Chapter 1524: No Ghost Opens the Mind, Willow Releases Protection; Sword Tower Successor Ancient Sword Step

"Cursed, passive value, 1, 1, 1..."

You sly Xu Xiaoshou, so you had this in mind all along!

As Lei Xi'er's demonic body fully activated, absorbing a massive amount of life force, her consciousness receded, and Mu Zixi emerged.

Fighting wasn't her strong suit, but catching Xu Xiaoshou in his little schemes? She was a pro at that!

"You…"

But before she could say more, just as she grabbed her twin tails that weren't even tied up yet, Xu Xiaoshou turned back with a "Tch!" and added,

"Don't get the wrong idea!

It's about me going back to Jian Lou with her, or her coming with me to Tian Shang Di Yi Lou."

Mu Zixi hadn't even taken a step before she was left fuming and speechless.

Glancing back, she saw Feng Zhongzui aiming the Dao Mirror at her. She glared and said,

"Why are you filming me? I'm not an ancient sword cultivator. Film them, and get a clear shot!"

Feng Zhongzui jumped in fright and quickly moved the Dao Mirror away.

How did she suddenly seem like a different person…

No, she was a different person!

The Dao Mirror then focused on the other main player in the impending battle, Liu Fuyu. Liu Fuyu didn't think much of it and, after a moment's thought, simply said,

"Good."

Is it that easy? You're willing to come with me just like that?

You sure are confident, Liu girl… Xu Xiaoshou's eyes darted around, thinking this woman was easy to fool, and he was about to continue, asking if they could delay the fight…

But Liu Fuyu wasn't one for chit-chat.

She held her Jian protector to her chest, thumb pushing it up as the sword guard lifted.

"Buzz!"

A vortex of energy spread beneath her feet.

Suddenly, the snowflakes in the air froze in place, bursting with a fierce sword intent. The swords of the surrounding ancient sword cultivators all rang out in unison, not as a reluctant response like before with Bei Bei, but more like harmony, encouragement, and cheers!

"Here it comes…"

Feng Zhongzui, who had been treating it lightly, sobered up like waking from a drunken haze, his tone turning serious:

"What an astonishing sword intent!

Let me explain for everyone: In ancient sword techniques, there's one that's easy to learn but has a high invisible threshold and is rarely used in actual combat by ancient sword cultivators—Cang Jian Shu.

Ancient sword techniques have eighteen sword schools, each divided into two major realms, but Qing Jian Shu and Cang Jian Shu are the most unique. The former has three realms, while the latter has only one—Chu Qiao Jian."

Feng Zhongzui plucked a snowflake, and his fingertip was pricked, drawing blood.

The invisible pressure on the battlefield intensified, and his speech sped up, his tone growing more grave:

"Chu Qiao Jian is extremely hard to use!

In this era, most Cang Jian Shu is used as 'Feng Jian,' where people seal their swords for years or even decades, just for that stunning single strike. But this is a narrow understanding of Cang Jian Shu.

In the ancient sword cultivator era, most used this sword school to 'Kai Jian,' meaning they nurtured their swords in normal times and unleashed them in battle.

'Kai Jian' is similar to the 'Jian Qi' of Zang Jian Zhong, but fundamentally different, because its burst isn't for harming, but for opening energy, opening intent, opening momentum… Just like Liu Fuyu is doing!"

Words alone don't convey the feeling.

Feng Zhongzui zoomed in on the Dao Mirror, focusing on Liu Fuyu's finely chiseled brows and eyes.

There she was, her pupils slightly narrowed, lost in her own world, her sword robe fluttering wildly, dancing as if alive. With Kai Jian, a fervent battle intent surged from her, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath.

This stance was worlds apart from her earlier reticent and elegant demeanor!

"There's something to this…"

Xu Xiaoshou's playful words about delaying the battle stuck in his throat.

He could feel that fighting Liu Fuyu would yield far greater gains than fighting Bei Bei.

Bei Bei was a product tailored to this era's ancient sword cultivators—high talent, abundant resources, strong sword. She was like Yao Yao in that regard.

It wasn't that there was nothing to learn from her, but compared to Liu Fuyu's…

Liu Fuyu's ancient sword cultivation felt truly archaic!

Her aura seemed unfit for the Ling Lian era, more like that of an ancient swordsman from paintings.

Just from her use of Chu Qiao Jian, not only Xu Xiaoshou sensed it, but the other ancient sword cultivators watching—Mei, Feng, Yang, Gu, Lei—also gained insights.

"Kai Jian—how long has it been since I saw that? Yu Lao and Wen Ting used it most and studied it deepest," Feng Tingchen reminisced.

"The Jian Lou sword guardians pass down the most orthodox path of the Jian Shen…" Mei Si Ren murmured to himself, "Compared to her, we might just be sword cultivators, while she is the true ancient sword cultivator."

Feng Tingchen paused, about to speak but holding back.

"Oh, sorry, you are too." Mei Si Ren turned back awkwardly, giving a look to show he wasn't underestimating this successor of Jian Ta.

