Chapter 509: A Slash in Mid-Air

Zhao Yifu sat on a large boulder in the dense forest, a pile of mountain fruits placed by his feet; they were red, yellow, white, and green, piled into a heap, varying in size, and he relied on these things to pass the desolate time of the day.

He was originally a subordinate of Yang Sixuan, the Division Head of the Zongzheng Adjudication Division, but because he made a mistake while out on a mission, he was exiled here to the Iron Enclosure Mountain to guard the Tower Forest.

In the blink of an eye, he had already spent over four months in these lonely days, and seeing that there was only a little over a month left, he would be able to end this half-year punishment.

"To have a cultivator at the Qi Cyclone Realm like me sent to such a godforsaken place to guard the Tower Forest. Truly, a hero has no place to display his prowess!"

As Zhao Yifu sighed, he picked up a bright red berry and bit off more than half, the juice bursting out in his thick-lipped mouth.

He was born with his upper lip curled high, a somewhat ugly appearance, and at this moment, quite a bit of juice had splashed onto that curled lip; he was just about to raise his sleeve to wipe it when his gaze suddenly froze, his previously listless eyes instantly turning sharp.

He was responsible for guarding the southeast side of the Tower Forest, and although he sat on a large boulder in the dense forest surrounded only by withered branches and fallen leaves, his Divine Sense had long been fully released, completely shrouding the southeast area with him at the center.

The very moment the berry burst in his mouth, under the probing of his Divine Sense, he "saw" a figure walk out from the mountain hollow outside the dense forest, slowly walking toward this forest.

He was responsible for guarding the southeast of the Tower Forest, and the dense forest surrounding the Tower Forest was already a forbidden area; unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter at will.

Zhao Yifu's Divine Sense instantly concentrated and shrouded that figure.

The sky was just beginning to brighten when Duan Rong was already sitting in that mountain hollow. As for Fan Hongjiao, Ximen Kankan, and Shen Mizhi, he had already made arrangements, and all three were lurking nearby, each with their own tasks.

Duan Rong sat on a tree stump in the mountain hollow, listlessly picking at the dried-up mushrooms growing on the side of the stump, when at this moment, he heard the sound of a Copper Chime faintly coming from the direction of the Tower Forest.

He threw away the dried mushroom he had been fiddling with, stood up, clapped his hands, and walked slowly out of the mountain hollow, heading toward the edge of the dense forest against the just-rising dawn.

When he was still a zhang away from the edge of the dense forest, Duan Rong felt a Divine Sense sweep toward him; that Divine Sense gathered and shrouded him, penetrating his dantian.

"Plop!"

Inside the dense forest, the half-eaten berry in Zhao Yifu's mouth fell onto the craggy boulder by his feet, splashing out a cluster of bright red.

The person who had come was actually a powerhouse of the Qi Cyclone Realm!

Zhao Yifu's expression became even more solemn in an instant, and with a flicker of his figure, he flashed over.

Just as Duan Rong reached the edge of the dense forest, a figure suddenly blocked his path.

The two locked eyes.

Zhao Yifu's expression was unfriendly, his gaze suspicious, as he asked, "Who are you?"

Duan Rong chuckled slightly and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother. I am a disciple under Elder Zhu He of Yunfu Peak, Duan Rong. Having nothing to do today, I am strolling through these mountains, and seeing that the scenery here is beautiful, I thought I would take a tour."

Duan Rong stated his name directly. He had come to rescue Xiao Yu from the Tower Forest and had never intended to hide it; Xiao Yu was his wife, and the Sect would find out as soon as they investigated, so there was no point in playing games.

Seeing that the newcomer had reported his sect and identity, Zhao Yifu's expression softened slightly, and coupled with the fact that Duan Rong was a cultivator of the Qi Cyclone Realm, Zhao Yifu's attitude immediately improved a little.

"Oh. This Senior Brother, this dense forest is a forbidden area of the Sect and cannot be toured at will. Please leave, Senior Brother."

"Is that so?" Duan Rong feigned surprise and realization, saying, "This dense forest is a forbidden area of the Sect?!"

"Exactly!" Zhao Yifu looked at Duan Rong and said with a firm tone.

"That's fine, that's fine." Duan Rong laughed, "Then I simply won't enter this dense forest."

As Duan Rong spoke, he actually began to stroll leisurely along the edge of the dense forest, while Zhao Yifu stood there with a somewhat helpless expression.

According to the rules, only the inside of the dense forest was a forbidden area; one could walk outside the dense forest. Duan Rong was skirting the edge and exploiting a loophole, and he could do nothing about it. If it were ordinary unauthorized personnel, he would have driven them away long ago, but this person happened to have decent cultivation and a very humble attitude, so Zhao Yifu really found it hard to say anything for the moment, and could only stand there, his eyes fixed on Duan Rong as he wandered along the edge of the forest.

