Chapter 3: Spring

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The Taoist of Reflection was taken aback, and the celestial sword swiftly thrust out, yet it did not touch even a fragment of the opponent's garment. However, a cry of anguish erupted from behind, as the figure gazed in disbelief at the blood hole pierced through their chest, lamenting as they collapsed to the ground

At that moment, Su Zhen's gaze intensified, causing his heart to race violently, and his momentum instantly diminished by three parts. However, upon seeing the True Man Tui Si standing before him, his courage surged once more, and he exclaimed: "Indeed, a demon like you deserves to be eradicated by everyone!"

Su Zhen's primordial spirit emitted a clear whistle, akin to a deafening thunder, shattering the silence and desolation of the heavens. The Crimson Blood Demon Sword responded to this sound with a piercing cry, transforming into a frenzied flash of lightning, as if it aimed to cleave the gloomy sky with streaks of blood, allowing the sun and moon to reappear.

As soon as he spoke, his expression turned desolate, for he recalled that he had already lost that game of chess. Even if he were to regain all his skills, it would be impossible to relive the glorious years of dominating the world.

With a lightness in the water, I took a deep breath and replied in a low, powerful tone: "What if, deep down in my heart, I am actually hoping that you will win?"

Su Zhen then spoke: "You are mistaken. The one who has been deliberately avoiding the answer all along is not me, but you. The title of the direct disciple of Tianyi Pavilion shines brightly, yet it is like a shackle that firmly binds you. I know what I want, and I also know what I am doing. But the water is light; do you even know what you truly desire? And even if you do know, do you dare to take that final step?"

The crowd secretly marveled: "This demon possesses formidable cultivation; in just a short moment, his power has remarkably recovered to such an extent!"

He was overjoyed after achieving his goal, but before he could even laugh out loud, he saw a flash of red light before him, and the Blood-red Sword gently brushed across his throat

However, Su's ribs simultaneously bore two additional wounds, from which hot blood flowed profusely

That beam of azure light was also a shade of darkness, faintly revealing the true form of the celestial sword, yet its momentum did not diminish in the slightest. Like the wind sweeping across the plains, it swiftly vanished over a hundred zhang away, disappearing into the hazy snow night

Shui Qingying sighed, saying: "You will never show weakness; separating the primordial spirit and exhausting true essence is no trivial matter."

Su Zhen stood beside that person, his hand resting on the crimson blood, his expression calm as he slowly said: "You are not yet worthy of receiving a second sword from me!"

These events unfolded with the swiftness of a rabbit rising and a hawk descending, so rapid that it was almost suffocating. By the time the dust settled, the high pavilion was already empty, and the Yellow Crane had faded into the distance

His heart was unexpectedly clear and empty, tinged with a hint of reluctance and disappointment. Finally, he gazed at the vast horizon, slowly closed his eyes, and softly murmured: "The great void is like an illusion, the true self returns!" Suddenly, a ball of blood-red light and mist erupted from the top of his head, transforming in an instant into a human form, floating amidst the merciless snow in the air.

Shui, with her bright and clear eyes, gazed at him and softly asked: "Su Zhen, why are you doing this? Why must you fight them to the death?"

Shui Qingying replied, "It is a cave located in Tianluo Mountain. After I rescued you, I did not dare to linger in that vicinity, so I flew westward on my sword for over 800 miles before finding this hiding place"

She gently rose, walked in front of Su Zhen, lowered her delicate figure, and gazed directly into his eyes as she slowly said: "At that moment, in my light heart, there were no lingering clouds of Tianyi Pavilion, no entanglements of righteousness and evil; the only thought was a clear understanding that you must not die"

Amidst the crowd, Master Ting Tao from the Biluojian Sect suddenly exclaimed, "Su Zhen is already at the end of his strength; what are you all hesitating for? Let’s charge forward and cut him down with our blades!"

