The sword-wielding youth spoke just as the group of Long Clan Soldiers pounced over like crazed tigers.
Their armor clanging against their weapons created a series of thunderous roars.
Chu Xisheng's complexion became unsightly in an instant.
If they were anywhere else, they would never have ended up in such a dire situation.
The footsteps of these Long Clan Soldiers and the clashing sounds of their armor could be heard from a mile away under normal circumstances.
Yet here, the flowing hot spring waters absorbed and isolated these noises.
"You go first!" Lu Luanti, with a stern expression, held her Straight Blade upside down in hand and watched the opposite side, "I'll do my best to hold them off."
Her undercover identity could only end here.
Chu Xisheng did not hesitate, hefting Tie Xiaosheng and running backward.
Staying here with Tie Xiaosheng would only be a burden for Lu Luanti.
Especially the guy on his back, who was doomed without question.
Lu Luanti, catching a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of her eye, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her mouth.
Before you run, drop Tie Xiaosheng! He's usually quite clever, so how come he has no awareness of his own physical condition?
He is clearly someone who has to catch his breath after running a short distance. Yet against all odds, he's trying to carry a man weighing at least 250 pounds. Can he even make it out?
She had no time for distractions, as the sword-wielding youth directly leaped, crossing the expanse of the hot spring pool several zhang wide.
His right hand wielded the sword like an eagle swooping from the sky, with the blade tip aimed straight at Chu Xisheng's back.
Without any hesitation, Lu Luanti's blade swung upward in a slashing motion toward the sword-wielding youth's chest and abdomen. As the sound of a 'ding' rang faintly between them, the youth was forced to retreat several zhang, a trace of blood now visible on his shoulder.
It was a minor injury that did not affect his combat ability, but the youth frowned with a hint of surprise, looking at the woman before him, "Nice Sword Skill, at least Seventh Rank in the Martial Realm! I see now, no wonder you were able to slay more than twenty of our people in less than 15 minutes.
I was puzzled. Even if that Chu Xisheng's sword technique is fast, the speed of those killings was too exaggerated. It must have been you who really made the move."
Lu Luanti did not respond, her blade's light forming a seal – she cut out an arc of Sword Energy, not only killing two men but also forcing back all the Long Clan Soldiers attempting to flank her.
The sword-wielding youth was indifferent to the death of the Long Clan Soldiers, his eyes fixed on the Straight Blade in Lu Luanti's hand.
To be precise, he was looking at a notch on the blade.
It was caused by his sword light's heavy blow during their exchange.
"Too bad your blade is lacking, not worthy of your Sword Skill," the youth's lips slightly curved upward, suddenly speeding forward with Light Body technique, his green long sword repeatedly colliding with Lu Luanti's Straight Blade, producing a series of clanking sounds and sparks flying.
However, his aim was not Lu Luanti herself but her Straight Blade, increasing the notches on the blade by three in mere moments.
Lu Luanti had no choice but to take out a platinum-colored talisman during the clash and slap it onto her blade.
It was a 'Geng Yuan Talisman' that could strengthen the durability of a weapon.
"So you practice Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts?" the sword-wielding youth's eyes widened with even more surprise.
He then sneered secretly, having not expected to encounter such a foolish person in this world.
Magic not only dislikes metal, but Spiritual Power and Martial Arts True Essence also have difficulty melding together.
Dual Cultivation before reaching the Fourth Grade is hardly effective, essentially a waste of talent.
Just then, Lu Luanti swung her right hand fiercely, creating a whirlwind within the cave.
Her blade, mixed with the storm, slashed towards her opponent like white light.
The sword-wielding youth instinctively wanted to dodge, but he found that under the influence of the chaotic winds, his movement technique was slightly hindered, and he couldn't transition as fluidly as before.
Lu Luanti's blade broke through his sword's defensive barrier, leaving a wound on his arm.
"You practice the Divine Eagle Sword."
Lu Luanti's gaze was icy as his saber flashed one strike after another, "The question is, does the eagle that falls in the pit still have the ability to be the king of a hundred birds?"
