On that day, the sky was brilliantly lit.
In front of the Zhai Yu Tower, Chunyu Huai flicked his orchid finger, one hand pressed against the small of his back, the other gracefully lifted in the air, fingertips holding a talisman, currently enveloped in a bright light.
In the next moment, Chunyu Huai relaxed his hand, and the talisman floated without wind, flames wrapping around it, swirling around Chunyu Huai before leaping into the forest of trees, disappearing in an instant.
With his eyes slightly closed, Chunyu Huai seemed to be sensing something.
Soon after, a faint, weak yet solid divine sense emerged from the Niwan Palace on Chunyu Huai's forehead.
Faintly, his aura expanded, seemingly resonating with something.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew through the lush forest.
Simultaneously, the rustling of leaves echoed, the surrounding trees swaying gently in the wind.
Gradually, the wind ceased, but the rustling of leaves intensified, creating a hypnotic sound, escalating with each passing moment.
Finally, as all energies intertwined and resonated, as the trees swayed with Chunyu Huai's arm movements, as the rustling leaves followed his breath, a sword talisman approached, transforming into a spiritual light, about to strike directly at Chunyu Huai!
Behind the sword light, Xie Jiang and Jin Guan stood on the swaying treetops, leaping from afar as if arriving from the sky.
At this moment, the sword talisman was about to strike.
However, Chunyu Huai, still with his eyes closed, seemingly immersed in natural harmony, stood in place with one hand behind his back, stepping lightly in the air, seemingly treading on the emerald green torrent, standing upright in mid-air, looking down at the two approaching figures with a proud gaze.
"Is the Sword Sect sending you two youngsters? Earlier in the Demon-Sealing Cave, I had a confrontation with your sect's Ding You, who had reached the Seventh Alchemy Embryo stage but was defeated by me!"
"Now, you two haven't even stepped onto the Alchemy Embryo path..."
"Of course, not all my strength is here, but... little ones, guess whether I can take your lives!"
With these words, Chunyu Huai spoke, his clear voice reaching the two.
However, his gaze seemed to pass beyond them, towards the direction of the river mouth, as if speaking to Qinghai Daoist.
As his words fell, there was silence in the distant sky, only the morning glow tinting layer upon layer of clouds.
Meanwhile, Xie Jiang's expression changed, raising his sword finger, the sword talisman buzzing as it emerged from the emerald torrent, swirling around them, protecting Xie Jiang and Jin Guan.
Almost simultaneously, Chunyu Huai suddenly stepped onto the emerald torrent.
In an instant, his suspended figure remained motionless, and the torrent collapsed, turning into endless light rain, showering the lush forest below.
Seeing this, Xie Jiang realized that his move had lost its advantage, and trying to activate the sword talisman was now too late—
Endless divine lights shone from all directions of the lush forest, resembling an endless emerald ocean!
The Wood Element Qi surged and gathered in this ocean!
Within this ocean of Qi, talismans wrapped in light turned into ashes, forming clouds of seal scripts, intertwining their energies.
From afar, it looked like intricate leaf patterns or a majestic altar.
Standing at the center of the altar, on the "Nine-layered Jade Steps," was Chunyu Huai, standing with hands behind his back.
The natural forces of heaven and earth began to converge towards the slightly frail figure of the youth.
In a flash—
Foundation Establishment stage, breakthrough! Successive breakthroughs in the Foundation Establishment stage! Peak of the Foundation Establishment stage!
Seemingly unsatisfied, in the blink of an eye, the aura surrounding Chunyu Huai broke through the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage!
A faint golden light enveloped Chunyu Huai's figure.
A halo seemed to surround the back of the youth's head.
Chunyu Huai raised his hand high, directly removing the halo.
The ethereal light gathered in Chunyu Huai's palm, and with a flick of his wrist, a paper fan appeared in his hand!
The fan's bones were neither gold nor jade, the pure white fan edge marked with purple-gold silk bearing cloud seal thunder patterns.
On the fan surface, interconnected talismans formed chains, appearing like a storm of wind and rain.
Just a glance was enough to induce a suffocating feeling.
Gently swaying the fan in his hand, Chunyu Huai seemed to control the vast emerald Qi in the surroundings.
However, such a powerful display was not without a cost.
A hint of crimson blood appeared at the corner of Chunyu Huai's mouth, his complexion paling gradually.
Yet, at first glance, it did not seem like a life-threatening condition.
Chunyu Huai's expression grew even more proud. "So, will I take your lives or not?"
"By the way, I heard that the fugitive disciple learned the 'Four Seasons Sword' from the Sword Sect?"
"In the end, it's just a small matter."
"I heard that both of you are direct disciples, practicing the White Tiger Cloud-Covering Sword Qi of the Sky-Cutting lineage?"
"If I capture you both and spread this White Tiger Cloud-Covering Sword Qi, how about that?"
"Weren't you seeking to overcome tribulations? Before the fiery ordeal, let me stir the pot for you! How about that?"
The clear voice echoed in the forest, as if it were a chilly morning at sunrise, sending a shiver down one's spine.
At the mouth of the Yushui River, Qinghai Daoist stood with hands behind his back, gazing towards the direction of the Linqiu Mountain forest.
His face showed little expression, as if he hadn't heard Chunyu Huai's words just now.
However, at that moment, a vermilion divine light streaked across from afar, falling beside Qinghai Daoist, transforming into a talisman that emitted the voice of the Vermilion Divine Mother.
"Senior Qinghai, that girl is acting recklessly, ignorant of the severity of calamities. But I know, with just a word from you, whether it's that girl or the child Huai, I will bring them back, suppress them in the Daoist temple..."
Before the Vermilion Divine Mother could continue, Qinghai Daoist smiled and waved his hand.
"No rush, let's wait and see..."
In front of the Zhai Yu Tower, Xie Jiang's expression changed, about to reach for the sword talisman.
However, in an instant, Jin Guan forcefully stopped her.
"Sister, let me handle this!"
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