This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 358 I love watching women fight.
With just one step, Zi Ping knew how terrifying the master's methods were by Jiang Yingjun's side.

Drawing a circle around oneself creates a prison, making one feel as if they are worlds apart even though they are close at hand.

The courtyard wall, seemingly within reach, was now a distant horizon. She and Qin Zhaorong were like birds trapped in a cage; entering was easy, but leaving would be difficult.

"Senior sister, is there a problem?"

Qin Zhaorong's cultivation level was insufficient, and she was unaware that she was imprisoned. Upon noticing the change in Zi Ping's expression, her own expression became serious.

"You've ruined my life. I knew it; there couldn't possibly be any 'what if'..."

Zi Ping didn't have much time to complain. Once inside the spatial restriction, the masters from the Liu and Xiao families could arrive at any moment. She had no chance of winning against two people, and with Qin Zhaorong added to the mix, it was practically a three-on-one fight. The probability of her becoming a prisoner was a whopping 100%.

What to do? Maybe we should just leave Qin Zhaorong behind as a scapegoat? Anyway, this junior sister is just infuriating every day.

As Zi Ping thought this, her mind raced and her hands formed complex hand seals.

With a flick of her wide sleeves, something flew out from between her brows—the 'Sky-Gazing Pattern Plate,' a magical artifact for cultivating both body and spirit. This object excels at breaking formations, and she was confident that she could escape with Qin Zhaorong before the grandmaster could react.

The celestial compass is covered with star patterns, as if the constellations are imprinted on it. With a light tap of Zi Ping's fingertip, the compass rotates in the air, drawing in thousands of illusory star images and casting them into the entire courtyard under a starlight.

"break!"

Zi Ping pointed her fingers like a sword, her eyes flashing with white light like a waterfall. With a single finger, she vanished into the air, creating rolling ripples.

As her fingertips slid down, the speed slowed down, and she could no longer go any further after reaching halfway. She was amazed by the terrifying cultivation of the Grandmaster opposite her. She took out her magic weapon, the Azure Star Sword, and swept it across the void as if tearing silk. The surrounding binding force was forcibly torn open a gap.

"Walk."

Zi Ping pressed down on Qin Zhaorong's shoulder, then flashed into the room. Once she had regained her footing, her face was extremely grim.

The courtyard walls remain, yet we are worlds apart!
Qin Zhaorong frowned slightly: "Senior sister, if you can't break through it, then you can't break through it. Junior sister has a way to ensure that you and I are safe."

"What are you trying to say? Are you trying to use your beauty to beg them to spare our lives?" Zi Ping was speechless.

"What are you saying, senior sister? You're the one who flaunts your beauty to cultivate immortality. I, your junior sister, am very reserved and self-respecting."

Qin Zhaorong first made a disdainful remark, and then said, "If I disguise myself as Xiang Yuan and get close to you, Senior Sister will sense it and immediately come to rescue us from this predicament."

"..."

Where did you get that conclusion? That's outrageous! How could Senior Sister possibly...?

Oh, if it's the senior sister, then there is indeed a good chance.

The two stared at each other, then Qin Zhaorong rubbed her hands together, mimicked Xiang Yuan's voice, and said, "Hehe, A-Ping, I'm going to go!"

boom!
Zi Ping couldn't hold back and Qin Zhaorong got punched on the forehead.

"Senior sister, at a time like this, can't you be a little more mature!"

Qin Zhaorong was furious: "You can lie in Xiang's arms and be happy, so what's wrong with making your junior sister happy? Besides, we're escaping for our lives right now, and finding our senior sister is the right thing to do."

"Shut up, don't say anything, someone's coming."

Zi Ping raised her hand to signal silence, her expression grave as she looked toward the side of the courtyard wall. In terms of space, it was as close as a stone's throw away, and visually, the intruder descending from the sky was right in front of her.

There were two intruders, both women. One was dressed in a black outfit, and the other was dressed in a simple white dress. Both were stunningly beautiful without any makeup.

The two entered the courtyard and immediately noticed that the surrounding space was strange.

The woman in black snorted coldly, then pointed her fingers like a sword and slashed through the air.