The Ling Lian masters watching via the Dao Mirrors in the five domains were equally eager.

Compared to the grand spectacles of Di Jian Tian Jie or the Four Swords Tian Jie,

This was the first time they clearly sensed that unique aura of an ancient sword cultivator from a simple action.

"The wind stops, the snow halts, Kai Jian in oblivion…"

"That year, I saw Wen Jianxian's otherworldly sword immortal intent and wanted to learn the sword because of it. But thirty years on, I still haven't grasped the innate sword intent."

"I get why ancient sword cultivators always act so lofty. With just this move, she seems as strong as Young Master Xu, right?"

"Chu Qiao Jian? Liu Fuyu? Looking forward to it…"

"Go, Young Master Xu, take her down!"

"Cursed, passive value, 1."

"Locked on, passive value, 1."

"Restrained, passive value, 1."

"Attacked, passive value, 1."

The info panel flashed four messages in an instant, just from that "Kai Jian."

Xu Xiaoshou felt it wasn't just "something to it" anymore—it was pressure.

Liu Fuyu's gaze was too intense!

Compared to hers, his own Sheng Di momentum, which needed time to build like swallowing mountains and rivers, hadn't even formed before it was led astray by her.

And not just that…

"Attacked?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a sting on his cheek, touched it, but found nothing amiss—it wasn't physical.

Then his ear throbbed with pain. He instinctively covered it, trying to ease it, but it was like scratching an itch through a boot—the more he rubbed, the worse it got.

"A soul attack?"

He activated Gui Jian Shu and found it wasn't the soul either.

His body and soul were untouched, his spirit perfectly fine, yet he was under attack…

Was it my energy, my intent, my momentum that was wounded?

How could a wound at that level affect my body?

Xu Xiaoshou sensed an attack from a very familiar force, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was…

Just then, a cry rang out from afar:

"Nian!"

"What pure Che Shen Nian! Is there really attribute-free Nian? And such exquisite control…"

It turned into muttering:

"Besides old man and me, someone else knows the oppressive type?"

At that, the ancient sword cultivators still pondering how the power of Kai Jian could be so sharp all turned their heads in unison.

There, on the distant mountain ground, a burly little giant was running over—it was Cao Er Zhu.

With so many Ban Sheng staring at him, Cao Er Zhu felt a bit uneasy.

Old man was right—too many schemers in Tai Xu, Ban Sheng everywhere, anyone could have an Ao Yi. The Ling Lian world is terrifying; better not get involved!

With that in mind, after being knocked away by Xuan Ji Xing Shi earlier, Cao Er Zhu had simply stayed out of it, figuring Xu Xiaoshou could handle things himself.

But now, seeing that oppressive Che Shen Nian, he couldn't resist showing up to make a new friend.

"This is also Che Shen Nian?"

Mei Si Ren withdrew his gaze from Er Zhu, without a doubt.

Looking back at Liu Fuyu, he finally realized this pressure after Kai Jian was similar to the strain from Jian Xiang, but with a different twist—the former was more about real oppression, while Jian Xiang leaned toward attack.

"Oppressive type?"

Feng Zhongzui's eyes lit up.

This guy looked like a big shot and knew Che Shen Nian?

While operating the Dao Mirror, he sidled up to Cao Er Zhu. "Brother, you're quite knowledgeable about Che Shen Nian?"

Cao Er Zhu waved his hands quickly: "No, no, I just know a bit…"

"Then why not explain for everyone?"

"Ah, well… Old man said Che Shen Nian divides into six kinds: basic, attached, domain, release, oppressive, and manipulative. This Liu girl is a classic oppressive type, purely using intent to overwhelm. At its peak, it can extinguish a Sheng with a glance…"

Feng Zhongzui was baffled. What? You're really going to explain?

And explaining so confidently?

Dividing Che Shen Nian into six kinds?

And your old man did it?

You're just making it up, thinking your old man is Kui Lei Han? Even the Eighth Jian Xian wouldn't dare claim his second-generation Che Shen Nian Jian Nian has six variations…

Feng Zhongzui's thoughts halted abruptly, and his hand shook:

"Brother, what's your surname?"

"I'm surnamed Cao… Oh, I mean Luo, I'm Luo Shi Tou." Cao Er Zhu scratched his head innocently.

Clang!

The Dao Mirror fell from Feng Zhongzui's hand as he stared dumbly at this big guy.

Not just him, Feng Tingchen, Yang Xi Zhi, Lei Shuang Xing, Xuan Wu Ji, and the others who arrived later, all turned in shock, either looking or using spiritual sense to scan this little giant trying to hide in plain sight.

The screens of the Dao Mirrors across the five domains showed only the sky and the frozen snowflakes. The next moment, everyone erupted in chaos.

"Damn it, pick up the mirror, you idiot Feng Zhongzui! How are you broadcasting? I didn't get a good look at him!"

"Che Shen Nian divides into six kinds? Wait… Did I see the son of Kui Lei Han?"

