The world of martial arts, the immortal swordsman in the mortal realm.

Chapter 167, 182, Wan Yao Nu: Is Dugu Feng really that weak?
After observing for a while, Lu Chen noticed that Wanwan's swordsmanship had indeed improved significantly compared to when she was at Peach Blossom Manor in Xiangyang.

In particular, the new sword technique she used that Lu Chen had never seen before was quite impressive.

His swordsmanship is deeply versed in the subtle interplay of reality and illusion. His fierce killing moves often seem to originate from nowhere, giving the impression of something mysterious and elusive, making them impossible to defend against.

Furthermore, she incorporated various essences of the Heavenly Demon Art into it.

The sound of the sword cutting through the air had the effect of "heavenly demonic sound," sometimes like a gentle breeze, the soft sound of which made people drowsy, and sometimes like a hurricane, the wailing of ghosts and gods, which made people restless and irritable.

The changing light and shadow of the sword, combined with her graceful and enchanting dance of the Heavenly Demon, created a strange and bewitching atmosphere that was both captivating and mesmerizing, making people want to stare at her intently until they were dizzy from the dazzling light and shadow.

The swordsmanship, which is unpredictable and whose origin and end are unknown, along with the bewitching and confusing Heavenly Demon Sound and Heavenly Demon Dance, are almost perfectly integrated together. Occasionally, the Heavenly Demon Force Field will suddenly erupt, either absorbing or repelling, interfering with the enemy's movement.

Even in Lu Chen's eyes, such swordsmanship was quite impressive.

Of course, Wanwan's sword technique was only in its early stages.

Although he had almost perfectly integrated the various wonders of the Heavenly Demon Art, the depth of his swordsmanship was still somewhat lacking. After only two hundred moves, he gradually lost ground to Dugu Feng's sword.

After exchanging another hundred or so moves, seeing that Wanwan had exhausted her variations and was completely suppressed by Dugu Feng, Lu Chen flicked out a sword aura, separating the two, and said:

"Not bad. Wanwan's swordsmanship has improved a lot, especially this new sword technique, which is refreshing to me."

Wanwan's eyes lit up, and she looked at Lu Chen with surprise and delight:

"Really?"

Lu Chen nodded:

"That's true. What do you think, Feng'er?"

Dugu Feng exclaimed in admiration:

"Miss Wanwan truly lives up to her reputation as the most outstanding successor of the Yin Gui Sect. This sword technique is indeed quite amazing, but unfortunately, its foundation seems insufficient, and its variations have limitations. However, in my opinion, this sword technique still has a lot of room for improvement."

Wanwan said with a smile:
"I have only been practicing swordsmanship for a short time and my accumulation is limited. I can only go this far for now. I would like to learn more from the two masters of swordsmanship in the future. I hope you can give me more guidance."

Dugu Feng was obsessed with martial arts. She wanted to see how far Wanwan's swordsmanship could go, and she also wanted to learn more about Wanwan's Heavenly Demon Art. She had no objection to her request, but she didn't know what Lu Chen thought, so she didn't agree rashly. She just glanced at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, then said:

"Your sword technique seems to have a total of thirteen variations. What are they called?"

"Brother Lu has a good eye. There are indeed thirteen variations, hence the sword technique is called 'Thirteen Soul-Stealing Swords'."

"Your Thirteen Soul-Snatching Swords currently has its limits in terms of variation. If you exhaust all the variations and cannot defeat your enemy, you will reach a dead end. So what you need to do now is to pursue complexity, to make your swordsmanship more profound and extensive, and ultimately infinitely varied."

Wanwan listened intently, and seeing Lu Chen pause, she couldn't help but ask:
"Then?"

"after……"

Lu Chen pondered for a moment:
"Then we need to simplify and streamline, cut away the branches and leaves, and integrate all the changes into one, evolving into a unique sword technique."

Wanwan blinked:
"The thirteen swords first evolved into countless swords, and finally evolved back into a single sword?"

