Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!-Chapter 718 - 717: Genius and Genius

Zhang Xiaoqing’s attacks were straightforward; from start to finish, it was all Sword Dao. And though her attacks seemed casual, they contained an overwhelming killing intention. Of course, she didn’t truly intend to kill Zhang Ziyu, merely to give him a warning: never speak ill of others behind their backs again.

"AAAHHH! FUCK!"

"Ah! Ping, save me!"

"Damn... this woman is crazy! Elder, Clan Leader, SOB... SOB..."

"I was wrong!" After a ten-minute ordeal, Zhang Ziyu finally couldn’t bear it any longer. He knelt amidst the ruins, apologizing with a trembling voice.

Only then did he clearly see his assailant: delicate features, a slender figure—she appeared to be an ordinary woman. Then, a connection seemed to spark in his mind. Instantly, a chill shot through him, and he hastily corrected himself, "Fairy!"

Undoubtedly, this was Zhang Xiaoqing, the foremost talent of the Zhang Family’s younger generation.

"Get up!" Zhang Xiaoqing said.

"I dare not!"

"The Sword Immortal’s Successor, is this all the skill you possess?" Her tone was calm, yet it always imparted a chilling feeling, as if she were hiding something.

Killing intention? Coldness? Or like a beast lurking in the darkness, the inadvertent sounds it makes?

Zhang Ziyu scrambled to his feet, forcing a smile.

"The Sword Dao of the Sword Immortal features the Opening Heaven Sword Intent as its core and the Vast Sword Qi as its supplement. It emphasizes Wu Ji and the Great Ultimate, embodying principles that are straightforward and upright. This Dao possesses infinite profound meanings and endless extremes. If one can comprehend even a part of it, one can surely achieve Tao Verification and attain Emperor Cheng. This is the starting point..." Zhang Xiaoqing looked at him.

He didn’t understand a single word. If he had even a minimal understanding, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a sorry state. But he couldn’t show that he truly didn’t understand. He could only feign an epiphany and then ask, "What do you mean?"

The onlookers stumbled.

Zhang Xiaoqing said only one thing: "Just one."

Zhang Ziyu: "???" Then what?

Clearly, this was a conversation on entirely different levels.

Zhang Xiaoqing watched him, saying nothing for a long time.

"It’s time to set off," Chen Pingping finally interjected, breaking the deadlock.

"Right, right, right! Let’s hurry up and set off!" Zhang Ziyu, like a drowning man suddenly grasping a life-saving straw, scrambled towards Chen Pingping. His injuries were slowly beginning to heal.

Zhang Xiaoqing glanced sideways. Evidently, she had only just noticed Chen Pingping’s presence and was certain he was not from the Zhang Family, but an outsider. But no one spoke up. Although puzzled, she did not ask too many questions.

The trio gradually moved further and further away.

The elders left behind quietly breathed a sigh of relief, murmuring, "With Xiaoqing intervening, hopefully, those guys won’t dare to act rashly. After all, she once slew someone in the Quasi-Emperor Realm."

No one spoke as they journeyed on.

Zhang Ziyu hesitated several times, wanting to speak, glancing first at Chen Pingping, then towards Zhang Xiaoqing. He was a chatterbox and couldn’t stand the silence, but since neither of them spoke, he didn’t know what to say. What he didn’t realize was that ever since they had left the Zhang Family, Zhang Xiaoqing had been subtly testing Chen Pingping’s strength. Yet, this fellow remained perfectly calm, his expression indifferent, showing no reaction whatsoever. For a genius like her, this was somewhat of a blow.

This person was not simple.

「Shepherd City.」

An ancient city with a long history, Shepherd City was situated centrally among the four great powers and belonged to an ancient country.

At this moment, a figure in white sped in from the distance, moving with incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, she arrived above the ancient city.

It was Nalan Hongying, from the Nalan family responsible for guarding the Azure Dragon’s territory. She was also the top young talent within the Nalan family, her fame rivaling Zhang Xiaoqing’s. Compared to Zhang Xiaoqing’s "overnight fame," Nalan Hongying’s achievements were much more low-key. She had nothing astonishing to her name, though she had occasionally taken action to deter those in the Great Saint Realm. She looked quite young, with a face like peach blossoms and delicate features. Dressed in a white robe, she exuded an overall nostalgic aura.