The sword energy was like a rainbow, but it was like a mud ox entering the sea, only causing a ripple on the barrier.

Seeing this, the woman in the white dress exchanged a glance with her companion, and the two of them attacked simultaneously.

Swords intersect, yin and yang meet!
"Senior sister, can't they see us?" Qin Zhaorong looked at the two women with an extremely strange expression.

"They're not in the same realm, but we'll see them soon..."

Zi Ping frowned and muttered to herself, "What are those vile women from Wushuang Palace doing here?"

The two female cultivators from Wushuang Palace crossed their swords, their black and white energies intertwining and flowing. The sword energy took shape, becoming a yin-yang fish, head to tail, carrying a powerful sword force as it crashed fiercely into the restriction.

The barrier was broken, and the two of them teleported out, only to be met with Zi Ping and Qin Zhaorong. They were immediately dumbfounded.

Their eyes met, and the room fell silent.

(;д)乛乛)(_(;)
It was very sudden.

Zi Ping tightened her grip on the Azure Star Sword, narrowed her eyes slightly, and said, "So it's Senior Yin Shuang and Senior Dao Xue from Wushuang Palace. We have long admired your names. Zi Ping from Jianxinzhai, along with my junior sister Qin Zhaorong, greet you."

"Senior sister, these two are both seniors, you were too harsh in your words." Qin Zhaorong complained, emphasizing the words "seniors".

"Who is Jianxinzhai Ziping? I've never heard of her."

Dressed in black, Yin Shuang sneered, "The Sword Heart Sect has produced another grandmaster. It's truly a cause for celebration. I wonder if you, an unknown nobody, dare to come and make a fool of yourself in this year's sword competition?"

"Don't dare."

Zi Ping responded with a cold laugh: "Just now, I saw the two seniors working together to break the formation, and it took them a lot of effort. I knew then that I was no match for them."

“Yes, unlike my senior sister, who broke through the spatial restriction with just a slight movement,” Qin Zhaorong confirmed from the side.

While Zi Ping is certainly eloquent, when it comes to stirring up hatred, the sarcastic and cryptic Qin Zhaorong is far more annoying; her very words can ignite a great deal of anger.

The main problem is her large breasts, which look rather unpleasant.

Xiangyuan: (一`一;)
On the third level of the spatial restriction, Xiang Yuan looked at the configuration before him, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his temple, not understanding what had happened.

Why are Ah Ping and Sister Rou here?
What's the situation with the two grandmasters of Wushuang Palace?
If we rush in now and pin A-Ping to the ground, will Shang Qingmeng appear?

Why did the plan targeting the three Tianzong families attract the attention of Jianxinzhai and Wushuang Palace? Where did the three Tianzong families go? Jiang Yingjun is such a charming princess, why don't you come and kidnap her?

Although he didn't understand what had happened, Xiang Yuan was very certain of one thing: he probably wouldn't make it in time for that cup of warm tea.

After all, it was four women fighting. If he had such a good show to watch, he would be crazy to go back to Wenqu Academy to have tea with three old men.

I love watching women fight!

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"No, Senior Sister is too weak. Not only can she not help, she will also be a hindrance. If I don't take sides in the fight against three people, she will definitely be severely humiliated by the other side."

Standing at the deepest level of the spatial restriction, Xiang Yuan didn't need to worry about the other side hearing him no matter how loudly he spoke.

His gaze swept over the two Wushuang Palace masters he was meeting for the first time, and he hesitated whether to take sides.

As expected of the Wushuang Palace, a place teeming with beauties and stunningly beautiful women, the rumors circulating outside are indeed true.

These two female masters were as bright as the autumn moon, with black hair and fair skin that complemented their bright eyes. Their beautiful faces, combined with their mature and elegant demeanor, made them look like senior figures of advanced age.

Xiao Lingyue is the closed-door disciple of Bai Wuyan, the master of Wushuang Palace. She is not related to these two as fellow disciples. If I'm not mistaken, these two should be Xiao Lingyue's senior uncles and aunts.

The question is, should we help Xiao Lingyue's family today, or should we take sides and help A Ping?