The shifting light and shadow flickered, emanating an astonishing killing intent, while the features quickly became clear and distinct, reminiscent of Su Zhen's cold smile, exuding an indescribable aloofness

Everyone was on high alert, holding their heavy breaths, and gazing intently at Su Zhen. This moment felt incredibly long and silent, with even the sound of snowflakes landing seeming so clear.

Su Zhen laughed heartily, his voice resounding with authority, even more powerful than that of the Real Person Tui Si.

Shui Qingying gracefully took the garment and said, "You nearly lost your life, yet you still concern yourself with my clothing?"

Su Zhen suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the beam of azure light shooting towards the high mound, and a strange smile unexpectedly appeared at the corner of his mouth

He hurriedly embraced Yuan Shouyi, urging the pure celestial energy to flow into the sword blade, but the sword radiance that once filled the sky had already vanished.

Su Zhen recognized him as He Bing, the mountain lord of the Liangzhou Tai Fenglin, a vassal of the Wangqing Palace. In the past, such a character would not have been worthy of her drawing her sword, yet today, unexpectedly, he was able to strike her with a palm.

Su Zhen performed a brief examination using the technique of introspection and coldly remarked: "Those who wish to seize the 'Dawn Cold Spring Mountain Painting' will likely be disappointed. The injuries I sustained have surprisingly exchanged for dozens of lives, which is truly not a loss."

Su Zhen said: "Have I been unconscious for a long time?"

However, everyone has their own concerns and prefers to take advantage of the situation, which leads to a lack of unity among the people, ultimately allowing Su Zhen to defeat each one of them.

A crack! A cluster of sparks erupted from the campfire, and the warm air enveloped the space between the two individuals. They quietly faced each other, suddenly attuned to the beating of each other's hearts, feeling as if the wind and snow outside had suddenly receded.

Even so, Master Tui Si and others felt a loss of face. Master Ting Tao gazed in the direction where Jian Hua had vanished and said solemnly: "The Cloud Rises and Water Surges Technique is indeed light as water"

Everyone was forced to gasp for breath by the overwhelming sword energy rushing towards them, their vision blurred by countless colorful halos dancing before their eyes. They could no longer pay attention to Su Zhen and hurriedly retreated to protect themselves

Su Zhen dismissed it, saying: "How could it be that serious? You are making a mountain out of a molehill. In just two or three months, I will once again be able to roam the world with pride, looking down upon the Nine Provinces, leaving those greedy little rats who covet the heavenly way with nothing they can do."

Shui Qingying continued, "I know that you disdain to speak the truth of surrender, and you also disdain to beg for lightness, but have you ever considered my feelings? Su Zhen, I am not a puppet that you can arrange and manipulate at will"

Shui Qingying shook her head lightly and said, "I am fine, how do you feel?"

These thoughts flashed through the minds of the crowd like lightning, yet suddenly, a distant, ethereal sound of sword tips ringing was heard. A beam of soft, brilliant azure light emerged from the depths of the clouds, as if igniting the fireworks of this twilight, illuminating the snow-covered ground with a glow.

Since arriving at Taiqing Palace, there have been a total of six individuals. Upon witnessing one fellow disciple dead and two severely injured, the remaining three disciples were immediately filled with rage and impulsively drew their swords, shouting in unison: "Su Zhen, we will fight you to the death!"

Seeing this, two disciples of the Taiqing Palace, fearing that the Retired Thought Real Person would not be able to hold on for long, exchanged glances and almost simultaneously drew their swords, shouting: "Su Zhen, do you not accept your death!"

Her complexion was somewhat haggard, having previously endured a strike from the sword of the Retired Thought Master, and then without pause, she had flown several hundred miles. The depletion of her true essence was evident, and she had also sustained significant internal injuries

Two celestial swords flew in succession, attacking one after the other.

The Taoist priest Tui Si witnessed his disciple being killed right under his nose, feeling both shocked and angry, with a hint of shame. He lowered his voice and exclaimed: "Su Zhen, you have killed my disciple from the Taiqing sect; I must seek justice for this!"

Su Zhen and the *Illustrated* book's gaze was like lightning, striking that person, and he said: "Are you saying that you want to dismember Su with a chaotic blade?"

