Chapter 148: The Zhengqi Sword

Lu Ling's smiling words plunged Lu Fang into an icy abyss: the final trial of Jianshan was not to break the illusion, but to sacrifice his own life.

Death!

He had never deeply considered it, nor did he wish to.

Too many people and things mattered to him—he could not bear to die here.

Why must this trial be like this?

Lu Fang's brow furrowed deeper with each thought; he tried slashing through the illusions of the two women, but it achieved nothing—what was going on? Could it truly be as they claimed?

Only his death would do!

Or perhaps this too was an illusion, and he had not yet found its key.

"I don't want to die."

Lu Fang fixed his gaze on the two women and asked: "Is there another way to leave here?"

Li Yu and Lu Ling exchanged a glance, covered their mouths, and laughed softly, offering no answer—only gazing at him with ambiguous eyes.

As if to say: death is the only way.

Lu Fang rubbed his temples in frustration; time was running short. If he failed to break this illusion before nightfall, he might die.

Trapped in the illusion, he had no defense if the Ox-Horned Red-Eyed Demon attacked now.

Yet the illusion he faced filled him with dread.

So far, he could not conceive a way out—and he trusted only one-tenth of what Li Yu and Lu Ling had said.

He had never been easily convinced.

Logically, they must be lying—and yet they must also be telling part of the truth.

In an instant, everything that had just occurred replayed before him in slow motion: the women's expressions, every unnatural, jarring detail.

After a mental storm, Lu Fang clarified several basic facts: first, their claim that this was not an illusion was false.

The moment he entered this place, it mirrored exactly how he had entered previous illusions—yet he had not broken it because the key was not to kill the two women before him.

Second, their assertion that he must die to leave was also part of it.

That statement was deliberately vague, woven with truth and lies, because they themselves were uncertain—hence their sudden silence when he pressed further.

After repeated recollection, Lu Fang concluded: only his death could free him—that part was true.

In other words, breaking this illusion required him to kill himself.

But their claim that death here meant true death made him hesitate.

Lu Ling shook her head, her face filled with sorrow: "Brother, I don't want you to die—then I'll never see you again. Can't we just live here together forever?"

Li Yu nodded vigorously: "Believe us—if you die, you'll be truly dead. Don't think of leaving. Isn't it better if the three of us live here?"

Lu Fang closed his eyes, blocking out all distractions. After careful thought, he already knew the answer.

What tormented him was this: if he was wrong, he would die—and so he had to be utterly cautious.

"Hahahaha…" Lu Fang suddenly laughed. "Death? I already know this is an illusion—why should I fear dying? Only three of us are here. The key isn't you two—it's me."

With that, he spoke.

Lu Fang's body stiffened—he watched himself, as if an outsider, torn apart into pieces.

Watching oneself die—this was a peculiar experience.

If he could, he would never endure it again.

He had won the gamble!

The illusion vanished. Lu Fang found himself standing atop Jianshan's peak. Before him, a dozen paces away, a massive two-handed sword was embedded in the stone wall, radiating righteous qi with overwhelming pressure.

He stepped forward cautiously, gripped the ancient hilt with both hands, and pulled with all his strength.

Clang!

Lu Fang drew the two-handed sword effortlessly—it was over two meters long including the hilt, its blade edgeless except at the tip, with blood grooves and intricate, ancient engraved patterns along its length.

On either side of the hilt, two ancient characters were engraved.

He did not recognize the script—but he knew instinctively they meant "Zhengqi." The sword's name.

Zhengqi Sword!

It suited the blade well.

Holding the Zhengqi Sword, Lu Fang descended Jianshan—no illusions blocked his path.

Zhao Qingzhu, seeing him descend with the sword, smiled with delight: "You did it! Can this sword really kill the Ox-Horned Red-Eyed Demon?"

Lu Fang shook his head: "I'm not sure. It feels like it carries only this strange righteous qi—nothing else seems special. Night's coming. Let's return to Gubao first."

…

Inside Gubao.

Zhao Qingzhu held the Zhengqi Sword, examining it closely. "I can't sense any righteous qi from it anymore."

Lu Fang replied: "The righteous qi seems absorbed into the blade—but if you focus, you can still feel it leaking out."

Zhao Qingzhu made a light slash—the table split like tofu. She smiled: "It's sharp. Definitely a fine sword."

As the two spoke,

the dusk outside the window filled with the clinking of chains and the growing roar of the Ox-Horned Red-Eyed Demon.

"It's here."

Lu Fang stirred with anticipation: "Tonight, we'll find out if this sword can kill it."

Zhao Qingzhu handed the Zhengqi Sword to Lu Fang. "I've already set up some arrays outside. I'll assist you—if this sword truly works, let me deliver the final strike."

She harbored hatred toward Wan Juan.

Wan Juan had killed the one she loved. Whether to break the rules of this place or to avenge her beloved, she wanted to kill the enemy with her own hands.

Lu Fang took the Zhengqi Sword and stepped out of Gubao first. He summoned Qimen Feijia and charged toward the Ox-Horned Red-Eyed Demon. Since the novel "Xiao Ao Jianghu" had been widely circulated in the Da Zhou Daily, he had gained insight into sword arts.

Such as the Bixie Sword Art or the Du Gu Jiu Jian.

So he feared no close combat—especially with Qimen Feijia's speed and the Tian Di Zhi Shi as his trump card. Even if he couldn't win, he believed he could escape unharmed.

"Zang Hua Yin!"

Petals of peach blossoms fell, forming a circular barrier around the Ox-Horned Red-Eyed Demon.

To better wield Du Gu Jiu Jian, Lu Fang activated the Extraordinary Power: Man Tian Guo Hai, altering his body. He chose Du Gu Jiu Jian because it was powerful—pure offense, no defense.

With Qimen Feijia's boost, his speed became a whirlwind, carving sword qi into the Ox-Horned Red-Eyed Demon's body.