Embers of Sword

Chapter 648 Questioning the Heart
Ye Zu stopped there and said no more.

The old man gently patted Xie Xuanyi on the shoulder, summoned his flying sword, and rode away, leaving the place to the two young people.

Xie Xuanyi silently approached the two tombstones, bowed, and paid his respects.

Both Qin Zu and Wu Zhexian were unparalleled figures in the martial arts of the Great Chu Dynasty… If it weren’t for the upheaval caused by the Demon Empress, both of them would probably still be safe and sound. This great calamity almost forcibly pushed the martial arts fortune of the entire Great Chu Dynasty back to the level of three hundred years ago.

Fortunately... there's Zhou.

"Brother Zhou."

After Xie Xuanyi finished doing all that, he slowly asked, "...Are you alright?"

The white-clad warrior had many maple leaves fallen on his shoulders.

I can tell.

He stood there for a long time.

"I'm not that fragile."

Looking at the tombstone, Zhou said, "My master taught me long ago that martial arts cultivation is not only about tempering the physical body, but also about honing the mind..."

There was a pause.

"Separation by life or death."

"These are all trials and tribulations on the path of spiritual practice."

Zhou's voice became hoarse, and he forced a smile: "I...I'm actually fine..."

Xie Xuanyi looked at the white-clad martial artist and thought to himself that Zhou Shi really wasn't good at lying.

Is this guy really okay?

Standing before the monument, I even forgot to brush away the fallen leaves.

How can someone like that be good?

"I heard that Lu Yuzhen also participated in the battle of the Sword Palace."

Zhou suddenly asked, "Now that the Empress's death is confirmed, there's been no news of him... Could it be that he didn't die by Sect Leader Zhao's sword...?"

Now that the Sword Palace has won a great victory and the Demon Queen has perished, if Lu Yuzhen also dies at the foot of Lotus Peak, then the news of the Paper Doll Sect's annihilation must have already spread throughout the four realms of Da Chu.

"Lu Yuzhen... is very difficult to kill."

Xie Xuanyi did not want to deceive Zhou.

He recounted the scene of the battle at Moon Hidden Cave.

"really……"

Zhou's ominous premonition came true.

He guessed that Lu Yuzhen might not be dead.

The white-robed martial artist took a deep breath and murmured, "It's truly unexpected. With Sect Leader Zhao's cultivation level, he could even kill the Demon Queen, yet he failed to kill him?"

This is the great calamity of the Sword Palace.

Zhao Chunyang made his move and killed the Demon Queen... This battle was incredibly valuable!
In the past, people have been discussing who the "strongest" in terms of martial prowess was in the Great Chu Dynasty.

After this battle, there will be no more controversy on this issue.

Qin Zu perished in the Moon Hidden Cave Heaven, and the Holy Empress was defeated in the Great Sui Sword Palace.

Of the four supreme figures of the Great Chu Dynasty, only "Xiaoyaozi" has yet to appear...

The great Dao Sect has been hollowed out by Chongkan and its dragon vein has been removed, making this a "joke". The difference in skill between Xiaoyaozi and Zhao Chunyang, which has remained unclear over the years, is now becoming apparent.

"That's fine..."

Zhou flicked his sleeves and said in a deep voice, "The fact that the man surnamed Lu is still alive gives me something to look forward to!"

As he spoke, a chilling murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

There are many practitioners in this world who cultivate only a single attachment.

Zhou was that kind of person.

Once the word "longing" came out, Zhou's voice barely paused.

"Thank you, Brother Xie..."

He looked at Xie Xuanyi and said, word by word, "For the past ten years, I have been cultivating desperately, reaching the Great Perfection of the Yin Spirit Realm. Do you know what has been supporting me?"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi sighed softly.

"It's you."

Zhou stared intently into Xie Xuanyi's eyes.

He spoke with utmost seriousness: "Years ago, I challenged you to eleven rounds of fistfights, and each time I failed. If it weren't for the Moon Shadow case ten years ago, this twelfth round of fistfights... I would definitely win."

For the twelfth round of boxing.

Zhou had been preparing diligently for months. On the day Xie Xuanyi stepped into the imperial city, he closed his eyes and meditated at the Martial Sect Dojo, adjusting his energy and spirit to their peak.

He was just waiting for Xie Xuanyi to leave the palace so he could fight him!
Before advancing to the Yang God realm, there are two major tribulations.

Ask your heart, ask the question!
Zhou has already questioned his own "Dao," and only Xie Xuanyi remains to test his "heart"!
This is the hurdle.

One crossing took ten years.

Upon learning of Xie Xuanyi's death in Beihai, Zhou Yi was initially incredulous. He personally went to Beihai to investigate, but the search yielded nothing, and he still could not accept it.

He has made up his mind to "win".

He was just waiting for Xie Xuanyi to fight him.

Even if he loses this battle... he can accept it!
It's nothing more than starting over, undergoing rigorous training again. A towering mountain awaits him ahead. If Xie Xuanyi advances to the Yang God realm, then he will naturally also overcome this test of conscience.