Su Zhen smiled faintly and closed her eyes, feeling a warm current slowly flowing in her dantian, silently accumulating the demonic energy within her body

The pristine white snow gradually covers the flowing blood on the ground, only to be swiftly submerged by new crimson stains; the world has become a battlefield of carnage

Shui gazed at him quietly, her eyes filled with tenderness. The two fell into a wonderful silence, only hearing the crisp crackling of the campfire, with the faint sound of the howling wind and snow from outside.

Water is light and ethereal: "Do you know that after you left the teahouse, Qingying asked Master Yixin where he would go from here? Master Yixin replied that the true essence of Lingshan is sought within each person's heart. The answer for Qingying lies only within herself, yet it remains obscured by the afflictions of the heart, making it impossible to see. At the moment you summoned your primordial spirit on the nameless high hill, I finally understood clearly what this answer, which has entangled and tormented me for so many years, truly is"

Looking at the slightly weary and delicate face reflected in the water, Su Zhen furrowed her brow and asked, "Are you injured?"

Shui Qingying smiled bitterly and said, "You cannot hide this from me. You want to force Qingying to take action, so you can understand your own worth in Qingying's eyes, right?"

Su Zhen scoffed disdainfully, "Finally, there are some shameless ones again!" With her right hand, the Scarlet Blood Sword swept through a flash of red light, causing the two Taoist priests from the Taiqing Palace to grunt and retreat, each leaving their right hands behind in the white snow.

Su Zhen did not respond, but her clenched hands were trembling slightly

The water trembled lightly as it spoke: "Su Zhen, why are you unwilling to admit that you have lost a piece in the game? Why do you not dare to win the delicate wager? You clearly know that you cannot deceive me, yet why do you continue to deceive yourself?"

Su Zhen's original cultivation had already reached the extraordinary and transcendent Great Ascension realm, merely a step away from becoming an immortal. Now, with the emergence of his primordial spirit, it was as if he had gained the wings of a tiger. Despite being on the brink of death, he still startled over a hundred righteous and demonic experts, who instinctively began to retreat.

In the chilling cold of the sword, within the brief span of a single incense stick, six more lives were lost under the Red Blood Sword

Indeed, everyone present was an exceptional expert; otherwise, they would not have qualified to participate in the siege against Su Zhen. However, the arrival of this individual was truly astonishing, rivaling even Su Zhen's prowess. Moreover, just moments ago, everyone's attention was entirely focused on Su Zhen's primordial spirit, completely unprepared for the fact that someone dared to break through the encirclement and rescue that demon, Su Zhen.

As the wounds on his body continued to multiply, his consciousness gradually began to blur, and the vital energy within him was nearing depletion

As the real person of Ting Tao seized the first three steps, he also drew the Immortal Sword. However, Bi Hua, unable to catch up, pursued from afar. The Immortal Sword circled in the air twice, no longer sensing the presence of the opponent, and ultimately returned empty-handed to its master's grasp

The power of this strike is unexpectedly more fierce and swift than Su Zhen's Blood Dragon Splitting the Sky technique, yet it possesses an additional three parts of righteous authority. Moreover, the sword energy contains not a trace of killing intent, and no one has truly been harmed under the sword, achieving the remarkable feat of hiding a needle within cotton, where only the transgressors are injured.

A man in a yellow robe seized the opportunity and struck heavily on his back, causing Su Zhen to spit out a mouthful of congealed blood. As he turned his body to the side, he caught sight of the man's ferocious face.

Bang! Two brilliant sword lights collided firmly in the high sky, the Silent Immortal Sword emitted a muffled sound like thunder as it spun back, and the True Man of Reflection felt a resonance as his true essence had already merged with the immortal sword, letting out a grunt and stepping back several paces.

Su Zhen said with a sigh: "I can't believe I've slept for so long; it feels like it's been years since I last did so"

Observing the situation in the Qing Palace depicted in the book "Taihe", it is not very promising; therefore, Master Tingtao raised his voice to rally the spirits of the crowd.

