「Three months later.」

Snow fluttered across the world, blanketing the once lush and green Dragon Head Peak in a vast expanse of white.

Zhu Ju stood in his courtyard and gently lifted one hand.

"SHH!"

Five Flying Sabers spun out.

The Flying Sabers were about three inches long and as thin as a cicada’s wing, sharpened on both edges. They circled around him like nimble, swimming fish.

The former Six Ren Flying Saber now only numbered five.

Naturally, their name had to change as well.

Five-Pointed Flying Saber!

"Go!"

Zhu Ju let out a low shout. He formed a Sword Pointing gesture and aimed forward, and the five Flying Sabers around him shot out like lightning.

Their momentum was astonishing.

"SHH!"

"SHH! SHH!"

Five cold glints weaved and darted through the courtyard, at times blooming like a lotus, at others resembling a spinning drill.

The wonder of their transformations stemmed from a single thought.

The mountain rocks were frozen by the cold, making them as hard as steel.

But before the Five-Pointed Flying Saber, they were fragile. A light pass was enough to leave behind a trail of marks, both deep and shallow.

With a thought from Zhu Ju, the Flying Sabers dove toward a boulder in the courtyard. Cold glints flickered as ice shards and rock dust flew.

When all settled, the boulder had been carved into a landscape stone sculpture.

The Five-Pointed Flying Saber still gleamed coldly, their sharpness undiminished.

After this period of refining and Cultivation, Zhu Ju could now skillfully command this set of Magical Artifacts.

Moreover, due to the Method he cultivated, the power of the Five-Pointed Flying Saber in his hands far surpassed that of Yuanle.

Driven by the Sword Formulas, they moved like an extension of his own arm.

’For Low-Tier Qi Refiners, the Magical Artifacts from the Magic World are more cost-effective and have lower consumption.’

’Unfortunately...’

’Qi Refiners don’t have Cultivation Techniques for the Divine Soul, let alone Methods for controlling Magical Artifacts with it.’

Zhu Ju raised his hand. The five Flying Sabers circled his wrist slowly, their exposed edges making his Skin and Flesh tense up unconsciously.

Even he couldn’t help but react. Other Early-stage Innate cultivators would surely fare no better.

’With the enhancement of the Ten Thousand Swords Technique and the Five Elements Sword Control Technique, wielding the Five-Pointed Flying Saber, I should be able to easily slay an Early-stage Innate Qi Refiner.’

’Provided they don’t have a way to counter it.’

’Even...’

His eyes flickered slightly.

’Even against a Middle-Stage Innate Qi Refiner who has achieved Breaking Four Acupoints, I’d have a chance to win with a surprise attack.’

For figures like Sword Immortals and Sword Heroes, their personal strength was one thing, but their combat power depended even more on the Flying Swords they wielded.

With a superior Flying Sword, killing enemies above one’s Realm was not difficult.

’A Great Mage from the Magic World can be compared to a Middle-Stage Innate Qi Refiner in this world, but they’re definitely not as strong.’

’In close combat, an Innate cultivator who has Broken Four Acupoints can easily crush a Great Mage.’

During the battle at Bamboo Mountain Temple, the goshawk formed from Zhu Ju’s Divine Thought had observed the Combat of several Great Mages. Their methods were each profound in their own way, but their single-target lethality was relatively weak.

Except for certain Divine Soul Secret Techniques that could counter Innate Qi Refiners, their other methods were almost useless.

He flipped his hand over.

The Fire Cloud Gourd obtained from the Spiritual Crow Master appeared in his palm.

Zhu Ju held the Red Gourd, aimed it at the landscape sculpture, and with a surge of Magical Power, a stream of Fierce Flame spewed out.

The high temperature incinerated the sculpture, which gradually carbonized, melted, and flowed into a ditch like magma.

This kind of ability was the same.

Its power seemed significant, but the flame-spewing speed was too slow. An Innate Qi Refiner would never just stand still and let you burn them.

And a brief burst of Fierce Flame would have difficulty breaking through Innate Gang Qi.

"CHIRP CHIRP..."

A call came from above.

Zhu Ju looked up to see a Spirit Bird circling overhead, chirping with a peculiar rhythm.

’Senior Sister Pei is looking for me?’

That was rare.

*

*

*

"Junior Brother Zhu."

"Junior Sister Ning entered the Sect at the same time you did, and she is now also an Inner Sect Disciple. You two are more familiar with each other, so you can be the one to show her around Dragon Head Peak."

Pei Jingque’s voice still echoed in his ears.

He hadn’t expected it.

Ning Ruxue had also entered the Inner Sect.

After all, although she wasn’t yet thirty, she was close. According to the usual requirements, it would have been very difficult for her to enter the Inner Sect.

