Chapter Sixty-Three: The Heavenly Sword

Gong Degang was torn. He, too, had been injured by Guo Jian and had been seething with hatred just moments before—if not for his own serious wounds, he would have rushed forward to fight Guo Jian to the bitter end. Now, hearing that both sides had laid down their enmity and were joining forces against a third party, it was difficult for Gong Degang to accept at first. But upon learning that He Tianshu had received two hundred Xuantian Jade Purity Pills from Guo Jian—pills that would not be returned regardless of the outcome, and that, should the matter succeed, an additional five hundred would be theirs—he finally steeled his resolve.

He nodded to Ye Chunqiao and Yao Xueqing. “If you both are ready, go and help Senior Brother He. We can’t rest easy with him alone over there. Listen to his instructions, and be careful—those people across from us seem dangerous and won’t be easy to deal with.”

Yao Xueqing nodded. In truth, she had long wanted to go over; it was only out of respect for her companions that she’d held back, and she was worried for He Tianshu—after all, he’d always looked after her. Ye Chunqiao was less concerned about He Tianshu’s situation but was more inclined to follow Gong Degang’s words. She nodded to him, told Li Sibai to take care of Gong Degang, and went off with Yao Xueqing toward He Tianshu.

By now, He Tianshu had been engaged in combat with the burly man for some time. At first, relying on his agility and unpredictable swordsmanship, he encircled the big man, his sword energy enveloping his opponent. Despite his clumsy appearance, the burly man wielded his spiked club with surprising speed, always managing to deflect Li Sibai’s sword at the crucial moment.

Even so, He Tianshu maintained the upper hand until he decided to use his fire techniques to end the fight quickly. Unexpectedly, the burly man was skilled in ice techniques. Atop the snowy summit of Jade Pearl Peak, ice magic held a clear advantage; vast amounts of snow and ice could be manipulated with minimal energy, while He Tianshu’s fire was suppressed at every turn. Before long, he was at a clear disadvantage.

Yao Xueqing arrived to find He Tianshu faltering, her heart filled with anxiety. In a moment of carelessness, He Tianshu was struck squarely in the chest by an ice sword formed at the tip of the burly man's club.

He Tianshu was sent flying. Yao Xueqing leapt to catch him, but the moment she did, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face pale as he looked at her with a helpless shake of his head. “These people all seem to practice ice techniques. You’re no match for them.”

With those words, he spat out another mouthful of blood. Yao Xueqing hurried to stop him from speaking further, quickly giving him a Blood Coagulation Pill, which eased his condition somewhat.

At that moment, Guo Jian’s face was contorted with rage. He hadn’t expected He Tianshu to be defeated so quickly. Had he known, those two hundred Xuantian Jade Purity Pills were as good as given away for nothing; he might as well have taken the Ice Spirit Grass and slipped away in the confusion. But then, what of Xie Bing and Yan Jie, who had come with him? They would be left to fend for themselves.

So, Guo Jian showed He Tianshu no kindness, merely snorting and giving him not so much as a glance, his mind racing for a plan. He had watched the previous bout and believed that, with his own strength, defeating the burly man would be no problem. Judging by the attire of the three enemies, their skill levels were likely similar—except for the old man, who seemed even more formidable. Alone, Guo Jian knew he had no chance against him.

While he pondered, Yao Xueqing had already engaged the burly man in combat. Watching He Tianshu battered and Guo Jian standing by indifferent, her anger flared. She’d always had a fiery temper, and without a second thought, she disregarded He Tianshu’s warning, drew her Tianyao Sword, and lunged at the burly man.

Though the burly man had just defeated He Tianshu, it had cost him dearly in energy. Now, though he wanted to withdraw, he had no choice but to face Yao Xueqing’s onslaught.

Yao Xueqing cared for nothing else. Without announcing her name, she pressed the attack with the Tianyao Sword, her strikes swift and lethal, each aimed at a vital point. The burly man dared not slacken; wielding his spiked club, he parried desperately, knowing that a moment’s hesitation could mean death.

Yao Xueqing’s swordsmanship differed from He Tianshu’s. While his was a mix of agility and force, hers was a relentless charge, a style dictated by the very nature of the Tianyao Sword. Legend had it that this blade was forged from celestial iron that fell to earth, discovered and refined by the ascetic Master Withered Heart on the Arctic tundra. Later, it was wielded by a famed heroine named Lu, who won renown throughout the world for her indomitable offense—willing to risk injury if only to secure victory.

Thus, from the first exchange, Yao Xueqing had the upper hand, bent on ending the burly man’s life then and there. After just a few moves, sweat beaded on his brow. Her attacks grew only faster and fiercer, leaving him little chance to defend. Soon he was struck several times, none of the wounds fatal, but blood streamed steadily from his injuries.

Desperate, the burly man unleashed his ice magic again. Though depleted, he managed to conjure an ice armor that enveloped his body. The bleeding stopped at once, and he seemed less afraid of Yao Xueqing’s attacks—strikes that landed were now absorbed by the ice shell. Though her assault was fierce and the Tianyao Sword a weapon of legend, the gap in their strength meant that simple attacks could no longer harm him.

Yao Xueqing, undaunted, spun the Tianyao Sword in her hand, chanting an incantation and forming seals with her free hand. In moments, the ice sword on the burly man’s body began to melt, his thick armor thinning until it turned to water, which then flowed down in streams to bind him where he stood.

At the same time, the Tianyao Sword struck true, shattering the ice armor on his body. Slowed by the water and caught off guard, he barely managed to brush the Tianyao Sword aside with his club, but the blade still sliced across his chest, leaving a deep gash stretching to his shoulder, blood gushing forth anew.

The burly man staggered back. Two black-clad men, sensing the danger, rushed over—one stepped in to block Yao Xueqing’s next strike, while the other caught the wounded man and dragged him to safety.

The one who intercepted Yao Xueqing did not retreat, instead engaging her directly in combat.

Watching all this, the elderly man nodded slightly. “The Tianyao Sword—its reputation is well deserved, indeed.”