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

Chapter 291. The Crimson Water Poison Shadow and the Mandarin Duck Blades, the Kunlun Heroic Spirit and the Sun and Moon Heart

The early autumn wind, carrying the chill of the remaining snow from Kunlun, swept across the black-clad figures of the three thousand members of the Xiong Ying Society like countless icy needles.

Along the mountain path, the first red maple leaves are tinged with color, as if ignited by the surging fiery clouds on the horizon, turning the entire mountainside into a blood-red painting.

The withered leaves swirled past the iron staff carried on the shoulder of Liao Pei, the "Tongbei Quan" master, and were shattered by the powerful gust of wind from Miao Menlong, the "Divine Archer." As they fell, they even condensed into tiny ice crystals in the air.

Inside the ornate carriage, soft silk curtains hung down. Guo Xiangyu was almost curled up in Shi Feiyang's arms, her fingertips tracing the frost patterns on the Heavenly Frost Blade, as if touching a thrilling past: "Look how quiet it is, but that day in Kunlun, how much blood of evil people did it drink?"

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she buried her face in his chest. "But I only wish it would always be this quiet, so you would never have to go through any more danger."

Shi Feiyang embraced her slender waist, his warm breath brushing against her ear: "After we pass Bozhou, it will only quell injustices in the world and protect this land. It will protect you, year after year."

Guo Xiangyu suddenly took out rouge from the brocade box. As she tiptoed, the jasmine scent from her hair mingled with her warm breath and wafted over: "Everyone in the martial world says that the Grand Master is full of murderous aura. I'll show the world that even the hero who dares to fight against the Demon God can draw my eyebrows and apply my lips."

Shi Feiyang smiled and held her fair wrist, the crimson of rouge spreading between their fingertips.

Guo Xiangyu took the opportunity to hug his neck, her eyes brimming with spring water: "Feiyang, do you know what I've been most afraid of on this journey? It's not bandits or Japanese pirates, it's not seeing you tomorrow."

She pressed her face against his chest, "I count your heartbeats more carefully than I count the stars." When they stopped at an inn to rest, Guo Xiangyu came in carrying a copper basin. In the steaming heat, she knelt down and took off his dusty boots: "Let me see, are your feet tired?"

Shi Feiyang tried to snatch the handkerchief to wipe himself, but she dodged him: "Don't move! You protect the world on the battlefield, now let me protect you." Her fingertips brushed against the thin calluses on the soles of his feet, and her nose suddenly turned red. "These wounds are all for the sake of the common people, but they also break my heart."

The next day, as they set off, Guo Xiangyu found some fresh osmanthus blossoms and scattered them on Shi Feiyang's cloak: "That way, you'll smell sweet all over, and even the fiercest enemy will soften upon seeing you."

She tilted her head and smiled, "But I'm the only one who can see you being soft-hearted."

Suddenly, she reached out and covered his eyes, saying, "Don't look where you're going! Today you're my 'Blind Hero,' I'll take you away."

As they crossed a small bridge, Guo Xiangyu suddenly stopped. She lifted her skirt, stepped onto the railing, and opened her arms to Shi Feiyang's exclamation: "Look! Don't I look like a swallow about to take flight?" Shi Feiyang hurriedly put his arm around her waist, but she smiled and turned to wrap her arms around his neck: "Even if I really want to fly, I have to take you with me. If I fall, you have to be there to comfort me in my pain."

As dusk fell, Guo Xiangyu magically produced a newly made black cloak from her bundle. Though the stitches were not fine, it was covered with cherry blossoms: "I'm clumsy, it took me seven days to finish this."

She bit her lip, "But with every stitch I sewed, I thought of you, of sewing my heart into you."

Shi Feiyang was about to put it on, but she stopped him: "Wait!" As she spoke, she took off her silk handkerchief and tied it to the collar of the cloak, "That way, I can stay with you all the time." In the middle of the night, Shi Feiyang was awakened by a soft rustling sound.

In the dim moonlight, Guo Xiangyu was kneeling by the bed, holding his tattered clothes from the daytime in her hands.

The candlelight flickered, and her shadow swayed gently on the wall: "I saw you were too busy during the day to take care of it, so you'd better catch up now."

Without looking up, she said, "You always say you want to protect the world, but I'm the one who should protect your clothes."

A sudden downpour caused the carriage to become stuck in the mud and water.

Shi Feiyang was about to get out of the car to check, but Guo Xiangyu suddenly threw herself into his arms: "Don't go! It's windy and rainy outside!"

