Chapter 412

The white light mist rapidly spread to the surroundings, and after a few breaths, it created a space to serve as a battlefield.

Unlike Ning Zhuo sighed, stepped forward, moved out from the crowd, and stood before the projection of Linghu Jiu.

For Unlike Ning Zhuo, he did not like fighting unprepared battles. In his heart, war was a dangerous business, and every time he started a battle, he had to be extremely cautious.

This was because once a move was truly made, it must be the last resort taken when all other means had been exhausted.

But the current situation was quite special; whether it was Lin Bufan, Shen Lingshu, or Zhu Xuanji and the Five Elements God Lord, they all hoped for Unlike Ning Zhuo to fight.

Forced by the situation, Unlike Ning Zhuo, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, could only comply.

"This battle must be won." Ning Jiufan looked at Unlike Ning Zhuo's back and sighed inwardly, "As clever as you are, you should understand that this is not a simple contest, right?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo certainly knew!

The challenge from Linghu Jiu's projection was indeed unexpected, originating from the idea of the Dharma body of the Lonely Sword Monarch within the Linlang Reflection Wall, rather than an arrangement by Zhu Xuanji or Lin Bufan.

But this battle was still related to the division of benefits for this trip and the specific future relationship between the Ning clan and the Myriad Medicine Gate.

If Unlike Ning Zhuo won, the Ning family would gain more benefits, and the Myriad Medicine Gate would show more respect to the Ning family. The reverse was also true.

Unlike Ning Zhuo already had the intention to win, but polite pleasantries still had to be said: "Brother Linghu, I think of how we drank together until we were both drunk, which was incredibly joyful. Today's battle is truly not what this younger brother wishes for."

Linghu Jiu, however, shook his head and said: "Younger brother, to tell you the truth, this elder brother has long had the desire to spar with you. Today, I am taking advantage of the situation, so I ask younger brother to fight with all your might!"

Linghu Jiu was quite straightforward; after his wrists flipped and he performed a sword flourish, he immediately lunged at Unlike Ning Zhuo.

"I was just about to ask for instruction!" Unlike Ning Zhuo clenched his fists and also charged up.

He had never fought a Foundation Establishment cultivator who mastered weapons in such a close-quarters manner before, and he also held many expectations in his heart.

Sword Art—Cup Full to Overflowing.

Linghu Jiu's sword edge swept across the air, forming a phantom image. Like an overflowing wine cup, it trembled and swayed, exquisite to the peak.

Blood tendons appeared on Unlike Ning Zhuo's hands, serving as boxing gloves, blocking the sword edge.

Linghu Jiu did not attack, as if it were a dragonfly skimming the water, tasting it and stopping.

This did not conform to common sense. Unlike Ning Zhuo felt slightly surprised, thinking that since you are not attacking, then I will come.

Unlike Ning Zhuo took the initiative to attack, closing in on Linghu Jiu.

Linghu Jiu chuckled and said: "Younger brother, catch this."

Sword Art—Floating Fragrance in Wine.

In an instant, the long sword in his hand turned from solid to ethereal, sword intent gushing out like the fragrance of wine permeating the air, soft yet containing attacks.

The offensive was surging!

Unlike Ning Zhuo could only retreat, retreat, and keep retreating.

Linghu Jiu attacked with a few moves, then suddenly took the initiative to stop and switch to defense.

Lin Shanshan let out an "ah" and recognized it: "This is the Wine Forest Sword Art that Senior Brother and I created together."

Everyone looked sideways.

Lin Shanshan gave a sheepish laugh and explained the reason.

It turned out that years ago, Linghu Jiu was confined in the Myriad Demon Cave, bored to the extreme, with thoughts overflowing in his mind, and he thought of creating his own sword art.

When Lin Shanshan delivered meals, Linghu Jiu showed off his creation, which made Lin Shanshan quite angry.

Because Linghu Jiu's sword art was all named after wine, fully revealing his strong desire for fine wine.

Lin Shanshan could not stand this, so she took the initiative to participate in the creation of the sword art, adding her own philosophy to it, wanting to use this method to urge her senior brother to quit drinking!

Wine Forest Sword Art—Wine Meets a Soulmate.

