Zhang Wuji was at the age where he loved martial arts, so all his attention was focused on the battle between Miejue Shitai and Jin Hua Po Po on the field.
Miejue Shitai had aged and her face was always frosty, her beauty long gone.
Jin Hua Po Po, Dai Qi Si, would have been a stunning beauty in her original form, but her current appearance, after changing her face, was really not flattering.
You could only say that people were just different.
Some were flirting with two lovely young girls, while others were fixated on two old women.
In the field, Miejue Shitai, wielding the incredibly sharp Heaven-Relying Sword, was pushing Jin Hua Po Po back, making it hard for her to even lift her head. The only thing she could do was desperately dodge.
Jin Hua Po Po only managed to sneak in a few attacks when she found an opportunity, but they were all easily neutralized by Miejue Shitai.
The two exchanged another move. Jin Hua Po Po used her hidden golden weapons, but they were all swept away by Miejue Shitai.
Her coral walking stick smashed down on Miejue Shitai’s shoulder in a bizarre arc.
Normally, Miejue Shitai should have dodged the coral stick’s attack.
But she had immense confidence in her Heaven-Relying Sword, so she had no intention of dodging at all.
She directly slashed horizontally with the Heaven-Relying Sword, cutting the coral stick in half in one strike, deflecting the attack and simultaneously stabbing towards Jin Hua Po Po’s arm.
Seeing her coral stick severed by the Heaven-Relying Sword, Jin Hua Po Po was shocked.
She didn't bother hiding her Western Region martial arts anymore. Her arm twisted half a circle in a strange way, dodging the Heaven-Relying Sword, and then struck Miejue Shitai’s shoulder with a palm, sending her reeling back several steps.
At the same time, Jin Hua Po Po was also injured by the sword energy attached to the Heaven-Relying Sword, forcing her to retreat as well.
Both of them ended up with injuries, but Miejue Shitai, with the Heaven-Relying Sword in her hand, actually had a slight advantage.
After all, Jin Hua Po Po had no coral stick and couldn’t possibly use her mortal flesh to block the Heaven-Relying Sword. Even if she used her Western Region martial arts again, she wouldn’t be able to dodge the piercing sword energy.
Seeing that if they continued fighting, she would either die or be seriously injured, Jin Hua Po Po retreated.
Although Yin Li wanted to get away from Jin Hua Po Po, she had once saved her and had received training from her. Seeing her seem injured, Yin Li hurried forward to help her up.
As soon as Jin Hua Po Po saw Yin Li approach, she immediately took her and used her light skill to escape.
Yin Li was held by Jin Hua Po Po and had no time to call out to Gu Han Yuan for help. She could only look at him with her clear and bright eyes, as if trying to permanently etch his appearance into her mind.
Gu Han Yuan could have saved Yin Li, but he was always busy, and he didn't have a base of operations. Even if he saved her, he wouldn't have anywhere to put her.
He couldn’t possibly send Yin Li to the Eagle Sect, that would be like sending her to her death.
Therefore, he decided to leave Yin Li in the care of Jin Hua Po Po for now.
Of course, he wouldn’t let go of his mental presence. He implanted it into the four people present: Jin Hua Po Po, Yin Li, Ji Xiao Fu, and Yang Bu Hui.
Miejue Shitai had been struck by a palm and her injuries were not light, so she gave up the idea of pursuit.
She turned to Ji Xiao Fu.
“Xiao Fu, come over here.”
Ji Xiao Fu was already terrified of Miejue Shitai and dared not refuse.
After Ji Xiao Fu came closer, Miejue Shitai looked at Yang Bu Hui and asked:
“Is this your daughter? Who is her father?”
When everyone was watching the battle earlier, Yang Bu Hui had called Ji Xiao Fu “Mother,” and Miejue Shitai had already guessed in her heart. However, she was afraid of Gu Han Yuan, so she hadn't acted yet.
She called Ji Xiao Fu over and questioned her. This was also her way of investigating, in case it really was what she suspected, so she could clean up the mess.
Ji Xiao Fu hesitated for a moment before telling the truth.
