Chapter 583: Chapter 333: The City Lord Utterly Defeated, the Lady Unparalleled, the Five Swords Encircle the Lake, Bells Ring Intensely (Part 4)

Holding a grudge against Wen Caishang, he had never suffered such a painful defeat. To Wen Caishang, he felt hatred, jealousy, fear, and love all at once. Realizing the Five Mountains Sword Sect was foolish to trust him so much, he incited them to delve deeper into the interior to deal with Wen Caishang.

Despite Wen Caishang’s deep schemes, her luck was poor. She used He Wentian to restart the Dragon Heart and open the main meridian path but inadvertently triggered a "strange sound," like the sound of a bell, which could dissolve the evolution of Martial Arts and extinguish Inner Qi... Wen Caishang had never encountered such a bizarre matter and was greatly surprised. Thinking to herself, "To cause one’s Inner Qi to dissipate, leaving Martial Arts evolution nonexistent, I’ve never heard such a sound before. All the previous grave traps, however profound, never produced such strange occurrences."

Suspecting it to be celestial or something else, all attempts proved futile. She murmured, "It wasn’t easy to open the main hall; truly an uncommon opportunity. But this sudden bell sound adds a twist to the journey. However, with only a dozen breaths between each ring, its impact is still tolerable, so I will proceed further."

Based on her understanding, she approached the main hall. The traps along the way were fierce, and Wen Caishang had to expend mental energy to cope, gradually being caught up by the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and He Wentian.

At this moment, the bell’s ringing grew frequent.

Wen Caishang found herself in a predicament, thinking, "I certainly did not expect this situation. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance has over ten elders, the foremost five being quite aged but reasonably capable. The strange bell sound momentarily dissipates Martial Arts, leaving me vulnerable in their numbers. He Wentian is quite skilled, cunningly allying with the Five Mountains Sword Alliance. Had I known, I would’ve killed him personally, avoiding all this trouble."

She remained composed, deftly evading the pursuers. Using the peril of the traps, she maneuvered easily, killing enemies surreptitiously. Along the way, before an encounter, the sects and Flying Dragon City had already suffered heavy losses.

But as she delved further, the bell sounds grew more frequent, posing a greater disadvantage to Wen Caishang. Constantly thinking of strategies, the disciples urgently pursued, and they were not foolish; each planned to attack together when the bell resonated.

Though lacking Martial Arts evolution, Wen Caishang could still kill with ease using pure sword techniques and moves. However, the pressing bell sounds greatly hampered her ability. Suddenly, she saw a stone pavilion in the center of the lake, housing a stone zither. She thought, "They are numerous, and my lone sword is vulnerable here. But if I use the zither’s sound to reverberate and defend, none should approach. Yet, it is but a temporary measure."

She composedly sat on the Lake Heart Platform, lightly stroking the stone zither, flowing white garments. Xiao Wanjian, Wang Zongzheng, Hou Yuande, Duan Yixin, and Hu Yueyue, the five foremost elders, led the alliance disciples in encircling the lakeside grandly.

Wen Caishang laughed, "Heroes of such elegance, rushing so eagerly, do you wish to hear Cai Shang play the zither?"

Xiao Wanjian cursed, "Enchantress, at death’s door, dare you boast! Now surrounded by us, whatever sinister magic you intend, you better use it quickly. Otherwise, we’ll all storm in and certainly capture and return you to the sect for judgment!"

Wen Caishang calmly said, "Long heard of the famous Elder Xiao Wanjian, but seeing is believing; indeed, you confuse right with wrong, conduct tyrannically, yet insist on naming yourself a person of justice."

This person was the sword-casting elder of Yangshan Sword Sect, stubborn and domineering, certain of his lifetime’s correctness. Yet his domineering nature meant that even when wrong, he never admitted it. He judged right and wrong solely from a whim, needing no evidence, purely relying on his subjective views. Sometimes, he didn’t err, punishing villains rightly. Other times, he muzzled innocents, unaware.

Xiao Wanjian angrily said, "Enchantress, how dare you? There’s no trap here; let’s see how you respond!" He stepped with Lightweight Skill, drew his longsword, and attacked without a word.

Wen Caishang’s eyes flashed with contempt, "Old bandit, do you really think you’re something?" Her hands stroked the zither strings, as the sound reverberated. Like a sword, the sound aimed at the heart, Xiao Wanjian swung back his sword to parry, and was thrown back among the crowd. His eyes startled, from just trading blows in the air, he realized the woman’s extraordinary might.

Hu Yueyue, the leading elder of the Lake Mountain Sword Sect, was discussing alliance matters with other sect leaders during the Dragon Phoenix Grand Banquet and thus was spared capture. She saw Xiao Wanjian bounced back and knew Wen Caishang was not simple, carefully examining the surrounding terrain, greatly sensing difficulty.

The lake wasn’t large, but passage was difficult. Only a White Jade path led to the pavilion, surrounded by lake water. Hu Yueyue’s eyes flickered, and as the bell sound passed, she immediately drew her longsword, sword tip stirring the lake water, pointing at Wen Caishang.

Water splashed furiously, suddenly rising in a torrential wave. Like pouring rain, the water droplets hidden with lethal intent could penetrate stone walls and breach human bodies. This was the "Sand Falling Water Sword," perfected by her, with high Martial Arts evolution, extremely fierce and vicious.

Wen Caishang thought, "To return courtesy is only proper, every little trick shall be returned." As she played a calm zither melody, the sound elegantly circled, surprisingly drawing the water droplets in, looping around the lake, returning all to Hu Yueyue.

Hu Yueyue immediately parried. Suddenly hearing a "bell sound," at that moment Inner Qi and Martial Arts vanished, numerous water droplets attacked, but she had no means to resist, facing imminent death, she cried out in agony. Only hearing a "splash," Hu Yueyue’s clothes got soaked, yet she didn’t lose her life.

The sound of the bell resonated, in an instant dispersing the lethal force and Martial Arts evolution contained within the water droplets, reverting them to ordinary water droplets unable to harm anyone. Hu Yueyue, drenched, felt a chill along her spine, daring not to easily attempt again.

Wen Caishang lightly stroked the stone zither, her palms somewhat trembling, blood dripping from her fingertips.

It turned out the zither strings were sharp as a Treasure Sword; before the bell sounded, her methods were many, playing unobstructed. But once the bell rang, the zither strings scraped her fingers. She showed no sign of anomaly, calmly observing the situation.

As she gently stroked the zither strings, her fingertips gradually healed, murmuring, "It takes only a breath; even with more assistants, you can’t come near me..." Suddenly frowning, she noticed the bell seemed to ring even faster. An awakening heart, gradually beating faster due to its revival. The bell sound was deeply connected, hence it gradually accelerated.