The aura made his hair stand on end and filled his heart with dread.
At the same time, he also sensed the incredibly sharp Sword Intent, as if it could cut through everything.
Just its mere presence made him feel as if he were directly facing the vast power of Heaven and Earth, unstoppable and invincible, and a thought of retreat inexplicably arose in his mind.
"Heavenly Human Grandmaster! Is this a Heavenly Human Grandmaster?!!"
Bai Luoyu felt a bit of fear in his heart.
...
In the courtyard.
Lin Qingyi watched as Xiao Qiushui approached, walking through the air step by step.
Her expression became serious as she glanced at Jiang Ning, who was now holding a long knife emitting an icy cold aura that had appeared in his hand at some unknown point in time.
Seeing this, she took a quick step to stand beside Jiang Ning.
Then she placed her right hand on Jiang Ningâs shoulder.
Seeing Jiang Ningâs gaze turn towards her, Lin Qingyi slowly shook her head.
"No!!" Her lips moved slightly.
Then she smiled faintly at Jiang Ning.
"Donât worry, Sister Lin is here!"
With those words, she pulled Jiang Ning behind her.
In a low voice, she said to Jiang Ning behind her, "This is a Heavenly Human Grandmaster! Iâll hold her off for you! If things donât go well, remember to run quickly!"
The next moment.
Lin Qingyi removed the jade hairpin from her head, letting her long hair fall like silk, cascading down like a waterfall.
Seeing Lin Qingyiâs back and the thousands of strands of black hair scattering atop her head, smelling the faint fragrance at the tips of her hair, Jiang Ning was stunned and lost in thought.
He hadnât expected.
At this moment, Lin Qingyi would stand up for him without hesitation against this formidable enemy.
Heavenly Human Grandmaster!
Lin Qingyi couldnât possibly be unaware.
That was an expert who completely surpassed her.
An expert who could kill her and bury her here.
At this moment.
The jade hairpin that had been securing Lin Qingyiâs hair was now gripped in her hand.
With a flash of green light, the jade hairpin became a green long sword.
Before Jiang Ning could speak, Lin Qingyi lightly pressed off the ground and soared into the air, rushing towards Xiao Qiushui.
"Overestimating oneself!" Seeing this, Xiao Qiushui looked on with disdain.
She immediately raised her hand with a sword.
Buzz!!
Between Heaven and Earth.
A terrifying sound of a swordâs cry echoed, and almost the entire Dongling County heard it.
In an instant.
The wind and clouds changed, and a storm spread in all directions.
"Pierce the Heavens!" With her sword pointing at the airborne Lin Qingyi, Xiao Qiushuiâs tightly bound hair scattered, her black hair like a waterfall, strands flying back with fierceness between her brows.
This one sword.
She unleashed the Sword Intent she had comprehended over more than ten years.
The Sword Intent tore through the sky.
The air waves seemed tangible, appearing before the eyes and spreading like waves.
Facing Xiao Qiushuiâs Sword Intent, Lin Qingyiâs expression was grave.
This was a Sword Intent unleashed by a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
The movement of the Sword Intent carried the force of Heaven and Earth, wielding the power of Heaven and Earth.
At this moment, it seemed as if she was facing Heaven and Earth, facing the heavens themselves.
An inexplicable thread of fear wove through her heart.
In response, the left hand hidden in her sleeve quickly formed a spiritual formula.
In her pupils, two cold flames suddenly rose, one on the left and one on the right.
"Break!" Lin Qingyi shouted, not dodging at all but choosing to clash head-on with Xiao Qiushuiâs overwhelming Sword Intent.
Buzz!!!
A louder and more resounding sword cry vibrated through the air.
Then Lin Qingyi slowly descended from mid-air, like a feather weightlessly drifting down.
"Impressive!" Xiao Qiushui sneered.
One Sword Intent failed to subdue the unknown grandmaster blocking her path to Jiang Ning, but she didnât mind at all.
No Grandmaster is simple!
And she had just today entered the Third Grade, achieved the status of a Heavenly Human Grandmaster, and chose to act for the sake of avenging her sister and nephew without thorough maturation.
But she didnât feel the need to mature.
In Dongling County.
In the last decade, she was the first native-born grandmaster to achieve Heavenly status.
In todayâs Dongling County, she was also openly the only Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
This made her the undisputed strongest.
Given this, why should she need maturation?
Why should she worry so much?
Then.
She slowly withdrew her sword, preparing herself.