Linghu Jiu's long sword condensed again, turning from ethereal to solid. The sword tip was delivered; although it was quite sharp, it gave people a feeling of warmth and enthusiasm, as if inviting someone to drink together!

Unlike Ning Zhuo could not dodge in time and was stabbed in the shoulder; fortunately, he had the protection of the Demon-Dyed Blood Tendon Art, which blocked the sharp sword edge.

Unlike Ning Zhuo broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly retreated.

Linghu Jiu's sword art offensive was endless, forcing Unlike Ning Zhuo to dodge in a sorry state for a time.

Seeing this, Lin Shanshan could not help but clap her hands and laugh: "Senior Brother, well fought. Give this big head a good lesson."

Hearing this, Linghu Jiu's projection immediately felt his spirit boosted and laughed: "Little Junior Sister, then you watch carefully."

Wine Forest Sword Art—Drunkenly Lying Among the Clouds.

Linghu Jiu's sword moves suddenly became broad and open, dancing like a drunkard without any pattern, yet the offensive was even sharper.

Unlike Ning Zhuo could not distinguish them for a time, only feeling the sword edge stabbing from all kinds of tricky and strange angles, making it difficult for him to defend, and he was stabbed many times in a row.

Several times, the sword tip hit the same spot continuously, breaking through the blood tendon defense and causing Unlike Ning Zhuo to be wounded.

Unlike Ning Zhuo hurriedly retreated, performing the Demon-Dyed Blood Tendon Art to make the wounds heal rapidly.

He performed the demonic art directly in front of everyone, which could be considered an active public appearance.

Ordinary righteous cultivators would always scold a few words upon seeing others practicing demonic arts. But seeing that Zhu Xuanji was not moved at all, looking as if he had known about it for a long time, Lin Bufan could only follow suit and accept it.

Lin Shanshan's expression paused slightly.

Unlike Ning Zhuo just being wounded made her suddenly realize that her own senior brother was just a projection, but Unlike Ning Zhuo was a living body of flesh and blood. In a sparring match, Unlike Ning Zhuo was naturally in more danger.

But soon, Lin Shanshan became angry with herself again: "Why am I still worried about him?"

"This Big Head Ning, clearly having a cultivation method that can be used for close combat, has been hiding it from me all this time!"

Wine Forest Sword Art—Stopping with Satisfaction.

Linghu Jiu's sword edge was like the momentum of rapid drinking, swift and fierce, as if it wanted to wipe out the enemy. But suddenly, at the moment when the offensive was at its strongest, he stopped abruptly, the sword style switched to defense, turning into sword qi flowing like water to protect himself.

As a result, he directly missed the opportunity to attack; he clearly should have pressed on to turn the advantage into a victory, but he took the initiative to stop.

The spectators all understood the reason. This was because the Wine Forest Sword Art was co-created by Linghu Jiu and Lin Shanshan, and the two had conflicting philosophies. Linghu Jiu wanted to drink, but Lin Shanshan wanted him to quit. Reflected in the sword art, it meant the offense and defense suddenly switched, sometimes attacking, sometimes defending, making it impossible for people to figure out the pattern.

Since Linghu Jiu retreated, Unlike Ning Zhuo took the initiative to attack.

He gradually adapted to the Wine Forest Sword Art and began to turn the situation around.

"This sword art is not brilliant; it is quite fragmented."

"A part of it is exquisite and rigorous, while another part is sparse and freehand!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo shouted: "Brother Linghu, if you want to defeat me with this sword art, isn't that looking down on people too much?"

Lin Shanshan snorted in her heart: "This stinky big head, just stood firm and he's already acting arrogant. We're nowhere near the end! Senior Brother hasn't even truly exerted his strength yet."

"But come to think of it, this guy Unlike Ning Zhuo is indeed clever. How long has he been at Small Struggle Peak, and he has improved so much in close-quarters combat. I still remember when he first came..."

Lin Shanshan felt secretly gratified, recalling the beginning, and her heart revisited the beautiful times she and Unlike Ning Zhuo spent together.

"Pah! This stinky big head kidnapped me and squeezed my father in public; he has no good intentions!" Lin Shanshan hurriedly stopped her spreading thoughts.

