Chapter 148: Chapter 147: Yunyang: What About Me

"So that’s why you had the nerve to come back. You found some help," the woman sneered.

"Leave on your own, and we won’t cause you any trouble," said the blue-robed man on the left. "With your level of Cultivation, the world is yours to roam. Why hole up in these barren mountains and fight my brother for territory?"

The white-robed man on the right held his sword, staring at the woman without a word.

The woman scoffed. "It’s just a measly Gorge, yet you treat it like a treasure. Back when I was cultivating at the Chang River, I wouldn’t have given a place like this a second thought."

"Then go back there!" the blue-robed man shouted.

"Since when do I need you to tell me what to do?" the woman snorted. She looked at them both again. "As it happens, I just finished refining my new treasure. Your timing couldn’t be better. Why don’t you stay... as my dinner tonight."

"Hm?"

At her words, both the blue-robed man and the white-robed man were startled.

The next moment, a palm-sized Token appeared in the woman’s hand. With a wave, the surrounding pool water erupted, surging forth in massive sheets to form a high wall of water that trapped the two men inside.

"Now!" the blue-robed man roared. Demon Power surged through his body as he charged straight for the woman.

"Brother Yang, be careful!" The white-robed man yelped. With a leap, his longsword glinted silver as he unleashed three streams of Sword Qi, cutting off the woman’s retreat.

"Two land-dwelling Demons, and you dare fight me in the water?"

The woman couldn’t help but laugh. The Jade Token in her hand began to glow, and the pool water beside her instantly transformed into two Water Dragons. One charged the blue-robed man, the other the white-robed man.

"Break!" the blue-robed man roared, shattering the Water Dragon with a single palm strike. But he didn’t anticipate the smaller dragon hidden within, which suddenly shot out and slammed into his chest.

The blue-robed man grunted, flying backward from the impact.

The white-robed man had crossed swords with the woman before. He again unleashed three streams of Sword Qi, slicing through the smaller dragon as well. Tapping his feet lightly on the pool’s surface, he landed beside the blue-robed man, and they stood shoulder to shoulder.

The woman’s gaze was filled with greed. She licked her lips, revealing a long tongue with a forked tip.

She pointed again. Two more Water Dragons burst from her side, their tails connected to the pool as their heads shot toward the two men. Their mouths gaped open, spewing a frigid mist that felt cold enough to freeze a man solid.

"You wretched fairy! You want to feed on us? Let’s see if you have the power to back it up!"

The blue-robed man was now furious. He clapped his hands, and as he gathered his Demon Power, they began to shimmer with golden light. He thrust out a palm, and a blast of gold shot forth, blowing the incoming Water Dragon to pieces.

The white-robed man brandished his longsword, unleashing a flurry of Sword Qi that shredded the other incoming Water Dragon.

But no sooner had they destroyed the Water Dragons than the pool water reformed them. At the same time, a cold mist from the shattered dragons filled the air, enveloping the two men. The chill slowly ate away at them, despite the protective layer of Demon Power they had raised.

At the same time, the water wall surrounding them continued to press inward, shrinking their space.

After only a few moments of fighting, they realized they were no match for the woman as long as she had water.

"Brother Yang! She’s even stronger than before. We have to fall back!" the white-robed man urged.

The blue-robed man nodded. "You go first. I’ll cover our retreat!"

The blue-robed man had greater Dao Practice, so the white-robed man didn’t hesitate. With a flick of his sword, he leaped into the air, attempting to clear the water wall.

But as he soared upward, a Water Dragon shot out from the wall, whipping toward him. Though he was ready for it and sliced the dragon apart, the force still knocked him back, foiling his escape.

The white-robed man’s expression hardened. Instead of leaping again, he gathered all his Demon Power, condensed Sword Qi into his blade, and executed Man-Sword Unity, thrusting forward to pierce through the water wall.

But the wall was tougher than he’d anticipated. His sword tore a large gap, but the wall still managed to impede him just long enough for the water to rush in from the sides and seal the opening, blocking his way.

"Let me!"

the blue-robed man cried out. He spun and unleashed his full power, thrusting both palms forward as a brilliant golden light erupted from his body.

The white-robed man supported him, madly unleashing streams of Sword Qi to slash away the surrounding cold mist.

"Don’t even think about it!"

Seeing them put forth their full strength, the woman also went all out. The water wall transformed into a massive wave that crashed down on them, as two more Water Dragons rose up to attack from behind, trapping them in a pincer assault.

BOOM!

The wave crashed down with a deafening roar.

The blue-robed man and white-robed man both coughed up blood. But seeing that the water wall had shattered, they didn’t dare hesitate and immediately tried to flee.

But before they could move, a blur flickered before their eyes. The woman was now in front of them, encircled by her Water Dragons, which now trapped all three of them.

"Trying to run?" The woman gave a languid smile. "You’re not going anywhere."

But in the next instant, everything changed.

The Water Dragons surrounding the woman suddenly went limp, as if their spines had been ripped out, and collapsed into the pool with a splash.

The woman’s expression changed. Just as she was about to activate her Token, a flicker of fire flashed into existence, landing on the Token and instantly expanding into a fiery net that enveloped it.

SWISH!

The Token strained to fly from her grasp.

But the Token was clearly far too important to her. Despite the suddenness of the attack, she instantly tightened her grip.

The flames of the net were no ordinary fire; they felt as if they would burn her fair hand down to the bone. Even so, the woman refused to let go of the Token. Instead, she shot toward the depths of the pool.

But she had barely moved when a translucent curtain of light appeared before her. She slammed into it with all her Demon Power, causing it to ripple like the surface of water, but it didn’t break.

At the same time, perhaps sensing it could not wrest the Token away, the net of fire vanished. The woman’s vision suddenly dimmed, and she felt an immense pressure bearing down on her, like a storm cloud blanketing the sky. She instinctively looked up to see a black cloud crackling with purple light hovering above the Gorge.

"Sect Leader, hold on! I’m here too!"

A cheerful and familiar voice rang out. The woman whirled around to see a young man in a long blue robe, a sword in his hand, standing a short distance away.

"You again?" the woman cried in shock.

"Me again!" Yunyang held his longsword at a slant. With a single leap, he performed the Seven Stars Step, crossing several dozen yards in an instant to appear just in front of the woman.

His gaze was like a piercing torch. His sword thrust forward. Essence, Qi, and Spirit merged into one. Lü Zu’s Dharma Aspect enveloped him. Yunyang became one with his blade in Man-Sword Unity, the tip of his sword instantly appearing before the woman’s chest.

At that very moment, purple light flashed from the cloud above the Gorge. More than a dozen bolts of Purple Gold Thunderbolt rained down, reaching the woman’s head in the blink of an eye.