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

Chapter 216, 231: The Eighteenth Level of the Heavenly Demon Art! The Demoness's Repayment of Kindness!
It started to drizzle in the afternoon.

In the drizzling rain, Lu Chen stood in a clearing in the woods, one hand behind his back and the other holding a three-foot-long, thumb-thick green bamboo. The raindrops fell a foot above his head and then, as if encountering an invisible shield, drifted away to the sides, not a single drop landing on him.

Li Xiuning, dressed in a fiery red outfit with her long hair tied in a high ponytail, stood opposite him with a sword in hand, letting the soft drizzle wet her clothes, outlining her graceful and agile curves.

Dugu Feng, Wanwan, Shi Feixuan, and Lian Rou each held an umbrella and stood not far away watching the battle.

"Brother Lu, please enlighten me."

Li Xiuning performed a sword salute, then suddenly stepped forward and thrust her sword straight forward.

Zheng——

Amidst the clang of the sword, the sharp sword energy shattered the rain, and amidst the splashing water mist, a clear sword energy trajectory was immediately imprinted in the air, like a lance, charging with the momentum of an iron cavalry charge, fiercely crashing towards Lu Chen.

This sword strike is quite powerful, capable of piercing through gold and splitting rocks.

Qi (vital energy) also locks firmly onto the target, and can change its follow-up moves at any time according to the target's response.

However, in front of Lu Chen, this move could only be considered a test.

As the sword energy approached, Lu Chen flicked his wrist, and with a gentle upward flick of the three-foot-long bamboo, the sharp sword energy exploded into dust with a snap.

As soon as the sword energy shattered, Li Xiuning's longsword arrived again. She bent and stretched her forearm and twisted her fair wrist, delivering seven consecutive thrusts in one breath. The sword light was like seven flying stars, attacking Lu Chen's seven vital points.

Lu Chen's emerald bamboo swayed, resembling a living green snake. Its body trembled and bent, creating streaks of green light and shadow, precisely blocking Li Xiuning's seven consecutive sword strikes.

Li Xiuning remained calm and composed, her figure swift as the wind as she darted around Lu Chen, launching relentless attacks as her sword flashed.

Her swordplay was sometimes like a long spear or halberd, fierce and sharp; sometimes like a silkworm spinning silk, gentle and dense; sometimes like a thunderstorm, with the swordplay as fierce as thunder and lightning; and sometimes like a sudden north wind, cold and biting. She fully demonstrated the progress she had made in her swordsmanship during this period.

Dang Dang Dang...

A series of rapid, metallic clangs rang out. Lu Chen stood rooted to the spot, casually wielding his green bamboo sword. His three-foot sword formed an impenetrable barrier, allowing him to remain relaxed and at ease no matter how Li Xiuning's attacks changed.

Occasionally, a counterattack would force Li Xiuning to use all her skills to barely manage to break free.

Lu Chen's guidance ability is as effective as ever.

Under his guidance, Li Xiuning continuously pushed her potential to its limits, and her inspirations came in endless streams. She couldn't help but become more and more excited as the battle progressed, and her swordsmanship became increasingly fierce and her variations increasingly exquisite.

Then she exhausted her strength and energy, and stumbled while moving, almost falling to the ground.

Lu Chen flicked his sleeve, a gentle force supporting her, and nodded, saying:
"Good, you've made great progress. Go and rest."

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Lu."

Li Xiuning smiled brightly, took a deep breath, steadied herself, and walked off the field.

"It's my turn!"

Lian Rou smiled and handed the umbrella to Li Xiuning. She then stepped into the arena, carrying her curved blade, and bowed to Lu Chen.
"Please enlighten me, Uncle!"

With that, she pushed off the ground with her long, plump, rounded, yet firm and taut legs, and suddenly appeared beside Lu Chen, unleashing the "Radiant Sun Blade Technique" in a swift strike.

Although Lu Chen's strongest martial art is swordsmanship, he had also experienced and deconstructed Yun Shuai's Radiant Sun Blade Technique, and even extracted its essence and incorporated it into his own martial arts.

With Lu Chen's martial arts prowess and combat skills, he was more than capable of teaching Lian Rou, and the results would be even better than if Commander Yun had taught her personally.

Li Xiuning came to Dugu Feng's side, adjusting her breathing while watching Lu Chen and Lian Rou practice their drill.

Dugu Feng glanced at her soaking wet clothes and asked:
"Should we go change our clothes first?"

"No need."

Li Xiuning kept her eyes glued to the battle formation, not missing a single opportunity to learn, and said:
"I also practice martial arts. Although my skills are not as good as Sister Feng'er's, I am not as delicate as she is. Besides, my internal energy has recovered somewhat, so I won't catch a cold."

"Ah."

Dugu Feng nodded and said:
"Your swordsmanship now is only slightly inferior to what it was before I met Brother Lu in Xiangyang."

"Really?"

Li Xiuning looked pleasantly surprised.

Before meeting Lu Chen, Dugu Feng was already the second-best martial artist in the Dugu Clan and one of the most renowned young masters in the martial arts world.

