A flash of sword light, accompanied by a thunderous roar.
In an instant, Zhao Xuhe's head was severed by the sword light, but before it could hit the ground, his body suddenly exploded, transforming into a field of bones.
"Who might this fellow sect member be, waiting here for Zhao?"
After the bones shattered, a stream of yin energy darted out, reconstituting Zhao Xuhe's form a hundred meters away, his face still bearing traces of panic.
However, before he could finish speaking, the sword light arrived, shadowing him closely.
Swish—!
The next second, Zhao Xuhe's head once again soared into the sky, only to turn into a sky full of bones; the yin energy retreated another hundred meters, revealing his figure once more.
"I..."
Boom!
Crack!
"Enough!"
Dozens of sword lights filled the space, slaying Zhao Xuhe more than ten times before he finally regrouped, seizing an opportunity to evade the sword light.
Though it was only a brief moment, Zhao Xuhe grasped it precisely. He then swung his wide sleeves, unleashing a rolling wave of blood-colored smoke that enveloped him entirely. He quickly swallowed several pills to recover his injuries and true qi, then diverted his attention to scan his surroundings.
"Lü Yang, it's you!"
Zhao Xuhe's gaze was sharp, instantly recognizing that the sword light which had killed him multiple times was the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula, and immediately identified Lü Yang.
Even so, he was deeply shocked.
Because he had personally experienced the power of that sword light—it wasn't something a Qi Refining early-stage cultivator could achieve. In just a few days, Lü Yang had already reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
"This person must possess some fortuitous encounter!"
Thinking this, Zhao Xuhe suppressed his anger, feeling an indescribable joy: "Good, good, today is truly a double blessing. I'll accept this opportunity!"
Outside the Maze Formation, Lü Yang appeared solemn.
"This is truly troublesome..."
He believed he had struck hard enough, yet Zhao Xuhe still managed to seize a sliver of life, failing to kill him outright with a single combo.
He was even recognized.
However, with the Maze Formation confusing all directions, his true body remained hidden, attacking only with a flying sword from afar. In a real fight, he still had a greater chance of winning.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xuhe also noticed the Maze Formation around him.
Although it was a rudimentary trapping formation that he could easily break given some time, with Lü Yang interfering and his true qi currently less than half of his peak, he found himself helpless for the moment.
Thinking this, Zhao Xuhe's eyes shifted, and he suddenly spoke:
"Brother Lü, truth be told, there's no real enmity between us..."
"Go!"
Taking advantage of your illness to claim your life—Lü Yang naturally wouldn't reminisce with Zhao Xuhe or give him a chance to heal. He immediately formed a sword seal and continued his attack.
"Tch! Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe's gaze turned cold. He abandoned the idea of stalling for time and instead formed a hand seal, summoning a golden iron seal into the air.
This item, called the "Primordial Magnet Gold Seal," could attract all metal objects and was specifically effective against flying swords.
It was Zhao Xuhe's secret treasure, intended for future battles between righteous and demonic forces, particularly against disciples of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion. Now, he brought it out early to counter Lü Yang's sword light.
"Set!"
Zhao Xuhe activated the treasure seal, precisely capturing a slashing sword light. With a single stamp, he subdued the sword light, rendering it immobile.
Lü Yang, upon seeing this, remained calm.
He was still at his peak, while Zhao Xuhe was at a low point.
This kind of true qi-consuming tug-of-war favored him, so he wasn't worried.
"My greatest advantage now is hiding in the shadows, with the formation concealing me. Zhao Xuhe can't find my position. Even if he has some means to turn the tables, as long as I don't reveal myself, they are useless. If I continue to wear him down, victory will be mine."
So Lü Yang made up his mind—not to reveal himself.
Flying sword? Forget it!
Anyway, you can't refine my flying sword in a short time and have to expend true qi to suppress it. That suits me just fine. Let's see how long you can last!
Rumble!
Lü Yang stood outside the formation, channeling his true qi. A misty white energy rose from above, forming a large handprint several meters wide that slammed into the formation.
This technique wasn't particularly powerful; it was purely about overwhelming force.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe's face darkened, realizing that Lü Yang had seen through his plan.
"Curse you!"
Zhao Xuhe couldn't help but curse inwardly. Clearly, he was also at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, yet he was so cautious. How could he possibly turn the tables?
