CHAPTER 109: CHAPTER 79: SWORD DANCES ON A THOUSAND RIVERS, BLADE SINGS OF A HUNDRED BATTLES

Her once bright eyes were now filled with worry, tightly fixed on her mother fighting in the icy pond, her hands clenched involuntarily, nails digging deeply into her palms, yet feeling no pain. Her brow was furrowed, like a crescent moon locked in tension, and the anxious expression made her beauty appear even more pitiful. Knowing her mother’s strength, she also understood Shi Feiyang’s relentlessness, every moment of this fierce battle tugged at her heart, fearing her mother might be hurt or face more serious consequences.

At the peak of Cyan Simurgh Peak, the bone-chilling wind cut across their faces like countless sharp ice blades, surrounded by the seemingly endless icy pond.

Shi Feiyang’s aura surged all around him, the Bright Jade Technique pushed to its peak state, causing a faint jade-colored glow to emanate from his body, resembling a deity descending to the mortal world. The long saber in his hand howled as it swung, with an imposing and fierce power, each stroke carrying the force to split mountains and rocks.

As the saber wind swept through, even the pond’s water was lifted into the air, and immediately shattered into fine mist.

Liu Yanran was not to be outdone, her Divine Water Technique turbulent within, strands of cold radiating from all around her, rapidly freezing the pond’s surface vapor into ice. Her long sword moved with ease and agility, and she wielded the Thousand Rivers Moon Shadow Sword Technique to perfection, the shimmering sword shadows like reflections of moons on countless rivers, seemingly soft and beautiful, yet concealing deadly threats.

In the heat of battle, Shi Feiyang suddenly let out a shout, his form soaring into the air, raising his long saber high, unyieldingly slashing at Liu Yanran. The saber light, bright as a dazzling ribbon, completely enveloped Liu Yanran.

Liu Yanran’s form lightly swayed, deftly avoiding the attack like a ghost, and then thrust her long sword, aiming straight at Shi Feiyang’s throat. Shi Feiyang blocked with his saber, with a loud clang, sparks flew, and both retreated several steps.

Amidst their clash of inner strength, the pond’s vapor transformed into bizarre shapes, sometimes like dragons twisting, sometimes like cranes spreading their wings.

Shi Feiyang’s assaults grew more intense, demonstrating the essence of the Hundred Victories Saber Technique to the fullest, with a barrage of moves leaving Liu Yanran no respite. Liu Yanran relied on the adaptable Thousand Rivers Moon Shadow Sword Technique to fend off each of Shi Feiyang’s strikes, while seeking opportunities to counterattack.

Suddenly, Shi Feiyang noticed an opening, swiftly slashing down, Liu Yanran couldn’t evade and had to meet the strike head-on.

The tremendous impact forced Liu Yanran to one knee, nearly dropping her long sword.

However, a glimmer of determination flashed in Liu Yanran’s eyes. She abruptly stood, deploying her Divine Water Technique to the fullest, enveloping her long sword instantly in a thick layer of frost, and with a sharp shout, unleashed the Thousand Rivers Moon Shadow Sword Technique’s ultimate move—Moon Shadow Submerged River.

Countless ice swords rained down toward Shi Feiyang, whose expression turned stern. He activated the Bright Jade Technique fully, wielding his saber into a screen of light, thoroughly guarding himself.

"Crack!" The clash of ice swords and the saber screen erupted with a crisp sound, ice shards scattered everywhere. The two masters with profound inner strength collided fiercely over the icy pond, triggering a small storm that caused surrounding trees to topple and leaves to whirl like falling snow.

As the battle grew more intense, Liu Yanran suddenly retreated rapidly, grasping the sword with both hands, its tip lightly touching the water’s surface, stirring the entire pond into a frenzy. The pond water rushed like a storm towards Shi Feiyang.

Seeing this, Shi Feiyang’s eyes focused, recognizing Liu Yanran’s ultimate move—the Sky River Reversed Flow. Facing the powerful water curtain, he showed no fear, tightly gripping the saber, his True Qi surged like a tide, bursting forth with unyielding saber intent.