Lu Chen nodded:
"Your Thirteen Soul-Snatching Swords are based on the Heavenly Demon Great Art. I have witnessed your and Empress Yin's ultimate move, which integrates various transformations into the Heavenly Demon Finger. Its power is astonishing. Therefore, your swordsmanship can also follow this path. Of course, you still need to pursue complexity first. Simplifying complexity is still a long way off for you."

Wanwan smiled sweetly:
"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Lu."

After a pause, he said again:

"Brother Lu, are you planning to deal with Li Mi?"

Lu Chen nodded:

"good."

Wanwan didn't ask him why he wanted to deal with Li Mi, but simply smiled and said:

"Li Mi is the strongest overlord in the world today, and he also poses a threat to my Yin Gui Sect. When the decisive battle takes place, I wonder if it would be possible for Wan'er to accompany Brother Lu?"

Lu Chen said indifferently:

"You can go if you want."

Wanwan smiled again:
"Then... before the war begins, can Wan'er stay here for a few days? That way, she can ask Brother Lu and Miss Feng for advice on swordsmanship from time to time, and when the war starts, Wan'er can also follow Brother Lu to the battlefield at any time."

Lu Chen glanced at Dugu Feng, and seeing that she had no objection, but rather seemed quite looking forward to sparring with Wanwan often, he nodded and said:

"Sure. You can stay in the side room."

Wanwan immediately beamed with joy:

"Thank you, Brother Lu, and thank you, Miss Feng!"

After arranging Wanwan's accommodation, Lu Chen and Dugu Feng returned to the main bedroom. Dugu Feng suddenly said:
"The enchantress Wan likes you."

Ok?
Lu Chen asked curiously:

"That enchantress is cunning and fickle, and adept at disguise. Even I can't be sure of her intentions, so how did Feng'er know?"

"intuition."

Dugu Feng's tone was resolute:
"Just by looking at her tone and expression when she speaks to you, I know that she feels the same way I do about you. Besides, the Yin Gui Sect already has two weapons, the Heavenly Demon Ribbon and the Heavenly Demon Double Slash. Why would Wan Yaonu need to study swordsmanship? I noticed that she glanced at the sword spirit mark between my eyebrows several times without my noticing."

She raised her hand to touch the mark between her eyebrows and smiled:
"I think Wan Yaonu also wants to be your sword spirit."

Lu Chen shook his head:
"Liking someone is useless. The Heavenly Demon Art requires severing emotions and desires. If you are without feelings or love, that's fine, but if you truly fall in love with someone, you can't be with that person, otherwise you'll be cutting off your own path."

Dugu Feng blinked:

"I think this shouldn't be too difficult for you."

Lu Chen chuckled:
"Why do you sound like you don't mind Wanwan's little schemes at all?"

"How could I not mind? However, Wan Yaonu is highly skilled in martial arts and has great talent. If she can acquire the aptitude to imprint a sword spirit mark on the sword path, then I can learn from her and compete with her. On the path of swordsmanship, having a fellow Daoist with a different style is like having a stone to learn from others."

The grand reason given is only one aspect.

Another reason she was ashamed to admit was that Lu Chen's physique was getting stronger and stronger. Although Dugu Feng loved him dearly and was even somewhat obsessed with him, she was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up on her own...

Lu Chen, of course, couldn't hear Dugu Feng's inner thoughts, and merely smiled at her high-sounding reason:
"We'll talk about it when Wanwan's swordsmanship is up to par. It's getting late, let's start practicing."

He then sat cross-legged on the couch and began to close his eyes and practice his internal energy. Dugu Feng also took off his shoes, socks, and clothes, wearing only his undergarments, and sat on the couch to begin comprehending and cultivating the Lesser Formless Skill.

Lu Chen said that when she cultivates the Lesser Formless Skill to the point where she can transform the nature of true qi, the two of them can use his unique secret method to cultivate together. At that time, they can enjoy love and cultivate at the same time. Dugu Feng is looking forward to it very much.

