Chapter 24: Is Brother Yun Really This Fierce?

The blade's speed was astonishing. By the time the middle-aged Taoist reacted, the shimmering edge was less than an inch from his body, its keen wind scraping his skin with a stinging pain. Yet even in this perilous moment, he did not forget the beauty in his arms. Reaching out, he struck a vital point on Ah Zi’s body, his palm flipping as a gentle force sent her stumbling backward, landing beneath a nearby tree.

Having secured her safety, the Taoist’s gaze returned to the approaching blade. With a low shout, he stirred his inner energy. The iron sword strapped to his back leapt into his hand as he vaulted upward, grasping it firmly. True energy poured from his palm into the sword, which he brought down in a powerful arc.

A deafening clash erupted as sword energy collided with the incoming blade, the force blasting a shallow crater into the earth beneath their feet. The Taoist was secretly astonished—this man's martial skill rivaled his own. Who could this intruder be?

As the thought flashed through his mind, a chilling voice sounded at his ear. “Yuzhenzi, you’ve got a lot of nerve. You dare lay your filthy hands on my woman?”

Before the echo faded, Yun Zhonghe appeared, sword in hand, a cold aura radiating from him that seemed to freeze the very air. Yuzhenzi’s eyes flickered with surprise at the sight, but he quickly recovered, his gaze drifting to Ah Zi beneath the tree. With a mocking smile, he said, “Aren’t you always the one who passes through a sea of flowers without a single leaf clinging to you?”

“How is it you’ve suddenly changed your nature?” His eyes grew more curious as he looked at Ah Zi. “Just what is so special about this beauty? I must find out for myself.”

Hearing Yuzhenzi brazenly tease his woman with such vulgarity, Yun Zhonghe’s expression grew icier. His sword, as if sensing his anger, began to hum, the cold light along its blade growing ever brighter.

“If you’re courting death, I’ll oblige you!”

Faced with Yun Zhonghe’s murderous intent, Yuzhenzi’s own face darkened, his tone sharp. “We’ll see who survives!”

As the words left his lips and before Ah Zi could react, both figures blurred, vanishing from their spots. When they reappeared, their sword and blade clashed with a resounding clang.

The metallic ring echoed through the forest, startling the birds in the trees, who scattered in all directions, shattering the night’s silence.

As blade met sword, sparks exploded. An invisible shockwave rippled out from the center of their clash, swiftly expanding.

“Yuzhenzi, today you’ll taste the power of the Annihilating Cross Blade!” Yun Zhonghe bellowed.

“Annihilating Cross Blade?” Yuzhenzi sneered. “Would Fu Hongxue really pass his family’s secret art onto an outsider like you?”

His scorn was obvious.

Ignoring Yuzhenzi’s mockery, Yun Zhonghe unleashed his true energy, both men retreating like lightning. Halting, Yun Zhonghe channeled all his power, lifting his palm as the lethal blade aura split—one into two, two into three. In moments, countless blade shadows swept toward Yuzhenzi, enveloping him.

Impossible.

Yun Zhonghe truly knew the Annihilating Cross Blade.

The contempt on Yuzhenzi’s face was quickly replaced by shock. He cycled through disbelief and awe, his expression almost comical. Nonetheless, he was no novice. Knowing that distraction in battle spelled doom, he steadied his mind, and his gaze fixed on Yun Zhonghe, no longer daring to underestimate him.

He poured all his energy into his iron sword, swinging it in a flurry before him, parrying the onslaught of blades one by one. Only after fending them off did Yuzhenzi pause, scrutinizing Yun Zhonghe in search of any opening.

He did not know how Yun Zhonghe had learned the Annihilating Cross Blade, but it no longer mattered. What mattered was defeating Yun Zhonghe, seizing the beauty, and enjoying her at his leisure.

His thoughts turning, Yuzhenzi’s eyes grew sharp. He stamped the ground, his body shooting forward like an arrow, closing the distance in a heartbeat. The iron sword in his hand swept with tremendous force toward Yun Zhonghe.

The rush of wind pressed Yun Zhonghe’s clothes tight against his body, a tremendous pressure bearing down on him. Instantly, he mustered all his true energy, raising his sword to block.

At the moment of contact, unimaginable force surged through the blade. The slender sword bent into a dangerous arc as Yun Zhonghe was forced back, skidding across the ground, his palm throbbing from the shock, his entire arm trembling uncontrollably.

He was inwardly alarmed. Were it not for his cultivation of the Nine Yin Manual, which had elevated his inner strength, Yuzhenzi’s strike would have shattered his sword.

But to his shock, Yun Zhonghe sensed Yuzhenzi’s energy had somehow infiltrated his body.

If he allowed it to run rampant, he would soon be gravely injured, at Yuzhenzi’s mercy.

Thinking quickly, Yun Zhonghe summoned his own energy, guarding his vital points while enveloping Yuzhenzi’s invading force to contain it.

After a tense stalemate, Yuzhenzi’s energy, lacking support, was eventually subdued.

Expelling the foreign energy from his body, Yun Zhonghe slowly raised his head to meet Yuzhenzi’s gaze, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

Yuzhenzi was deeply shaken. He knew Yun Zhonghe’s martial skills matched his own, but now, even his inner strength surpassed Yuzhenzi’s.

Yun Zhonghe gave him no time to ponder. His form flickered, ghostlike, as the Annihilating Cross Blade swept forth once more.

Was it just Yuzhenzi’s imagination, or did this strike feel even more formidable than the last?

It seemed Yun Zhonghe, who at first wielded the blade awkwardly, became ever more skilled as the combat dragged on, each technique growing in power.

How could this be?

Yuzhenzi shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought. He did not know that it was no illusion—thanks to his system, Yun Zhonghe’s mastery of the Annihilating Cross Blade was rapidly improving through their duel.

“I’ll cut you down! Again and again!” Yun Zhonghe’s sword seemed to transform into a true blade, his attacks raining down like a tempest.

At first, Yuzhenzi parried with ease, even managing to counterattack. Soon, he found himself on the defensive, unable to retaliate at all.

Now, Yuzhenzi could only curse his own fate. After prolonged combat, his true energy waned, his speed and strength diminishing. By contrast, Yun Zhonghe’s aura showed no signs of flagging. Each attack was stronger than the last, pinning Yuzhenzi helplessly.

Over and over, Yuzhenzi asked himself—was this man even human? Did Yun Zhonghe feel no fatigue? Had his true energy become inexhaustible?

Unaware of Yuzhenzi’s turmoil, Yun Zhonghe’s face was alight with excitement, as though he had recaptured the joy of slicing fruit in a game.

This scene, in Ah Zi’s eyes, was something else altogether.

Watching Yun Zhonghe thrash Yuzhenzi with such ease, the stars in her eyes nearly overflowed.

Wow, is Brother Yun always this fierce?