Zhou Wushuang stood up from the ground, gripping his great saber and striking a pose. The medicinal power of the pill within him then spread, causing his skin to turn red and hot like a lobster, with wisps of sizzling white smoke rising from his body.
Qiu Yihan looked at Zhou Wushuang, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "The Zhennan martial arts are indeed impressive, but you haven't mastered them."
Zhou Wushuang's eyes, fixed on Qiu Yihan, held a trace of ferocious killing intent. "You little wench!"
"I didn't want to be so cruel to a flower, but you brought this upon yourself!"
Threads of icy energy were forced out of Zhou Wushuang's body, transforming into white smoke.
"That bastard Chen Jiuyang dares to oppose my father? He doesn't know his place. Just because he had a fortuitous encounter, he thinks he can ruin my father's grand plan. His death is deserved. Once Xi Butui kills him, I'll tear his body into a thousand pieces and feed it to the dogs!"
"Your mouth is too foul; it needs a good lesson!"
Hearing Zhou Wushuang insult Chen Jiuyang, a cold glint flashed in Qiu Yihan's beautiful eyes.
Zhou Wushuang sneered at Qiu Yihan. "My strength is now thirty percent greater than before. Little wench, if you kneel down now, apologize, and call that brat Chen Jiuyang trash, I might consider letting you go."
"Otherwise, with this saber strike, I truly feel a pang of reluctance to lay a hand on your exquisite body."
"So much nonsense!" Qiu Yihan exclaimed in a clear voice, her Cold Spirit Sword trembling slightly in her hand. Her divine soul resonated with the sword, brewing a divine intent skill: "Sword Rain!"
Howling icy true qi surged from Qiu Yihan's body. Her Cold Spirit Sword vibrated violently, transforming into dozens, even hundreds, of sword shadows. Then, the sword light whistled, rushing directly towards Zhou Wushuang.
"Hmph, you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I told you long ago that you are no match for me in this state, so don't blame me for being merciless."
Facing the divine intent skill unleashed by Qiu Yihan, a cold, mocking sneer flickered in Zhou Wushuang's eyes. He then gripped his great saber with both hands, pouring terrifying true qi and soul power into it, and roared, "Zhennan Martial Arts – Thousand Troops Cleared!"
Zhou Wushuang was filled with immense power, drawing peculiar glances from many. What kind of pill had he consumed to cause such a sudden surge in his strength?
Some secretly glanced towards Zhou Fangzun's location, their minds subtly guessing the reason, but no one spoke. After all, Zhou Wushuang was Zhou Fangzun's son, and Zhou Fangzun, as the third king of the Dragon Kingdom, guarded its southern border, possessing countless treasures.
On the mountaintop, Xi Butui, seated behind Zhou Fangzun and the Princess, watched the scene below with a calm gaze. The uninteresting duel had reached its conclusion.
It was uninteresting because the true protagonists of today's event were Xi Butui and Chen Jiuyang. Zhou Wushuang and Qiu Yihan were not the main players. With the main contenders yet to clash, their desperate struggle was meaningless.
Xi Butui's gaze fell upon Qiu Yihan, a chilling smile curving his lips. Chen Jiuyang, this brat who had risen from the countryside through a fortuitous encounter, dared to challenge him and disrupt Zhou Fangzun's grand plan?
With Zhou Fangzun present, even if Xi Butui offered his neck for Chen Jiuyang to sever, Chen Jiuyang would likely not even dare to show his face today.
...
"Boom boom boom!"
Violent air explosions echoed in mid-air. The situation had reversed, with Qiu Yihan being suppressed by Zhou Wushuang. As another attack from Zhou Wushuang descended, Qiu Yihan was forced to defend with her Cold Spirit Sword. A faint groan escaped her lips, and she retreated repeatedly.
Seizing the momentary gap, she raised her Cold Spirit Sword to strike at Zhou Wushuang.
"Useless."
