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 also understood that this was unavoidable.

“Yang Sen of Taishang Dao Sect, greetings, fellow cultivator.” Han Yun bowed respectfully.

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

“Zhang Yunlu, I humbly ask for your guidance, Elder.” Zhang Yunlu also bowed seriously in return.

Immediately after returning the bow, she felt her spiritual power 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 earlier oversight!”

In truth, with his Nascent Soul peak realm, Zhang Yunlu’s cultivation base was barely worth calling a “young friend” in his eyes.

But as a cautious cultivator, he never underestimated any cultivator.

Not even one at Qi Refining ninth layer.

“Elder, you’re too humble. Please, teach me.”

Don’t keep saying “teach me”—why not just chat a bit first? But Zhang Yunlu seemed to have no patience for that; she had already drawn her sword.

“Sigh~” Han Yun frowned. “Then… I humbly ask for your guidance.”

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

Their skin resembled yellowed paper, their limbs twisted stiffly, but what was most chilling were their eyes—not painted patterns, but two deep, pitch-black hollows that seemed to turn, radiating a cold light.

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

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

A blue lightning streaked like a whip, serpentine thunder writhed, captured in his palm.

Han Yun was wreathed in violet lightning, clutching wild thunder, his aura overwhelming.

Yet behind Zhang Yunlu, one paper doll suddenly broke formation, its hand glowing with lightning 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 Purple Rampart Observing Qi Method? Isn’t that the sect technique of Master Zihuan’s lineage? A chill ran down her neck, then the world spun wildly!

A Principle-Understanding sword cultivator!

A Principle-Understanding sword cultivator learned the Purple Rampart Observing Qi Method? But Master Zihuan hated sword cultivators more than anyone!

Before her head even hit the ground, the woven net of sword light reappeared before her eyes.

You cut off my head and still finish me off?

Who the hell is really from Taishang Dao Sect here?

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

After the finishing strike, Zhang Yunlu turned back. Han Yun’s body collapsed, no grotesque second head sprouting.

Huh~ The violet qi in her eyes faded.

Half a second later, she exited the trial space and returned to the secret realm.

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

“You…!”

How could Yang, the Taishang Dao Sect cultivator, have been defeated so quickly?! That’s impossible!

Unless… unless…

“You’re a Principle-Understanding cultivator!”

Lin QiuXian stared fixedly at Zhang Yunlu.

“Thanks to this trial, I was fortunate enough to attain insight.”

This was sincere—not false modesty.

She knew her own situation: her breakthrough came only because of Xu Xing’s trial, countless deaths,

Chi JiuYu’s guidance, the life-or-death pressure from the mysterious Xiao Fan, and the enhancement from the 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 QiuXian staggered back slightly.

To attain Principle-Understanding during this trial meant she must be at Qi Refining level.

“You’re Zhang Yunlu.” His voice was dry.

“Yes, I am.”

A Qi Refining ninth layer Principle-Understanding cultivator…

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

As Lin QiuXian was lost in thought, another figure appeared.

Tall and powerfully built—it was the body cultivator from Longxiang Qiantian Sect.

Indeed, Li Fengping had lost.

Their raw power was nearly equal, but Longxiang Qiantian Sect’s body cultivators’ spiritual attacks were too overwhelming—they shattered Li Fengping’s defenses completely.

If failure in the secret realm didn’t mean real death… [Would he come after me after the trial ends?]

He remembered Li Fengping’s final bloodshot eyes, hungry to devour someone alive.

Sss~ Very likely.

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

Just in case he wanted revenge for his junior brother.

But soon he realized Lin QiuXian wasn’t looking at him at all—he was staring fixedly at the female sword cultivator who had just appeared.

“Zhang Yunlu, a local cultivator from Xuanjian City.”

The Longxiang Qiantian Sect body cultivator blinked, then announced his own name.

“Longxiang Qiantian Sect, Yue Zhen.”

After stating his name, Yue Zhen’s mind stirred.

Zhang Yunlu? The Qi Refining ninth layer who entered the secret realm first?

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

Jiang Yujiu had no chance against Jiang Jing from the Sword Enforcement Hall.

But the newly named sword cultivator with the surname Feng had lost too? This Jishigu herbalist was clearly formidable.

They re-entered the secret realm just as the two were announcing their names.

The Jishigu herbalist swept his sleeve: “I am Ye Wuzhong of Jishigu.”

“Jiang Jing of the Sword Sect,” Jiang Jing said.

If you don’t even state your name at the end, you’re doomed to be a background character for life.

Three sword cultivators, one body cultivator.

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

They sized each other up for a moment.

“I’ve yet to fight any local cultivators in Xuanjian City. I humbly ask for your guidance,” Ye Wuzhong said with elegant poise.

Then he stepped toward Zhang Yunlu.

Lin QiuXian—he couldn’t beat him.

Jiang Jing of the Sword Enforcement Hall was no easy opponent either.

As for Brother Yue…

Forget it; fighting him would require blocking my hearing.

“I humbly ask for your guidance, Elder,” Zhang Yunlu bowed.

Everyone here was above her in realm; calling them “Elder” was perfectly appropriate.

Then both vanished, entering the trial space.

Only three remained.

How should they fight? Jiang Jing hesitated.

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

But Yue Zhen was from Longxiang Qiantian Sect…

“I humbly ask for your guidance, Brother Lin.”

Yue Zhen: “...”

…………

High above.

“This little pill-maker really knows how to pick his targets,” Chi JiuYu remarked.

Why not pick anyone else? Why her—Xiao Yunlu?

Honestly, it’s moving fast.

Once this final round ends, the third trial will be nearly over.

As for those who haven’t arrived yet…

I’ll refrain from commenting—don’t want to hurt anyone with the truth.

She took out a portion of chicken nuggets.

They were fried from the tenderest meat of a spiritual bird, the instant high heat sealing in the juices—bite into one, and rich broth bursts across the tongue.

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

Perhaps she felt a little guilty eating alone.

“Uncle, would you like some too?”

“Alright.” Xu Xing gave a slight nod.

Then she felt her hand go empty.

Huh? Wait?!

No!

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

(End of chapter)