One Glance, One Slash

Stream Mountain is rich in mineral fields, especially Copper Field Stone, which is a valuable mineral.

The stream flows around the mountain, and is accompanied by spiritual herbs such as Field-Heart Vine and Stream-Pattern Moss, which bring great profits to the Su Household every year.

The Spirit Vein on the mountain were only at the second tier, but the genius array master Su Youyou used Spirit Stone to transform them into a second-tier high-grade array.

Halfway up the mountain, in a dark, deep cave, a dozen or so retainers were mining ore; the cave was filled with dirty ash and grime.

At the mountaintop, in a spotless pavilion, Su Lixia sat quietly, sipping tea and enjoying fruit.

Opposite her stood a dashing and handsome man in a white robe—her husband Nie Yi.

Nie Yi peeled the dried fruit and gently placed it on the plate in front of her, his eyes filled with affection.

When Su Lixia was young, she was the most beloved darling of her family's patriarch. Although she only had Middle-Grade Spirit Root, she possessed a wealth of resources.

At that time, Nie Yi was just an outsider, and she never looked at him seriously, after all, he was so beautiful.

With just a little bit of her beauty, men her age would toil and fawn over her like dogs, even unto death.

Her beauty and privileged background allowed her to live a life where she seemed to have everything.

Later, when the ancestor who Foundation Establishment Perfection perished, the Lei Household invaded, and the Lineage was on the verge of collapse.

Su Changshuo took on the heavy responsibility of the family, contacted all sides, and finally sent her younger brother Su Yanghao to the Azure Mystic Sect. In addition, he sent a large amount of spiritual materials every year to seek protection.

At a time of crisis for the Lineage, Nie Yi displayed exceptional talent; he possessed High-Grade Spirit Root and progressed faster than Su Lixia.

On that day, Su Changshuo asked Su Lixia to marry him.

Su Lixia, from beginning to end, looked down on this outsider; she was the true direct descendant of the Su Household.

However, she still got married because her Lineage needed Nie Yi to become Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After marriage, she discovered that her husband had many qualities that she loved: he was talented, had considerable fighting ability, and was extremely gentle with her. He was practically the moon in the sky for her.

Su Lixia attributed all of this to fate; perhaps she was born with good fortune.

She was supported by her Lineage before marriage and doted on by her husband after marriage.

"Mr. Nie, after the fight with the Bai Household is over today, why don't we go down the mountain and pick some spirit flowers to keep in the courtyard?"

Looking at Su Lixia's beautiful face with infatuation in his eyes, Nie Yi said, "After this battle is over, I'll take you to Sun and Moon Mountain to see the sea of flowers."

Looking at his Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation, Su Lixia knew that with her talent, she had already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. The reason her husband's cultivation had stagnated was because the clan did not allow him to break through.

However, thinking of the current situation of Ancestor Changshuo, she smiled and said, "You've suffered these past years."

Nie Yi held his teacup. "With Sister Xia here, how can life be bitter?"

At this moment, a spirit boat flew in, and a member of the Su Household's secret guard said anxiously, "Elder Lixia, the Han Household has breached the Rice Shoal, and more than ten Qi Refining cultivators have died—"

Su Lixia nodded slightly, showing no concern for the dead. She asked, "Has Rice Shoal been lost?"

"Yes!"

Su Lixia was slightly displeased.

Nie Yi said, "Sister Xia, don't take it to heart. It's just an enclave. Let's give it to the Han Household for now. Once my nephew Yuanye breaks through to the late stage, we'll have the Han Household return it in full."

"Stream Mountain is still the most important place. Someone at home has found out that the Bai Household has recently contacted the Han Household."

"However, with Elder Su Ru from the clan here, there's no need to worry."

Su Lixia's expression softened slightly.

That Rice Shoal has dozens of springs, and the sacred rice irrigated by it is said to be full-grained, bright in color, and fragrant for miles around. It was a tribute rice specially offered to the royal family of the Chen State.