Wine Forest Sword Art—Wine Cup Lingering with Sentiment.

Linghu Jiu tended toward defense, and as he defended, he occupied the advantage.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was wounded again and retreated in astonishment.

Zhu Xuanji suddenly chuckled: "This sword art is starting to get a bit interesting."

It turned out that "Wine Cup Lingering with Sentiment" looked like just a defensive move, but it actually contained an offensive. It was like a carefully laid trap, inducing the enemy to attack continuously.

Unlike Ning Zhuo seemed to have the advantage, but in reality, sword wind was constantly entering his body, and he had suffered many secret losses. At first glance, the sword wind was subtle, but after many times, the accumulation could not be underestimated.

If one said that in the previous sword arts, Linghu Jiu and Lin Shanshan's philosophies were clashing, leading to a fragmented sword art and poor actual combat effects, then by this move, the two opposing philosophies were cleverly unified, forming an unexpected effect.

Wine Forest Sword Art—Hearing Wine Through the Curtain.

Linghu Jiu's sword moves were still subtle and profound, as if hearing the fragrance of wine from afar through a curtain, with the moves focusing on defense.

But Unlike Ning Zhuo felt a faint, strong threat.

This was because he had drunk with Linghu Jiu and, at this very moment, understood the psychological state of the other party when creating this sword art.

Hearing wine through the curtain... the desire in Linghu Jiu's heart was blocked by the curtain. How could a thin curtain block his desire for fine wine?

Once the desire burst forth, it must be a strong fragrance of wine, rushing toward one's face.

Unlike Ning Zhuo retreated rapidly!

Seeing the sword move miss, Linghu Jiu was both disappointed and happy: "Younger brother Unlike Ning Zhuo, you know me."

"Can you catch this move?"

The final move of the Wine Forest Sword Art—Raising the Cup to Dissipate Sorrow!

In an instant, Linghu Jiu retracted his sword to defend, but the sword intent surged and dissipated, mournful and melancholy; the depression in his heart had nowhere to be vented, and he could only express it by drinking heavily.

It was both an attack and a defense. It was both a restraint in action and a release in emotion!

Unlike Ning Zhuo was hit!

Blood sprayed, and a huge wound appeared on his chest.

The defense of the Demon-Dyed Blood Tendon Art was simply like paper.

The spectators changed color one after another.

Lin Bufan, whose cultivation reached the Nascent Soul level, also revealed a look of shock. This was because he saw the shadow of a profound secret manual from this sword art.

"The Lonely Sword Classic?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo retreated again and again, hurriedly swallowing elixirs while frantically operating the Demon-Dyed Blood Tendon Art to heal his wounds.

As a result, although the bleeding stopped, the wound did not heal immediately. There was a strand of sword intent lingering at the wound, which could not be dispelled in a short time, greatly hindering Unlike Ning Zhuo from treating himself.

"Wine Forest Sword Art... I wonder how it compares to the blade art I created myself?" Inside the Mechanical Swimming Dragon, Sun Lingtong also surged with fighting intent.

"Truly formidable!" Unlike Ning Zhuo praised loudly.

He was not discouraged at all, and his state of mind was very good.

This was because he knew deeply that Linghu Jiu had been immersed in close-quarters sword arts for many years, while he had only spent how much time?

They simply could not be compared.

It was normal not to be able to beat him!

"Learned it, learned it!" This contest gave Unlike Ning Zhuo many insights and a huge harvest.

He wished he could always spar with Linghu Jiu in this way until he was defeated.

"But in the current situation, I had better win."

The significance of this battle was by no means a superficial spar, but related to the future of the Ning family and the Myriad Medicine Gate, and related to the bet between the Five Elements God Lord and the Lonely Sword Monarch.

"The probing ends here. I'm getting serious!"

"Brother Linghu, please receive my move."

After the greeting, Unlike Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, his face showing a solemn expression, and he quickly performed a Wood-element spell.

Root Vine Entanglement!

Tree roots and vines were born out of thin air, rapidly entangling Linghu Jiu.

Close combat... was just Unlike Ning Zhuo's weakness. Five Elements spells, however, were becoming his strength!