Azure Lotus Sword Song, Second Form: Two Forms! Ye Lingling Comes Calling, Li Zhexian Accepts the Challenge

Azure Lotus Sword Song, Second Form—Two Forms! Ye Lingling Comes Calling, Li Zhexian Accepts the Challenge

That night.

The cold pool reflected the moon, while the hot spring steamed into clouds.

Beneath the starlight, the mist of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye intertwined as it rose, clearly divided yet seamlessly united.

The white-robed swordsman arrived upon the moonlight, his toes shattering a pool of stars.

Li Zhexian drifted down into the center of the springs.

His thoughts were clear, his gaze sharp as lightning, stirring the soul.

Sensing its master's Clear Sword Heart, the Azure Lotus Sword let out a clear, resonant cry.

Sword in hand, Li Zhexian shifted slightly.

The blade swept from the Fire Spring to the cold spring, sending ripples spreading across the water.

"Ice forged into a blade, fire tempered into an edge. When hardness and softness complement each other, the true essence of the sword is revealed."

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

The wind suddenly rose, as though answering his words.

The Three-foot-six Azure Blade was clear and pristine as jade.

The blade's ridge split down the middle. One side was crimson, like surging lava; the other was icy blue, like the chill gleam of a polar frost.

"Yang is blazing. When this sword emerges, it is like the great sun descending upon the world!"

Li Zhexian flicked his wrist, and crimson flames erupted along the blade.

Every slash carried the force of a falling meteor. Wherever the scorching waves passed, the air warped like transparent serpents and pythons.

"Yin is frost. When this sword is sheathed, it is like eternal night sealing the land!"

Li Zhexian's Sword Momentum abruptly changed, and deep blue frost condensed upon the edge.

Where the sword qi swept, frost patterns spread like spiderwebs. Vegetation instantly crystallized in frost, crumbling into dust at the slightest breeze.

Boom—!!!

Sword qi of ice and fire intertwined as it shot into the heavens, violently tearing apart the night sky.

Li Zhexian leaped into the air.

When he landed, the ground within thirty meters around him was split in two. The soil on the left was scorched black and cracked, while the right was covered in inch-thick ice.

It was as if a Taiji diagram of Two Forms had appeared with him at its center.

The blade trembled softly, and the phenomena of ice and fire receded, restoring its cold jade-like hue.

Li Zhexian ran two fingers along the newly formed Yin Yang Fish Pattern on the blade's ridge. After pondering for a while, he chuckled.

"The second form of the Azure Lotus Sword Song shall be called..."

"Two Forms."

"This form, Two Forms, is divided into the Sword of Blazing and the Frost Sword."

"The sword has three realms: the Lower Sword Slashes People, the Middle Sword Slashes Self, and the Upper Sword Slashes Night."

"If..."

"The first form of the Azure Lotus Sword Song—Yaoguang—was a strand of starlight I stole. Wherever its edge pointed, it took lives and stole heaven's light."

"Then the second form of the Azure Lotus Sword Song—Two Forms—is a thread of yin and yang that I intercepted. It shall sever life and death, and peer into creation itself."

"Haa..."

Li Zhexian let out a long breath, then tilted back his head and took a deep drink of wine.

"Splendid, splendid!"

"The second form of the Azure Lotus Sword Song is complete!"

"I, Li Zhexian, have finally emerged from seclusion!"

The next day.

The first light of dawn had just appeared.

Li Zhexian returned to his small courtyard.

From afar, he saw a slender figure standing quietly before the gate, carrying large and small bundles.

It was Ye Lingling.

Li Zhexian walked over and saw that the girl had yet to notice him.

A mischievous impulse rose within him.

He leaned close to her ear.

Then let out a howl.

"Ah—!"

Ye Lingling jolted in fright.

Everything in her hands fell to the ground.

Without saying a word, she merely tightened her cool little face and bent down to pick them up.

Li Zhexian curled his lips. With a flick of his finger, a strand of supple sword qi swept up the items from the ground and steadily delivered them into Ye Lingling's arms.

"Ye Lingling, what are you doing at my house?"

Ye Lingling pressed her lips together. Her azure eyes darted briefly toward Li Zhexian before lowering again. She offered him the items in her hands, her voice as crisp and cold as an Ice Spring.

"For you."

Li Zhexian did not take them. Instead, he looked Ye Lingling up and down, observing her long blue hair dampened by morning dew.

"Did your mother send you?"

Ye Lingling fell silent.

Li Zhexian understood and asked again.

"Are you coming every morning?"

Still no answer.

"Sigh..."

Li Zhexian sighed softly and unlocked the gate before pushing it open.