After all, only a Yang God is qualified to challenge another Yang God.

But Xie Xuanyi died just like that...

Zhou was trapped in the Yin God Realm for ten years.

now.

The man who died in the North Sea came back to life and stood right in front of him.

The white-robed martial artist stood before the monument for an entire night. He knew Xie Xuanyi would definitely come looking for him; this duel, delayed for ten years… though late, was finally coming. So, just like ten years ago, he meditated and adjusted himself, gathering all his energy and spirit, waiting for Xie Xuanyi's arrival.

"The twelfth round of boxing..."

Xie Xuanyi certainly knew Zhou Xinsi's thoughts.

He looked at the white-clad warrior and sighed, asking, "Are you sure you want to stay here?"

"This is the source of the Great Chu Martial Fortune. My master and grandmaster are buried here. In a while, I will also be stationed here to suppress the Martial Fortune."

Zhou smiled and said, "You are the opponent I most want to defeat in my life. If I had to choose the location for this twelfth duel, I would choose this place."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi looked solemnly at the man before her.

He nodded and softly uttered a single word: "Okay."

The words just fell.

The white-clad martial artist suddenly threw a punch. The two were extremely close, and Zhou showed no mercy. The punch created a sonic boom that exploded in Xie Xuanyi's ears.

boom!
Xie Xuanyi raised his hand to block, and the Martial Arts Divine Embryo instantly descended, attaching itself to the black robe.

Zhou ignited his life-giving flame at Bai Ze's tomb and fought against the false saint.

The flame of life has just been extinguished.

Logically speaking, he should be listless and dispirited.

But at this moment, Xie Xuanyi did not feel the slightest "decline". The white-clothed man went from extreme stillness to extreme movement, and in an instant he turned into a stream of light and circled behind Xie Xuanyi. The speed was so fast that even the Martial Dao Divine Embryo Dharma Image was a beat slow to react.

Another punch.

Xie Xuanyi flipped over and raised his arm, only to be blasted dozens of feet away, his feet carving a deep trench in the ground.

After stopping, he just raised his head.

The snow-white figure then approached ghostly, its brow now ablaze with intense light—

He rekindled the flame of life for the second time!
"ten years!"

Zhou lowered his voice, which trembled, and with each punch he threw, there was an explosive roar of primordial fire: "Xie Xuanyi! I've waited for you for ten years!"

Ten years ago, Xie Xuanyi died and his cultivation vanished.

But Zhou never gave up on this twelfth round of boxing.

He has been preparing for this battle for ten years!

My great wish has now been fulfilled.

Every punch and kick Zhou threw was even more powerful and forceful than when he fought Bai Gui.

"Don't hold back!" Zhou unleashed his full power and actually suppressed Xie Xuanyi.

As he threw his punches, he roared, "Today's battle! I only seek defeat!"

The maple leaves were scattered by the force of the energy.

Jiang Huang, who was hiding in the distance, was frightened by this scene. She didn't quite understand how her brother and the guy in white could suddenly start fighting.
but……

She was able to discern the killing intent.

Although the white-clad martial artist's punches were fierce and his moves were ruthless, he had no intention of killing.

Just as Jiang Huang was feeling worried, a gentle voice transmission sounded.

"Stay away."

The voice touched her heart, easing the tension in the little guy's heart. Jiang Huang vaguely understood why the old man in red robes had left on his sword earlier. She silently retreated, leaving the mountain range for the two of them to use as a battlefield.

……

……

"Bang bang bang!"

The extremely crisp sound of the impact echoed through the maple forest.

The two martial arts prodigies clashed, and the outcome was almost evenly matched.

Xie Xuanyi, with a solemn expression, parried and blocked.

Zhou's strength truly exceeded his expectations!

This martial artist is truly terrifying when he fights with his life on the line... If I didn't possess a divine sense comparable to the Yang God Realm, I wouldn't even be able to keep up with Zhou's speed in his current state of burning life.

To be honest, in terms of the strength of the divine embryo alone, this guy is above me.

No wonder in the battle in the Southern Frontier, Wu Zhexian, who was several realms lower in cultivation, fought desperately against Lu Yuzhen and nearly killed the latter—

"Should we use the Annihilation Dao Realm?"

This thought flashed through Xie Xuanyi's mind.

Zhou Zaiqiang.

In the end, he was just a Yin spirit.

His own Dao of Annihilation realm has reached its peak, and he is only one step away from condensing the "Great Dao". The strength of this Dao embryo alone is something that a "Great Perfection of Yin Spirit" cannot withstand... In addition, there is the Dao of Life realm and the [Primordial Devouring Divine Power].

The reason I came to the northern suburban mountains was to fulfill Zhou's long-cherished wish, which was ten years overdue.

Da Chu Wu Yun suffered losses.

In the years to come, only Zhou Yi will be able to shoulder the main responsibility.

