Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 135: Liu Tingting versus the Shadow Alliance: A Life-and-Death Battle in Qingfeng Valley

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong, "Iron Flute Scholar" Xiang Kun, "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen and other heroes led a group of disciples from the Xiongying Society to form a search team and trekked through the valley.

The valley seemed to be cast under a spell by the rain, the ground became muddy, and with every step forward, their boots sank deep into the mud, making a dull and dragging "puff puff" sound, just like the heavy sigh of the earth, adding a bit of oppression to their difficult situation.

Everyone was shouting Gong Simeng's name at the top of their lungs, "Madam Shi - Madam Shi -" The shouts echoed back and forth in the valley, like an invisible hand trying to clear the fog in the vast valley, but they were like a stone sinking into the sea, without any response. Only the echo of the valley repeated their shouts in loneliness.

The mountain walls on both sides of the valley are towering into the clouds, with jagged rocks and ferocious outlines like dormant beasts, lurking in the dark.

Occasionally, drops of water seep out from the cracks in the rocks, making a crisp yet endlessly lonely "tick-tick" sound in this silent valley, and each sound seems to knock on everyone's tense hearts.

Wu Zhong's brows were tightly furrowed into the shape of a "川" character, and the anxiety in his heart was like a raging fire, burning wildly in his chest.

His eyes were like searchlights, constantly scanning the surroundings, not missing any details. Even a leaf gently blown by the breeze, he would look at it carefully for a long time, for fear of missing any clue about Gong Simeng's whereabouts.

Just as everyone was struggling to move forward, a shrill scream suddenly came from the end of the team. The scream pierced the sky, like a sharp dagger, piercing everyone's heart.

Everyone turned around hurriedly and saw a poisonous snake as thick as an arm suddenly spurting out from the bushes like a black lightning.

Its triangular eyes flashed with a cold light, like a will-o'-the-wisp on a cold night, and its tongue kept spitting out and hissing. The air was instantly filled with a dangerous aura. Just now, it was it that had bitten the brother's ankle fiercely.

Wu Zhong's face instantly turned as dark as ink, and he shouted, "Everyone be careful!" The shout was like thunder, echoing in the valley.

At the same time, he activated the "Liuhe Zhenjing" internal energy, crossed his palms, and suddenly a strong palm wind surged around his body, making a "whoosh" sound, as if it could blow away the haze in the valley.

He approached the snake cautiously again, his steps gentle yet firm and powerful, each step felt like treading on a knife's edge. His eyes, like a cheetah locking onto its prey, tightly locked onto the snake's every move.

The venomous snake felt strongly threatened, raised its head high, twisted its body into an "S" shape, and made an attacking posture at any time. The scales on its neck opened up, making a rustling sound, as if protesting to Wu Zhong.

Wu Zhong seized the opportunity and swung his palm down suddenly. With a "swish", it was like a black lightning flashing across the sky, carrying a fierce momentum.

The poisonous snake was cut into two pieces cleanly. The two broken parts twisted and struggled on the ground for a few times, and then became motionless, leaving only a pool of fishy blood.

But at this time, the brother who was bitten had turned as pale as paper, without any blood, the wound quickly turned black, and the snake venom was like a turbulent undercurrent, spreading wildly in his body.

Wu Zhong hurriedly took out the detoxification pill from his arms, his movements were urgent but cautious, and his hands were trembling slightly as he fed the pill to his brother.

Then, he looked at the two disciples and said solemnly: "You must be careful and send him back to the camp for treatment as soon as possible. We can't delay for a moment!" The two disciples nodded heavily, carried their injured brother, and hurried towards the camp.

After dealing with the venomous snake incident, everyone regrouped and continued on their way.

They hadn't walked far when a low rumbling sound suddenly erupted from the valley ahead. It was like the sound of muffled thunder, but it came from deep underground, sending shockwaves through the air. "Boom, boom," the sound grew louder and louder, as if a giant hand were stirring deep within the valley.

Wu Zhong's heart tightened, and he instantly realized that it might be a landslide.