Through this, the Su Household established a friendship with the royal family. Emperor Shun of Chen State was also Core Formation cultivator and possessed a spiritual object that allowed him to rule over the mortals of Chen State for generations to come.

Its importance is far greater than that of Little Willow Marsh. When Su Lixia thought of Little Willow Marsh, she thought of Zhou Ning, who went from being a lowly servant to Alchemist.

Su Lixia knew that this was a scheme deliberately set up by Su Yanghao in order to distance himself from Lineage ties and establish an image of being detached from social interactions within the Azure Mystic Sect.

My dear brother, you really did something wrong.

However, a Qi Refining cultivator, even Alchemist, cannot amount to much.

Doesn't the Su Household have enough retainers? Puppet Master, Pharmacist Lan, Alchemist Tang —aren't they all geniuses?

However, without Foundation Establishment Pill, one would be stuck in the Qi Refining for the rest of their life.

And perhaps Little Willow Marsh has already changed hands.

There's nothing to worry about right now; the most important thing is to hold on.

Suddenly, several beams of light appeared in the distance, one of which was a thick earthy yellow color. It was Bai Feihao of the Bai Household, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator.

Nie Yi, gripping the scabbard at his waist, showed no fear. "They're attacking again!"

Having said that, he didn't hesitate any longer and stepped into the air to meet the attack.

Su Lixia followed closely behind. Although the formation had been modified by Su Youyou and there was no need to worry about it being broken, it could not be left to be attacked. Otherwise, the Spiritual Qi and Spirit Stone would be severely depleted, and even Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Clan would not be able to withstand it.

The two flew to the front of the formation. Their opponents were two male cultivators, one of whom was a burly man with bare chest, wielding a ferocious spiked club. This man was named Bai Feihao, and his fighting style was powerful and heavy.

The other was a thin man named Bai Yi, who was skilled in strategy. This attack on Stream Mountain was his plan.

Nie Yi looked at the two men and asked, "How long do you plan to fight today?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Feihao roared, "Today I'll smash your formation to pieces!"

Su Lixia's face turned cold, and she said disdainfully, "You? A bunch of sycophantic scoundrels, we'll destroy your Bai Household sooner or later!"

The Bai Household's offensive was quite fierce in the first two years, and they almost broke through the enemy's defenses several times.

Later, perhaps realizing there was no hope, the dosage changed from once a day to once every ten days, and finally to once a month.

It was practically just going through the motions as a household chore.

Bai Yi glanced at Feihao, a cold glint in his eyes. Today they had called for reinforcements from the Han Household cultivators, and that man was secretly hiding, waiting for his chance.

Having said that, Bai Feihao swung his spiked club, a magical Law Artifact, and was about to strike.

Then they saw a dark golden light rapidly approaching from afar, and the group immediately looked over.

The man stood in mid-air, clad in a dark robe, his long hair flowing in the wind, his features sharp and piercing.

Su Lixia's gaze froze instantly. She had seen this person before on Bamboo Creek Island; it was Zhou Ning!

He's Foundation Establishment?

A profound sense of absurdity welled up within her. This person had clearly been demoted to Little Willow Marsh and threatened by the Chen Household; his survival was a stroke of luck. How could he Foundation Establishment?

Seeing her expression, Nie Yi, who was standing beside her, thought that a great enemy was coming again, and he touched the scabbard of his sword as if he was about to strike.

"You're only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, why—" he asked telepathically.

Unless it's someone like Prince Su Yuanye, who's in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Bai Yi also gave Bai Feihao a meaningful look. "The situation has changed; it might be reinforcements from the Su Household!"

"Is it all going to end in failure today?" Since the Bai Household launched the war many years ago, they have only killed the Su Household's retainers or collateral relatives, and gained very little.

The excuse they used was nothing more than that the Su Household had hired Alchemist Daoist Mu to ambush and kill their alchemist.

