Chapter 921, Sword Qi
Chapter 921, Sword Qi
Translator: Jon
Translation Checker: Silavin
The sounds of breaking through the air were continuously heard as more and more lights were coming at them. Nian Yuexian lightly wielded her sword and fended off the attacks.
She activated her Spiritual Power and protected Lu Ye, who was behind her. Like an impenetrable mountain, she warded off the storm of attacks for him.
Lu Ye had never felt safer. He couldn’t help but study the woman seriously for the first time. Unfortunately, since her back was against him, there was nothing much he could see. He could only see her fair neck and silky, long hair.
Her strands of hair danced and caressed Lu Ye’s neck and cheeks like small hands, making him feel itchy. Her fair neck was seen turning red.
Although her back was against Lu Ye, she had a powerful perception as a Divine Ocean Realm Master. She could sense that Lu Ye was staring at her from behind, which made her feel uneasy. Her attacks turned even more violent as though she was warning him. Lu Ye then looked away.
Suddenly, Nian Yuexian was heard letting out a breath. She became slightly at ease and said, “I have no idea what treasure is hidden inside, but it’s most likely a flying sword. These flashes of Sword Qi come from that flying sword.”
Perhaps she was trying to divert Lu Ye’s attention or make things less awkward, so she started talking about what she knew about this place.
“I’ve been here several times, but I’ve never managed to achieve my goal. The furthest distance I’ve managed is 900 metres. Therefore, I need your help.”
Lu Ye’s attention had been successfully diverted. “The flashes of Sword Qi alone are enough to drive you off. What does the flying sword look like?”
“Who knows?” Nian Yuexian was uncertain about her judgement.
Given her capabilities, if it was an open space, she might be able to achieve her goal. Unfortunately, it was a narrow tunnel, so she was unable to dodge the attacks. She could only deal with the attacks head-on. In that case, she couldn’t use some smart ways to head to her destination.
As such, she had to bring Lu Ye with her and make use of Phoenix Wings so that she could derive energy from Lu Ye’s immense vitality. That way, she might be able to succeed. Certainly, that was only a possibility. No one knew how long the tunnel was, after all.
“Have you ever tried sneaking into it, Madam?” Lu Ye asked.
“I’ve given it a try, but it doesn’t work. There are many enchantments here. Once anyone steps into this place, the enchantments would be triggered, and endless flashes of Sword Qi would come.” She paused for a moment before whispering, “Stop talking.”
She initially wanted to divert Lu Ye’s attention by saying something, but it had only made things worse. That was because whenever Lu Ye spoke, she could feel his hot breath on her neck, which made her uncomfortable.
Lu Ye understood what she meant, so he looked ahead and fell silent. He set himself at ease and let the woman lead the way forward.
150 metres, 300 metres, 600 metres, 900 metres… They had lost count of how many flashes of Sword Qi they had come across, but they finally arrived at the deepest part where Nian Yuexian had reached in the past.
At this point, the strength and frequency of the Sword Qi were horrifying. Lu Ye reckoned that he was fairly powerful, but if he were on his own in this situation, he couldn’t even have warded off a single flash of Sword Qi.
This made him curious about the flying sword. Although it didn’t have an owner, it was able to cast such ferocious Sword Qi and drive off a powerful cultivator like Nian Yuexian.
Spell Artifacts were above Spirit Artifacts, and Spirit Treasures were above Spell Artifacts. It was apparent that the flying sword at the end of the tunnel was even more powerful than Spirit Treasures. Lu Ye wondered what it was that was beyond Spirit Treasures.
Naturally, he knew nothing about it. That was because, given his cultivation, Spell Artifacts were the best for him. He was unable to activate a Spirit Treasure. Nine Wards Scroll was a Spirit Treasure, but so far, Lu Ye and Yi Yi were unable to fully activate its power.
Compared with the previous time Nian Yuexian was here, her power had increased a lot. This spot was already her limit back then, but she seemed able to press ahead this time.
The real challenge started as they moved forward. As expected, the strength and frequency of the Sword Qi increased again. Lu Ye could feel the vibrations coming from Nian Yuexian every time she cast an attack. It was obvious that she had to be more serious.
As they stepped forward, Nian Yuexian was starting to find it difficult to deal with the attacks. Lu Ye could see how challenging it was for her, but there was nothing he could do to help. He could only lend the woman his tremendous vitality. If he interfered recklessly, he would only make things worse.
When a whoosh was heard, Nian Yuexian grunted. As the Sword Qi disintegrated, her right hand was left with a wound. Blood streamed out of her wound and dyed her clothes red. Instead of stopping, she hastened her pace.
The sounds of breaking through the air were continuously heard. As more and more Sword Qi disintegrated, they slashed at Nian Yuexian’s figure, which worsened her injury.
Behind her, Lu Ye was unharmed as he was well-protected. Although Ying Wuji was trembling in fear behind them, he was safe and sound as well.
