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

Chapter 42 The Divine Bird Chongming Follows in Succession

"Wow!!"

Above the sky, a bird's cry of unparalleled piercing rang out, and the thunderclouds that filled the sky finally dissipated, leaving only a divine bird bathed in lightning, its phoenix head still held high.

The long-awaited sun shone on the divine bird, causing orange-red flames to rise up, even hotter and brighter than before.

Between the opening and closing of the divine bird's phoenix eyes, it seemed as if a sun was rising and falling, and orange-red divine light was falling from the divine bird's body, like the rebirth of life and the guidance of light.

"Om!!"

With a buzzing sound, the light on the divine bird slowly dissipated, transforming into a dark red divine sword. Around that divine sword were three other divine swords of different colors.

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, a flash of light appeared on the dark red divine sword, and Zhang Xiaofan's figure appeared in front of the sword before falling downwards.

As soon as Tian Buyi moved, he summoned the Crimson Flame Sword. A column of water came from afar, transforming into a waterway that stretched to the sky. A huge figure rushed across the waterway at a speed that was disproportionate to its size.

Upon seeing this, Tian Buyi abruptly withdrew his foot, the worry on his face vanished, and he stood there with a stern expression.

With a swift step, the water unicorn arrived below and caught Zhang Xiaofan along with the four divine swords. Then, under Xiao Hui's command, it landed steadily on the arena.

"Squeak!!"

Little Grey scratched its head, wanting to look at Zhang Xiaofan, but dared not get close, seemingly afraid of hurting the other party, and could only anxiously call out softly.

Zhang Xiaofan reached out and touched Xiao Hui's hair, saying with a light laugh.

"Little Grey, I'm fine, don't worry."

These words weren't meant to comfort Xiao Hui; Zhang Xiaofan was indeed fine. In fact, he felt great, with no discomfort except for the exhaustion of his magical power.

Most importantly, Zhang Xiaofan's immortal soul was completely tempered and merged with the Burning Sword.

He is no longer the immortal who only played the zither. His immortal soul has completely transformed from the spirit of the Phoenix Zither, a phoenix, into the sword spirit of the Burning Sword, the Chongming Bird, a symbol of light.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but look up, his eyes seeming to gleam. Just now, he seemed to have sensed a trace of the aura of an old friend.

Could it be you? The high and mighty Emperor who rules over the destiny of the world?
Immediately, Zhang Xiaofan chuckled, a relaxed and carefree expression appearing on his face, and murmured.

"So, you're not invincible after all!"

"call out!"

A streak of crimson light flashed, and Tian Ling'er appeared on the back of the water unicorn. The amber crimson ribbon transformed into a streak of light and tied around Tian Ling'er's waist.

Su Ru was momentarily stunned when she saw the Spirit Lord appear, but Tian Ling'er, disregarding whether she had offended the Spirit Lord, rushed forward in her worry. By the time Su Ru reacted, it was too late.

Tian Ling'er reached out to help Zhang Xiaofan up, and then asked softly.

"Xiaofan, are you okay?"

"Senior sister, I'm fine, I just ran out of magic power. Please help me down."

Zhang Xiaofan gently shook his head and responded. With Tian Ling'er's help, he got off the water unicorn's back. Xiao Hui reached out and hugged the four swords before jumping off the water unicorn's back.

"Whoosh!"

The water unicorn gently exhaled a puff of water vapor from its nostrils, then leaped back into the emerald pool.

At this moment, the disciples below the stage had not yet come to their senses. Zhang Xiaofan stood on the stage, clasped his hands in a salute to Dao Xuan Zhenren and the others below, and then had Tian Ling'er help him walk down.

Poor Xiao Hui, carrying four longswords in both hands, couldn't walk at all. After rolling his eyes, Xiao Hui threw the swords on the ground, grabbed Fenji and Moxue, and followed them down.

"Master!"

Zhang Xiaofan called out softly, and Tian Buyi just snorted coldly, glancing sideways at Master Shuiyue, as if to say, "Why do you care about the disciple of that old Taoist nun Shuiyue?"
Of course, Tian Buyi was just venting his anger. He had genuinely thought that his most outstanding disciple was going to die under the heavenly lightning in place of Shuiyue, that old Taoist nun's disciple.

"Alright, Ling'er, take Xiao Fan back to the backyard to rest."

Su Ru whispered to Tian Ling'er that she did not let Zhang Xiaofan stay in the rooms where the Tongtian Peak disciples lived. Given the current situation, if Zhang Xiaofan moved in, the threshold of the room would probably be worn down by the crowds.

Supported by Tian Ling'er, Zhang Xiaofan walked away into the distance. As he passed Lu Xueqi, he heard a weak voice.

"Junior Brother Zhang, thank you."

"If it were my senior sister, she would definitely save me if given the chance."

Looking up at the apology in Lu Xueqi's eyes, Zhang Xiaofan replied softly.

At this moment, the disciples below the stage gradually recovered from the shock, and then they heard Dao Xuan Zhenren shout loudly.

"Zhang Xiaofan of Dazhu Peak wins! Alright, all disciples, disperse."

...Today's earth-shattering battle can be said to have pushed the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament to its climax. All afternoon, countless disciples were still discussing it, occasionally revealing expressions of amazement.

