Chapter Forty-Eight: Xiao Yunyu, Dead!

Chapter Forty-Eight: Xiao Yunyu, Die!

Within the dense forest, two figures dressed in white darted through the shadows. Neither Fang Junmei nor Xiao Yunyu had yet reached the Realm of Floating Dust and could not soar through the air. Thus, both relied on a body technique akin to the lightness skills of the mortal world, propelled only by their own spiritual power.

Both of them were displaying the Dance of the Air, their movements lithe and agile as they bounded from branch to branch. Their actions were graceful, almost ethereal, and, combined with their white robes and handsome faces, were truly flawless to behold.

It was the same technique for both, and the difference in their cultivations was but a minor realm—almost negligible. Their chase had fallen into a deadlock: Fang Junmei could not escape, nor could Xiao Yunyu close the distance.

Song Shede, who had followed Fang Junmei, had at first worried that Fang Junmei might slay Xiao Yunyu. But seeing that not only did Fang Junmei refrain from attacking but actually fled, Song Shede breathed a quiet sigh of relief and did not intervene. He trailed behind, observing with his spiritual sense.

Little did he know that his failure to step in at that moment would one day stir up endless storms—becoming one of the greatest regrets of his life.

...

Fang Junmei frantically circulated his spiritual power, pushing the Dance of the Air to its utmost limits, anxiety clouding his eyes. He could feel the violent surge within his heart growing ever more turbulent. If he did not shake off Xiao Yunyu soon, he feared he might truly turn and kill him.

"Fang Junmei, why do you not dare face me? After seeing my technique earlier, have you finally realized you are inferior to me?"

Xiao Yunyu, oblivious to danger, was determined to avenge the sword strike he had suffered before. He poured his power to the utmost, pressing the chase and taunting as he pursued.

"As long as you admit defeat, I will let you go at once!"

A wicked smile played at the corner of Xiao Yunyu's lips.

Fang Junmei, always proud, had become even more unyielding after surviving the ordeal of the Heart-Shattering Pill. Now his pride bordered on defiant arrogance. At these words, a cold, murderous glint flashed in his eyes. He managed, for now, to suppress it.

His gaze flickered with a sinister light, but he continued to flee, warning as he went, "Xiao Yunyu, I do not wish to fight today. Do not force me!"

"What a poor excuse. Fang Junmei, you may not want to fight, but today I will strip away your pride and settle the score from before!"

Clang! Clang!

Xiao Yunyu was resolute. As his words fell, the two long swords he had gripped all along—gleaming with white light—were drawn, and he hurled them like lightning at Fang Junmei's back.

At this, Fang Junmei's rage and bloodlust surged, though he still managed to suppress them briefly. Sensing the attack with his spiritual sense, he activated the Three-Breath Divine Stone and began dodging left and right in advance.

Swish! Swish!

The sounds of evasion and swords splitting the air rang out together. Though Fang Junmei's dodges were somewhat desperate, they were effective; not a single sword beam struck him.

Yet, this allowed Xiao Yunyu to close the gap, drawing ever nearer.

...

"Haha—Fang Junmei, you cannot escape! Whether you wish to or not, you must fight!"

Xiao Yunyu laughed heartily, unaware that he was provoking a beast.

"Outrageous! As you wish, then!"

Fang Junmei could suppress the storm within no longer. With a cold, furious roar, he drew his peachwood sword in a flash.

Tap!

His toes pressed forcefully against a tree ahead, and with a swift turn he charged back, his eyes now gleaming with a chilling savagery.

Xiao Yunyu was at first delighted to see Fang Junmei turn to face him, but the look in Fang Junmei's eyes sent a sudden chill down his spine—it was as if he had become prey before a ferocious beast.

Clang! Clang!

Two metallic clashes rang out, sparks flying as Fang Junmei parried the incoming swords with his own, and advanced toward Xiao Yunyu.

Xiao Yunyu himself was not without pride. Though Fang Junmei's bestial glare unsettled him, he swiftly regained his composure, snorting coldly as he dodged aside and recalled his two swords that had been knocked away.

Whoosh—

Within the forest, the howling winds of the Underworld began to stir, mingled with the eerie wails of ghosts and wolves.

