Embers of Sword

Chapter 708 Jun Feng
"Burning flowers!"

"It's the Burning Flower from Hundred Flowers Valley!"

"No...it's Xie Xuanyi's Burning Flower!"

Because of the message from the Jiang family, countless cultivators had already gathered in Qingyang City.

The moment Ye Zu appeared, the primordial energy of heaven and earth stagnated. For ordinary cultivators, it might take years or even decades to witness a Yang God in person. Everyone craned their necks, eager to observe Ye Zu's demeanor, but no one expected that the Hundred Flowers Valley's ultimate technique would be unleashed by Xie Xuanyi.

Rumble!
Countless sword energies transformed into red leaves, slashing towards Ye Zu.

"what?"

Seeing the sky filled with red leaves and sword energy, the withered old man was stunned for a moment, staring at the young man in front of him in disbelief.

what's the situation!
How could Xie Xuanyi possibly burn flowers?

This sword technique has never been passed down to outsiders.

Moreover, due to the extreme difficulty of cultivation, even the current Valley Master has not fully comprehended it.

"Senior, please forgive me."

Xie Xuanyi repeated his previous advice: "Courtesy first, then force." He waved his sleeve, unleashing a torrent of sword energy, and attacked Ye Zu, who was blocking his way.

"Offend? Fellow Daoist Xie, you're being far too arrogant!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Zu raised an eyebrow, not angry, but rather finding it somewhat amusing.

Without bothering to investigate the origin of the Burning Flower Sword Technique, the withered old man raised his hands and drew out the Great Dao from the Sword Qi Cave Heaven... Since he had promised Jiang Lie to mediate the conflict, he had naturally made full preparations. If Xie Xuanyi was willing to listen to his advice, then everyone could sit down and have a good chat.

If Xie Xuanyi is unwilling to listen to advice... that's simple.

beat!
Sword practitioners are efficient and decisive; if they don't want to listen to reason, they'll just listen to the sound of the sword!

Let's see whose sword is harder and whose sword is faster!

"Buzz!"

As the overwhelming sword energy struck, a wisp of scarlet flame ignited between Ye Zu's brows.

He also unleashed the "Burning Flower" technique!
Burning flowers against burning flowers!
A loud explosion rang out in the sky!

Outside Qingyang City, the sword energy duel spread like a waterfall, with countless thick sword energies sweeping and surging, causing trees to rise from the ground wherever they passed.

"Oh my god... it's Burning Flower again... this time it's Ye Zu's Burning Flower!"

"Master Ye has made his move!"

The news that Xie Xuanyi was chasing Jiang Miaoyin spread throughout the four regions in a very short time.

However... due to the need to protect the sect's image, the news of the battle between the Great Eagle Sword Palace's Master of Laws and Xie Xuanyi didn't spread very quickly.

Most of the onlookers only knew that Xie Xuanyi had advanced to the Yang God realm, but they did not know that Zhang Lu had fought Xie Xuanyi and was defeated in less than ten breaths.

therefore.

In their view, this magnificent and intense battle between the two sides was full of suspense!

……

……

Sword energy gives rise to two, two gives rise to three, three gives rise to a million, and then ten million more.

Tens of millions of red leaves collided with the clouds above, refracting countless straight and sharp sword marks. These sword marks tore through the clouds and slashed through the void, but did not cut the skin or draw blood... The reason is simple: neither side had any "killing intent," so these sword energies only touched each other, colliding and refracting each other, cutting the clouds above into billions of shattered mirror surfaces.

Two figures stood at opposite ends of the shattered mirror.

Although the sky was broken, it remained as clear as a large lake, with crimson sword energy flying everywhere, just like maple leaves as winter approached.

Neither Xie Xuanyi nor Ye Zu moved.

The two were surrounded by piles of red leaves.

These red leaves connect to the void, stretching out countless thin, sharp lines. Anyone who makes a rash move will be cut by the sword energy.

"You brat, how exactly did you cultivate?"

Ye Zu lowered his head, looking at the piles of red leaves as white as snow, and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh tinged with envy.

This Burning Flower Sword Technique is extremely difficult to master.

Apart from him, no one in Hundred Flowers Valley has been able to successfully cultivate to this day.

Even I myself endured much hardship and spent a great deal of time... before I finally mastered this sword technique...

The young man before us is only in his thirties.

In terms of the Burning Flower Sword Technique, their proficiency in executing it is no less than that of myself.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuanyi could only remain silent.

He didn't know what to say.

I don't know.

This sigh, tinged with envy, was not Ye Zu's envy of Xie Xuanyi's youth and talent.

What Ye Zu truly envied was Zhao Chunyang.

Ye Zu regarded Zhao Chunyang as his greatest "opponent" in his life.

He knew that it would be difficult for him to catch up with such a prodigy on the path of cultivation... So after achieving Dao Condensation, he devoted all his efforts to the training of disciples in Hundred Flowers Valley.

His attention to his disciples and the time he spent on them far exceeded that of Zhao Chunyang.

