Jade Dynasty: I am the master of the Burning Sword, my swordsmanship is unparalleled.

Chapter 36 Meeting Under the Moon - Lu Xueqi
Meeting those tender, watery eyes, Song Daren was instantly stunned, unable to utter a single word.

Song Daren's simple and honest appearance warmed Wen Min's heart, and a hint of joy appeared on her face.

But when her gaze fell on Zhang Xiaofan, Wen Min remembered that there were other people around. Her face flushed slightly, and she explained with a hint of apology.

"Junior Brother Zhang, I'm sorry, after nightfall, Junior Sister Ling'er was called away by Martial Uncle Su, who said he wanted to teach her some Taoist techniques, hoping that she could achieve a good ranking in this year's Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament."

Clearly, what they said during the day had been overheard. Su Ru wanted to secretly help her eldest disciple, but fearing that Tian Ling'er might accidentally ruin things, she stopped her.

"It's alright, but Senior Sister Wen, please remember that this path leads to the Ancestral Temple, where no one will disturb you. The other side is a forbidden area, so don't go near it."

Zhang Xiaofan smiled and gave a couple of reminders. After glancing at Song Daren, he smiled back at him and then turned back to the path behind the mountain to keep watch for his senior brother.

If Master Shuiyue were to actually witness this, given his temperament and the relationship between the two peaks, this marriage would likely be difficult to arrange.

Song Daren smiled gratefully, then pulled Wenmin along and ran towards the Ancestral Hall. They didn't do anything special, just sat under the eaves of the Ancestral Hall, pouring out their longing for each other and occasionally mentioning some interesting anecdotes.

Inside the Ancestral Hall, Wan Jianyi, hidden in the shadows, gazed at Song Daren, who dared to come to the Ancestral Hall to meet with a disciple of Xiaozhu Peak, and gently shook his head.

However, Wan Jianyi himself did not notice that his once numb and withered old face always carried a faint smile.

Occasionally, when Song Daren and Wen Min are mentioned, or when Tian Buyi, Master Shuiyue, and Su Ru are brought up, Wan Jianyi will smile knowingly, and a look of reminiscence will appear in his eyes.

On the quiet mountain path, Zhang Xiaofan strolled along, and came to a large pine tree. He leaned against the trunk and looked up at the cold moonlight in the sky.

The misty mountains and forests gently veiled the bright moon, making the already otherworldly moon appear even more frosty and desolate.

Zhang Xiaofan stared blankly at the clear moon, and couldn't help but recall Senior Sister Lu from Xiaozhu Peak during the day. Her ethereal, otherworldly, aloof and proud temperament was somewhat similar to this cold moon.

And there's that azure divine sword that's still unsheathed—Tianya, the Nine Heavens Divine Weapon that the Venerable Kuxin used to defeat the Black Heart Old Man, a major demon of the Demonic Sect.

Thinking of the Tianya Sword, Zhang Xiaofan unconsciously reached out and touched the Biluo Huangquan sword tucked at his waist.

During the day, the energy of the Heavenly Sword, which had fused the Bloodthirsty Pearl into the Azure Heaven, was also affected by the energy within it.

If Zhang Xiaofan hadn't reacted quickly, shaken off his senior brother from Dragon Head Peak in time, and suppressed the strangeness of the Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs, the two magic weapons would probably have already clashed.

Since obtaining the Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs, Zhang Xiaofan has never truly unleashed their power, but he has gradually and perfectly fused the characteristics of the two great magic weapons together.

He was originally the reincarnation of Prince Changqin's immortal soul, and was proficient in the five tones and seven musical scales. Although the xiao is not the guqin, they are both based on the principles of music. As long as he mastered the method of playing, they would be not far off.

The two most dangerous artifacts used to refine the Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs are the Blood-Devouring Bead, which was once famous throughout the world, and the Soul-Capturing Staff, an extremely yin and evil artifact.

One method draws upon the essence and blood of living beings, while the other stirs up the souls and spirits of others. Both are extremely difficult to defend against. In addition, the way of music can affect people's minds, spirits, and blood, and is also strange and hidden. The two can be said to complement each other.

Although Zhang Xiaofan's two fierce weapons, the Burning Sword and the Fenji, are exceptionally ferocious and far more powerful than the Yellow Springs and the Netherworld, in truth, the Yellow Springs and the Netherworld are more terrifying.

Once the "Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs" melody is played, if the player harbors murderous intent, blood will flow wherever it passes. Mortals simply cannot withstand its terrifying power; in the blink of an eye, mountains of corpses and seas of blood will appear, turning the place into the Netherworld.

Today, if Zhang Xiaofan hadn't suppressed Biluo Huangquan immediately, once its power was unleashed, the disciple from Dragon Head Peak would have instantly died from the violent surge of his essence and blood, and the dissipation of his three souls and seven spirits under its unparalleled ferocity.

Thinking of Senior Sister Lu from earlier that day, and the splendor of the divine sword in his hand, Zhang Xiaofan felt as if that figure had stepped out from the cold moon in the heavens.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Zhang Xiaofan realized something was wrong, instantly sobered up, his eyes narrowed, and a sharp edge dissipated before it could even be unleashed.

"In the dead of night, I never expected that Senior Sister Lu would have the leisure to take a stroll in the back mountain."

