A flash of Sword Edge, almost in an instant, struck in front of Chu Ning.
This sword, practically silent and breathless, was aimed at Chu Ning.
The Sword Edge was sharp to the extreme, a True Sword of Slaughter.
This was the sword Chu Fengmian had been waiting to unleash, waiting for a chance to strike a fatal blow.
With Chu Fengmian’s current strength, this was the strongest Sword Intent he could muster.
Although Chu Fengmian possessed Divine Veins and nearly infinite Spiritual Power,
the energy this sword consumed wasn’t just Spiritual Power, but also the Sword Intent honed in his past life. Just this one strike was enough to exhaust Chu Fengmian.
Chu Fengmian had originally been waiting for a perfect opportunity to execute this fatal strike.
But now, as Han Yueli faced danger, Chu Fengmian couldn’t wait any longer, and the sword erupted prematurely.
Chu Ning, also a once-in-a-generation prodigy, suddenly realized the threat of this strike. He quickly withdrew his punch and then countered the Sword Edge.
Initially, at the Sky-Reaching Path, the Sword Edge Chu Fengmian unleashed had even wounded Zhi Lingtian.
The storm-like Sword Qi furiously slashed towards Chu Ning’s body; each slash was piercingly cold.
"I’ll help you! Space Mysterious Gate!"
Cheng Tiangong also bellowed, activating the Sealing Heaven Divine Map, and a Space Mysterious Gate materialized, shielding Chu Ning.
Thousands of Sword Qi strikes pummeled the Space Mysterious Gate, which condensed only to be riddled with holes and shattered instantly.
Among them, the most powerful Sword Qi directly targeted Chu Ning’s hand.
A finger suddenly flew off.
Under Chu Fengmian’s sword, one of Chu Ning’s fingers was severed.
Seeing this outcome, Chu Fengmian’s heart sank. He had intended his sword to at least severely injure Chu Ning.
Just severing a finger—Chu Fengmian found this result far from satisfying.
However, in the moment the sword was executed, it temporarily halted Chu Ning and Cheng Tiangong’s momentum. Chu Fengmian swiftly grabbed Han Yueli and made a quick escape.
Two figures swiftly maneuvered through the forest.
"Dammit! Dammit! A useless trash actually severed my finger!"
Chu Ning screamed hysterically.
"This damned trash! I want him dead! Even if he dies a thousand times, it won’t quench my wrath! I will make him suffer all the tortures in the Nine Domains!"
Having a finger severed, though not difficult to heal, was different for Chu Ning, who was a body-refined Martial Artist.
All his power stemmed from his body.
His body, which had been fortified by countless Spiritual Medicines, possessed its current toughness. The severed finger, even if regenerated using Spiritual Medicine, couldn’t recover to its former strength. Such a loss was incredibly painful for Chu Ning.
Furthermore, he felt insulted that a body-refined Martial Artist had severed his finger, intensifying his hysterical fury.
"Brother Chu, don’t worry. Within several miles from here, everything has been isolated by the Sealing Heaven Divine Map. This boy won’t be able to escape even if he tries!"
Cheng Tiangong spoke from the side, his heart also filled with utter amazement.
That sword had even shattered his Space Mysterious Gate.
Chu Fengmian was at only the body-refined level—if he were to enter the Sea of God or Command the Winds realms, who could withstand such a sword then?
"This child must die!" Cheng Tiangong’s eyes shimmered with a trace of murderous intent.
The two figures chased after Chu Fengmian again in the direction he had fled.
"Damn it, this Sealing Heaven Divine Map is really troublesome. The space for several miles around is completely sealed off."
Chu Fengmian led Han Yueli to the edge, but they were blocked by a transparent spatial barrier.
Chu Fengmian could feel the barrier could only be broken by an attack from the peak of Riding Wind Realm."
With his current strength, Chu Fengmian couldn’t break it at all.
What worried him more was that he could feel that both Chu Ning and Cheng Tiangong were fast approaching from behind.
If he allowed them to catch up, Chu Fengmian would have no way to drive them back.
This moment was Chu Fengmian’s last chance.
"Can this barrier not be broken?"
Han Yueli, standing next to him, also sensed the spatial barrier and couldn’t help but ask.
"Of course, this barrier was formed by Cheng Tiangong channeling the full power of the Sealing Heaven Divine Map; only a full force strike at the peak of the Forging Body Realm could potentially tear it apart."
Chu Fengmian said anxiously.
He couldn’t think of any way to break through this barrier with all the tricks he could muster.
Suddenly, Han Yueli hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"If I said I could break this barrier, would you take me with you to escape?"
Chu Fengmian was startled.
Even he had no solution for this barrier, so where could Han Yueli possibly have one?
Chu Fengmian was about to speak again when Chu Ning and Cheng Tiangong had almost caught up from behind, leaving him no time to continue the conversation.
"If you can break this barrier, I guarantee I’ll take you with me to escape!"
Chu Fengmian decisively said.
Now, he had no other choice but to clutch at straws, pinning his hopes on Han Yueli.
"Alright, it’s a deal!"
Han Yueli called out lightly, and a burst of chilling cold suddenly erupted from her body.
Seeing the coldness emanating from Han Yueli, Chu Fengmian suddenly realized something.
"Xuanhan Physique, coupled with the Ice Lotus Sword Technique, could it be that Han Yueli is preparing to..."
Before Chu Fengmian could finish, Han Yueli’s spiritual power had already begun to surge wildly.
"Riding Wind Realm first level, Riding Wind Realm second level, Riding Wind Realm third level..."
In the blink of an eye, Han Yueli had ascended to the ninth level of Riding Wind Realm.
Just one step away from the peak of the Riding Wind Realm, she had reached her limit.
Han Yueli shouted as she swung her sword down.
The Sword Edge of her strike carried countless biting chills, causing Chu Fengmian, standing right next to Han Yueli, to shiver from the intense cold.
"Ice Lotus Jue Sword. I never thought that I would see this move again today."
Watching Han Yueli execute her Sword Edge, Chu Fengmian’s eyes were filled with endless nostalgia.