Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp sword light suddenly shot out from the side, aiming straight for Zhao Qingtan's back.

The sword light was swift and ruthless, carrying a strong killing intent; it was clearly a premeditated sneak attack.

Zhao Qingtan reacted extremely quickly, sensing the killing intent behind her. Her figure flashed, and she retreated several steps like a ghost, barely dodging the fatal blow.

She steadied herself, turned to look at the person who had attacked her, and her brows furrowed instantly:
"You are from the Murong family?"

The person before her was dressed in a silver-white brocade robe, with a handsome face and a sinister temperament, bearing a resemblance to the portrait of Murong Fu she had seen.

If Gu Yu were here, she would surely recognize that this person is Murong Bo.

At this moment, Murong Bo had both arms intact, without any disability, and looked much younger than when he was seen a few days ago. His aura was also more robust, indicating that his skills had improved again.

"Heh, thanks to you, that little girl didn't come?"

Murong Bo sneered, his eyes filled with resentment: "She managed to escape last time, but I'll kill her with my own hands sooner or later!"

Although he recovered his arm with the help of the magic spirit and even made great progress in martial arts, he also paid a huge price.

The Murong family could only get a small share of the profits from their cooperation with Fa Ling. They suffered heavy losses because of Gu Yu's interference, so they had to give up more profits and let Fa Ling help her repair her body.

The hatred in his heart for Guyu had already reached its peak.

Chen Zhan looked at Murong Bo who suddenly appeared without any surprise.

Having guessed the collusion between the two parties before, seeing Murong Bo appear in person now confirms his guess.

The Murong Bo before him possessed a powerful and refined aura, and the flow of true energy around him carried a sense of oppression.

Clearly, he has recovered his strength with the help of the three-headed Blood Serpent, and is even stronger than at his peak.

Chen Zhan had anticipated this. He remembered clearly that when Gu Yu fought him before, she had severed Murong Bo's left arm.

Now the other person has both arms intact, and there is no trace of the severed limbs.

A severed arm regenerated?

Such methods have already deviated from the scope of normal martial arts practitioners.

Based on his knowledge, even martial artists at the Tongxuan Upper Realm, despite possessing abundant true qi, have absolutely no ability to regenerate severed limbs.

Perhaps the ultimate realm of profound understanding can help.

However, Murong Bo was only at the lower level of the Tongxuan realm before, and in a short period of time, he not only recovered from his injuries.

Can one even transcend three realms and directly advance to the Profound Realm?

If the Three-Headed Blood Serpent truly possessed such heaven-defying power, the three kingdoms of Song, Liao, and Western Xia would no longer need to wage endless wars and could all submit to Putuo Temple.

After all, if even Xuanji Realm martial artists can be mass-produced, what is there to resist?
This is obviously not in line with common sense.

Chen Zhan's mind raced, and he had already concluded that Murong Bo's regeneration of his severed arm and surge in power must have come at a considerable cost.

He transmitted this information to Zhao Qingtan, who nodded slightly upon hearing it, indicating that she understood.

In terms of martial arts foundation, she is more profound than Gu Yu, and her experience in the martial arts world is also more sophisticated. Even if she cannot defeat Murong Bo quickly, she is more than capable of protecting herself.

At this moment, Zhao Qingtan and Murong Bo had already clashed. The two figures moved through the vast cavern, their swords flashing and their energy surging.

Both were skilled swordsmen. Zhao Qingtan's Qingfeng sword was agile and graceful, while Murong Bo's longsword was cunning and ruthless, with every move aimed at vital points.

In addition, his palm techniques and finger strength are also excellent, and his body is surrounded by true energy, making him both offensive and defensive.

The underground cavern was extremely spacious. The crisp, piercing sound of their swords clashing echoed far and wide within the cavern, the echoes rising and falling before gradually dissipating after a while.

Chen Zhan slowly walked to the side, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings of the cave. Sensing the putrid stench in the air, he asked, "This space was created by a natural cave, wasn't it? The Three-Headed Blood Serpents are found alongside this cave?"

Fa Ling stood still, his expression calm, and replied with a smile, "This humble monk is now somewhat convinced that you are indeed the Xuan Yang Dao Master."

"The Daoist Master is right, this place is a natural cave."

He paused, then slowly recounted the past: "Thirty years ago, when the Three-Headed Blood Serpent first stirred, the entire Putuo Mountain was enveloped in a strong, fishy stench. Later, I discovered that after this thing fused with the Mother-Breaking Gu Worm, it burrowed into this cave and would give birth once a month. Each time it gave birth, the fishy stench would permeate the entire mountain."

"After I discovered it, I naturally had to seal it up to avoid disturbing the pilgrims and to prevent it from escaping the cave and causing trouble in all directions."

"So it took several years of effort to build this prison and lock it firmly with black iron chains."

Fa Ling spoke calmly, as if recounting a meritorious deed.

