Zhou Yan and Nangong Puye spent their days and nights together, yet Nangong Puye remained curious about Zhou Yan's purpose for being there. She asked, "What is the reason you've come here?"
Zhou Yan smiled and replied, "If I told you the reason was for you, would you believe me?"
Nangong Puye naturally didn't believe him, but Zhou Yan was actually not lying.
However, Zhou Yan's purpose was indeed more than just Nangong Puye. During this time, he had also become familiar with Yu Youwei. After all, in such a large princely estate, Yu Youwei had few friends to converse with, and only Zhou Yan had the time to visit and chat with her frequently.
Although Zhou Yan also wanted to take Hongshu and Qingniao with him, he knew that these two were too devoted to Xu Fengnian, and had been cultivated from a young age. So, he let it go.
However, Zhou Yan felt that Li Chungang was someone he could take with him. It didn't matter if one less Li Chungang was present, as Jian Jiuhuang was there, and it wouldn't have much impact on Xu Xiao.
With Zhou Yan's powerful perception, he quickly detected Li Chungang's presence. Thus, he said to Nangong Puye, "Do you remember the person who came up from under the Tingchao Pavilion before?"
"That old man?" Nangong Puye recalled and asked, "Do you know his identity?"
"You must have heard of Sword God Li Chungang, right?" Zhou Yan replied.
"What! It's him!" Nangong Puye was indeed very surprised. She hadn't expected Li Chungang to still be alive.
"I want to spar with him. It will also be beneficial for you," Zhou Yan said.
"Can you defeat him?" Nangong Puye knew that Li Chungang's strength was formidable. Perhaps, besides Wang Xianzhi, no one in the world was his match.
"We'll only know after we fight," Zhou Yan smiled.
Zhou Yan unleashed his powerful perception and quickly detected Li Chungang's presence. Li Chungang also felt this peculiar fluctuation and was very curious about who possessed such an odd aura.
Soon, he saw two figures flying towards him. Li Chungang looked at the two curiously and said, "You must be Nangong Puye and Zhou Yan. I've heard Xu Xiao mention you."
"My purpose for coming is simple: I wish to spar with you," Zhou Yan stated.
"Xu Xiao said you took one of Wang Xianzhi's moves without falling. Is that true?" Li Chungang was indeed very surprised because Zhou Yan was too young. To possess such cultivation at such an age was truly astonishing.
"That's right. Jian Jiuhuang was also saved by me," Zhou Yan nodded.
"Sparring here isn't suitable. Let's go outside the city." Li Chungang had not appeared in the world for a long time and indeed wanted to witness Zhou Yan's strength. Thus, he flew into the air and headed rapidly out of the city.
Zhou Yan unfolded his Yin-Yang wings, which astonished Nangong Puye. Her captivating eyes stared blankly. She asked, "What kind of technique is this?"
"I'll carry you out," Zhou Yan said without further ado and directly embraced Nangong Puye. This instantly made Nangong Puye blush. After all, she was a woman, and her heart had long been taken by Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan held Nangong Puye and then soared into the sky, flying rapidly towards the outskirts of the city. The people of Lingzhou City merely thought two large birds had flown by, and they didn't clearly see if the figures were human or bird.
Arriving at a deserted area outside the city, Li Chungang stood in mid-air and said, "Come, let me see what strength you possess."
"Senior, please enlighten me." Zhou Yan placed Nangong Puye on the ground, then soared into the sky and drew the Duan Yun Sword he held. He knew very well that Li Chungang had long reached the realm of "having a sword yet it's like no sword," making him incredibly powerful.
Zhou Yan still employed the "Tai Chi Seven Star Sword Control Technique." This technique, imbued with various exquisite martial skills, unleashed the might of heaven and earth upon execution, as if the real world had been forcibly altered.
Upon seeing this, Li Chungang's expression immediately turned solemn. It seemed the opponent hadn't lied; with such strength, he was indeed a worthy opponent.
Zhou Yan dared not be negligent. Facing such a top-tier expert, Zhou Yan unleashed his full strength. A Yin-Yang diagram erupted from his body, engulfing heaven and earth.
Following that, Zhou Yan brandished his spiritual artifact, exuding a heaven-shattering divine might.
"Tai Chi Heavenly Pivot Form!"
Zhou Yan's sword formed a constellation, embodying the principles of heaven and earth. It resembled the Big Dipper in the starry sky, and it also transformed into myriad universes, unfathomable and terrifying.
"What a strange move, what powerful heavenly might!" Li Chungang was greatly shocked, never expecting his opponent to be able to execute such a peculiar martial art.
Li Chungang dared not be careless. He roared, "Sword, come!"
Heaven and earth resounded with a "clang!"
A wooden sword flew out, and it was broken.
Li Chungang used one arm, unleashing unparalleled sword might. Sword qi surged, and the world itself seemed to transform into a world of swords, an ocean of swords. This was the Sword God's first battle upon his re-emergence.
"Such powerful sword intent!" Nangong Puye was greatly shocked, watching it all. It seemed she was gaining insights.
Although Nangong Puye used a saber, all paths led to the same destination; the core principles were identical. What they needed was merely "borrowing" – using the sword intent already understood by others to perfect the "saber intent" they needed to pursue.
Clearly, this battle was of great significance to Nangong Puye, at least helping her understand the direction she should take next.
At the same time, worry was etched on Nangong Puye's face. The fame of Sword God Li Chungang was indeed immense. Moreover, she could feel that the entire world was filled with sword intent, completely suppressing Zhou Yan's "celestial phenomenon."
However, Zhou Yan was not that simple. Although suppressed, that was merely an external manifestation. To truly defeat him would not be so easy.
Zhou Yan's sword covered all directions, like a celestial river, possessing the might to swallow mountains and rivers and encompass everything, directly attacking Li Chungang.
Li Chungang was also extraordinary. With one sword, he broke all techniques and charged directly at Zhou Yan.
"Clang!"
The two swords met, neither giving way. Terrifying sword energy blew outwards, like a swirling tornado, incredibly formidable.
Zhou Yan changed his move again. With a flick of his single sword, another peculiar sword move attacked, forming a sword array cage like the Big Dipper, intending to completely imprison Li Chungang.
"Interesting." Li Chungang was greatly surprised by Zhou Yan's peculiar moves and their bewildering transformations. This was something he had never seen in his life. With a wave of his hand, he once again gathered myriad sword intents and attacked Zhou Yan.
Tai Chi Heavenly Vortex Locks Heaven and Earth!
Tai Chi Heavenly Beams Destroy All Things!
Tai Chi Heavenly Power Grasp Killing Intent!
Yuheng Divides Yin and Yang!
Shuangsha Kaiyang Breaks!
Yaoguang's Sword Fixes the Universe!!!
"Rumble!"
Like a big bang in the universe, Nangong Puye stomped her foot and was sent flying backward for over a hundred meters. Terrifying sword qi, carrying boundless energy, swept past her eyes.
The ground was already crisscrossed with deep sword marks. Ancient trees had been reduced to sawdust, filling the air like brilliant fireworks.