Though Xie Lian had been living like a person who had lost all desires, there was a fundamental difference between "acting as if one has lost something" and "really having lost it forever." In that moment, a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he shouted, "Get out of the way!"
As soon as he spoke, the sword shot out, giving Xie Lian a brief opening to press forward. Almost immediately, he yanked on Shi Qingxuan with force, "Be careful!"
A sword came crashing down just ahead of them, almost brushing against Shi Qingxuan's scalp. If Xie Lian hadn't pulled him back at that moment, he would have been pinned right there. Shi Qingxuan was shocked, "That was close! How did you know where it would strike?"
"I didn't know," Xie Lian replied. "Just a guess!" It was more like an instinct. He had trained himself so well at sensing killing intent that he could react almost without thinking. Following that, a second, third, and fourth sword came down, each blade of light blocking their path in front and behind them. A loud roar sounded above, followed by a violent tremor as dust and stones began to fall. Xie Lian exclaimed, "It's collapsing from above!"