Li Xiuning's martial arts skills used to be far inferior to Dugu Feng's, but now she is almost catching up with Dugu Feng before she met Lu Chen.
"real."

Dugu Feng's tone was somewhat wistful:
"Xiuning, you are naturally gifted. Although you have not focused on martial arts in the past, you have still developed a very solid foundation. Now that you have Brother Lu's guidance and this opportunity, it is only natural that your swordsmanship has improved by leaps and bounds."

Most importantly, Lu Chen's martial arts skills are now far superior to what they were when they first met in Xiangyang.

With Lu Chen's current level of expertise guiding Li Xiuning, Li Xiuning's progress is much faster than it was back then, compared to when Dugu Feng was at that level.

Besides Lu Chen's guidance, Li Xiuning could also frequently spar with Dugu Feng, Wanwan, and Shi Feixuan, experiencing their different sword styles. Her superior conditions for practicing swordsmanship were unparalleled.

Given her talent, foundation, and training conditions, Dugu Feng believed that in another month or so, her swordsmanship would probably catch up with her own before she met Lu Chen.

Li Xiuning was overjoyed and greatly encouraged, and decided to work even harder and practice diligently in the future.

After finishing the training battle with Lian Rou.

Dugu Feng, Wanwan, and Shi Feixuan then joined forces to practice sword formation against Lu Chen.

In the days following the battle, all three men experienced a rapid improvement in their martial arts skills, and the power of their sword formation also increased significantly.

However, because the sword spirit was missing one of the four, the sword formation was not perfect. At least in Lu Chen's view, there was still a gap to exploit.

Once the Four Symbols are complete, the situation should be quite different.

Judging from Li Xiuning's progress in swordsmanship and her recent diligent practice, she is not far from achieving the perfection of the Four Sword Spirits.

After today's training session, Lu Chen went to cultivate his "Heart Sword," honing his skills and adjusting his mental state before refining the Calamity Qi.

As he refined the wisps of tribulation energy, his sword body, true qi, and heart sword cultivation began to improve simultaneously.

Although with his current cultivation level, the effect of each wisp of ordinary tribulation energy on his improvement is extremely limited, the accumulation of small amounts has led to a comprehensive and steady increase in his cultivation level, giving him more confidence to travel to the new world in the future.

……

"I'm back to practicing!"

Nighttime, in the Flying Frost Palace.

Inside the brightly lit bedroom, as Lu Chen was meditating and refining the calamity energy, Wanwan gracefully entered.

She had a strong premonition from the beginning of the morning.

I feel that after cultivating both true qi today, I will definitely be able to break through the barriers and advance to the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Technique, which no one has achieved since the First Ancestor.

This premonition made her mind lively and clear, and she felt better than ever before.

But I was also a little nervous and apprehensive.

Because in the early morning she had declared to Lu Chen that if she reached the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Art, she would allow him to freely admire the sword spirit mark.

Given the special position of her sword spirit mark, if she were to open it up for him to appreciate, he would certainly appreciate more than just the mark.

Wanwan didn't want Lu Chen to look at her with that kind of "weak" gaze again.

Therefore, he concealed his nervousness and unease very well.

Her snow-white, soft, exquisite bare feet gently trod on the smooth, clean floor, silently arriving before the spacious imperial couch, where she smiled and looked at Lu Chen, who was sitting cross-legged.

Lu Chen nodded slightly to her:

"let's start."

Wanwan nodded, went up to the couch, sat cross-legged opposite Lu Chen, raised her slender hand, and placed her palms together with Lu Chen's.

The two had been cultivating their inner energy together for a long time and had a tacit understanding. Without saying a word, they simultaneously activated their inner energy and began their cultivation according to the prescribed method.

As the exercise was in progress.

The two's true energy resembled a pair of yin-yang fish, their heads and tails intertwined and merging. Threads of mysterious vitality emanated from between their true energy, subtly enhancing their respective cultivation levels. Gradually, under the impetus of this vitality, Wanwan felt her mind suddenly rise, and in a daze, she seemed to see an indescribable, mysterious "gateway".

Following her instincts, she gently pushed towards the "portal," which opened smoothly and effortlessly without any obstruction.

As the door opened, Wanwan seemed to hear a soft "click".

It sounded like a door opening, or like some strange life form hatching from its shell.

Subsequently, Wanwan's mind and true energy underwent a mysterious transformation, as if she had been reborn.

Lu Chen also noticed Wanwan's change.

As this change occurs, the vital energy generated by the ongoing dual cultivation method of true qi becomes purer and stronger, and its efficacy becomes more powerful.

With the aid of this more potent new life force, Wanwan quickly stabilized her cultivation level.

After a while.

She opened her eyes, and a faint blue light shone from her pupils.

At the same time, the light around him suddenly dimmed, as if it had transformed into a powerful gravitational source that could even absorb and distort light.

However, she quickly suppressed her unusual behavior.

His pupils returned to normal, and the light around him returned to bright.

A captivating smile curved her lips as she gazed at Lu Chen and softly said:
"The Heavenly Demon Technique has reached the eighteenth level!"

