Chapter 74: Flowing Fire in July

Two bowls of steaming hot noodles were placed on the table, set before Lu Li and Jiang Yinuo.

It is worth mentioning that Lu Li's culinary skills are quite excellent.

Perhaps because he lived alone in his previous life, Lu Li often cooked delicious food to regulate his mood and appetite.

After arriving on the Tianxuan Continent, Lu Li did not abandon this craft. In fact, the dishes he made were even more delicious than those of his mother, who was a Qi Healing Envoy.

When Jiang Yinuo was a child, she would come over to mooch meals from time to time.

Jiang Yinuo and Lu Li played together and practiced together since they were young; their relationship was extremely close.

Lu Li still remembered that summer when he was seven years old...

However, a year ago, Jiang Yinuo had an argument with him over the matter of Basic Sword Technique, and then she ran off to the Moonlight Tower for bitter cultivation.

Come to think of it, the two of them have been living apart for a year.

Regarding that argument, Lu Li could feel that the other party's attitude held no mockery or contempt; it was anxiety born of concern, an argument that erupted after constant accumulation.

It was even an argument without a cause.

Humans are strange creatures; when the relationship between two people becomes increasingly close, they will inexplicably have arguments, and they might also suddenly reconcile because of some trivial matter.

For example, a bowl of noodles.

Slurp!

When the noodles were sucked into their mouths, all misunderstandings vanished into thin air.

"Still so delicious," Jiang Yinuo remarked with emotion.

By comparison, the dining hall food at the Moonlight Tower is simply torture.

The ancients believed in not speaking while eating or sleeping, but clearly, Jiang Yinuo did not have such self-awareness. Her mouth stuffed full, she opened it to say, "I heard that the sect selection is tomorrow? Do you have confidence? Your competitors have probably all reached the Second Realm, right?"

Lu Li smiled and said, "The strength of a sword cultivator does not depend solely on their realm."

Jiang Yinuo muttered, "It doesn't just depend on the realm?"

She couldn't help but recall the sword strike Lu Li used to slay the demon cultivator in the dark forest yesterday; the power of that strike was indeed formidable. It seemed he really could defeat a Second Realm sword cultivator.

Lu Li said, "Even in the Moonlight Tower, there aren't many who practice the Flying Sword. Your cultivation is not bad, and you have awakened a Sword Spirit; you should have secured a spot directly, right?"

"Mm, that's right," Jiang Yinuo said. "After all, not many people in the same realm can block a Flying Sword. This Slaying Demon Assembly is just a trial for me."

Lu Li nodded; he had also heard of the terror of Flying Sword cultivators. Generally speaking, no one in the same realm can block the frantic assault of a Flying Sword, especially once the Flying Sword cultivator puts some distance between them.

Perhaps in a one-on-one duel, the advantage of the Flying Sword is not too outrageous.

But on a battlefield between two factions, or in operations like long-range assassination, the role of a Flying Sword cultivator is magnified infinitely.

However, Flying Sword cultivators are not invincible; for instance, they are very afraid of close-quarters combat. Therefore, the status of any top-tier Flying Sword cultivator is extremely high, and they are also well-protected by their sect.

Usually, Flying Sword cultivators will choose a close-combat cultivator as a bodyguard to fight in tandem.

Protect our ADC.

"Don't let your guard down. The demon race are not fools. If you are closed in on by the demon race, it will be difficult to handle. Yesterday in the dark forest, your role wasn't fully utilized."

"Hmph, that was because I was worried about Zhou Tai and my positioning was too close. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had a chance to show off," Jiang Yinuo said, pouting.

Yesterday was also her first time facing a demon cultivator independently.

It was inevitable that she would be a bit flustered; now that she thinks about it, she feels there were many methods she didn't get to employ.

Lu Li shook his head and said, "If it were a real life-or-death struggle, I would have already rushed in front of you."

"Heh, I think you're just looking to be a target."

Lu Li laughed.

Who is the target is not yet certain.

Jiang Yinuo recalled her performance yesterday and felt a bit unconvinced; she wanted to prove herself.

And Lu Li being able to slay the demon cultivator was half due to the bonus of the Slaying Demon Sword. Since the Slaying Demon Sword only takes effect against the demon race, he was also a bit curious: what exactly is the gap between himself and a Second Realm sword cultivator?

The two walked to the center of the courtyard. Jiang Yinuo pinched a Sword Formula, and the red Flying Sword let out a hum, spinning around her.

