'I'm so tired. My hands are going numb, and I'm running out of strength!'
Sword after sword.
In that short time, Yang Ziling had slashed at least ten thousand times.
It was a terrifying feat.
Moreover, such high-intensity, high-speed slashes placed an enormous strain on Yang Ziling.
She was reaching her limit.
Especially after Wang Xiyan noticed. When Yang Ziling forced herself to muster her strength and quicken her slashes, the feeling of powerlessness only grew stronger.
But she didn't stop.
'I can't stop. The moment I do, she'll find an opening and defeat me. Then the Profound Celestial Sect will have yet another reason to mock us. I cannot lose!'
Yang Ziling thought stubbornly.
As the Eldest Disciple of the Pure Yang Sword Sect's Inner Sect, she was proud.
She was also aware of her duties.
And possessed a strong sense of responsibility.
She couldn't bear to let her Sect lose to the Profound Celestial Sect again.
If they lost again, she feared that even fewer people would be willing to join the Pure Yang Sword Sect.
Therefore, she absolutely could not lose.
"What an idiot. Can't you focus all your attacks on a single point?"
Just as she was about to give up...
Yang Xiao's voice suddenly reached her.
Yang Ziling was slightly startled.
Without turning her head or pausing her hands,
she replied, her voice tinged with grievance, "I am striking one spot! But it's useless! I can't break through her True Qi protection!"
"You're impossibly dense. Her True Qi is fluid, so hitting the same location is pointless. You have to strike the same wisp of True Qi to break through."
As soon as he said this, Yang Ziling's eyes lit up.
'That's right! True Qi is fluid, so no matter how many times I strike the same spot, the force of my previous attacks won't accumulate.'
'But what if my sword moves with it?'
'I can definitely shatter her True Qi protection!'
Yang Ziling's eyes became sparkling and bright.
Her hands, which had become numb and even started to tremble, became steady once more.
One strike after another flew from her blade.
Moreover, spurred by Yang Xiao's words, her strikes grew even fiercer.
She slashed relentlessly, following the flow of Wang Xiyan's True Qi.
The immense force of the slashes directly pushed Wang Xiyan back several steps.
Her brow furrowed as well.
'That damn guy! He actually figured it out!'
Subconsciously, she glanced at Yang Xiao.
At the same time, she saw the Earth Fire Qilin Beast's Inner Core in Yang Xiao's hand.
'Oh no! That kid is trying to use the Earth Fire Qilin Beast's Inner Core.'
Although she didn't know what Yang Xiao was doing, Wang Xiyan's expression changed instantly. She had long considered the Earth Fire Qilin Beast's Inner Core her property.
'If this drags on any longer,' she thought, 'that guy might actually destroy the Inner Core.'
More importantly, she also saw two drops of purplish-red blood on the Inner Core.
Within each drop, a terrifying figure could be vaguely seen.
It didn't look like the Earth Fire Qilin Beast, but rather a true Qilin.
'The Young Master's message said the Earth Fire Qilin Beast's Lifebound Blood was also in this kid's hands. He was right! This is a Supreme Treasure the Young Master needs. If I bring it back to him, he'll surely see me in a new light.'
Wang Xiyan's gaze instantly turned fiery.
Although she was Xuan Tianzhan's maid, there were four maids like her.
Naturally, there were favorites among them, and Wang Xiyan was the one Xuan Tianzhan treated most distantly.
Because her aptitude was the worst.
Her strength was also the weakest.
And she had followed him for the shortest amount of time.
That was why she was so eager to accomplish something great.
To raise her status in the Young Master's heart.
And this was the perfect opportunity.
BANG!
The True Qi around her body exploded.
Countless bolts of lightning burst from her body.
Instantly, she knocked back Yang Ziling, who was about to pounce and attack her again.
Then, she no longer had any intention of tangling with Yang Ziling, and instead lunged toward Yang Xiao.
'Oh no, Little Junior Brother is in danger!'
Yang Ziling was shocked.
However, she had lost the initiative. Forced back by Wang Xiyan, she knew that even at her full speed, she likely wouldn't catch up. In Yang Ziling's eyes, the moment Wang Xiyan got close to Yang Xiao, the promising little junior brother she'd taken a liking to would surely die.
After all, he wasn't even in the Innate Realm yet.
How could he be a match for Wang Xiyan, who was at the Innate Realm Eighth Layer and possessed Secret Skills and Divine Techniques?
'It looks like I have no choice but to use that move.'
Without the slightest hesitation, Yang Ziling's expression turned solemn.
Immediately after, a mysterious aura rose from her body.
As this aura surged, even Wang Xiyan, who was lunging for Yang Xiao, felt her expression flicker. She sensed that a terrifying sword had suddenly materialized behind her.
Subconsciously turning around, she saw Yang Ziling's whole body emitting a translucent sword light.
"Your Profound Celestial Sect isn't the only one with Divine Power Secret Skills! The Pure Yang Sword Sect has them too! Take this—Flying Immortal Needle!"
Flying... Immortal... Needle!
As she spoke these three words, each with heavy emphasis, Yang Ziling's entire body suddenly began to spin.
Then, she pierced through the air.
Her target was precisely Wang Xiyan.
'This is bad... this attack...'
Faced with this heaven-shaking thrust,
Wang Xiyan could no longer spare a thought for killing Yang Xiao. Instinctively, she channeled all the Immortal Spiritual Power in her body, rapidly forming one Thunder Shield after another in front of herself.
Perhaps it was the terror of a life-or-death situation that allowed her to surpass her limits.
In the blink of an eye, she had laid down thirty-six Thunder Shields.
But Yang Ziling's sword had already arrived.
The sword, and the woman.
Both she and her sword were spinning at incredible speed, each rotation a separate strike.
It was like a giant pillar of sword light.
CRACK!
It easily pierced the first Thunder Shield.
Then the second, the third...
One Thunder Shield after another was destroyed.
The Sword Qi got closer and closer.
Wang Xiyan's expression grew more and more grim.
At the same time, the newly generated Thunder Element Spiritual Power in her body circulated again.
She continued to conjure Thunder Shields.
Because if her defense was completely broken, she would surely die.
At this moment, Wang Xiyan no longer had the slightest trace of contempt for the woman before her.
Because she really could be hurt.
Out of nowhere, a wave of jealousy welled up inside her.
'I refuse to believe that I, Wang Xiyan, am inferior to you!'
She gritted her teeth, a dense sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead.
But the ever-approaching Sword Qi made her heart tremble even more.
Retreat.
Constantly retreating.
Advance.
Constantly advancing.
Yang Ziling was the same.
She was using all her strength to protect Yang Xiao.
'I can't lose.'
The battle between the two women reached its climax.
Finally.
CLANG.
The sword fell to the ground.
It was followed by the sound of a person hitting the ground.
"Haha, haha, in the end, I still won!"
Wang Xiyan laughed out loud.
Her entire body was soaked in sweat.
But, just as she said, she had won in the end.
'Did I lose?'
Yang Ziling was unwilling to accept it.
But in an instant, she lost consciousness.
She passed out.
Using the Flying Immortal Needle at the Peak of Innate Realm Third Layer was far too reckless.
Even by expending her Life Force, she only had the power for one strike.
If that one strike failed...
...she would be left at her enemy's mercy.
She had lost!