Apparently.

The Dragon Head Lineage was short on talent, so the requirements for Inner Sect Disciples had become much more lenient.

"Surprised?"

Seeing Zhu Ju’s strange expression, Ning Ruxue couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

This time, she had not only broken through to become Innate but had also entered the Inner Sect. She was in high spirits and naturally radiant.

"Yes."

Zhu Ju nodded, pretending not to know.

"I didn’t expect you to break through to the Innate realm so quickly, Junior Sister. After all, you damaged your foundation when you failed to break through a few years ago."

"Hee hee..." Ning Ruxue giggled coquettishly.

"That breakthrough attempt was fake, to make certain people lower their guard. I thought you were well aware of this, Senior Brother."

"That’s still impressive," Zhu Ju said, his face expressionless.

"Not even one in ten people can break through without an Innate Pill."

"I had an Innate Pill," Ning Ruxue said, her smile not fading.

"Last time I went to the Marketplace, I was lucky enough to acquire an Innate Pill. After that, I cultivated arduously for three months before I succeeded."

"It was also..."

"Luck!"

Recalling all the ordeals she had faced along the way, she couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Once upon a time.

She too had been called a heaven-blessed maiden, a prodigy of Martial Arts. It was only after entering the Immortal Sect that she learned there was always a higher heaven and a stronger person.

To seize resources, she didn’t hesitate to lower her status, becoming a merchant, taking dangerous paths, and racking her brains.

Even so, she still hadn’t been very confident.

If she hadn’t been provoked into gritting her teeth and going all in, she estimated that even if she could have become Innate, it would have taken several more years.

By then.

She would have been well over thirty years old.

Her potential would have been set, with almost no possibility of further advancement.

"Senior Brother."

Ning Ruxue turned her head, her expression complex.

"You’re the one with real, heaven-sent Talent."

With no elders to teach him and no peers to exchange knowledge with, he had just cultivated arduously, and his Cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

It made no sense at all!

"Heh..." Zhu Ju gave a dry laugh, unable to explain.

"I’ve suffered my fair share of hardships too."

"You’ve been to Dragon Head Peak many times, Junior Sister, so you’re not unfamiliar with the environment. Have you thought about where you’d like to live?"

"Well..." Ning Ruxue’s beautiful eyes blinked.

"How about next door to you, Senior Brother?"

"The courtyards near me aren’t in very good condition. They’ve been abandoned for years and might not be suitable," Zhu Ju said, taking a step forward.

"You can look around more. There’s no rush."

"I knew you’d say that," Ning Ruxue shrugged.

"I’ll look around some more then."

"This way." Zhu Ju gestured forward.

"The Azure Dragon Corridor ahead is one of the eight wonders of Dragon Head Peak. It has the Dragon-Shaped Cliff and the Long Sky Corridor. Many senior brothers and sisters have set up their residences nearby."

"There’s also Spring and Autumn Cliff and Thousand Feet Gorge, which are both excellent places."

...

A person approached from the opposite direction. Seeing the Inner Sect attire on the two of them, he immediately stepped aside and bowed in respect.

It was an Outer Sect Disciple.

This scene.

Made Ning Ruxue’s lips curve slightly.

She, too, was once like him, having to give way from afar upon seeing an Inner Sect Disciple. But now, things were different.

She was now an Inner Sect Disciple in white robes herself!

Zhu Ju’s footsteps paused, his brows furrowing slightly.

Killing intent!

His powerful Divine Soul, at the level of a Mage, allowed him to sense a faint trace of killing intent in the instant they passed each other.

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister." The Outer Sect Disciple, who was standing bowed to the side, was taken aback by this and hurriedly explained:

"I’m under orders from Brother Ge to deliver some medicinal herbs up the mountain."

As he spoke, he took out a Token belonging to Ge Wen. The faint, dark luster on his arm was also a characteristic of the Earth Evil True Body.

"Mm."

Zhu Ju nodded and asked casually:

"What’s your name?"

"Mi Manor," the Outer Sect Disciple replied.

"This junior brother is Mi Manor. I work under Senior Brother Cao, Cao Xiong."

"Senior Brother," Ning Ruxue urged.

"Let’s go. We still have things to do."

Hearing this, Zhu Ju shook his head lightly, remaining in place and scrutinizing Mi Manor from head to toe, the doubt in his eyes growing stronger. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

DONG...

A bell chimed, echoing throughout Dragon Head Peak, followed by an angry roar:

"An intruder has snuck in! Seal the peak at once!"

Hmm?

The expressions of the three people on the scene changed drastically.

"Dammit!"