The next morning.

After the routine morning practice, Lu Chen explained the principles of swordsmanship to Dugu Feng and Wanwan. After the two pondered for a while, he had them practice together.

After they practiced hundreds of moves together, I pointed out their respective shortcomings, explained the principles of swordsmanship, and then personally stepped into the arena to fight both of them, guiding them to improve their swordsmanship.

One match in the morning and another in the evening—just these two training matches in one day—showed considerable improvement in Wanwan's swordsmanship, despite her relatively weaker foundation. Of course, Dugu Feng, with her higher level of swordsmanship, also benefited.

Night time.

On the bed in the side room, Wanwan pondered her gains for a while, then lay on her side and began to practice the Heavenly Demon Technique. Just as she was refining her true energy, she suddenly heard a charming and melodious moan coming from the main room, which made people blush.

As a Yin Gui demoness, Wanwan herself was chaste, but the environment of the Yin Gui sect was filled with male lustful demons and female lecherous thieves. Even the dead male lustful demon would say things like "When will Wan'er let her master aunt pick her red pills?", so she was no stranger to matters between men and women.

She had even studied the Yin Gui School's techniques, but she only had the theory and no practical experience.

Upon hearing the noise, Wanwan curled her lips in disdain, but her delicate ears suddenly twitched as she focused her attention on listening intently.

Dugu Feng's delicate and melodious sobs sounded somewhat restrained, yet gave the impression that she couldn't suppress them no matter what. After about fifteen minutes, it turned into a heart-wrenching wail, which quickly weakened, sounding as if she was about to die.

A blush gradually crept onto Wanwan's cheeks; she was somewhat shocked.

Even with Dugu Feng's skill, he only lasted for a little over a quarter of an hour.
Is she too weak? Or is Lu Chen too strong?

After listening for a while, there was no further sound, as if the game had ended. Wanwan couldn't help but curl her lips again, secretly mocking Dugu Feng for being so weak. She closed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep.

In his sleep, the Heavenly Demon Technique operated on its own, gradually increasing his cultivation level.

The next two days were the same as the first day. Lu Chen explained the principles of swordsmanship, Wanwan practiced with Dugu Feng, and Lu Chen pointed out any shortcomings before going into the arena to fight two opponents at once.

Aside from the morning and evening sparring sessions, they usually practiced on their own. Wanwan and Dugu Feng's swordsmanship improved day by day, and Lu Chen also explored more of the essence of the Heavenly Demon Art, gradually perfecting the "Sword Wind Force Field".

In addition, Wanwan heard those noises again on those two nights.

She also discovered that in every match, Dugu Feng was the one who initiated the provocation, and then quickly lost. Including the prelude, she only lasted for a little over two quarters of an hour each time. She couldn't help but secretly mock Dugu Feng's overestimation of her abilities and her pitiful weakness.

Early on the fourth day.

Lu Chen was practicing old man's boxing with Dugu Feng in the courtyard, while Wanwan was studying swordsmanship on the side. A series of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard, and it sounded like there was more than one horse.

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached, stopping at the entrance to the courtyard. Suddenly, the gate was pounded with a hammer, and Xu Ziling's voice rang out from outside:

"Brother Lu, we've found Li Mi's main force!"

Dugu Feng hurriedly went to open the door. Xu Ziling thanked her and rushed in like a gust of wind. Even with his calm and composed nature, he couldn't help but feel excited and his face flushed slightly.

"Brother Lu, Li Mi's main force is indeed hidden in the Beiman Mountains, and has been marching for many days. Last night, they marched all night and only set up camp this morning. All the soldiers in the army look exhausted."

"Li Mi only thought about surprise attacks and ambushing us from the rear, but he never thought that we would take the initiative to attack him. Therefore, no fortifications were set up around the camp, and our army could advance unimpeded!"