When Duan Rong was about three zhang away from Zhao Yifu, he suddenly stopped and turned his head to grin at Zhao Yifu. It was a brilliant grin!

Looking at Duan Rong's harmless smile, Zhao Yifu thought that Duan Rong was finally going to leave and was just greeting him, so he returned the smile, but the next moment, Zhao Yifu's smile froze on his face.

Because Duan Rong suddenly withdrew his smile, his figure flickered, and like a ghost, he darted into the dense forest.

"Damn it! Are you playing with me here?!"

In Zhao Yifu's view, Duan Rong was deliberately teasing him. In fact, that was not the case; Duan Rong had been to this dense forest before, but at that time, these guards had not appeared at all because Duan Rong was only at the Qi Refining Realm, which in their eyes was not worth looking at, so they would not care about him at all.

As soon as Duan Rong wanted to step into the dense forest, they would simply kick him out.

But now, Duan Rong had already achieved the Qi Cyclone Realm. His cultivation was enough to attract Zhao Yifu's attention.

Duan Rong had walked slowly to lure him out, then used the excuse to create distance between them before suddenly launching an attack, all to buy himself the most time to cross the dense forest and rescue Xiao Yu.

The moment Zhao Yifu darted into the dense forest, Duan Rong had already reached the large blue stone where he had been sitting, his Qi fluctuating, stepping without leaving a trace.

Moving through the dense forest, Duan Rong's figure was as slippery as a loach.

Seeing that he was about to pass through the dense forest, he could already see the faint outline of the Tower Forest through the gaps in the tree shadows, but at this moment, Zhao Yifu had already almost caught up to him.

Although Duan Rong was a Qi Cyclone Realm cultivator, he had not yet achieved the First Layer of the Qi Cyclone Realm. In terms of cultivation level alone, Zhao Yifu still had the upper hand, which was reflected in his movement speed.

In terms of speed, Zhao Yifu was actually faster than Duan Rong.

If it weren't for Duan Rong's sudden attack and his abrupt turn into the dense forest, he would have intercepted Duan Rong in the middle of the forest long ago.

The moment Duan Rong darted out of the dense forest, Zhao Yifu followed him out.

Xiao Yu finally saw him. That black shadow had already darted out of the dense forest.

It was Duan Rong!

This was a scene she had never dared to dream of.

Tears instantly burst from her eyes; she had long forgotten everything around her, and in her eyes, there was only Duan Rong's figure. The mountains, the dense forest, and the Tower Forest no longer existed, and Xiao Yu ran and shouted, "Duan Rong!..."

Duan Rong's figure was still in mid-air, walking through the air, and he saw Xiao Yu in the crowd at a glance, unable to help but smile at her.

Xiao Yu's cry was like a drum beating in her heart; only she herself could feel the surging of her life force at this moment...

If Duan Rong could come, she would have no regrets even in death.

Duan Rong saw Xiao Yu running toward him, but he did not go to meet her; instead, in mid-air, he suddenly spurred his thoughts, and the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown above his head opened and closed of their own accord, controlling the reversal of the airflow around his body.

He suddenly twisted his waist and raised his arm, pulling out the Frost Pattern Phosphorus Crystal Blade from his waist, and with a flash of white light, he slashed at Zhao Yifu who was chasing from behind.

Duan Rong's mid-air turning slash was launched abruptly, yet the movement possessed a natural, graceful rhythm that made Zhao Yifu's heart skip a beat.

Seeing Duan Rong's movement speed earlier, he had assumed that this kid's cultivation level was slightly inferior to his own and was very confident in intercepting him.

But seeing this mid-air turning slash, which was like a swallow skimming the water, blending sharpness and grace into one, it was clear that this kid's comprehension of martial arts was far higher than his own.

Zhao Yifu was also a Qi Cyclone Realm powerhouse who had grasped the rudiments of an Artistic Conception, so he still had that much discernment.

He was quite astonished; how could someone with lower cultivation than him have such profound comprehension of martial arts?

It was no wonder Zhao Yifu was astonished, for any Qi Cyclone Realm cultivator knew that the comprehension of Artistic Conception was fundamental, because the more mature and formed the Artistic Conception, the better the Mental Power could use it to control the surging Qi and prevent the airflow from collapsing.

Therefore, as the Artistic Conception matures and takes shape, the Qi Cyclone within the dantian will grow larger and more solid as it condenses, which is the reason for the differences in the four levels of the Qi Cyclone Realm.

The most difficult things to comprehend and improve are the Artistic Conception; as for the corresponding condensation of the Qi Cyclone, it is merely a matter of patient effort and natural progression.

But the so-called barrier of Artistic Conception simply does not exist for Duan Rong. His cultivation is naturally something that a normal cultivator like Zhao Mu cannot understand.

