Chapter 88: The Battle of Soldiers

The Blue Swallow truly lived up to his nickname. Though no one knew his real name, it hardly mattered anymore; all eyes were on the dazzling blue shadow whirling ceaselessly around Ouyang Zhenghe in the arena. His speed was astonishing—despite Ouyang Zhenghe’s flawless defense with his violet-gold spear, the Blue Swallow’s spiritual swords sometimes struck from impossible angles. If not for Ouyang Zhenghe’s yellow spiritual aura deflecting those attacks, he would have been slain already.

Ouyang Zhenghe’s expression grew grave. He had never expected his opponent to be a cultivator who survived on the Linglong Continent by relying on the art of spiritual leaps—a truly unconventional path. Suddenly, a burst of spiritual energy erupted from Ouyang Zhenghe’s palm. Somehow, he had stowed away his violet-gold spear and now faced his adversary with bare hands.

In mid-air, the Blue Swallow’s eyes gleamed with cunning. At last, the old man could no longer endure; now was the moment to strike, weaponless as he was. With a swift motion, the Blue Swallow unleashed four spiritual swords toward Ouyang Zhenghe, then shot forward like a blade himself, a real short sword gripped tightly in his hand, its cold gleam betraying its deadly sharpness.

“Excellent!” Ouyang Zhenghe shouted, his palms moving in a sudden surge, colliding directly with the spiritual swords sent by the Blue Swallow.

But the Blue Swallow felt an immense pressure in that instant. He had never imagined his bait—those spiritual swords—would be so easily neutralized. As Ouyang Zhenghe’s large hands lunged toward him, the Blue Swallow, with an aerial maneuver defying all logic, managed to retreat several yards in midair. It seemed simple, but such a move was rarely possible; he exhaled in relief, thinking only he could react so skillfully. Yet, just then, a sharp violet shadow lunged at him. Only when he realized did he see—Ouyang Zhenghe had thrown his violet-gold spear! With a dull thud, the spear struck true, and the Blue Swallow’s body fell from the sky, crashing onto the arena below.

“Well done! Master Ouyang, what a technique!” The crowd of Nine Sects and Eighteen Gangs erupted in cheers. Ouyang Zhenghe basked in his glory, and eager followers rushed to retrieve his spear. Yet, after several tries, they could not pull it free, proof of the force behind Ouyang Zhenghe’s strike.

Then a man clad in gold pushed the helpers aside and cursed, “Useless! Let me do it.” He gripped the spear, and fresh blood spurted forth, making the scene more gruesome. This man was none other than the Gold Leader among the four leaders of Gold, Silver, Copper, and Iron. With a flick, he tossed the spear back to Ouyang Zhenghe and shouted, “Who still dares to challenge Uncle Ouyang? Are there any from the Flower Gate? Why are you all hiding? Are you women only fit to cower behind men? Seems Old Master Guihai was right; there’s no place for women among the Five Great Spiritual Sects!”

Before he finished speaking, a gray shadow flashed by. The next instant, with a soft thud, a golden head soared into the air, and the Gold Leader’s corpse collapsed on the spot! The crowd of Nine Sects and Eighteen Gangs was thrown into chaos; none had seen what happened, and the Gold Leader died without reason.

A chilling, otherworldly voice echoed from the arena: “You’re next!”

The crowd looked up in shock. There, on the stage, stood a young woman dressed as a gray-robed Taoist nun, her arm draped with a whisk, drops of blood still falling from its strands. Only now did everyone realize it was she who had killed the Gold Leader in a single strike!

“It’s her—it’s her! She’s from the Flower Gate!” Those with sharp eyes immediately identified her.

“Yes, it’s her. She was the one who fought before Guihai Pavilion—that beautiful Taoist nun!” Indeed, it was Jade Whisk of the Flower Gate.

At the banquet of Guihai, Guihai Blade’s eyes flashed sharply, his hand unconsciously resting on his sword hilt. On the stage, Ouyang Zhenghe laughed aloud, “Good, good! The real challenger has finally come, though it’s just a female disciple from the Flower Gate. If Gu Meng herself had come, I’d be truly interested.”

Jade Whisk’s face was expressionless, but her voice was cold and dark: “How dare you speak my master’s name. You must be tired of living.”

Ouyang Zhenghe laughed boisterously, “I’ve dominated Linglong all my life, and in Guihai City I’m the foremost among the Nine Sects and Eighteen Gangs. You think I’m inferior to Gu Meng? We’re peers; even if she came, she’d have to call me Brother Ouyang! You little girl, such arrogance!”

