Chapter 22: He Jiao Jiao

A pool of fresh blood emerged on the ground, forming a blood-stained crater. Standing over it, the senior disciple surnamed Huang from Heavenly Sword Peak was trembling, seemingly having lost consciousness. He was a cultivator at the ninth level of the Pulse-Opening Realm, yet he had been reduced to such a wretched state in a single exchange.

The remaining disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak froze, suddenly afraid to even look Lu Changfeng in the eye. The entire process had appeared slow, but it had transpired in a mere heartbeat. After a series of sharp intakes of breath rippled through the crowd, Luo Wuren finally recovered from his shock. He had known this disciple named Huang for quite some time and was well aware of his true capabilities; a typical ninth-level Pulse-Opening cultivator would be no match for him. Yet now, he lay unconscious on the ground after a single encounter.

"Your cultivation!" Luo Wuren gasped, his eyes widening as he breathed heavily. "In just over two months, you have actually reached the eighth level of the Pulse-Opening Realm?"

Lu Changfeng remained indifferent, standing still without responding. Clenching his fists tightly, Luo Wuren thought to himself, *His cultivation speed is this rapid? Could it be that the Peak Master of Moon Cold Peak really possesses some special means? Since there is already animosity between us, I absolutely cannot let him continue to cultivate in peace! I must cripple him today!*

With this thought, he took a fierce step forward, his killing intent solidifying as the spiritual energy within him roared to life. A flash of spiritual light appeared and then dissipated, revealing a thick, heavy, edgeless longsword. A cold, bloody aura emanated from the blade.

"Senior Brother, be careful!" Zhou Xuantong, standing in the back, said with a darkened expression, unable to stop himself from warning, "Although the heavy sword in Luo Wuren’s hand is not an original, it is a replica of a great treasure of Heavenly Sword Peak! It possesses the power of a low-grade Profound-tier weapon!"

Lu Changfeng nodded and tapped his storage ring. With a resonant hum and a surge of spiritual energy, he gripped the hilt of his own sword—a gift from Yue Qingshuang upon his initiation, also a low-grade Profound-tier spiritual artifact.

Luo Wuren bent his arms slightly and slammed his heavy sword onto the ground. *Boom!* The impact caused the weapon to roar, and a deep pit appeared where the blade struck. His expression was icy, his killing intent fierce, as he declared, "As a disciple of the Dao Yan Sect, you have severely injured my junior brother! I thought you had repented, but today you have again wounded a disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak! As the head senior brother of Heavenly Sword Peak, I will kill you myself to maintain the order of the Dao Yan Sect!"

"Prepare to die!"

In an instant, Luo Wuren’s spiritual energy erupted, surging into his heavy sword. The earth cracked, and the blade flickered with an ominous black light. With his arm muscles bulging, he lifted the heavy sword and swung it toward Lu Changfeng. Though the sword was edgeless, the Heavenly Sword Peak disciples watching from the sidelines retreated in haste; those who were too slow found their clothes shredded as if by blade energy.

"This is Senior Brother Luo’s true strength! How terrifying!"
"Excellent! Kill this ungrateful wretch and avenge Senior Brother Huang!"

The disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak looked on with glee. They were all sword practitioners, and seeing Luo Wuren’s awe-inspiring sword intent made them feel as if they were looking at their own future potential. This was the influence a head senior brother held.

Despite the weight of the sword, Luo Wuren’s speed remained unaffected. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his spot and reappeared behind Lu Changfeng, the heavy sword whistling through the air as he brought it down toward the back of Lu Changfeng’s head.

Lu Changfeng’s eyes flashed with cold killing intent. Luo Wuren had provoked him time and again, and now he had openly displayed the intent to kill. Since that was the case, he would finish him today!

Just as he prepared to strike, a streak of light shot from the distance and collided with the heavy sword. *Clang!* With the sound of clashing metal, the heavy sword was knocked aside, crashing into the ground.

"Who goes there!" Luo Wuren’s expression turned savage. He never expected anyone to dare intervene.

Lu Changfeng slowly retracted his aura, his expression indifferent. Luo Wuren did not realize he had just walked the edge of the gates of hell. He was furious that someone had interrupted his kill.

"A direct disciple of a Heavenly Sword Peak elder, yet you dare strike a direct disciple of the Moon Cold Peak Master?" An ethereal voice echoed through the area. "Is this the lack of discipline at Heavenly Sword Peak? Or do you wish to be expelled from the sect?"

A young girl in black robes flew in from afar. Her frame was slight, and the features of her transformation were just beginning to show beneath her robes, but her youthful face was filled with majesty.

"You are... the Divine Pill Peak’s... He Jiaojiao!" Luo Wuren’s expression shifted upon recognizing her.

"Hmph!" He Jiaojiao snorted, looking at him with disdain. "A third-level Zhou Tian realm cultivator, yet you bully a disciple of your own sect who is only at the eighth level of the Pulse-Opening Realm? You truly disgust me!"

Facing her, Luo Wuren could not argue, for he knew exactly who she was: the only granddaughter of the Divine Pill Peak Master. She had been pampered since childhood; not even He Youran could control her. Taking a deep breath, Luo Wuren shot a fierce glare at Lu Changfeng and threatened, "Lu Changfeng, count yourself lucky today! Next time we meet, I will make you wish you were dead!"

It had happened twice now! He had been interrupted twice! As the head senior brother of Heavenly Sword Peak, leaving in such a dejected manner meant his prestige had been completely shattered. But there was nothing he could do; he dared not offend the person standing before Lu Changfeng.

He Jiaojiao spat toward Luo Wuren, "Bah!" Then, she turned to look Lu Changfeng up and down. Seeing his refined and handsome face, she blushed subconsciously. But she quickly remembered why she was there.

"You are Lu Changfeng, right?" She raised her head haughtily, like a proud phoenix. "My grandmother invited you to Divine Pill Peak, so why didn't you come? Are you looking down on me?"

Lu Changfeng frowned at the girl. He did not wish to be entangled with her. Furthermore, if she hadn't interrupted, Luo Wuren would already be a corpse! Now, he would have to find another opportunity to finish him off. Lu Changfeng shook his head slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "My thanks." He waved at Zhou Xuantong and turned to leave.

"Hey!" He Jiaojiao put her hands on her hips and pouted. "I saved your life, and that’s all the thanks I get?"

Lu Changfeng stopped and replied calmly, "Actually, Luo Wuren could not have killed me..."

Though he was only at the eighth level of the Pulse-Opening Realm, the spiritual energy within him was denser and more solid than that of a typical Zhou Tian cultivator. Combined with his cultivation of the Ancestral Dao Scripture and the aid of his spiritual apertures, his strength was already beyond that of an average practitioner of that realm.