CHAPTER 483: CHAPTER 470: KITE WUDING

Yue Hongling had long ago learned from the captive where the so-called Sword Array cave was located and had been covertly lurking outside for a long time.

The moment Wuding and several Unmarked Sword Slaves were inside, Yue Hongling did not even dare to peek in, afraid of being discovered. She carefully concealed herself, just waiting for the right moment.

She knew that once Zhao Changhe engaged in battle, Wuding would surely react. Whether he would be drawn out depended on Zhao Changhe’s performance...

Yue Hongling was very confident about this.

No one understood Zhao Changhe’s progress in these days better than she did... When Zhao Changhe wielded the Dragon Sparrow again, she knew that overcoming him would require a great deal of Heart Power, and there was a high possibility of injury. She didn’t even dare to test the power of Divine Weapons.

Without Wuding present, ordinary people couldn’t stop Zhao Changhe in the slightest.

Sure enough, it didn’t take long for a voice that sounded like Wuding muttering to himself to come from the cave: "Zhao Changhe?"

After a moment of surprise, he exclaimed, "So strong... This person is hardly any weaker than Wang Daozhong. Truly worthy of being the most powerful Hidden Dragon in history, such a terrifying rate of progression..."

From this, it was clear that Wuding could receive information about the battle, even if he might not know the details, at least he was aware of the overall situation.

But even Wuding could not recognize that this was the work of the old sorcerer Si and Wang Daozhong.

The skills Zhao Changhe mastered were too diverse... Once he could simplify his extensive knowledge to the essence, reverting to simplicity and truth, perhaps that would be his path to the Heavenly List. Of course, this would be a long-term process and not so easy.

"Do not meet it head-on!" Wuding blurted out from inside, and immediately a sword light burst forth from the cave: "Hold the Sword Array steady, I will be back soon!"

This was the moment she had been waiting for!

As soon as Wuding left, Yue Hongling immediately flashed into the cave.

Changhe had done as perfectly as possible, now it was up to her to prevent Wuding from focusing his full strength on Changhe, or else Changhe would not cope.

Looking inside from the dark area near the entrance, there were only four people in the cave, all in white clothes like snow, surrounding a floating bone sword in a solemn position... Yue Hongling knew there was an acquaintance among them.

It was Ying Shuang, who had just been defeated by Han Wubing and returned... Unfortunately, she could not recognize which one.

On closer inspection, this arrangement was not so special; it was actually the very common Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation, made unrecognizable at first glance because it lacked three non-adjacent positions, but on closer examination, it was still quite obvious.

The Big Dipper was a very useful formation, especially beloved by swordsmen for its deathly intent and fierce slaughter.

There were four people here, plus Wuding and Lan Wujiang, six people... Only one Han Wubing was missing to complete the set.

Pairing with the central Ancient Sword, one could vaguely see some significance...

This place concealed a Secret Realm with no discernible entrance, and this bone sword was closely related to the Secret Realm.

So this was a formation to break through space... By using the method of the Big Dipper Seven Stars, it invoked the three talents of heaven, earth, and humankind to draw out items strongly related to the Secret Realm, forcibly shattering the Void, and connecting two worlds.

Yue Hongling could almost see how the Sword Qi of the swordsmen forming the Array constituted its core, and how the daily Sword Qi and Sword Intent of the Sword Pavilion disciples were gradually being absorbed by the Array. The severe cold of the snow peak, the floating snow and frost from the sky, all gathering at the Array Core, formed an extremely yin and solemn Sword Intent that was terrifyingly powerful.

That was the reason for the cold weather causing snow in May... This bone sword carried an extremely terrifying energy, perhaps much more frightening than the Dragon Sparrow.

Yue Hongling had heard of the events in Gusu before... This was somewhat similar to the concept of the Sword Emperor’s Tomb, where the Sword Emperor’s terrifying Evil Sword forcibly broke through space to reach Huqiu, except this time it was directed downward.

Then the consequences would surely be the same—what had Zhao Changhe and Sisi struggled to prevent at the Sword Emperor’s Tomb? One was the revival of the Sword Emperor, the other was the collapse of the Secret Realm leading to a shattering of mountains and lands, potentially turning the whole Gusu into ruins.

What would be the result if Wuding forcibly broke open space using this unstable method, and the Secret Realm Space was squeezed out of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain?

The collapse of the Snow Mountain, the shattering of heaven and earth, not to mention the entire area covered by the Snow Mountain being destroyed in an instant, the whole Miao Region would be shaken by a massive earthquake, countless people might die!

How could Wuding dare to do this! Had he become reckless with his own life? Even if he could enter the Secret Realm in time to survive, wouldn’t all the Sword Pavilion disciples be doomed?

That was precisely his grand scheme for relocating here and collaborating with the Black Miao. After the Black Miao helped him find Lan Wujiang and the other sufficiently powerful Sword Slaves for the Array, and after locating the general position of the Secret Realm behind the Snow Mountain, he wouldn’t necessarily have to continue any cooperation with the Black Miao. If there was any Core Technique for the Sword Slaves, it was most likely within this Secret Realm!

