Chapter 793: Lo QiQi Faints

After a brief chat, the room fell silent. Zhang Xuan picked up his wine glass, and his Eye of Insight activated, discreetly scanning his surroundings.

A moment later, a strange expression appeared on his face.

Apart from a spirit gathering formation, there were no other mechanisms or formations around.

Wasn't Hu Yaoyao trying to cause him trouble? Why was she so unprepared? Did she truly believe that with nothing at all, she could still make him suffer misfortune?

"Teacher, look over there!"

While he was pondering, Luo Qiqi's voice rang out from one side. Following her gaze, he saw a weapon rack over two meters tall on one side of the hall, from which hung a pale yellow shield. Its edges were covered in a worn patina, clearly indicating its age.

"It's probably just a decoration!"

Judging by the design of the weapon rack, it was likely for decorative purposes, common in the living rooms of many prominent families to display their martial prowess – nothing out of the ordinary.

"I've studied books about Master Wu Yangzi," Luo Qiqi said, her delicate brows furrowed. "According to historical records, he forged 124 weapons in his lifetime, seventeen of which were shields, including a Bronze Blazing Moon Shield on which a strange blazing moon was carved, with a peculiar design, similar to the one before us..."

"Blazing Moon Shield?" Zhang Xuan looked over. Although it was quite far from them, with their eyesight, they could easily see that the shield nearby indeed had a blazing moon carved on it, resembling a scorching sun. Its shape was also different from a normal shield, like an irregular hexagon, exuding an odd aura.

"Are you saying... this is the Bronze Blazing Moon Shield?" Zhang Xuan asked, his heart stirred.

"Yes!" Luo Qiqi nodded, stood up, and walked towards a corner of the hall. She soon reached the shield and examined it closely. The more she looked, the more serious her expression became.

Zhang Xuan also looked over, and he had to admit that although the shield appeared ancient, its craftsmanship was exceedingly complex. Based on his understanding of artifact forging, the forging technique indeed bore a striking resemblance to the Qin Forging Art.

"Eye of Insight!"

As the patterns pulsed, the shield's details immediately appeared before his eyes.

"It truly was left by Wu Yangzi..." Zhang Xuan was startled. He had thought it was just a fake, but to his surprise, it was genuine.

"The Bronze Blazing Moon Shield is said to have been forged by Master Wu Yangzi to commemorate his deceased wife and was never sold. I thought it had disappeared along with his old residence, but I never expected to find it here..." Luo Qiqi also confirmed it and couldn't help but exclaim. Before she finished speaking, her delicate fist clenched: "It seems Senior Yaoyao must know the location of the old residence, and might even have obtained this item from there!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. If this item had indeed never been sold, it was highly probable that it was hidden in the old residence, and Hu Yaoyao had been there and obtained it.

"There's also a sword!"

After inspecting the shield, and just as she was about to walk back, Luo Qiqi froze again. She saw that on a nearby wall, a long sword was also hanging, which had been obscured by the weapon rack earlier and thus unseen, only discovered now that she had moved closer. This sword, like the shield, also carried an ancient aura, clearly indicating its age. As she took a few steps closer, Luo Qiqi's brows furrowed more tightly the more she looked. She then took it down from the wall.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask. "Is this sword also forged by Wu Yangzi?" Knowing that his student would not ordinarily touch other people's belongings without permission, and since she had taken it down on her own, she must have discovered something.

"Yes," she explained. "If I'm not mistaken, this should be the Blazing Moon Sword that Senior Wu Yangzi left for his daughter. This sword was also never sold. If there's a blazing moon pattern on the sword, it proves it's genuine..." After explaining, she gripped the hilt, and Luo Qiqi gently pulled.

Clang!

A cold glint radiated outwards, and a chilling aura seemed to tear at the skin, making one's whole body stiffen.

"What a fine sword!" Zhang Xuan nodded inwardly. Although this sword was not as good as his Ice Rain Sword, it had also reached the level of a supreme artifact, truly extraordinary.

"There really is a blazing moon..." Her gaze focused on the sword's blade, and a wave of joy spread across Luo Qiqi's fair face. However, before this joy could fully blossom, they heard the long sword emit a soft hum. As if a spirit was stirring within, it let out an enraged roar.

"Oh no!"

Hearing this sound, Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. He quickly stood up and swayed forward to reach her. However, despite his speed, he was still too late. Luo Qiqi's delicate body swayed, and she was about to fall to the ground. His true qi surged, he caught her, and Zhang Xuan placed his finger on her, then breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fortunately, it's just a normal faint..." After arriving, fearing that Hu Yaoyao would pull some trick, he had remained seated, prepared to counter any situation. He had thought she would set up formations or mechanisms, but he never dreamed that something unknown placed within the sword would instantly cause Luo Qiqi to faint.

Knowing that she wasn't seriously harmed, Zhang Xuan lightly tapped the long sword a few times with his finger, before taking the Blazing Moon Sword into his palm and examining it.

"No poison, but she was attacked by the spirit within," he murmured. "I never expected this sword to have the effect of shaking the soul!"