She clung to Shi Feiyang's clothes, saying, "If you get wet, I'll be heartbroken. We can just stay here and wait for the rain to stop, until the end of time." Seeing that Shi Feiyang was determined to leave, she quickly grabbed an oil-paper umbrella, stood on tiptoe to hold it for him, leaving most of her own body exposed to the rain.

When they reached the mountainside, Guo Xiangyu suddenly pointed to the fiery clouds on the horizon: "Look! Doesn't that cloud look like the one we saw in Kunlun?"

She held Shi Feiyang's hand and said, "That day you were fighting on the battlefield, I thought, how wonderful it would be if I could hold your hand like this and watch the clouds."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "Feiyang, no matter where we go in the future, I want to watch the clouds with you, to see all the clouds in the world."

As dusk settled, the mountains of Guizhou were bathed in a dark, bluish-black silhouette. The hooves of three thousand members of the Xiong Ying Society shattered the setting sun on the mountainsides, their dark armor fluttering in the wind, like a surging dark cloud pressing down on the Chishui River. Guo Xiangyu leaned against Shi Feiyang, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the bamboo knife at her waist, then suddenly trembled slightly: "The fishy smell of this river... is even stronger than during the Battle of Kunlun."

As night fell, a thin mist rose from the Chishui River, resembling a white python swimming across it.

A gray-clad figure stood abruptly on the opposite reef, a green bamboo flute held to his lips, playing the "Snake King" Qu Sangeng.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and a flute melody suddenly rose, like the wailing of ghosts from the deepest hell. In an instant, thousands of venomous snakes burst forth from the water, the dark swarm churning like waves, their hissing carrying a bone-chilling cold as they lunged at the members of the Xiong Ying Society on the ferry.

"Stop your insolence!" Guo Xiangyu shouted, drawing her bamboo sword.

The blade flashed like a silver wheel, unleashing the "Hundred Victories Strange Three Talents Blade Technique," each strike subtly embodying the wonders of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

As the blade flashed, the snakes' flesh and blood flew everywhere, splattering onto her snow-white silk skirt, where they bloomed into eerie red plum blossoms. Seeing this, Qu Sangeng abruptly changed the tune of his flute, turning it into a mournful, deathly twang.

The river surface suddenly burst open, and a giant iron chain net, dozens of meters long, broke through the water. Inside the net, Japanese pirate ninjas dressed in black, their scythes gleaming with a ghostly blue poisonous light, were the elite of the Iga school of Japanese pirates.

Shi Feiyang's pupils contracted sharply, and a murderous intent surged within him: "How dare you Japanese devils covet the Central Plains! Today, I will make sure you never return!"

He stood up and used the mysterious lightness skill of "Concealing One's Body and Name" to lightly touch the crest of the wave with his toes, and his figure darted out like a ghost.

The Heavenly Frost Blade was drawn, and the roar of a dragon echoed through the night sky.

Shi Feiyang cleaved through the air, unleashing a half-moon of silver light. Wherever the blade passed, the air ripped with a piercing sound. The masts of three Atate ships snapped in two, splintering wood into dust as the blade's energy shredded the broken pieces.

The Japanese pirate leader grinned and threw out a poisoned dart. Shi Feiyang sneered, "A mere trick!" He activated Mingyu Gong to the fullest extent, and his icy blue true energy suddenly erupted. The poisoned dart froze inch by inch in the sword energy and shattered into thousands of ice crystals when it hit the ground.

Seeing the situation, Xiao Lingling, known as "Mandarin Duck Swords," let out a delicate shout, and drew her Mandarin Duck Swords, the light of the swords intertwining with the moonlight.

She unleashed the exquisite move of "Seven Fiend Blades: Mandarin Ducks Weaving Together for Flight." Her twin blades, like serpents spitting their tongues, sliced ​​the venomous snakes that approached her into several pieces. The blood-stained waves lapped against the ship's side, gleaming with an eerie purple light in the night.

As the iron chain net drew closer, Shi Feiyang took a deep breath and activated his Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison" level.

His inner energy transformed into an icy blue vortex, instantly freezing the river water wherever it passed.

"Hundred Victories Blade Technique - Severing the Sky!" The moment the Frost Blade was unleashed, a ten-foot-long wave surged across the river, and the icy blue blade energy swept across like a bolt of lightning.

The iron chain net twisted and deformed amidst the sword energy, and the flying sparks illuminated Qu Sangeng's terrified face on the opposite bank.