He immediately yelled at the top of his lungs, "Hurry, run to the hillside next to us!" As soon as he finished shouting, everyone immediately unleashed their legs and ran desperately towards the hillside, mud and water splashing under their feet, making a "clattering" sound. The roar behind them grew louder and louder, like a huge army galloping, gravel and mud rolling down like a raging torrent, "clattering" and sweeping everything away.

A huge rock roared down the mountain, carrying a tremendous force, and smashed straight towards Wu Zhong. Wu Zhong reacted quickly, dodging to the side, and the rock slammed into the ground with a loud "bang", splashing a large amount of dust and making it difficult to breathe.

When the landslide finally stopped, everyone was still in shock. Looking at the road blocked by the mudslide, they felt helpless and unwilling.

But when they thought about the fact that Gong Simeng and the auspicious beast were still missing, they gritted their teeth, supported each other, bypassed the landslide area, and continued to move towards the depths of the valley with firm and persistent steps.

Not long after they started walking, a strong wind suddenly blew up in the valley, howling and blowing, making everyone stagger all over the place. The branches were blown so hard that they creaked and seemed like they would break at any moment.

Immediately afterwards, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and raindrops as big as beans fell "cracklingly", hitting everyone and causing them great pain.

Rainwater quickly gathered on the ground, forming a turbulent current. Everyone struggled to move forward, and one disciple slipped and was nearly swept away. Wu Zhong shouted, "Everyone, hold hands and keep steady!" Everyone obeyed, pulling each other and stumbling forward in the wind and rain.

After walking a distance, a fog appeared ahead.

The fog was thick, like a thick veil, covering the valley and making visibility extremely low.

Everyone slowed down and groped their way forward cautiously, the only sounds they could hear were their own footsteps and heavy breathing.

Suddenly, the "Iron Flute Scholar" Xiang Kun felt his feet go empty and he fell into a bottomless trap.

He screamed in terror, "Help!"

Wu Zhong was quick to grab Xiang Kun's arm and pull it up. The other disciples also stepped forward to help. With everyone's concerted efforts, they finally pulled Xiang Kun out of the trap.

Xiang Kun looked at the trap with lingering fear, his forehead covered in sweat. He said, "Thank you, brothers. I almost died here."

Everyone patted him on the shoulders, said a few words of comfort, and then continued on the difficult journey to find Gong Simeng and the auspicious beast.

At the same time, Xiao Lingling, the master of the Double-Edged Blade, Yi Li, the heroine of the Hengshan School, Lin Wanqing, the elder of the Xiongying Society and the master of the Jishidi Hall, together with Lu Dedao, the round barrel, and Jiang Huotian, the team, were struggling to shuttle through the woods.

The woods resembled a natural maze, permeated with a damp, decaying odor, like the smell of stale, decaying things soaked in rainwater, a smell that almost made one sick. After the rain, glistening water droplets clung to the leaves, like round pearls. Gentle breezes rustled, and drops occasionally fell, dripping onto the people with a "tick-tick" sound, bringing a slight coolness but failing to dispel their anxiety.

Suddenly, Lin Wanqing's sharp eyes, like the twinkling cold stars in the night sky, instantly caught sight of a fresh whip mark on the trunk of a large tree. The whip mark was winding and tortuous, and its shape was very similar to Gong Simeng's whip, like the mark left by a nimble snake on the tree trunk.

Xiao Lingling looked in the direction of the whip marks and saw a red strip of cloth hanging from a distant branch, gently fluttering in the breeze. It was the fabric from Gong Simeng's clothes. Her heart suddenly filled with joy, and a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes, like a flame burning in the darkness. She immediately led everyone in pursuit in that direction.

There were many thorns in the woods, and the sharp thorns were like hidden weapons in the dark, suddenly stabbing at everyone.

They cut through everyone's clothes, making a "hissing" sound, and their skin was also cut with bloody marks, which appeared on their arms and faces, and drops of bright red blood slowly slid down their skin.

Suddenly, a slight rustling sound came from the woods ahead.

It was as if there were small animals running around in the grass, or as if someone was spying in the dark.

