Chapter 90 - 90 90 The Counterattack Begins

90: Chapter 90: The Counterattack Begins 90: Chapter 90: The Counterattack Begins The lady in white, Yun Rong, watched Xiao Ming with a meaningful gaze but did not take the box. Even when he stared until his face turned red, he continued with submission, “Xiao knows that All Swords doesn’t favor me, but the matter of the soul damage to Young Miss Yue can’t be neglected any longer.” Had it been any other Sword Master, they would have certainly shrugged off the offer. With cold disdain, they would have indicated that their Second Senior Sister’s soul damage required none other than their Eldest Senior Brother to fetch the Soul Nourishing Sand from Penglai Immortal Island, and there was no need for this outsider to fuss over it. Yet as the Fourth Sword, Yun Rong has always been an oddball among her fellow sect members, preferring to do things her own unconventional way. She smiled brightly, extended her hand to take the wooden box, and did what the Thirteen Swords most tabooed: “Then, I shall accept this on behalf of my sister Yue, and thank Scripture Master Xiao.” Xiao Ming’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting her to genuinely accept the box, He felt flattered and startled, suddenly unsure of where to place his hands and feet. Riding on a deer, Yun Rong, with the deer’s hooves treading upon the Snow Sword Intent, left in a graceful manner. But before she left, she smiled meaningfully: “After all, I must deserve the kindness of Scripture Master Xiao who has come from thousands of miles away to help in the Demon Cave.” The face that was originally red had turned pale in an instant. Yin Baishuang glanced indifferently at Xiao Ming, who was stiff all over and then caught up with Yun Rong to ask with a frown, “What did you mean by what you said earlier?” Yun Rong smiled with the wind: “If Miss has already guessed it, why bother asking?” “That’s impossible. How could Xiao Ming know about the Sword Breaking Operation in advance? He neither has the courage nor the reason to collude with the Demon Sect.” “Yes, but it can be used by others.” Yun Rong, usually idle, narrowed her eyes slightly and said, “Xiao Ming is not you, Miss. He has no reason to be here, but he not only appeared, but also fought with the Primordial Demon Saint Emperor Jiang before I could arrive, clearly aiming to finish this battle before I did.” After a moment of contemplation, Yin Baishuang startlingly voiced the truth: “Among the Tianxi Thirteen Swords, the first sword Jun He is the most experienced and strongest. Whether Jun He or the Primordial Demon Saint is stronger remains uncertain. As you said, the second sword Young Miss Yue is afflicted by Corpse Poison and naturally cannot be spared. The third sword, Wild Grass Sword, is known as a drunkard; where he’s passed out right now is anyone’s guess, and he may not receive the Yuanli Sword Seal in time. By that reasoning, you become the best candidate for Sword Breaking. But the one Xiao Ming admires is the second sword; why would he risk his life for you?” Yun Rong said with a smile, “Miss is very skilled; in just a few words, you’ve deduced the Demon Sect’s scheme. As for why Xiao Ming is here, it’s still for my second sister. After all, among the Thirteen Swords, I am the only one who does not oppose his pursuit of her. And… I have a good relationship with my second sister. If I were to die, who would pass on these little gifts for him in the future?” The “little gifts” naturally referred to the Soul Nourishing Sand. Yin Baishuang shook her head helplessly, unable to agree with the fourth sword’s peculiar values. There’s a saying that rather destroy ten temples than a marriage. In the world of cultivation, it’s well known that within Tianxi, the first sword Jun He and the second sword Young Miss Yue are a match made in heaven. Even their swords represent profound meaning: “gentleman” and “goddess.” Everyone in Tianxi, including the Sect Master, favors this couple highly. So when Xiao Ming appeared halfway through, he naturally became an unwelcome disruptor to Tianxi’s disciples. Everyone tacitly never gives Xiao Ming the slightest chance, and everyone treats him indifferently. Though Xiao Ming is strong, compared to the perfectly gentlemanly Jun He, Tianxi’s first sword, his character, cultivation, and conduct fall far short. However, Yun Rong’s covert support for Xiao Ming’s actions is truly puzzling. Baili An finished his preparations and quietly stored an object inside his Jade Water Scepter. He straightened his worn robes and looked up at the huge Demon Fire vortex that suddenly appeared and then dissipated in the distant sky. He wondered if someone far away was also caught up in a bitter fight… Regardless of the horde of demons and monsters in the mountains, and the approaching steps of Yang Zhao and Huang Kang, he still felt certain he could survive today’s ordeal. For in the battle against the Shebi Corpse, his adoptive sister had personally taken care of the enemy. But this time, facing the pursuit of Yang Zhao and others, she showed no sign of appearing. This meant that the combined cultivation of Yang Zhao and the others was far less than that of the Shebi Corpse. With this in mind, Baili An felt reassured and headed towards the agreed-upon location. No sooner had he just met up with Lin Yuan than a dark crowd, led by Yang Zhao and equipped with a newly forged Demon-suppressing Wind Bell that still dripped with a blood-like substance, emerged before them. Sniffing the scent of the wind chime drifting in the wind, Baili An detected the aura of a blood river. It turned out… that Demon-suppressing Wind Bell was crafted using the power of that river to manipulate demons and monsters. On both banks of the river, a pressing crowd of Demon Beasts had already surrounded the two of them, leaving them no way out. Yang Zhao gently shook the wind chime in his hand and looked at Baili An and Lin Yuan with a grim smile, “The two of you are good at fleeing, but what about Young Master Meng and the Thirteen Swords? You will always be caught by us, so why waste our time chasing you further?” Huang Kang glanced at the Yuanli Sword in Baili An’s hand and said, “Do you think… with the Yuanli Sword in your hands, we won’t be able to find the Thirteen Swords?” Baili An took a deep breath, stepped into the circle of fire, and clenched the Yuanli Sword in his hand as he dashed towards Yang Zhao and Huang Kang. Meanwhile, Lin Yuan, as advised by Baili An beforehand, began to retreat step by step from the scene, watching from a distance. Yang Zhao and Huang Kang displayed disdain. To them, Baili An’s actions were equivalent to walking into the net of his own accord. “Hmph, a mere Open Realm insect! He really thinks he’s Jin Sheng, capable of drawing one of the Thirteen Swords!” Yang Zhao scoffed repeatedly, even though he had seen Baili An sheathing the sword with his own eyes. But drawing a sword is fundamentally different from sheathing it. Each of the Thirteen Swords possesses a strong spirit; once their Sword Soul awakens, they recognize only one master for life. Others… even if the Demon Lord were to be reincarnated after three thousand years, they would never be able to draw the sword. The boy is too naive! Watching Baili An charging through the flames, Yang Zhao and Huang Kang sneered, and a dark Longsword silently emerged from their souls into their palms. In their hearts, Baili An was no match for Jin Sheng and certainly did not deserve for them to use the Blood Drawing Sword. The dark sword tips spun rapidly, creating two swirling Qi vortices against the wind coming towards him. Baili An’s gaze deepened! It wasn’t enough! Without using his sword to block, without striking back, he took the Yuanli Sword into his hands, grasping the hilt with one hand and the sword body with the other. He did not dodge or avoid but took the hit with his body.