Chapter 345: Chapter 67 Gongsun Qingyue Strikes with Heavy Punches
As his voice fell, Gongsun Qingyue’s feet emitted a rolling Qi Mechanism, with Dao Qi Veins drawing patterns on the ground, instantly forming a huge Array Plate. The massive formation engulfed Ling Wujue within it.
Invisible sword momentum filled the Array Plate, with the Qi Mechanism turning into blades, fluttering and drifting like leaves in the wind, sweeping across.
"Red Copper Primordial Body."
Ling Wujue immediately manifested a reddish color, gleaming with a metallic luster. As the blade-like Qi Mechanism swept over his body, it instantly produced endless sounds of metal clashing against metal.
Gongsun Qingyue’s anger rose to her heart, she had indeed taken action.
"Excellent."
Ling Wujue’s voice was resolute, and with a clang, his belted sword was unsheathed.
It was not as if he was taking delight in Gongsun Qingyue’s misfortune by touching upon this at this time, nor was he precisely rejoicing. Suppressing her was the main reason.
At present, much of the momentum on Gongsun Qingyue’s side relied on Jiang Li. With the news of Jiang Li’s death coming, true or false, it was an excellent opportunity.
Ling Wujue seized the chance to stir trouble, prompting an angry response from Gongsun Qingyue. As the two exchanged blows, any signs of weakness from Gongsun Qingyue would completely tip the scales, even though Feng Ziyang and Yun Qiuchi were assisting. On Yun Jiuye’s side, the morale would definitely surge.
This was Ling Wujue’s objective.
To become a True Inheritor, even if one’s mind was not too sharp, it wouldn’t be so deficient as to invite trouble for the sake of temporary pride. Any move made was at least beneficial.
As for the negative reputation that would result, he would bear it. Rather, Ling Wujue was pleased to take the infamy upon himself, not allowing the eldest senior brother, Yun Jiuye, to be tainted.
The blade’s edge lifted, and out of nowhere, a beam of Sword Light collided with the sword, the Red Copper Primordial Body and the long sword reflecting the same metallic luster, as if one entity, forcefully repelling the Sword Light.
Ling Wujue stepped forward directly, slicing out with his sword in succession. The sword tip, blade, back, and hilt stretched like limbs of a body, moving at will, blocking Sword Light coming from all directions.
Gongsun Qingyue used the formation to manipulate the sword, with shadows of swords flying in the air like birds, swimming in the ground like fish, striking straight like dragons. From above and below, from all eight directions, Sword Light flashed, while in the formation, spaces allowed Sword Light and shadow to come and go interweaving into a net.
Ling Wujue chopped with his sword to separate the Sword Light while also advancing step by step. Shifting his form, waves of sword shadows stabbed from underground. If he were a step slower, he would face the peril of the sword tip reaching his body, and more so, the Qi Mechanism turning into a blade, slicing upon him, emitting endless clanging sounds.
The shadows and light of the sword, Sword Qi crisscrossing. Under such an overwhelming onslaught, even as Ling Wujue blocked most of the Sword Light, he felt his blood and Qi shaken, his organs stifled.
But his Red Copper Primordial Body was a technique that grew stronger with battle. The shaking blood and Qi within his body, as well as the external forces applied, were all locked in. Ling Wujue charged forward, his sword force growing ever more fierce.
Heavenly Gifted Divine Weapon.
Heavenly Mandate.
Patrol the Four Directions.
Dao Fruit Ability enhanced his being, his sword movements like fire, aggressive and attacking, the Blade Energy already on the verge of breaking through the Sword Array, the cold yet blazing Sword Gang reflected in Gongsun Qingyue’s pupils.
"Yin Talisman Seven Skills·Five Dragons Technique."
Gongsun Qingyue suddenly converged the Sword Array. True Qi circulated, refining the Five Organs Qi, transforming them. Five dragon shadows flew out from within her, clawing and biting in midair, then abruptly diving, entering the Heavenly Spirit.