Xiao Lingling immediately raised her hand to signal everyone to stop. Her figure was graceful, her eyes alert, like a sharp cheetah, and she gripped the mandarin duck knife tightly. The blade gleamed coldly in the dim light, like a shooting star in the night sky, emitting an icy aura.

Several dark shadows jumped out of the woods, holding sharp blades. The blades reflected a cold light like frost in the cold winter, and their eyes were as fierce as wolves, as if they wanted to tear everyone into pieces.

The leading black-clad figure had a cold smile on his face, his voice hoarse and cold, as if it came from the Netherworld: "You bunch of people have ruined our good deeds, and you still want to find that girl and the auspicious beast? Today, I will make sure you never come back!"

After saying that, the man in black waved his hand, and his men pounced towards Xiao Lingling and the others like wolves pouncing on their prey, causing a gust of "whoosh" sound in the wind.

Xiao Lingling and the others quickly formed their battle formations and engaged in a fierce fight with the men in black.

Lin Wanqing performed the Changsheng Sword Technique. She was dressed in white and looked like a fairy descending to earth in the woods, her figure light and agile.

Each thrust of her sword pierced the air with a whistling sound, and with a whoosh, it aimed directly at the enemy's vital points. Her sword strokes were continuous, like a surging river, uninterrupted. With one move, "Eternal Life," her longsword traced a graceful arc through the air, like the Milky Way pouring down from the night sky, heading straight for the throat of a man in black. The man in black hurriedly raised his sword to block it, with a clang, sparks flying everywhere.

Ellie unleashed the Hengshan School's "Cloud and Mist Sword Technique." Her face was beautiful, her gaze resolute. Her swordplay was varied, its shadows thick and complex, like the mist and clouds of the mountains, making it difficult to distinguish reality from illusion. With a delicate cry, she executed the move "Clouds and Mist." Her longsword danced rapidly before her, forming a curtain of swords that enveloped a man in black. The blade scraped against the air, producing a hissing sound.

The man in black dodged left and right in the sword curtain, but was unable to break through.

Xiao Lingling seized the opportunity and performed the unique skill of the Double-edged Sword "Double-edged Sword Playing in the Water". The two swords seemed to come alive in her hands, like two nimble fish, quickly shuttling among the enemy groups.

She was agile and moved smoothly. Her two swords flashed with cold light. With a few "swish" sounds, she instantly chopped down the two men in black.

The other men in black were startled at the sight, but refused to retreat and continued their frantic attack. Just as the battle was getting intense, one of the men was accidentally hit by an enemy hidden weapon, and he cried out, "Ah!" and fell to the ground.

Xiao Lingling felt a sharp pain in her heart, and a trace of anger and determination flashed in her eyes. She shouted, "Kill!" and her attack became more fierce. The two swords were swung tightly, making a "whoosh" sound, like a steel barrier that prevented people from getting close.

Every time she swung her sword, it was done with great momentum. The wind from the sword whistled, shaking the surrounding leaves off the trees, which fluttered down.

Finally, under her fierce attack, the men in black gradually couldn't resist and began to flee in all directions, and the fierce battle was finally settled.

Wu Zhong, known as "Iron Palm," Xiang Kun, known as "Iron Flute Scholar," and Xie Wen, known as "Flying Eagle Detective," led the Xiongying Society's disciples through numerous hardships and dangers, finally arriving at the cave. The entrance resembled the gaping maw of a giant beast, pitch black and bottomless.

The cave was pitch black, a thick darkness that seemed to swallow everything, leaving one unable to see one's hand in front of one's face. A damp, moldy smell filled the air, as if it came from years of accumulated decaying debris, mixed with a faint fishy odor that rushed straight into the nose, making one feel nauseous.

Wu Zhong frowned, took a deep breath, tried hard to suppress the discomfort in his heart, and slowly took out a fire starter from his arms.

His fingers trembled slightly, not because of fear, but because his heart was full of vigilance against the unknown.

With a "puff" sound, the tinder was lit. The faint flame flickered in the thick darkness, like a candle in the wind, which could go out at any time, but it reflected their tense and resolute faces. There was determination and fearlessness in everyone's eyes.

