The Defeat of Jian Xuzi

"Actually, it isn't much of a secret. Did you hear about the Medicine Manor massacre a little over a month ago, young friend?"

Ye Jing certainly knew. The sole surviving bloodline of the Medicine Manor had even crossed paths with her!

Unfortunately, the Great Li Imperial Family had taken her away. She was probably doomed. Otherwise, he might have had a chance to harvest the peerless treasures in that Secret Realm.

"Of course I've heard of it. Could the important matter Senior Jian Xuzi mentioned have something to do with the Medicine Manor?"

Jian Xuzi laughed heartily. "That's right. The Medicine Manor's ancestors once saved my Sword Sect from ruin."

"Now, the sole surviving bloodline of the Medicine Manor, Yao Qingyin, is in the Great Li Heavenly Prison."

"My Sword Sect cannot leave such a debt of gratitude unpaid. That is why the sect sent me to guard the Imperial Capital. If the Great Li Imperial Family dares to lay a hand on Medicine Girl, my Sword Sect will point its swords straight at the Imperial Capital."

"For Medicine Girl's safety, I truly cannot leave the Imperial Capital right now."

After hearing Jian Xuzi's words, Ye Jing was startled. He hadn't expected Yao Qingyin to be safe and sound. This was certainly an unexpected piece of good news.

Who knew how many thousand-year-old medicinal herbs were in the Secret Realm that Yao Xingchen had encountered? If they could be refined into pills, who knew how much they might boost his strength?

Ye Jing had long coveted the precious herbs in that Secret Realm. Last time, when he'd personally seen people from the Great Li Imperial Family take Yao Qingyin away, he'd regretted it for a long while. Now, hearing that she was still alive, he felt his longing for the Secret Realm stir once more.

Ye Jing pondered for a moment. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, then his expression turned exceptionally resolute. "Senior Jian Xuzi, how about we make a deal?"

Jian Xuzi looked at Ye Jing with interest. "What sort of deal do you have in mind, young friend?"

"Since Senior Jian Xuzi is in the Imperial Capital to ensure Miss Qingyin's safety, you could escort Qiuyue to the Sword Sect. I'll personally go to the Great Li Heavenly Prison and rescue Miss Qingyin. What do you think?"

Seeing that Ye Jing didn't seem to be joking, Jian Xuzi froze for a moment, then looked troubled.

"Young friend, you don't know the situation. The Great Li Heavenly Prison is heavily guarded. Not only are many Great Grandmasters stationed there, but a being at the Peak of Humanity also guards the depths of the prison."

"With defenses like that, even I might not be able to bring Medicine Girl back if I broke into the prison. With your strength, I'm afraid..."

Jian Xuzi had also considered breaking into the prison and rescuing Yao Qingyin. He wasn't afraid of those Great Grandmasters.

With his cultivation at the Great Grandmaster pinnacle, even if they surrounded him all at once, he could still leave at his leisure.

What he dreaded was the being at the Peak of Humanity in the Great Li Heavenly Prison. According to rumor, that person had comprehended the laws of the Thunder Dao and was far stronger than an ordinary Peak of Humanity.

He was certain he couldn't take Yao Qingyin away right under that person's nose, so he had abandoned the idea.

Ye Jing's cultivation was certainly impressive, but Jian Xuzi didn't believe he could match that being at the Peak of Humanity.

Ye Jing understood what Jian Xuzi was implying, but wasn't offended. He said calmly, "Senior Jian Xuzi, I'd like to spar with you in the Sword Dao. Would you agree?"

Jian Xuzi was taken aback. Only after a long moment did he burst into laughter. "Interesting. Very interesting. I've been in Great Li for a hundred years, and I've never met such a brazen young man."

Since Ye Jing had challenged him, how could Jian Xuzi refuse? "Very well. Let's find a spacious place and have a spar."

Under cover of night, the two soared through the air toward a distant place.

In a desolate wilderness, the surroundings were silent, not a soul in sight. A spark of battle intent lit Ye Jing's eyes as the sword intent in his heart surged forth, his sword aura shooting straight into the heavens.

"Senior Jian Xuzi, please don't hold back in this fight. With your level of skill, you can't hurt me."

"Good lad, I truly underestimated you. Your sword aura is in no way inferior to mine."

A look of astonishment flashed through Jian Xuzi's eyes. He knew Ye Jing was powerful, but had never imagined he could be this powerful.

So young, yet his sword aura was every bit as strong as Jian Xuzi's. What kind of freak was he? Compared with him, even that Innate Dao Body seemed rather ordinary.

Seeing the terrifying sword aura radiating from Ye Jing, Jian Xuzi realized that Ye Jing's strength was in no way inferior to his own.

He didn't dare be careless. His aura surged to its peak, and he swung his sword, sending a massive Sword Qi hurtling toward Ye Jing.

Ye Jing refused to be outdone. He gathered the power throughout his body, his aura instantly reaching its peak, then swung his sword as well. A several-dozen-zhang-long Sword Qi, solid as a thing of substance, slashed toward Jian Xuzi.

The two Sword Qi collided with a tremendous BOOM! The violent shock wave snapped the dead trees across several li around them.

Ye Jing's Innate Sword Qi cleaved the other Innate Sword Qi apart, then surged toward Jian Xuzi with unstoppable force.

Jian Xuzi's sleeves billowed. With a loud shout, he drew the longsword on his back, gathered all his power, and swung. Only then did he manage to dispel the Innate Sword Qi. But he was sent flying dozens of zhang, and his Daoist robe was pierced until it was full of holes.

It took Jian Xuzi a good while to steady himself. He looked at his tattered robe, confusion in his eyes.

Why was Ye Jing's Innate Sword Qi several times more powerful than his, when they were both Innate Sword Qi?

He prided himself on being the greatest Sword Dao prodigy the Sword Sect had seen in three hundred years. He had studied the sect's secret art, the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation, in great depth and achieved profound mastery.

Ye Jing was still so young, not even twenty. Jian Xuzi, by contrast, had cultivated for a hundred years and practiced the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation for decades.

He had never expected such a vast gap between them after their contest today. Jian Xuzi stood rooted to the spot, finding it difficult to accept.

"Senior Jian Xuzi, do you think I'm strong enough to enter the Great Li Heavenly Prison and rescue Miss Yao Qingyin?"

Ye Jing's question finally brought Jian Xuzi out of his daze. Looking at the smiling Ye Jing before him, who seemed every inch the refined gentleman, Jian Xuzi's eyes held a complicated expression.

"Generation after generation, the land brings forth new talents. For someone so young to possess such strength—I truly admire you."

"I've been blessed with extraordinary luck today. Not only did I meet an Innate Dao Body, I also encountered a true dragon like you."

"Rest assured, young friend. I'll make sure to escort Miss Qiuyue back to the Sword Sect."

Having witnessed strength far beyond his own, Jian Xuzi considered the matter for a moment before agreeing to Ye Jing's request.