Su Zhen's black attire was soaked in dripping hot blood, resembling a solitary boat that appeared and disappeared in the vast ocean, yet it remained steadfast at the crest of the wind and waves

Su Zhen vaguely recalled the circumstances before his unconsciousness. On that vast high hill, heavy snow fell from the sky, and countless masters from both the righteous and demonic paths pounced on him like starving wolves. At the moment his primordial spirit left his body, a streak of emerald sword light flashed across the horizon, and he finally caught a glimpse of the figure of the one he longed for

It turns out that yesterday, the Biluojian Sect suffered heavy casualties in their battle against Su Zhen. Among the Seven Sons of Biluojian, the True Man of Stopping Wind was severely injured by Su Zhen, nearly losing half of his left arm, yet he still managed to teach Su Zhen how to escape calmly.

In the crowd, someone shouted, "What are we waiting for? Let's join together and slay this monster with our blades!"

Su Zhenwei shook her head and said calmly, "Am I not free of worries now?"

The Master Tuis thought for a moment and shook his head, saying: "The Water Fairy is a direct disciple of the Heavenly One Pavilion, and this behavior is truly perplexing"

The Real Person Tuis thought in astonishment: "The Rainbow Python Pearl!" A surge of immense power came from his hand, and the celestial sword unexpectedly threatened to slip from his grasp and take flight

Shui Qingying, seeing the situation, lightly reproached, "Your injuries are so severe; it is already a miracle that you have awakened, yet you are still moving about so restlessly." While saying this, she hurriedly reached out, carefully supporting him against the stone wall behind.

It is said that once practitioners reach a certain level of cultivation, they can condense their vital essence into a primordial spirit. Initially, this spirit is very small, resembling that of an infant. As their cultivation progresses, it gradually grows larger, eventually allowing them to traverse the void and soar through the skies. When faced with formidable foes, they can even summon their primordial spirit to significantly enhance their cultivation, seeking to achieve rebirth after facing death. However, this approach is fraught with danger; even if one does not perish due to the dissolution of their form and spirit, it will still consume decades of their hard-earned power. Therefore, few choose to employ this method.

The crowd instinctively stepped back slightly, revealing a momentary tranquility

Today, as they bid farewell to this demon, more than a dozen members of the Biluojian Sect wished nothing more than to slay him under their swords. However, after seven consecutive formations, the challengers either died or were injured, causing the onlookers to gradually feel a sense of dread. If it were not for the intervention of the Taiqing Palace, perhaps no one would have dared to take action again

As Su Zhen grew more and more courageous in battle, an array of magical treasures emerged around him, even including the Rainbow Python Pearl, one of the "Six Pearls of Tianlu." This left the venerable Retired Thought Real Person struggling to cope, and everyone present was filled with astonishment

He sat cross-legged, focusing his mind, gradually entering a state of emptiness where both self and the external world were forgotten. The accumulating vital energy circulated through his meridians for nine major cycles, and a hint of color returned to his face

Su Zhen slightly turned her gaze, her lips parted to emit a sharp "Hah!" From her mouth shot a blood-red orb the size of a longan, which instantly transformed into a seven-clawed red python over three zhang long. Its entire body shimmered with flowing red light, and its massive form resembled a divine dragon coiling around a pillar, wrapping around the Spirit Sword, intent on crushing it into pieces

Su Zhen did not spare him another glance, gathering the remaining demonic energy within her, wielding the magic sword in her hand, unleashing her final divine might, and consecutively striking down the three men at the forefront, exuding an unstoppable force that seemed capable of swallowing mountains and rivers.

Su Zhen suddenly raised his eyes, and Shui Qingying, fearless and graceful, met his gaze. She quietly said: "Yet you are a coward, forever too afraid to confess to Qingying, and would rather wager your life in search of the answer your heart desires. Are you truly so stingy with just a few words?"

This brilliant light indeed arrived too swiftly; before others could react, it had already swept to the high ridge, erupting with a thunderous sound like a profusion of blooming flowers, causing the purple clouds to surge and swirl, while the fierce winds howled and ravaged the sky.