This is an achievement that no one has accomplished since the First Ancestor.

But Wanwan wasn't too excited.

Because she found this path herself, she was certain that it would lead to success, and today it was simply a natural progression.

Of course, I was extremely happy.

Especially after the eighteenth floor, there were no more scruples. You could do whatever you wanted. The real skills you learned in the Yin Gui Sect could finally be put to good use!

Thinking about this made Wanwan feel a little excited.

My heart was pounding, my cheeks were flushed, and my eyes became misty.

"that……"

She looked at Lu Chen, her voice shy and sweet:
"I am not the kind of person who goes back on his word."

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow: "So?"

"It was a promise we made this morning. I'm also someone who repays kindness."

Wanwan stood up, took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and then began to dance the Heavenly Demon Dance.

The imperial couch was very large, with enough space for her to dance.

Performing the Heavenly Demon Dance can also effectively alleviate her tension.

As the graceful and beautiful dance, resembling a goddess ascending to heaven and possessing both divinity and magic, reached its climax, Wanwan's long hair fluttered as she suddenly raised her slender hand and loosened the belt around her waist.

The white robes fluttered up, unfolding like a curtain, obscuring Wanwan's figure.

As the white robes fluttered down, Wanwan's flawless, alabaster-skinned, and gracefully beautiful body was revealed inch by inch.

Okay, she still has clothes on.

There's at least one plain-colored strapless top.

But that doesn't matter anymore.

Importantly, the unique sword spirit mark on Wanwan's lower abdomen was exposed to Lu Chen's eyes without any concealment.

Below the sword spirit mark, the pure white and tender area was also completely visible to Lu Chen.

Wanwan's pretty face was flushed, her eyes were hazy, her heart was pounding, and she felt a faint sense of suffocation.

But she still mustered her courage and faced Lu Chen directly. She even took a step with her long, straight, beautiful legs and walked gracefully to Lu Chen. Then she raised her calf and offered her perfectly sized, snow-white bare foot to Lu Chen's palm.

"looks good?"

She looked down at Lu Chen, her voice trembling shyly, it was unclear whether she was asking if the sword spirit mark Lu Chen had drawn was beautiful, or if she was asking something else.

"nice."

Lu Chen remained seated cross-legged, playing with Wanwan's soft, pink jade feet. Without deliberately raising his head, he could see the sword spirit mark so close to him, as well as the beautiful scenery that was even more beautiful than the mark.

"That."

Wanwan leaned forward slightly, her slender waist swaying, and said in a soft, ethereal voice:
Want a kiss?

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

Is this just Wan Yao Nu's usual invincible verbal skills, or has she truly gained enough courage?

He looked up into Wanwan's eyes.

Wanwan's gaze darted away, her beautiful face flushed with a drunken blush that had even spread to her delicate earlobes and long, slender neck.

But he only avoided eye contact; his body did not shrink back as he had in the past.

Not only did she not flinch, but her slender waist swayed gently once more, propelling her forward slightly.

Since that's the case, Lu Chen, who was already eager to try it, didn't hold back.

Lu Chen placed Wanwan's delicate little feet on his lap, raised his hand to hug her slender waist and pert buttocks, and kissed the exquisite and intricate sword spirit mark.

soon.

Wanwan's jade-like neck involuntarily tilted back, her cascading black hair suddenly fluttering as she abruptly raised her slender hand and tightly embraced the back of Lu Chen's head, letting out a soft whimper like a kitten from her delicate nose.

……

The rain has continued since the afternoon, neither getting heavier nor lighter.

The drizzle continued, falling softly and delicately, glistening with moisture.

The gentle drizzle fell on the glazed tiles of the palace roof, making a soft, soothing rustling sound that lulled people into a drowsy state.

Wanwan is already asleep.

Like a boneless kitten, she curled up at Lu Chen's feet, sleeping soundly.

She was still only wearing a plain-colored tube top, and her full, plump buttocks, like peaches, and her round, voluptuous thighs, like jade pillars, were displayed in front of Lu Chen, dazzlingly white.

Wanwan ultimately couldn't hold on until the end.

The little demon girl, who was invincible as soon as she learned the Yin Gui True Transmission, was just like Rong'er before. During the "preliminary ceremony", she was already sobbing and crying, her face covered in tears. In the end, she looked like she was on her last breath and her soul had flown away.

He's all talk and no action, but no real combat skills.

This left Lu Chen speechless.

All I can do is try to kiss the sword spirit mark more often in the future and do more desensitization training for her.

The imperial bed was too big, and Lu Chen was too lazy to change the sheets. He wiped Wanwan's body clean, moved her to a dry place, and let her fall into a deep sleep, while he continued to meditate and refine the tribulation energy.

Although only the preliminary ceremony was held, Wanwan's act of "repaying kindness" today still made him feel happy.

Refining the calamity energy in this state is not only more efficient, but also less risky.

Of course, I need to hurry up and cultivate.

[The next chapter is still being written; I'll post it as soon as it's finished. Please vote with your monthly tickets!]

(End of this chapter)