Although he still had the strength to fight desperately, even if he killed Lü Yang, he wouldn't survive. How could Zhao Xuhe, who had finally obtained a fortuitous encounter, accept this?
As his true qi continued to deplete, Zhao Xuhe finally couldn't hold back and shouted:
"Brother Lü, do you know what opportunity I obtained on this Coiling Dragon Island? A third-grade true technique that directly points to the Golden Core path! If you stop now, I am willing to share the technique with you!"
"Third-grade true technique?"
Outside the Maze Formation, Lü Yang stood up abruptly upon hearing this.
In the hierarchy of true qi, there are thirty-six grades in nine ranks.
Below the seventh grade, there's no path to Foundation Establishment; below the third grade, there's no path to Golden Core.
And now, Zhao Xuhe was offering a technique that could cultivate third-grade true qi, with the potential for future Golden Core attainment!
What a great opportunity!
"No, wait..."
Lü Yang took a deep breath, suppressing his greed, and sat back down: "This person is offering great benefits, still trying to lure me out. If I go out, I'll fall into his trap."
"What do you say, Brother Lü? Can we reconcile?"
Inside the Maze Formation, Zhao Xuhe continued to persuade, but a voice suddenly echoed from all directions: "Foolish! Killing you means the technique is mine!"
"Brother Lü, that's not correct." Zhao Xuhe shook his head and smiled: "Opportunities are predestined. This third-grade true technique is something I obtained through three lifetimes of cultivation and exchanged for with merit. It's not fated for you. Even if you kill me, the technique will fly away and won't be yours."
"What?"
Lü Yang was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then his expression became uncertain.
Opportunities are predestined, and without fate, the technique would fly away even if obtained?
But soon, Lü Yang reacted, sneering: "If that's the case, why should I reconcile with you for this technique?"
Zhao Xuhe hurriedly explained: "Brother Lü, you originally had no fate with the technique, but if I voluntarily share it with you, then fate is established."
"...Fine."
Lü Yang was silent for a moment, then said: "Copy the technique for me, and I'll let you out."
"Deal."
Zhao Xuhe agreed decisively, then took out a jade box, opened it, and revealed two volumes of Daoist scriptures inside.
"The upper volume, 'Nine Transformations Dragon Art,' is a Qi Refining technique that can cultivate a 'True Dragon Qi,' making one a standout among peers. The lower volume, 'Myriad Chariots Dragon Ascension Scroll,' is a Foundation Establishment technique that can cultivate the 'Myriad Chariots Dragon' Dao foundation, with future prospects of attaining the Golden Core path."
After introducing the technique, Zhao Xuhe suddenly changed the subject:
"But Brother Lü, I am currently injured and my true qi is weak. If I give you the technique now and you go back on your word, what then?"
"...That's simple."
Lü Yang's eyes turned, and he proactively suggested: "You can give me the 'Myriad Chariots Dragon Ascension Scroll' first and keep the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Art' yourself."
"I'm currently only at the Qi Refining stage. Even if I have a Foundation Establishment technique, I can't cultivate it. You don't have to worry about me going back on my word and harming you." At this point, Lü Yang's face was full of sincerity: "After I let you out, you can then give me the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Art.' How about that?"
Zhao Xuhe thought for a moment and felt that Lü Yang made a lot of sense.
"Agreed!"
Zhao Xuhe took the 'Myriad Chariots Dragon Ascension Scroll' from the jade box. Lü Yang still didn't show himself but instead condensed a large hand of true qi to grab it from a distance.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe could only sigh inwardly, suppressing his last bit of hesitation, and obediently handed over the technique to Lü Yang.
Lü Yang received the technique, memorized it word by word, then grinned.
"Goodbye!"
The next second, Lü Yang sank his qi into his dantian and directly activated the Killing Curse, self-destructing without hesitation!
Boom!
Moments later, the smoke and dust dispersed, revealing Zhao Xuhe's bewildered face.
"My technique... it's gone?"
Why self-destruct?
Even if self-destruction was necessary, why wait until after obtaining the technique to do it? I haven't even had a chance to look at the technique myself!
"Lü Yang..."
Zhao Xuhe stood in the wind, looking at the 'Myriad Chariots Dragon Ascension Scroll' that had turned to ashes, murmuring Lü Yang's name, his expression gradually twisting:
"Bastard!"