Chapter 272 - 174: The Black Dragon Becomes the Land

Chapter 272: Chapter 174: The Black Dragon Becomes the Land

The sun slowly sank below the horizon.

On the last night before the start of summer, the chirping of cicadas seemed to already be in the air.

At least, Lu Changyuan thought he could hear them.

As night deepened, the Fluorescent Grass within the Qingcao Sword Sect began to glow faintly.

"It’s about to start."

"Come on, come on, place your bets! I’m betting on Fairy Bai Lu from the Daoist Sect to win."

"Heh, I think Fairy Qiu Yuehan of Miao Yu Palace is no pushover either."

Someone had already set up a simple betting pool nearby, and the crowd was buzzing with speculation about who would take the top spot.

Meanwhile, three figures already stood upon the stage.

Before dawn, only one of the three on this martial stage would be left to greet the morning sun.

Li Dashu raised his hand. A beam of light that caused all other swords to hum flew from his palm, streaking across the night sky to hang suspended in mid-air.

The clouds were thin tonight, revealing the stars, but that heart-pounding gleam of light outshone even the celestial bodies in the sky.

Everyone’s gaze was completely captivated by this sword.

The Heaven-Cutting Iron Sword had appeared in the middle of the air.

The sword had originally been somewhat dim, its blade mottled. It had held only a sliver of the Chang’an Daoist’s heaven-cutting intent, but now, something was different.

With the help of the phantoms summoned by the Dream Demon, Lu Changyuan had used this sword to execute Guiyi and gravely injure the Ape Lord. Now, it had also become a blade that had drunk its fill of the Blood of Yao Guang.

All the disciples of the Qingcao Sword Sect, along with the survivors of the Dream Demon’s recent rampage, gazed up at the legendary sword. Their thoughts turned to the Daoist whom they had only ever seen in portraits.

Su Youwan was also looking at the sword. An inexplicable, strange feeling washed over her, one that was difficult to describe. It was like a palpitation mixed with a trace of fear, but within that fear was an undefinable, twisted sensation.

So, the silver-haired maiden moved a little closer to Lu Changyuan. She then sat down gracefully, placed Mei Zhaozhao across her lap, and slipped her hand into his.

Her fingertips were chilly, but they slowly warmed up in his grasp.

She narrowed her eyes in contentment.

This calmed her heart considerably.

The silver-haired maiden didn’t mention the dream to Lu Changyuan; she felt it was unnecessary.

Besides, it would be weird to talk about.

In the dream, Lu Changyuan had struck her with his sword, then devoured her emotions, and in the end, she could do nothing but stay by his side.

No matter how you looked at it, that sequence of events made it seem like she was being bullied yet still eagerly running back for more. ’I’m not that kind of person,’ Su Youwan thought.

’If someone bullies you, you’re supposed to get revenge.’

Lu Changyuan glanced at her delicate, jade-like hand nestled in his own, but didn’t pull away. "What’s wrong?"

Su Youwan shook her head without a word.

Unlike Xia Lianxue, who liked to pounce on Lu Changyuan directly, or Qiu Yuehan, who coveted his lips, Su Youwan actually preferred to just sit quietly like this, holding his hand.

It wasn’t that she yearned for some idyllic, peaceful moment; it was simply that this gave her a sense of security.

The only other time Su Youwan had experienced this same feeling was before the age of ten, when she was with her master.

~~~~~~~~~

Qiu Yuehan withdrew her gaze and looked at Xue Nichang. "Get down," she said in a chilling voice.

Only three people remained on the vast martial stage. The surroundings were pitch-black, with only the bright, silvery glow of the summer moon to illuminate their silhouettes.

The moonlight spilled like water over the Black Skirt Fairy’s hair. Her jet-black locks were like a bolt of unfurled ink-dark silk, seeming to soften even the cold moonlight.

Bai Lu didn’t move, nor did she draw her sword. She simply stood her ground, watching the other two.

According to the rules of the Qingcao Sword Sect’s tournament, the last one standing would be the champion.

Normally, this would be a process fraught with scheming and intrigue. In previous tournaments, the final three contestants were usually of comparable strength. If this year’s finalists were at that same level, they would likely have ended up in a stalemate, each wary of the other two.

But that would absolutely not happen in this year’s tournament.

Because two of them were, in fact, on the same side.

Qiu Yuehan’s light, thin sword glinted in the moonlight. "If you’re not willing, I can help you."

Xue Nichang replied coldly, "Qiu Yuehan, don’t think for a second that I can’t do anything to you."

The Moon Fairy didn’t answer Xue Nichang, instead glancing at Bai Lu.

Bai Lu said, "Junior Master Qiu, please, be my guest."

In Bai Lu’s eyes, Xue Nichang was the only eyesore on the stage. As long as she was kicked out, it didn’t matter whether she or Junior Master Qiu won the match. The Chang’an Sect Master’s sword would not fall into the hands of an outsider either way.

’Does Junior Master Qiu have some kind of grudge against Xue Nichang?’ Bai Lu wondered.

In the next instant, she saw a swordsmanship technique she had always wanted to learn but never had the chance to.

A Sword from the West!

Though there was no sun at this hour, the sword move in the dim light seemed to become a sun of its own, bearing down on the darkness of the night.

A violent shockwave rolled out. Qiu Yuehan held nothing back; the sword’s brilliant flash arrived in an instant.

Xue Nichang was utterly shocked, sensing that if this attack landed true, she would be gravely injured, if not killed.

Thus, she dared not hesitate for even a moment. With a sharp flick of her wrist, her blood-red whip shot out like a startled snake. It exploded into concentric arcs of red light, its tip screaming as it coiled toward the sword’s flash, attempting to stop it by even a fraction.

At the same time, the blood and qi in her body began to boil. Countless dark red patterns appeared beneath her skin, so crimson they looked as if they might drip blood.

Moreover, the patterns seemed to take on a life of their own, spreading rapidly from the sides of her neck to her limbs. With every new line that appeared, her aura grew a shade colder and more sinister.

Just as the sword’s light was about to strike, black scales suddenly sprouted from the dark red patterns on Xue Nichang’s body.