At this moment, Fang Junmei's state of mind perfectly matched the requirements for unleashing the ninth to twelfth forms of the Netherworld Ghost Rain Sword Art. With a casual circular motion of his sword, a dusk-colored storm whirled forth from its tip, within which countless spectral phantoms coalesced and rushed at Xiao Yunyu.

Ninth Form: Ghosts Wail, Heaven Mourns!

The moment the ghostly wails entered his ears, Xiao Yunyu felt a sharp pain as if his eardrums were about to burst.

"So this brat still had such a trump card hidden!"

Startled, Xiao Yunyu dared not meet the attack head-on. He frantically dodged, lunging diagonally toward his two flying swords.

Hmph!

Fang Junmei snorted coldly and shifted his sword technique to the second form—Sword Rain Rustling.

With a flick of his blade, a dozen or more sword beams shot forth, intercepting Xiao Yunyu's returning swords, giving him no chance to reclaim them.

What use is a swordsman without his sword?

Xiao Yunyu hurriedly formed hand seals, remotely guiding his swords to evade the sword beams, but for now, he could not retrieve them.

"Fang Junmei, do not think that Xiao Yunyu is helpless without a blade!"

With a fierce shout, Xiao Yunyu flicked his fingers, sending forth a barrage of crimson, spindle-shaped fire spells toward Fang Junmei.

He was not without skill. This technique, called Blazing Sun Fire Arrows, could only be learned from the sect’s library with sufficient merit. Xiao Yunyu likely inherited it from his master or a senior brother.

Fang Junmei, with the Three-Breath Divine Stone activated, could clearly track every arc of the incoming fire spells, fast and numerous as they were.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The tip of his sword moved like lightning, each thrust precisely detonating a fire arrow, the smoothness of his technique enough to give any onlooker goosebumps.

...

After a brief moment of surprise, Xiao Yunyu’s gaze hardened, and he unleashed even more Blazing Sun Fire Arrows.

Soon, Fang Junmei smelled the scent of burning from his peachwood sword. It was, after all, a wooden weapon of pitifully low grade—how could it withstand the sustained assault of the Blazing Sun Fire Arrows?

"Haha—"

Taking advantage of the fiery barrage, Xiao Yunyu finally retrieved his twin swords.

"Fang Junmei, this time, I will not save my best techniques for last!"

With both swords in hand, Xiao Yunyu unleashed his full might. The world seemed to darken further as a pitch-black storm swept forth, shattering the surrounding trees.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Xiao Yunyu would not underestimate his enemy as he had before. He now wielded the more powerful techniques of the Snow-Covered Sun Sword Art. The black storm quickly enveloped Fang Junmei, within it sword shadows crisscrossed—countless in number—all slashing toward him.

But Fang Junmei did not flinch, responding in kind with the Netherworld Ghost Rain Sword Art!

Tenth Form: Phantoms Behind the Bow.

Eleventh Form: Hungry Ghosts Grinding the Mill.

Twelfth Form: Sword Wind Painting Ghosts.

...

Deep within the shadowy forest, explosions thundered without pause.

Both men fought with murderous fury, each intent on devouring the other alive. Fang Junmei was indeed like a wild beast, but Xiao Yunyu was not far behind—his malice was palpable. For reasons he could not explain, he hated Fang Junmei, envying him for stealing away his glory.

"Stop! Both of you—stop this at once!"

Song Shede, who had been observing in secret, finally realized the peril and could hide no longer. He rushed forward, shouting as he came.

But he did not know that his shout did little to stop Xiao Yunyu, but in Fang Junmei’s mind, it conjured the scene from the illusory world, where Song Shede had ambushed and killed him from behind. Suspicion and wariness surged to the fore.

All he could think was that he must finish Xiao Yunyu before Song Shede arrived—and then escape as far from him as possible!

Unconsciously, his blade danced.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Three sounds rang out at once.

The first two were sword beams Xiao Yunyu sent, which Fang Junmei met with his own thigh and side, blood spurting forth.

But the last was the peachwood sword, flung from Fang Junmei’s hand, piercing through Xiao Yunyu’s throat.

Xiao Yunyu, dead!