"Go tell your mother that I have not the slightest interest in the old grudge between the Nine Star Begonia and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."

With that said.

He stepped into the courtyard.

Ye Lingling followed closely behind him.

Bang—!

The courtyard gate slammed shut in an instant.

It nearly struck the tip of her delicate nose.

The girl lowered her lashes. Her slender figure stood stubbornly where it was, still clutching the gifts her mother had told her to deliver.

There was little expression on that incomparably lovely face.

She was cool and ethereal, yet she resembled a Little Beast abandoned amid wind and rain.

Lost and helpless, alone with nothing to rely on.

Li Zhexian tossed the matters of the Ye Family to the back of his mind.

He had not returned for several days.

A thick layer of dust had long accumulated inside the house.

He held two fingers together like a sword and swept them through the air. A fierce wind suddenly rose indoors, scattering dust in every direction.

With another wave of his sleeve, the wind gathered the dust into a ball, which he casually flicked outside.

After tidying the corners and arranging his clothes, half an hour had passed.

Looking at the refreshed little house, Li Zhexian nodded in satisfaction.

Next, it was time to tend to the courtyard.

Li Zhexian pushed open the door and entered the small courtyard.

At that moment, he frowned and looked toward the gate. That faint presence outside was still there.

"You still haven't left?"

Li Zhexian stepped forward and pulled open the courtyard gate.

With a creak, Ye Lingling's cool yet delicate face appeared before him once more.

"For you."

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she offered the gifts to Li Zhexian.

"Ye Lingling, are you really this stubborn?"

Li Zhexian's brows were tightly furrowed, leaving no room for negotiation in his tone.

"I will never accept anything from your Ye Family."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ye Lingling's gaze fell upon the Clear Spring Wine Gourd hanging at his waist. She blinked her blue eyes and suddenly said:

"Inside... is vintage wine my mother prepared for you."

—

The air froze for an instant.

Li Zhexian abruptly turned around, a spring-breeze smile blooming across his handsome face.

"Well, if it isn't Ye Lingling!"

"You came all this way, and you even brought gifts. You really shouldn't have."

Ye Lingling parted her red lips slightly, staring blankly at the White-robed Youth's shameless change of heart.

Li Zhexian rummaged through the pile of precious treasures, finally picking out a small wine gourd before happily heading into the courtyard.

This time, however, the gate remained open.

Ye Lingling silently followed him inside.

Seeing the dusty courtyard, she silently rolled up her sleeves and began cleaning.

Li Zhexian did not stop her. He sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, pulled the stopper from the wine gourd, and happily took a sip.

He smacked his lips.

"Mm, not bad. It has a lingering hint of floral brew."

"Still, it needs a bit more refinement before it can enter my Clear Spring Wine Gourd."

Watching Ye Lingling clumsily yet earnestly wield the broom.

Li Zhexian casually traced a line with his fingertip. An invisible sword qi swept over the courtyard, sending every speck of dust into a corner.

Ye Lingling sat across from him, lowering her eyes without speaking.

"Can you drink?"

Li Zhexian pushed the wine gourd toward her.

"After all, you brought it."

Ye Lingling took the wine gourd, tipped back her head, and gulped down a large mouthful.

Cough, cough!

Cough, cough!

The fiery wine rushed straight into her chest. Covering her mouth, she began coughing. A rosy flush spread across her cheeks, and a shimmering mist clouded her blue eyes.

Li Zhexian took back the wine gourd and frowned.

"If you can't drink, don't drink."

"I was asking you just now, not forcing you."

Ye Lingling wiped the wine from the corner of her lips, her voice carrying a faint, almost imperceptible pant.

"Mother told me to listen to you."

"Whatever you tell me to do, I will do."

Li Zhexian's frown deepened.

"What about yourself? Is there nothing you want to do?"

Looking at the girl's face, which was less cold than utterly drained of spirit, leaving behind only weak, numb obedience, Li Zhexian waved a hand.

"Forget it. Let's not talk about that."

"Hmm, has anything interesting happened in Heaven Dou City lately?"

Ye Lingling thought for a moment.

"Yes."

"A fat man calling himself the Evil Fire Phoenix has arrived in the Imperial City. He has won nearly fifty consecutive matches at the Soul Fighting Arena."

"He claims he wants to challenge Jian Jiu."

She paused and looked at Li Zhexian.

"He said he would break Jian Jiu's sword and kick over Jian Jiu's wine."

Li Zhexian's hand paused slightly as he raised the wine gourd. Then, as though nothing had happened, he brought the wine to his lips.

Clack—

The wine gourd landed on the stone table.

He rose to his full height.

Ye Lingling also stood.

"Where are you going?"

"The Soul Fighting Arena."

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