On Gongsun Qingyue’s cheeks appeared majestic and magnificent dragon patterns, while the illusory image of a lotus jade lamp hovered above.
Three Holy Mothers’ Dao Fruit Ability·Treasure Lotus Lamp.
A greenish flame appeared on Gongsun Qingyue, like a dress of green silk, but behind her, a shadow manifested, combining grace with terror.
Drought God Palm·Thousand Miles of Barren Land.
Head-on confrontation, Drought God Palm against Jiuli’s Blade.
Gongsun Qingyue’s breath rose endlessly, with Wind Queen’s Strange Gate active, turning the ground to scorched earth, blazing and burning.
Before the might of the Drought God Palm, the sword light, invasive like fire, was inch by inch burnt away, the palm print encased in green fire struck the sword’s edge, scattering molten metal like water, the palm force fierce, striking across Ling Wujue’s chest.
"Bang!"
Ling Wujue’s body sounded like a great bell, the Red Copper Primordial Body bearing a deep palm print, with signs of molten metal around it.
He was like a human-shaped bell being pushed flat, retreating dozens of feet, pushed out from where the Array Plate was, before finally thudding to the ground with a heavy sound.
Fiery Innate Qi leaked from every pore, Ling Wujue violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood onto the ground, steaming hot vapor rising.
"You actually..."
Unbelievable!
Ling Wujue had not expected to lose so miserably.
He had come to provoke, indeed prepared for failure. Although he, Ling Wujue, had advanced to Sixth Rank before the others, when it came to heritage and foundation, he admitted he could not compare with Gongsun Qingyue.
One was from the direct line of the Gongsun Family, having joined the Sect even earlier than he, Ling Wujue, the level of wealth enough to make Jiang Li envious; the other, although also a True Inheritor, truly fell short in terms of cultivation resources and corresponding Cultivation Techniques.
With Gongsun Qingyue’s family wealth, just relying on resources, one could amass a profound foundation.
Even if there was a gap, it logically shouldn’t be this large.
Ling Wujue might indeed lose, but as long as he could gain the slightest upper hand, he would be able to retreat promptly and strike a blow to Gongsun Qingyue’s momentum.
But reality was completely contrary to what he had anticipated.
Gongsun Qingyue won and easily inflicted heavy injuries on Ling Wujue. Even Ling Wujue’s sword had melted to half its size under that Drought God Palm.
"Fifth Brother, you’ve gone too far," Gongsun Qingyue slowly withdrew the Flame Qi, speaking indifferently, "This palm strike, which broke your Red Copper Primordial Body, serves as a minor punishment for a major admonition, letting you know the trouble that comes from loose talk."
"Don’t even mention whether the news of Jiang Li’s death is true or false. Even if my junior brother truly is gone, you have no right to act recklessly before me."
One palm strike breaking the Red Copper, it served as warning to others while also demonstrating her own strength, stabilizing the situation.
She was indeed using Ling Wujue as a stepping stone.
Ling Wujue wanted to seize the opportunity to suppress the others, but wasn’t Gongsun Qingyue also venting her anger and intending to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys?
Upon hearing these words, Ling Wujue felt a surge of blood well up within him, and the suppressed vibrations within his body burst forth, causing continuous bone-cracking sounds to emerge from within, and his acupoints got even closer to bursting.
At this critical moment, a rich True Qi poured into Ling Wujue’s body from behind, forcibly suppressing the backlash.
"This palm strike has wasted at least five years of the Fifth Junior Brother’s efforts."
Figures shifted, and Yun Jiuye, who had appeared behind Ling Wujue at some unknown time, placed his palm on his back to help stabilize the injury, "Third Junior Sister, that was excessive."
"Not killing him was already showing mercy," retorted Gongsun Qingyue coldly, "Besides, big senior brother surely knows what Fifth Brother’s intentions were. Arguing this now seems rather hypocritical."
She looked coldly at Yun Jiuye standing behind Ling Wujue, harboring killing intent and sizing him up.