Though the Japanese pirates showed fear on their faces, they still gritted their teeth and charged forward with their sickles. Shi Feiyang's eyes flashed like lightning, and he raised his arm and shouted: "Though the world is vast, how can we tolerate foreign aggression! Those who invade our Central Plains, no matter how difficult, will surely be punished!" The flashing of blades filled the air, and the shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, and the hissing of snakes intertwined into a tragic war song. The waters of the Chishui River were gradually stained crimson with blood.

As dusk settled, the steam rising from the Chishui River carried a putrid stench.

Three thousand members of the Xiong Ying Society lined up on the boat, their black uniforms fluttering in the night wind like ink-black battle flags. Suddenly, a ghostly flute melody came from the opposite bank. "Snake King" Qu Sangeng played his bamboo flute, and thousands of venomous snakes burst out of the water, instantly turning the river into a surging black tide.

Liao Pei, wielding the Tongbei Fist, was the first to strike, his fists sweeping across like a mountain crashing down. "Tongbei Mountain Splitter!" Wherever his fists touched, the snakes were cleaved as if by a giant axe, their flesh and blood flying everywhere. But the snake corpses did not fall; they were pushed and shoved by the following snakes, crashing into the ferry, leaving long trails of foul-smelling slime on the ship's side.

Liao Pei roared, his arms outstretched for over ten feet, and with a light flick of his ape-like arms, he snapped three giant pythons, each as thick as a bowl, in half at the waist. The snake blood splattered onto his gnarled arms, where it condensed into ice crystals.

The "Qiankun Blade" was brandished by Lie Quan, its sheath flashing with a cold light. The blade moved according to the eight trigrams of Qian and Kun, "Qian Trigram: Dragons Fight in the Wilderness!" Wherever the blade passed, the snakes were shredded into mincemeat, but the Japanese ninja's kusarigama had already arrived through the air.

Lie Quan spun around and swung his sword, the blade clashing with the kusarigama, sparks flying everywhere.

He was secretly alarmed: the Japanese sword's strength was subtle and yin, quite different from the sword techniques of the Central Plains! He immediately changed his sword stance and used the "Kun Gua · Hou De Zai Wu" technique, striking the back of the sword against the hook of the kusarigama, using the force to throw the enemy into the snake swarm.

Wu Zhong, known as "Iron Palm," wielded his palms with incredible speed and power, his palm shadows resembling towering mountains. His powerful palm strikes were like a tidal wave, shattering the internal organs of the snakes before they could even get close, sending black blood spurting three feet high.

Suddenly, he felt a strong gust of wind coming from above. Looking up, he saw three ninjas hanging upside down on the iron chain net, their poisoned short blades aimed straight at their faces.

Instead of retreating, Wu Zhong advanced, transforming his palms into claws and using the "Dragon Claw Hand" to grab the enemy's wrists. Using the force, he leaped into the air and slammed the three men's heads together, their brains mixed with snake blood splattering onto the deck.

Miao Menlong, the "divine archer," drew his bowstring to its fullest extent, frost forming on the arrowheads. Three arrows shot through the air, tracing eerie arcs like arrows chasing stars and the moon, precisely piercing the throats of the Japanese pirates.

But the swarm of snakes grew larger and larger, eventually forming a human ladder and climbing onto the ship's side. Miao Menlong quickly drew his soft whip from his waist and unleashed a move called "Snake Emerging from its Cave," wrapping it around the wrist of the snake king Qu Sangeng. But then Qu Sangeng grinned maliciously, the flute music suddenly changed, and the river surface exploded as countless venomous snakes crawled out from under the ship and bit through the planks.

With a flick of his wrist, Shan Zhi unleashed thirty-six plum blossom darts, which transformed into icy stars. He used a plum blossom-shaped footwork technique, specifically targeting the enemy's joints and vital points.

The pirate leader let out a strange cry and swung his chain hammer. Shan Zhi dodged to the side, leaped onto the mast with his toes touching the ground, and fired a series of darts like the Three Variations on a Plum Blossom, breaking all the iron rings on the chain hammer. But below, a swarm of snakes had already climbed the mast, their sharp teeth gnawing at the wood with a teeth-grinding sound.

The eagle on Xie Wen's shoulder suddenly flapped its wings, its sharp claws aimed straight at the face of the Japanese pirate.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xie Wen threw out a rope, wrapped it around the enemy's ankle, and pulled hard.

The Japanese pirate was unable to stop in time and was lifted up and slammed against the rocks, his brains splattering out.

But the Snake King's flute music changed again, and dozens of corpses bound with iron chains floated to the surface of the river. They were actually corpse snakes made from living people!

Xie Wen's pupils contracted sharply. He drew his soft sword from his waist and unleashed the "Eagle Soars Through the Sky" sword technique. The sword light flashed like lightning, severing the heads of the corpse snakes one by one.

