The Oriole Lurks Behind

However, energy can be dispersed, but physical impact is difficult to dissipate. The tortoise shield was knocked away by the palm force, crashing into Xia Guanxue and sending him flying.

"Sorry, there's no time to spare, so I'll have to throw the shield out first."

Wearing the Black Tortoise Armor, Murong Qing rushed into the battlefield. Without saying a word, she intercepted the Vicious Qi Evil Spider that was about to strike, and the two sides engaged in a fierce battle.

Murong Qing sought to avoid mistakes rather than achieve merit, focusing on defense with 80% offense and 20% defense. He continuously released cold energy to alter the battlefield environment and slow down his opponent's movements. At the same time, he utilized the defensive properties of the Black Tortoise Armor to withstand the opponent's powerful energy, thus holding his own for the time being.

She even took a moment to shout to Si Ming, "The Divine Pillar is fake; the Remote Heaven Society's target isn't France."

"Oh, now I can finally relax."

As he spoke, Si Ming sheathed his sword, and the God of Law in the sky was no longer filled with ominous energy, clearly having completed the purification.

"Now, it's time to settle the score for the blood feud you inflicted on my hair!"

Si Ming stared at the Vicious Qi Evil Spider, a gigantic Asura Dharma Form appearing behind it. He stomped his feet, causing the earth to tremble, and a sinister grin spread across his face. "Come on," he said gleefully, "Let's play hide-and-seek again. You didn't have enough fun last time, did you? Otherwise, why would you come back to find me?"

Even though he had lost his mind, the Vicious Qi Evil Spider instinctively sensed danger and couldn't help but take a step back. Then, the scene before his death flashed through his mind, turning into a tremor in the depths of his soul, warning him. So he turned and fled.

"Oh, this time we're not playing hide-and-seek, we're playing cops and robbers! Okay, I'll definitely play with you and make sure you're satisfied, hehehehe..."

The Vicious Qi Evil Spider fled swiftly, making it impossible to tell that he was missing an arm and had a large hole in his chest—but the enraged Si Ming pursued him even faster!

"Got you! Sigh, why are you running so slowly? This won't do. I have to teach you a lesson. By the way, what do the police do after they catch a thief? Oh right, I'll break your arm first. You better remember this lesson and run faster next time."

"Ah, caught you again. This time I'll break one of your legs. Since you're Spirit Transformation Grandmaster, you should be able to run away on one leg."

"Oh dear, now you've lost both your legs. But it's okay, you can still run on your head while standing upside down. Next time I catch you, I'll break your third leg."

Xia Guanxue dragged her injured body to Murong Qing's side, gazing at the scene of torture in the distance, and slowly said, "Is he really Yan Jinghong's disciple?"

You're not the first person to ask that question.

"Is this the price of becoming stronger?"

I hope not.

"If I had witnessed this sooner, I probably would have given up on seeking revenge against Yan Jinghong..."

Chapter 529 The Oriole in the Crow's Nest

The Hall of Enlightened Law was the main hall where the France monarch and his officials held court.

Yan Jinghong looked up at the plaque, stepped into the hall, where a person was already waiting.

"It really is you. I knew it. You'd rather personally kill your own family than shift the blame to someone else. That's a bad habit," Su Yingbo said.

"The Mohist School advocate universal love, saying that it should not distinguish between relatives and strangers, between the noble and the lowly, or between the rich and the poor, or between self and others. But no one is a saint, and who can forget emotions? Even if I know that my friend has done something wrong, committed an irreparable mistake, if he dies at the hands of someone else, I will still resent the executioner, even if he did something righteous, or acted on behalf of Heaven."

Yan Jinghong drew her sword, the blade rubbing lightly against the scabbard, producing a soft "sizzling" sound. She pointed the sword diagonally at her opponent and said, "Therefore, I'd rather resent myself!"

"To act for the public good out of selfish motives—I don't know whether to call it sincerity or hypocrisy, but either way, it commands my sincere admiration... but I hate this side of you."

Su Yingbo gripped the knife tightly, the tip drawing in the air to create a swirling gust of wind. He continued, "I even hate my second sister for turning you into this. Because of her dying words, she transformed you, who was once free-spirited and impulsive, into this grotesque creature, neither human nor saint... All along, I've wanted to ask you one question: Are you truly my good brother Yan Jinghong, or a monster wearing his skin?"

