In the air, a tense atmosphere hung heavily, the girl's momentum growing stronger by the moment. Her long sword slowly rose, its blade shimmering like autumn water in the moonlight. The sword trembled slightly, emitting a low, resonating hum that cut through the air, as though declaring her battle intent. The dark blood grooves on the back of the sword, faintly glowing red, seemed to summon endless bloodshed.
Her face was as cold as white jade, but a faint blush suddenly appeared on her cheek. The tip of her sword glowed with a chilling light, and a sharp, piercing sword energy was suddenly released, accompanied by a tearing sound through the air. It transformed into a three-foot wide, twenty-foot long arc of sword energy, cleaving toward Lu Benben with great force.
"Early stage Qi separation sword energy!?" Lin Tian's heart jolted. The girl before him not only possessed transcendent swordsmanship but had also pushed her martial arts cultivation to the peak of the early stage, an achievement that was almost unbelievable. She appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, how could she have broken through to such a realm at such a young age? There were undoubtedly secrets behind this.
Lu Benben's throat emitted a low, guttural sound, and his qi surged through his limbs. His right arm swelled drastically, expanding to three times its size, muscles coiling like they contained the power to destroy heaven and earth. He suddenly clenched his fist and struck at the sword energy. Miraculously, his massive fist surged with black energy, blocking the sword energy.
However, in that instant, the girl floated like a breeze, her sword twisting, its tip aimed directly at Lu Benben's throat. Lu Benben, now holding a pitch-black刺刺 (thorned sword), swiftly thrust it at the girl's chest. Without changing her stance, it seemed both would perish together if neither changed their move.
Lu Benben's attack was like a storm, tearing the air apart. Then, a cold sneer flashed across his face. "So, that's how it is. Your sword energy is indeed powerful, but it's merely relying on the power of that spirit sword. You're only at the 'perception' stage, but that sword is enough to raise your strength to the peak of the early stage."
"Is there any shame in using a weapon to help? If I didn't take your thorned sword seriously, that would truly be underestimating you," the girl coldly responded, her momentum growing even stronger.
As her words fell, her sword drew another dazzling streak of light. She began to attack, no longer on the defensive. Unlike Lu Benben's single, straightforward thrust, her swordplay was intricate and delicate. Each swing carried an elusive trajectory, as though it merged with the very fabric of the universe.
Although her "Heaven Abyss" sword was merely one of the Seven Golden Lotus Sacred Swords of the Yaochi Sword Palace, it was enough to bring her sword energy close to the peak of the early stage, making its power not to be underestimated. If it weren't for Lu Benben's thorned sword, which was made of rare material, her sword would have severed him by now.
But Lu Benben remained unfazed, his thorned sword coiling like a snake in the air. Every thrust was precise and rapid, instantly blocking her attack and constantly searching for a chance to counter. He understood that although the girl's strength was formidable, she had not yet reached the level of a martial arts master. If this fight dragged on, she would eventually exhaust herself.
Sure enough, the girl's sword strikes gradually slowed, her face turned pale, and her breath grew ragged. Seeing this, Lu Benben sneered, intensifying his pursuit.
At that moment, the girl suddenly took a step back, reaching into her robes and pulling out a jade vial. She quickly poured out a lotus-shaped object and swallowed it without hesitation. Her movement was like lightning, and Lu Benben could not stop her in time. Almost instantly, her breathing began to stabilize, the pallor on her face receding, and her eyes became sharp and cold once again.
"Yaochi's five-colored lotus seed?" Lu Benben muttered, astonished. "So, this is the foundation of the Yaochi Sword Palace. Even a disciple can use such a treasure in battle."
The girl replied indifferently, "The five-colored lotus seed is merely a medicinal herb of the palace, not nearly as precious as the Seven-Colored Lotus."
Her energy had recovered to about 80%, and although she was still short of her peak strength, her body was fully restored. Lu Benben realized that if the fight continued, his advantage would soon dissipate.
Seeing the battle taking a turn, Lu Benben took a deep breath. Suddenly, a strange glow radiated from his eyes, as though his gaze held an endless abyss. At the same time, a layer of black qi condensed into a protective energy armor, quickly enveloping his entire body, and his presence grew heavy and oppressive.
The girl snorted softly, her eyes flashing with scorching light. Her jade pendant suddenly gleamed, and runes floated around her. However, in the blink of an eye, the jade pendant emitted a crisp sound and shattered into dust.
"This… how is this possible?" Lu Benben's expression changed dramatically, all his focus diverted to her reaction.