Zhang Xiaofan straightened up slightly, stood still, and bowed to Fairy Hanyue, who was standing on the treetop, greeting her with a light smile.

Lu Xueqi did not respond to his words. Instead, she stared at Zhang Xiaofan with her deep, night-sky-like eyes for a long time before looking up and gazing at the Ancestral Hall.

After turning her gaze away, Lu Xueqi gracefully landed on the treetop and walked towards Zhang Xiaofan expressionlessly.

Looking at the fairy from the Cold Palace who seemed to have descended to earth from the cold moon of the heavens, Zhang Xiaofan frowned slightly, gently pressed his hand on the long flute at his waist, and said softly.

"Senior Sister Lu, is there something you need?" The woman slowly stopped a short distance in front of Zhang Xiaofan. For the first time, a different emotion appeared in Lu Xueqi's usually cold eyes.

The aloof fairy bowed with her hands clasped around her sword, and then her ethereal voice, carrying the chill of the night, gently drifted into Zhang Xiaofan's ears.

"Thank you for your help today, Junior Brother Zhang!"

Although Lu Xueqi is aloof and doesn't like to talk much, she has cultivated Taoism for many years and has a deep understanding of morality. She is not a truly cold and heartless person.

Although Lu Xueqi disliked the disciple from Dragon Head Peak during today's competition, he initially had no intention of harming anyone.

The Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament aims to facilitate friendly sparring among disciples. Most of the injured disciples are those who are of similar strength and are wounded in fierce battles.

Lu Xueqi's cultivation and magical power were both superior to that of the disciple from Dragon Head Peak. At the beginning of the competition, she actually showed some humility, otherwise she would not have allowed the disciple from Dragon Head Peak to make the first move.

However, immediately afterward, Daoist Cangsong, who was sitting below the stage, publicly mocked Master Shuiyue and his fellow disciples from Xiaozhu Peak, which was clearly heard by Lu Xueqi on the stage.

Lu Xueqi has always respected Master Shuiyue. Although she is aloof, she has a good relationship with her fellow disciples who are all under Master Shuiyue's tutelage.

In her fury, Lu Xueqi was about to take strong action to teach Longshou Peak a lesson and vent Xiaozhu Peak's anger. However, the Longshou Peak disciple was somewhat innocent. He was not the one who caused the evil, but was implicated by his master, Cangsong Zhenren.

If Zhang Xiaofan hadn't intervened in time, that Dragon Head Peak disciple's magic weapon would probably have been destroyed on the spot.

"Senior Sister Lu, you're too kind. It's understandable that I was angry. In fact, it was Uncle Cangsong who was too extreme."

Zhang Xiaofan replied softly, feeling quite emotional.

Lu Xueqi simply nodded slightly. She was not a talkative person, but she never expected that this Junior Brother Zhang, who was mentioned by many fellow disciples and had a considerable reputation in the Qingyun Sect, was also a man of few words.

After pondering for a while, Lu Xueqi saw that Zhang Xiaofan was just standing there, looking up at the moon, and couldn't help but ask softly.

"Junior Brother Zhang, what kind of magic weapon is that long flute at your waist?"

"It was just something I obtained by chance. My junior brother was quite interested in music, so he practiced it into this flute. It's nothing special."

Zhang Xiaofan turned to look at Lu Xueqi, only to see her staring intently at the long flute. She chuckled softly and then spoke.

"Senior Sister Lu may not know, but my master does not require us disciples to cultivate immortal swords and magical treasures. Therefore, the magical treasures that my fellow senior brothers and I use are quite unique."

Lu Xueqi was slightly taken aback, unsure how to respond. She had always cultivated under her master, Shuiyue Dashui, and was not very familiar with such matters.

"Indeed, one uses a long flute, one uses dice, one uses a pen, and with Junior Sister Ling'er's Crimson Silk, none of the magical treasures of your Dazhu Peak disciples are the same."

Just then, a soft laugh rang out from the mountain path not far away. Wen Min and Song Daren walked slowly towards them from a distance, and the speaker was Wen Min.

Standing next to Wen Min, Song Daren felt a little guilty when he saw Lu Xueqi. He avoided eye contact and didn't dare to look her in the eye.

Lu Xueqi looked over upon hearing the sound, but didn't say anything. She just stared at Wen Min, causing Wen Min's face to flush slightly, but she quickly calmed down.

"Junior sister, what brings you here too?"

"I saw my senior sister leave in the middle of the night, so I followed her."

As Lu Xueqi spoke, she glanced at Song Daren, and then looked at Zhang Xiaofan.

Wen Min looked slightly embarrassed, unsure whether to thank Zhang Xiaofan for keeping watch or Tian Ling'er for not coming today; otherwise, if Junior Sister Lu had caught them red-handed...

"Ahem, junior sister, it's getting late, let's go back."

Lu Xueqi nodded and was about to walk away when she suddenly paused, turned to look at Zhang Xiaofan, and her cold voice was mixed with a hint of fiery fighting spirit.

"Junior Brother Zhang, when we spar, I hope you will not hesitate to ask me for guidance!"

After saying that, Lu Xueqi turned and left. Wen Min and Song Daren bid each other farewell and quickly followed her. They seemed to say something to Lu Xueqi, and Lu Xueqi nodded slightly.

(End of this chapter)