Chapter 295: The Sword of Isolation and Determination

Not far from the ruined temple where Duan Rong was hiding, in the wild fields about seven or eight zhang away, Lv Qingzhu, in a pale green robe, was fighting with the blood monk Wuxiang.

A pale green figure and a dark red figure flickered back and forth!

The sword shadows of Lv Qingzhu appeared light and flickering, yet they contained profound inner strength, with power that seemed continuous and unending...

Lv Qingzhu suddenly struck the blade of the ring-pommel saber in Wuxiang's hand with her sword, then took advantage of the momentum to leap, her sword shadows turning to slash toward the shoulder of Wuxiang's right shoulder.

Wuxiang's ring-pommel saber was heavy and powerful, but his body was as agile as a loach; he slumped his shoulder and dodged this sword strike from Lv Qingzhu.

Although he avoided this slash from Lv Qingzhu with his shoulder, a corner of his old monk's robe, which he had worn for who knows how many years, was picked open by the edge of Lv Qingzhu's sword and flipped over onto his shoulder.

Although the outside of that monk's robe was dark red and worn, the layer inside that had been flipped open was scarlet as blood, bright and eye-catching...

Seeing his monk's robe torn, a flash of anger crossed Wuxiang's eyes.

This Sumi Saber Technique of Wuxiang's had over ten years of cultivation behind it. The ring-pommel saber in his hand was heavy and had two chips in it, but he had always used this blade and never replaced it, because his saber technique did not rely on sharpness.

After a bout of fighting with Lv Qingzhu, Wuxiang felt quite astonished. With his cultivation, if it had been an ordinary Martial Artist of the True Qi Realm Second Layer, they would have already been smashed into pulp by his Sumi Saber by now.

But Lv Qingzhu not only blocked his attacks, but within her sword moves, there seemed to be some kind of strange force slowly seeping out, which had already begun to faintly suppress him...

After all, being in a life-and-death struggle, Wuxiang's perception was far sharper than usual.

As Lv Qingzhu's sword shadows flickered, that strange force slowly seeping out was Sword Intent.

Sword Intent was originally a realm that could only be comprehended by experts of the Qi Cyclone Realm after condensing a Qi Cyclone.

A Martial Artist of the True Qi Realm could not even touch the edge of it.

But the Cold Plum Sword Art that Lv Qingzhu practiced had its own special qualities.

When Lv Qingzhu chose her True Qi Realm martial arts, combining her own preferences and her father's suggestions, she had originally selected several martial arts.

These few True Qi Realm martial arts were quite famous within the Taiyi Sect, and many accomplished Elders in the Elder Council had chosen these martial arts when they were young.

It could be said that these martial arts had been verified by countless sages.

But when Lv Qingzhu brought these martial arts to show her grandfather, her grandfather said that none of these martial arts were suitable for her.

At that time, Lv Qingzhu was only thirteen or fourteen years old, in the innocent and romantic prime of youth.

She tugged at her grandfather's beard and refused to let go, asking him that if these martial arts were not suitable, then what should she practice?

Her grandfather told her to come back in a few days; she was unwilling to agree, and it took much persuasion from her grandfather to finally convince her to leave.

A few days later, she went to find her grandfather again, and he indeed gave her a martial art, which was the Cold Plum Sword Art she was practicing now.

This Cold Plum Sword Art was a martial art created by her grandfather specifically for her.

Her grandfather lived alone in the Yougu, and on the cliff opposite the cave where he lived, there grew a cold plum tree out of a crack in the stone!

This thin plum tree, though it suffered through the bitter cold, would bloom on schedule every twelfth lunar month, facing the sky full of flying snow, opening a few small flowers on the cliff.

Her grandfather then used the Artistic Conception of this cold plum tree, combined with Lv Qingzhu's temperament, to create this martial art.

Because this martial art was created by her grandfather, it was extremely well-suited to Lv Qingzhu's temperament.

Originally, with Lv Qingzhu's True Qi Realm cultivation, it would have been impossible for her to touch the edge of Sword Intent.