The youth holding his sword had a slightly sunken expression as he desperately tried to defend.
His "Divine Eagle Sword" needed to be used in conjunction with spacious movement techniques to unleash its true power.
In this narrow terrain, a cave no higher than fifteen meters, his combat power was less than seventy percent of its usual.
However, in his field of vision, already a dozen Long Clan Soldiers had bypassed the woman blocking their way, sprinting toward the direction where Chu Xisheng was escaping.
※※※※
By the time Chu Xisheng had run two hundred meters, he could no longer move.
He was gasping for air as if he were a laboring ox, with large beads of sweat emerging from his forehead.
At this moment, a weak voice rang out beside Chu Xisheng's ear, "Brother, put me down."
Chu Xisheng jumped in surprise, and when he turned his head, he realized it was Tie Xiaosheng.
The man had awoken at this time, his breath frail and his lips pale as he said, "For your protective kindness, Tie Xiaosheng is deeply grateful, deeply moved, but there's no need to risk yourself too. If you put me down now, you might still manage to escape."
Chu Xisheng smiled at the words, looked around, and indeed, in a hidden corner, he put Tie Xiaosheng down.
After that, he walked back to the center of the road and stood there majestic, with a big golden knife.
Tie Xiaosheng was stunned for a moment, looking at Chu Xisheng in astonishment.
Why wasn't he fleeing? Did he intend to take on those Long Clan Soldiers all by himself?
The cultivation of this young man clearly had just reached the lower tier of Ninth Grade, possibly just breaking through recently, so why this recklessness with unstable True Yuan?
Chu Xisheng was holding a spare steel saber, trying his best to steady his breathing while he expressionlessly looked at his system panel.
The number of Martial Arts Points on the panel had dropped to twenty-eight.
The key to this system was indeed the word 'belief'. When people stopped believing, his Martial Arts Points would decrease.
Those Long Clan Soldiers seeing Lu Luanti knew that the people before weren't killed by him.
He didn't care too much and instead opened the Martial Arts Treasure Vault and first exchanged for a Divine Power Pill to consume.
As soon as the pill entered his belly, Chu Xisheng felt his body surge with strength.
The effect of the Divine Power Pill was to temporarily increase strength by twice, speed by sixty percent, reflexes by sixty percent, lasting for twenty-four hours, and it couldn't be stacked.
Then, Chu Xisheng silently waited.
He could already see more than a dozen Long Clan Soldiers wearing leather armor running toward him, and the distance between them was rapidly closing.
Just when the Long Clan Soldiers were within five meters and both sides could clearly see each other's faces, the Martial Arts Treasure Vault in front of Chu Xisheng suddenly changed.
This moment was exactly the end of the last quarter of the midnight hour, the modern world's twelve midnight sharp, which was precisely when the Martial Arts Treasure Vault refreshed!
Chu Xisheng's eyes quickly swept over the fourteen colorful items in front of him, his pupils dilating with surprise and joy.
His idea was if this refresh presented something he desired, he would directly exchange for the item.
If not, he would use Martial Arts Points to enhance his Chasing Wind Saber and Vengeful Blade Intent.
But the refresh of the vault surprised him considerably.
Pure Yang Thunder Body First Tier—permanently enhance True Yuan by fifty percent, strength by fifty percent, speed by twenty percent, reflexes by twenty percent, endurance by twenty percent, resistance by twenty percent, and nourish the body with both Pure Yang and Thunder Power, requiring twenty-five Martial Arts Points for the exchange.
Star Shifting Lightning Feet First Tier—allows one to move as swiftly as a shooting star, like lightning, enhancing movement speed by twice, jumping ability by twice, requiring twenty Martial Arts Points for the exchange.
Without any hesitation, Chu Xisheng used twenty-five Martial Arts Points to choose the Pure Yang Thunder Body.
The Star Shifting Lightning Feet were also good, but at this time, the Pure Yang Thunder Body that could increase his striking speed and strength was more useful.
At the moment he completed the exchange, those Long Clan Soldiers were already in front of him, close enough to hear each other's breathing.