Although thoughts were churning in Zhao Mu's mind, seeing Duan Rong slash over from the air, he also slashed diagonally, meeting him head-on.

Zhao Mu slashed out, and Blade Radiance suddenly appeared!

Just as Zhao Mu's Blade Radiance appeared, Blade Radiance also bloomed from the edge of Duan Rong's blade!

Aggressive as fire, as if substantial!

"What!?"

Zhao Mu's expression changed drastically!

Duan Rong's Blade Radiance was several levels higher than his. It was almost no different from the Blade Radiance bloomed by the Great Perfection Qi Cyclone Realm cultivators he had seen!

That substantial form and the powerful, flickering, and darting strength all displayed the ferocity of a mature Artistic Conception!

"A mature Artistic Conception? How is this possible!?"

In contrast, the Blade Radiance in Zhao Mu's hand looked shriveled, like a dying ember...

The two blades had already met in mid-air; in terms of cultivation, Duan Rong was indeed half a step behind Zhao Mu, but the moment those two forms of Blade Radiance touched, Zhao Mu's long blade nearly flew from his hand, and he himself was sent flying backward, his internal energy in chaos...

Duan Rong's Artistic Conception, after devouring and merging, and being stimulated by the origin of the Artistic Conception contained within that painting by Gu Daoling, was already incomparably powerful.

The power he unleashed against Zhao Mu startled even himself.

He clearly saw Zhao Mu's Blade Radiance extinguish the moment they touched, and his own Artistic Conception energy instantly penetrated through the weapon and struck into Zhao Mu's meridians...

This is absolutely not something that should happen when cultivators of the same rank fight.

But this was a critical moment, and Duan Rong had no time to think; he slashed Zhao Mu back, turned in mid-air, and swept toward Xiao Yu, who was running over, like a great bird.

In the Tower Forest, amidst the gazes of countless people, Xiao Yu was suddenly scooped up by Duan Rong as she called out, and they soared into the sky!

Zhao Mu watched with an ugly expression as Duan Rong flew out of the Tower Forest holding a woman; his right arm, having been invaded by Duan Rong's energy, was temporarily unable to exert force.

Zhao Mu suddenly channeled energy into his dantian and let out a long roar toward the sky.

The roar, bolstered by his energy, shook the wilderness!

From the northwest, southwest, and northeast of the Tower Forest, a figure appeared from each direction, whistling over upon hearing the sound.

Duan Rong held Xiao Yu in front, Zhao Mu chased closely behind, and three more figures were also whistling over from the dense forest.

While Zhao Mu pursued, he channeled energy to force out the chaotic energy in his right arm's meridians.

Duan Rong's cultivation was slightly inferior to Zhao Mu's; using Three Flowers Gather at the Crown to drive the airflow, his speed at Wind Riding was already slower than Zhao Mu's, and with Xiao Yu in his arms, he was about to be caught.

Xiao Yu lay in Duan Rong's arms in tears, her eyes never leaving him for a moment; she glanced from Duan Rong's shoulder at the pursuer behind, whose speed was clearly faster than Duan Rong's, the distance was closing, and not far behind him, three more figures were rushing over.

Xiao Yu's expression was sorrowful; she stopped looking at the pursuers behind, withdrew her gaze, and looked steadily at Duan Rong, saying, "Duan Rong, thank you for coming. Just seeing each other is enough; you don't have to really abduct me out of the Tower Forest. If you do that, you will be punished. Let me go back, that person is about to catch up. Duan Rong, I am already satisfied that you came this time. It is enough!"

Duan Rong held Xiao Yu and looked toward a mountain peak amidst the misty clouds; that was where he was taking Xiao Yu. He heard her and said, "Don't be afraid, Xiao Yu! I will take you home!"

"Home?" Xiao Yu trembled all over; she hugged Duan Rong tightly and said with a trembling voice, "But... the Sect..."

Duan Rong said, "Believe me, everything will pass."

Xiao Yu stared blankly at Duan Rong; Duan Rong's eyes were bright and firm, and those eyes seemed to give her infinite courage. Although she saw the figures behind catching up, at this moment she believed in Duan Rong incomparably.

She just knew that Duan Rong would definitely take her home.

"Duan Rong, I don't want to die in the tower, take me away!" Xiao Yu buried her head in Duan Rong's chest; she did not look at the pursuers behind, nor did she look at anything around her; she entrusted her life to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "You won't die in the tower. You haven't given birth to my children yet."

At this moment, Zhao Mu, who was chasing behind, was only a little over a zhang away from them. Zhao Mu had already forced out the chaotic energy in his arm; he had already made up his mind: once he caught up to Duan Rong, he would only entangle him and never clash head-on. As long as he could stall Duan Rong for a while until the three people behind arrived, the four of them against one—even if this brat's Artistic Conception was strong, they could wear him to death.