The young pageboy Shi Xiong gripped the White Rainbow Sword tightly, protecting Guo Xiangyu.

Seeing a giant python open its mouth to bite, he gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and wildly stabbed with his sword.

The moment the sword pierced the snake's belly, warm snake blood splattered all over his face. He wiped his face, suddenly remembering the "Eighteen Turns of Yan Qing" that the young master had taught him. He immediately rolled on the ground, and with a flick of his short sword, he ripped open the belly of another snake, its internal organs spilling out onto the ground.

Shi Feiyang stood at the bow of the ship, the Heavenly Frost Blade gleaming with a ghostly blue light.

Seeing the iron chain net about to engulf the ferry, he took a deep breath, channeling his Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison" level. He unleashed the "Severing the Horizon" move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," a cascading icy blue blade aura that twisted and deformed like a reversed Milky Way. Sparks from the attack illuminated the terrified face of Qu Sangeng on the opposite bank. But the Japanese pirates, fearless and relentless, charged forward, stepping over the corpses of their comrades. The poisonous mist on their chain sickles condensed into ghostly faces in the night.

On the Chishui River, shouts of battle, hissing snakes, and the clash of weapons mingled together.

Blood stained the river red, and pieces of flesh floated on the surface. The members of the Xiong Ying Society formed a battle formation back to back, holding their ground amidst the bloody storm.

Looking at his brothers fighting bloodily, Shi Feiyang felt a surge of heroic spirit and roared, "Today, I will let these foreign barbarians know that the martial arts world of the Central Plains will not be trampled upon by you!"

The moment the icy blue blade energy shredded the iron chain net, the Japanese ninjas screamed in unison, and the poisonous mist from their scythes condensed into a hideous ghost face in the air.

Shi Feiyang used the broken mast as leverage to leap into the air. Suddenly, he saw three dark figures leap out of the ship's awning like arrows, their short blades gleaming with a dark purple light—it was the "Shadow Escape Assassination" technique from the Japanese ninjas.

His pupils contracted sharply, and the Frost Blade drew out nine ice lotuses. Where the blade passed, the air was cut with fine ice marks.

"Master, be careful!" Guo Xiangyu exclaimed, and then the "Snake King" Qu Sangeng's flute music started again.

The river surface suddenly churned and boiled, and countless giant pythons as thick as bowls burst out of the water, their tongues flicking out foul-smelling venom.

Shi Feiyang twisted his body in mid-air, his Mingyu Gong operating at high speed. His icy blue true energy transformed into a tornado. Grasping the Tianshuang Blade, he unleashed the "Heaven and Earth Coexist" move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." Seven arc-shaped blade energies slashed out in succession, cleaving the three ninjas into blood mist while the remaining force of the blade swept across the giant python swarm.

Black blood spurted from the broken part of the snake's body, exploding into ink-like flowers on the river surface. The still-living python writhed wildly, snaking and creaking as it coiled around several ferry boats.

Suddenly, the sound of hidden weapons whistling through the air came from the shadows. Shi Feiyang spun to the side, and three poisoned bone-piercing nails grazed his clothes, instantly corroding black holes in the ship's planks. His killing intent intensified, and he roared again, "You cowards who hide their heads and tails, how dare you run wild in the Central Plains!" He raised the Heavenly Frost Blade high above his head, its blade shining brightly, and the river was cleaved in two, forming an ice chasm tens of feet wide.

Upon seeing this, the pirate leader drew his katana from his waist. The demon reliefs carved on the blade glowed with a bloody light. He roared, "Baka! Iga-ryu ninjas, form a battle formation!" More than twenty ninjas formed a Bagua formation, and the poisonous mist on their kusarigama fused together, condensing into a huge poisonous net in the air.

Shi Feiyang sneered and shouted to the Xiong Ying Society disciples behind him, "Form the Five Elements Formation! Break his evil magic!"

Three thousand disciples responded in unison, their black uniforms flashing like a flowing galaxy in the night, instantly forming a grand formation based on the five elements' mutual generation and restraint.

Guo Xiangyu wielded her bamboo knife with impenetrable skill when she suddenly felt the boat floor beneath her feet vibrate. Looking down, she saw countless tiny snakes slithering into the gaps between the boat's surfaces.

She lightly bit her red lips with her pearly teeth, flicked out the golden silk whip from her waist, and with a move called "Chain Whip Shadows," whipped the snakes until their flesh and blood flew everywhere.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Feiyang transformed his Mingyu Gong true energy into an ice dragon, which flowed upstream along with the flute music of the "Snake King" Qu Sangeng.

