Lu Yu said in a deep voice,
“Since that’s the case, I’ll trouble Daoist Master Zhang and Leader Xiong.”
Zhang Sanfeng and Xiong Ba both nodded in response.
The next moment, Zhang Sanfeng’s figure flickered like a ghost and stood before Zhao Zhijing.
His gaze was like lightning, staring directly at the other.
“Zhao Zhijing, you and I both belong to the Daoist lineage. Today, this old Daoist shall spar with you first!”
Zhao Zhijing’s brows furrowed, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.
“Zhang Sanfeng, considering you are a martial arts legend, step back now and I’ll spare your life.”
Zhang Sanfeng snorted coldly.
“Today’s clash between us shall end in death or defeat! Enough talk—draw your weapon!”
These words utterly enraged Zhao Zhijing. His expression changed drastically as a frigid aura surged around him.
“Since you seek death, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
Before the words finished, a terrifying inner force erupted from his body like a raging tide. The overwhelming pressure swept over the crowd like Mount Tai crashing down.
The ground beneath his feet could no longer bear the weight, cracking into hideous fissures. The atmosphere froze in an instant.
Sensing this astonishing power, Zhang Sanfeng’s expression shifted slightly.
He had never imagined that Zhao Zhijing’s strength was so unfathomable. That surging internal force far exceeded his expectations.
At the side, Xiong Ba’s face also turned grave. He quickly warned,
“Old Zhang, this man’s strength is extraordinary. How about we join forces?”
But Zhang Sanfeng waved his hand, eyes resolute.
“I haven’t sparred with a true powerhouse in a long time. Today, let me face him alone!”
With that, he activated his Pure Yang Technique. Pure Yang energy burst forth like blazing flames. Behind him, the True Martial Sword let out a clear and resounding hum, as if it were sentient, flying into his hand. The blade gleamed sharply, radiating an icy aura.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhijing’s expression grew serious.
Without hesitation, he drew the longsword at his waist and channeled immense power into it. The sword immediately shimmered with a faint white light.
Then, his figure flashed, charging toward Zhang Sanfeng. A heaven-shaking battle was on the verge of erupting.
Zhao Zhijing’s swordplay was like a sea dragon emerging, executing the Quanzhen Sword Technique to its pinnacle.
The sharp sword intent coiled around the blade like a tangible force. Each strike was accompanied by a deafening roar, and where the sword qi passed, the air seemed to be sliced apart.
Zhang Sanfeng’s face was grave as frost. His inner power surged like rivers and seas, all infused into the True Martial Sword .
He moved his hands, unleashing the Tai Chi Sword Technique. Though the style lacked polish, it contained the essence of heaven and earth.
Zhao Zhijing’s swordsmanship integrated centuries of the Quanzhen Sect’s martial arts essence. Each move was exquisite, his blade flowing like a butterfly weaving through flowers, nearly impossible to defend against;
Zhang Sanfeng’s Tai Chi Sword Technique, though still in its infancy, already hinted at the mysteries of yin and yang. Within its balance of hardness and softness surged a majestic force.
In an instant, their swords clashed thunderously, like lightning exploding.
Lu Yu remained motionless, but Zhang Sanfeng’s expression changed drastically. The immense impact forced him to retreat repeatedly, each step leaving deep imprints in the ground.
Zhang Sanfeng was shocked. He had just executed the “Neutralize” technique of the Tai Chi Sword in an attempt to deflect the opponent’s strength. However, Zhao Zhijing’s internal power was so forceful and domineering that it tore through the energy-deflecting layer of the “Neutralize” move and struck directly through the blade, crashing heavily into his body.
Had he not swiftly shifted his force backward, he would likely have sustained severe injuries by now.
Lu Yu’s expression shifted as well. His eyes locked tightly on the two engaged in fierce battle, secretly relieved in his heart.
He never would have imagined that Zhao Zhijing’s strength was so terrifying. Had he led the charge just now, he would likely have perished on the spot.
Seeing Zhang Sanfeng gradually falling into disadvantage, Xiong Ba knew that one person alone could not withstand Zhao Zhijing.
“Old Zhang, let me assist you!”
Before his words even finished, Xiong Ba’s figure shot forth like lightning, unleashing the Wind God Leg Technique to its fullest.
His form turned into countless afterimages, fierce gusts swirling with wind blades, raining down on Zhao Zhijing like a storm.
Zhao Zhijing’s expression turned grim. His longsword danced, forming multiple layers of sword curtains, sword qi weaving in all directions.
At the same time, he activated his lightness skill, his figure flickering unpredictably. His speed rivaled that of Xiong Ba’s Wind God Leg Technique.
The two clashed fiercely in mid-air, the terrifying force like a hurricane sweeping through—trees snapped, boulders shattered, and the ground was gouged with shocking ravines.
Seeing this, Zhang Sanfeng immediately joined the fray, sword in hand.
His Tai Chi Sword Technique complemented Xiong Ba’s fierce leg style perfectly—soft and hard, yin and yang, working in harmony.
Zhao Zhijing’s pressure increased sharply. What had been a barely balanced duel with Xiong Ba was now tipped against him, and as the battle dragged on, he began to lose ground.
Watching from the side, Lu Yu felt quietly pleased, thinking that defeating Zhao Zhijing was now only a matter of time.
However, Lu Xueqi’s expression suddenly changed dramatically. Her divine sense spread outward in an instant.
“Lu Yu, I sense a large force approaching—definitely Daoists from the Quanzhen Sect. This battle is about to change!”
Lu Yu’s expression instantly darkened. Staring at the battlefield where the fight raged on, he realized the situation was about to shift.
In the distance, dust and smoke rose, and alarm bells went off in his heart.
Though each of them was exceptionally powerful, facing an encirclement of hundreds would lead to a hard battle—especially since none of them wished to kill needlessly.
He said in a deep voice,
“Leader Xiong, Daoist Master Zhang, Zhao Zhijing’s reinforcements are here—make it quick!”
Xiong Ba and Zhang Sanfeng both tensed and responded in unison.
Xiong Ba’s aura surged. The Threefold Primordial Force inside him roared like a river crashing into the sea, converging into his palm with a deafening rumble.
“Threefold Return to Primordial Qi!”
With a thunderous shout, a sphere of energy, charged with terrifying power, shot through the air like a meteor straight at Zhao Zhijing.
Zhao Zhijing’s expression changed drastically, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
He knew well the power of the Threefold Return to Primordial Qi. Now that Xiong Ba’s strength surpassed his past self, if this strike landed cleanly, he would be gravely injured.
At the critical moment, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. His right hand lashed out, black demonic energy surging forth.
“Shift!”
In an instant, Zhao Zhijing’s figure vanished like an illusion. In his place appeared the corpse of Zhen Zhibing.
Xiong Ba’s attack slammed into the corpse with a thunderous explosion, sending shards of stone flying.
Xiong Ba’s pupils shrank as he stared at Zhao Zhijing, who had reappeared not far away.
“This... how is this possible?”
A sinister smirk curled at Zhao Zhijing’s lips as the demonic aura around him grew thicker.
“I’ve been in this world for over a year—did you think I wasted my time? The entire Quanzhen Sect has been seeded with my demonic seeds.”
He raised his hand in a grasping motion. From afar, the sounds of groaning echoed, one after another.
“As long as the parasite remains, they are my puppets—my substitutes in death!”
With that, his figure blurred and vanished into the demonic mist, leaving only a chilling laugh echoing across the battlefield.