Blood splashed as Lu Ye and Senior Brother Zhou each staggered back three steps.
Blood poured from Lu Ye's right chest; Senior Brother Zhou's sword had pierced straight through it. But Senior Brother Zhou was no better off. A slash ran diagonally from his chest to his abdomen. Had he not taken a step back at the last moment, that single strike would have gutted him.
Naturally, Senior Brother Zhou had seen Lu Ye's slash. The reason he had not fully dodged was because he had absolute confidence in the Spiritual Power protecting his body.
Earlier, Lu Ye had used a Breath Concealing Talisman to hide his figure and the Spiritual Light on his body, so the people from Youyun Mountain could not gauge his true strength. But once they began fighting, it was exposed. There was no way to conceal the fluctuations of Spiritual Power.
Spirit Stream Tier Three! The instant Senior Brother Zhou broke free from the Spirit Bell, he had judged Lu Ye's cultivation.
He was at Spirit Stream Fifth Layer, two minor realms above his opponent. Naturally, the Spiritual Power protecting his body was more robust. Thus, he had been confident that even if Lu Ye slashed him, it would be no great concern—at most, he would suffer a minor injury. On the other hand, after he stabbed Lu Ye through with his sword, his opponent would not be feeling nearly as well.
Had he not always been cautious and careful, he would not even have taken that step back when Lu Ye's blade came down.
That one step had allowed him to brush past death.
When the long saber struck the Spiritual Power protecting his body, it was only slightly impeded before cleaving through it and cutting him in passing.
Senior Brother Zhou widened the