Everyone stayed at the Qiu Chi Inn, an establishment owned by the Chi family, after Chi Zhongyu’s warm invitation. Chi Zhongyu was exceptionally cautious, arranging Lin Zhao and Yu Wanqing in two Heaven-tier rooms while he and Chu Xiantong occupied Earth-tier rooms. Lin Zhao’s intentions were clear: he hoped the Lingnan Sword Sect and Cheng Huang Sect would cooperate in the future to stabilize the Hundred Flowers Domain. Therefore, Chu Xiantong was considered an ally, and there was no need to be overly formal. Yu Wanqing, however, was the Valkyrie of the Ancient Shu Kingdom and could not be treated with any less respect.
Late at night, Lin Zhao couldn’t sleep. He continuously practiced his fists, feeling a touch of restlessness in his heart. This unease stemmed from the fan-wielding goddess, Liu Liying. While it was true that Liu Liying was a pawn of Wu Yuanzi, her fundamental nature remained kind. Having been by his side for a while, a bond had formed. Thus, Liu Liying did not strike at Lin Zhao in the end; instead, she grievously wounded Wu Yuanzi with an arrow. Now, Liu Liying was captured by Wu Yuanzi, her fate unknown. If Lin Zhao remained unmoved, he would be truly heartless.
He practiced his fists repeatedly, his fist intent growing stronger, channeling his inner turmoil. Under the starlight, his figure was handsome and elegant, his stances broad and powerful, radiating an increasing aura of mastery.
…
In the Hundred Flowers Domain, atop a solitary mountain.
Dressed in a red gown and holding a fan, the painted goddess sat by the cliff edge. Liu Liying frowned slightly, gazing towards Lingze Mountain in the distance, her heart already having drifted far away. At this very moment, she truly understood what she desired. Staying by the side of the banished immortal, Lin Zhao, her heart felt profoundly at peace. After all, she could sense that Lin Zhao’s heart was pure. While he was wary of her, it did not diminish the inherent kindness in his heart. In contrast, remaining by Wu Yuanzi’s side now, this umbrella-wielding heart demon was utterly devoid of humanity. The so-called human hearts and ghostly schemes were insignificant compared to this umbrella-wielding heart demon.
Behind Liu Liying, on a massive boulder, Wu Yuanzi was engaged in embroidery. He spread the oiled paper umbrella on his lap, diligently mending its damage. One rib had been severed by Lin Wanhua, and two others had been crushed by Qin Suihan’s chess piece. With three ribs lost, the oiled paper umbrella was incomplete. Therefore, Wu Yuanzi was sewing palm-sized portraits of beautiful women onto the inner side of the umbrella, a temporary measure to repair the umbrella’s lost heavenly and earthly rule power. Though a stopgap, it was sufficient to last until the great battle tomorrow. He, Wu Yuanzi, would remain a supreme deity in the Hundred Flowers Domain, in control of everything! (Source: Da Feng Novel Network)
"What, thinking of him?"
Wu Yuanzi looked at Liu Liying, a mocking smile on his face. "Bitch, that Lin Zhao might not be thinking of you! In his heart, there is only Qingyan, and no extra space for a self-deluded good-for-nothing like you."
Liu Liying frowned, not replying. What was the point of arguing when she was at his mercy?
"Unwilling?"
Wu Yuanzi chuckled. "Don't worry, there will be even more reasons for you to be unwilling soon. In the not-too-distant future, you too will be stitched into my umbrella."
…
Liu Liying’s heart trembled.
At that moment, Wu Yuanzi gently raised his hand, and a golden thread was pulled from the clouds. The other end of the golden thread was connected to the Guanghan Goddess in the mural on Lingze Mountain. Instantly, the divine aura of the Guanghan Goddess, holding a jade rabbit in the mural, dissipated, and a pale golden portrait of the Guanghan Goddess fell into Wu Yuanzi’s hand. The painting sage sewed and mended, and in a blink of an eye, the Guanghan Goddess was stitched onto the inner side of the oiled paper umbrella.
"Immortal Master, spare me, spare my life…"
The Guanghan Goddess pleaded, "I am willing to return to the mural and spend the remaining century acquiring more Golden Mullet Coins for the Immortal Master. Even if I leave the mural and marry those young lords on the mountains, I will not disappoint the Immortal Master. Please spare my life…"
"Shut up!"
Wu Yuanzi's gaze turned cold. "The paper umbrella is my lifebound object. By merging with my lifebound object, am I truly wronging you? You should all focus on solidifying the umbrella's vital energy. If the umbrella survives this battle, your primordial spirits will remain, and you can naturally return to the mural. But if you harbor any wicked thoughts, then do not blame me for being merciless."
The Guanghan Goddess immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
…
Liu Liying glanced at the oiled paper umbrella, her heart filled with boundless sorrow, but she no longer dwelled on it. She continued to gaze towards Lingze Mountain, knowing that her young master was there.
"What, have you resigned yourself?"
Wu Yuanzi sneered. "Liu Liying, you should know that Lin Zhao is a banished immortal, and an extremely powerful one at that. Three pools of condensed sword intent, two lifebound flying swords, and in his spiritual void, he has refined five immortal swords and twelve ancient-styled flying swords. Such a profoundly resourced individual could not possibly be from the Hundred Flowers Domain; he hails from another realm. Furthermore, Lin Zhao has two swords behind him. One is often drawn to strike people, while the other has never revealed its true form, perhaps being his strongest trump card."
