Chapter 239: The Great Battle with Zhu Qingyun

When Su Wushuang returned to Baihua Valley, Xiao Zhangqing came along with her.

Both Xingyue Palace and Zhu Qingyun are a must‑win, leaving no room for compromise, so there is no need to cling to any hope of luck; it must be a head‑on clash before this matter can be settled.

So after Xiao Zhangqing arrived, he did not try to conceal his presence; when Su Wushuang saw Zhu Qingyun, he was drinking tea not far away.

"Dao Companion Zhu, I've met you," Xiao Zhangqing descended from the air, landing beside Su Wushuang, and said with a smile, "Dao Companion Zhu is also a remarkable talent; why pretend to be someone else?"

Since an agreement was reached with Su Wushuang to eliminate the threat from Xingyue Palace, there is no room left to maneuver with Zhu Qingyun.

It will definitely incur a fatal offense.

Moreover, he holds this person's actions in great contempt.

He then launched a barrage of insults, mocking how, over a decade ago, this person impersonated Character: Liyang True Immortal and covertly plotted against Su Wushuang.

However, thinking that her own body will eventually be handed over to Xiao Zhangqing, she snapped back to reality.

A decade ago, his scheme had a high chance of great success.

From another perspective, Congenital Jade Liquid is Su Wushuang's greatest trump card and must be saved for the end. The most likely outcome is that the two have reached some sort of understanding.

She should train diligently to soon advance her cultivation to the late Golden Core stage…

He does not believe that Su Wushuang will truly become a Dao Partner with Xiao Zhangqing, nor does he think she has already given her most precious Congenital Jade Liquid to him.

Seven Golden Core True Immortals, over twenty pseudo‑Golden Core practitioners, and several hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators hastily formed a battle formation.

Regarding Su Wushuang, he truly developed feelings during his pursuit and fell in love.

Harnessing the power of heaven and earth is an ability only a Nascent Soul True Lord possesses! "Today, no one can save you! Even if Character: Liyang True Immortal arrives, you are doomed to die!"

No one can stop him!

Fortunately, this also bought Zhu Qingyun a sliver of time to escape.

Perhaps because he is usually aloof and solitary, this glance held a hundred charms, causing Xiao Zhangqing—who had been merely acting—to feel his heart stir, ripples rising, a slight excitement.

He appears to look down on Xiao Zhangqing, but in fact he is giving his all.

Zhu Qingyun squinted, and his gaze toward Xiao Zhangqing concealed no hint of murderous intent.

"Dao Companion Xiao, I heard about the phenomenon you caused when forming the Golden Core a year ago. I never expected your talent to surpass all contemporaries, even ranking among the top in the history of the Da Yu Cultivation World, yet your mind is not very sharp. Has no one told you that even the most formidable Heaven‑Pride, if not yet fully matured, should keep a low profile and behave modestly? Otherwise, if it falls, a Heaven‑Pride remains just a Heaven‑Pride and cannot become a great power!"

Su Wushuang, with a pair of phoenix eyes fixed on Zhu Qingyun, asked word by word, "You knew from the start that I am a Xuan Yin Dao Body, right?"

Su Wushuang shook her head and sneered, "So I wasn't wrong; you really have been performing in front of me for decades. I was truly foolish to have once taken you as a friend, haha."

Therefore, one must admit that this person's foundation is sufficiently deep and has accumulated enough.

What appears to be a terrifying scene like a natural disaster is merely a show of force, releasing a mist.

Today Xiao Zhangqing still dares to appear; does he truly think his extraordinary talent makes him untouchable?

Zhu Qingyun took a deep breath, and his complexion gradually grew cold.

Half truth, half falsehood.

Zhu Qingyun snarled and roared.

Although unaware of what had happened, he reacted swiftly, following Zhu Qingyun out and reaching the massive flying vessel just in time.

She is not weak in cultivation now; she is only one step away from the late Golden Core stage, perhaps able to breakthrough within a few years.

Threat.

A demonic talent who caused heavenly phenomena at Golden Core formation, even with a vast gap in cultivation, must still resort to his strongest method.

However, even knowing this is not true.

Zhu Qingyun's harsh gaze shifted from Xiao Zhangqing to Su Wushuang, then quickly softened with affection, no longer hiding, and he nodded in acknowledgment: "Yes, I indeed discovered early on by chance that you, Su Wushuang, are a Xuan Yin Dao Body."

But seeing Xiao Zhangqing clutch Su Wushuang in his arms, with Su Wushuang acting all coy, he became extremely angry.

And Zhu Qingyun is destined to become a Nascent Soul True Lord.