In reality, all the Lineage knew that this matter had never happened.

If they win, that's fine, but if they can't break through after a long siege, they're still a bit apprehensive, fearing a counterattack from the Su Household later.

Zhou Ning stood in the air, looking at the woman in palace attire, and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

Zhou Ning waved his hand, and a brocade ribbon flew out, hovering in mid-air, displaying large characters.

He declared loudly, "My name is Zhou Ning, and today I sever all ties with the Su Household!"

Everyone looked over and saw that the grudges between Zhou Ning and the Su Household were clearly written on the brocade.

For example, at the age of seventeen, he participated in the Qingxuan selection, but was rejected by Su Yanghao, a deacon of the sect, thus ending his Dao Path.

Entering the Su Household a retainer was called being a retainer, but in reality, it was being treated as a servant, with the ability to cripple one's cultivation at the slightest provocation.

Zhou Ning then sold everything he owned to become Alchemist, but was envied by the Su Household and demoted to Little Willow Marsh.

Under the clear blue sky, Zhou Ning proclaimed loudly, "Today, I, Zhou, have forged my Immortal Foundation at Little Willow Marsh. Here and now, I swear to punish the Su Household and restore justice!"

"I beseech heroes from across the land to join me in destroying the Su Household!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Yi's expression became quite interesting, while Bai Feihao laughed loudly, "Very well, Brother Zhou, you've been wronged! Today, I, Hao, must come and lend a hand!"

Having said that, he suddenly hurled his spiked club, a magical Law Artifact, which slammed out with tremendous force.

Su Lixia's face turned ugly. She tossed out a handkerchief, which shimmered with a pure white light, and went to meet it.

Nie Yi then understood. His face showed displeasure. How dare someone who had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage make such a grand statement?

He said calmly, "How could the Su Household raise such an ungrateful wretch like you? Fine, I'll teach you how to do things then."

So-called righteousness is worthless in the face of power; as long as you kill them, black becomes white!

He made a Method Formula, and the flying sword in its sheath rang out with a soft "clang," its tip pointing directly at Zhou Ning.

Nie Yi shouted in a low voice, "Kill!"

The flying swords shot out in an instant, one becoming two, two becoming three, the sword shadows flashing.

Bai Yi from the Bai Household warned from the side, "Brother Zhou, be careful! This person's Swordsmanship is sharp, not much weaker than Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!"

As for himself, being only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, he had no intention of advancing.

Wouldn't it be better to ambush him while he's at it?

Zhou Ning held the Fallen Red Sword, and the [Que Flowing Fire] Immortal Foundation Law Power surged out, causing the sword to hiss and "sparkle".

He slashed out with his sword, and with a "sizzle," a crescent-shaped blade of fire appeared, scraping towards the flying sword.

The two forces clashed head-on, and sparks of light exploded in the air. With a "clang!", the sharp sword shadows were instantly shattered, revealing their true forms, and the swords flew off at an angle like chopsticks.

Zhou Ning laughed loudly, "You dare call yourself a sword cultivator?"

With a flick of his Fallen Red Sword, two more fiery blades were unleashed.

Then, Zhou Ning looked at the battlefield on Su Lixia's side. This woman did have some skills. A soft handkerchief magic Law Artifact floated out, using softness to overcome hardness, and completely blocked the spiked club magic Law Artifact.

Bai Feihao pulled out a large axe and chased after Su Lixia, but he was entangled by a pink ribbon and could not use his skills. He howled in frustration.

Zhou Ning rode the wind closer. Without further hesitation, he wiped his hand across his eyeball and plucked out a phantom of a fiery eye.

This is the Secret Method of [Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils].

Then, Zhou Ning tossed it forward, and the Fiery Eye flew above the two of them, shining it towards Su Lixia, releasing the colorless and formless Delusion-Burning Fire.

