Chapter 1842: United Against the Enemy
“That is absolutely inappropriate! How could I be the libationer?” Zu An exclaimed, quickly waving his hands in refusal. He just felt that the request was a bit too absurd.
“Why not?” the libationer replied. “All of those disciples of mine admired you a lot when you went to the academy’s rear mountain.”
Zu An felt a headache coming on as he said, “That was nothing more than a few bold and unconstrained ideas. My real skills in those domains are far from those masters. Besides, I’m still so young, so how could they possibly accept someone like me?”
“Whether in cultivation or studies, it’s always the skilled who come first. When have we ever cared about age? If that were the case, I might as well have found some old geezers to take this role,” the libationer said impatiently.
“No way, no way. I have too many things to do and might not be qualified for this task. I must ask the libationer to please find someone better than me,” Zu An said. He didn’t want to receive this hot potato.
However, who would have thought that the libationer’s eyes would land on his finger? He told Zu An, “You already received the ring that represents the status of the libationer, so you can’t back out anymore.”
Zu An was stunned. This old fox is really s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g me over here!
He quickly tried to take off the ring, but the libationer sighed and asked, “Do you think I have the time to look for another successor at this point? I can’t just give it to Little Daoyun, right?”
Zu An knew he was speaking the truth. Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue both had their own respective factions, and Pei Mianman had no relationship with the academy.
Xie Daoyun was Sir Yan’s disciple. If she became the libationer, what would her relationship with her master be like? Besides, she wasn’t strong enough. Putting her in that position would only be harming her.
The libationer then said, “If you have no wish to become the libationer, just help me find a more suitable inheritor and pa.s.s it on. Could it be that you cannot even agree to my last dying request?”
Xie Daoyun also said, “Exactly, big brother Zu. Just agree to the libationer’s request so he won’t leave this world with regrets.” Inwardly, however, she thought, If big brother Zu became the libationer, wouldn’t we be able to meet each other even more often?
When he saw the libationer’s eager expression, Zu An’s heart softened and he said, “Alright. I’ll help senior take care of this ring for now. However, I’ll definitely find a more suitable successor once I leave.”
When he saw that Zu An had agreed to take on this responsibility, a big smile appeared on the libationer’s face and his expression grew more turbid. He muttered a few words, some incomprehensible.
“...graceful and poised, like the light clouds veiling the moon, drifting and free, like the gentle breeze playing with snow…”
Zu An only heard a single line clearly. He knew that the libationer was likely reminiscing about the sweetheart of his dreams as his last memory. He couldn"t help but feel a bit sad.
“Libationer!” Xie Daoyun sobbed, because the libationer had already pa.s.sed.
…
While the libationer was speaking to Zu An, however, the battle on the other side hadn’t stopped.
A streak of red light flew backward, crashing into the mountainside and causing the whole mountain to quake. Showers of rubble fell as a huge crater appeared in the mountainside.
“I let you get away last time, but I won’t give you the chance this time,” a voice called out as a streak of light chased after that figure. It was about to land the killing blow when a flurry of snowflakes flew over like arrows.
Zhao Han released a cold snort. His entire body surged with golden light, and the sharp snowflakes immediately melted.
Suddenly, a white figure rushed over and blocked his path. Sword radiance erupted and clashed with that golden light, causing Zhao Han to retreat by more than a hundred meters. Qiu Honglei quickly used that chance to rescue Yun Jianyue.
Yan Xuehen was gasping for air, but she looked at Yun Jianyue and said, “Witch, I’ve saved you once too, so we’re now even.”
Yun Jianyue harrumphed. “It was clearly my precious disciple who saved me.” Despite what she said, she still secretly acknowledged the favor.
“Your skills are quite ingenious, but all this is meaningless before absolute strength,” Zhao Han said with a look of displeasure. These women were even starting to act like sisters in front of him now!
“There is a difference, but I don’t think it’s quite at the point of being insurmountable,” Yun Jianyue said as she rubbed her arm, which was shaking a bit.
After they clashed, her body had been sent flying extremely quickly, but compared to their previous fight where she was struck flying from their first meeting, this current situation actually filled her with confidence.
She said to Yan Xuehen, “Stone cold woman, don’t die on me now.”
Yan Xuehen’s expression was cold as she replied, “I won’t die even if you die.”
As they spoke, both of their auras grew stronger and stronger. Everything within a hundred meters around Yan Xuehen became a world of ice and snow, while a sea of blood erupted around Yun Jianyue, protecting her within.
Zhao Han frowned slightly. He normally could have easily defeated the two of them, and yet today, the libationer’s retaliation had left him seriously injured. He was actually going back and forth with them right now; how humiliating!
However, an earth immortal’s regenerative ability was incredible, so he didn’t really mind playing around with the two of them for a bit.
“You dare to show off such low-level domain power here? I’ll give the two of you one last chance. Surrender to this emperor and I can forget what happened so far. Otherwise, only death awaits the two of you,” Zhao Han said, looking at the two ladies with a vicious gaze.