Just now, in order to save Su Zhen, a considerable amount of celestial energy was consumed to protect her heart meridian and to clear the blocked blood vessels, which was even more exhausting than engaging in continuous fierce battles

Originally, nearly a hundred masters from both the righteous and demonic paths were awed by Su Zhen's astonishing divine skills, and they all began to entertain thoughts of retreating and observing. At this moment, seeing the Biluojian Sect and the Taiqing Palace joining forces to launch an attack, they immediately stirred restlessly.

He momentarily lost focus, and the pressure from the True Person of Retreat diminished significantly. Seizing the opportunity, he flicked his wrist and shouted: "Go!" The radiant light of the celestial sword surged, causing the blood python to be shaken up, reverting it back into the Rainbow Python Pearl, which was then returned to Su Zhen's mouth

He fell silent and then realized that he was lying on soft pine needles, with a blue garment spread beneath him. Clearly, everything had been arranged with delicate care to prevent him from being harmed by the cold.

However, the depletion of true essence by the Retired Thought Real Person is also considerable, leading to a state of agitation and difficulty in sustaining composure

He thought for a moment and guessed that this must be due to Shui Qingying administering the "Binglian Zhudan" from Tianyi Pavilion while he was unconscious; otherwise, such rapid effects would not have been possible

Su's gaze, however, was fixed on the burning campfire, and she said softly, "I am happy"

Not far behind the Retired Thought Master stood a disciple of the Ta Qing Palace, who called out: "Master Uncle, with your venerable body worth a fortune, why bother to stoop to the level of that demon? When dealing with such a fiend, there is no need to speak of any sentiments or rules; everyone can simply chop him into pieces, which would also count as ridding the world of a menace!"

The Master of Reflection suddenly changed color and exclaimed: "The primordial spirit has left the body!"

Everyone was awakened by the words of the Master of Stopping Waves. It was clear to all that if Su Zhen's primordial spirit were to invoke the Blood Dragon Rending Heaven Technique, half of those present would likely not see the sunrise tomorrow. Some were so frightened that their lips trembled, murmuring, "This demon is truly insane, actually intending to perish with us!"

They either refrain from attacking out of concern for their status, or they hope to act like a mantis stalking a cicada, or they hesitate and observe, unwilling to tread the same path that leaves no trace.

No one can fathom the reasons behind it, yet everyone unanimously feels that it is better to let Su Zhen, who resembles a reincarnated demon king, break free and leave than to confront him directly

Su Zhen did not respond, and with great difficulty, he pulled out the clothing from beneath him, saying: "I must return this to you; do not let it be stained by my blood." After saying this, he suddenly froze, realizing that the garment was already soaked with his own blood

It is now early spring

Among them were disciples from the Zhengdao Taiqing Palace and the Biluo Sword Sect, as well as notorious giants from the demonic path, yet all fell before Su Zhen in this unprecedented massacre

Upon hearing the words of this person, Su Zhen felt a sudden sense of relief, his gaze falling upon the exquisite and graceful face before him. Shui Qingying knelt gracefully by the campfire, her gentle eyes fixed on his face, and behind that calm expression, Su Zhen could easily discern the hidden joy and comfort.

Ting Tao, feeling frustrated and angry at his own failure, said: "She has willingly fallen from grace and rescued Su Zhen. I am curious to see how, in the future, Shui Qingying will explain this to Tian Lu Zhengdao and her sect."

At the moment when everyone was deep in thought, Su Zhen moved with the speed of lightning, darting forward like a ghost for about fifteen or sixteen zhang, swiftly passing by the side of Retired Master Si.

Su Zhen struggled to sit up, but nearly tore the wound that had already been treated with ointment, causing cold sweat to bead on his forehead from the pain, yet he gritted his teeth and remained silent

With a light and graceful demeanor, she furrowed her delicate brows and said, "You have only spoken a few words and already you are panting. Why not quickly sit down and regulate your breathing?"

