In the blink of an eye, the phantom sword blades descended like a fierce storm of rain, each sword layered with twelve levels of sword intent, infused with Gu Shenzhi’s full strength, radiating sword energy capable of cleaving mountains and rivers.
The sound of flying swords slicing through the air was endless. What Su Linghuang faced now was a sword rain so dense and overwhelming it seemed like an enormous, thick net stretching across the sky.
The Scarlet Lotus Saintess immediately twisted her wrist, renewing her sword intent, her aura surging higher and higher. The sharp edge of [Evil Phoenix] fiercely tore through one gap after another in the overwhelming net.
Amid hundreds of cuts and thousands of strikes, Su Linghuang showed no sign of fatigue. On the contrary, her movements grew faster, and her swordsmanship mindset rose like the tide.
Yet, this surface-level strength could not change the fact that trapped within the Demon-Slaying Sword Formation, she was like a worn-out crossbow bolt, nearing her limit. Despite her rapid progress, she was ultimately outmatched by Gu Shenzhi’s several moves ahead.
The black-clad youth gazed at the struggling Su Linghuang and let out a soft sigh.
Out of respect for his “enemy,” he formed a sword seal, and the Demon-Slaying Sword Formation immediately shifted. The previously dense sword rain rapidly withdrew, converging at the formation’s center.
At this moment, all swords returned as one!
A five-clawed true dragon formed from the phantom swords roared as it lunged toward the white-clad girl. The dragon’s roar surged with passion, its claws sweeping over the lake’s surface, stirring up massive waves.
Gradually, the water calmed. Su Linghuang, her spiritual power exhausted, blinked her eyes and weakly sank into the water. She knew that if Gu Shenzhi hadn’t dismantled the formation at the last moment, she would have surely perished and lost her cultivation.
But it was okay—she trusted him just as he trusted her.
Moments later, a gentle and considerate arm pulled her from the water, holding her delicate body tightly.
“Don’t… take advantage of me. This Saintess… hasn’t forgiven you yet.” The drenched white-clad girl spoke weakly, utterly exhausted.
Hearing this, Gu Shenzhi smiled and said, “At a time like this, Linghuang, can you stop caring about these little details? It’s not like I’ve never held you before.”
“This is different!” Su Linghuang retorted coquettishly, but then relaxed her body, willingly leaning into his embrace.
Finding a clean, flat boulder on the lakeshore, Gu Shenzhi gently laid down the beautiful girl in his arms. He regulated his breathing, channeling his remaining spiritual power into her to heal her wounds.
Feeling the gentle trickle of power flowing through her body, coursing through every limb and meridian, Su Linghuang couldn’t help but hum softly with pleasure, like celestial music on earth.
“Mm, be gentle~”
“Alright, then I’ll follow your lead,” Gu Shenzhi gradually slowed the spiritual power flow and adjusted his posture to make the white-clad girl more comfortable.
For some reason, despite knowing this scoundrel had repeatedly sought out other beautiful women behind her back, Su Linghuang, resting her head on his shoulder, felt not disgust but a strange sense of security.
At least for now, Gu Shenzhi belonged solely to her.
After about the time it takes for incense to burn down, Gu Shenzhi slowly rose and spoke softly, “Saintess, from the looks of things, you’re no longer in critical condition. Rest for two or three days, and you’ll recover fully.”
Upon hearing this, Su Linghuang blinked open her eyes, as if waking from a dream. Exhausted, she had actually fallen asleep for a short while just now.
She reluctantly left the youth’s embrace, half-annoyed, half-surprised, and asked, “How do you still have so much spiritual power? Even with late Nascent Soul cultivation, your dantian should be long drained after using such a technique.”
Gu Shenzhi held up two fingers and began to lecture in a teacher-like tone, “First, although my talent is poor, I possess a supreme Wood Spirit Root, so my spiritual power recovers far faster than most. Secondly, the sword technique I use is special. I can’t say much—it’s a secret.”
The Remnant Sword Technique has been passed down only between successive heads of the Spirit Sword Sect, and what outsiders know is limited. Few have ever seen its true mystery or the exact form of the moves.
After all, most who have seen this technique have long since turned to bones.
If malicious forces learned that Gu Shenzhi, a spirit cultivator, had mastered both the Human Emperor’s two great sword styles, many secret powers would surely be unable to resist their dark desires and stir.
Only Bai Qi and Mu Zhonghua knew this truth on-site. The former was unsurprising, while the latter was probably connected to his own rakish and wildly flirtatious father.
Gu Shenzhi pondered silently.
“Even you can’t tell me?” Su Linghuang asked curiously, blinking her beautiful starry eyes.
“Hmm… If you insist, Linghuang, I suppose it’s not impossible. But you should be prepared. This secret is as significant as the Double-Pupil Eye.”
Gu Shenzhi said casually, as if it were a trivial matter.
“Then I won’t ask,” Su Linghuang muttered gloomily.
After a moment of silence, she slowly looked up at the black-clad youth, feigning casualness, and asked, “If, hypothetically, you had the chance to marry another woman, who would you choose?”
The Scarlet Lotus Saintess’s delicate body trembled slightly, her jade hand unconsciously playing with the hem of her skirt, visibly nervous.
At such a time, in such a place, with such a sudden, strange question, Gu Shenzhi was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered.
Without hesitation, he answered, “Of course, Su Linghuang.”
“She won’t do. Pick someone else!”
Seeing the girl so serious, Gu Shenzhi felt a flicker of doubt and cautiously asked, “Then who do you think would be more suitable?”
“You have plenty of beauties—Bai Qi, Nangong Yu—they’re no good. And there’s Sister Mo, just in time for the Martial Marriage Competition. You have the advantage!”
“Besides, it’s you who’s marrying, not me. Does my opinion even matter?!”
Gu Shenzhi instinctively nodded but immediately met Su Linghuang’s dagger-like glare, nearly breaking into a cold sweat.
“Can I not answer?” he asked.
“No!”
The Scarlet Lotus Saintess said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Gu Shenzhi pondered for a long time, countless memories flooding his mind. The faces of several stunning beauties flashed past like a revolving lantern, finally settling on the pink-clad girl holding an oil-paper umbrella.
“Peach trees flourishing, their blossoms bright and brilliant…”
He whispered, not naming her directly but almost revealing everything.
Su Linghuang hummed softly and turned her head toward the shadow of the leaves, hiding her expression from him.
After a long time, she reached out and gently took the black-clad youth’s hand, speaking softly:
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said tonight. I’m not angry, and I don’t blame you.”
Though she said this, inside her heart was a tangled mess of feelings.
Peach Tian, huh? Better than that shameless woman from the Spirit Sword Sect.
Su Linghuang comforted herself this way.
The next day, the sky was overcast, with a fine drizzle misting the air.
Gu Shenzhi deliberately changed into a clean blue and white Daoist robe and arrived at the Martial Marriage Competition arena half an hour early, stepping onto the platform with an imposing presence.
Linghuang’s injuries from last night were still not healed, and without revealing her Divine Phoenix bloodline, it definitely wouldn’t be Nangong Yu’s hands.
So, this battle would be his to take care of!