"Be careful!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

This time, Jiang Yinuo immediately darted to the side; her red figure constantly shifted in the courtyard, shooting out streaks of Flying Swords.

The Flying Swords sliced through the air, emitting sharp whistling sounds. In an instant, three crimson Flying Swords aimed at Lu Li's upper, middle, and lower paths, shooting toward him.

Jiang Yinuo seemed not to need to aim at all; her fingers constantly changed the Sword Formula, giving the feeling of a ninja performing hand seals. Under her manipulation, the Flying Swords were exceptionally agile, surrounding and trapping Lu Li.

This sword strike came so fast.

An ordinary cultivator facing such a Flying Sword attack would inevitably be flustered.

But Lu Li was different; in his eyes, these were not Flying Swords, but hidden weapons like locust stones with a crimson special effect.

His gaze sharpened, and he suddenly drew his sword.

Dugu Nine Swords, Break Arrow Stance.

In an instant, Sword Qi crisscrossed. Lu Li's longsword traced an arc in front of him, accurately knocking down all three Flying Swords. The angle of this strike was tricky; it wasn't any standard sword technique, yet the effect was extraordinary. Not only did it knock down the three swords, but it also directly deflected one of the Flying Swords back, actually shooting it toward Jiang Yinuo!

Jiang Yinuo's gaze sharpened, thinking to herself that it was strange.

Lu Li did not unleash the powerful Sword Intent he used to slay the demon cultivator yesterday; he relied solely on the sword technique itself to break her Flying Swords.

Jiang Yinuo channeled her Spirit Qi, manipulating the Flying Sword back into her hand.

"What kind of sword technique is this?"

"Dugu Nine Swords."

"Never heard of it," Jiang Yinuo shook her head and said, "Be careful, this move is a secret technique I just learned!"

"Bring it on!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yinuo in her red robes suddenly leaped into mid-air. The Spirit Qi on her body burned and twisted, appearing like a pair of unfolded wings behind her.

The red Flying Sword suddenly began to vibrate, and crimson flames continuously condensed.

"July Flowing Fire."

The next moment, seven Flying Swords shot out fiercely like a sea of meteors in the sky.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Flying Swords instantly linked into a line, shooting toward Lu Li one after another without pause.

As Lu Li shifted his body, his long sword left its sheath.

Only the light sounds of ding, ding, ding were heard as Lu Li blocked three swords in succession.

However, these seven Flying Swords were Jiang Yinuo's most powerful ultimate move, Seven Stars Linked; each sword was faster than the last, and the accumulated impact was also stronger.

Every time Lu Li deflected a Flying Sword, the force of the rebound from the sword became even more powerful.

After only three swords, Lu Li could no longer hold on.

"It seems that the suppression of cultivation realms is truly not to be underestimated; at the First Realm, I can at most take three of Jiang Yinuo's swords."

"However, not only does she have an ultimate move, I have one too."

Seeing that the fourth Flying Sword was about to break through Lu Li's sword light, the corners of Jiang Yinuo's mouth lifted slightly.

"Heh heh, today I can teach Lu Li a lesson!"

The next moment, her smile suddenly froze.

Lu Li's face was seen suffused with a trace of Purple Qi, and then, his speed suddenly increased by a few degrees!

Ding! Ding!

Lu Li had actually blocked two more of her swords.

The July Flowing Fire, Seven Stars Linked Flying Swords had actually been blocked by Lu Li for five swords.

Around Lu Li's body, Purple Spirit Qi flowed violently.

"It seems that relying on the enhancement of the Purple Cloud Skill, I can block five of Jiang Yinuo's swords."

The next moment, the even more powerful sixth sword followed closely; Lu Li no longer held back, and the momentum around his body suddenly condensed.

Sword Laughing Proud, Five Mountains Stance!

Boom!!

All seven Flying Swords were blocked by Lu Li.

One must know that Lu Li was currently only at the First Realm Fifth Grade, a full major realm away from Jiang Yinuo's cultivation. Moreover, the effect of the Slaying Demon Sword could not be utilized.

That is to say, relying on the Purple Cloud Skill and Sword Intent, Lu Li was able to defeat the Second Realm Perfection Jiang Yinuo while at the First Realm.

And besides sword techniques and internal energy, Lu Li also had light-body techniques.

The next moment, Lu Li's figure suddenly vanished from where he stood, and a flash of sword light stopped at Jiang Yinuo's throat in an instant.

"How about it, who is the target?"

----------Author's Note----------

There will be another update tonight.