"After that, I discovered that the blood serpents produced by the three-headed blood vipers have some wonderful uses. When combined with the extraordinary technique of 'Refining Essence and Forging Blood,' one can not only rapidly increase one's power, but also use the power of the blood serpents to treat intractable diseases and save people from dire straits. Why not do something that has the best of both worlds?"

Chen Zhan remained noncommittal and slowly walked to the front of the stone platform in the center of the cave.

He had been standing to the side, his view blocked by the bronze cauldron, and was unable to see the entire stone platform.

As he walked to the front, he looked up and saw three huge blood cocoons on the stone platform, in addition to the three-headed blood viper bound by black iron chains and the bronze cauldron.

These three blood cocoons were dark red in color and were tightly wrapped by countless red silk threads. The threads crisscrossed and bound the blood cocoons tightly.

The blood cocoon remained motionless, seemingly devoid of life, yet it faintly exuded an eerie aura, identical to the malevolent energy emanating from the Three-Headed Blood Serpent.

"Is that also one of your special abilities?" Chen Zhan pointed to the blood cocoon on the stone platform.

"nature."

Fa Ling nodded, a hint of pride on his face. "This is a supreme technique that I have developed. Would you like to test its wonders? I still remember clearly the humiliation you inflicted on me when you knocked me out of the library with just three moves."

He was full of confidence at this moment. Things were different now. He not only defied the limits of lifespan, but his power also broke through to the ultimate realm of the Profound Realm.

He believed that even if Chen Zhan was truly the reincarnation of the Xuan Yang Dao Master, he was absolutely confident that he could avenge his previous humiliation.

"The abbot is too hasty."

Chen Zhan spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the two locked in fierce combat: "Why don't we observe the outcome of their fight before taking action?"

Previously, Fa Ling had mocked Zhao Qingtan for being impatient, but now it was he who couldn't hold back.

When the Xuan Yang Dao Master appeared out of nowhere, he was like a dazzling shooting star. Within three months, he fought across the world. Wherever he went, all the major sects bowed down. His overwhelming power was unstoppable.

No expert could last more than a few dozen moves against him.

Fa Ling, who had been the abbot for more than ten years, was confident in his profound martial arts and Buddhist teachings, but the result was disastrous. He was knocked down from the library within three moves and was in a sorry state.

That humiliation, like a maggot clinging to his bone, had haunted his heart for many years.

Later, he stepped down as abbot and refined the Three-Headed Blood Serpent to cultivate evil and strange techniques. While this was mainly to prolong his lifespan, a large part of the reason was also to wash away the shame of the past.

However, since Chen Zhan had spoken, Fa Ling was confident of victory and did not want to lose her composure.

"Then we shall do as the Daoist Master says."

Both of their gazes were simultaneously fixed on Zhao Qingtan and Murong Bo, who were locked in fierce combat. At this moment, their battle had reached a fever pitch, their sword strikes growing faster and faster, and the surging internal energy causing stalactites from the cave ceiling to fall continuously.

Although Zhao Qingtan's swordplay was agile, she could not gain the upper hand against Murong Bo's vicious attacks. Fortunately, she frequently used the Six Meridians Divine Sword in her left hand, and the invisible sword energy was hard to defend against. Murong Bo had already suffered many wounds.

These wounds were all inflicted by the Six Meridians Divine Sword. The sword energy invaded his body, constantly damaging his meridians and making them difficult to heal. Blood seeped out from the wounds, staining his silver-white brocade robe a dark red.

Even so, Murong Bo remained calm, with no trace of panic in his eyes.

What's even stranger is that his left arm, which had been severed by Gu Yu, remained hidden inside his brocade robe and was never used.

The Qingfeng Sword clashed with Murong Bo's longsword once again. The moment the two swords met, their powerful true energy collided violently, and the shockwave spread in all directions, stirring up stone chips all over the ground.

Logically, the two should have retreated to deflect the force, but Murong Bo moved forward instead of retreating, and his left arm, hidden in his brocade robe, suddenly extended.

The arm was entirely crimson, with bulging veins, and it seemed as if countless living things were wriggling beneath the skin.

As soon as it was extended, it suddenly transformed into countless blood-red threads, surging towards the Qingfeng sword in Zhao Qingtan's hand like a tidal wave.

These threads, though thin, are incredibly strong. Like sentient worms, they twist and climb, instantly covering the entire blade.

"Chichi—!"

The harsh sound of corrosion rang out one after another.

Zhao Qingtan's Qingfeng sword was forged by top craftsmen at the request of the Dali royal family over three years. The blade is made of refined steel and is extremely sharp, making it impossible for ordinary weapons to damage it.

However, under the corrosive influence of these crimson threads, countless tiny holes instantly appeared on the sword, causing it to tremble and emit a humming sound as if it could not bear the weight.

Zhao Qingtan's eyes narrowed, and her inner energy suddenly erupted, surging out along the sword.