As soon as the words were spoken, their figures moved in an instant. Swords clashed, and since they were familiar with each other's moves, there was no need for probing. Their attacks were all deadly. In less than half a minute, the crisscrossing sword Sword Qi had cut the magnificent palace into numerous wounds, leaving it riddled with holes and no longer resembling its original sacred and solemn appearance.

"The Sword Rises, Wind and Clouds Move!"

"Pointing Stance, Cloud Peak Falling Stone!"

Sword Qi enveloped the sword, accompanied by the power of wind and clouds, its power amplified, charging forward with a blend of murderous intent and otherworldly grace, like a transcendent sword immortal.

The blade's tip gathers sharpness, power is concentrated in a single point, its movements like a dragon and a snake, drawing a white line in the air, vigorous yet graceful, like a reclusive swordsman.

The blade's edge pierced through the surface, penetrating the Sword Qi and piercing Yan Jinghong's shoulder. The Sword Qi, though shattered, did not dissipate. Agitated by the power of wind and clouds, it created mottled wounds on Su Yingbo's chest.

"The Feng and Shan Sacrifice Sword Technique emphasizes inner strength over form; the key lies in the swordsman's cultivation. With your injuries still unhealed, you are no match for me!"

"Having not fought against strong opponents for so long, and lacking experience in life-or-death battles, you will definitely not be the one standing at the end!"

In the life-or-death struggle, neither side held back. Sparks flew, the fighting spirit continued to rise, and the battle became increasingly fierce. Yan Jinghong was forced back to the high platform by the wind of the blade. With a flick of his sleeve, he rolled the heavy dragon throne toward Su Yingbo.

"Horizontal Stance, Clouds Dispersed for a Thousand Li!"

Without hesitation, Su Yingbo cleaved the dragon throne, a symbol of the emperor, into a shower of flying wood chips with a single Gang Qi. His powerful energy swept out, cutting through the palace walls and two large pillars, leaving invisible marks that forced Yan Jinghong to quickly dodge into the air.

In terms of Foundation, Yan Jinghong was originally supposed to be superior to Su Yingbo, but the injuries he suffered last time were too severe. He was poisoned and on the verge of death, and it was estimated that it would take at least four months to recover. Now his Cultivation Body were incomplete, at most only 60%. His Feng and Shan Sacrifice Sword Technique was suppressed by the Eight Forms of the Divine Edge, and he could only rely on his rich combat experience to persevere, without showing any signs of weakness.

Ten years have passed. While Su Yingbo was enjoying the pleasures of life, Yan Jinghong was fighting against countless martial arts masters, including powerful opponents of the same level like the Eight Asura Sin Lord. Although Su Yingbo had experienced dramatic changes in her life during this period, her will had been tempered, and her temperament had become strong and determined, the gap in experience over ten years was not so easy to bridge.

After exchanging dozens of blows, Yan Jinghong's swordplay suddenly changed, abandoning the mediocre and unremarkable Feng and Shan Sacrifice Sword Technique. Every move was exquisite and extraordinary. In the blink of an eye, the two figures separated, the sword light flashed, accompanied by two streams of blood and a golden knife flying out of his hand.

However, Yan Jinghong traded blows, injuring his abdomen in exchange for a sword that pierced Su Yingbo's wrist, severing an artery and forcing him to drop his golden knife. He then launched a series of attacks, aiming to seize control of the battle in one fell swoop.

"Excellent move! This must be the Hero Sword Technique you mentioned last time. Truly heroic and spirited, its sharpness fully revealed!"

As Su Yingbo softly praised him, he rubbed his palms together to form a blade, refining his True Qi into a qi blade. He fought and retreated, but flesh and blood were ultimately no match for divine weapons. Each collision added a sword mark to his palm. After ten moves, his entire hand was cut and bloodied, but he didn't care at all.

"Sword Tests All Under Heaven!"

Too fast to dodge, too powerful to avoid, Yan Jinghong, having already gathered her strength, concentrated her energy and spirit into the tip of her sword and thrust it out like a celestial being descending from the heavens. If Su Yingbo were to use her hand to block again, her entire arm would be severed in two.

Su Yingbo naturally wouldn't resort to force. He moved gracefully with his feet, his pupils reflecting Yan Jinghong's swift shadow. His calm eyes remained unwavering until the divine sword struck a vital point. With a flick of his sleeve, a deep blue Judging Official fell into his palm, and he pointed it out, the pen tip meeting the Sword-Ray.

With a clang, the energy surged, and both men groaned and staggered backward, but both suffered internal injuries, which undoubtedly gave Su Yingbo was in good condition, a greater advantage.