"So what?"
Liu Liying frowned. "Immortal Master, you should be careful when you meet my young master again. Don't get yourself sliced to death by him; that would be too pathetic. Rest assured, Immortal Master, no one in this world would want to collect your corpse. Even dogs wouldn't eat someone like you!"
"Tsk tsk."
Wu Yuanzi laughed. "It's only because I have such a good temper that I haven't slapped you to death."
Saying this, he patted the oiled paper umbrella and said, "Let me tell you a secret. If I were to die by Lin Zhao's sword in the end, this lifebound object, the oiled paper umbrella, would shatter first. And you, as one of the spirits stabilizing the umbrella, would also die when the umbrella is destroyed. In other words, the one who truly kills you would be Lin Zhao. Do you still have the heart to think of him now?"
…
Liu Liying’s heart trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened. If she were to die so inexplicably by her young master's sword, it wouldn't be unjust, but the lingering regret would be immense. She hadn't even had a proper chance to bid farewell.
Seeing Liu Liying’s reaction, Wu Yuanzi looked at her with disdain and couldn't help but scoff. "Useless. I expected you to disrupt Lin Zhao's state of mind, but your own state of mind has been disrupted by Lin Zhao first. How could my brush paint such a worthless creature as you, Wu Yuanzi?"
…
Lingze Mountain, late at night.
Lin Zhao, who had been practicing his fists, suddenly narrowed his eyes. He felt as if the forest behind Qiu Chi Inn was slowly shifting. If he hadn't looked closely, he wouldn't have noticed. Although there was no fluctuation of energy, it gave Lin Zhao a sense of extreme foreboding. Just as he was feeling suspicious, several sword energies erupted violently from the direction of the Earth-tier rooms!
Not good, someone is assassinating Chi Zhongyu!
"Who is it?!"
Lin Zhao roared. He ignited a Speed Talisman, and his body flashed like lightning, appearing in the courtyard of the Earth-tier rooms. He saw Chi Zhongyu stumbling out of the room, holding his blood-soaked arm and sword. Behind him, a blinding sword energy exploded. It was Xu Beilin, a young sword cultivator dressed in a grey long robe!
"Don't let him escape!"
From the courtyard wall, several figures dressed as assassins rushed out, including Golden Core sword cultivators. In an instant, sword lights erupted in the air, slashing towards Chi Zhongyu.
Lin Zhao's gaze turned cold. Under the effect of the Speed Talisman, his fist intent surged forth in a powerful torrent, making him even faster. In a flash, he appeared to Xu Beilin's side, his Li Quan sword unleashing a Dragon Ascension Slash, sending the top-ranked sword cultivator flying into the air. Simultaneously, five immortal swords and twelve Great Desolation Ancient Swords flew out of his spiritual void and whizzed towards the assassins in the wind. At this very moment, vines suddenly surged from beneath Lin Zhao's feet, making him feel as if he were sinking into mud, and his vision turned black, rendering him unable to see anything.
It's a Formation Master!
Xu Beilin dared to assassinate in the dead of night, likely with thorough preparations. He had not only brought numerous Golden Core assassins but also quite a few Earth Masters. The only miscalculation was Lin Zhao's arrival being too swift. Otherwise, even if Lin Zhao had arrived three to five seconds later, Chi Zhongyu would have been a corpse. Moreover, Lin Zhao's loud shout would have undoubtedly awakened Yu Wanqing and Chu Xiantong. Thus, Xu Beilin's plan to defeat them one by one by exploiting the stealth of the formation masters was destined to fail.
"Lin Zhao!"
Chi Zhongyu retreated rapidly, his injuries worsening, looking quite disheveled. He said in a deep voice, "Be careful, there are too many of them!"
"Take care of yourself!"
Lin Zhao dispatched six Great Desolation Ancient Swords to protect Chi Zhongyu, while the remaining flying swords attacked the hidden Earth Masters behind Xu Beilin. These Earth Masters had meticulously concealed their aura using formations, but Lin Zhao's Nascent Soul realm was too stable—a true peak Nascent Soul at the great circle. Coupled with his extraordinary innate sword talent, he could keenly sense even the slightest clues, making it unsurprising that he saved Chi Zhongyu.
"Chongguang!"
Xu Beilin let out a fierce cry. Instantly, a ray of golden flying sword descended from the sky, aimed directly at Chi Zhongyu's forehead.
"Dream on!"
Chi Zhongyu hurriedly summoned a lifebound flying sword to block, but his combat power was greatly diminished due to his injuries. After knocking away Chi Zhongyu's lifebound flying sword, the flying sword named Chongguang continued to plummet straight towards Chi Zhongyu's brow.
Just as Chi Zhongyu believed he was doomed, a female martial artist appeared, smashing the flying sword Chongguang away with a heavy punch. On the courtyard wall, a female Nascent Soul sword cultivator unleashed two flying swords, which "whizzed" and annihilated the assassins hidden beneath the pear tree.
Yu Wanqing and Chu Xiantong had entered the fray.
…
"No chance, withdraw!"
After blocking Lin Zhao with a sword, Chi Zhongyu rapidly retreated. His gaze fell upon Lin Zhao and Yu Wanqing, and his eyes filled with even deeper hatred. He said coldly, "The trajectory of the Xu Dynasty's reign does not allow outsiders to dictate terms. We shall see. Whether you are a true banished immortal or a fake one, you will surely perish on the Ascension Platform tomorrow!"