Qu Sangeng's expression changed drastically. As the flute music abruptly stopped, the ice dragon had already frozen him into an ice sculpture.

The pirate leader's eyes were bloodshot as he swung his sword and unleashed the "Iaijutsu: Oni-ku" (Demon Cry), the air twisting and deforming wherever the blade passed.

Instead of retreating, Shi Feiyang advanced, and the moment his Heavenly Frost Blade met the Japanese sword, it actually froze the blade, causing cracks to appear.

"The Central Plains swordsmanship is not to be underestimated by you!" Shi Feiyang roared, exerting his strength. The Japanese sword shattered inch by inch, and the aftershocks of the sword energy struck the throat of the Japanese pirate leader. The leader's pupils dilated, and he could not believe until his death that his swordsmanship, which he had painstakingly practiced for twenty years, was so easily defeated.

The last ninja detonated the explosives on his body in despair.

Shi Feiyang used his profound "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill, like a roc spreading its wings, to protect Guo Xiangyu in his arms. His icy blue true energy formed a shield, blocking all the shockwaves from the explosion. As the smoke cleared, snake corpses and the remains of Japanese pirates floated on the Chishui River. The blood-red river reflected the waning moon in the sky, telling the story of the brutality of this bloody battle.

At this moment, twelve Japanese ninjas leaped into the air, their toes barely touching the flying iron filings, their kusarigama tracing eerie arcs through the air.

Shi Feiyang released Guo Xiangyu, spun around, and twisted his waist. The Heavenly Frost Blade emerged like a serpent from its hole, and the sparks from the collision of the blade and the scythe condensed into ice beads in mid-air. He suddenly felt a chill rise from the back of his neck, and with a backhand slash, he cut the ninja hidden in the mist in two. The warm blood rained down on his black-clad body, instantly freezing into ice crystals.

Guo Xiangyu wielded her bamboo sword like a snow-white ribbon, when suddenly three giant pythons coiled around the mast, their tails sweeping across.

She somersaulted in mid-air, unleashing a move called "Parting Wings," using the momentum of her blade piercing the snake's belly to spin and shred the three-zhang-long python into minced meat. Hot, pungent snake blood splattered on her pale face, only making her almond-shaped eyes shine like cold stars.

Qu Sangeng, the "Snake King" in the ice sculpture, was still alive. He channeled his inner strength and played his flute inside the ice sculpture. The flute music grew increasingly mournful, and the riverbed suddenly churned like boiling water. Shi Feiyang touched the floating snake corpse with his toes, circulated his Mingyu Gong to its peak, and his true energy transformed into a swirling storm of ice cones.

He gripped the Frost Blade and unleashed the "Jade Shattering Technique," a move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique!" Seventy-two ice blades shot out in a fan shape, shredding the snakes that leaped out of the water into a bloody pulp. The black blood spurting from the cuts froze into eerie ice crystal flowers in mid-air.

The pirate leader roared and drew his crescent-shaped scimitar, which was engraved with Sanskrit characters.

He stepped into the river, and the splashes he created mysteriously hovered in mid-air, transforming into thousands of water blades that shot towards Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly, and the Heavenly Frost Blade drew a Tai Chi pattern. Wherever the icy blue true energy reached, the water blade instantly condensed into ice shards and fell.

He leaned in close, blade pointed directly at the Japanese pirate's face, and cursed, "Japanese sorcery, nothing more than this!"

The sound of mechanisms came from the shadows, and twelve poisoned bone-piercing nails attacked from three directions: upper, middle, and lower.

Shi Feiyang moved like a ghost, his left hand forming a sword shape with his fingers, striking out seven icy beams that knocked down all the hidden weapons.

Suddenly, the Heavenly Frost Blade in his right hand flew out of his grasp, transforming into a streak of blue light that pierced the ship's canopy, pinning the ninja hiding inside to a wooden beam. Blood dripped down the blade, forming winding trails of blood ice on the deck.

Within the Five Elements Formation formed by the disciples of the Xiong Ying Society, "Iron Palm" Wu Zhong unleashed a "Dragon Subduing Demon" strike with both palms. Wherever the overwhelming palm wind passed, snakes swarmed like falling leaves. Shi Feiyang was locked in fierce combat with the Japanese pirate leader when his opponent suddenly coughed up blood, his scimitar glowing with an eerie red light. "Blood Sacrifice - Orochi Appears!" With the Japanese pirate's roar, towering waves surged across the river, and eight enormous snake shadows emerged atop the crests.

Shi Feiyang laughed loudly, his true energy vortex suddenly expanding three times, and then roared, "You've come at the perfect time!"