But the isolated and determined Artistic Conception of the cold plum was in harmony with her heart and mind, and her intent faintly echoed the Artistic Conception her grandfather had deliberately infused when he created this martial art, which was why Lv Qingzhu, as her comprehension deepened while practicing this martial art, could gradually exude wisps of Sword Intent.

But this Sword Intent was not true Sword Intent, and therefore it was not a martial arts realm.

Instead, it was a kind of effect similar to Sword Intent achieved through the combination of mental Artistic Conception and strange sword moves.

But even this bit of additional effect had already benefited Lv Qingzhu immensely.

Because this was not true Sword Intent, it could only slowly seep out as Lv Qingzhu focused her mind.

Therefore, at the beginning, Lv Qingzhu's sword edge did not have such great power, but as one move after another of the Cold Plum Sword Art was executed, Lv Qingzhu gradually felt that she had transformed into that thin plum tree on the cliff.

She pursed her lips, her eyes clear and waveless, and a sense of isolation and determination faintly surged from her heart and the tip of her sword...

Wuxiang suddenly felt immense pressure!

The sword in Lv Qingzhu's hand at this moment not only had a lethal edge, but even within half an inch around the blade, there was powerful lethality; just a moment ago, due to a slight carelessness, his fingers had almost been sliced off.

The back of the hand Wuxiang used to hold the saber was a bloody mess, but as his mind stirred, he saw blood threads squirming and weaving on the back of his hand, and the skin instantly recovered as before.

Wuxiang's lips were chapped, and for the first time, a trace of fear appeared in his eyes as he looked at Lv Qingzhu.

He knew very well that he could no longer defeat Lv Qingzhu.

He had walked the jianghu for more than ten years and could be said to have killed countless people, but he had never seen such a terrifying martial art as Lv Qingzhu's.

When they first started fighting, Lv Qingzhu was indeed at the True Qi Realm Second Layer, but now, he could no longer be sure!

Within half an inch of the sword edge, there was powerful lethality! Was that not the legendary Sword Intent and Sword Radiance?

How could such a thing appear in the hands of a True Qi Realm Martial Artist?

Who exactly was this woman?

Just at this moment, Lv Qingzhu once again picked away a piece of the monk's robe on Wuxiang's shoulder with her sword, but this time, along with the torn robe, a piece of flesh and blood flew off...

Wuxiang felt the pain and retreated violently, but Lv Qingzhu followed like a shadow, her sword shadows flickering.

Lv Qingzhu pursed her lips, her eyes bright and clear, without a ripple, nor a trace of killing intent.

Yet her sword was as isolated and determined as a plum blossom!

That thin plum tree growing on the cliff fought against the barren rock wall, fought against the world of flying snow; on the thousand-ren precipice, there was only her isolated shadow, yet she still stood proudly in the cold, blooming flowers toward the sky full of flying snow!

That faint fragrance of isolation and determination drifting between heaven and earth! No one had ever smelled it, but it had truly existed. Had it not?

Plum of isolation and determination!

Sword of isolation and determination!

Person of isolation and determination!

Lv Qingzhu's sword edge slashed toward Wuxiang's throat!

Wuxiang leaned his body backward; although the sword edge had not reached him, that half-inch of Sword Radiance could likewise slit his throat!

In that life-and-death moment, Wuxiang's scalp felt as if it had been electrocuted, goosebumps erupted all over his body, and at the same time, blood threads burst out from the pores next to every goosebump!

The dense, squirming blood threads, like living things, instantly gathered and blocked this sword of isolation and determination from Lv Qingzhu!

Wuxiang's face was pale and his head was covered in cold sweat; a faint bloodstain on his neck was currently vanishing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Lv Qingzhu looked at Wuxiang, whose entire body was floating and writhing with blood threads, and her gaze rippled slightly; she had always known of the Filthy Blood Sect and was clear about the many miraculous and bizarre aspects of the Filthy Blood Divine Art, but this was the first time she had seen the Filthy Blood Divine Art with her own eyes.

Lv Qingzhu merely paused for a moment before her sword shadows flickered again, attacking Wuxiang!

With the Filthy Blood Divine Art protecting his body, the fear in Wuxiang's eyes faded significantly, and he began to fight fiercely with Lv Qingzhu once more.