Su Wushuang, who had been standing beside Xiao Zhangqing, suddenly pressed up against him, reached out and grasped his arm, saying, "Unfortunately, human plans cannot match heavenly ones. Over a decade ago, you were unmasked by Dao Companion Xiao, revealing your true face. Today, your scheme will likewise be destroyed by Dao Companion Xiao!"

Heh heh heh! Starlight and moonlight flashed with the sword aura, and the apocalyptic torrent of violent mana was effortlessly sliced apart; no matter how potent or unfathomably accumulated Zhu Qingyun's mana was, before such a sword aura it became as flimsy as paper.

After a brief resistance, the sword aura caught up with him as he fled upon sensing danger.

Zhu Qingyun, still sincere and affectionate, continued: "I have long known you are a Xuan Yin Dao Body, and I admit my approach had ulterior motives. Yet that does not deny my fondness for you! We have known each other for years, adventuring together; most of my pursuits and words toward you have been heartfelt! What is true, what is false? Belief makes it true, disbelief makes it false. Put simply, Su Wushuang, some matters need not be so clearly divided. If we become Dao Partners, it benefits you, benefits me, and greatly aids Baihua Valley…"

Her demeanor, besides deliberately trying to break Zhu Qingyun's guard, was indeed a bit bewildered.

The result is obvious.

Xiao Zhangqing pretended to be cool.

Buzz! The overwhelming magical aura within Zhu Qingyun surged upward, clearly surpassing that of a decade ago.

At this moment, Su Wushuang, who had been fully confident in Xiao Zhangqing, felt her heart begin to tremble after witnessing Zhu Qingyun's might and terror.

With this, Su Wushuang told a small lie.

But compared to a decade ago, Xiao Zhangqing's progress is far greater, making comparison impossible!

Thus this affection is mixed with too much utilitarianism and scheming.

The gap is too large.

"You clueless thing, truly think that a decade ago you defeated me? If I hadn't refused to reveal my identity that time, you would have already died without a burial place!"

Zhu Qingyun's eyes reddened slightly, and his normally courteous face took on a faintly feral expression.

A sudden chill rose in Zhu Qingyun's heart, shrouded by life‑and‑death peril; his mana‑condensed spikes frantically intercepted the stellar sword aura, but they shattered piece by piece.

Now his cultivation has fully reached the consummate Golden Core realm, on par with the former Character: Liyang True Immortal. "Zhu Qingyun, you indeed understand me enough to know I could never abandon Baihua Valley. So you think I will inevitably be manipulated by you, obediently following your plans…"

Just one final seclusion away, and I can break into the Nascent Soul realm!

"You're right. From now on, Baihua Valley will be protected by Dao Companion Xiao, and if Xingyue Palace wishes to trouble Baihua Valley, they must first consider whether they can get past Dao Companion Xiao!"

If Xiao Zhangqing is sensible, he can let bygones be bygones and even act as Xingyue Palace's liaison.

He hasn't even released Su Wushuang's arm; his left arm embraces the beauty, his right hand wields a sword, as his Primordial Spirit merges with heaven and earth, his mana drives the Jade‑clear Bright Sword, not only sending sword aura soaring to the heavens but also weaving strands of celestial star power into the aura!

Unfortunately, though these are of fine quality, against the Star‑Snatching, Constellation‑Changing Sword Technique, they are like bubbles in sunlight—easily sliced apart one by one.

"Battle formation, prepare!!!"

But if you're clueless, you'll be snuffed out in the cradle! No matter how lofty a Heaven‑Proud one is, before the Nascent Soul True Lord, it's all illusion!

Su Wushuang was pulled into his arms, caught off guard, her body visibly tense and stiff, instinctively trying to push him away.

Anyone dares to block him, die! Xiao Zhangqing chuckled, ready to let this guy know who should be the one tucking its tail.

Because the Baihua Valley gate is small, the six other elders of Xingyue Palace, who were leisurely waiting, sensed the movement and were all shocked.

For a man like him, cultivation and achieving the Nascent Soul are paramount; emotions are insignificant and can be discarded at any time.

The power of Heaven and Earth was not controlled by Zhu Qingyun in the slightest; this massive magical force, though impressive on the outside, truly kills with spear‑like spikes ten‑plus meters long like a sandstorm. Each spike's lethality rivals a late‑stage Core Formation cultivator's full‑power strike.

Zhu Qingyun rose slowly, hovered in the air, pointed at the huge flying boat beyond the fan doors and the countless Xingyue Palace cultivators, and asked, "So, Su Wushuang, are you planning to abandon your sect, heartlessly watch the centuries‑old foundation of Baihua Valley and your master's blood, destroyed in an instant?"