The Heavenly Frost Blade was raised high above the head, its blade absorbing moonlight and transforming into a silver-white pillar of light. The world-shaking "Heaven and Earth in Silence" from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" was unleashed, splitting the river surface into a hundred-foot-long ice valley. The eight snake shadows disintegrated inch by inch in the blade's energy, and blood mist and ice crystals filled the sky.

Seeing that things were not going well, "Snake King" Qu Sangeng struggled to break through the ice sculpture and turned to escape.

Guo Xiangyu lashed out with her golden silk whip, which wrapped around his ankle and yanked hard. Taking advantage of the moment, Shi Feiyang unleashed a "Golden Dragon Coiling Claws" move, instantly freezing Qu Sangeng into an ice sculpture once more. This time, he was completely frozen to death inside the ice sculpture, reflecting a chilling aura under the moonlight.

When the last Japanese pirate was torn to pieces by the disciples of the Xiong Ying Society, the pieces of flesh and snake corpses floating on the Chishui River had piled up into a mountain, and the blood-red river water reflected the wrecked ships, making it look like a living hell.

The crescent moon hung like a hook, and the blood-red waters of the Chishui River shimmered with a dark red light, staining the black uniforms of the three thousand members of the Xiong Ying Society mottled.

The five-element formation formed by the group was like an impregnable fortress: the metal disciples clashed swords, their cold glints flashing like stars; the wood disciples raised their spears in unison, their tassels resembling blood-red treetops; the water disciples splashed poisonous water that hissed, instantly turning snake carcasses into pus wherever it touched; the fire disciples launched rockets that pierced the sky, turning the night sky a fiery red; and the earth disciples moved boulders like giant gods hurling mountains, smashing enemy ships and sending splinters flying.

As the ferry docked and camped, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves as fast as a sudden downpour.

Lu Wending, the "Sword of Tianshan," with his white hair flying, shouted loudly before even sheathing his sword: "Chief Shi! Yang Yinglong's rebel army has set up a Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Talents Poison Array, guarded by three extraordinary men under his command. This array combines Miao Gu poison with the art of divination and escape, making it extremely vicious!"

Before the words were finished, Blood Rakshasa and her followers burst out of the dense forest, her face contorted with purplish-blue incantations as she breathed heavily. She declared, "Those three extraordinary figures each possess unique skills: 'Poison Guanyin's' Ten Thousand Poison Needles, 'Impermanent Hand's' Throat-Locking Yin Wind Claw, and 'Thousand-Faced Scholar's' Phantom Steps—all are evil arts feared throughout the martial world!" Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back, his Heavenly Frost Blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight. Hearing this, he coldly snorted, "We are doing the noble deed of upholding the nation and saving the people from suffering. No matter how many poison arrays or evil arts they employ, they are nothing more than ants trying to shake a tree!"

He gazed at the faint black mist appearing and disappearing among the distant mountains, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and said, "The world possesses righteous energy, which manifests in various forms. Where this righteous energy goes, all demons and monsters must retreat!"

Liao Pei, the master of "Tongbei Fist," slammed his iron cudgel heavily on the ground, sending dust flying. He roared, "The Grand Master is right! Forget about the Three Talents Poison Formation, I, Liao, will smash a few dog heads with one blow!"

"Qiankun Blade" Lie Quan stroked the Bagua pattern on the scabbard, pondering, "Since this formation combines the Qimen Dunjia, it must open the eight gates of life, rest, death, and shock. If we can find the gate of life..." "Iron Palm" Wu Zhong crossed his palms, a faint white mist rising from them, and shouted, "What's there to fear! My Iron Palm is specifically designed to break evil arts. Even the Yin Wind Poison Claw will make sure they never return!" "Mandarin Duck Blades" Xiao Lingling lightly waved her jade-like hand, her twin blades drawing graceful arcs, and said, "In my opinion, someone needs to restrain the three extraordinary individuals before we can divide our forces to break the formation."

Miao Menlong, the "Divine Archer," drew his bow and tested the string. The arrow hummed like a tiger's roar: "Let me shoot the core of the formation with my bone-piercing ice arrow and see how his poison formation can still operate!"

"Plum Blossom Darts" Shan Zhi unfurled his dart pouch, its cold light flashing: "I specialize in striking the enemy's vitals, so those evil bastards won't dare get close!"

"Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen gently stroked the eagle on his shoulder, his eyes blazing: "With my Flying Eagle ability to detect the truth, I will surely find the key to breaking the formation!"

