Experts dueling must concentrate fully; a moment's distraction could lead to death without a burial.

Ling wanted to seize that moment of my distraction for a fatal blow.

My saber momentum faltered slightly.

A chilling glint flashed in Ling's eyes.

In that split second, blood suddenly spurted from my wounds: "Iron-Blooded Demon Slayer Saber!"

With a roar, the blood gushing from me suddenly coalesced, transforming into a curved saber that slashed towards my opponent.

The blood-red blade struck the opponent, completely sinking into their body. No wound was visible on Ling, yet they were stained scarlet with blood.

Staggering back several steps from my heavy blow, they barely managed to steady themselves!

I, too, stood my ground, leaning on the Nine-Ring Demon Slayer Saber. Though I couldn't see my own face, I could imagine my complexion was ashen and ghastly.

The Iron-Blooded Demon Slayer Saber had drained thirty percent of my blood in an instant. While it could achieve unexpected results, it also left me unable to fight.

I glanced at Ye Yang. He was also half-covered in blood, his face pale.

Half of the mountain wall opposite him had collapsed, revealing a hand clutching a broken sword amidst the rubble.

Ye Yang's opponent hadn't loosened his grip on his sword even in death.

Sword broken, man perished; a true swordsman indeed.

Ling wiped the blood from the corner of their mouth: "Meng Qingqiu, it's your turn!"

Meng Qingqiu looked at Xiang Yunshang, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Meng Qingqiu, a disciple of the Nan Weiyang, is willing to trade a lifetime of merit for Yunshang's safety!"

"You..." Before Ling could finish their angry shout, Meng Qingqiu plunged the dagger into his own abdomen.

That strike was merciless; the short dagger was driven in hilt-deep.

Ling stared at Meng Qingqiu for a moment before saying, "Granted!"

Meng Qingqiu fell to the ground with a bloodstained smile. Ling also stood up and slowly walked towards the valley entrance.

At the moment Ling turned, a chill ran down my spine.

Ling's disposition was that of a true hero.

She was no longer capable of seizing the secret art of the Black and White Medical Hall, nor did she have the strength to fight me and Ye Yang. Retreat was her only option.

Ling knew very well that either I or Ye Yang, even at the cost of half our lives, could deliver a fatal blow. Yet she walked calmly between life and death.

Since she couldn't gamble on a slim chance of victory, she chose to leave her opponents with only her retreating figure.

A hero possesses their own dignity.

Just as I gripped my saber, Ye Yang's longsword suddenly trembled.

Ye Yang's sword silently fell at my feet as if ghostly. Before I could figure out what was happening, a drop of my blood landed on the blade.

As the round bead of blood slid down the blade, several cuts burst open on Ling's body simultaneously. As scarlet blood mist filled the air, Ling's body slowly collapsed.

Black Night Owl!

Earlier, when Black Night Owl was ambushed, Ye Yang had controlled his sword to land and shouted, "Spirit Attachment!"

Black Night Owl's soul was attached to Ye Yang's sword?

It must be!

My Iron-Blooded Demon Slayer Saber could only kill, not trigger a blood curse. It was Black Night Owl who took a drop of my blood and used the curse to make the opponent's blood splatter.

As Ling fell to the ground, Meng Qingqiu, still barely alive, struggled to speak: "Yunshang, don't follow them. They severely injured the leader of Nan Weiyang. Wuxing won't let them go."

Ignoring whether Xiang Yunshang heard him, Meng Qingqiu continued, "Ling is the leader of Wuxing, but she rarely appears herself. You only encountered Nan Weiyang, one of the Five Aspects of Wuxing."

"You killed a top swordsman of Nan Weiyang and placed a curse on their leader. Be careful of their revenge."

"Wuxing's revenge is ruthless!"

After struggling to say these words, Meng Qingqiu looked at Xiang Yunshang again, as if wanting to say something but unsure where to start. Finally, with a hint of reluctance, he closed his eyes.

Before I could catch my breath, Xiang Yue rushed to my side: "Mr. Li, please think of a way to save Yunya. You've already won. Yunya's illness can definitely be cured, right?"

When I turned to look at Old Man Yun, my heart sank slightly: Old Man Yun was dead.

Not only was the Yun family's legacy gone, but so was the only person who could save Yunya.

Just as I was about to tell Xiang Yue that Yunya was beyond saving,

Xiang Yunshang suddenly said, "I can save Yunya!"

"You?" Before I could recover from my shock, Xiang Yunshang explained, "Just now... Grandpa... risked his soul being scattered to forcibly implant the Yun family's medical skills into my consciousness."

"He also said: Let me save Yunya immediately. This is his test for me. If I can save Yunya, I will be qualified to inherit the Black and White Medical Hall. If I can't save Yunya, he would rather let the medical skills be completely lost."

I said in a deep voice, "When did this happen?"

Xiang Yunshang whispered, "Just... just when Meng Qingqiu committed suicide!"

I roughly understood Old Man Yun's intention. Whether it was a doctor or any other artist of a certain inheritance! Being able to control one's emotions and do what needs to be done in the face of great joy and sorrow represents that their skills have reached the highest level.

Old Man Yun's test was a bit too difficult.