Since he himself was no match for Zhao Chunyang, he would have his disciples compete against Zhao Chunyang's disciples!
When Ye Zu first conceived this idea, he was full of ambition!

However, half a century has passed.

His own disciples... were far inferior to Xie Xuanyi, and even to Huang Su.

How did that old guy surnamed Zhao manage to do that? He's incredibly skilled in cultivation, and he's also incredibly good at teaching disciples?
"Xie Xuanyi, you are indeed a genius."

"In terms of swordsmanship alone, I cannot defeat you."

Looking at the sky full of red leaves, Ye Zu took a deep breath and composed himself.

The clouds overhead were entangled by the sword energy, and neither of them could break through the attack.

I am unable to move on my own.

Xie Xuanyi was also unable to move.

In this way, they achieved their goal and the two sides "sat down" to have a proper talk.

Ye Zu paused, then said gently, "However, I have been cultivating for a long time... It will not be easy for you to break free..."

The voice has not yet fallen.

Snap!
A faint, almost imperceptible sound of a thread snapping echoed above the clouds. With the burning flowers all gone, the realm was ethereal, and every sound was crystal clear. The sound of the thread snapping came from Xie Xuanyi's "raising of his hand." Although he was entangled by countless sword energies, Xie Xuanyi seemed unaware, simply raising his arm as if brushing away a spiderweb.

Ye Zu's expression froze instantly.

"Clap clap clap..."

Countless red leaf sword energies shattered at this moment, and the burning flower killing intent erupted. However, a dark divine image appeared above the head of the man in black robes, emitting a faint golden light!

The Way of Annihilation, combined with the Sacred Body of Martial Arts.

The silk thread broke, leaving numerous scars on Xie Xuanyi's skin.

The slight pain was fleeting.

Xie Xuanyi stretched out his palm and slowly stroked his skin... This slow movement was deliberately done for Ye Zu's benefit. Xie Xuanyi did not even use the "Fountain of Immortality," but simply used his understanding of the "Way of Life" to easily smooth out and restore these superficial wounds.

"My Burning Flower can't even harm it?"

This scene greatly shocked Ye Zu.

Although I didn't use my full strength.

But the ruthlessness of burning flowers is known throughout the world.

A single wisp of red leaf sword energy was enough to slay a Yin God... Xie Xuanyi advanced to the Yang God realm using the "Path of Annihilation," and he's actually this powerful?!
"The senior wanted to persuade me not to kill 'Jiang Miaoyin'."

Xie Xuanyi said softly, "I appreciate your kind intentions. It's just a pity that the 'Jiang Miaoyin' at this moment is not the 'Jiang Miaoyin' that you understand, senior."

"What do you mean?" Ye Zu was taken aback.

His divine sense had, of course, already swept over Jiang Miaoyin.

Most evil spirits in this world cannot escape the detection of a Yang Shen realm divine sense... If Jiang Miaoyin had been "possessed," he would have noticed it long ago.

"If Jiang Miaoyin herself were here, why would she have fled north?"

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "Senior, you might as well take a closer look... In this exchange, she's almost escaped Qingzhou."

"?!"

Ye Zu's pupils contracted, and he then noticed that Jiang Miaoyin, who had been fleeing towards Qingyang City, had already traveled more than a hundred miles.

"I'm too busy to delay."

Xie Xuanyi said softly, "If we want to erase all the evil deeds committed by the Paper Doll Path, we will have to kill many more people today."

Chi Wu will definitely do everything in his power to stop me from fleeing north.

Qingyang City was just the beginning.

Xie Xuanyi knew in his heart that Ye Zu was an "innocent person" and had nothing to do with the Paper Doll Sect. Otherwise, the Burning Flower Sword Technique would have already revealed its killing intent!
Then I thought about it.

Lu Yuzhen left his "Pure White Venerable" under his command to guard the Divine Travel World and maintain the order of cause and effect, so he should be subject to some restrictions... Although the Paper Doll Sect has given away many "followers", upon closer inspection, it seems that not a single Yang God has completely become a pawn of the Paper Doll Sect!
Is it because the causal pressure involved in the Yang Shen (a spiritual entity) is too immense?

Or is there another reason?

Without a second thought, Xie Xuanyi took a step forward, directly crossing the layers of clouds filled with red leaf sword energy, and arrived in front of Ye Zu.

"……you!"

Ye Zu had just opened his mouth, but only managed to utter one word before falling silent.

Do the same thing.

Xie Xuanyi placed a palm on Ye Zu's chest.

boom!
With a muffled thud, countless red leaf sword energies shattered in the wind, and the Heavenly Cloud Waterfall cascaded down, causing Ye Zu's figure to fall like a kite with a broken string.

"Ye Zu has been defeated!"

"They lost so quickly!"

Exclamations of surprise rang out beneath Qingyang City.

Someone had chased the figure all the way from the Sword Palace to Qingzhou without stopping. Seeing the falling figure in the sky and the scattering, broken red leaves, he couldn't help but mutter, "Wait, this scene looks familiar... I think I just saw it before..."