A metallic tang filled the air. Lu Ye could feel his vitality entering Nian Yuexian’s body with the help of Phoenix Wings, which allowed her to have the strength to keep going.
Time seemed to go by slowly. Several minutes later, the woman in front of Lu Ye was soaked in blood.
If Nian Yuexian were on her own, she would’ve been forced to retreat, considering her injury. That was because if she pressed on, she didn’t know if she would have a chance to retreat later. But due to the infusion of Lu Ye’s vitality, she didn’t feel weak at all even though she was badly wounded.
Moreover, she discovered that she not only could make use of Lu Ye’s vitality but also his Spiritual Power. This forced Lu Ye to fish out a Mutant Core from his Storage Bag and stuff it into his mouth. In such a situation, he could only replenish his Spiritual Power quickly by consuming a Mutant Core.
“Can you hold on for longer, Lu Ye?”
Lu Ye suddenly heard the woman’s voice while munching on a Mutant Core. He was startled because it was Nian Yuexian’s first time calling him by his name ever since they got to know each other.
“There’s no problem.”
“I’ll hasten my pace, then.”
There didn’t seem to be an end to this tunnel as though hope was out of reach. Nian Yuexian had become impatient.
As soon as she finished speaking, the two of them charged forward at the same time. As she wielded her sword, clangs were continuously heard.
Behind them, Ying Wuji exclaimed and hurriedly raced after them.
Nian Yuexian would protect Lu Ye, but she wasn’t concerned about Ying Wuji’s safety. He could only pray that Nian Yuexian was powerful enough to hold on until the end. If she was killed, he and Lu Ye would suffer miserably.
Flashes of Sword Qi came at them like waves. Ahead of them, the tunnel seemed to be an ocean of Sword Qi. Despite the perilous situation, Nian Yuexian determinedly dashed forward.
Countless Sword Lights dissipated as her injury worsened by the second. However, as Lu Ye’s vitality continued to enter her body, she was able to keep on fighting. This was a strange state.
There came a moment when all the Sword Lights disappeared, and the tunnel turned dark. Only Nian Yuexian’s panting was heard.
Behind them, Ying Wuji asked meekly, “A-Are we done?”
As soon as he finished speaking, they saw a dazzling light in front of them. The bright light that appeared out of nowhere in the darkness dazzled their eyes.
A ferocious murderous intent was coming right at them. Lu Ye’s pupils dilated as Nian Yuexian led him to deal with the attack.
It was a flash of Sword Qi that seemed able to cut through the Void. When Nian Yuexian struck the attack with her Spirit Treasure, the sword squeaked.
After the Sword Qi was fended off, it never disappeared. Instead, it slowly attacked them again and again as though it was determined to destroy all the intruders.
When a crack was heard, Lu Ye felt his eyelids twitching. He turned to look at Nian Yuexian’s sword and saw a slit in the blade.
The sword couldn’t hold on any longer. Once the weapon came apart, the three of them would be doomed when facing the Sword Qi.
As a thought turned over in Lu Ye’s mind, he instantly made a decision. He summoned his Inviolable Saber. The muscles of his arm bulged as he cast Starburst.
Countless Starlights landed on the Sword Qi. However, even Nian Yuexian could not destroy the Sword Qi, so how was a Real Lake Real Master like Lu Ye supposed to damage it one bit?
When a crack was heard, the slit in the sword became bigger.
In this life-and-death situation, Lu Ye lifted his other hand and took Nian Yuexian’s hand which she used to hold her sword. As he activated his Spiritual Power, a complicated Glyph instantly took shape on the weapon. It was the Returning Moon!
Nian Yuexian seemed to have realised how amazing the Glyph was, so she became energetic at once. She wielded her sword like she was a dancing butterfly. She quickly pushed out her weapon more than ten times as her Sword Lights repeatedly struck the Sword Qi.
The next second, the Sword Qi, which seemed to have materialised, split into two and shot towards both walls. In silence, huge cuts were instantly formed in the walls.
Having cast her attacks in quick succession, Nian Yuexian seemed to have lost all her strength as she fell into Lu Ye’s arms.
Lu Ye also felt as if all his energy had been sucked out of him. Although he was unharmed, Nian Yuexian had been making use of his energy. That was why he was exhausted.
As his knees buckled, the two of them collapsed to the ground at the same time. Both of them were heard panting continuously as if they were fish without water.
Behind them, Ying Wuji was dumbfounded. “What’s going on with the two of you? Get up quickly!”
If they remained lying on the floor, he wouldn’t be able to fend off a similar attack. At that moment, he had the urge to flee at once.
Lu Ye and Nian Yuexian realised that as well, so they tried to get up with difficulty. Lu Ye pressed his back against the wall as Nian Yuexian remained in his embrace and looked ahead vigilantly. Their hands had never been separated all this while.
Fortunately, no attack came at them again. The unimaginably powerful Sword Qi earlier seemed to be the last attack.