While dealing with Ling Wujue, Gongsun Qingyue could still hold back her urge to kill, yet upon seeing Yun Jiuye, she struggled to suppress her murderous impulses.
During the time the Sect Leader was in Divine Capital, ostensibly, Yun Jiuye was the only one with extended contact with the Sect Leader. Now, with the Sect Leader’s stance unclear, his disciple Yun Jiuye might become a genuine deadly enemy.
Gongsun Qingyue detested Ling Wujue, but Ling Wujue alone wasn’t significant enough to provoke her to uncontrollable killing intent. Only Yun Jiuye could do that.
As they spoke, a Sword Light suddenly appeared, and Feng Ziyang manifested with his sword in hand.
On the other side, a white light streaked through the sky, revealing the figure of Yun Qiuchi.
The three stood in a triangular arrangement, subtly forming an encirclement.
"Do you all intend to make a move?" Yun Jiuye said as he gathered energy, his tone calm and unflustered.
"Far from it, we simply wish to prevent infighting among our fellow sect members," Yun Qiuchi said with a light laugh, "Of course, if it really comes to blows, I’d have to side with Third Junior Sister. Sadly, there’s no helping it—after all, whose junior sisters and brothers wouldn’t follow their hopelessly smitten masters? I dare not disobey a master’s command."
Both of their masters were loyal followers of Tianxuan, and unlike Elder Kaixiang, who verbally expressed disdain but was actually indulgent towards his disciples, these two could face torturous discipline from their masters if they were even a fraction slow to take action during a fight.
As Yun Qiuchi spoke, her Qi Mechanism locked firmly onto Yun Jiuye, and the mention of the two elders also caused Yun Jiuye to have his reservations.
The elders remaining in the Sect: Tianquan, Yuheng, and Yaoguang. The former two were sycophants, while the latter hailed from the Jiang family. Should anything happen, it was obvious whom the three would support.
Whereas Tian Ji, who was implicitly supportive of Yun Jiuye’s side, had gone to Divine Capital and was unable to influence Sect affairs.
’Is this also within your expectations, Uncle Tianxuan?’ Yun Jiuye thought, deciding even more strongly against changing his mind about not intervening.
"It seems that senior brother is not inclined to debate with us any further."
Gongsun Qingyue detected Yun Jiuye’s retreat and prodded subtly. She then addressed the onlookers, "The veracity of the report of my junior brother’s death is unknown. Let no one within the Sect spread false news, and should anyone attempt to spread rumors, the Law Enforcement Disciples will show no mercy."
"Moreover, I will personally make the journey to Divine Capital to ascertain the truth. If it’s false, I will return to the Sect with my junior brother. If it’s true, a blood debt must be repaid with blood."
A mighty and pure aura emerged from Gongsun Qingyue. The members of the Jiang Clan present can sense their own Innate Qi vibrating in response.
That was the aura of Jiang Li.
Gongsun Qingyue had once mingled her True Qi with Jiang Li, which could be seen as a form of indirect True Qi Dual Cultivation. By mimicking Jiang Li’s aura using her own power, she was attempting to reassure the Jiang Clan members.
She was, at the same time, declaring a certain fact.
Within the crowd, the Jiang family members exchanged glances, all thinking the same thought: the Young Master had indeed become dependent on the Gongsun family.
By doing this, Gongsun Qingyue was almost openly affirming her relationship with Jiang Li.
Although she had been timid in the dream realm, at this moment, Gongsun Qingyue struck fiercely.
’Gongsun Qingyue is heading to Divine Capital...’ Yun Jiuye pondered, ’Her resolve doesn’t seem feigned; it looks like she is also unaware of whether Jiang Li is truly dead or alive.’
Sitting back and watching Ling Wujue provoke the situation was to verify whether Jiang Li had died, which was also Yun Jiuye’s intention.
Feng Ziyang watched the scene unfold, whispering, "The wind is rising."