Wu Zhong was the first to step into the cave. His steps were steady but cautious. Every step he took seemed to be testing whether the ground was solid.

The soles of the shoes rubbed against the sand and stones on the cave floor, making a slight "rustling" sound.

His brothers followed closely behind him, keeping a tight distance from each other, their weapons tightly gripped, their swords, spears, and halberds flashing with cold light. Their breathing, slightly rapid due to nervousness, was clearly audible in the silent cave.

Not long after entering the cave, a rustling sound suddenly came from the front, as if countless tiny creatures were moving quickly.

Wu Zhong was startled and immediately stopped, signaling everyone to be on guard.

He held the tinder high, trying to light the way ahead.

The walls of the cave were densely covered with a kind of insects that had never been seen before. They were slender and emitted a faint green light all over their bodies. Countless pairs of small eyes flashed with strange light and were slowly crawling towards everyone.

"Everyone be careful, these bugs may be poisonous!" Wu Zhong shouted.

Everyone quickly formed a circle, back to back, weapons facing outward, and looked at the bugs vigilantly.

The sound of insects crawling was getting closer and closer, and the rustling sound was like dense raindrops hitting the leaves.

Suddenly, a bug shot out from the cave wall and flew towards a disciple. The disciple reacted quickly, swung his sword, and with a "swish", cut the bug in two. Green juice splashed out, emitting a pungent smell.

As they continued to move forward cautiously, the cave became narrower and the ceiling lower. As they walked, Wu Zhong felt something swaying above him. He subconsciously looked up, and with the help of the faint firelight, he discovered that many stalactites were hanging upside down from the cave ceiling, some of which were precariously teetering.

Just as he was about to warn everyone, he heard a "crack" and a huge stalactite fell from the cave ceiling, carrying a tremendous force, straight into the middle of the team. Wu Zhong shouted, "Disperse!"

Everyone hurried to avoid the impact. The stalactites slammed heavily onto the ground with a loud bang, sending rubble flying and raising a cloud of dust. One disciple, unable to dodge, was scratched on the arm by the rubble, and blood instantly stained his sleeve.

After taking care of the injured disciples, everyone continued to move forward.

Not long after walking, a fork in the road appeared ahead. Both passages were shrouded in darkness and the end could not be seen clearly.

Wu Zhong pondered for a moment and decided to let "Eagle Detective" Xie Wen lead a group of people to take the left passage, while he would lead the rest to the right.

Xie Wen nodded and led several disciples towards the passage on the left. The sound of their footsteps gradually disappeared into the darkness.

Wu Zhong took a deep breath and led the rest of the people into the right passage. Their figures were gradually swallowed by the darkness, leaving only the faint firelight swaying in the darkness, as if it was their firm belief in moving forward.

The faint flame flickered in the thick, inky darkness, like a candle in the wind, which could be completely swallowed up by the darkness at any time.

The flickering flames illuminated their tense faces. Beads of sweat covered their foreheads, their eyes wide open, filled with a wariness of the unknown. They had barely entered the cave when a deep, powerful roar suddenly erupted from the depths. The sound, like rumbling thunder, echoed relentlessly throughout the cavern. It was the voices of Suzaku and White Tiger.

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong, "Iron Flute Scholar" Xiang Kun, "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen, and other heroes gathered in the cave. Hearing the familiar roar, they were all delighted. Their exhausted bodies instantly surged with strength, and they quickened their pace toward the source of the sound. But when they arrived, they found the cave empty. Only messy footprints and scattered ropes on the ground revealed what had happened there. The cave narrowed as they went deeper, the walls seeming to squeeze in.

From time to time, water drops fell from the wall of the cave, "tick-tick" and "tick-tick". The water droplets hit their heads and bodies, and the chill ran up their spines, making everyone shiver.

As we were walking, we suddenly heard a hissing sound in front of us. The sound was eerie and strange, like countless poisonous snakes spitting out their tongues.

Wu Zhong was shocked and quickly raised the fire stick to shine it. He saw that the walls of the cave were covered with dense spiders. These spiders were huge, as big as a palm, with eyes flashing with faint light, like will-o'-the-wisp in the dark.

