Chapter 91: Final Round Battle

A gray, hazy combat space.

Han Yun looked at Zhang Yunlu not far away, feeling a bit speechless.

But he truly understood that this was unavoidable.

"Yang Sen of the Taishang Dao Sect, greetings, fellow cultivator." Han Yun bowed respectfully.

At the same time, he secretly scattered several paper dolls.

"Zhang Yunlu, humbly request your guidance, Elder." Zhang Yunlu also bowed seriously in return.

Immediately after returning the bow, she felt her spiritual energy rise slightly.

This Yang Sen must have done something.

"Zhang Yunlu?" Han Yun was no stranger to that name. "So you're the top scorer of the second trial? My apologies for my ignorance!"

In truth, with his Nascent Soul peak realm, Zhang Yunlu's cultivation was barely worthy of being called a "young friend" in his eyes.

But as a cautious cultivator, he would never underestimate any cultivator.

Even if they were merely at Qi Condensation ninth layer.

"Elder, you're too kind. Please, guide me."

Don't keep saying "guide me"—let's just chat a bit first! But Zhang Yunlu seemed to have no patience for this, and had already drawn her sword.

"Sigh~" Han Yun frowned. "Then… please, fellow cultivator, guide me."

Puff! Puff! Puff! Seven paper dolls rose around Zhang Yunlu, but since Han Yun now possessed only Qi Condensation ninth layer spiritual energy, the dolls appeared insubstantial.

Their skin resembled yellowed paper, their limbs twisted stiffly, but most horrifying were their eyes—not painted patterns, but two deep, pitch-black hollows that seemed to rotate, emitting a chilling glow.

There was nothing to be done; spiritual energy could only stretch this far.

The seven paper dolls each occupied a position, their spiritual energies interweaving into a mysterious array. Han Yun stood at the center, raised his hand—and BOOM!

A green lightning streaked forth, Lei She writhed and danced, seized in his palm.

Han Yun was wreathed in violet lightning, gripping wild thunder, his aura boundless.

Yet behind Zhang Yunlu, one paper doll suddenly broke its position, its hand glowing with Lei Guang as it pressed toward her back.

Just as it was about to strike, Zhang Yunlu's figure vanished.

ZZZZ! A humming sword-song rang in her ears; her vision held only a pair of eyes swirling with violet qi.

The Zhenjun Zihuan Qi-Observing Method? Isn't that the technique of Zhenjun Zihuan's lineage? A chill brushed her neck, then the world spun wildly!

Wu Li sword cultivator!

A Wu Li sword cultivator learned the Zhenjun Zihuan Qi-Observing Method? But Zhenjun Zihuan despised sword cultivators the most!

Before her head even hit the ground, the woven net of swordlight reappeared before her.

You're finishing me off after cutting off my head?

Who the hell is really from Taishang Dao Sect?

The final thought flashed—then consciousness plunged into utter darkness.

After finishing him off, Zhang Yunlu turned back; Han Yun's body collapsed, no strange new head sprouting.

Huh~ The violet qi in her eyes faded.

Half a second later, she exited the trial space, returning to the Secret Realm.

At that moment, Lin Qiu Xian was about to return to sit beneath the Sword Peak when he suddenly sensed something wrong and spun around sharply.

"You…!"

How could that Yang cultivator from Taishang Dao Sect have been defeated so soon?! That's impossible!

Unless… unless…

"You're a Wu Li cultivator!"

Lin Qiu Xian stared fixedly at Zhang Yunlu.

"Thanks to this trial, I was fortunate enough to attain enlightenment."

This was sincere, not false modesty.

One knows one's own situation best: her enlightenment came only from Xu Xing's trial, countless deaths,

Chi Jiu Yu's guidance, the life-or-death brink brought by the strange Xiao Fan, and the empowerment of this Secret Realm.

All of these were indispensable.

Besides, since she had to fight anyway, hiding this fact served no purpose.

Hearing her admit it, Lin Qiu Xian staggered back.