Jade Whisk scoffed, “A sparrow dares to compare itself to a swan—laughable. At best, you’re someone’s guard dog.”

Ouyang Zhenghe’s face darkened; she had struck him where it hurt. Though he ruled Guihai City, to Guihai Xin he was little more than a dog. This was why he worked so hard—hoping that, once Guihai Xin founded his own sect, his status would rise and he’d truly become a figure of authority in Guihai City.

“Girl, I won’t spar with you in words. Since you’re from a renowned sect, let’s see your true skills.” With a flick of his violet-gold spear, Ouyang Zhenghe glared coldly at Jade Whisk.

“Prepare to die,” Jade Whisk said, swinging her whisk at Ouyang Zhenghe. His violet-gold spear, forged from pure violet-gold, was exceptionally tough. He wore a mocking expression, thinking, “This girl dares to challenge my spear—she’s courting death.” He raised his spear to meet her attack.

Before their weapons even met, their spiritual energies collided in midair, crackling and sparking. This was a true duel!

The spear’s masculine energy instantly forced the whisk back, but Jade Whisk remained calm. With a deft touch, she manipulated her whisk, which suddenly became as supple as a serpent, wrapping around the spear. Ouyang Zhenghe felt as if his spear were submerged in the sea; he could no longer channel his spiritual energy through it. Only now did he realize the girl’s true power.

Yet age brings cunning. With a sudden shout, Ouyang Zhenghe released a yellow burst of spiritual energy from his hand, shooting it straight at Jade Whisk. It was his first time unleashing an attack like this in the arena. Jade Whisk, whisk in one hand, traced a complex incantation with the other, summoning a radiant sword aura that clashed with Ouyang Zhenghe’s yellow spiritual sword. With a ripping sound, Jade Whisk’s sword aura shattered his attack completely.

Ouyang Zhenghe’s brows knit, and he cried out strangely, unleashing dozens of spiritual swords that battled fiercely with Jade Whisk’s swords in midair. The two were deadlocked for a time.

A flash of annoyance flickered in Jade Whisk’s eyes. She formed an intricate spiritual incantation, and the swords in the air seemed overwhelmed, instantly shredded by Ouyang Zhenghe’s spiritual blades. Ouyang Zhenghe felt a surge of joy and sent his swords straight at Jade Whisk.

But suddenly, the yellow spiritual swords stopped dead as they reached her. Ouyang Zhenghe was stunned, only to see a blue flower slowly rising behind Jade Whisk. The Flower Gate Technique! Jade Whisk had finally revealed her secret art.

Ouyang Zhenghe had not witnessed the battle before Guihai Pavilion, but he knew the Flower Gate’s power came from this seemingly ordinary flower. It held boundless spiritual energy, instantly elevating the cultivator’s abilities. He hadn’t expected this young Taoist nun to possess such skill—no wonder she dared challenge him.

As the flower appeared, Jade Whisk seemed invigorated. Her whisk became razor sharp, twisting relentlessly as if to sever Ouyang Zhenghe’s spear. The spear emitted tortured creaks; Ouyang Zhenghe knew victory or defeat hinged on this moment. With a sudden move, he directed his yellow spiritual swords to attack the whisk instead.

Jade Whisk sneered. Her whisk suddenly stiffened, swatting the incoming blades aside. Ouyang Zhenghe secretly smiled—he had succeeded in luring the whisk away with his swords. Now he poured all his spiritual energy into the violet-gold spear, which suddenly swelled in size, nearly snapping the whisk’s threads.

Only then did Jade Whisk realize she’d fallen for Ouyang Zhenghe’s “lure the tiger away from the mountain” trick. Though she regretted it, her hands did not falter. With a sharp cry, she hardened her whisk once more, drawing it tight, binding the spear even more closely.

Ouyang Zhenghe stared in disbelief at the changes in his weapon. Looking up, he was shocked—behind Jade Whisk, the blue flower had turned orange. Ouyang Zhenghe was rattled; he remembered from his youth that only Flower Gate disciples with forty or fifty years of cultivation could produce an orange flower. He hadn’t imagined this young woman could be so powerful!

While Ouyang Zhenghe was distracted, Jade Whisk snorted coldly. Her whisk, like a set of pliers, exerted force from all sides. The sound of metal shattering filled the air—the violet-gold spear was completely broken!