……

……

The Zen master is absolutely right.

No two rivers in the world are exactly alike.

Even if such a thing exists, it would only be a similar coincidence. Many years later, a "pursuit across the North Sea" spanning thousands of miles reappeared in a certain world of fantasy.

The main character is still Xie Xuanyi.

However... the other protagonist has become Jiang Miaoyin.

The entire Great Chu Dynasty was shaken by this pursuit, with all the sacred mountains and aristocratic families mobilized. The Great Chu Imperial City dispatched the Imperial City Guard, spies, and mobilized nearly a hundred treasure ships to try and stop the pursuit in the northern region. Just as Xie Xuanyi had predicted, the Paper Doll Dao had corrupted the dynasty, and the "Chu Emperor" had become a puppet pawn manipulated by the Paper Doll technique.

Chi Wu no longer cared about the risk of his conspiracy being exposed.

She just wanted to survive.

Unfortunately……

Xie Xuanyi has now "condensed the Dao," and the attempts by Zhang Lu and Ye Zu to stop him have all failed. The spies of the Paper Man Dao are only at the Yin God Realm, and the treasure ship sent by Emperor Chu cannot stop Xie Xuanyi in the slightest.

The countless treasure ships were shot down by sword energy before they even had a chance to pass through the void array.

The chase was not long.

It took less than a day.

Two figures, one chasing and the other pursuing, traversed three major states and finally arrived at Linbei County.

Chi Wu's route was clearly heading towards the North Sea... but after she entered the Northern Prefecture, she deliberately changed direction and temporarily moved towards the Northern Great Wall. There, the King of Banquet's iron cavalry was stationed, and many powerful families in the Northern Prefecture were also holding their own. This farce had developed to the point that everyone in the four regions knew about it.

"Shh."

Chi Wu landed atop a small, desolate mountain in Beijun, near the Great Wall of the North, only a dozen miles from the nearest beacon tower.

In those few short hours, he used many ingenious techniques and even took elixirs.

"call……"

Chi Wu's face was as pale as paper, and he exhaled a long breath of stale air.

Even though Xie Xuanyi didn't make a move, she was already on the verge of collapse. Being beheaded by a flying sword was terrifying, but the fact that the flying sword remained suspended and did not fall was even more frightening!

"Not running away anymore?"

Xie Xuanyi landed on the mountaintop with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.

The desolate mountain was not high, but the fog around it was very thick. Unlike Qingzhou, Beijun was covered in snow all year round. At this moment, the wind and snow fell on "Chi Wu" and he was shrouded in fog, making his figure look hazy. Where was Jiang Miaoyin's shadow? This was clearly the appearance of a paper doll cultivator.

"I can't escape you."

Chi Wu gave a bitter laugh.

She clutched her chest and whispered, "Xie Xuanyi... I know you deliberately spared my life. You wanted to see where I would escape to, you wanted to use me... to find the Dao Master..."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi remained silent, only slightly narrowing his eyes.

"You almost succeeded."

Chi Wu said softly, "At first, I wanted to seek the help of the 'Dao Master'. But later I changed my mind."

Chi Wu's route has deviated significantly.

Although he did not know where Chi Wu was headed, Xie Xuanyi’s “Heart Lake Sensing” told him that Chi Wu was very likely to escape to the North Sea.

"You've changed your mind?"

Xie Xuanyi chuckled softly: "You don't actually think... you can survive by escaping here, do you?"

His divine sense had long since spread across an area of ​​several miles.

This beacon tower is named "Junfeng." The surrounding area is quite desolate, with only a small city nearby. In this world of fantasy, Emperor Chu has not dismissed the garrison commander, so Junfeng City is still relatively prosperous. The desolate mountain that Chi Wu chose is some distance from the small city, making it suitable for ambushing cavalry.

In fact, Chi Wu did just that.

Xie Xuanyi sensed the faint array patterns being set up near the desolate mountain...

If I'm not mistaken.

King Yanle had long been waiting in the vicinity with his iron cavalry, ready to trap Chi Wu as he approached.

"Whether it's life or death, we'll only know by trying."

Chi Wu lowered his eyes and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "Perhaps, the person who dies here today will be you."

This sounds like a joke.

But Xie Xuanyi did not laugh, because he knew very well that Chi Wu was not a stupid person.

A person who is willing to risk their own life to fight desperately... most likely sees hope and a chance of winning.

"Boom."

"Boom."

"Boom."

Deep in the snowstorm, the faint, resonant sounds of bells and drums, along with the solemn and majestic clatter of iron hooves, could be heard!
Dim streaks of light appeared around the desolate mountain.

Xie Xuanyi frowned slightly. He vaguely sensed that... the connection between this world and the outside world seemed to have been severed by something.

……

……

(PS: This chapter is called "Junfeng" because I've been playing Path of Exile lately, and it's such a fun game TAT.)
(End of this chapter)