Chapter 71

071 White Night With the knife in hand, it was time to fulfill the contract. Luo Qingchuan stood ready, sword at his side, calmly saying, "Come at me." He could see the seriousness in Jiang Ye's dark eyes. The girl stood on the rooftop, elegantly, with the bright sun hanging in the sky behind her. In the swirling wind, Jiang Ye rode the light, her dress fluttering, revealing her slender waist, and once again, a steel blade held in her empty right hand. Without any spiritual energy, purely judging from the craftsmanship, it was a knife crafted with exquisite skill, most likely made by the Jiang family. Like this, Jiang Ye held 'Suzhi' in one hand and the steel blade in the other, staring at Luo Qingchuan. The short-haired girl breathed like orchids, growing steadier, until she reached a mysterious and profound state. "Jiang Ye, go..." "You can do it." She encouraged herself. In an instant, Jiang Ye slightly lowered her slender figure, "Mr. Qingui, here I come!" Luo Qingchuan responded in a deep voice, "Hmm." Jiang Ye swiftly moved on the rooftop, her dress billowing even more, her shadow in front of her constantly shifting, like an arrow released, coming towards Luo Qingchuan in the center. Her delicate wrist flipped, and the blade drew a shining arc in the air, The girl's elegant figure was like a willow in the wind, her steps graceful but hiding a murderous intent, one blade in front, one blade behind, "Clang, clang..." The blades were like a storm. Each of Jiang Ye's strikes was filled with a sense of strength and beauty. Luo Qingchuan constantly blocked Jiang Ye's moves but remained still. On the other hand, Jiang Ye either retreated to alleviate the rebound force or had her blade deflected by Luo Qingchuan's movements, causing her to spin in all directions around him. On the rooftop, the figures of the two continuously intersected, overlapped, and separated again, and Jiang Ye would launch a new attack without a moment of rest, not giving Luo Qingchuan any chance to catch his breath. The girl's knife technique was like a tidal wave, surging towards Luo Qingchuan from all directions. Jiang Ye's slender waist twisted with each movement of the blade, her attacks as fast as lightning. Luo Qingchuan thought, if it were someone else, even an ordinary Qi Gathering cultivator, fighting Jiang Ye in close quarters here would surely result in a bloody mess. Jiang Ye had excellent control over the knife, If it were a move that truly endangered Luo Qingchuan's life, Jiang Ye would definitely be able to stop at the last moment. Truly a destined protagonist. However, it was a pity, Jiang Ye had practiced more of the art of combat since childhood. The dangers, pain, and exhaustion were not enough to stop her. She sparred with the mechanical puppets made by the Jiang family, crushing each formidable enemy. The perilous trials and countless calamities in the Secret Realm forced Jiang Ye to hone her skills in life and death, so that she could have a greater chance of delving deeper into the Secret Realm and finding her parents. But... Because she spent more time on the art of combat, as a cultivator, Jiang Ye had walked an extremely difficult path. She had to strike with a "Foundation Building" sword to break through. If she couldn't strike, she could only remain at the 9th level of Qi Refining. If Jiang Ye chose to use the ordinary method, relying on the accumulation of spiritual energy to break through, she could only become an ordinary person. As long as she could enter the Dao with a sword, breaking through Foundation Building, she could almost fight against cultivators several levels higher than her, and it would be easier for her to achieve victory in dangerous battles that were as precarious as a knife's edge. That's what she aimed for. Ordinary cultivators, if they didn't understand the way of killing and fighting, would still find it difficult to survive in the terrifying Secret Realm full of danger. On the path of cultivation, if one were to walk safely and securely, it would be the path of immortality. But Jiang Ye couldn't rest, she was destined to venture into a deadly place, to face an answer. She had to give it her all and become a "warrior." Facing Jiang Ye's challenge, Luo Qingchuan was not simply in full defense, but familiarizing himself with Jiang Ye's moves, Jiang Ye's momentum continued to rise, flames seemed to ignite in her eyes, her dual blades swinging faster and her footsteps weaving back and forth. Her fair face was full of focused expression, fine beads of sweat on her forehead, her disheveled hair lending her a soft charm. Slowly, the girl's breathing became erratic. In close combat, agility, sight, nimbleness, focus, and endurance were crucial. Then, Jiang Ye's rising momentum seemed to stall, showing a slight decline. The beautiful eyes revealed a hint of confusion. What should she do... She was getting closer, having Qingui, such a strong expert in swordsmanship, personally serve as her sparring partner, tirelessly allowing Jiang Ye to test her attacks and explore each strike's potential, giving her intense pressure not to make any mistakes, But it seemed like she couldn't hold on any longer. Jiang Ye's heart pounded, her lips turning pale, a trace of cowardice creeping into her eyes. Suddenly, At this moment, Luo Qingchuan made his move. The 'Red Scroll' rose in the air, finding a fleeting opening amidst Jiang Ye's airtight attacks, The bright red blade drew a beautiful and magnificent curve, slashing towards Jiang Ye, The girl's pupils contracted, casting off all fear and confusion in this moment, leaving only instinct, driving her to block this strike. Crack, The blade broke and flew out in a spin, inserted into the rooftop's ground, reflecting the fierce radiance of the early morning, icy and piercing, as if the eyes themselves were in pain. Sparks flew. 'Suzhi' blocked the 'Red Scroll', and Jiang Ye was sent flying, rolling on the ground several times, coughing up a mouthful of blood, staining her beautiful and elegant lips. Luo Qingchuan landed with the sword, standing tall, softly saying, "Don't be afraid, just keep moving forward." The pale-faced girl struggled to her feet, leaning on her sword. She was even more frightened now. Jiang Ye trembled as she spoke, "Mr. Qingui, if... if I can't do it this time, could you please..." "Just this once." Luo Qingchuan's words were merciless, "I don't care about your future fate. I have fulfilled the agreement. If Miss Jiang fails, it's her own problem. So..." In the drifting wind, Luo Qingchuan calmly said, "Give it your all." Jiang Ye wiped away the bloodstain on her lips with her left hand, and then clasped the handle of 'Suzhi' tightly with the slender fingers of her right hand, Gripping it firmly. If she failed, not only would she have no chance to fight again, but the sacrifice made by the 'Red Scroll' would also become meaningless. Stripping away those obsessions and her iron will, Jiang Ye had been a helpless child since childhood, afraid of the gazes of relatives around her, so she had to gather the courage to fight. She didn't want to become the strongest, she just wanted to have the ability to fulfill her dream. If Jiang Ye was not outstanding enough, she would not only have no chance to see her parents again but might also be sacrificed by the family as a tool for marriage, her purity sold to others. She had no way to retreat. Therefore, she could only move forward. "I understand, Mr. Qingui. Thank you for stopping my weakness." Jiang Ye calmly exhaled without any expression on her face. Her figure seemed fragile in the wind, but her knife technique rose once again, like a tornado reaching towards the heavens. Her heart trembled relentlessly. Soon, the sky and the earth dimmed. Because there was a beam of knife light, radiant to the extreme, pale as a waterfall, erupting from 'Suzhi.' The light drowned everything on the rooftop, leaving only blurred lines and faint contours. Unbeknownst to when, Jiang Ye had already reached Luo Qingchuan's side, Luo Qingchuan's eyes were greeted with a cold, beautiful face. The girl stood tall, gripping the knife at an upward angle. She outshone everything, her delicate figure seeming to melt in the pale knife light, as if a piece of rock sugar had fallen into milk wine. Luo Qingchuan wasn't nervous. He already knew the name of this strike. "White Night".