To attain Wu Li during this trial meant she must be no higher than Qi Condensation.

"You're Zhang Yunlu." His voice was dry.

"Yes, I am."

A Qi Condensation ninth layer Wu Li cultivator…

That meant she would surely forge a Creation Dao Foundation; even within the Xiang Jianzong, few could match her.

As Lin Qiu Xian was lost in thought, another figure appeared.

Tall and powerfully built—it was the body cultivator from the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect.

Indeed, Li Fengping had lost.

In raw strength, the two were nearly equal, but the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect body cultivator's spiritual attacks were too overwhelming—they shattered Li Fengping's defenses outright.

If failure in the Secret Realm didn't mean true death… 'Will he come after me after the trial ends?'

Recalling Li Fengping's final bloodshot eyes, the look of a beast ready to devour him.

Sss~ Very likely.

Thinking this, he stepped back two paces, putting more distance between himself and Lin Qiu Xian.

So he won't seek revenge for his junior brother.

But soon he realized Lin Qiu Xian's attention wasn't on him at all—he was staring fixedly at the female sword cultivator who had just appeared behind.

"Zhang Yunlu, a local cultivator from Xuanjian City."

The body cultivator from Longxiang Qingtianzong blinked, then also stated his name.

"Longxiang Qingtianzong, Yue Zhen."

After announcing his name, Yue Zhen's heart stirred.

Zhang Yunlu? The one who entered the Secret Realm first as a Qi Condensation ninth layer?

At the same time, two more figures appeared: Jiang Jing and a herbalist from Jishigu.

Jiang Yujiu obviously couldn't match Jiang Jing from the Sword Holding Hall.

But the newly named sword cultivator with the surname Feng had actually lost? This herbalist from Jishigu was truly formidable.

When they returned to the Secret Realm, they just happened to hear the two announcing their names.

The herbalist from Jishigu swept his sleeve: "I am Ye Wuzhong of Jishigu."

"Jiang Jing of the Xiang Jianzong," Jiang Jing said.

If you still don't announce your name at this point, you'll be a background character for life.

Three sword cultivators, one body cultivator, remained on the field.

Ye Wuzhong, as a herbalist, stood out awkwardly among them.

Everyone sized each other up for a moment.

"I have yet to test my skills against any local cultivators in Xuanjian City—please grant me your guidance," Ye Wuzhong said with elegant poise.

Then he stepped toward Zhang Yunlu.

Lin Qiu Xian—frankly, he couldn't beat him.

Jiang Jing of the Xiang Jianzong's enforcement hall was no easy opponent either.

As for Brother Yue…

Forget it, fighting him would require blocking my hearing.

"Please, Elder, grant me your guidance," Zhang Yunlu bowed respectfully.

Everyone here was at a higher realm than hers; calling them "Elder" was perfectly appropriate.

Then the two vanished, entering the trial space.

Only three remained on the field.

How should she fight? Jiang Jing hesitated.

In terms of strength, she knew clearly she still had a noticeable gap from Brother Lin.

But Yue Zhen was from Longxiang Qingtianzong…

"Please, Brother Lin, grant me your guidance."

Yue Zhen: "..."

…………

High above the heavens.

"This little pill-maker really knows how to pick people," Chi Jiuyu remarked.

Why not pick anyone else—why pick Xiao Yunlu?

Honestly, it's moving fast.

Once the final match among these few ends, the third trial will be nearly over.

As for those who haven't arrived yet…

Better not comment—I'd rather not hurt anyone with the truth.

She pulled out a portion of chicken nuggets.

Made from the tenderest meat of a spiritual bird, fried at instant high heat to lock in the juices; one bite releases a burst of rich flavor in the mouth.

Chi Jiuyu ate several in a row, then glanced at Xu Xing beside her.

Maybe she felt a little guilty eating alone.

"Uncle, would you like some too?"

"Yes," Xu Xing gave a slight nod.

Then she felt her hand go empty.

Huh? Eh?!

No!

At least leave me some! Second chapter, another one coming later.

(End of chapter)