The figures of the two shifted suddenly; Lv Qingzhu's sword shadows were like a tidal wave, but Wuxiang's heavy precept blade guarded his defenses tightly, like a rock, remaining unmoved.

Every one of Lv Qingzhu's killing moves was blocked by the living blood threads formed by the Filthy Blood Divine Art.

Both of them had almost exhausted their full strength, and the consumption was immense!

What Lv Qingzhu was consuming was True Qi!

Besides consuming True Qi, Wuxiang was also consuming the "blood" from his entire body!

The power of Lv Qingzhu's sword moves was immense, and every time the writhing blood threads gathered to block them, the consumption was also very great.

Both of them began to pant, their breathing already unstable.

Wuxiang was now gambling on whether Lv Qingzhu's True Qi would be exhausted first, or if the "blood" inside his own body used to drive the Filthy Blood Divine Art would be exhausted first.

Given Lv Qingzhu's current combat power, as long as the Filthy Blood Divine Art could not be driven, Lv Qingzhu could kill him with a single sword strike!

Just as the two were wearing each other out here, a figure suddenly walked out from the edge of the dense forest not far away!

It was the old farmer carrying Tao Rong's head!

The moment the old farmer saw the battle group here, he turned around to leave!

Although he did not know Lv Qingzhu, he knew the blood monk Wuxiang!

With Wuxiang's terrifying combat power, he had actually had his monk robe torn at both shoulders and had been forced to use the Filthy Blood Divine Art; seeing his pale face and the cold sweat all over his body, it was clear that the "blood" in his body capable of driving the Filthy Blood Divine Art was already running low.

That the woman could force the blood monk Wuxiang to this point made her terror self-evident.

The old farmer did not want to stop for even a moment and immediately wanted to flee this place.

But the moment the blood monk Wuxiang saw the old farmer, his heart was filled with joy.

Although the old farmer's martial arts realm was only Entering Micro, his Filthy Blood Divine Art had already achieved the second level, just like his own!

And the second level of the Filthy Blood Divine Art was already enough to block Lv Qingzhu's attacks!

Wuxiang shouted, "Old farmer, don't go! Let's kill this woman together!"

Hearing Wuxiang shout, the old farmer not only did not turn back, but his footsteps became even faster.

"Old farmer, are you just going to let such a stunning woman go? Look, she is much prettier than Ge Qingchuan!"

"Ge Qingchuan?" The old farmer's heart skipped a beat, and his footsteps paused slightly; the lust ignited by the previous slaughter was still burning in his body, and furthermore, he simply did not believe that there could be a woman prettier than Ge Qingchuan.

The old farmer turned around; he thought he would just go over and take a look. The two were in a fierce battle, and if he just took a look and then retreated, he shouldn't be caught in the crossfire.

Because he had only seen the woman's back from afar just now and had not seen her face.

He was just very curious about Wuxiang's words; he did not believe this woman could be prettier than Ge Qingchuan.

The old farmer stood far away, waiting to see Lv Qingzhu's face. It was also a coincidence that just as he walked over, Wuxiang and Lv Qingzhu swapped positions.

The old farmer saw Lv Qingzhu's face at a glance.

The world instantly froze there!

At that very moment, his whole person seemed to be nailed to the spot!

He had only ever seen village girls, and someone like Ge Qingchuan already struck him as heavenly!

But Lv Qingzhu was different; Lv Qingzhu did not have the affected posture of Ge Qingchuan; she possessed a natural, otherworldly temperament born from within!

Seeing the old farmer walk back, Wuxiang knew there was a chance, so he was overjoyed and called out, "Old farmer, her True Qi is already running low. You drive the second level of the Filthy Blood Divine Art, and the two of us together will wear her to death."

"As long as her True Qi is exhausted, this woman is yours! You will absolutely never meet a second beauty like this in your life!"

The old farmer was moved by what Wuxiang said. He could already see at this moment that the two were just wearing each other out, seeing who would exhaust whom first!

"Are your words true? Are you really willing to let this woman go to me?" the old farmer suddenly shouted.

