Chapter 104: Borrowed Power and A Desperate Kiss

In Fenggui Ferry’s Ziyang Town, on the barren land where the river wound and protruded, rumbling sounds of the earth cracking continuously echoed.

An intense battle was taking place on this rarely visited land. Indestructible sword cries seemed to reverberate in the air, even shattering the snowflakes the moment they fell from the sky.

Hua Bukai attacked Meng Yingxing with fierce and swift movements. Her face was distorted, like a withered and ugly root, every move a reserved killing blow.

Xiu Qingcheng darted out from the side, blocking in front of Meng Yingxing. She raised her hand and parried Hua Bukai’s attack with a sword. Immediately after, Meng Yingxing, holding the Ting Tian Sword in his right hand, thrust his sword from behind Xiu Qingcheng, striking Hua Bukai’s shoulder hard.

Blood from Hua Bukai’s wound splattered onto the Ting Tian Sword. The red patterns on the Ting Tian Sword, like veins, constantly pulsed and flickered. Xiu Qingcheng, in turn, felt an inexplicable surge of excitement in her heart.

Although Xiu Qingcheng’s strength was greatly diminished because the flow of spiritual energy was restricted by Hua Bukai, the Ting Tian Sword, as her true form, was not. Wielded by Meng Yingxing, the Ting Tian Sword was inexplicably demonstrating immense power at this moment.

A sword, as a weapon, was always stronger in a person’s hand.

Xiu Qingcheng coordinated with Meng Yingxing, blocking Hua Bukai’s attacks for him and simultaneously creating excellent offensive opportunities.

Meng Yingxing didn’t disappoint Xiu Qingcheng by failing to keep up. Each time, he seized the opportunities Xiu Qingcheng created for him, mercilessly injuring Hua Bukai.

However, no one knew the origin of the so-called World-Devouring Heavenly General; Hua Bukai’s sheer power was exaggeratedly strong. Several vicious sword wounds from Meng Yingxing and Xiu Qingcheng were left on Hua Bukai’s body, yet they had no effect on her.

Hua Bukai’s movements remained fluid, her offensive momentum undiminished.

Xiu Qingcheng felt she could still fight three hundred rounds, but Meng Yingxing could not.

He had almost exhausted all his strength fighting Xu Jie earlier and was already covered in numerous wounds.

If they continued to battle Hua Bukai like this, only they would suffer losses.

Xiu Qingcheng frowned, her mind racing.

She needed a tangible physical body to mitigate the effects of the stagnant spiritual energy and once again exert seventy to eighty percent of her strength.

‘Where was a tangible physical body around here?’

Xiu Qingcheng glanced around her. The barren wilderness stretched out, empty of any other soul.

The only one who could be called a person here seemed to be Meng Yingxing.

But Xiu Qingcheng had tried long ago, and save for the very first time, she had never been able to borrow Meng Yingxing’s body again.

But now there was no other way.

Xiu Qingcheng pondered for a moment, then decided to try a desperate remedy.

Her sword jolted Hua Bukai back. She turned, stopping Meng Yingxing, who was about to launch a pursuit, then reached out and interlaced her fingers with his.

Although it was somewhat sudden for Meng Yingxing, after a moment of surprise, he immediately gripped Xiu Qingcheng’s hand tightly without hesitation.

Xiu Qingcheng’s body pressed close to Meng Yingxing, almost skin-to-skin.

At this moment, Xiu Qingcheng’s face was beside Meng Yingxing’s ear, and she softly said to him: “Disciple, lend me your body for a moment!”

As her words fell, Xiu Qingcheng’s faintly translucent body rapidly disintegrated into points of spiritual light, slowly entering Meng Yingxing’s body along the arm where their fingers were intertwined.

Meng Yingxing slowly closed his eyes, then opened them in an instant.

At that moment, the complex purple marks on his forehead, and the purple claw-like phantoms around his hands and feet, all became more solid. Only his eyes were fully steeped in purple.

Xiu Qingcheng looked at her hands, and knew that she had succeeded this time. However, the moment she borrowed Meng Yingxing’s body, many fragmented scenes, like a fleeting kaleidoscope, flashed before her eyes. In these fragments appeared a four-eyed woman, who was undoubtedly Hua Bukai, the Underworld Heavenly General now before them. ‘Could it be… she had met Hua Bukai before? She had no recollection of it.’

“Die!”

Hua Bukai’s figure had already rushed before her. Xiu Qingcheng had no time to think and slashed with her sword! ‘This feeling of not being severely restricted by stagnant spiritual energy was truly wonderful!’

