C20 Sword Spirit Protecting the Master!

Gao Bing's ingestion of the brown medicine pill was clearly one designed to instantly replenish his Spirit Power. Yet the hastily summoned power was insufficient to draw out the full might of the Azure Dragon Sword. Nevertheless, his frenzied assault was not to be taken lightly.

The Azure Dragon Sword burst forth with verdant Spirit Power, taking the form of a miniature dragon as it bore the sword itself, hurtling unstoppably towards Loong Jiaoyang's back.

"Don't make me kill you!" Loong Jiaoyang called out without looking back. With a reverse stroke, he hurled his blade, striking Gao Bing's right leg and eliciting a scream as Gao Bing crumpled to the ground. The Azure Dragon Sword, charged with the formidable Heaven Level pressure and aimed at Loong Jiaoyang's heart, was deftly evaded. Loong Jiaoyang seized the sword, declaring, "This is the price you pay for your ambush—this sword is now mine."

"Scoundrel! You dare injure my nephew and covet our family's sacred sword? Hand over the Azure Dragon Sword!" Gao Hong could no longer contain his fury. With Gao Bing's defeat, the Gao family's years of effort had evaporated into nothingness. The loss was too profound; he was determined to eliminate Loong Jiaoyang, the architect of their downfall.

A practitioner in the mid-stage of the Heaven Stage, Gao Hong's manifestation of the Azure Dragon Divine Beast was formidable, stretching over three meters, its presence akin to a true dragon's descent, its oppressive force boundless.

Without moving his physical form, Gao Hong's conjured Azure Dragon Divine Beast, with its black and white fish-like eyes, emerged from the ether and struck directly at Loong Jiaoyang.

Having depleted his Spirit Power in the fierce battle with Gao Bing, Loong Jiaoyang was defenseless against Gao Hong's swift and merciless sneak attack. Even with ample Spirit Power, confronting a mid-stage Heaven Stage expert head-on was beyond him.

"Despicable! Aunt Xuan, you must act quickly to rescue Loong Jiaoyang!" Zi Shan exclaimed in outrage.

Xuan Lian remained motionless, while Zhou Li and the others looked on with indifference.

Clang...!

At the critical moment, when numerous disciples of the Profound Girl Sect were certain that Loong Jiaoyang was doomed, a dragon's roar thundered through the sky. The Azure Dragon Sword burst forth with dazzling light, and a spectral Azure Dragon collided with the oncoming Azure Dragon Divine Beast.

Boom!

The impact of the Heaven Level Spirit Power made the ground tremble, causing disciples with weaker cultivation to fall to their knees.

Sword spirit to the rescue!

This unexpected turn of events left Zi Chongyang and the rest struggling to maintain their composure. Shock flickered in the eyes of Xuan Lian, Zhou Li, and the others. The Azure Dragon Sword had been in Loong Jiaoyang's possession for only a brief time, and it wasn't even his life-bonded magical weapon—how could it have summoned the sword spirit's protection?

Only Loong Jiaoyang understood that it wasn't the sword spirit's protection, but rather his own desperate effort. He had channeled his sword intent to gather the boundless spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the Azure Dragon Sword, unleashing its utmost power. The cost, however, was severe: Loong Jiaoyang had depleted his Spirit Power and his primordial spirit was damaged.

Plop.

Loong Jiaoyang collapsed to the ground, succumbing to unconsciousness.

Clang!

The Azure Dragon Sword plummeted, effortlessly piercing the stone and coming to rest beside Loong Jiaoyang.

"Back off!" Zi Shan's eyes blazed with fury as she shoved Xuan Lian and Zhou Li aside, storming onto the Martial Practice Platform. "Gao Hong, could you stoop any lower? If you have the guts, then take my life as well!"

Gao Hong's face turned beet red, his murderous intent surging. Zi Chongyang, who had remained silent until now, rose to his feet and spoke with icy authority, "Elder Gao Hong, you've crossed the line."

Zi Chongyang's frosty tone doused the flames of Gao Hong's rage. "Sect Master, Loong Jiaoyang injured Gao Bing and even tried to take the Azure Dragon Sword. I was blinded by anger."