Just then, Zhao Mu suddenly discovered that in the misty clouds to his side, a graceful figure in a red dress suddenly appeared.

Duan Rong was not at all nervous about Zhao Mu's approach; he knew that Fan Hongjiao would choose the best time to appear. Sure enough, just as Zhao Mu was about to catch up, Fan Hongjiao suddenly flashed out from the misty clouds.

She stood in the void in mid-air, stepping on clouds, and deliberately called out with a look of astonishment, "Eh, little Disciple, why are you here? What are you doing?"

Duan Rong naturally knew she was acting, so he wore a smile on his face and shouted back, "Senior Sister, help! Those people behind want to kill me! Senior Sister, save me quickly!"

Duan Rong's cry was very panicked and miserable, which made Zhao Mu behind him pause. After half a second, he realized that the person Duan Rong said wanted to kill him was talking about him!

Fan Hongjiao's willow eyebrows stood up, and she yelled, "Which blind thing dares to kill my little Disciple!? Do you think my Yunfu Peak is easy to bully!?"

As Fan Hongjiao spoke, she had already turned into a red cloud and whistled over.

Zhao Mu saw the red cloud attacking him, fast as a ghostly shadow; he still wanted to explain, "No, don't listen to his..."

But Fan Hongjiao had already kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backward.

In mid-air, after Fan Hongjiao kicked Zhao Mu away, she flicked her right hand, and a Python Whip was in her grasp; with a flick of the whip shadow, she coiled toward the other three who were whistling in pursuit.

Duan Rong held Xiao Yu and headed toward that misty mountain peak; he glanced at Fan Hongjiao behind him from the corner of his eye and couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Senior Sister Fierce, you really are amazing!"

Although Fan Hongjiao was powerful, being besieged by four Qi Cyclone Realm experts was not easy to deal with for a while, but her whip shadows flickered, and among the four, not one could escape the battle circle.

But whenever someone wanted to escape the battle circle to chase Duan Rong, they were immediately greeted by her long whip and had to fall back into the entanglement.

"Fan Hongjiao, you actually indulge your Disciple to abduct someone from the Tower Forest; do you know what crime this is?!"

A person like Fan Hongjiao naturally had quite a reputation throughout the Taiyi Sect; the four guarding the Tower Forest actually all recognized her.

Fan Hongjiao said, "Bullshit! If you want to kill my little Disciple, you have to get past me first!" Fan Hongjiao just kept playing dumb and feigning ignorance.

They all understood Fan Hongjiao's words because the two had shouted loudly just now, and they had heard it.

"What are you saying! You believe that brat's nonsense?"

"Didn't you see the person he's holding in his arms? That's a disciple from the Tower Forest!?"

"Is that so?" Fan Hongjiao feigned confusion and glanced behind her, seeing that Duan Rong had already landed on that mountain peak; according to the agreement, her mission was already completed at this time.

"Nonsense! Otherwise, why would we, who guard the Tower Forest, chase him? And why would we want to kill him for no reason? We are just catching him to take him back to report to the Sect! Fan Hongjiao, are you being used as a tool by your Disciple!?"

"So that's how it is! Then it really was a misunderstanding!" Fan Hongjiao suddenly retreated, clearing the way, and laughed, "Then, the four of you, it was my recklessness! Then you go quickly and catch my muddled Disciple. He just abducted someone and went to that mountain peak."

Fan Hongjiao spoke, pointing toward the mountain peak amidst the drifting clouds and mist.

Although the four were entangled by Fan Hongjiao and unable to break free, their eyes had been fixed on Duan Rong's movements the entire time, so they naturally knew Duan Rong had gone to that mountain peak; there was no need for Fan Hongjiao to tell them.

The four let out a cold snort and, with unkind gazes, rode the wind in pursuit of Duan Rong.

As Zhao Yifu was leaving, he swept a glance at Fan Hongjiao's peerless bosom and muttered in a low voice, "Truly big-breasted and brainless!"

"What did you say?!" As it happened, Fan Hongjiao's six senses were sharp, and she heard it clearly; she lashed out with her whip toward Zhao Yifu and raged, "Say that again!? Believe it or not, I'll strip your clothes off and leave your corpse exposed on Yunfu Peak!"

"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare! I was wrong!" Zhao Yifu, having his waist coiled by Fan Hongjiao's whip, immediately bowed to apologize. "It is I who am big-breasted and brainless, it is I..."

"Get lost!" Fan Hongjiao retracted her long red whip, her figure flashed, turning into a red cloud, and vanished into the clouds and mist.

"What a fierce woman!" Zhao Yifu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; he turned his head back and saw that the three had already closed in on the mountain peak where Duan Rong had landed.

(End of this chapter)