On the other side.
Lin Qingyi had already landed in front of Jiang Ning.
"Sister Lin, let me do it!" Jiang Ning grabbed Lin Qingyiâs slender shoulder with his left hand.
"No need, you are too weak, you are not her opponent! Just hide behind your sister!" Lin Qingyi said.
As she spoke, she pried Jiang Ningâs fingers off her shoulder.
Still looking up at the sky, his gaze firmly locked onto Xiao Qiushui above.
"Who is she?" Lin Qingyi asked for the first time.
"Xiao Qiushui!" Jiang Ning replied.
"So itâs her! No wonder!" Lin Qingyi murmured calmly.
Upon hearing the name, she understood why this Heavenly Human Grandmaster sought vengeance against Jiang Ning.
Close kin perished because of Jiang Ning, such hatred is not easily relinquished.
And has achieved the status of a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
A position entirely different from other martial artists.
Even the Great Xia court must treat them with caution.
Because killing a Heavenly Human Grandmaster is too difficult!
The cost is too great!
Not to mention arresting them.
Therefore, often those who reach this tier of power enjoy certain privileges.
If itâs not a major issue, the court will suitably exempt them from accountability.
This is also why Xiao Qiushui only now comes to seek revenge.
At this moment.
The vast waters swirling around Xiao Qiushui suddenly erupted violently.
Crash!!
Waves surged wildly.
The river in the sky turned violent.
It seemed to transform into a furious dragon.
Jiang Ning gripped his long blade tightly.
The Sword Intent accumulated silently.
The external display of the Heavenly Human Grandmaster exceeded his expectations.
The river encircling Xiao Qiushui in the sky, if it were to fall, its accumulated water volume could instantly collapse a cluster of buildings.
And yet, this power was easily controlled by Xiao Qiushui.
One can imagine the formidable destructive power of a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
Breaking through a city with a single blow, itâs simply effortless.
"Stay obediently!" Lin Qingyi left this remark.
Her figure leapt suddenly, soaring upwards.
Upon seeing this, Jiang Ningâs gaze stayed locked on her figure.
Ready to make his move.
But he wasnât in a hurry.
Lin Qingyi might not be a match for Xiao Qiushui.
However, from his understanding.
Between grandmasters, victory or defeat is easily determined.
Life and death are hard to discern.
Because through martial arts body refinement, upon reaching the level of a Third Grade Grandmaster, the flesh is immensely powerful.
Whether in terms of vitality, defensive power, or the speed of self-healing from injuries, it reaches a staggering level.
One could say, when martial artists add points, defense far surpasses offensive power.
So victory is easy to decide, life and death are hard to ascertain.
Lin Qingyi and Xiao Qiushui are both grandmasters.
Even if defeated, there is no immediate danger to life.
...
Above.
Facing Lin Qingyi head-on.
Xiao Qiushuiâs expression remained unchanged.
The appearance of Lin Qingyi was also to her liking.
She was just in need of a grandmaster to test her strength now that she had ascended to a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
"Vast WavesâInfinity!"
The voice penetrated the four directions.
The already turbulent river suddenly transformed into waves, rushing down towards Lin Qingyi.
Within that river, each wave gathered a streak of her Sword Intent.
A total of 3,600 strokes of Sword Intent.
The river instantly submerged Lin Qingyiâs figure.
And then continued to plunge toward Jiang Ning.
Just three zhang above his head, in the instant he was about to make a move.
Boomâ
The infinite river exploded.
A voice fell from above his head.
The moment he saw that figure, Jiang Ningâs expression suddenly changed.
He leapt into the air.
Instantly appearing beside Lin Qingyi.
At this moment, Lin Qingyiâs clothes were torn, with only strips hanging on her body.
Numerous startling bloodstains covered her entire body, blood continuously seeping from the wounds all over her body.
In the face of these wounds, the grandmasterâs powerful body seemed ineffective, the injury difficult to heal itself.
"Run!!" Lin Qingyi, sensing the gentleness of Jiang Ningâs embrace, glanced at him and hurriedly spoke.
Jiang Ning landed on the ground at that moment.
"Sister Lin, thank you! But I donât want to run, nor do I want to leave you alone and flee!"
While speaking, Jiang Ning summoned a robe hanging from afar and covered Lin Qingyi with it, shielding her bodyâs exposure.
Seeing the robe quickly stained with blood, he couldnât help but feel a pang in his heart.
Then, he looked up at the sky.