"Gao Bing has been defeated, and yet he resorted to a sneak attack. When that failed, who else can he blame?" Zi Chongyang said icily. "Take Gao Bing back to recover from his wounds and spare us any further disgrace here."

Gao Hong harbored resentment towards Zi Chongyang, but he dared not voice it; his own cultivation level paled in comparison to Zi Chongyang's.

Gao Hong escorted Gao Bing away from the Profound Girl Sect, while Zi Chongyang personally took Loong Jiaoyang to the sect master's abode. The highly anticipated duel had concluded, and the outcome was beyond anyone's expectations.

The most thrilling development was the revocation of Gao Bing's status as the Holy Son, sparking a flurry of covert maneuvers by many vying for the now-vacant position. As for Loong Jiaoyang, the victor over Gao Bing, no one considered him a contender for the title of Holy Son. Having crossed the Gao family, the most influential lineage within the Profound Girl Sect, he stood no chance of claiming that honor.

Inside the sect master's residence, Zi Shan watched anxiously as Zi Chongyang took Loong Jiaoyang's pulse. Zi Chongyang's brow furrowed, his face etched with a peculiar look that unsettled her.

"Father, how is Loong Jiaoyang? You can't just take his pulse and say nothing," Zi Shan implored.

"He's not in any grave danger; merely exhausted. What's peculiar is that his eight extraordinary meridians are much broader than those of a typical Middle Period Earth Stage cultivator. That's likely why he could sustain such a lengthy battle with Gao Bing today without depleting his spirit power," explained Zi Chongyang.

"So, it's not serious? Then why the odd look on your face, Father? You had me worried for nothing!" Zi Shan complained.

Zi Chongyang rose to his feet, gazing down at the unconscious Loong Jiaoyang on the bed, and shook his head. "His condition is troubling. There's something foreign within his Qi Sea Pubic Region, and I can't discern what it is."

"Could this foreign object be lethal?"

"I'm not sure," Zi Chongyang replied, shaking his head. "Zi Shan, have you ever inquired about Loong Jiaoyang's background?"

"Father, I've said it numerous times, I barely know Loong Jiaoyang. I only intended to provoke Gao Bing, but who knew it would lead to all this trouble?" Zi Shan explained.

Zi Chongyang's expression grew stern as he said, "Was your aim merely to provoke Gao Bing? Gao Chuan has been disabled, and Gao Bing has been stripped of his title as Holy Son. You've gotten what you wanted!"

"Father, I simply dislike Gao Bing. He's so petty, and after losing to Loong Jiaoyang, he resorted to a sneak attack. Isn't it perfect to seize this chance to strip him of his title as Holy Son?"

A smile played at the corners of Zi Shan's eyes, unable to contain her excitement at how Loong Jiaoyang had truly altered her destiny.

"At sixteen, how can you still be so thoughtless? As the Holy Maiden of the Profound Girl Sect, you must always put the sect first!" Zi Chongyang admonished her, then abruptly asked, "Between Lee Meng and Juyou, who do you prefer?"

"Lee Meng is only at the early Earth Stage at eighteen, and Juyou is a lecher. How could I possibly like either? Father, you're not considering appointing one of them as the new Holy Son, are you?" Zi Shan initially didn't catch on, but then she asked anxiously.

Zi Chongyang nodded and stated, "The new Holy Son must be one of those two. Make your choice."

"Father, why? Why must it be them? Are either of them truly capable of such a responsibility?" Zi Shan's anger was palpable, her eyes reddening.

"The Gao, Li, and Zhu families hold the greatest power. The Holy Son cannot come from outside these three families," Zi Chongyang declared with an unyielding coldness.

"Zi Chongyang, am I truly your daughter?" Zi Shan demanded, her voice low and fierce. "Have you ever considered whether my future will be a happy one?"

"You are my own flesh and blood, and it's your destiny to have this fate. You'll never want for food or clothing in your life—that should be enough!"

Zi Shan couldn't hold back her tears, her voice filled with anguish. "Am I nothing more than a bargaining chip for an alliance of convenience in your eyes?"

"Being born into this family, it's your duty," Zi Chongyang replied, his tone icy.

"Sobbing, I refuse to acknowledge such a father..."

With tears cascading down her cheeks, Zi Shan fled, her heart shattered, bleeding profusely from the wound.