Her own power, combined with the spiritual and demonic energy surging from deep within Meng Yingxing’s body, surged like a tide within Xiu Qingcheng. Hua Bukai was sent flying far away by Xiu Qingcheng’s single sword strike. ‘His body… it seems to have become easier to use? Should she consider taking over her disciple’s body in the future?’ Just as an unscrupulous Master’s thought popped into Xiu Qingcheng’s mind, Meng Yingxing’s helpless voice also echoed in her head.

–Master… I heard all that.–

‘What should she do if Master wants to take over her body? Waiting online, not in a hurry at all.’

Xiu Qingcheng showed no embarrassment at having her conspiracy theory exposed. Instead, she became even more self-righteous.

“Not just your body; your life, your soul, they are all mine! Did you hear me?!”

–Yes, yes, yes, I will be prepared to be Master’s exclusive tool.–

Meng Yingxing wasn’t afraid at all that Xiu Qingcheng truly wanted to take over his body. After speaking to Meng Yingxing, Xiu Qingcheng focused on dealing with Hua Bukai before her. Hua Bukai, seeing Xiu Qingcheng disappear, thought Xiu Qingcheng had lost her combat ability. She lunged at Meng Yingxing even more recklessly, her eyes blazing with murderous intent.

“With that annoying spirit body gone, who do I see now protecting you! You brat, disappear for me!”

Xiu Qingcheng sneered, meeting Hua Bukai without a hint of fear. The Ting Tian Sword, in the hands of “Meng Yingxing” at this moment, displayed its sharp brilliance. A single sword strike cleaved through Hua Bukai’s attack, and once again deeply pierced Hua Bukai’s body.

“Yes, I also want to see who can protect you.”

Hua Bukai spat out blood, her four eyes continuously trembling, reflecting the calm expression of “Meng Yingxing.” Hua Bukai remembered a person. Burning crimson eyes, a sword that annihilated armies.

That person had left an indelible fear in her heart. And at this moment, the facial features of “Meng Yingxing” bore a resemblance to that person. The fear that had lain dormant in her heart was re-ignited.

“Get away, get away! You and your sword, you should have disappeared together long ago!”

Hua Bukai suddenly screamed hysterically, continuously brandishing her sharp claws to force “Meng Yingxing” back, but “Meng Yingxing” clung to her like a shadow, accompanying her everywhere. The sword techniques were varied, yet like maggots to a bone, there was no escaping them. Xiu Qingcheng also didn’t know what sudden madness had seized Hua Bukai.

Although her attacks became more ferocious, they also became more disorganized.

Disorganized attacks were like a child wielding a divine weapon haphazardly; the more they struck, the more likely they were to stumble.

Xiu Qingcheng suddenly lost interest.

In her eyes, those earlier encounters were merely somewhat challenging games.

Now, Hua Bukai’s tactics were completely in disarray, just like that Huang Cang Demon King Chi Zhanyue, leaving only the dullness of raw power.

Xiu Qingcheng’s gaze turned cold. Amidst the interwoven sword shadows, she steadily forced Hua Bukai back.

She had now completely seized the initiative, and taking down Hua Bukai was only a matter of time.

“Hey, Hua Bukai, what are you still afraid of?”

Xiu Qingcheng, engaging Hua Bukai with a sword and claw, found herself in the mood to chat with her again.

“If I hadn’t just broken through the seal and hadn’t fully refined the souls sacrificed to me by those ants, do you think you could defeat me?”

Hua Bukai’s brows furrowed, her four eyes filled with unending rage.

‘How amusing.’

‘Who was it who initially chose the truly inept?’

‘And who is it now making excuses for not being able to win?’

‘Most importantly…’

“You’re avoiding the question. Who asked you why you couldn’t defeat me?”

Xiu Qingcheng retorted, turning her body and unleashing a sword strike that carved a huge gash across Hua Bukai’s chest.

Immediately after, Xiu Qingcheng gripped the Ting Tian Sword’s hilt with one hand and once again used a sword technique Meng Yingxing had never seen before.

“Sword Kill Hundred Nights… Bloodless Silence!”

The crimson light on the Ting Tian Sword flashed explosively. Before the blade even touched Hua Bukai when it swung, the surging sword aura had already torn Hua Bukai’s iron-hard claws to shreds.

If Hua Bukai hadn’t managed to evade that entire move with her considerable strength, it wouldn’t have been just her claws that disappeared, but her entire hands.