One of the spiders took the lead and spit out a tough spider silk with a "whoosh" sound, shooting towards Wu Zhong. The spider silk cut through the air, making a sharp whistling sound.

Wu Zhong reacted quickly, unsheathing his sword with a sharp swish. With a fierce momentum, he cut the spider silk. He shouted, "Everyone, be careful! Don't get bit by the spider!"

Everyone immediately formed a circle, back to back, weapons tightly gripped in their hands, and looked vigilantly at the spiders around them.

Those pairs of eyes with flickering light seemed to be able to see through everyone's soul.

A spider suddenly swooped down from the cave ceiling, bringing with it a gust of wind and a whoosh. One of the brothers, quick-witted and quick-handed, swung his sword and cut the spider down with a clang. However, more spiders, spurred on by the noise, swarmed forward, their crawling making a rustling sound like a galloping army.

Wu Zhong swung his sword, the blade flashing and making whirring sounds, chopping at the approaching spiders while anxiously looking for a way to break through.

He noticed that the spider seemed to be afraid of the fire, so he shouted, "Brothers, light all the torches you brought and form a wall of fire!"

Everyone did as they were told, quickly lit torches, and formed a blazing wall of fire.

The spiders lingered in front of the wall of fire, making unwilling hissing sounds, but did not dare to approach. Only then were the crowd able to move on.

However, when they went deep into the deepest part of the cave, they found that it was empty, with nothing but cold and damp stone walls.

"Where on earth did Gong Simeng, Suzaku, and Baihu go?"

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong frowned, his face full of confusion, and was the first to break the silence. His voice was filled with a bit of anxiety, echoing in the quiet forest.

Everyone looked at each other, their eyes revealing uneasiness. They whispered to each other, but no one could give a definite answer. The feeling of uneasiness spread in their hearts like a tide.

Soon, the heroes came from all over and gathered in a forest. They walked up to Shi Feiyang with solemn expressions.

"Eagle Detective" Xie Wen clasped his fists and said to Shi Feiyang in a heavy voice, "Master, we've searched everywhere in the valley, but we haven't found any trace of Miss Gong, Suzaku, or White Tiger."

The others nodded and echoed that they had gained nothing.

"Could it be that Gong Simeng has returned to the Liaodong Shenshui Palace with the Suzaku and the White Tiger?" Xiang Kun, the "Iron Flute Scholar," thoughtfully raised his speculation. As soon as this was said, everyone exploded and began to whisper.

"But why did she do this? Didn't she marry the chief leader?" Jiang Huotian asked, scratching his head with a confused look on his face.

"Maybe... Gong Simeng has always been a spy lurking beside the chief?" Lu De lowered his voice and carefully expressed his suspicion, his eyes full of uncertainty.

Shi Feiyang's face darkened upon hearing these speculations. He bit his lower lip, his fists unconsciously clenched, and the veins in his arms bulged slightly. His eyes held both anger and a subtle sense of disappointment. "Impossible! Simeng is definitely not that kind of person!" Shi Feiyang protested loudly, his voice trembling as if trying to convince everyone, but also himself.

However, while everyone was discussing this, Lin Wanqing and Yi Li stood aside. Lin Wanqing lowered her head slightly, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips. She thought to herself, "Isn't it better now that Gong Simeng is gone?" She had always loved Shi Feiyang and dreamed of one day becoming his wife. Now, that chance seemed even closer.

Yi Li also bit her lips lightly, with a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes. She had been in love with Shi Feiyang for a long time. In her opinion, Gong Simeng's departure was a great opportunity given to her by fate.

Gong Simeng, Suzaku, and Baihu mysteriously vanished amid the chaotic smoke of battle, leaving the Xiongying Society as if in a dark abyss, mired in extreme anxiety and confusion. Shi Feiyang, consumed by anxiety and inner torment, dispatched his men to search everywhere, even the most remote corners and hidden paths. However, as the days passed, the search proved fruitless, and the light of hope grew dimmer.