Yan Xuehen’s expression remained cold. Yun Jianyue remarked with a sneer, “When did your majesty suddenly become so agreeable? Could it be that your injuries are so serious that you have to work hard with your mouth?”
“You’re courting death!” Zhao Han snapped furiously. The golden light around his body turned into several golden dragons that bombarded the two women.
The sea of blood around Yun Jianyue immediately surged and devoured one of the golden dragons. Even so, that dragon roared continuously and struggled frantically. The sea of blood moved around, clearly having a hard time keeping it under control.
Suddenly, a trace of moonlight shone. A crescent moon-like blade flashed past, beheading the dragon. The entire golden dragon trembled, then scattered.
However, Yun Jianyue didn’t have any time to feel happy about that, because two more golden dragons rushed at her.
Yun Jianyue’s expression changed, and her long hair began to dance in the air. The Empress Lantern rose straight into the air, shining its light on the two dragons. The golden dragons’ movements clearly slowed down.
Meanwhile, Yan Xuehen’s situation was about the same. She had just used the Snowflake Sword to blast a golden dragon to pieces, but two more attacked her. A jade pendant around her neck shone, and several runes flew out. A formation materialized around her, barely managing to stop those two golden dragons.
Even though all of it seemed like a lot, those events actually took place in the time it takes for sparks to fly off a flint.
Just then, a black b.u.t.terfly appeared around Zhao Han’s side, and a toothpick-like object fired out from its location. That toothpick grew larger and larger, eventually becoming an incredibly sharp streak of sword energy. Then, it split into thousands of figures and instantly devoured his body.
Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen seized the chance to kill the golden dragons while they were weakened, then looked up at the incredibly sharp sword energy.
Could it be that Ah Zu joined the fight?
However, they immediately dismissed that suspicion. The streak of sword energy was entirely different from Zu An’s, but its power was extraordinary. If they were hit by it while caught off guard, even they would be seriously injured.
“It seems to be the missing Xiao Yao’s[1] sword intent,” Yan Xuehen said with a pensive expression.
When the sword shadow disappeared, Zhao Han reappeared. There wasn’t any trace of injury on his body.
Ding!
A sharp and clear sound rang out as a jade pendant at his waist shattered. It was clear that the pendant had helped him block that attack.
He frowned and looked at the red-and-black-clad woman in the distance, asking, “Where did you get that b.u.t.terfly from?” The sword intent was one thing, but that b.u.t.terfly had been full of deathly energy. Even now, he still felt a bit of apprehension.
Pei Mianman cried out in disappointment. Xiao Yao had gifted her with a small toothpick sword to protect herself, containing a single full-powered strike from him. Normally, she absolutely wouldn’t have hoped for it to be able to defeat Zhao Han, but he was seriously injured right now. He had also been fully focused on Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen, so she had decided to give it a try. At the same time, she had used the power of the Paramita b.u.t.terfly Immortal Ruler Baopu had given her. She hadn’t expected to not even be able to break through his body-protecting treasures with all that!
“If you don’t want to reply, then you can just die!” Zhao Han snapped. His figure flickered, and he instantly reappeared at Pei Mianman’s side. His ma.s.sive fist instantly closed in on her face. He was extremely fast, and with the difference in strength between them, Pei Mianman couldn"t evade at all.
“I’m done for!” Pei Mianman cried, her whole body turning ice-cold. This wasn’t a battle she could interfere in at all.
Suddenly, she vanished from her original position. Standing in her place was a sparkling pure-white lotus.
Boom!
Zhao Han’s fist smashed into that lotus, which then exploded. A layer of frost covered his body.
“Huh?” Zhao Han looked at the blue-clad woman across from him with shock. Why was the cold intent behind her attack even stronger than her master’s?
“Thank you, Chuyan,” Pei Mianman said, still feeling some lingering fear.
Chu Chuyan’s expression was grave. Earlier, she had used the Pure World Icelotus to swap its position with Pei Mianman. The slightest mistake would have resulted in failure.
Zhao Han turned into a streak of golden light and attacked the two ladies. However, a wall of light appeared in front of the two of them, which was Qiu Honglei’s Wall of Sighs. Unfortunately, it collapsed upon contact with Zhao Han’s fist; but just then, a lantern ignited.
Zhao Han sneered. He knew that the original Empress Lantern was with Yun Jianyue, so how could this counterfeit possibly affect him?
However, a second later, his expression froze. He discovered that under the effects of that light, he really was slower!
That moment of absentmindedness was enough for Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen to arrive in front of the three of them. They said, “Hurry and withdraw. This isn’t a battle you can partic.i.p.ate in!”
“It’s too late!” Zhao Han retorted with a snort. Even though he didn’t move, Chu Chuyan and the other two young ladies suddenly sensed a large hand reaching for them.
1. The libationer’s third disciple, Drunken Sword Immortal ☜