Minglong

Chapter 242 Mixed Doubles (Revised)
Huhu~
The cold wind, carrying heavy snowflakes, swept across the endless snowfield.

Li Huaichuan walked alone through Jianchuan, sword in hand, his cloak fluttering behind him. His fingertips gently rubbed the hilt of his sword at his waist, and the scenes he had been searching for since childhood flashed through his mind once again.

The sword at his waist is named "Listening to Snow," the last famous sword forged from the stone of Jianchuan. It is also the sword from which Lishan Sword Pavilion was founded. It was first held by the founder, followed by the founding emperor of Zhou, and later held by the third generation leader. It fought throughout the entire Wujiao Rebellion and was taken back by the righteous allies after his martyrdom.

Although it cannot be considered a celestial weapon in terms of grade, it is a genuine legendary sword. The opponents it has defeated and the glorious years it has experienced are in no way inferior to the celestial weapons of those famous sects.

The name 'Tingxue' (Listening to Snow) has a rather unique meaning.

Snow falls silently, just as a sword flashes without a trace; how could an ordinary person possibly hear it?

However, those who leave their mark with sword intent can cleave a river with a single sword strike, their sword intent remaining for a thousand years before dissipating. The last trace of their sword intent is used to forge this sword, which can still allow future generations to feel its sharpness.

This "listening to the snow" is not about listening to the sound of falling snow, but rather about the ancient, soaring sword intent that is mixed in with the wind and snow.

Li Huaichuan longed for the day when he could also cleave a river with a single sword strike, so that future generations, even a thousand years later, could still feel the unparalleled brilliance of his sword.

Unfortunately, he is clearly not worthy of this sword at present.

Although he has been ranked as a top-tier sword for many years, he is still the weakest sword wielder of this sword, but this is only temporary.

He had just received an urgent message that Lu Yan of Wuling Mountain had arrived in Lizhou City and was inquiring about Xie Jinhuan's whereabouts. According to his disciples, Xie Jinhuan might be investigating demon bandits near Jianchuan.

In order to advance further, Li Huaichuan had been keeping a close eye on the movements of the Five Directions Divine Gifts. After Lü Yan's accident, he inquired with the Daoist sect and learned that he had been defeated by Xie Jinhuan.

If the intelligence is true, then Lü Yan's attack is definitely to settle old scores and reclaim the divine gift of Lingguang.

If Lü Yan can seize it, why can't he?

Moreover, as the ancestor guarding Lizhou, when he received a report that cultivators from outside the pass were acting suspiciously within his jurisdiction, he came to investigate. Wasn't it more reasonable for him to do so than Lü Yan?
If Xie Jinhuan is indeed found, and he is a cultivator from the Southern Dynasty who did not follow the envoy but instead quietly entered the pass, who knows what he is planning to do? It would be fine for him to arrest and interrogate him, right?

Xie Jinhuan will definitely refuse to cooperate, and may even dare to fight back, or even try to flee to avoid punishment. To prevent the thief from escaping, killing him with one sword is not a big problem, right?

As for why they had to kill him, the reason is simple—either don't rob him at all, or go all out. If they robbed such a prodigy and didn't silence him, they would be asking for trouble.

Even if the Southern Dynasties sects investigated afterward, they could not trace it back to the Northern Zhou.

As for the Northern Zhou court holding him accountable, he could at most apologize. Empress Dowager Guo couldn't possibly kill him for his meritorious service and then have him pay with his life for the Southern Dynasty just because he made a mistake while inspecting the bandits.

Although there are risks involved, as long as he finds the person before Lü Yan, he can obtain the ticket to enter the fifth realm. Compared to slowly dying of old age, this risk is nothing.

As Li Huaichuan walked, he pondered to himself, hoping that the intelligence coming from outside was true and that Xie Jinhuan was indeed near Jianchuan.

As it turned out, not all of the spies acting as informants on the outside were incompetent.

Not long after venturing deeper into Jianchuan, tiny footprints appeared on the glacier below.

Li Huaichuan's gaze narrowed slightly. He flashed through the swirling snow and followed the footprints. In an instant, he arrived at the outside of an abandoned mine. There were two rows of footprints on the snow at the entrance of the mine. They were very new and there were no footprints indicating that someone had come out.