Just as everyone was at a loss, filled with despair, Gong Simeng slowly awoke in a hidden valley, deep in the mountains and forests, forgotten by time. She felt as if her head had been struck by a sledgehammer, her head aching with pain. The chaotic scene of the final battle with the Shadow Alliance flashed through her mind like a ghost.

Gong Simeng sat up suddenly, her eyes filled with alertness and confusion, only to find herself in a completely unfamiliar place. Surrounding her were lush trees with luxuriant branches and leaves, weaving a giant green net.

The air was filled with a refreshing and rich spiritual energy, which penetrated into the nose, making one feel as if they were in a fairyland on earth. Meanwhile, Suzaku and White Tiger lay quietly not far away, their bodies rising and falling slightly, their injuries seemingly slowly healing under the nourishment of this magical spiritual energy.

"Where is this? Why am I here?"

Gong Simeng murmured to herself, her voice as light as a sigh in the breeze, but full of confusion and vigilance.

"This is Qingfeng Valley, a place isolated from the world." A low and gentle voice came from behind, as if floating from the distant sky. Gong Simeng reacted quickly, like an alert cheetah, turning around in an instant.

I saw an old man in a gray robe walking slowly towards me. The robe swayed gently with his steps, like flowing clouds.

The old man had white hair, the silver hair gleaming in the dim light, but he was in good spirits, and his eyes were filled with wisdom that seemed to see through everything, as if he could see through everything in the world.

"Who are you? Why did you bring me, Suzaku and Baihu here?" Gong Simeng asked vigilantly, while quietly using her internal energy without making any sound. The aura around her body surged slightly, and she was ready to fight at any time. As long as the old man made the slightest movement, she would attack without hesitation.

The old man smiled faintly, his smile like the warm spring sun, dispelling some of the chill in Gong Simeng's heart. "Don't panic, young lady. I mean no harm. I am the master of Qingfeng Valley, and have lived in seclusion here for many years. Recently, I noticed that the martial arts world was in turmoil, especially the two auspicious beasts, Suzaku and White Tiger, who were facing a huge crisis. So I came to their aid and brought you here."

Gong Simeng's vigilance relaxed a little, but doubts still hung over her mind like a dark cloud: "Since you live in seclusion, why do you want to meddle in the affairs of the martial arts world?"

The old man gazed into the distance, his expression solemn, as if he saw the bloody storm in the future of the martial arts world. "These two auspicious beasts are related to the fate of the martial arts world. Their power is enough to influence the entire structure of the martial arts world. If they fall into the hands of evil, the martial arts world will be plunged into an irreparable situation. Although I live in seclusion, I cannot sit idly by and watch such a matter that concerns the lives of all people. Young lady, you risked your life to protect the auspicious beasts. I admire your loyalty, so I brought you here so that I can take good care of you."

After hearing this, Gong Simeng's guard against the old man completely disappeared, and gratitude welled up in her eyes: "Thank you for rescuing me, senior. But my friends must be very worried about me now."

The old man nodded, his eyes full of understanding. "I understand your concerns, but the outside world is full of dangers, and the remnants of the Shadow Alliance are still searching for you. Once Suzaku and Baihu have recovered from their injuries, I will escort you out. In the meantime, you can rest assured and recuperate, and by the way, comprehend some of the martial arts secrets in my valley to improve your own strength."

In the following days, Gong Simeng wholeheartedly followed the old man to practice martial arts in Qingfeng Valley.

The unique set of internal skills taught by the old man is profound and exquisite, exuding a mysterious aura.

While practicing, Gong Simeng felt as if there were strands of strange power flowing around her body, as if there were an invisible hand guiding her to establish a closer connection with Suzaku and White Tiger.

This mental method seemed to have built an ethereal yet solid invisible bridge between her and the auspicious beast. With the beast's power, Gong Simeng felt her own strength surge like a surging tide. She was incredibly talented and possessed extraordinary comprehension. In just a few days, she had mastered the essence of this mental method. Her strength, like a bamboo shoot growing vigorously in spring, steadily increased, and her aura became increasingly calm and powerful.

However, beneath the calm surface, there are undercurrents and hidden crises that are unknown to the public.

