Zhao Qingdong gazed at Zuo Mingqiu’s handsome and serene face, and a gentle smile bloomed on her lips. Her black short hair fluttered in the wind, resembling blooming pear blossoms.
This scene captivated many onlookers.
Zhao Qingdong was a beauty. Her short hair was neat and clean, her eyes like painted brows, her lips like cherries, her features delicate. Many had fallen for her just from seeing her portrait. However, her sharp and fierce personality, along with the small red sword that had claimed the lives of countless humans and demons, caused many to overlook just how beautiful she was.
Of course, Zhao Qingdong didn't care.
She had never intentionally displayed her beauty to the outside world. What concerned her was always her sword, and whether it could instantly sever her opponent's neck.
So, her smile didn't signify happiness, but rather that Zhao Qingdong had, at that moment, genuinely resolved to kill Zuo Mingqiu.
"You shouldn't have provoked me."
The red Dao sword, its blade as thin as a cicada’s wing, was raised from beneath the hem of her simple Daoist skirt. A gentle breeze followed, and a faint sword aura slowly gathered at the blade's tip. The entire process was so slow that many in the crowd almost believed the person wielding the sword wasn't Zhao Qingdong, but another woman entirely.
Zhao Qingdong was known for her speed; how could she be slow?
Zuo Mingqiu remained expressionless, holding his sword in a defensive stance before him, a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
Zhao Qingdong's movements were, in reality, not slow.
She was too fast. So fast that none of the young disciples could clearly discern her actions. She raised her sword and brought it down without leaving any afterimages. The small red sword sliced every wisp of red sword energy in the air into perfectly equal halves.
The moment the blade moved away, Dao Origin, infused with some Great Dao, surged in, making each strand of sword energy as heavy as meteoric iron. Yet, they still floated in the air like willow catkins. Soon, the hundred-meter square space was filled with these heavy red threads, piling up in the sky, reaching a thousand meters high.
"I'm coming."
Zhao Qingdong declared, gripping her sword with both hands, and stepped forward.
The red threads in the space instantly converged, their flowing sword aura, imbued with immense power, plummeted downwards with that single strike.
"Boom!"
The barrier, casually set up by the fourth-stage elder, shattered instantly under Zhao Qingdong's sword aura, exploding outwards.
"Retreat!"
Master Wu Yin shouted, his eyes filled with shock. He could sense that Zhao Qingdong's strike had surpassed the scope of the third stage, subtly encroaching into the killing power of the Lord realm. Even he couldn't help but feel wary!
The other fourth-stage Daoists were also greatly astonished. The power contained within this strike had the potential to threaten them. If Zuo Mingqiu had unleashed this strike, it wouldn't have been surprising, as he was at the peak of the third stage and on the verge of entering the fourth.
But Zhao Qingdong was only in the upper third stage!
"There's no time to run! Elders, save us!" The disciples who reacted a fraction too late managed to fly out only a hundred meters before the terrifying sword aura from behind them pressed down, turning their faces pale and making their breathing ragged.
Without the barrier's obstruction, they couldn't even withstand the residual power of Zhao Qingdong's sword; their souls and bodies were on the verge of collapse.
"Don't worry."
True Person Randeng of Jade Cloud Peak blew a breath, and ethereal, pure white mist, like milk, instantly enveloped the disciples' bodies, forming a close-fitting barrier.
And in the next second, Zhao Qingdong's sword descended.
Zuo Mingqiu's expression was calm. Facing this immense pressure, he raised his sword with both hands, the Bagua formation disk spinning beneath his feet, and silently chanted:
"In times of trial, possess unwavering will, prolong life and restore energy, attain wisdom, hear the ethereal realm, feel the power of love and respect, soar through the skies, and enter the great sun Tathagata's Nirvana."
"The Vajra Bodhisattva of the Great Sun Tathagata."
"The immovable heart of the wrathful Mingwang who conquers the three realms."
"The Nine Syllable Mantra!"
"Rumble!"
Zuo Mingqiu roared, and around him, nine characters, their surfaces flowing with dark golden Dao Origin, shot out from his body and hovered around him.
*Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zai, Quan, Lie, Qian.*
Each character exuded a pure, primordial aura, as if originating from the ancient past, boundless and vast, supporting the immense sword aura and striking upwards.
"Dong!!!!"
