"Senior Brother Four, no... Zhang Hanshao, you lose," Fang Qingzhi said.
Seeing Zhang Hanshao lying on the ground, the oppression in her heart was suddenly gone and she felt much lighter.
The entire sect square was deathly silent, with everyone staring at the scene in shock.
The spiritual fluctuations around Fang Qingzhi clearly indicated she was at the peak of Qi Refining, yet Zhang Hanshao, at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, was no match for her. Even though Zhang Hanshao had just lifted his cultivation suppression and his flying sword was broken, he shouldn't have been defeated so easily.
The sect leader, Wu Duantian, looked surprised. He twisted his stiff neck and asked Qingxuan Taoist beside him, "Elder Qingxuan, did Fang Qingzhi really have her spiritual root pulled and her Dantian destroyed?"
At that time, he actually thought the punishments were a bit excessive. But since the rules of Qingyun Sect dictated that each peak managed its own affairs and the sect leader only provided general oversight, he turned a blind eye. Moreover, Qingxuan Taoist was the strongest and had some connection to the patriarch of Qingyun Sect.
But now, he was a little at a loss.
His direct disciple, Zhao Lingtian, also had his Dantian destroyed. The spiritual energy he cultivated would gradually disappear, leaving him completely combat - less. How could Fang Qingzhi, with a destroyed Dantian, defeat Zhang Hanshao, who was at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment? It was just too powerful!
Qingxuan Taoist stared at Fang Qingzhi without speaking. His shock wasn't just from her burst of combat power but also from her mastery of the Lesser Formless Sword.
He recalled that Fang Qingzhi had consulted him many times, but her insight into sword techniques was really limited. After explaining a few times, he grew impatient and let her think independently or consult Lu Changtian.
When Fang Qingzhi left Chixiao Peak, her Lesser Formless Sword technique was only at the minor success stage. Now she could use the "Tree Shadows Swaying" move, indicating she had at least achieved major success. Although the Lesser Formless Sword technique wasn't a high - level skill and was just an earth - class technique, it wasn't something one could progress from minor to major success in just a few short months.
"Junior Brother Zhang!"
"Senior Brother Four!"
Seeing Zhang Hanshao knocked to the ground, Lu Changtian and others immediately surrounded him.
Yun Zimo lifted Zhang Hanshao's upper body, and Xiao Yicfeng took out healing pills to help Zhang Hanshao regulate his energy.
Mu Bai Shuang cried into Zhang Hanshao's chest, "Senior Brother, it's all my fault. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have accepted your sword. If you had it, you wouldn't be hurt like this..."
But in her heart, she thought, "Fortunately, Zhang Hanshao gave me the sword; otherwise, it would have been a waste. The sword in Fang Qingzhi's hand is obviously a fine one. Even if she had another sword, it would probably end up broken too."
She also became more puzzled and panicked. What had happened to Fang Qingzhi? Who was the great cultivator behind her? Would he see through her disguise?
No, her identity must not be exposed!
With the young master's lifespan almost depleted, she had to do her utmost to help him fight for a chance. Once he broke through the bottleneck and reconnected with the patriarch in closed - door cultivation, they would still have a chance to rise again!
Mu Bai Shuang reminded herself three times to stay low - key and immediately got up from Zhang Hanshao. She pretended to cry and moved behind Lu Changtian.
"Fang Qingzhi, you've gone too far," Lu Changtian said sternly, pointing at her. "Regardless of the circumstances, Zhang Hanshao was once your senior brother. How could you use such vicious means?"
"Vicious means?" Fang Qingzhi shrugged and shook her head. "I'm just at the peak of Qi Refining, not the peak of Foundation Establishment. It's already my limit to injure him. Are you suggesting I should have left him seriously wounded and unconscious?"
Lu Changtian was speechless.
He turned to look at the "unconscious" Zhang Hanshao. Seeing his face as red as a brick, he knew his junior brother was feigning unconsciousness. The external injuries on Zhang Hanshao were indeed severe, but they weren't enough to render him unconscious. He simply couldn't accept the fact that he had been defeated by Fang Qingzhi.
"Has your Dantian been restored, Fang Qingzhi?" Qingxuan Taoist suddenly spoke after a long silence.
The direct disciples of Chixiao Peak were taken aback and stared at Fang Qingzhi. Mu Bai Shuang also poked her head out from behind Lu Changtian.
"Thanks to the senior's mercy, I was able to restore my Dantian," Fang Qingzhi brushed her ear hair, supporting her sword sheath with one hand, staring at her toes. A blush crept up her ears, Gone was her previous indifferent demeanor.
Everyone's attention was on her words, and no one noticed her shyness except Mu Bai Shuang, who narrowed her eyes.
A woman knows a woman best.
Mu Bai Shuang didn't know what had happened to Fang Qingzhi in the past few months.
But she could tell that Fang Qingzhi now harbored special feelings for that mysterious cultivator.
It was unclear how the cultivator felt about Fang Qingzhi...
This was becoming troublesome.
If the cultivator's target was also Fang Qingzhi's Taiyin physical body, how could she, with her current strength, compete with such an ancient monster?
Mu Bai Shuang bit her lip, her eyes shifting as she devised a plan.
"Senior Sister Qingzhi," she stepped out from behind Lu Changtian and said timidly, "I once heard our master say that restoring the Dantian requires an extremely precious pill called the Primeval Mending Pill. This pill is lost to history, and only it can restore the Dantian...
What I'm trying to say is, has Senior Sister's Dantian truly been restored? Beware of those with ulterior motives. They might give you a false impression on the surface but actually covet something else of yours..."
"Silence!"
Before Mu Bai Shuang could finish, a fierce aura rushed at her, silencing her.
Fang Qingzhi gripped her sword tightly, her knuckles whitening, her body trembling slightly. "The senior's grace is heavier than a mountain. How dare you slander him?"
Mu Bai Shuang's face drained of color as she waved her hands frantically. "Ah, I'm sorry, Senior Sister... I was just worried about you..."
Sssss——!
In response to Mu Bai Shuang was the sound of a sword.
Fang Qingzhi lowered her head, her hair fluttering as she drew her sword.
A beam of sword light flew diagonally toward Mu Bai Shuang.
There was no holding back; it aimed straight for Mu Bai Shuang's throat.
Mu Bai Shuang didn't move a muscle.
She just closed her pitiful eyes.
She knew someone would act before her,
so as not to expose her true self.
Clang——!
The sword was indeed intercepted.
Mu Bai Shuang opened her eyes to see Yun Zimo, the third direct disciple of Chixiao Peak, standing in front of her.
Fang Qingzhi and Yun Zimo locked eyes.
Her former third senior brother, who once protected her, now glared at her with hatred and disgust.
How ironic...
But it didn't matter anymore.
She no longer needed to care about such things.
She no longer lived for anyone else.
She was her own person—Fang Qingzhi.
No longer anyone's junior sister, no longer a former direct disciple of Chixiao Peak, nor anyone else's placeholder. If this life was to bloom for someone, it would only be for her senior.
Fang Qingzhi touched the tassel of her sword, her indifference and coldness gradually rising with the flickering memories, a faint smile playing on her lips:
"Yun Zimo, since you've stepped forward now...
Then it starts with you.
Let's settle the score!"