The old man's male disciples always unconsciously looked at Gong Simeng.

There was a chilling and evil light in their eyes, like hungry wolves eyeing delicious prey.

One of the disciples was a male named Lin Fanhui, about thirty years old, slightly thin, with slightly protruding cheekbones and sunken cheeks. There was a cunning look in his eyes, like a sly fox.

At night, it was so quiet that it made people feel a little uneasy. Occasionally, he would lie under Gong Simeng's window all night like a lurking wolf.

He spat from time to time, smearing his saliva on his fingers. His movements were as light as a ghost, and he silently poked through the screen window. His eyes were wide open, staring at Gong Simeng's sleeping figure in the room, with a twisted, disgusting smile hanging on the corner of his mouth, and he looked as if he was planning some vicious plan.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was strong. The thick darkness was like a heavy quilt, wrapping the whole world tightly.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the breeze gently blowing through the leaves, making a slight rustling sound, as if whispering of unknown danger.

Lin Fanhui and his junior brothers Lu Ding, Liu Xuan, Guan De, and Zhao Long, dressed in black and like ghosts, tiptoed quietly towards Gong Simeng's residence.

Their eyes were filled with greed and ferocity, like vicious beasts about to devour someone. While Gong Simeng was sound asleep, Lin Fanhui suddenly kicked through the screen window with a loud "crash", which was particularly piercing in the silent night, like a thunderclap exploding in the ears.

Several people flew down like a group of hungry vultures, and a huge net in their hands unfolded instantly, and "whoosh" it covered Zhuque and Baihu. The net was like a huge black cloud in the night, blowing towards them with a sense of oppression.

It turned out that during these days, they took advantage of the fact that Suzaku and Baihu had been poisoned by Liu Tingting with the "Illusionary Heart Powder" and were still in a confused state. On the surface, they cared for Gong Simeng, asked about her well-being, and often gave her small gifts, but in fact they had ulterior motives.

Secretly, they continued to feed Zhuque and Baihu "Illusionary Heart Powder" and even sneaked a small amount into Gong Simeng's food, the poisoning dose was so tiny that it was difficult to detect. Not only that, to better control the situation, they also taught Gong Simeng a set of seemingly sophisticated but actually sinister beast taming techniques. Under the guise of helping her better communicate with the auspicious beasts, they actually wanted to confuse Gong Simeng and make her fall into their trap unknowingly.

Until now, they found that Suzaku and Baihu had been eroded by "Illusionary Heart Powder" and had no power to fight back. Finally, they could not hold back and decided to attack Gong Simeng and the auspicious beast.

Their purpose is to eat the Vermillion Bird and the White Tiger alive, and use the powerful strength of the auspicious beasts to improve their own skills, in an attempt to succeed in cultivating immortals and dominate the world from then on.

The master of Qingfeng Valley, the old man who seemed amiable on weekdays, was actually the deputy leader of the Shadow Alliance, Dark Night Owl.

His disguise skills were incredibly precise and ingenious, with every wrinkle and expression on his face perfectly placed, making it impossible to detect any flaws. During Shi Feiyang's last battle with the Shadow Alliance, Dark Night Owl had quietly slipped away from the main force. Alone, leading a few disciples, he took advantage of the moment when Liu Tingting scattered a packet of white powder to create a mist, and like a flash of black lightning, he instantly abducted Gong Simeng, Suzaku, and White Tiger.

The Night Owl brought them to the Qingfeng Valley, which seemed peaceful and tranquil, but was actually filled with murderous intentions. In this hidden place, he was plotting a larger and more vicious conspiracy.

He had a plan in mind, hoping to use the power of Suzaku and White Tiger to completely overturn the situation in the martial arts world and let the Shadow Alliance dominate the martial arts world.

But at this moment, a sharp cry suddenly pierced the silent night sky, "The remnants of the Shadow Alliance are truly filthy!"

The sound was like a sharp blade, piercing through the thick darkness.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Liu Tingting wearing a snow-white dress under the moonlight, with her sleeves fluttering in the wind, like a fairy from the Moon Palace descending to earth.

