Zhang Jian had just stepped out of the door when he heard what sounded like the air splitting above his head, a chill like a flood rushing down upon him.
It was Jian Yao's saber.
The snowy white saber light resembled a full moon.
Zhang Jian was incredibly familiar with his Hundred Victories Force, the sharp saber light slashing towards his head, accompanied by the cold glint of a sword and saber clashing.
The sound of metal clashing echoed.
This sound, so close to the body, made one's hairs stand on end, but Zhang Jian felt his blood boil.
"This is probably the audacity born of great skill!"
Zhang Jian could somewhat understand those Martial Artists, many bore sharp weapons, a murderous intent naturally arising.
Possessing martial strength, one becomes inevitably confident.
Of course, excessive confidence borders on arrogance.
In a flash of thought, Zhang Jian's ears twitched slightly; even with this first clash, he vaguely felt the trajectory of two streams of Qi Force converging on the blade, a particularly tricky force injuring Jian Yao's tiger's mouth.
He could even 'smell' a faint trace of blood with his Spiritual Sense.
The young swordsman wielding the green blade was clearly stronger than Jian Yao.
This was not surprising.
For the one attacking was none other than the sibling pair Zhang Jian had met once before.
Inner Cultivation Martial Artists at the Nourishing Yuan Stage.
Yet Jian Yao completely ignored the wound on his hand, his Yijin force exploding underfoot, the stone slabs shattering as he leapt through the air to fiercely slash at the young swordsman.
Zhang Jian watched as Jian Yao's ring-headed saber seemingly 'covered' in layers of red, blazing Qi Force.
It was a special energy formed by a Body Refining Martial Artist.
Although the path of Body Forging involved Bone Forging and Muscle Strengthening, upon stepping into Muscle Strengthening, one also forms a kind of unique energy, a force tempered through the refining of one's blood and essence.
This force is completely opposite to that formed by Inner Cultivation.
In its initial stage, it possesses a terribly domineering, tricky power.
But compared to the Inner Breath formed by Inner Cultivation, it lacks the mellowness to nourish the internal organs and nurture Life Essence.
But in terms of explosiveness, it initially far surpasses.
Yet, when Inner Cultivation experts reach the Nourishing Yuan Stage, this advantage gradually diminishes.
Jian Yao unleashed his set of Golden Crow Saber Techniques like a red storm, even in mid-air, launching one fierce attack after another on the young swordsman.
Throughout, the young swordsman maintained a faint smile, the sword light from his hand pure and clear, spreading out Sword Qi Force like water, impervious to Jian Yao's aggressive assaults, until in a moment of frantic fury, the young swordsman seized the opportunity.
In an instant, with a cold laugh, an unmatched Nourishing Yuan Gang Qi burst from his sword tip, breaking through the saber light, and with a close-range Iron Mountain Lean, a powerful inner breath Gang Qi sent Jian Yao flying a dozen meters, crashing through a lotus lamp post.
Jian Yao staggered as he crawled up from the ground, his internal organs injured, fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"What skills, indeed heroes emerge in youth!"
Zhang Jian frowned slightly, for although inexperienced, he knew Jian Yao ultimately lost due to inadequate force.
One stage behind, there was a distinct gap.
It also had something to do with their combat techniques; Jian Yao's experience was admittedly extensive, but the other clearly hailed from a Noble Family, exhibiting extremely 'superior' fighting tactics!
However, Zhang Jian noticed that, despite being at the same Nourishing Yuan Stage, the Gang Qi concentrated by this young swordsman seemed noticeably different from his own.
In the depths of his eyes, red sparks of blazing thunder danced briefly before vanishing.
Beside him, Zhang Yi's figure floated loftily after, casting a glance at the wounded Jian Yao, his expression unmoved as he simply gazed indifferently at the two on the rooftop.
The moment his figure descended and those sinister eyes glanced over, the young swordsman felt as though he'd fallen into an icy abyss.
This feeling immediately made his face change dramatically.
A seemingly intensely cold power seemed to push towards his soul, attempting to freeze him in place.
This was a Spiritual Realm!
In an instant, the young swordsman could no longer endure, directly wielding his longsword, actually taking the initiative to counter this terrifying oppressive feeling.
Clang clang!!