Miejue Shitai looked at her former beloved disciple, both disappointed and heartbroken. But she still hoped for a chance for Ji Xiao Fu to redeem herself, so she ordered Ji Xiao Fu to assassinate Yang Xiao.
But she was refused.
Miejue Shitai was furious and raised her palm, ready to strike Ji Xiao Fu’s head.
When Ji Xiao Fu refused Miejue Shitai’s order, she already had a premonition.
Knowing that Miejue Shitai hated Yang Xiao most, she guessed that she would be purged.
In her heart, she thought:
“It’s a pity I won’t be able to stay with Bu Hui to raise her. And… I haven’t been able to repay Han Yuan for his kindness.”
In her final moments, besides her concern for Yang Bu Hui, she thought of Gu Han Yuan’s serious face when he was detoxifying her and his back that protected her several times.
Ji Xiao Fu had already prepared to close her eyes and wait for death.
But a long sword suddenly stabbed towards Miejue Shitai’s attacking palm.
If she didn't withdraw, she would at least lose her wrist.
Miejue Shitai could only retract her palm and step back.
“Miss Ji, I said I would protect you, and I never break my word.”
Ji Xiao Fu looked at the back that protected her again, feeling a sense of security.
It was different from the feeling she had with Yin Li Ting, where they were bound by marriage and had very little affection, and it was different from the resignation she felt after being forced by Yang Xiao. This was a feeling of protection that had been repeated many times, the feeling of always having his back turned towards her.
“Gu Han Yuan, are you really going to stop me from purging the sect?”
Miejue Shitai was furious to see Gu Han Yuan protecting Ji Xiao Fu again and questioned him.
“I’m just here to learn your skills, Shitai.”
Gu Han Yuan glanced at Ji Xiao Fu with a gentle expression of comfort in his eyes.
“Miss Ji, take Wuji Junior Brother and Bu Hui Little Sister and leave first. I will catch up later.”
Ji Xiao Fu looked at Gu Han Yuan’s eyes and suddenly didn’t want to die. At least she couldn’t disappoint his heart.
She didn’t refuse to leave first. She knew that Gu Han Yuan’s martial arts were much stronger than hers.
She decisively took Zhang Wuji and Yang Bu Hui and fled.
The disciples behind Miejue Shitai hadn’t received an order and dared not act on their own, not to mention Gu Han Yuan was blocking the way with his sword. Who knew if he would stop them?
“Alright. This old nun will have a taste of Zhang San Feng’s good disciple’s martial arts.”
Miejue Shitai was enraged and directly stabbed Gu Han Yuan with her Heaven-Relying Sword to make him retreat.
Gu Han Yuan had no intention of dodging at all. The Hero Sword met the Heaven-Relying Sword.
The two swords collided, evenly matched.
Miejue Shitai’s face immediately changed.
“Peak Innate? How is this possible! What kind of sword is this, that it can actually block the Heaven-Relying Sword?”
Miejue Shitai thought to herself: It’s only been a while, and he’s already gone from the early Innate stage to the peak Innate stage? What kind of talent is that?
“I’ve just had some good fortune. This sword is called the Hero Sword.”
Gu Han Yuan wasn’t going all out, his peak Innate strength was enough.
“What a good Hero Sword!”
Miejue Shitai really didn’t expect that there was another weapon that could clash with the Heaven-Relying Sword without being destroyed.
But she was confident that her martial arts skills were still above Gu Han Yuan, so she wasn’t afraid, and engaged in battle with him again.
Nine out of ten of Miejue Shitai’s illustrious reputation was due to the Heaven-Relying Sword. Her own martial arts skills were only at the early Grandmaster level, which could be considered bottom-tier.
Now that she had the Hero Sword that could rival the Heaven-Relying Sword, it was no problem to hold her back.
The Emei School’s swordsmanship wasn't bad. It's just that Miejue Shitai's talent was limited, and she couldn't learn it.
Although she created a sword technique like the "Miejue Double Sword," she relied more on the Heaven-Relying Sword’s sharpness. To say that it was exquisite was completely a lie.
The gap in swordsmanship between the two was huge. On top of that, Miejue Shitai had been injured by Jin Hua Po Po earlier. Now, she could only fight to a draw.