bookpower Chapter 40 – Battle Zhang Hanxiao
Chapter 40 – Battle Zhang Hanxiao
Zhang Hanxiao, the top performer in Azure Cloud Sect's missions, naturally possessed exceptional strength.
Despite his fondness for gambling and vice, his talent was undeniable. Not yet thirty, he had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
Among the disciples of Crimson Sky Peak, he was only slightly older than Mu Baishuang and Li Qingran. Although his cultivation level couldn't compare to Lu Changtian and others, he always managed to overshadow Li Qingran. Back when they were still at Crimson Sky Peak, Li Qingran was often called by Zhang Hanxiao to be his punching bag, yet she was never a match for him.
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Both practiced the exclusive sword technique of Crimson Sky Peak—the Lesser Wuxiang Sword.
Zhang Hanxiao had mastered the sword technique, while Li Qingran, having joined Crimson Sky Peak for a shorter period, progressed slowly. Her master, Daoist Qingxuan, often secluded himself in meditation and wasn't particularly responsible. Moreover, she seemed to lack talent in swordsmanship, taking three years to barely reach a minor achievement.
Facing Zhang Hanxiao, who surpassed her in every aspect of swordsmanship and inner strength, Li Qingran couldn't deny feeling pressured.
Yet her hand remained steady on the hilt of her sword.
She held the Su Xian Sword.
"Li Qingran, I heard from First Senior Brother that you managed to cultivate to the peak of Qi Refining despite having a damaged dantian? Such perseverance! If only you had been this diligent when you were still at Crimson Sky Peak. But back then, you were always fooling around, and now it's too late to start working hard."
Zhang Hanxiao instinctively reached for his flying sword, only to find it missing.
He remembered he had given his usual flying sword to Mu Baishuang.
Now, he only had a low-grade spiritual artifact, a dull flying sword he wouldn't even use to chop vegetables.
He pursed his lips and still took out that sword. Against Li Qingran, this broken flying sword would suffice.
"Li Qingran, I'm at mid-stage Foundation Establishment. To duel with you at this level would be dishonorable even if I win. So, I'll suppress my cultivation to the peak of Qi Refining, just like you." Zhang Hanxiao pointed his sword at Li Qingran, arrogantly lifting his chin.
Not far away, Daoist Qingxuan couldn't help but twitch his mouth, his face growing darker.
Zhang Hanxiao, you fool!
Li Qingran's dantian was damaged, and she had no spiritual root. Suppressing to the peak of Qi Refining was still unfair. At least suppressing to the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining would appear fair on the surface.
How did he end up accepting such a disgraceful fool into Crimson Sky Peak?
Wu Duantian understood Daoist Qingxuan well. This elder cared most about his reputation. Seeing Daoist Qingxuan's face darken like the bottom of a pot, Wu Duantian estimated that after today's events, Zhang Hanxiao would likely spend half a year facing the wall at Reflection Cliff.
Faced with Zhang Hanxiao's taunts, Li Qingran remained silent.
Her sword was already drawn, its light like lightning, her body like a startled swan, swiftly charging towards Zhang Hanxiao.
"Sister, your first move 'Startled Branch' is not yet perfected!" Zhang Hanxiao laughed loudly, leaping into the air, slashing down with a sword, three sword shadows converging towards Li Qingran, launching the vicious killing move of the Lesser Wuxiang Sword—Lonely Swan Shadow.
Watching Li Qingran, who showed no sign of fatigue, Zhang Hanxiao's Dao Heart wavered, causing him to lose focus for a moment.
Losing focus in battle was a grave mistake.
Li Qingran seized the opportunity, her sword moves shifting from conservative to aggressive.
Her robes fluttered, graceful as a butterfly.
The ninth move of the Lesser Wuxiang Sword—Dancing Shadows of the Trees.
With a flick of her wrist, the sword seemed to transform into sunlight filtering through leaves, creating dense spots of light, or shattering into countless fragments, each targeting a vital point.
Li Qingran fully realized her transformation.
Dancing Shadows of the Trees was the most difficult move of the Lesser Wuxiang Sword. In the past, she couldn't execute it with ease, but today it flowed effortlessly.
The Superior Grade Dantian not only enhanced her spiritual energy purity and reserves.
It also improved her comprehension!
Thinking of this, Li Qingran's eyes grew warm.
The value of that pill was unimaginable.
Yet the senior gave her the pill just to restore her dantian...
Perhaps that Divine Pill was useful to the senior as well, but they still used it on her.
"Senior, Qingran will not disappoint you!"
"Li Qingran, don't push your luck!" Zhang Hanxiao dodged awkwardly, his anger reaching its peak.
He no longer suppressed his cultivation, forming hand seals, returning to mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
But Li Qingran's sword had already arrived!
The sword light was like a shadow, fragments of gold filling the sky.
With a scream.
Zhang Hanxiao's body flew backward, rolling in the dust, his chest and limbs covered in dense sword wounds, blood gushing out.
Three steps away,
Li Qingran sheathed her sword, standing tall.