Li Huaichuan wasn't sure if this was the target he was looking for. He intended to go inside to search, but soon, he heard a faint sound of wind breaking through the air from within the cave.
Huhu~
Judging from the movements, two people were rushing towards the cave entrance, keeping their voices down.

Upon seeing this, Li Huaichuan immediately fell silent, leaning against the foot of the hundred-foot cliff with his sword, waiting quietly.

But just as the footsteps were about to reach the cave entrance, they suddenly vanished without a trace.

?

Li Huaichuan, believing he hadn't revealed any of his whereabouts, was slightly puzzled by this, but refrained from making any rash moves...
-
stomping on...

Xie Jinhuan sensed something was wrong with the place and quickly retraced his steps, keeping an eye out for any potential ambushes along the way.

Bu Yuehua realized that her whereabouts had been exposed, so she became extremely vigilant. Seeing a light ahead and sensing that there seemed to be no one at the cave entrance, she prepared to fly out and scan her surroundings.

Unexpectedly, just as her feet left the ground, the child following behind her suddenly strode forward and gave her a bear hug, wrapping his right arm around her chest and covering her mouth with his left, holding her tightly in his arms.

bang~
The two of them immediately froze on the spot.

Bu Yuehua noticed that Xie Jinhuan's way of holding the girl was extremely skillful. He immediately pressed down on her heart, gripping it firmly, his fingers sinking into the soft, supple flesh. Bu Yuehua blushed and tried to pull away, but then she heard:

Shh~ There's an ambush outside.

"?"

Bu Yuehua had already reached the Super Grade level and was quite alert, but she did not notice anything unusual at the entrance of the cave, and her eyes were full of doubt.

But the experience of Fire Phoenix Valley gave her no reason to doubt Xie Jinhuan's judgment. She quickly quieted down and pressed the large hand on Xuezi down without making a sound.

Xie Jinhuan didn't notice anyone lying in ambush outside, but while running, he suddenly heard the 'Phantom Radar' alarm. Seeing that Bu Xianzi was about to rush out, he hurriedly pulled her back.

As for hugging the wrong place, it was just a habit. He only let go of Man Dangdang's hand after Senior Bu pressed his hand down, while his eyes were still on A Piao.

Ye Hongshang floated beside him, carefully sensing the situation outside:

“There’s a top-tier swordsman blocking the left side of the cave entrance, about twelve feet away. Judging from his appearance, he doesn’t seem like a good person.”

Superb swordsman...

Upon hearing these characteristics, Xie Jinhuan guessed that it must be Li Huaichuan. After all, Jianchuan, in theory, is under the jurisdiction of Lishan Sword Pavilion, just like the seven hundred miles of Zihui Mountain. Lizhou is a border prefecture, and there is only one super-grade Li Huaichuan there.

Upon realizing that the leader of Lizhou was lying in ambush outside, Xie Jinhuan knew that the situation was not good.

He almost suffered a great loss on his last trip to southern Xinjiang, and this time he has learned his lesson, hiding his identity and making sure his whereabouts are completely unknown.

If the other party was able to pinpoint his location and ambush him here, it could only be because they used a 'luring the snake out of its hole' tactic.

For example, he spread rumors about the "Soul-Binding Lock" on a large scale in the border region of Lizhou, luring them to Baihua County. Then, through clues such as corpses, he led them to Jianchuan and the mines. As long as he appeared in Jianchuan, he would start the "Shut Down and Fight the Dragon" technique.

To do this, one must first know Bu Yuehua's family feud background, secondly, know that Bu Yuehua is traveling with him, and also be able to deduce his approximate location.

The Southern Frontier Witch Alliance should be able to find out about Bu Yuehua's family feud and whereabouts.

His approximate location could be deduced by the higher-ups of Daqian.

The widespread dissemination of information and the mobilization of Northern Zhou's elite troops for an ambush must have been carried out by forces with deep roots in Northern Zhou.

If we are indeed being set up, then the people behind this are incredibly powerful and influential.

Xie Jinhuan found it hard to believe that such a large dragon could still be hidden in the world today, but the current situation could only be explained by the fact that the demonic forces were spread throughout the north and south.

As for Li Huaichuan outside, whether he is a pawn or a lackey of the evil Taoist, he is here to kill him. If there were even the slightest possibility of him being an ally, he would not be in this critical position.

