation against my men!!”
A roar filled with fury, heartbreak, and disbelief tore through the sky. Qiong Gong’s burly figure broke through the thick mist, bearing down with oppressive spiritual pressure.
His heavy tempered iron blade churned with the weight of a thousand forces, swinging down like a collapsing mountain at the barely steady Shangguan Yunzhu’s head.
A cold shock struck Shangguan Yunzhu’s heart; she spun her sword fingers wildly, trying to block Qiong Gong with flying swords.
Clang! Clang! Crack!
Her flying swords were shattered outright by that violent, domineering blade. The swing only faltered briefly before the overwhelming force resumed its descent.
It was about to cleave her in two.
In the nick of time!
A green shadow, light as the wind and carrying the fresh aura of plants, flashed forth and blocked the fatal blade—Qingfeng!
“Fool!”
Seeing Qingfeng arrive, Qiong Gong exploded in fury, cursing internally. What kind of foolish drama was this?
Did he not notice the situation was off? How could he still be playing the role of the hero protecting the beauty?!
This wild mountain range suddenly appeared with a killing formation—were his eyes just decoration?! There was obviously a powerful ally hidden in the shadows!
Though nearly boiling with rage, Qiong Gong had to forcibly divert the blade’s immense force to the side despite internal injuries.
Boom!
The blade sliced a deep chasm several dozen feet long into the ice cliff!
“Fourth Young Master! Stop acting! Kill her now!!” Qiong Gong bellowed, veins bulging on his forehead, his voice hoarse from restraining his strength.
Yet to Qingfeng, still caught up in his “hero saving the beauty” act, Qiong Gong’s words sounded like a secret signal—a cue to express deep feelings for Yunzhu, to angrily rebuke Qiong Gong from her side so he would have the chance to unleash the Ying Poison!
Understanding this “true meaning,” Qingfeng’s spirit surged with energy.
His eyes instantly filled with sorrow and deep affection as he yelled fiercely at Qiong Gong:
“Qiong Gong! You heartless villain! I curse myself for being blind before, not realizing your wicked intentions and allowing you to harm Yunzhu!”
“If I had known, I would have had Xuanmo Shigu crush your bones to dust on that flying boat!”
His words were righteous and heartfelt.
“Fool!”
Qiong Gong couldn’t help but curse out loud. He already looked down on Qingfeng for spending forty years and failing to win a woman’s heart, but now his disgust reached a new height.
“Hmph!”
Qingfeng’s expression turned colder, drawing his immortal sword as he tangled fiercely with Qiong Gong.
Qiong Gong was furious to the point of gnashing his teeth, but he could only hold back.
After all, Qingfeng was their most important pawn; if he died, it would be impossible to explain, and all their arrangements on him would be wiped out.
Shangguan Yunzhu was a little confused by the bitter melodrama the two snakes were playing out, but she didn’t waste this precious moment.
She swallowed several Returning Essence Pills to replenish her spiritual power.
After fighting for a while, Qingfeng grew impatient and transmitted to Qiong Gong, “General Qiong, why haven’t you used the Ying Poison yet?!”
“Damn it, I told you to stop acting! Kill Shangguan Yunzhu already!”
Qiong Gong cursed loudly, ignoring the Fourth Young Master entirely, causing Qingfeng to fall silent for a while.
By the time the two finally coordinated to attack Shangguan Yunzhu, Lu Qiancha had already achieved the goal of this mission—the Essence-Returning Fruit.
But Lu Qiancha had no intention of turning around and leaving; on the contrary, she planned to go all out.
Although Qingfeng, fighting Shangguan Yunzhu at the same level of cultivation, was completely overwhelmed and nearly pierced by flying swords several times.
Qiong Gong, who should have been the main force, was forced to play the role of a fireman!
Just as he gathered energy to land a heavy blow on Shangguan Yunzhu, he saw Qingfeng about to be pierced again and hastily drew his blade to block the fatal strike with a clang.
The two ended up producing a 1+1<1 effect.