Wuxiang said angrily, "Although I am brutal, I have always kept my word. If you don't believe me, then get lost!"

The old farmer chuckled; he knew that this was just Wuxiang's temperament.

The old farmer's gaze swept over Lv Qingzhu's face and waist, and the heat in his lower abdomen became even more intense than before.

He touched the lapel of his chest, where there was a bottle of potent aphrodisiac in the inner pocket of his clothes...

He glanced at Lv Qingzhu; Lv Qingzhu's face was pale, and there was a layer of fine sweat on her forehead, clearly also having consumed a great deal.

Moreover, he had the second level of the Filthy Blood Divine Art protecting his body, so it was indeed a fightable battle!

The old farmer suddenly leaped, jumping onto the large zelkova tree beside him; there was a bird's nest in the fork of the zelkova tree, and the old farmer stood by the branch, placed the head of Tao Rong in his hand into the bird's nest, and then landed gracefully.

The moment the old farmer landed, blood threads erupted all over his body; he pulled a firewood axe from his back waist and charged into the battle group!

The old farmer's martial arts realm was only Entering Micro, not on the same level as Lv Qingzhu and Wuxiang at all.

However, his Filthy Blood Divine Art had already achieved the second level, not inferior to Wuxiang in the slightest; as soon as he joined the battle group, he began to harass Lv Qingzhu incessantly.

The old farmer appeared dull and sluggish, but he was actually extremely cunning; he only swung his axe to harass her when Lv Qingzhu attacked Wuxiang, and as soon as Lv Qingzhu's sword tip turned toward him, he immediately withdrew his axe and only used the Filthy Blood Divine Art to block Lv Qingzhu's attacks, and at this time, behind Lv Qingzhu, the blood monk Wuxiang's precept blade would smash toward her with the force of Mount Sumeru.

Lv Qingzhu was stretched thin, exhausted from dealing with them.

The old farmer and Wuxiang gradually formed a pincer attack on Lv Qingzhu, forcing Lv Qingzhu to retreat step by step!

The True Qi in Lv Qingzhu's dantian was becoming less and less, and looking at these two monsters floating and writhing with blood threads before her, a touch of fear rose in her heart.

She glanced at the Official Road in the distance behind the two, only to see that the thick smoke on the Official Road had already dissipated...

She was wondering, where was A Mo?

She suddenly thought that since she had been intercepted, A Mo must also have been intercepted, and since A Mo had not come to find her for so long, it seemed that the person who intercepted A Mo was certainly not weak either!

As Lv Qingzhu thought this, she suddenly discovered that she had been forced by the two to the entrance of the dilapidated temple not far away.

The two were clearly doing this on purpose, wanting to force her into the dilapidated temple to further compress her room for maneuvering.

Although Lv Qingzhu understood the two's intentions, the two were now joining forces and had steadily suppressed her, so she had no choice but to be forced by the two until one foot stepped into the temple gate.

As Lv Qingzhu stepped one foot into the temple gate, she was shocked to see a corpse lying on the ground at the entrance; the corpse had been severed at the waist, and blood filaments were wriggling at the severed waist...

Judging by the clothing, it was clearly that fortune teller...

A joy rose in Lv Qingzhu's heart; she had previously seen with her own eyes Duan Rong and that fortune teller enter the dilapidated temple one after the other.

She assumed that Duan Rong had killed the fortune teller and was still inside the temple, and would be able to provide support for her.

Lv Qingzhu retreated into the dilapidated temple of her own accord, only to discover to her shock that the temple was empty, with only a piece of tattered cloth fluttering at the collapsed corner...

Clearly, after Duan Rong killed the fortune teller, he had escaped through that collapsed hole...

Upon seeing the fortune teller's corpse, both Xueseng Wuxiang and the old farmer were greatly alarmed!

Xueseng Wuxiang had watched with his own eyes as the fortune teller chased Duan Rong into the dilapidated temple, so how could he have been killed in a counter-attack?

When Ge Qingchuan deployed troops and arranged formations, he would always try his best to arrange situations where the strong faced the weak.

How could the fortune teller have been killed so easily?

(End of chapter)