"Wait a minute, although Shang Qingmeng is completely clueless, she has some connections with me, so Jianxinzhai can be considered half a family to me..." Xiang Yuan muttered to himself, realizing he had almost forgotten about this.

Shang Qingmeng was purely accidental, and her status in his heart was definitely not comparable to Xiao Lingyue's. However, if you add the bullied Ziping to the mix, the two families can barely be considered evenly matched.

Furthermore, setting aside Xiao Lingyue, Jianxinzhai held a much higher place in his heart than Wushuang Palace.

After all, he had never been to Wushuang Palace.

Both sides are equally dear to me, so after much deliberation, Xiang Yuan decided to take a look first.

At least find out why Jianxinzhai and Wushuang Palace are here. If they are here to kidnap Jiang Yingjun, then I'm sorry, the Liu clan has been granted imperial favor and is loyal to the emperor and loves the country. Today, both sides will be punished severely. No one can get away with it through nepotism.

"Fight! Fight!"

Amidst Xiang Yuan's eager anticipation, Jianxinzhai and Wushuang Palace, unable to exchange more than a few words, briefly discussed their opinions before Dao Xue, dressed in an elegant white dress, took the initiative.

Zheng! !

A clear, resonant sword cry echoed through the courtyard. Suddenly, the longsword in Daoxue's hand blazed with a blinding golden light, its scorching sword energy transforming into a dazzling sun that roared into the sky. The great sun shone brightly!

A surging heatwave swept across the area like a tidal wave, hovering flames bloomed like flower petals, the air twisted and wrinkled under the high temperature, and even the light was scorched and blurred.

Because of the spatial restrictions, the heatwave only existed on the second floor where the four of them were located, and could not reach the third floor where Xiang Yuan was located, nor could it affect the courtyard of the post station. Otherwise, a powerful attack from a Grandmaster would have been enough to wipe out the entire post station.

Right now, the second floor is a scene of carnage, with blood flowing like a river, and no one outside the inn has noticed. Even Jiang Yingjun next door is playing her zither or doing her calligraphy and painting.

The blazing sun pressed down from the sky, and the heatwave rushed straight towards Zi Ping. The latter first took out the magic treasure, the Pill Dao Array Diagram, to protect the weak and powerless Qin Zhaorong, who was particularly annoying with her chattering. Only then did she use the Azure Star Sword to cut through the enemy's swordplay.

The sword techniques of Jianxinzhai are profound and far-reaching. The swordplay is like a fairy dancing or a cloud in the sky, ethereal and unpredictable, elegant yet concealing deadly intent.

In contrast, the sword techniques and sword styles of the Peerless Palace are fierce and domineering, with each strike more powerful than the last.

The collision of two completely different art styles is so exciting that it's hard to believe.

While marveling at the beautiful sights, they also went on a shopping spree at the supermarket.

Although Xiao Lingyue had been copied from head to toe by him, Dao Xue was, after all, a grandmaster, and had unique insights into the Wushuang Palace's inherited sword techniques. Xiang Yuan had not copied them. He tasted them and found them to be just right, with a decent flavor.

Clang!
Zi Ping lightly twirled the Azure Star Sword in her hand, like a spring breeze brushing against willows, utterly devoid of any worldly concerns.

Where the sword's edge passed, a bluish light appeared, like withered branches sprouting new green shoots, dispelling the heat in the air, and conveying the idea of ​​endless life derived from celestial phenomena, colliding head-on with the sword's momentum.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only the rising white mist from the clash of water and fire. The heatwave was dissipated by the cool breeze, while the cool breeze itself was extinguished by the scorching heat.

For a moment, they were locked in a stalemate. Zi Ping, who had just entered the Grandmaster realm, was clearly slightly inferior.

Before she could fall into a disadvantageous position, pressured by Dao Xue's sword aura, she danced with graceful sword shadows, and three invisible sword energies quietly approached Dao Xue's throat, heart, and dantian—three vital points.

Dao Xue's swordplay was fierce and menacing, its speed astonishing, its net-like strike deflecting three invisible sword energies, forcing Zi Ping to confront it head-on.

