CHAPTER 1901: CHAPTER 1902: THE TRUE PURPOSE

A completely unexpected answer, yet it made perfect sense.

Yu Shuang listened to this name that wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, but definitely wasn’t someone she was familiar with, and was momentarily stunned.

In today’s Xia Country, you might not know the story of the unparalleled duo Su Zhedian and Yang Chengyin from back in the day, nor the person who sacrificed the most in secret for Xia Country a hundred years ago, Su Linyuan.

But Long Xuan and Ye Qingci are two names that the younger generation cannot avoid.

The battle of Mount Qianjue saw Ye Qingci defeated by Long Xuan, temporarily concluding the argument over who was the number one of the era.

Yet everyone knew it wouldn’t just end like this; that Ye Qingci, having been able to resist the Earth Immortal before Long Xuan, might one day catch up again was not beyond the realms of possibility.

Most importantly...

"Sister Nan Zhi mentioning Ye Qingci’s name at this point, does it have a specific meaning?"

Xu Nanzhi smiled knowingly, seeing that Yu Shuang had already sensed the significance of her deliberately bringing up Ye Qingci’s name at this moment, and indeed shifted the topic directly.

Clutching the Soft Sword in her hand, surveying around, and watching the countless Illusory Sword Shadows that had surrounded them at some unknown point, she said coldly.

"We’ll talk about these things once we make it out alive!"

Boom!

Countless Sword Shadows gathered momentum and slammed heavily down on where the two stood, but Yu Shuang and Xu Nanzhi, not entirely familiar with each other, at that moment moved with perfect synergy, blocking each oncoming Sword Shadow from all directions.

One wielded wind, the other water.

With wind and water intertwined, they created a watertight curtain between them, forcibly keeping all the Sword Shadows at bay.

"These Sword Shadows seem to resist us greatly."

Yu Shuang spoke calmly; although she didn’t feel tremendous pressure now, neither did she find any point to break through the situation.

The airtight defense was meaningless, for they were the offensive explorers.

Yet Xu Nanzhi remained exceptionally calm, watching around at the restless Sword Qi, she spoke steadily.

"No rush, wait for the signal."

Although Yu Shuang felt a bit puzzled, she thought of Bei Tang Qian Xiao, who was in charge of scouting the entire Great Formation on the periphery, and naturally thought that Xu Nanzhi was waiting for this opportunity.

This wasn’t difficult to understand, but Yu Shuang was only puzzled as to why, if Xu Nanzhi never intended to forcefully break the swamp formation to start with, she brought her along into the depths in the first place.

Was it just to try out?

Yu Shuang’s thoughts tangled, feeling something wasn’t quite right.

Just when Yu Shuang looked up intending to ask Xu Nanzhi what exactly the plan was, suddenly Xu Nanzhi, seeming to have sensed something, jerked her head up and then swiftly looked towards the edge of the swamp and dashed out?

"Xu Nanzhi?"

"Leave these Sword Qi to you, cover me while I exit! Qianxiao’s in danger."

Xu Nanzhi’s words were sudden yet decisive and resolute, not giving Yu Shuang any time to think as she rushed out of the curtain of wind and water, fully exposing herself to the countless Sword Qi.

Though puzzled by what Xu Nanzhi was doing, Yu Shuang, seeing Xu Nanzhi completely exposing her back to her, hesitated no more, utilizing the Heavenly Qi-breaking Divine Wind and even that barely perceived Heavenly Dao Breath which she hadn’t fully mastered to cover Xu Nanzhi’s retreat.

"Thank you!"

With Yu Shuang’s aid, Xu Nanzhi’s figure transformed into a blue stream of light and disappeared from Yu Shuang’s sight at once, the next moment traveling at great speed towards Bei Tang Qian Xiao near the swamp’s outskirts, sensing the two assaults targeting Bei Tang Qian Xiao, Xu Nanzhi gripped the Weak Water Sword and slashed heavily at their middle.

"Nine Heavens Luo Water!"

The Sword Momentum descended like a torrent from heaven, peculiar characteristic water stream swiftly attacked the two black-clad people aiming at Bei Tang Qian Xiao.

The two exchanged glances for a moment and then almost simultaneously retreated, each choosing to temporarily avoid Xu Nanzhi’s edge.

Seizing this chance, Xu Nanzhi’s figure darted beside Bei Tang Qian Xiao, immediately supporting the injured Bei Tang Qian Xiao and asked concernedly.

"Sorry, am I late?"

Suppressing her injuries within, Bei Tang Qian Xiao puzzledly looked up at Xu Nanzhi and said: "How did you know I was attacked here?"

The swamp was pervasive with Sword Qi, making the extension of Divine Sense far more difficult than in typical places.

Although Xu Nanzhi and Yu Shuang’s Realm was indeed a notch higher than hers, even so, Bei Tang Qian Xiao didn’t think the two could always know her situation.

"Is that necessary to say? This woman obviously planned seriously to break through right from the start, and she used you as bait to lure us out, what a well-thought-out means. Indeed worthy of being the last Saintess of the Luo Clan."

The black-clad person who initially appeared in front of everyone was speaking, and while Xu Nanzhi found the figure somewhat familiar, she couldn’t identify them specifically.

"Is that really so?"

Yu Shuang, arriving a step late, happened to hear the black-clad person’s words and somewhat astonishedly asked Xu Nanzhi.

Knowing she couldn’t deceive these two naturally intelligent women, Xu Nanzhi calmly said.

"Indeed, I did plan so, but I left a Luoshui Divine Talisman on Qianxiao, so when she faced an attack, I naturally came over at once."

Yu Shuang was stunned and immediately understood why Xu Nanzhi had so decisively come over earlier, for this reason it turns out.

But even then, thinking that Xu Nanzhi used Bei Tang Qian Xiao as bait, Yu Shuang’s heart struggled to accept it.

"It’s alright, it’s a normal plan, and... Xu Nanzhi, you must’ve noticed something amiss, given you did this."

Xu Nanzhi blinked, her eyes on the black-clad person, speaking.

"Exactly, from the beginning I was puzzled by your appearance, confirming thereafter that your occurrence wasn’t a coincidence made this location you left more peculiar."

The black-clad person chuckled lightly.

"What’s so strange? You have numbers, naturally, we want to divide and conquer. Without any strategies, would you obediently separate?"

Listening to the black-clad person’s sophistry, Xu Nanzhi retorted coldly: "That kind of reasoning wouldn’t even fool a three-year-old. Indeed, it seems plausible but utterly unnecessary, not here in Southern Xinjiang, which is your Demonic Path’s turf. Once you grasped our movement, the advantage of numbers would fall to your side unless you lack in numbers."

The black-clad person heard Xu Nanzhi’s analysis, face darkened but still retorted defiantly: "Do you suspect we’re not from the Demonic Path?"

"No, you are. But you’re not Cui Dongshan’s people, are you?"

As Xu Nanzhi spoke, she felt the attention focusing on her intensify, enveloping her further in a heavy killing intent.

This certainty strengthened Xu Nanzhi’s belief, speaking confidently.

"If I’m not mistaken, should you be people of Yang Chengyin? Yang Qianyan, and a former Demon Slayer Saint who defected with Yang Chengyin?"

"Absurd, if I were truly of Yang Chengyin, having defected to the Demonic Path, why risk exposure before you now?"

"By logic, you wouldn’t, unless there’s something you desperately desire, something that could rapidly establish your status in the Demonic Path, then it’s different."

As Xu Nanzhi spoke, Yu Shuang beside her caught on too, glancing at the swamp behind and said.

"Are they after Yu Yanshu?"