"The heir of the Ten Zun Seats!"

"It's really the first heir after the Ten Zun Seats! Kui Lei Han has a son? I… I'm going crazy! I wanted to marry him, and now his son is right there? I want to go! The son will do too!"

The chaos on the other end of the Dao Mirrors didn't affect the battlefield at all.

Liu Fuyu sheathed her Jian protector, and her sword intent climbed inch by inch with the sword body, continuing to rise as she murmured to herself:

"I took up the sword at three, entered the Dao at six, and observed swords in Jian Lou for twenty-four years."

"Among the nine great sword techniques, except for Qing Jian Shu, which I'm still short on mastery, I've gained something from the rest."

Her cool voice, though a murmur, resonated outward with the snowflake sword energy.

Mei Si Ren, Feng Tingchen, and the other ancient sword cultivators quickly turned back to the battlefield.

Feng Zhongzui snatched up the Dao Mirror, not daring to film randomly anymore, and focused on the battle scene.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't quite understand her point, while sensing this unique oppressive Che Shen Nian and comparing it to Kui Lei Han's, he said,

"So?"

Liu Fuyu's eyes narrowed slightly, pulling her Jian up until only half an inch remained sheathed, with the sword intent swirling and building inside to its peak.

Her voice turned piercingly cold, cutting through the wind and snow:

"The Jian Lou sword guardians have never contended with the world."

"Since I've been blessed by heaven, cultivating swords for ten times longer than you, and I need to bring you back to the tower, I must restrain my realm and not use my full intent…"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

He got it—she thought as a Jian Lou successor, she was overwhelmingly strong and wanted to fight him while holding back her level?

"There's no need!"

He smiled and interrupted, "You have Jian Lou, and I have my own backing. Since we're fighting, just go all out; no need to hold back."

But that underestimated Liu Fuyu's resolve.

"Clang!"

When the sword intent in her hand reached its extreme, as if about to explode, she sheathed the sword completely.

The snowflakes frozen in the air resumed their gentle fall, as if time had unfrozen.

After sheathing, her momentum didn't wane but grew stronger. A blast of energy exploded under her feet, her hair, tied in a bamboo pin, fell loose to her waist, and her eyes gleamed with dark sword light.

"You're not skilled in Wu Jian Shu or Gui Jian Shu, so I'll use Wu Jian Shu and Gui Jian Shu to fight you."

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback.

How do you know I'm not good at those… Wait, I am pretty good at them. Did you dream that up?

"Whatever."

Ancient sword cultivators were stubborn; since advising her once didn't work, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't push it.

He pulled out Cang Ku, but then thought, this woman is so arrogant—maybe I should use You Si Jian or Yan Meng to teach her a lesson…

Suddenly, Liu Fuyu set her Jian down!

Right at her feet!

"What do you mean?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyelid twitched wildly.

Liu Fuyu parted her red lips:

"Wu Jian Shu."

The ancient sword cultivators on site and the viewers beyond the Dao Mirror were all ignited, exploding with excitement.

"So bold!"

"She's even bolder than Young Master Xu!"

"This Liu woman is ruthless and says little. Does she have the skills, or will she get beaten badly by Young Master Xu?"

"I feel the contempt from here. Young Master Xu, you have to step up and teach her a lesson!"

Fine, fine… Xu Xiaoshou was amused by the anger.

A Wu Jian Shu tutorial?

You want to teach me a lesson, Liu Fuyu?

He was so blocked up he didn't know what to say, just sighing that true ancient sword cultivators never failed to put on a show.

The tension was at its peak!

As the battlefield atmosphere reached its height with a few words, she could still calmly cup her hands in salute:

"Jian Lou, Liu Fuyu."

Xu Xiaoshou suppressed the turmoil in his chest, put away Cang Ku, and replied calmly:

"Tian Shang Di Yi Lou, Xu Xiaoshou."

The Dao Mirror screen suddenly widened, capturing the entire battlefield, because Feng Zhongzui also knew Wu Jian Shu.

"Swish!"

In an instant,

Above the old site of Yu Jing Cheng, every snowflake exploded with astonishing "Nian," as if infused with "spirit."

The flying snow turned into a snowstorm, chaotic and wild.

The snowstorm blurred everyone's vision, and the Dao Mirror screen flickered.

Then, on Liu Fuyu's side, only a trailing green sword robe remained, along with her echoing cool voice:

"Wu Jian Shu…"

"Wu Wo · Jian Bu!"

With his perception fully extended, Xu Xiaoshou froze.

In that moment, he lost track of Liu Fuyu, seeing only her robe being torn by sword energy.

At the same time, the ancient sword cultivators on the battlefield's edge all showed shock, even Mei Si Ren stepping forward half a step in surprise.

Feng Zhongzui clutched the Dao Mirror, shouting as he retreated, afraid of being drawn in:

"Jian Bu? Ancient Jian Bu?"

"Is it that long-lost ancient Jian Bu, Jian Shen Gu Lou Ying's?"