Stop with the fancy stuff, you little vixen from Jianxinzhai, attack head-on!
clang!
The two longswords clashed for the first time, producing a sound like the tolling of bells.

The Wushuang Palace has a body-refining method passed down through generations. Although it is far inferior to Xiang Yuan's innate divine strength, it is more than enough to deal with Zi Ping. Once the latter touched her, she knew that the old woman's arm strength was amazing and that she could not close in and fight her.

Zi Ping used the momentum to drift away, her toes lightly touching the air, each step blooming into a blue lotus.

Dao Xue was like a meteor falling to earth; wherever her sword pointed, the sun shone brightly, and her aura was unparalleled.

Qin Zhaorong stood beneath the alchemy array, her entire body protected by a blue light barrier, unaffected by the sword fight between the two. Knowing that Zi Ping had just entered the Grandmaster realm, she was probably no match for Dao Xue. She offered her assistance from the sidelines, peeking out and making a funny face to appear younger than she was.

"Old hag, no, senior, your sun isn't even as strong as the stove in Jianxinzhai. Would you like me to introduce you to the woodshed in Jianxinzhai and teach you how to start a fire?" She spoke in a childish, high-pitched voice, which was very unfriendly to the veteran who had been famous for many years.

Outstanding effect!

Dao Xue's eyes flashed with cold light, and the power of the Great Sun Sword deepened by another three points!
boom!
The sword's momentum was like the sky collapsing, the sun's brilliance surged, and the entire courtyard seemed to have fallen into a furnace.

Dao Xue's offensive strategy changed, and Zi Ping's pressure increased dramatically. In contrast, Dao Xue revealed a weakness. If Zi Ping could withstand the pressure, she might be able to turn the tide and regain the initiative.

It really works!
She possesses five magical treasures for cultivating both body and spirit. If placed in the Nascent Soul stage, this would be considered greedy and inefficient, likely leading to some mental issues. However, if placed in the Profound Realm stage, it would be proof of her talent and aptitude, a sign of confidence.

The jade-embroidered Taoist robe on Zi Ping's body emitted a protective divine light, dispelling the scorching pressure of the blazing sun and keeping the burning sword energy three feet away.

The white clouds brushed away the dust, and the celestial pattern plate hung in the air. The former, with its thousands of silver threads, transformed into towering white waves, like the Milky Way hanging upside down, washing away the blazing sun; the latter, with the stars rotating and the illusory images of the twenty-eight constellations forming a light curtain, forcefully turned the great sun of Daoxue into a setting sun.

Furthermore, the Azure Star Sword swept outwards, its swordsmanship naturally revealing its killing intent. Where the sword's edge passed, withered trees sprouted new branches, transforming the Heaven-Burning Sword's power into a life force that nourishes all things.

With a single thrust, the Azure Star Sword suddenly split into countless forms, each sword light imbued with the power of stars, raining down upon Dao Xue's vulnerabilities.

Dao Xue was caught off guard by the junior student's attack and was shocked by the large number of magical treasures Zi Ping possessed, each of which was used for both physical and spiritual cultivation.

Even so, there was another alchemy array diagram protecting Qin Zhaorong, which did not appear.

On the side, Yin Shuang, who was watching the battle, couldn't help but show a few surprises. Five magic treasures in total, how did Zi Ping advance to the Tongyou stage? Could it be that her talent is even above that of Shang Qingmeng?

Qin Zhaorong:

Others may not know, but Qin Zhaorong knew it all too well. That day, after her senior sister Shang Qingmeng had eaten and drunk her fill and left, Ziping climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard. First, she took off her jade-embroidered Taoist robe, then used the White Cloud Whisk to press down on Xiang Yuan. She did this and that, and then Ziping was able to enter the realm of the spirits.

That little bitch is truly hateful!
In front of outsiders, Qin Zhaorong would not expose Ziping's shortcomings. With one hand on her hip and an arrogant expression, she showed that her senior sister was indeed very talented and that she had achieved her current success entirely through her own efforts, without relying on the power of the Star Wrath.

I feel so wronged!

