Chapter 36: Zhang Yunlu Tests Her Sword at Chi Jiuyu

Zhang Yunlu listed off every one of Chi Jiuyu's accomplishments as if reciting family heirlooms.

Among the younger generation, she was truly a legendary figure; across the entire Central Continent, only a handful of her peers could match her.

Moreover, her origins were extremely mysterious—everyone knew she came from the Xiang Jianzong and possessed extraordinary talent, but no one knew who her master was.

Chi Jiuyu hadn't expected to find fans here; she turned to look at Xu Xing, eager to show off to her senior.

"Didn't know you were this famous," Xu Xing said without dampening her spirits.

Hearing this, she pulled out a folding fan from nowhere, snapped it open with a 'ka', fanned herself lightly, then said with false modesty: "Actually, there are quite a few talented ones in my circle, but they still fall a bit short of me."

Her eyes betrayed unmistakable pride.

Since returning, she had changed into an orange T-shirt and a pair of denim shorts, paired with flip-flops; combined with her current pose, she looked like a retired cadre—utterly abstract.

Zhang Yunlu: "..."

Had she perhaps mistaken someone?

"Perfect—go spar with your fan," Xu Xing chuckled.

Xuanjian City was too small; he had sent Chi Jiuyu down specifically so Zhang Yunlu could witness what a true prodigy looked like.

"You even know the word 'fan'? Senior, you're adapting fast," Chi Jiuyu tucked away her fan and stood up. "But isn't this a bit unfair to her? And this space is too cramped."

"You don't need to worry about that."

Snap! With a finger-click, both saw the surroundings recede rapidly.

In an instant, Xu Xing became a tiny dot in the distance; the extra space around them was blindingly white, as if forcibly inserted into the world or stretched open by force.

Chizhi Tianya?

Like the Primordial Qi Great Grasp, this was a famous great divine technique.

She had once faced an opponent at the Xian Sect Grand Competition who used it, dragging out a battle with her for over half an hour.

But could this technique be used like this? And wasn't Senior's range absurdly exaggerated? "This size should be enough for you two to play with," the voice echoed as before, as if Xu Xing still sat in his original seat. "As for your realm..."

The next moment, Chi Jiuyu felt her Nascent Soul magic power continuously regressing, plummeting—within moments, it degraded to Jin Dan magic power; even then, it didn't stop. Soon, the magical properties vanished, leaving only pure Foundation Establishment true energy, which gradually thinned until it became mere Qi Condensation Level Nine spiritual energy.

Along with her magic power, her physical condition—once comparable to a Nascent Soul body cultivator—also plummeted.

"Level Nine. Just right."

Chi Jiuyu wasn't alarmed; instead, she was curious.

What kind of technique was this? Words become law?

She clenched her fist, feeling the unprecedented weakness, then looked at Zhang Yunlu, drew a sword, and swung it.

"Come on!"

Really going to fight?

And with Chi Jiuyu?! Gulp.

Zhang Yunlu felt her heartbeat accelerate far beyond normal, yet for some reason, she wasn't afraid at all—she was even looking forward to it.

Such an opportunity was too rare.

She stepped back a few paces, drew her sword from her storage ring; the cold aura from the hilt calmed her nerves.

She took a deep breath and said seriously: "Please instruct me."

"Go ahead, go ahead!" Chi Jiuyu looked utterly relaxed. "You strike first."

"Mm."

Almost the instant the word left her lips, she and her sword lunged at Chi Jiuyu; when she closed the distance, the blade suddenly vanished.

"This sword technique is downright sneaky—I'll have to learn it from Senior later."

Ding! Chi Jiuyu merely waved her sword casually, effortlessly blocking the blade as it reappeared.

Zhang Yunlu wasn't discouraged; she retreated and slashed out three sword beams, all of which Chi Jiuyu evaded easily. "My master once said, a swordsman must have his own style—don't blindly follow sword forms. Obsessing over rigid rules will never make you a great swordsman."

As she spoke, her sword never left Zhang Yunlu's side, its tip hovering three inches from her brow.

No matter how Zhang Yunlu retreated or dodged, the distance never changed.

She retreated dozens of meters; every time she tried to sweep the blade away, Chi Jiuyu seemed to foresee it—her sword would simply flick, effortlessly blocking Zhang Yunlu's strike.

She couldn't even release sword beams—any slight output of spiritual energy was casually interrupted by Chi Jiuyu's seemingly idle swing.

At this moment, she realized the gap between them—Chi Jiuyu was barely older than she was.

Her emotions surged, then quickly settled.

She couldn't keep going like this—she'd risk everything! Making her decision, she thrust her sword again at Chi Jiuyu—just as expected, it was blocked.

But this time, Zhang Yunlu didn't retreat; instead, she stepped forward, letting the blade sliding off Chi Jiuyu's sword strike her shoulder.

Oh? Zhang Yunlu's gaze was utterly calm, yet upon closer look, a deeply hidden madness flickered within.

Chi Jiuyu was surprised.

"Enough. You're truly suited to be a swordsman."

The voice reached her ears; Zhang Yunlu's vision blurred suddenly, pain struck the back of her neck, and she collapsed forward, unconscious.

Only then did Chi Jiuyu take it seriously—she slipped behind Zhang Yunlu and knocked her out with the pommel of her sword.

She reached out and caught Zhang Yunlu as she fell: "Alright, Senior, we're done!"

As she called out, the blinding white space began to contract; the distant scenery rushed back, and everything returned to its original state.

Xu Xing tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Give me your evaluation."

"Hmm..." Chi Jiuyu first laid the unconscious Zhang Yunlu on the chair, "She's truly suited to be a swordsman."

Not only ruthless toward enemies, but ruthless toward herself too.

According to that old man in the Sword Holding Hall, people like this are born killers; but in today's peaceful world, many such talents are buried.

"But once she reaches Foundation Establishment, send her to the Starry Battlefield for training—she'll become a fine swordsman."

On matters like this, Chi Jiuyu was very serious.

After all, her goal was the position of the next Xiang Jianzong Master, so the more talents under her command, the better.

"Uncle-Master, you'll let her join the Xiang Jianzong, right?"

"It depends on her own wishes."

Then there was no problem — someone like that couldn't possibly not join the Xiang Jianzong.

"However, over at the Taishang Dao Sect, there seems to be a Dao-Combining cultivator who also intends to take her as a disciple."

Bang! Chi Jiuyu slammed her palm on the table. Although she controlled her force, she nearly flipped the table over.

"Taishang Dao Sect? Which bastard dares to snatch someone our Xiang Jianzong has set our eyes on!"

She had just been blacklisted by three accounts, so now hearing those four words — Taishang Dao Sect — immediately pissed her off.

"What, you're planning to go cause trouble for a Dao-Combining cultivator?"

"Of course not." She wasn't so arrogant as to reach that point. "Isn't that what you're here for, Uncle-Master? Could you just sit and watch a Dao-Combining cultivator from another sect bully a member of our own sect?"

"Taishang Dao Sect and Xiang Jianzong have been on good terms for generations. Do you think I would bully a junior?"

Of the former Liudaxian Sect, the Taishang Dao Sect and the Xiang Jianzong had the closest relationship between them.

Perhaps some cultivators within the two sects had their friction, but the friendly relations between the two sects would absolutely never change.

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