However, in response to Qiu Yihan's resistance, Zhou Wushuang merely swung his great saber, sending powerful true qi rippling around him, forcefully repelling Qiu Yihan and sending her flying backward.
"What pill did Zhou Wushuang consume? How did his strength suddenly become so formidable?" Elder Han frowned, his expression grim.
The Chen family patriarch remarked, "It resembles a failed Six Revolutions Golden Elixir."
Elder Han said, "Saintess, concede and withdraw. There's no need to contend for victory or defeat with the Young Master of Zhennan."
Qiu Yihan was stubbornly resolute. Historically, the Saintesses of Tianmei possessed eccentric personalities, but they all shared one common trait: stubbornness.
The Tianmei physique would only fall in love with one person in their lifetime.
Qiu Yihan had fallen for Chen Jiuyang. That was why, upon hearing Zhou Wushuang insult Chen Jiuyang, she had immediately stepped forward to fight him. Elder Han had not reacted in time, but now that Zhou Wushuang had consumed a priceless pill, there was no need for Qiu Yihan to continue fighting him. Elder Han spoke to stop her.
"I must vent this anger today."
Qiu Yihan responded coldly to Elder Han. Even with blood trickling from her lips, she was determined to fight Zhou Wushuang.
Previously, in Suhang, Qiu Yihan had witnessed Chen Jiuyang being forced to his death by Zhou Fangzun. If Lin Yuexian had not delivered a Six Revolutions Golden Elixir in time, Chen Jiuyang would have truly died. From that moment on, Qiu Yihan harbored a deep aversion towards Zhou Fangzun. Now, Zhou Fangzun's son was speaking ill of Chen Jiuyang, how could she tolerate it?
If I cannot deal with Zhou Fangzun, can I not at least discipline your son, Zhou Wushuang?
"It's time to end this farce!"
Sensing the medicinal power within him gradually fading, Zhou Wushuang's eyes flashed with coldness. He roared, "Zhennan Martial Arts – Break Through a Thousand Armies!"
He continuously swung and slashed his great saber at the void, creating afterimages and accumulating power. Then, in an instant, it erupted, as if hundreds of sabers were striking Qiu Yihan simultaneously.
Facing Zhou Wushuang's even more fierce offensive, Qiu Yihan ignored the blood from her lips and forcefully activated her martial arts technique. The Cold Spirit Sword left her hand, floating in mid-air and emitting a massive, icy lotus that enveloped Qiu Yihan.
"Bang bang bang!"
However, under the fierce and powerful saber energy, the icy lotus shrouding Qiu Yihan shattered inch by inch.
Elder Han's expression changed slightly, and he urgently called out, "Yihan, concede!"
No matter how anxious and worried they were, Elder Han and the others could not intervene. Doing so would provide Zhou Fangzun with a reason to interfere.
The current situation was already uncertain and somewhat perilous. It was better to suffer a small loss than to invite further complications.
A pained groan escaped Qiu Yihan's lips, but she refused to retreat.
This stubbornness was driving Elder Han to distraction.
However, at that very moment, the icy lotus enveloping Qiu Yihan dispersed on its own. Qiu Yihan's beautiful eyes swept around with indignation, and she shouted in a clear voice:
"You stinking man, why aren't you showing yourself?"
"Chen Jiuyang? Heh, even if he were truly here, he wouldn't dare show his face even with ten times the courage!" Zhou Wushuang sneered.
However, as his words fell, a laugh like rolling thunder echoed throughout Fengshan.
"Hahahaha!"
Immediately after, a heart-palpitating, world-shattering surge of true qi erupted from below within Fengshan. In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared before Qiu Yihan like a ghost, drawing her delicate body into his embrace:
"With me here, no one will harm you."
"Jiuyang!!!"
Upon clearly recognizing the figure, the Chen family patriarch, Marquis Fenghan, Yao Zixuan, Lin Yuexian, Lin Buwen, and others were filled with ecstatic joy.