"At present, Kou Zhong is leading two hundred former members of the Wagang Army's headquarters, led by Zhai Jiao, the daughter of Zhai Rang, the leader of the Wagang Army, and they are lying in ambush on the mountain behind the Wagang Army camp."

"Li Mi is too arrogant and, coupled with the fatigue of the march, has lost his former caution. He actually did not send anyone to search the mountains, allowing Kou Zhong and his party to lie in ambush safely, just waiting for our main force to attack so that they could launch a surprise attack from the rear!"

Having said that, he took the glass of cool boiled water that Dugu Feng offered and drank it all in one gulp. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and continued:
“Li Mi is known for his unconventional tactics, but this time his unconventional approach backfired, and now it's our turn to attack him from both sides! Commander Yang is currently mustering his troops. In this battle, Commander Yang will lead two thousand elite cavalry in a surprise attack, followed by Prince Xuan Shu with eighteen thousand infantry. I will also accompany Commander Yang's elite cavalry in the surprise attack, Brother Lu, you…”

Lu Chen nodded and said, "I will naturally go with you."

As she spoke, Wanwan dragged two large hammers over, looking slightly strained.

She was dressed as a female swordswoman, wearing a bamboo hat and shoes, and concealing her demonic energy. Xu Ziling was too excited to notice her for a moment.

It wasn't until she dragged the two large bronze hammers over and handed them to Lu Chen that Xu Ziling became aware of her presence, and was immediately startled:
"Wan, the demoness!"

Instinctively, he leaped backward, adopting a defensive stance.

Wanwan smiled sweetly:
"Xu Ziling, this time I'm not your enemy, but I'm going to fight Li Mi with you."

Xu Ziling was taken aback and looked at Lu Chen:

"Brother Lu, what is that demoness Wan?"

At the same time, I felt very strange:
Brother Lu and the demoness Wan have fought more than once, haven't they?

Why do they seem to get along so well?

Did the demoness Wan abandon darkness and embrace the light?
Or did Brother Lu accept Empress Yin's suggestion and join the Yin Gui Sect?

Upon realizing this, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

If Brother Lu joins the Yin Gui Sect, then the Yin Gui Sect will truly be unstoppable.

Lu Chen took the sledgehammer from Wanwan, glanced at Xu Ziling's expression, and knew what he was thinking. He said calmly:
"Don't be nervous. I'm not with the Yin Gui Sect. Wanwan is only temporarily fighting Li Mi with me in her personal capacity. If the Yin Gui Sect opposes you again in the future, you should fight back without worrying about me."

Xu Ziling trusted Lu Chen a lot—he and Kou Zhong both suspected that Lu Chen was their long-lost father, so how could they not trust him?
Given the precedent of being both an enemy and an ally of Dugu Feng, and with Lu Chen saying, "If it's time to fight, then fight," Xu Ziling stopped overthinking and continued discussing the war:

“Our army is about to set off. I brought warhorses for Brother Lu and Miss Feng... uh, I only brought two warhorses.”

Lu Chen walked out carrying the hammer:
"It's alright, we can get another horse after we rejoin the main force."

Dugu Feng and Wanwan each carried a long sword, following behind Lu Chen on the left and right.

Three horses were parked outside the gate.

Lu Chen immediately recognized which horse was prepared for him.

It was a tall, magnificent, and robust chestnut horse with bright, piercing eyes that exuded power.

Lu Chen mounted his horse with the large hammer in hand. Xu Ziling looked closely and saw that although the chestnut horse's body slumped slightly, it did not seem to be struggling at all. It was as if Lu Chen's two large hammers were not solid copper hammers weighing more than 700 jin in total, but just wooden hammers with copper shells.

Dugu Feng leaped onto a black horse, glanced at Wanwan, and Wanwan, understanding, also leaped onto the back of the black horse, sitting behind Dugu Feng, riding alongside her.

Xu Ziling then mounted a brown horse, spurred it on, and led the way, galloping out of the city.

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(End of this chapter)