The clash of swords resounded, and the scabbard flew straight from his hand, like a sharp sword, nailing into the ground three feet deep.
A cold glint of Sword Qi floated towards Zhang Yi.
This was a almost tangible Nourishing Yuan Gang Qi, matched with Sword Techniques, suddenly like a mass of cold mist slashing towards Zhang Yi.
But what met him was a hand white as jade, the figure ghostly as it appeared beside the young swordsman.
"Senior Brother, be careful!"
Beside him, the slender, graceful figure of a woman turned pale, finally drawing her longsword. The blade trembled slightly, lifting strands of cold light as it flew towards Zhang Yi's figure, but Zhang Yi paid it no heed, casually striking out with a palm, the center of the palm showing a jade-like color, sweeping fiercely with the Profound Jade cold air.
The woman's expression turned, hastily withdrawing her sword, her form shifting into an illusion, departing from her original spot.
Rumble!!
Only to see a large area of tiles turned to powder, while at the edges, frost crystals formed, creating a vast expanse of frost white.
"Profound Jade Ice and Fire Palm, Poisonous Hand Zhang Yi?"
Gu Xiu'Er watched this scene, a dark feeling of foreboding rising in her heart.
Poisonous Hand Zhang Yi was a notorious evil figure in the Northern Land, a formidable character of their master's generation, famed for more than ten years.
The Profound Jade Ice and Fire Palm was exceedingly sinister, those struck by it were doomed to die.
They clearly never imagined that this renowned evil figure of the Zuo Dao was hiding within the Zhang Family.
Thoughts whirled, and Gu Xiu'Er called out loudly:
"Senior, do not misunderstand, the two of us entered the Zhang Family only to..."
Zhang Yi's expression remained cold, impassive, saying: "Whatever the reason, I do not care. Since you two have injured members of the Zhang Family, first save your lives from my hand, then we'll talk about anything else!"
His figure flew with reckless abandon, carrying a sky full of cold air, charging at the young swordsman like a great eagle hunting prey, his black robe billowing as he scattered a shower of cold air with his duster, like countless steel needles of ice rain falling towards the young swordsman.
He showed not a hint of mercy in his attack.
Duanmu Yan sensed the overwhelming cold, inwardly lamenting bitterly.
The overwhelming Profound Jade chill was too overbearing.
Whether in skill or ability, he was far inferior to this black path giant, likely unable to withstand even three or five moves before facing a cruel fate.
Gu Xiu'Er deeply regretted inside; she and her senior brother were entrusted by others to probe the Zhang Family's illusion and reality, but never expected the Zhang Family to harbor such hidden depths, detected and surrounded as soon as they entered.
Now facing such a terrifying fiend as Poisonous Hand Zhang Yi on top of it.
Her bright eyes swept over the scene, her gaze quickly falling on Zhang Jian beside them, watching the spectacle with interest.
"What's wrong, got caught up in a scene?"
Zhang Jian's senses were incredibly acute; when Gu Xiu'Er's gaze fell upon him, his heart moved immediately, yet he feigned complete innocence, appearing harmless.
Only, deep in his palm, a speck of blazing red light gathered; he too was dark at heart, scheming that if Gu Xiu'Er dared to rush over and take 'hostages,' he would gather force and strike with a ruthless hand, to destroy the flower.
Gu Xiu'Er was indeed somewhat hesitant at this moment, her mind flashing back to her master's appraisal of Poisonous Hand Zhang Yi.
A notoriously vicious, cunning person with deep scheming.
As her thoughts flashed, seeing Duanmu Yan barely holding on, she immediately called out again:
"Senior Brother Duanmu, stop! Since it was our siblings who were rude first, we are naturally willing to surrender and provide compensation!"
"Senior, our master is Wang Yuanlang, the West Wind Swordsman of Shangyuan Sect. Please, out of respect for our master, administer a light punishment. We siblings are willing to accept the penalty!"
Saying this, she directly sheathed her sword and cupped her fists in salute.
Duanmu Yan, facing Zhang Yi's extremely fierce Palm Force, twitched his eyelids but, after consideration, clenched his teeth, choosing to trust Gu Xiu'Er, sheathing his sword and adopting an entirely passive stance, preparing to endure a single blow.