The young pageboy Shi Xiong gripped his short sword tightly, his face still childish but his expression resolute: "Wherever the young master points, I will fight! Even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, I will never flinch!" The night on the shore of Chishui was as thick as ink that could not be dissolved, but it could not conceal the flickering flame in Guo Xiangyu's eyes.

She leaned against Shi Feiyang, like vines entwining a towering ancient tree, her starry eyes reflecting his cold, handsome profile, as if it were the outline of her entire world. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the stray hairs at her temples and stirring the softest longing in her heart.

Her slender white fingers gently hooked the hem of Shi Feiyang's clothes, as if afraid that if she let go, the person in front of her would vanish into thin air. Her voice was as soft and sweet as newly melted snow in spring, carrying an unyielding longing: "Feiyang, look how dark the night is, how thick the fog is, but as long as you are by my side, I am not afraid of any poison array or any evil magic, no matter how terrible it is."

She tilted her head back, her eyelashes seemingly adorned with shimmering starlight. "Do you know? My bamboo sword has long yearned to fight for you. It wants to protect you through every thorny path, to cut down every enemy who dares to stand in your way. As long as I can stand behind you, even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, I will charge forward without hesitation." As she spoke, she gently rested her head on his shoulder, absorbing his unique warmth. "You are the leader of the Xiong Ying Society, a hero revered in the martial world, but in my heart, you are simply the person I cherish most. I don't want you to be an omnipotent god; I only wish to be your eternal refuge. When you are tired, just look back, I'll always be here."

Shi Feiyang turned to look at her, and the murderous aura surging in his eyes transformed into tender affection the moment they met.

He raised his hand, his movements as gentle as if touching a fragile treasure, brushing away the wind-blown strands of hair from her temple, his fingertips lingering on her hair: "Xiangyu, with you by my side, it's like having armor, but also a weakness. What of a thousand armies? As long as I hold your hand, I can crush all the darkness in this world." At this tender moment, a sinister laugh tore through the night, and the black mist of the Three Talents Poison Array surged forth like a ferocious beast, baring its fangs and claws.

Guo Xiangyu suddenly stood up, not to retreat, but to tightly grasp Shi Feiyang's hand, her eyes firm and fervent: "Feiyang, let's face this together!" Upon hearing this, the heroes of Xiong Ying rushed out of the tent.

Guo Xiangyu and Shi Feiyang held hands tightly, like two pine trees growing side by side in the night. Despite the poisonous fog and the lurking dangers, their eyes were always fixed on each other, as if the whole world consisted only of each other.

Those tightly clasped hands, that deep gaze, imbued the impending fierce battle with a unique blend of tenderness and determination.

The night was as dark as ink. "Poison Guanyin" stood atop the "Human Gate" of the Three Talents Poison Array. A moon-white silk gauze draped her slender, shapely figure, and within the still-wind-free movement of her garments, a strange black mist swirled, like a datura flower growing in the netherworld. Her skin was almost translucent white, with faint bluish-black veins visible beneath her veins, like a winding poisonous stream beneath ice, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

On that stunningly beautiful face, her eyebrows were like willow leaves yet sharp as knives, and the purple demonic patterns at the corners of her eyes, painted with the juice of Gu worms, appeared and disappeared with each blink, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

Her phoenix eyes were filled with icy coldness, and a chilling, eerie green light flowed deep within them, like a dagger tempered with a thousand-year-old snake venom, capable of piercing a person's soul with a single glance. Her lips were as red as blood, yet gleamed with an eerie metallic sheen, and a half-smile perpetually played at the corners of her lips, mocking the fragility of all things in the world.

The jade serpent ornament inlaid on her forehead is incredibly lifelike, with two scarlet gemstones set in the snake's eyes, making it look like a real venomous snake staring intently. Below the ornament, a few strands of hair dyed dark purple fall down, creating a striking contrast with her fair skin.

Her hands were works of art, with long, slender fingers encased in jet-black nail polish, each tip of which was coated with a deep purple venom that emitted a faint glow in the night.

When she raised her hand, dozens of silver bells on her wrist jingled softly. The sound was clear and melodious, yet it contained the enigmatic whispers of the Gu worms.

As she walked, the embroidered patterns of poisonous creatures on her skirt seemed to move as if they were alive. Dark green liquid seeped from the embroidered patterns of centipedes, snakes, scorpions, and other poisonous creatures, and when it dripped onto the ground, it corroded the bluestone, leaving pits.

Amidst the pale purple mist surrounding her, tiny poisonous insects flitted about, sometimes resting on her shoulders, sometimes coiling around her hair, as if they were part of her body, perfectly embodying the title "Poison Guanyin," inspiring awe yet irresistibly drawing one in with her eerie beauty.