It was as if a monumental cliff had suddenly appeared before a raging river in a desolate land. The terrifying sword aura washed over the surface of the nine characters. Each thread, as fine as a bull's hair, possessed immense power. As they struck the Nine Syllable Mantra, a continuous, deafening roar erupted, causing countless people to cover their ears.
"It's holding!"
Everyone, sheltered behind the elders, squinted, their hearts filled with shock as they observed the battle.
Zhao Qingdong's terrifying sword aura was halted in mid-air by the nine characters summoned by Zuo Mingqiu. No matter how heavy her sword was or how terrifying the red sword energy, it couldn't break through the blockade of those nine brilliant characters.
Zhao Qingdong let out another cry, her sword growing heavier in her hands.
With that, the entire mountain trembled. The lightning walls of the Thunder Pool also resonated with the agitation of thunder. The nine characters became increasingly mottled, the red sword aura incessantly washing over their surfaces, like a tsunami crashing against the reefs.
"Clang!"
The earth shook, the mountains roared.
Zuo Mingqiu's Dao sword could not advance past the sword aura to strike Zhao Qingdong, so it was knocked down. It landed on the character *Bing*, bounced back, and fell at Zuo Mingqiu's feet.
The onslaught continued. The space between heaven and earth was half filled with red sword aura and half with the primordial brilliance of the nine characters. They remained locked in a stalemate in mid-air, the waves crashing one after another, until finally, Zhao Qingdong, holding her sword with both hands, broke free from the red sword aura and personally struck the characters. Only then did the Nine Syllable Mantra shatter with a deafening roar.
But as they shattered, they also exploded.
"Rumblingggggg!!!"
The nine characters exploded simultaneously.
The primordial aura crushed everything, engulfing both Zhao Qingdong and Zuo Mingqiu. The red sword aura was also broken like withered branches in winter.
Everyone retreated further.
Master Wu Yin's face turned pale, and he clutched his chest, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He had expanded his domain to intercept the shockwaves from the battle between the two, but at this moment, his domain had been breached by that terrifying explosion!
"Truly terrifying."
Hiding behind a rock at the heavenly wall of the Thunder Pool, Xu Mu couldn't help but exclaim in awe after sensing the terrifying fluctuations in the arena.
He had never imagined that Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong, with their boundaries removed, would be this powerful. The Nine Syllable Mantra was akin to the sword Dao inheritance he had received from the Heavenly Tree; the power of the characters resembled that of the statues. Zhao Qingdong, however, amazed him even more.
Her sword was not only not weaker than his words, but in terms of killing power, it had caught up to Chen Changkong.
This was a terrifying development. Xu Mu smiled slightly. From now on, the battle would have suspense.
However, he still leaned towards Zuo Mingqiu winning. After all, he was the direct successor appointed by Emperor Fuxi. His defeat against him was due to his superior weapons and fortunate circumstances. If he were to be defeated by Zhao Qingdong again, it would be a loss of face for Emperor Fuxi.
The smoke in the arena gradually dissipated.
"One move."
Zuo Mingqiu lightly shook the dust off his Daoist robe, his face somewhat pale as he spoke.
It was evident he had sustained some internal injuries, though the severity was unknown.
Zhao Qingdong stared at Zuo Mingqiu expressionlessly.
Then, she spat out a mouthful of blood. Before anyone could be surprised, she heard her hoarse voice say:
"Again."
Saying this, Zhao Qingdong raised her sword once more, gathering an extremely sharp sword intent out of thin air, and charged towards Zuo Mingqiu with surging force.
Zuo Mingqiu stood his ground and roared:
"Five Thunder Orthodox Method!"
Crack!
Terrifying heavenly lightning descended from all directions, blocking Zhao Qingdong's body, but it couldn't stop her sword Qi.
The red sword Qi scattered, slicing the fierce heavenly lightning in half, and ruthlessly charged towards Zuo Mingqiu.
Zuo Mingqiu clenched his fist, his feet stepping on the character *Xun*. Wind and fire converged into a long dragon, spitting lightning as it struck the sword Qi, then shattering with a roar, causing an explosion.
"Rumble!!"
The figures of both were sent flying simultaneously.
Zuo Mingqiu landed steadily.
Zhao Qingdong thrust her Dao sword into the ground, barely halting her momentum.
"Two moves."