Buzz! Space trembles!

A stark, naked threat.

In his view, the opponent's move is merely superficial.

Zhu Qingyun's expression hardened, then he gave a mute laugh and asked, "Su Wushuang, you can't be thinking that, by relying on this Xiao Zhangqing, you can block me, block the Xingyue Palace?"

Zhu Qingyun let out a full‑force roar, his voice echoing throughout the Baihua Valley gate.

"No matter how proud you are, today I'll show you what … Golden Core Perfection is!"

So without hesitation, he reached out and embraced Su Wushuang's slender waist, half‑cradling her graceful figure in his arms, feeling her astonishingly curvy form and faint feminine fragrance, sighing that she truly lived up to the title of the number‑one beauty of the Da Yu Cultivation World—both in temperament and in every concrete detail, she was breathtaking.

"Some substance… but not much."

Yet Xiao Zhangqing kicked in sideways, brutally destroying it.

"Cover me!!!"

Zhu Qingyun won't give Xiao Zhangqing any face!

If you can't grow, can't become a Nascent Soul, you're ultimately just an ant!

"Since the matter stands as it does, Su Wushuang, your attitude is so resolute, I have no need for further explanation."

Su Wushuang's head gently leaned against Xiao Zhangqing, her fair cheeks slightly flushed; the ice‑queen she always was now showed a hint of bird‑like clinginess.

Su Wushuang nestled beside Xiao Zhangqing, "And perhaps I should tell you, I've already decided to become Dao Partners with Dao Companion Xiao, and I've already handed the Congenital Jade Liquid to Dao Companion Xiao. So you need not waste any more effort."

Not for any other reason, but we cultivators, with our lofty righteous qi, should work diligently! "Dao Companion Zhu, ten years ago you fled in panic, today it is also destined you will flee in panic. If Xingyue Palace wants to annex Baihua Valley, with me here there is no chance. If Xingyue Palace is not satisfied, then you go back and invite your Nascent Soul Old Ancestor to come and talk with me personally."

After living so many years, this was her first time being this intimate with a man, actively throwing herself into his arms.

Zhu Qingyun's mighty magical power surged grandly, like a sandstorm, sweeping forward, even creating an effect akin to influencing the power of Heaven and Earth!

But facing Zhu Qingyun's earth‑sweeping move, there was a huge disparity, like a blade of grass against a towering tree.

She is a woman he has pursued for nearly a hundred years without success! Though he is acting, his words do carry some truth.

"You, seek, death!"

However, she has already sworn an oath with Xiao Zhangqing; if Xiao Zhangqing helps her and Baihua Valley overcome the crisis, she will willingly give the Congenital Jade Liquid to Xiao Zhangqing, so this isn't entirely a lie.

Qualified to challenge the Nascent Soul realm.

Afterwards.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhangqing also knew it was his turn to perform.

A deep blood scar was slashed on Zhu Qingyun's back, a blood‑colored Flying Sword, and only then did the sword aura dissipate.

He then frantically hurled a series of defensive moves, Magic Treasures, Talisman Scripts, exotic artifacts, all tossed out as if they were free.

Xiao Zhangqing's sword aura, rotating calmly, was far less massive than Zhu Qingyun's killing move, but one truly harnessed the power of Heaven and Earth, while the other was a counterfeit.

"Enough!" Su Wushuang's disdain was unmistakable, "Zhu Qingyun, please stop polluting my ears. Hearing you speak these words, even seeing you, I feel genuine disgust. Do you understand? So you need not fantasize about me becoming Dao Partners with you!"

Ten years ago, he indeed did not give his all.

But looking at the opposing Zhu Qingyun, considering the current situation, he could only endure and silently glared at Xiao Zhangqing.

Upon hearing that, Su Wushuang's pure face showed not continued anger but a faint, inexplicable excitement and exhilaration.

Zhu Qingyun slightly frowned at this; Su Wushuang's expression was unexpected to him.

Xiao Zhangqing commented.

Xiao Zhangqing, sword in one hand and the beauty in his arms, stood before the Baihua Valley gate.

Gazing at the hundreds of Xingyue Palace cultivator troops arrayed ahead, he again merged his Primordial Spirit with Heaven and Earth, brandishing his magical sword.

After three sword strikes, the battle formation shattered, and hundreds of cultivators spewed blood.

"Return and tell your Nascent Soul Old Ancestor. If you still wish to annex Baihua Valley, have him come personally to Character: Liyang Zhenren City to find me!"

"Scram..." (End of chapter)