Her skin was whiter than snow, her eyes were bright as stars, and she was incredibly beautiful. In her hand, she clutched the Ice Jade Sword, its blade translucent and radiating a chill that seemed to freeze the air around it.

Liu Tingting used the Holy Water Magic Skill, and her body was instantly shrouded in a layer of light mist, making a "sizzling" sound, as if she was covered with a mysterious veil.

Immediately afterwards, she unleashed the Divine Water Sword Technique. With lightning speed, she flew through the window and into the room, instantly stabbing Lin Fanhui, Guan De, Liu Xuan, and Zhao Long. Her first strike, "Spirit Snake Out of the Cave," the Ice Jade Sword, like a nimble white snake, bore a piercing chill as it bore straight to Lin Fanhui's throat. With a whistling sound, the sword sliced ​​through the air, leaving a trail of white in its wake.

Seeing this, Lin Fanhui's face changed suddenly. He hurriedly drew his sword, swung the long sword in his hand, and performed the "Splitting Wind Slash" from the Shadow Splitting Wind Sword Technique. With a "whoosh", the long sword brought a gust of black wind and rushed towards Liu Tingting's sword.

The swords collided with each other, and there was a loud "clang" sound, sparks flew everywhere, and the powerful impact made Lin Fanhui's arm numb.

Liu Xuan also drew his sword and took the opportunity to attack from the side. He waved the long sword in his hand and used a move called "Shadow Whirlwind". The blade rotated, forming a black whirlwind that swept towards Liu Tingting.

Liu Tingting jumped lightly, her toes touching the edge of the whirlwind, and used the force to flip in the air. At the same time, the sword in her hand drew a graceful arc, "Mist locks the cold river", and the sword curtain was like a thick layer of cold fog, enveloping Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan dodged left and right in the sword curtain, but still had several bloody marks on his body.

Guan De and Zhao Long looked at each other, and they cooperated tacitly, one on the left and one on the right, attacking Liu Tingting at the same time.

Guan De used a move called "Black Wind Break", and the big knife brought with it a rolling black wind, slashing towards Liu Tingting's lower body; Zhao Long used a move called "Sky-Splitting Blade Shadow", and the heavy blade shadows went straight for Liu Tingting's upper body.

Liu Tingting was not in a hurry. She performed the "Water Curtain Tianhua" move of the Divine Water Sword Technique. The Ice Jade Sword spun rapidly in front of her, forming a crystal water curtain that blocked all the attacks of the two. The water curtain collided with the sword energy, making a "bang bang" sound.

Although Liu Tingting was fighting one against four and had great martial arts skills, the Shadow Wind-Splitting Sword Technique of Lin Fanhui and his fellow disciples was also very sharp. The four of them cooperated closely, which made it gradually difficult for her and she secretly groaned in her heart.

She originally just wanted to snatch Suzaku and Baihu away, but didn't want to fight, so she was helplessly entangled by the four and couldn't escape.

After a while, Dark Night Owl came over after hearing the noise. When he saw the scene in front of him, he was immediately furious and shouted, "You bold lunatic, how dare you come to my Qingfeng Valley and make trouble!" His voice was like a loud bell, shaking the surrounding leaves to fall.

He then drew his sword, the blade flashing with a cold light and emitting an evil aura.

He unleashed the Shadow Wind-Splitting Blade Technique, its power greatly increased in his hands. Each strike carried the force of a tidal wave, slicing deep cracks through the ground. The first strike, "Shadow Raging Wave," sent the blade's energy surging like a raging black ocean wave, charging towards Liu Tingting.

Liu Tingting felt tremendous pressure. She knew that Dark Night Owl's martial arts were not comparable to those of her disciples, so she didn't dare to take it head-on. She could only use her mysterious lightness skills to quickly retreat and dodge.

Seeing their master arrive, Lin Fanhui and his companions realized their plan to seize Suzaku and Baihu had temporarily failed, so they quickly flew out of Qingfeng Valley to search for Suzaku, Baihu, and Gong Simeng. Meanwhile, Liu Tingting and Dark Night Owl continued their thrilling battle in Qingfeng Valley.

(End of this chapter)