Su Lixia, who was fighting with ease, suddenly Divine Sense a dark flame burning fiercely towards her. Wherever the flame was covered, her Divine Sense could not see or use it.

The pink ribbon that had been clinging to Bai Feihao was now being flung around haphazardly.

Bai Feihao escaped, a ferocious smile on his face. He gripped the large axe Law Artifact in his hand and brought it down on her face.

Su Lixia was terrified. A jade ruyi in her bosom flew out on its own and stood in front of her, forming a shimmering light barrier.

With a deafening boom, cracks appeared in the light barrier.

Bai Feihao raised his axe and swung again!

Seeing that Su Lixia was in grave danger, Nie Yi, who had just dealt with the fire blades in the distance, became anxious and began to form hand Method Formula.

You dare!

The flying sword shot from a distance, aiming straight for the big man's eyes.

Upon seeing the gleaming sword tip, Bai Feihao dared not strike again and quickly threw out a small shield talisman to block the flying sword.

At the same time, he crushed a talisman, which glowed with golden light, and moved sideways, attempting to dodge the flying sword.

The flying sword hummed and trembled, yet it didn't change direction, instead crashing straight into the small shield and exploding into a burst of spiritual light.

Bai Feihao was completely baffled.

Nie Yi's expression changed drastically. He felt a flame ignite in front of him, and his Divine Sense was immediately blocked as soon as he entered it.

Although the flying sword still possessed Law Power, it was completely unable to change direction, speed, or even retract!

He felt a chill in his heart, and then he saw Zhou Ning's long sword slash, several condensed fire blades attacking Su Lixia.

"Oh no! I'm afraid Sister Xia has also been targeted!"

Nie Yi drew another magic sword, gripped it tightly in his hand, and rushed to the aid.

Bai Yi, who had been watching the whole thing, seized his opportunity. "If you want to leave, you'll have to get past me first!"

He summoned a round Law Artifact, its edges covered in iron teeth. It spun in the wind and grew to the size of a house, blocking Nie Yi's path.

"Get out of the way!" Nie Yi roared, and a stone bead was thrown out, falling like a boulder, causing the disc to drop several feet.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Nie Yi flashed past.

Bai Yi was furious; he felt like a dog on the street, casually dismissed!

Zhou Ning pressed forward, no longer sparing his Law Power, and poured it into the Fallen Red Sword. The sword's color grew redder and redder, and the flames intensified, almost boiling over.

The jade ruyi light shield in front of Su Lixia had been shattered by the previous fire blades, and she was forced to retreat.

She wanted to summon the circular Law Artifact to possess it, but when the fiery eye in the sky shone upon it, her Divine Sense became ethereal, and she could only pour her Law Power into it, unable to control it at all.

With a heavy heart, Su Lixia activated a second-tier defensive talisman, protecting herself completely, and hid inside the formation.

Zhou Ning would never let her have her way.

He finally raised his sword, its blade flashing brightly, and slashed out with chilling force.

As the sword tip swept across, a two-zhang-long (approximately 6.6 meters) long blade of fire shot out into the air.

Just then, a furious shout came from below, "You little beast! How dare you!"

A gaunt figure appeared, brandishing a gray blade that stabbed straight at Zhou Ning.

It was Su Ru, years ago, rode the Azure Feather Eagle and twice visited Little Willow Marsh, intending to threaten Zhou Ning.

"Haha, old man, what's the rush?"

From Zhou Ning's side and behind, a man with eagle-like eyes appeared and unleashed a beam of green light that struck the gray blade, forcing it to stop.

Zhou Ning's Divine Sense had already detected two blurry figures hiding, but he was too lazy to expose them, so he continued with his actions.

"Break!"

The long, narrow fire blade suddenly burst forth, piercing straight towards Su Lixia.

Su Lixia was terrified; her originally elegant face was now filled with fear.

Retreat? No matter how fast you can escape, how can you outrun the Law Power of a condensed blade?