Although Xie Jinhuan knew the purpose of the visitor, he did not alert them. Instead, he asked, "Is the visitor Senior Li Huaichuan?"

Outside the mine, Li Huaichuan stood amidst the silent, swirling snow. Hearing the other person address him by his name, he paused slightly, then said coldly:

"Who are these scoundrels causing trouble in this place?"

"Senior Li, you misunderstand. I am not a thief. I am Xie Jinhuan, a military officer of the Southern Dynasty's envoy. Senior Li, you must have heard of my name."

"Oh?"

When Li Huaichuan discovered that Xie Jinhuan was indeed there and that no one else was around, his eyes burned with desire, and his blood, which had long been cold, began to boil again!

However, this boy's perception was too strong. To prevent any mishaps, Li Huaichuan did not act rashly. He slowly walked towards the cave entrance and smiled like an elder:
"Are you Xie Jinhuan, the young hero who rose to fame at the Battle of Sanjiangkou? I have long admired your name, but I never expected that you would come to Lizhou..."

"Senior Li, you're too kind..."

Xie Jinhuan responded with delight and quickly walked towards the cave entrance.

Bu Yuehua followed behind, and seeing this, she wanted to remind Xie Jinhuan not to be too careless, but her expression changed drastically the next moment!

Xie Jinhuan appeared eager and jogged with his gun, but just as Li Huaichuan was about to reveal his outline, he suddenly exerted force with his right foot!
thump—

The rock beneath his feet cracked, and a muffled thunder rumbled from within the mine without warning. His right hand wielded the Dragon Spear with the force of a black dragon crashing into a pillar. The spear shattered the surrounding stone walls as it was thrust out, transforming into a tornado carrying fragments of rock and ice crystals that blasted towards the edge of the rock wall!
Boom——

Li Huaichuan did indeed intend to kill and rob the treasure, but he didn't even show himself. He really didn't expect this guy to strike first!

As soon as the explosion rang out, the two-foot-long spearhead, like an armor-piercing bullet, had already smashed through the three-foot-long rock wall, and the spear was pointed straight at the neck!
The unexpected and terrifying attack startled Li Huaichuan so much that his hair stood on end. If it were an ordinary martial artist, there would be no way to dodge this lightning-fast and deadly shot.

However mediocre Li Huaichuan may be, he wouldn't rank among the top-tier, and even among the first-tier, he would still be worlds apart.

The instant the spear pierced the stone wall, Li Huaichuan moved with unnatural speed, instantly creating distance. At the same time, his sword, Tingxue, was drawn from its sheath and swept horizontally towards the mine.

Sa——

The three-foot-long sword swept across the swirling snow, shattering the icy river beneath its feet. A terrifying sword cry, accompanied by a suffocating sharpness, brought forth sword energy that tore a two-foot-wide horizontal groove in the rocky canyon wall, slicing diagonally into the interior of the mountain!

Xie Jinhuan's spear missed its mark, but instead of retreating, he advanced, almost bending low to pass beneath the mountain-shattering sword energy. Halfway through, he let out a soft gasp:
"Fluttering light!"

bang——

With a burst of energy, his body accelerated and he plunged into the icy river in the rift valley!
Bu Yuehua didn't stand there dumbfounded. At the same time that Xie Jinhuan suddenly made his move, she rushed out without hesitation. With her left hand dragging a slender curved blade, she spun around in the mine, spreading thick poisonous mist. Almost simultaneously, she and Xie Jinhuan flew out from above the sword energy.

Boom——

After Li Huaichuan's sword strike, a loud explosion came from inside the cave, blasting out a vast expanse of eerie green poisonous smoke that instantly spread throughout the rift valley, turning the surrounding area into a sea of ​​mist.

The two figures that had just appeared were only a fleeting glimpse before disappearing into the poisonous fog, never to be seen again.

Li Huaichuan hadn't expected Xie Jinhuan to have a Gu poison master by his side. He immediately used his internal energy to isolate himself, and with a single sweep of his sword, the resulting sword energy tore a rift in the poisonous mist.

However, the wizard who unleashed the poisonous mist seemed to have reached the highest level, able to control the poisonous mist over a wide area. The moment the sword energy broke through the gap, the billowing smoke quickly closed again, obscuring all vision.