But Xiu Qingcheng’s attack was not yet over.

She twisted her waist, her movements keeping up with the dodging Hua Bukai, and hooked her sword upwards from below.

“Sword Opens Star Gate, Wind and Moon Share the Sky!”

Blood splattered. With this single strike, Xiu Qingcheng brutally severed Hua Bukai’s long legs!

Hua Bukai’s four eyes widened, and she roared, her mouth full of fresh blood.

“Do you think you can kill me?!”

Even though she had lost her claws, she used her powerful hands to grasp “Meng Yingxing’s” shoulders, attempting to tear Meng Yingxing in half.

“I think I can!”

Xiu Qingcheng would never give Hua Bukai another chance to harm her disciple’s body. The Ting Tian Sword swung again, and a ferocious sword intent, like patterns, surged towards Hua Bukai from all directions, instantly lacerating Hua Bukai’s skin and flesh, sending blood flying.

“Since you seek death, then I shall grant it!”

Xiu Qingcheng was murderous, her blows capable of mutilating even gods and buddhas.

Hua Bukai fell into a frenzy. Even though she was mangled by Xiu Qingcheng, she used all her strength to grab her body.

Xiu Qingcheng frowned.

Hua Bukai, with strength from who knew where, used her still formidable power to grab Xiu Qingcheng and slam her to the ground, then aimed one hand at Xiu Qingcheng’s head and swung down.

A terrifying force surged in that punch. With one punch, the ground beneath them shook violently like an earthquake.

In an instant, the ground cracked, and pieces of the barren land collapsed downwards.

Perhaps this land was originally silt solidified over the river, and now, as the earth collapsed, everything on it fell into the turbulent, roaring river below.

And Hua Bukai, gripping Xiu Qingcheng, plunged together into the cold, chaotic river.

Perhaps Meng Yingxing’s body at this point had been pushed to its limits under Xiu Qingcheng’s control, as Xiu Qingcheng began to feel Meng Yingxing’s body rejecting her.

Meng Yingxing, his face cold, severed Hua Bukai’s hands in the river and broke free.

But even without her limbs, Hua Bukai stubbornly clung to life, her four eyes fixed on Xiu Qingcheng.

Xiu Qingcheng, beneath the surging river water, delivered her final sword strike to Hua Bukai.

And Xiu Qingcheng… all things were silent.

Looking down from high above at the river surging through the cracked earth, it suddenly divided into two sections as if a miracle had occurred.

Within the two sections of the river, there was no water flow, no life, as if space and time were frozen there.

The strange sight was like an ephemeral flower, and immediately the river water filled it in, the river roaring with deafening thunder.

Hua Bukai was dead.

Not even a speck of dust remained.

Xiu Qingcheng was also ejected from Meng Yingxing’s body at this moment. Her peripheral vision caught Meng Yingxing, who had fallen unconscious, being swept away by the dangerous river currents.

Xiu Qingcheng’s heart jolted.

In Meng Yingxing’s current state, he would drown in this river in mere moments.

She immediately pursued Meng Yingxing, who was drifting with the current.

Fortunately, her speed was fast enough. She grabbed Meng Yingxing’s arm before he could completely drown.

Xiu Qingcheng let the cold, heavy river water continuously splash onto her face, dragging Meng Yingxing as she swam to the surface.

In a short while, Xiu Qingcheng pulled Meng Yingxing onto the nearby bank.

She immediately knelt beside Meng Yingxing, patting his face.

“Hey, Disciple! Disciple! Wake up! Wake up!”

“Meng Yingxing! Meng Yingxing! Are you dead?!”

But no matter how much Xiu Qingcheng patted Meng Yingxing, he didn’t react.

Xiu Qingcheng admitted she was a little panicked.

Her dear eldest disciple had actually drowned due to her momentary carelessness.

Such an end, for a cultivator, was somewhat humiliating.

“How do you save someone from drowning?! How do you save them?!”

“That, that, that Heimlich maneuver?? No, no, oh, oh, right, artificial respiration, artificial respiration!”

Xiu Qingcheng felt her nerves were a bit frayed, but thankfully, she still thought of a method to revive Meng Yingxing.

Xiu Qingcheng placed Meng Yingxing’s head on her lap, cupped his cheeks, and pressed her lips to his.

Four lips met, breath exchanged.

However, what Xiu Qingcheng didn’t know was that Meng Yingxing’s consciousness was actually very clear right now; it was just that his physical body was no longer his own due to extreme exhaustion.