The four Sword Slaves were currently on high alert, and Yue Hongling could no longer afford to wait for an opportunity. If she waited any longer, Zhao Changhe might be slaughtered by Wuding...

Her figure suddenly moved, and a thread of sword light silently aimed at the nearest white-clothed Sword Slave.

With a "clang," there was an invisible shield of Sword Qi circulating the perimeter of the Array, solidly blocking Yue Hongling’s stealthy attack.

Not only that, but there was also Sword Qi swirling around from behind, seemingly forming a roaming sword net on the periphery, preventing her from leaving.

The four Sword Slaves simultaneously opened their eyes and looked back, their four longswords arriving almost simultaneously at the vital points around Yue Hongling, "Seeking death!"

Not only was Ying Shuang on the Human List, but the others weren’t far behind, at least all at the level of Lan Wujiang, and they had the support of an array.

Yue Hongling’s battle was going to be even tougher than Zhao Changhe’s.

Yet, there was not a hint of hesitation on her face; her sword light was fluid, clashing with all four swords almost at the same time, her footsteps subtly shifting as she pressed forward in attack again.

If the Sword Pavilion’s sword was like the cold frost, then Yue Hongling’s sword was like the Jinghong, very beautiful.

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Luoxia Manor’s Jinghong Swordsmanship... To be able to master such a basic sword technique, such an ordinary longsword to this extent is impressive... You are Yue Hongling!"

Yue Hongling remained silent, and in the span of a sentence, her longsword had parried more than ten of the opponent’s strikes.

"Isn’t it good for Yue Hongling to come here?" another Sword Slave sighed, "Even without Han Wubing, she would be the seventh."

"Absolutely!" Another Sword Slave was almost excited, "If we can’t kill Zhao Changhe, capturing Yue Hongling is also good..."

Yue Hongling couldn’t help but glance at him, it’s you, Ying Shuang...

She appeared to be dueling with the opponents, but out of the corner of her eye, she had been sizing up the sword array enveloped in Sword Qi. As she observed, a realization seemed to dawn in her eyes.

Where energy flows, there must be a beginning, sustenance, transition, and conclusion, especially in the form of Sword Qi, which will more likely follow the Sword Intent.

Initially unable to find the clue because she was analyzing it according to the Sword Pavilion’s Sword Intent, she had only realized after exchanging a few blows that the intent within this array was very classical... It had a rough and bold feeling reminiscent of Ancient Times, different from the Sword Pavilion’s. But it wasn’t hard to discern the pattern because Yue Hongling had received too much Ancient Sword Intent from Zhao Changhe, and many things were common, with minor differences.

She slowly fought and retreated, drawing the four Sword Slaves away from the array core, her back almost touching the Sword Qi barrier behind her.

"You can’t escape..." Ying Shuang said, "Zhao Changhe has to suffer some losses, damn it..."

Suddenly, a thunderous boom came from afar, and the sky darkened as if the stars and moon lost their light.

All four Sword Slaves opened their eyes in shock, "Can Zhao Changhe really be this strong?"

Now is the moment!

"Clang!" Yue Hongling parried the sword of another Sword Slave beside her, and suddenly the light from her sword surged, striking directly at Ying Shuang’s face.

"Sunset Divine Sword, huh? I’ve been guarding against this move from you..." Ying Shuang confidently sidestepped and swung his sword toward Yue Hongling’s waist but found that Yue Hongling had charged right past the opening he had allowed...

It was nothing but a feint!

As Ying Shuang created the opening, the Sunset River strike charged directly towards the core of the array. The Sword Qi in the array that had been blocking her moments earlier seemed to have no effect at all now and was pierced through by the sword light.

"Not good!" Several Sword Slaves exclaimed in unison, rushing towards the center of the array.

But was it already too late?

The fierce light from the sword went straight in, ruthlessly striking the Bone Sword.

The Bone Sword wavered and with a "snap," moved out of its original position.

The circulation of the great array stopped suddenly, and even the coldness in the air dissipated a great deal. The Sword Qi swirling outside almost vanished completely, and Yue Hongling stepped forward again, trying to seize the Bone Sword.

In the Sword Slaves’ Soul Seas, Wuding’s voice rang out in panic and frustration, "Who is attacking the Sword Array!"

Outside the mountain, Sword Qi howled; Wuding, disregarding Zhao Changhe, rushed back like a madman.

Zhao Changhe heard Dragon Sparrow’s teasing voice, "Are you sure his name isn’t supposed to mean ’Drifting Without a Destination’? Whether it’s his subordinate Ying Shuang or himself."

Zhao Changhe had no time to banter with it and flew into the mountain.

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PS: Sorry for being quite late, an unexpected matter delayed me, eh.

Last month it wasn’t "Ji Eight" but became "Ji Ten," still pretty great. First day of the month, begging for the base monthly ticket!