Not long after, Zhu Zibai of the Zhu Family approached from the distance. He was a young man with sharp brows and starry eyes, a tall and slender build, and impeccable attire; he possessed an extraordinary presence. He smiled and nodded at Nalan Hongying by way of greeting.

HAHAHA!

On the ancient path in the distance, a third figure approached: Marquis. He was a portly man, corpulent in build and face, yet quite tall—around one meter eighty-nine—giving an impression of robust strength. His hearty laugh carried far to reach them.

"Decades have passed since our last gathering. I never imagined we’d come together this time because of the Zhang Family," Marquis chuckled.

"I’ve heard that the one sent by the Zhang Family is Zhang Ziyu, the Sword Immortal’s Successor, not Zhang Xiaoqing!" Zhu Zibai said with a smile.

"Oh?" Marquis began, "That fellow who fancies himself the Son of the Fate Energy?" After a pause, he added, "Zhang Xiaoqing probably died out there. The Zhang Family couldn’t find any other young talent in time, so they sent Zhang Ziyu to fill in. It’s understandable."

"Yes!" Zhu Zibai affirmed unequivocally. "The Divine Clan has invaded, Tiger Land has shattered, and the Four Symbols Array is on the verge of collapse. The God Grids of the Divine Clan’s great deities will also likely awaken..."

"Do you believe that?" Marquis asked, a corner of his mouth twitching, his smile meaningful.

The Sword Immortal himself had laid down the array, and it had operated for countless ages. True, cracks had appeared in Tiger Land before, but hadn’t they always healed in the end? Moreover, the three great families were intimately familiar with the Four Symbols Array. Its components could operate in unison or independently; they were distinct entities that complemented each other, yet each could individually suppress a God Grid of the Divine Clan.

Consequently, they hadn’t approached the negotiations initiated by the Zhang Family with much sincerity. On the contrary, the three families shared an attitude of indifference: What does this have to do with us? They even looked down on the representative sent by the Zhang Family, feeling the family lacked sincerity. Among their many talented youths, besides Zhang Xiaoqing, aren’t there several other powerful ones? Why send a mere braggart here? What? Does the Zhang Family think we’re easy to fool? Marquis was inwardly dismissive.

Zhu Zibai just smiled and said nothing more.

Only Nalan Hongying, standing to the side, suddenly frowned. Her gaze fixed on a narrow path to the south. Beyond it lay an ancient town, and before it, the ancient city, separated by a distance of several tens of miles. A few teahouses with glowing lanterns dotted the narrow path, which bustled with passersby and even merchant caravans.

Among them, two figures caught her attention. A man and a woman. The man was elegant, the woman devastatingly beautiful.

"Divine Clan!" Nalan Hongying whispered.

The powerful Divine Clan, though they appeared in the human world in human form, had extremely strict standards for their transformed appearances. They had to be beautiful. Furthermore, such members of the Divine Clan differed significantly from Human Clan cultivators. Human cultivators had internal energy fluctuations, whereas Divine Clan members exhibited Divine Power fluctuations or potent bloodline fluctuations.

Zhu Zibai also looked over, his expression suddenly stiffening. "Goddess!"

Marquis’s mouth fell slightly open, his heart shaken. The Goddess of the Divine Clan was not to be trifled with. Her appearance here could mean the negotiations between the four powers might fall through! Of course, the three major powers didn’t particularly care. But still, what did the Goddess’s presence signify?

"Long time no see," Wang Lin’er said with a light laugh.

They had all met before; they were acquaintances. It had simply been so long that they had almost forgotten.

The three remained silent, their expressions grave.

Wang Lin’er spoke again, "Eh? Where is the Son of the Fate Energy from your Human Clan?"

The three exchanged glances, all grasping the same implication: she was here for Zhang Ziyu. Hearing this, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In the lands of Huangzhou, the one person the Human Clan’s geniuses least wanted to face was this woman before them. She was simply too terrifying. If the Goddess were to challenge them, would they accept or decline? As the foremost young talents of their respective families, a challenge from the Goddess placed immense pressure on them. Fortunately, her target was Zhang Ziyu.

Nalan Hongying composed herself and said softly, "He hasn’t arrived yet."