As for dodging? She could sense that the Law Technique energy was firmly locked onto her.

In despair, Su Lixia frantically poured her Law Power into the talisman.

The fiery blade was only twenty feet away, about to strike, when at the critical moment, a white-clad figure radiating rosy light, holding an ice shield, moved to the front of her.

The next moment, a fiery blade swept across, splitting the ice shield in two, shattering the glowing light, and the white-clad man was cut in half at the waist.

Nie Yi felt a burning sensation in his waist, and his upper body fell downwards, hanging upside down. He saw an endless expanse of azure sky.

Just like in my childhood, when I would fall asleep on the grass after playing with my friends in the village and see the sky.

His vision kept shifting and changing, and in another instant, he saw that haunting figure in the sky, just like the vow he made after that fleeting glimpse in his youth.

Sister Xia, I'm so sorry--

Nie Yi's consciousness dissipated into nothingness.

The fire blade pierced through several defenses, cleaved through the water barrier in front of Su Lixia, but its power was greatly reduced. Finally, it crashed into the thick water shield and vanished without a trace.

When Su Lixia saw the sight of Nie Yi's blood splattered everywhere, she stood there stunned, a huge chunk of her heart felt empty, and tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.

Over the years, she has come to regard her husband as the most precious person in her life.

They had made plans to go to Sun and Moon Mountain to see the sea of flowers.

The gaunt Su Ru flew over, his body crackling with lightning. He slapped a talisman at Su Lixia, his palm, as thick as an old tree root, shoved it forward, unleashing a torrent of spiritual power.

"Walk!"

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhou Ning rushing towards him with a sword, the tip of which was already glowing red!

Su Ru yelled at Su Lixia again, "Get out of here!! Do you want to die?!"

Su Lixia suddenly realized what was happening and quickly returned to the Stream Mountain Formation.

Su Ru's face hardened, and he stared intently at Zhou Ning, his anger burning fiercely. "I will settle the Su Household's affairs!"

He pulled out a dark, luminous bead from his hand.

In that instant, Bai Feihao, Han Ziyue, and the others who were rushing towards them felt their scalps tingle. "Mystic Thunder Orb!"

Holding the Mystic Thunder Orb, Su Ru was enveloped in a thin layer of light, his feet treading on lightning. Like an arrow released from a bow, he shot towards Zhou Ning, meeting the oncoming fire blades head-on.

Zhou Ning could sense the violent power contained within the bead. If he were to take a hit from it, even with the Profound Fire Dharma Robe to protect him, he would likely be seriously injured.

He used his Immortal Foundation power to condense a fireball, and flicked a wave of fire from his fingertip. "Go!"

Su Ru pushed his Movement Method to its limit, dodging two fire blades. The third blade struck the light shield, but he twisted his body to avoid it. The fourth fire blade severed his right arm, and the fifth cut off both of his knees.

His withered face was contorted, veins bulging, and his thin, crippled figure pressed forward relentlessly.

For the Su Household, I would die nine times over!

A blazing wave of fire shot towards him, and Su Ru crashed headlong into it. The flames engulfed him, and he moved through the fire. His already terrifying face was burned into the likeness of a demon from hell, his eyes fixed on Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning grabbed with his palm. "Explode!"

A dark blue lightning bolt exploded with a deafening roar, the violent lightning force tearing through the flames, and the sky was filled with countless arcs of lightning and fireflies.

Su Ru was blown to ashes, leaving not a trace.

The group felt a chill run down their spines; the aura of this Su Household cultivator was truly terrifying!

When they looked up at Zhou Ning in the sky, they were surprised to find that even so, he had not retreated an inch.

Zhou Ning stood imposingly, his Xuanhuo Law Power flowing with dark scale light. He waved his hand, retracting the illusory fire eye in the air and placing it back in its socket. Only then did he look at the three. "At this great victory, why are you all silent?"