"Red Dust Slash!" Shi Feiyang shouted, his long saber swept out and a dazzling saber energy erupted from the saber tip, like a blazing sun, piercing through the water curtain straight towards Liu Yanran.

Liu Yanran was taken aback, a thousand thoughts flashed through her mind, yet she never anticipated Shi Feiyang breaking her mighty Sky River Reversed Flow with such ease.

The saber energy, radiant like the sun, came roaring with a world-ending force, causing her heartbeat to skip.

Nevertheless, having navigated the Jianghu for many years, Liu Yanran reacted swiftly, sidestepping the sharp saber energy at the critical moment.

Still, the residual force of the saber energy, like a sharp dagger, sliced through her protective ice armor, leaving a deep wound that quickly stained her clothes with blood, strikingly conspicuous in the icy landscape.

Liu Yanran took a deep breath, attempting to calm her shock and panic. Her hands swiftly formed seals, movements as fluid as flowing clouds. In an instant, chilly aura enveloped her, like cold mist wrapping around her, transforming her into the Ice Goddess, exuding a chilling presence.

"Ice Sealing Thousands of Miles!" Liu Yanran shouted crisply, her voice echoed with infinite authority atop Cyan Simurgh Peak.

With this shout, the cold aura erupted from her, freezing air within a radius of several dozen yards, countless tiny ice crystals shimmered with cold light, spreading toward Shi Feiyang.

Wherever it reached, the ground was quickly coated by ice, the trees wrapped in thick ice layers, even time seemed frozen by the chill.

Seeing this, Shi Feiyang’s eyes narrowed, his form darting like a ghost between the ice layers. His silhouette flickered in the ice’s reflection, every move stirred a cold wind. His gaze fixated on Liu Yanran, trying to find an opening in the impenetrable ice.

However, Liu Yanran’s Ice Sealing Thousands of Miles was not easily shatterable. The ice layers expanded relentlessly, like a giant beast clawing at him, gradually swallowing Shi Feiyang’s retreat, making his actions increasingly difficult, each step felt like walking through mud.

At this moment, resoluteness flashed in Shi Feiyang’s eyes, aware that it was a crucial life-and-death moment. He fiercely drew upon his True Qi, the Bright Jade Technique ran wildly through his meridians, muscles tightened, charged with endless power, pushed to the extreme.

He shouted, echoing like a bell, causing the surrounding ice layers to tremble slightly. The long saber swung out, radiant in the Bright Jade Technique’s glow, a dazzling saber light burst forth from the saber tip, like the dawn breaking, with scorching heat and unbreakable momentum, instantly cleaving the ice layers ahead.

The saber intent sliced through the water curtain, the saber energy pierced the ice armor as a sharp blade aimed at Liu Yanran’s vital point. Liu Yanran couldn’t evade, shaken by the powerful saber energy, she fell backward uncontrollably, crashing into Li Xiaolin.

"Boom! Crack!" Two sounds rang simultaneously, Liu Yanran collided with Li Xiaolin, the huge impact fracturing his bones, and he died coughing up blood.

Fortunately for Liu Yanran, Li Xiaolin provided a buffer, preventing a direct collision with the mountain rock, thus preserving her life. However, she suffered severe internal injuries, continuously coughing blood, appearing extremely weak.

Liu Tingting screamed in panic, "Don’t hurt my mother; we Divine Water Palace surrender, never to meddle in the Jianghu again." Her voice held a sob, seeming particularly helpless in the tense atmosphere.

At this time, Gong Simeng also stepped forward, her face full of anxiety and earnestness, taking light steps toward Shi Feiyang, bowed sincerely and pleaded, "Brother Shi, please spare Lady Liu. She raised me, taught me literary and martial skills, I will forever be grateful to her." Her voice was soft, eyes glistening with tears, revealing her kindness and conscience.

Shi Feiyang stood in place, the long saber slightly lowered, the saber still carrying lingering energy.

His breath was slightly hurried, yet the powerful aura emanating from him was undeniable. Supported by the Bright Jade Technique, his Hundred Victories Saber Technique was not only brilliant and fierce but also swift as lightning. Each saber stroke seemed to possess world-shattering power, and the earlier saber stroke had demonstrated the technique’s might to the fullest, chilling everyone present.