Xie Xuanyi knew that Zhou was only one step away from becoming a Yang God... and that last tiny bit of difference would fall on him.

So he came.

This battle, however, will be truly difficult.

If he had used all his skills, the white-clad warrior who had the upper hand one moment would be utterly defeated the next.

The passion and fighting spirit that had been built up over ten years was shattered.

Let alone advancing to the Yang God realm.

It's entirely possible that they could never recover from this setback.

But what's worse than that is... Zhou realized he hadn't "gone all out."

For a warrior who values ​​this battle more than his own life, such a thing is more damaging to his moral character than a crushing defeat.

In a blink of an eye.

All thoughts settled down.

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath and whispered, "Swallow, Yuan!"

The Devouring Yuan Scroll, which he had not yet mastered, was thus unleashed—

hum!
An invisible wave rippled through the void.

Zhou's pupils contracted slightly, and he saw that the invisible wave spread out, and his fist wind seemed to be drawn away and dispersed a little.

Although martial artists do not cultivate vital energy or the Great Dao, they still need to ignite "primordial fire" within their divine embryonic acupoints!
As soon as he used the Devouring Yuan Scroll, the Yuan Fire within his acupoints paused slightly.

A single moment of change in temperament is enough to tip the scales.

Xie Xuanyi seized the opportunity and launched an instant counterattack. He dodged Zhou Yi's punch, bent over, and delivered a powerful knee strike to the white-robed martial artist's abdomen, causing the latter to bend over like a shrimp. Immediately afterward, the force of his knee strike exploded out. Xie Xuanyi showed no mercy, unleashing the full power of his "Destruction Dao Intent" in this single blow—

boom!
Zhou coughed up a mouthful of blood, his divine body shattered, and he was sent flying into the sky.

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath, looked up, and placed his toes on the ground.

With a whoosh.

Xie Xuanyi shot up like an arrow, leaping to Zhou's location once more. He clenched his fists, interlacing his fingers, and slammed them down heavily on the white-clad martial artist's back.

After ascending into the sky, the white rainbow plummeted, creating a huge crater in the ground.

Finish these.

Xie Xuanyi did not stop.

He hovered above the sky, his hands pressed against his brow, accompanied by a clear sword rang out.

The sword-qi cave between the eyebrows has now been opened—

Dozens, even hundreds, of sword cries echoed across the sky.

Xie Xuanyi remained calm as he unleashed the "Sword Qi Unfurling Screen." This simple and unadorned move, when executed, resulted in nearly a thousand sword energies condensing above his head, connecting end to end. From a distance, he resembled the "Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva" from Buddhist legend, and the hundreds of sword energies rotating around the screen were his own outstretched gilded arms.

"go."

Xie Xuanyi pointed to the crater in the ground.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
A dense array of sword beams crashed into the ground!
Zhou, who had been hit by a series of vicious attacks, reacted with lightning speed. Despite his dizziness, he wiped the blood from his cheek and just as he rolled over, preparing to gather his strength for a jump, he heard this chilling whistling sound.

The white-clad warrior raised his head.

The next moment, endless, dazzling golden light descended—

The sword energy cascaded down like a waterfall!

The maple forest burst open with countless crimson hues, and tens of millions of red leaves spilled outward amidst the bombardment of sword energy, transforming into wave after wave of dazzling crimson tides.

Xie Xuanyi did not hold back.

He hovered in the sky, maintaining his own energy with the Spring of Immortality, and each wisp of sword energy was imbued with the [Primordial Devouring Divine Power].

The depression in the ground increased from five zhang to ten zhang, then to twenty zhang, and finally to almost a hundred zhang...

The entire mountain range was almost completely flattened by this sword energy.

Amidst the dazzling golden light, a figure in white could be vaguely seen standing at the deepest part of the crater, tilting his head back and continuously throwing punches at the ceiling.

The white-clad warrior screamed and roared desperately, but his voice was drowned out by the sword energy.

However, these fist intents were not submerged by the tide of sword energy; in fact, they faintly revealed a powerful momentum that would break through this tide of sword energy!

"..."

Xie Xuanyi watched this scene, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his lips.

He heard Zhou's roar.

That guy was shouting at himself from under the waterfall of sword energy.

"Come again!"

Xie Xuanyi pondered for a moment, then silently increased the intensity.

As a result, the waterfall of sword energy suddenly doubled in width—

Countless golden sword energies, faintly tinged with a dark and gloomy aura, transformed from the original waterfall of sword energy into an unprecedented "rain of annihilation"!
……

……

not far away.

The red-robed elder, who was watching the battle with great interest while munching on a peach, paused for a moment when he saw the golden sword energy seeping into the black aura.

"The Path of Annihilation Rain..."

Ye Zu's expression changed.

He knew all too well the power of this move.

"Crazy, crazy!"

"It's just a boxing match, is this Xie trying to beat Zhou to death?!"

The old man in red robes lost his composure. He quickly dropped the peach and rode his sword toward the direction where the two were fighting.

(End of this chapter)