"Bah—!"

The silk threads wrapped around the sword were cut in half, but the broken threads did not lose their activity and continued to corrode.

At the same time, Murong Bo placed his right index and middle fingers together, gathering true energy at the fingertips, and unleashed a sharp Canhe Finger strike, aiming straight for Zhao Qingtan's vital point between the eyebrows.

With no way to avoid it, Zhao Qingtan made a decisive move, releasing her right hand that was holding the sword and suddenly retreating backward. The true energy of the Six Meridians Divine Sword instantly condensed, and several invisible sword energies shot out.

"Whoosh—!"

The sword energy was aimed directly at Murong Bo's face, but this time he did not dodge or evade. He suddenly raised his crimson left arm and grabbed at the sword energy.

Those originally indestructible Six Meridian Sword Qi, upon colliding with the blood-red threads, were completely corroded after only a moment of resistance.

Murong Bo's lips curled into a strange smile. Taking advantage of the moment when Zhao Qingtan's old strength had just dissipated and her new strength had not yet arisen, he suddenly flicked his left hand.

A black thread suddenly shot out from his palm, mixed with the scattered red threads, moving with lightning speed, and the stench instantly reached Zhao Qingtan's face.

Although Zhao Qingtan was retreating, she kept an eye on the other party's movements. She bent her right finger, and a red light shot out from her fingertip, accurately hitting the black thread.

"Oh!"

A violent explosion suddenly rang out, as if water and fire had collided, unleashing a violent shockwave.

The shockwave pushed the two of them several meters away. Zhao Qingtan steadied herself, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Murong Bo staggered back three steps, his smile instantly freezing, replaced by utter astonishment.

"You can do that too???"

He gasped in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.

After being corrupted by the blood and qi of the Three-Headed Blood Serpent, he gained unimaginable power, but also paid the price of being controlled by others.

The power within his body is entirely provided by the Three-Headed Blood Serpent; there is absolutely no other person in the world who can possess such a strange bloodline.

But during that collision, he clearly felt that the red light emitted by Zhao Qingtan contained a power that was extremely similar to the blood and qi of the Three-Headed Blood Serpent.

"Hehe, I will, but it's different from yours."

Zhao Qingtan snorted coldly, unwilling to waste any more words on him.

As soon as she finished speaking, she moved her feet and her figure suddenly transformed into a blur, unleashing the "Nine Spiral Shadows".

In the empty cave, nine lifelike figures appeared instantly, each one identical to her, with the same aura and movements.

Nine figures simultaneously raised their right hands, their fingertips gathering true energy. The sword energy of the Six Meridians Divine Sword poured out like a torrential rain, enveloping Murong Bo from nine different directions.
"Whoosh whoosh—!"

The sword energy crisscrossed, completely blocking all of Murong Bo's escape routes.

Although Murong Bo's crimson left arm could block the sword energy, his brocade robes could not provide any protection.

The sword energy struck him, instantly shredding his brocade robe to shreds, leaving deep, bone-revealing wounds on his skin from which blood gushed.

He roared repeatedly, and crimson threads extended wildly from his left arm, crawling all over his body like a spider web.

These threads, like needle and thread mending clothes, constantly weave between the wounds, forcibly stitching up the torn flesh and repairing his body slashed by the sword energy.

"Is this also one of your special abilities?" Chen Zhan turned to look at Fa Ling.

"Yes."

Fa Ling looked smug, as if admiring a perfect work of art: "What does the Dao Lord think? As long as the blood and qi of the Three-Headed Blood Serpent remain, he will never die. Even if his heart is shattered, the blood tumor in his body can replace the heart's function, making him practically immortal."

"Hmm, is your vital energy and blood immortal?"

Chen Zhan repeated the sentence in a low voice, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

He seemed to know the origins of the two superior cultivation techniques in the Holy Sect, "Qiongqi Demon Body" and "Taowu True Body".

He wasn't worried about Zhao Qingtan's safety, because Zhao Qingtan also possessed the ability of "indestructible qi and blood".

In the arena, the nine figures suddenly merged into one, and Zhao Qingtan stopped the attack of the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

With a flick of her wrist, a crimson relic appeared in her palm—the very blood relic containing pure blood and qi.

She lightly touched the relic with her fingertip, and a surge of vital energy instantly flowed from it.

A half-zhang-tall sword aura of blood and qi condensed in front of her, radiating red light and exuding a violent aura, turning the cavern a deep red.

Murong Bo had just finished repairing his wounds with crimson silk thread when he saw this and his expression changed drastically.

Zhao Qingtan's eyes were icy cold as she suddenly pointed her sword at Murong Bo.

Under the oppressive force of the crimson sword energy, Murong Bo was unable to move, and the threads on his body seemed to possess sentience, frantically trying to escape.

But it was too late.

Sword energy entered his body. (End of Chapter)