Zuo Mingqiu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and calmly said to Zhao Qingdong:
"You have one more chance."
"Please unleash your strongest move, the one you've comprehended in these four years. Do not disappoint me, because after three moves, I will no longer give you the opportunity to strike."
Zhao Qingdong fell silent for a long time upon hearing this.
She then smiled softly:
"Alright."
As she spoke, Zhao Qingdong's pupils turned a deep crimson. Behind her, the phantom of a colossal female sword immortal materialized, her Daoist skirt inscribed with countless mottled Great Daos. The end of her exquisite bejeweled hairpin held a gem radiating the divine radiance of the sun.
Upon seeing this phantom, all the True Persons in the arena suddenly changed their expressions, and Zuo Mingqiu's demeanor became extraordinarily grave.
"This is... Celestial Master Fuyuan!"
Zuo Mingqiu instinctively tightened his grip on his Dao sword.
Celestial Master Fuyuan was the only legendary female sword immortal in the entire history of the Daoist sect to achieve the title of Celestial Master as a woman. Her era had passed countless years ago, and her true visage could only be glimpsed in the ancestral portrait at Celestial Master Mountain.
Many knew that Zhao Qingdong was her inheritor, as the tomb in the Hidden Peak had chosen her when she first ascended the mountain.
However, no one had anticipated that Zhao Qingdong, at the upper third stage, could summon the phantom of Immortal Venerable Fuyuan, and moreover, with Great Dao laws!
But this was clearly a Dharma Idol technique that only powerful individuals on the Boundary Rankings could employ. How could she use it? Wasn't she afraid of backlash!
Zhao Qingdong raised her sword, and the phantom of the female sword immortal slowly lifted her hand. Just like a true Heavenly Dao Dharma Idol, she manipulated the rules of the Great Dao, causing the True Persons below to stir.
Zuo Mingqiu's brows furrowed. He stood in the Gen position, with countless golden lights surging around him, seemingly accumulating some kind of defensive ability.
"Zhao Qingdong, if this strike comes at the cost of your life, I advise you not to proceed."
Zuo Mingqiu said earnestly. He bore no enmity towards Zhao Qingdong. As competitors, although he didn't say it, he felt a sense of camaraderie, and was even pleased that Zhao Qingdong was from Celestial Master Mountain.
If, in the future, both he and Zhao Qingdong became Domain Lords, then Celestial Master Mountain's status would no longer lag behind any other Daoist temple.
Even if that temple was called Baiyun.
"I will not die."
"Only you will."
Zhao Qingdong declared. The female sword immortal's sword was raised to its highest point, and was about to descend.
Zuo Mingqiu closed his eyes, the golden light intensifying.
Everyone in the arena held their breath, for they knew this would be their final clash, the most peak confrontation, and it would directly decide the victor.
Who would win and who would lose?
Everyone was eager to know.
But someone wasn't.
"All of you, stop!"
Suddenly, a righteous voice echoed from the distant heavens, imbued with the laws of the Great Dao, causing everyone's bodies to freeze, including the fifth-stage True Persons.
And Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong, who were gathering their strength.
Then, a tall, handsome middle-aged Daoist with white eyebrows, holding a horsetail whisk, rapidly descended between Zhao Qingdong and Zuo Mingqiu.
He glanced left and right, his expression grim, and reprimanded:
"What are you two doing causing trouble here!"
Zhao Qingdong and Zuo Mingqiu remained silent.
They both simultaneously dispelled their abilities and Dao arts.
"Why have you returned?"
Zuo Mingqiu performed a Daoist salute, then asked respectfully yet curiously.
As far as he knew, this person should be in Great Zhou Imperial Court handling state affairs. Why had he suddenly returned to the mountain today?
The man looked at Zuo Mingqiu, his face grim, and scolded, "If I didn't return, you two would have dismantled Celestial Master Mountain!"
"What are you fighting for here? The Heavenly Offering Ceremony is in a few days. Can't you wait!"
"And you lot, you're just standing here watching?!"
The middle-aged man turned his head and berated the surrounding elders and True Persons, appearing extremely angry.
Upon hearing this, True Person Lan Qi and the other elders did not become enraged. Instead, their faces turned pale, and they bowed respectfully, clasping their hands and saying:
"Greetings, Sect Master True Person."
"Welcome back, Sect Master True Person!"