This is quite normal. Putting aside the astonishing scene of the divine bird tearing apart the divine lightning at the end, the mere appearance of two supremely powerful techniques is enough to shock the world.

In the past, apart from the great battle between good and evil, when have there ever been such powerful and unparalleled secret techniques appearing in the world at the same time?

Not to mention, that's a true technique for slaying demons and gods; it's said that very few people in the entire history of the Qingyun Sect have mastered it.

This incredibly enthusiastic atmosphere only gradually subsided as night fell.

That night, in the backyard of Yuqing Palace.

Zhang Xiaofan stood in a small courtyard, gazing up at the cold moon, but a raging flame seemed to be burning in his heart.

In his mind, Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but recall some things about the world of Jade Dynasty.

The Heavenly Book, hailed as the most wondrous book in the world, and the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury deep within the Western Death Swamp—Zhang Xiaofan wondered if these things were related to the Heavenly Emperor, or perhaps he should ask whether the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury was the same high and mighty person he knew.

"Xiao Fan, why didn't you go inside to rest?"

Tian Ling'er appeared in the courtyard and saw Zhang Xiaofan standing there admiring the moon. She couldn't help but worry.

"Senior sister, I'm fine. I just ran out of magic power."

Zhang Xiaofan turned his head to look, and then explained softly that not only was he fine, but after clarifying his mind, his cultivation was about to enter the Shangqing Realm, only his physical body was still shackled.

However, Zhang Xiaofan believed that with the help of the Bloodthirsty Bead, he would be able to break through soon.

"Xiao Fan, don't take such risks in the future, it's too dangerous."

Tian Ling'er took two steps forward, her face still showing some lingering fear. During the day, if Su Ru hadn't been holding her back, Tian Ling'er would definitely have rushed forward.

“Senior Sister Lu is our fellow disciple, how can I stand by and watch her die? Besides, Master Shuiyue and Master's wife are as close as sisters, how can I stand idly by?”

Although the heavenly lightning was powerful, it posed no threat to Zhang Xiaofan's life. Not only was he physically strong, but he was also the spirit of the Burning Sword. Unless the heavenly lightning could destroy the Burning Sword directly, Zhang Xiaofan would be immortal.

"Hmph, all you do is show off!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Ling'er let out a soft snort. Then, she carefully glanced around before cautiously taking out a pill from her bosom and placing it in Zhang Xiaofan's hand. She stared intently at him and said...

"This is a large dose of rhubarb pills that I stole from my father. You'll be fine after taking it. Be careful during the competition tomorrow."

Looking at the large yellow pill in his hand, Zhang Xiaofan hesitated for a moment, but under Tian Ling'er's urging, he swallowed it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Tian Ling'er finally smiled a little, looked up at the moon overhead, and suddenly thought of something. She looked at Zhang Xiaofan with a smile in her eyes and said.

"Xiao Fan, do you think Senior Brother and Senior Sister Wenmin might sneak off to the Ancestral Shrine tonight to meet?"

"Probably not. Senior Brother needs to recuperate these next few days. Even if he wanted to see her, Senior Sister Wen would stop him and make sure he gets proper rest."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaofan gently shook his head. Ever since that secret rendezvous, Song Daren had become increasingly bold, and every night he would ask Wen Min to go to the back mountain.

However, after getting injured in the match with Chang Jian the day before yesterday, I didn't go the night before last and last night, and I probably won't go tonight either.

Upon hearing this, Tian Ling'er's eyes darted around, and with a hint of shyness and anticipation, she whispered.

"Xiao Fan, why don't we go there and take a look? I've never been there before."

"Alright, then I'll go for a walk with my senior sister!"

Zhang Xiaofan chuckled softly, then he and Tian Ling'er went out the door and carefully headed towards the back mountain.

What Zhang Xiaofan didn't know was that in the small courtyard next to his, Lu Xueqi, who had been injured, was arranged to stay there by Master Shuiyue.

Lu Xueqi felt very guilty about what happened during the day and wanted to go to Zhang Xiaofan's house to express her gratitude and apologize, but she was afraid of disturbing him, so she sat quietly in the courtyard, gazing at the moon in a daze.

Just then, Lu Xueqi noticed a commotion coming from the small courtyard next door. When she went out to look, she saw Zhang Xiaofan's figure disappear on the mountain path leading to the back mountain.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Xueqi followed. When Lu Xueqi's figure also disappeared on the mountain path, another figure stood in front of the gate of the small courtyard where Lu Xueqi lived.

Master Shuiyue watched Lu Xueqi's retreating figure, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, and she couldn't help but sigh softly.

Immediately afterwards, Master Shuiyue seemed to sense something, turned her head to look at the distance, and couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

Then a short, stout Taoist priest emerged from the shadows. His expression toward Master Shuiyue was quite unpleasant. If it weren't for the beautiful woman beside him holding him back, he might have already spoken coldly to him.

"Senior sister, if you want to go, let's go together and take a look."

Su Ru couldn't help but sigh softly. She had originally thought it was just her own ignorant daughter who had dragged Zhang Xiaofan up the mountain, but now it seemed that her senior sister's darling had followed along as well.

(End of this chapter)