’Mi Manor’ gritted his teeth and let out a low growl. A cold glint suddenly flashed from his waist, aimed straight for the vital point of Zhu Ju’s throat.

If this person hadn’t intercepted him, he would have already rendezvoused with his contact.

Die!

"DING..."

A saber’s glint appeared.

With a saber in hand, Zhu Ju parried the sword blade.

Two Acupoints Innate!

Demon-Suppressing Sword!

"Huh?"

At such close range, his own sudden attack had been blocked, which surprised ’Mi Manor’.

But his movements didn’t stop.

Blazing Sun in the Sky!

True Martial Demon Suppression!

...

The Demon-Suppressing Sword was the most commonly cultivated Sword Technique among the Outer Sect Disciples of the Dragon Head Lineage. Being the most common didn’t mean it was weak.

Quite the opposite.

This Sword Technique was extremely powerful.

Every move and every form had been tempered and perfected by predecessors. The stronger one’s Cultivation, the greater its power.

It wouldn’t even be a hindrance for someone in the Late-Stage Innate realm.

"CLANG CLANG CLANG..."

In an instant.

The saber and sword clashed repeatedly, sending sparks flying.

"SHH!"

’Mi Manor’ withdrew his sword and flicked it back up. The sword’s tip trembled, instantly locking onto several vital points on Zhu Ju’s upper body.

A powerful airflow raged wildly within a ten-foot radius, and the surrounding fallen leaves silently disintegrated.

And his figure vanished, hidden behind the sword’s afterimage.

The full might of a Two Acupoints Innate cultivator was on display.

"DING..."

A saber’s glint flashed.

This time seemed different from before. A dazed look appeared in ’Mi Manor’s’ eyes, and his heart immediately began to pound wildly.

Danger!

Ghost God Limit!

First Limit—Thousand Mountains Locking Mist!

Rays of saber light appeared from nowhere, weaving into a dense net. The Sword Qi was condensed and did not disperse, gathering with the momentum of mist-shrouded mountains and instantly enveloping the entire area.

The sword’s afterimage silently dissipated as the brilliant saber shadows descended.

The Sword Intent’s momentum was not yet spent.

It continued to expand outward until it enveloped ’Mi Manor’, and then the saber light suddenly flared.

"ZING!"

The long saber returned to its sheath.

Zhu Ju took a step back, standing side-by-side with Ning Ruxue.

Just then.

"WHOOSH..."

A gale howled toward them.

As it drew near, the sound of the wind abruptly ceased, and a graceful figure in purple appeared before the two like a wisp of cloud and mist.

"Senior Sister Pei!"

"Senior Sister Pei..." Ning Ruxue was a beat slower, only then bowing hastily.

"You did this." Pei Jingque’s expression was icy. She first glanced at the corpse, then her gaze fell upon Zhu Ju.

"Junior Sister Ning and I did it together," Zhu Ju said, cupping his hands.

"For some reason, this person suddenly attacked us. Left with no choice, my junior sister and I had to strike a killing blow."

"We were lucky to win."

?

Ning Ruxue looked bewildered, turning her head to look at Zhu Ju beside her.

’Did I even attack just now?’

’How come I don’t remember?’

"This Saber Technique..." Pei Jingque looked at the corpse again, a hint of doubt and pleasant surprise appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"The Ghost God Limit?"

"You’ve mastered the Ghost God Limit?"

"I’ve made some small progress," Zhu Ju replied.

"A few days ago, I was observing the clouds and mist on the mountain and had a moment of insight. I naturally mastered the First Limit of the Ghost God Limit."

"Good, good!" Pei Jingque’s eyes showed her satisfaction.

"Innate One Acupoint, the Ghost God Limit Saber Technique, plus Junior Sister Ning’s help... no wonder you could kill this person."

’I didn’t attack!’

Ning Ruxue blinked.

"Senior Sister," Zhu Ju said.

"This person called himself Mi Manor. He seems to be hiding a secret."

"Mi Manor?" Pei Jingque’s gaze fell on the corpse, and she shook her head gently.

"He is not a disciple of the Dragon Head Lineage."

"Impossible!" Zhu Ju was stunned.

"He cultivated the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill and the Demon-Suppressing Sword, with at least ten years of practice. How could he know these if he’s not a Sect Disciple..."

Halfway through his sentence, his expression changed as well.

That’s right!

Theoretically, someone who wasn’t a Sect Disciple couldn’t learn such Methods, unless...

The Methods had been leaked!

And.

They had been obtained by outsiders as early as ten years ago.

What did this mean?

"WHOOSH..."

The cold wind howled, causing the three’s robes to flutter violently, but it couldn’t compare to the chill that rose from the depths of their hearts.