Chapter 918: Chapter 914: Li Zhaojun Awakens (1)

One red, one white, one cold, one hot—two people collide in the air. Instantly, the white dominates as the white sword pierces through the red defensive net, directly aiming to penetrate Ye Fan’s Golden Core.

This was a no-return approach, an ultimate killing move so fierce that even many at the Nascent Soul Stage wondered if they themselves could prevail with their advantage in cultivation, but would still suffer mutual destruction with Li Zhaojun.

Ye Fan, in the midst of it all, felt unprecedented pressure; even during those days and nights in the African savannah without food and drink, his body nearing exhaustion, he had never felt such intense pressure as this—ironically, it was his beloved causing him this strain.

Li Zhaojun had mastered the fourth level of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra and was cultivating the fifth.

Ye Fan at this moment had yet to surpass the bottleneck of the third level of the Nine Yang Divine Skill.

Which meant the two were two levels apart in cultivation. Even if the Nine Yang Divine Skill could resonate with the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, he still couldn’t break through Li Zhaojun’s defenses.

Li Zhaojun’s long sword was already at Ye Fan’s forehead; with one more thrust, it could pierce Ye Fan’s brow bone, resulting in instant death.

In the near standstill of time, Ye Fan maintained mental clarity, nearly instantly reviewing the essentials of the first three levels of the Nine Yang Divine Skill. On the brink of being slain by his beloved, his eyes suddenly burst forth with an intense flame-like red light, mingling with the faint blue light in his body, causing the flames to erupt fervently.

“Break!”

Ye Fan’s voice sliced through the hall, even tearing through the heavens. He didn’t use the Fire Dragon Sword to break Li Zhaojun’s defenses but his own palms.

A wave formed from the fusion of ice and fire spread out from the center point between the two, pushing those at the Golden Core Stage back a dozen steps before stopping. Many were injured as a result, even masters at the Nascent Soul Stage maintaining order felt their Spiritual Energy churn within.

This was a battle between Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun using their original Spiritual Energies. Although Ye Fan was at a disadvantage, he caught Li Zhaojun’s sword with his palms, and his Spiritual Energy instantly pierced through Li Zhaojun’s Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Without any suspense, Ye Fan’s body was knocked back, eyes closed. His Golden Core was nearly shattered at the edges, while Li Zhaojun stood at her spot, completely unharmed.

“Junior Brother!”

“Senior Brother!”

Wu Ding and Elder Wu quickly dashed out, catching Ye Fan before he hit the ground. Qing Xu, following right behind, was a step too late. By the time Qing Xu reached Ye Fan’s side, Ye Fan was already lying in Wu Ding’s arms, his eyes flickering open briefly, uttering a few simple words before closing his eyes.

Elder Wu asked, “What did he say?”

“He said he succeeded. This foolish boy, he’s reckless,” Wu Ding said, feeling heartache. Despite knowing Ye Fan for a short time, she initially took a liking to him because he was Zhuo Jun’s disciple. When observing with Spiritual Vision, she deliberately spun a tale involving Ye Fan and Zhuo Jun for fun, but now, she’s sure she has complex feelings for this little junior brother.

Such a righteous, dedicated man is perhaps unique in the world.

Wu Ding didn’t say much, her Spiritual Energy continuously flowing into Ye Fan’s body, attempting to preserve Ye Fan’s heart veins and prevent the collapse of his Golden Core. The collapse would mean Ye Fan could never reach Golden Core cultivation again, living a mortal life of birth, sickness, aging, death; more significantly, they wouldn’t be able to be together.

Even if she knew it was just her wishful thinking.

In the center of the arena stood Li Zhaojun, her expression blank. Her attempt to kill Ye Fan wasn’t intentional, as she had a fondness for Ye Fan despite not having regained her memory. That kind of instant connection upon first meeting made her feel he might be her future close friend, even she didn’t understand why she felt this way.

She even had a sense of “love at first sight” towards Ye Fan.

But as she was about to pierce her Ice Cold Sword into Ye Fan’s body, Ye Fan’s eyes erupted with brilliant light. At that moment, Ye Fan broke through the third level of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, advancing to the fourth, while the fourth level was precisely the lowest requirement to break Li Zhaojun’s memory seal.

Ye Fan created a miracle in an instant, using a life-risking method to break through the multiple restrictions within Li Zhaojun’s body. Now, countless past memories surged in Li Zhaojun’s mind, causing an informational explosion she couldn’t react to.

Huang Ze wasn’t aware of Li Zhaojun’s changes, he approached Hua Wu with a smile, saying, “It seems my Emperor’s Sect disciple has won?”

Hua Wu wouldn’t argue with Huang Ze over trivial matters, nor was she concerned about who could open the Tianing restriction. Instead, she personally came to Ye Fan’s side, using her Spiritual Energy to heal him.

Many envied Ye Fan—a mere Golden Core Stage disciple receiving simultaneous assistance from the Sect Master and two elders of Tianxuan Sect was a rare honor. Such treatment from a major sect valuing camaraderie is unprecedented.

After using her Spiritual Energy to heal Ye Fan for a moment, Hua Wu gently shook her head, indicating Ye Fan’s condition wasn’t favorable.

If Wu Jizi’s earlier injuries require ten or eight years to recuperate, Ye Fan’s injuries, even with a preserved Golden Core, would take decades of cultivation to recover his vitality, a massive damage.

Yet Ye Fan willingly endured such harm, else who would willingly risk their lifeline against an enemy’s blade?

Elder Wu wanted to confront Ye Fan about injuring his grandson but was stopped by Huang Ze.

Huang Ze loudly asked, “Who else wants to challenge my Emperor’s Sect disciple Yun Zhao?”

Even a fool wouldn’t challenge now, yet everyone still wanted to see if Li Zhaojun could break the restrictions within Tianing.

Huang Ze smiled as he approached Li Zhaojun, this time not handing over Tianing, but rather said, “Yun Zhao, it’s time to test if you’re the owner of this high-grade Immortal Artifact.”

Li Zhaojun, in a daze, mechanically raised her hand, emitting a Spiritual Energy inside Tianing. However, the massive hammer-like Tianing showed no reaction, nor did it emit Qi Force to repel Li Zhaojun like before.

Serenely, without a ripple.

“This…” Even Huang Ze didn’t understand why this situation occurred.

At that moment, Fa Ying strode quickly over, intending to use external force to reseal Li Zhaojun’s memories. Yet Li Zhaojun had already remembered Ye Fan, remembered their shared moments. Without the seal from the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, no one could make her forget Ye Fan again.

“I… really know him.” Li Zhaojun murmured, looking at Ye Fan, tears naturally streaming down her cheeks.

Fa Ying sternly said, “You don’t know him, you never knew him!”