At this moment, a sinister smile curled at the corner of "Poison Guanyin's" mouth.

Her fingertips, gleaming with golden needles, shone with a chilling light: "Dare to trespass into my Three Talents Poison Array? I'll use your blood to consecrate my Myriad Poison Golden Needles!" With a shrill cry, thousands of golden needles, carrying a sweet and pungent poisonous mist, swept towards the Xiong Ying Society like a black net of death.

The "Poison Guanyin's" moon-white silk gauze fluttered without wind, and the emerald green snake-shaped jade ornament on her forehead emitted a ghostly light. A sinister smile curled at the corner of her lips, and her ten poisoned fingernails lightly tapped the gilded bone fan, producing a teeth-grinding scraping sound: "Central Plains warriors, you dare to set foot in the forbidden land of Miao territory? Let me show you the taste of these ten thousand poison needles!"

The golden needles traced eerie arcs in the air, forming a "Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams" formation. Wherever they passed, the air hissed and corroded, and the grass instantly turned into black liquid. The "Metal Element" disciples of the Xiong Ying Society raised their swords, their cold light colliding with the golden needles. Sparks flew, and the fine iron blades were corroded with tiny holes.

Miao Menlong, the "Divine Archer," suddenly narrowed his eyes and fired three bone-piercing ice arrows. The ice arrows struck the golden needles, exploding into a cloud of icy mist. The golden needles, however, pierced through the cold air, and the venom condensed on their surface became even thicker.

Wu Zhong, known as "Iron Palm," channeled his inner energy from the "Six Harmonies True Scripture" and unleashed the "Subduing Demon Palm." With a powerful palm strike, the overwhelming force shattered the golden needles in mid-air. The scattered poisonous fragments flew like fine rain, causing black spots to appear on the skin upon contact.

Seeing this, Shi Feiyang drew nine ice lotuses from his Heavenly Frost Blade: "Form the Five Elements Formation! Metal controls its sharpness, wood guides its momentum!"

Three thousand disciples responded in unison, their black-clad uniforms billowing like a tide within the poisonous fog. The metal-element disciples clashed swords and blades, weaving an impenetrable net of light; the wood-element disciples, their spears forming a forest, flicked the stray golden needles into the sky.

Xiao Lingling wielded the Mandarin Duck Knives flawlessly.

She unleashed the exquisite move "Seven Fiend Blade: Mandarin Ducks Weaving for a Pair of Flight," and wherever the blade flashed, the golden needles snapped in two.

Upon seeing this, the "Poisonous Guanyin" let out a piercing shriek that broke through the night sky.

She suddenly ripped off the snake-shaped jade ornament around her neck, and amidst the burst of emerald light, thousands of golden needles burst forth from the ground.

These golden needles, their surfaces entwined with scarlet venomous insects, caused the earth to crack and spew forth foul-smelling black blood wherever they touched. Lie Quan, wielding the "Qiankun Blade," wielded the Eight Trigrams, unleashing a strike called "Qian Trigram: No Regrets," which unleashed a blade of energy over ten feet long, only to have it pulverized by the poisonous net formed by the golden needles.

Shi Feiyang roared, channeling his Mingyu Gong to the "Ice Soul Cold Prison" level. His true energy transformed into an ice-blue vortex. Grasping the Heavenly Frost Blade, he unleashed the ultimate move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Heaven and Earth Live Together!"

The moment the Frost Blade was unleashed, a ten-foot-long wave surged across the river, and the icy blue blade energy poured down like a silver river.

However, the golden needles did not sink when they encountered water; instead, they shot forward with the waves, forming a "Ten Thousand Snakes Devouring the Sky" formation in mid-air.

With a flick of his wrist, Shan Zhi unleashed thirty-six poisoned plum blossom darts at the golden needle.

The darts and needles collided, unleashing bursts of poisonous smoke. The young page Shi Xiong gripped the White Rainbow Sword tightly, using the "Yan Qing Eighteen Turns" movement technique to tumble and leap through the poisonous mist. Suddenly, a golden needle flew past his ear, corroding a deep pit the size of a bowl into the tree trunk.

"Poison Guanyin" stood in the center of the poisonous fog, letting out a piercing laugh: "Once you're hit by the Ten Thousand Poisons Golden Needle, even a god can't save you!" She flicked her ten fingers in rapid succession, and the golden needles poured down like a torrential rain, carrying a sweet and pungent aura of death, completely enveloping the members of the Xiong Ying Society in a poisonous shadow.

(End of this chapter)