Shui Qingying said, "It is already the latter half of the night; you have been in a deep sleep for about four hours. Soon, it will be dawn."

And although the spring chill is biting, the gentle warmth of the bonfire radiates a rising heat, making one feel no cold at all

Ting Tao shouted sternly: "He is about to unleash the 'Blood Dragon Sky Split Technique', quickly take action to stop him!"

Strangely, this time was different; from the very beginning, he seemed to have no intention of escaping again. Even if he summoned his primordial spirit, it was only to fight to the bitter end, leaving nothing but ashes.

These three Taoist priests are all outstanding selections among the second-generation disciples of the Taiqing Palace. Once they disregard their lives and launch a fierce joint attack, their momentum is indeed extraordinary, and for a time, they managed to trap Su Zhen within a swirling light of swords, leaving him unable to escape

Her light and clear gaze fixed intently on his face, she whispered, "You clearly could have won that game of chess, so why did you concede at the last moment?"

The people around whispered among themselves, their faces clouded with concern, all thinking that if Su Zhen had the assistance of Shui Qingying, it would likely become even more difficult to deal with him in the future

A sword pierced through his tiger waist, causing Su Zhen to lose his balance in an instant and stagger backward

The Master Tuisu, with his profound cultivation, stabilized his form by grounding his true energy in the dantian and rebuked, "Shui Qingying, you dare to rescue Su Zhen!" In his hand, the Spirit Sword of Tranquility suddenly soared, as he invoked the Sword Control Technique to pursue that beam of azure light.

Su Zhen's expression remained unchanged as he slowly said: "Even if you know, what difference does it make? In the end, you cannot let go of Tianyi Pavilion, and I have already lost that game of chess"

In recent months, Su Zhen has not been trapped for the first time, but in the past, he relied on the ever-changing techniques of Qimen Dunjia and his unparalleled cultivation to repeatedly escape from perilous situations

Su Zhen said: "Isn't that exactly what you wished for? Why ask so many questions about it?"

He smiled faintly, filled with a sense of weariness, and slowly said: "Over the years, we have been playing this game of you escaping and me pursuing. Now I have grown weary of it. I have done what I needed to do, and I have said what I needed to say. When the sun rises today, I will go to complete the last unfinished task, and then I will fulfill my promise to you and retreat to Juyun Peak. I once thought I would never have the chance to let you know these words, but unexpectedly, heaven has opened its eyes this time, allowing me to express all the words hidden in my heart in this cave, which can be considered a decent conclusion."

Su Zhen gasped as he drew the long sword that hung at his waist with his left hand, suddenly letting out a long laugh and saying: "I, Su, am a great man, standing tall and firm. Even if I were to be shattered into pieces, I would not allow you petty villains to gloat and smirk!"

However, as soon as Taiqing Palace engaged in battle, nearly half of its members were killed or injured, and even Retired Master Si suffered a hidden loss. If this continues, it is feared that Su Zhen will escape once again

Ting Tao knew very well in his heart that if all the more than one hundred masters present were to attack together, even if Su Zhen possessed extraordinary skills, he would find it impossible to escape.

Everyone, driven by hatred and greed, fear and anger, transforms into a surging tide of fury in an instant, submerging Su Zhen's solitary and upright figure in the tumultuous sea of snow at dusk.

The crowd, filled with excitement, suddenly erupted, yet after a moment of silence, no one ultimately stepped forward

More than an hour later, Su Zhen finished his breathing exercises and opened his eyes. Looking around, he asked, "Where is this?"

Su's body trembled slightly, but she ultimately did not turn her head, still facing her sideways and saying: "It's a pity, but it is of no use to say this; I have indeed lost."

A sharp pain from his wound jolted Su Zhen's nerves awake. He let out a low groan and opened his eyes, the warm glow of the campfire coming into view. In the haze, a familiar voice gently said, "You finally woke up"

The tranquil divine sword, with its azure light cascading like a waterfall, rolled towards Su Zhen's chest, having already invoked the "One Qi Three Purities Heart Method" of the Taiqing Palace