? !
Realizing that Xie Jinhuan had a 'protector,' Li Huaichuan immediately became cautious, wary of the poisonous rat's most proficient Gu poison spells, and carefully sensed the slightest movement in the fog:

"You brat, I treated you with courtesy, yet you attacked me with murderous intent; you've practically courted death..."

Huhu~
The canyon was shrouded in a sea of ​​fog, yet it was deathly silent, with only the howling of the wind sweeping through the surrounding area.

Xie Jinhuan stood atop the shattered glacier, spear in hand, his aura frozen, his icy eyes fixed on the depths of the green mist.

Bu Yuehua stood motionless beside him, holding a single-edged sword upside down in her left hand, her eyes asking whether to retreat or fight.

Xie Jinhuan had already realized that this was a trap, and the person who set it up clearly wanted him dead. Not only was he isolated and helpless in this fight, but the enemy was in the dark while he was in the light, and the other party could come to his aid at any time. It was safest to leave if he could.

However, Li Huaichuan, as an old-school swordsman from Lizhou, is definitely not weak. If he runs away, he cannot fly, and Bu Yuehua will definitely catch up with him. At that time, it will not be easy for him to turn around and fight back.

After a moment's consideration, Xie Jinhuan silently turned his head to the side, preparing for a swift and decisive battle.

As a seasoned veteran, Bu Yuehua understood the meaning without needing to communicate. Her figure, like a boneless ghost, drifted to the right along the frozen river.

Sa——

Despite his advanced age, Li Huaichuan was indeed quite skilled. The moment the two made a sound, he turned his gaze towards their location, and raised his three-foot sword.
Sa——

Boom——

The chilling sword energy pierced through the ice layer, tearing a rift more than ten feet wide in the churning sea of ​​mist, all the way to where Xie Jinhuan was.

At the same time, Xie Jinhuan suddenly burst forward, raising his Dragon-Slaying Spear mid-air, his muscles bulging, and letting out a thunderous roar:
"drink--!"

The nine-foot-long Dragon Spear was thrown forward, and the resulting gale instantly shattered the icy river below, transforming it into a tornado carrying towering poisonous fog and shattered ice. It pierced through the sea of ​​fog, creating a spiral rift that struck Li Huaichuan, who was dozens of feet away!
Boom——

This shot was a killing move from the very beginning, and with Xie Jinhuan's superhuman physique, its power was no less than that of an ordinary super-grade weapon.

Li Huaichuan's eyes showed surprise and doubt, but he did not dodge. Instead, he raised his left hand, and his body's qi instantly condensed into a solid form!

chap——

The unstoppable Roaring Dragon Spear, when it struck the invisible qi, was like a nail driven into an invisible barrier!
The gun suddenly stopped and trembled violently, but it had only penetrated less than two inches. It burst out in mid-air with a burst of energy, sweeping past Li Huaichuan and instantly tearing apart the icy river, bringing with it boundless flying water.

Boom——

Xie Jinhuan knew it would be difficult to break through the superior-grade defense, so he rushed forward with all his might as soon as he used his spear, almost chasing after the Minglong Spear. The moment the spear stopped, he slammed out with his palm like a dragon's claw, striking the end of the spear.

bang——

Under the heavy blow, the Dragon Spear pierced through more than two feet, penetrating the protective aura and reaching Li Huaichuan's palm!
But Li Huaichuan didn't just stand there and take the beating. His movements were swift as lightning. He grabbed the spear shaft with his left hand and held the sword Tingxue in his right hand. He had already created a wave of swords in front of him, splashing them all over Xie Jinhuan's body.

Whispering rustling——

The sword was drawn like a hundred birds singing in unison, and a thousand sword shadows appeared in an instant amidst the wind and snow!
Xie Jinhuan was more than ten feet away. Even with his physical strength pushed to the limit, he still felt helpless in the face of this unreasonable crushing power.

But he didn't try to parry the attack; instead, he reached for the Heavenly Mace with his right hand.

Seeing that this young man, facing a fatal blow, did not choose to dodge but stood there foolishly hastily drawing his weapon, Li Huaichuan couldn't help but feel contempt—this is what he calls the strongest first-rank martial artist...

But at that very moment, a bolt of silver lightning suddenly flashed through the churning sea of ​​mist:
Sa——

(End of this chapter)