Caught off guard, Dao Xue was forced into a disadvantageous position by the four magical treasures. However, as a master who had been famous for many years, he quickly adapted to Zi Ping's multi-treasure fighting style after a brief moment of being in a sorry state.

The sword light rose again, the great sun was rekindled, and the scorching air waves swept across the sky like raging waves.

A cold glint flashed in her eyes; in just a moment, she could crush Zi Ping's tricks with her absolute cultivation.

Yinshuang didn't want to give her that time. Her sword was drawn and resounded. Dressed in black like a phantom, she flashed into the battle, her longsword also radiating the light of the Great Sun.

Two blazing suns overlapped overhead, and the heat waves piled up layer upon layer, distorting and deforming the space on the second floor.

Click!

Cracks appeared one after another, and the spatial restrictions crumbled inch by inch.

The protective azure light of Zi Ping's jade-inlaid Taoist robe was suppressed to only a thin layer. Her face was as pale as paper, but a cold smile appeared on her lips. The Observation Disc spun wildly, and the vast star map used the Star Shifting and Constellation Changing technique to forcibly deviate from the light of the great sun and crash into an open space on the side.

boom! !

The second layer of spatial restrictions was broken, revealing the figure of a grandmaster with one hand behind his back.

"Not bad, her acting is quite good."

When Yinshuang suddenly made her move, Xiang Yuan sensed something strange. Sure enough, the three women put on a show together, pretending to fight amongst themselves, and joined forces to shatter the second layer of spatial restrictions.

It was so sudden that Xiang Yuan only had time to put on a sinister and fierce expression.

While marveling at how Jianxinzhai and Wushuang Palace could still shake hands and make peace under the pressure of a powerful enemy, he sneered at the four women: "I was ordered to protect Princess Wenying. You four came uninvited, intending to harm the princess and incite war between the Northern Qi and Western Chu. Your crimes are heinous and you deserve to die!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the four women's expressions changed simultaneously.

Xiang Yuan took in this scene and realized that the four people had not come to kidnap Jiang Yingjun.

So, Jianxinzhai and Wushuang Palace must have had nothing better to do than come to the post station to have a sword duel.
Xiang Yuan didn't ask any more questions. He wasn't familiar with Yinshuang and Daoxue, so he couldn't comment on their actions. But he knew Aping and the weak senior sister very well. Today, he would give each of them thirty lashes to teach them a lesson: not every courtyard wall is safe to climb over.

If you make a mistake, you'll move into the basement and be well-fed for the rest of your life, while innocent bystanders will suffer.

boom! ! !
Xiang Yuan's eyes sharpened, and his aura suddenly surged.

With the essence of following the natural way, a terrifying aura swept out like a surging sea and collapsing mountains. At this moment, the third layer of the restricted space was as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, emitting a creaking sound that could not bear the weight, and ripples that could be seen with the naked eye.

Who is this person? The Liu family master is so powerful!

Xiang Yuan disguised himself and changed his face, but Zi Ping did not see through it. Terrified by the terrifying pressure of the newcomer, her eyes were filled with horror. The protective blue light on her Taoist robe could not be maintained. She raised her hand and pulled Qin Zhaorong to stand with her under the alchemy array diagram, only then did she get a chance to catch her breath.

The two overlapping suns flickered, their scorching light forced back to the sword tips. Dao Xue and Yin Shuang's expressions changed drastically, their bodies feeling as if they were carrying mountains, making it extremely difficult for them to even lift their swords.

The two women looked at Xiang Yuan and saw that his robes were fluttering and his hair was moving without wind. Behind him was a hidden phantom of heaven and earth. Without hesitation, they crossed their two long swords, creating a yin-yang effect, and spread out two colorful fish.

"Little tricks."

He took a step forward and slashed diagonally with his palm, the tip touching black and white, adjusting the colors of yin and yang, turning it into chaos.

Daoxue and Yinshuang retreated repeatedly, their eyes filled with disbelief, and tentatively asked, "Are you really... at the Tongyou stage?"

Xiang Yuan did not answer, his gaze sweeping over the two faces before settling on Dao Xue's face.

"Starting from you..."

With a loud bang, the fist slammed down!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

10,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)