Powerful artifacts all possess special effects, just like the bronze mace he saw earlier in the Spirit Material Pavilion, which had a soul-destroying effect. With a single strike of that mace, both body and soul would suffer immense damage. This Blazing Moon Sword, however, had the ability to agitate the soul. Luo Qiqi touched it and was attacked by the spirit within, caught off guard, which caused her to faint.

"Come out!"

Realizing what had happened, Zhang Xuan moved his hand, gently placed Luo Qiqi flat on a nearby table, and then let out a cold snort. Even unowned artifacts, if they had offensive power, were not too strong. Just like before, even though he had made countless treasures in the Spirit Material Pavilion acknowledge him as their master, he still found it difficult to contend with Wei Changfeng. Although this Blazing Moon Sword had reached the supreme artifact level, and its spirit was difficult even for a Void-tier ninth-stage expert to subdue, it was clearly not capable of easily knocking out Luo Qiqi. It was probably Hu Yaoyao who had employed some unknown trick.

The other party had exploited their desire to find Wu Yangzi's former residence, deliberately using the shield to attract them. With their minds already startled, then launching an attack, she had succeeded in one fell swoop! It seemed she had intended for him to fall into her trap, but Luo Qiqi had discovered it first. Since it was specifically designed, she must be hidden nearby, secretly observing, otherwise, it wouldn't have any effect, would it?

"No wonder our various academies suffered such losses because of you," a faint laugh echoed not long after. The door opened, and Hu Yaoyao's slender and upright figure walked in. "Master Zhang indeed possesses discerning eyes!"

A long reddish-purple dress perfectly accentuated her voluptuous figure. Both her attire and her face seemed to have been meticulously prepared, more alluring and enchanting than when he had seen her last night.

"A dignified fifth-year student ambushing a freshman," Zhang Xuan said, lifting an eyelid. "If word gets out, your reputation might not be very good, would it?"

"Reputation? I kindly invited you to a banquet, yet you casually took my precious sword. If word truly gets out, it's likely your reputation that will suffer!" she said with a radiant smile as she took a few steps closer, a faint, fresh fragrance wafting into his nostrils. No wonder she was called a "femme fatale"; every movement of hers carried a natural allure, like a fox, captivating hearts and minds. It was foreseeable that with a single command from her, many renowned teachers in the academy would undoubtedly be willing to shed their blood without batting an eye.

However, while this charm worked on others, for Zhang Xuan, it had no effect whatsoever. He shook his head and looked at her with an indifferent expression. "It's only natural for a junior to be excited upon seeing a treasure, and there's no harm in observing it, is there? As for you, inviting someone here and then deliberately hiding on the side clearly shows ill intentions! Alright, I won't waste any more words with you. The reason I agreed to come today is to ask you: where is Senior Wu Yangzi's former residence?"

"Hm?" She had expected that by walking in in elegant attire and using alluring words, someone at the Bridging Heaven realm, even if not completely enchanted, would at least be mentally disrupted. But to her surprise, he was not only unaffected but also questioned her. Hu Yaoyao's brows furrowed. She not only held the profession of an Alluring Master but also that of a Demonic Musician. Her words were like a zither, her voice like music, and when combined, even a Void-tier ninth-stage expert would find it difficult to resist. How could this guy be completely unaffected?

"Regarding the old residence, as long as you agree to my terms, I will naturally tell you!" Though she was puzzled inwardly, a faint smile appeared on her face, bearing a captivating allure: "Join the Demonic Beauties Guild and obey my words. Not only will I tell you its location, but I'll also personally take you there!"

"Obey your words?" Zhang Xuan looked over, a playful glint in his eyes: "Just you? Just your Alluring Master techniques?"

"Master Zhang can make Dean Mi and Dean Zhao compete to take you as a disciple and tame hundreds of spirit beasts in one go; your soul power must be extremely strong. Even if I used all my tricks, I wouldn't be able to... My Alluring Master techniques certainly can't make you obedient! I'm aware of my own limitations in this regard." Hu Yaoyao looked at him with a radiant smile, her red lips curling slightly: "However... what if Luo Qiqi is added to the equation?"

"Qiqi? What do you mean?" Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed.

"Luo Qiqi was attacked by the spirit of the Blazing Moon Sword. If she's not quickly woken up, it's very likely to damage her foundation, making it difficult for her to progress in cultivation later! Master Zhang, as her teacher, you can't just abandon your student, can you?" Hu Yaoyao chuckled.

"Damage her foundation?" Zhang Xuan was startled. It was just a soul tremor from the spirit that caused her to faint. To say it would prevent cultivation progress and damage her foundation... where did this girl get such confidence to speak so righteously? He felt puzzled for a moment, then immediately realized. The other party surely thought he knew very little about souls, and that he would be anxious due to concern. As long as she made it sound serious, he would obediently comply and agree to her terms. If he didn't agree, she had probably also prepared a recording crystal. Then, she would show it to Luo Qiqi when she woke up, easily stirring resentment in her, and the teacher-student relationship would no longer be as harmonious as it was now.

It could be said, it was a checkmate, making any choice extremely difficult for him. If he chose to save her, he would have to agree to her terms. If he disagreed, Luo Qiqi would be heartbroken, and their teacher-student relationship would become strained. No matter the choice, she would win!

As expected of the Demonic Beauties Guild's leader, truly formidable.