Chapter 1073 - 289: Kunlun Snow Blade Slays Demon Shadows, Jade Soul and Ice Heart Reflect Azure Sky (Part 2)

Under Helan Mountain, Guo Xiangyu’s bay mare trod upon the morning frost.

Her hairpin was in disarray, yet she stubbornly gazed southward. Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves came from behind. Xiao Lingling’s red skirt cut through the thin mist like flames: "Sister, don’t go! The ’Soul-Attracting Bell’ of the White Bone Sect has laid a deadly trap thirty miles away!"

"Step aside!" Guo Xiangyu drew the jade flute with a reverse motion, the flute reflecting her reddened eyes, "I’d rather die on my way to see him than count the crevices in this mountain cave waiting to turn into a stone of longing!"

She suddenly shook the reins, and the bay mare reared up, its front hooves nearly grazing Xiao Lingling’s nose as it came down.

At that critical moment, Shi Xiong suddenly leapt forward and embraced the horse’s leg: "Miss Guo! Young Master said before he left..."

His voice carried a sobbing tone, "If he knew you were in danger, he would abandon everything to rescue you! Do you wish to see the Grand Squad Leader sacrifice the world for mere affection?"

Guo Xiangyu’s jade flute fell to the ground with a clang. She looked at the tears rolling down the young man’s face and, in a daze, recalled Shi Feiyang’s reddened eyes three months ago when he left, also placing the jade flute into her palm: "Wait for me to return and play Phoenix Seeking Phoenix for you with this flute."

As twilight fell, the carriage slowly returned to the sub-branch. Guo Xiangyu curled up behind the curtains, her fingernails digging deeply into the window frame.

In the distance, the mountain gradually cast a dark silhouette, and suddenly a familiar sandalwood scent wafted through the night breeze—she briskly lifted the curtain, only to see scattered fragments of the jade flute under the moonlight, reflecting a cold and silent light.

On the ruins of the Northwest Sword Manor, the sunset dyed the broken walls and ruins a honey hue.

Shi Feiyang and Xue Li leaned against the half-collapsed pavilion, her jade hairpin askew, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall over his dark garment.

Xue Li’s fingertips gently caressed his brow and eyes, murmuring: "If only time could forever halt at this moment..."

Before the words finished, Shi Feiyang had already lowered his head to kiss her, the Celestial Frost Blade casually placed at his side, reflecting the tender glow of the evening sky.

Suddenly, a piercing sound broke through the air, and a dark figure landed three yards away like an eagle.

"Grand Squad Leader!" The newcomer was none other than the Flying Eagle Detective, Xie Wen, as his iron claw hooked onto the broken beam, stirring up a cloud of dust.

He glimpsed the solitary tent not far away and then noticed the blush behind Xue Li’s ear, understanding the situation, but turned his gaze toward the sky: "Zhong Renwang of the Beggar Gang has joined forces with Dugu Yan, Xie Zhichuan, and others to lay down the ’Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Soul-locking Array’ before the Kunlun Mountain, even inviting Blood Venerable to sit in command, aiming to trap you and your wife..."

Xue Li’s jade sword rang out as it unsheathed half an inch, but Shi Feiyang pressed her hand down.

He stood up, stirring a gust of wind, the setting sun edging him in gold: "Since a demon like Blood Venerable is involved."

His words finished, he turned to look at Xue Li, his gaze still soft: "Seems like this honeymoon needs to end early."

Xue Li lowered her eyes, suppressing her reluctance, her sword tip lifting a strand of hair to form a bun: "I should have expected that the White Bone Sect would not allow us peace after stirring the Jianghu." She suddenly leaned close to Shi Feiyang’s ear, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s: "But last night you said you’d take me to see all the beauties of the world..."

Shi Feiyang’s throat moved slightly, holding her hand and caressing her palm: "Once we break the array, I promise to take you to Kunlun Peak to see the sea of clouds, and to the Jiangnan Water Village to paint boats and listen to rain."

Then he turned to Xie Wen: "You hurry to the Ningxia Sub-Branch, order the Wind Chasing Thirteen Riders to scout the way ahead, and be mindful not to engage the enemy directly." Xie Wen clasped his fist to leave, but Xue Li suddenly said: "Hold on."

She took off the Ice Soul Jade Pendant from her neck and threw it to him: "This pendant can ward off all poisons, wear it closely." Then she took out a brocade pouch from her bosom: "It contains the Kunlun Sect’s methods to break the Eight Trigrams Array, though not complete, it might lend you a hand."

Xie Wen looked at the pendant, still warm with body heat, moved in his heart, and with a deployment of the Feixu Qingyan Technique, vanished into the twilight.

Shi Feiyang embraced Xue Li, the Celestial Frost Blade spinning out a chilling light in his palm: "Let’s go. With my wife by my side, even the most perilous place holds no fear." Xue Li nestled into his arms, the jade sword and Ice Soul Jade Pendant shining together, casting a silhouette on the ruins as they stood side by side.

They set off on their horses, and over ten days later, the majestic Kunlun Mountain Range appeared before their eyes.

The snow on the peak, under a strange azure glow, reflected a disconcerting purple hue.

The fierce wind at Kunlun Peak carried the chill of millennia-old snow but was no match for the blood-red mist churned within the ’Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Soul-locking Array.’

Iron chains at the array’s core vibrated wildly, with each link oozing black-purple blood beads, which, upon dripping to the ground, gave rise to poisonous smoke.

Blood Venerable’s scarlet robe fluttered loudly, the ghost fires under the skull mask flickered in the dense fog, as if an evil spirit had crawled out of the Nine Netherworld: "Shi Feiyang, you’ve indeed come, but today, you will not escape with your wings!"

As his words finished, eight bronze beast heads simultaneously roared to the heavens, purple fire erupted like lava, instantly turning the area within ten yards into a sea of flames.

Shi Feiyang shielded Xue Li behind him, the moment the Celestial Frost Blade unsheathed, the icy blue light collided with the array’s purple fire with a blinding flash that forced everyone to shut their eyes.

In the air, ice and fire intertwined, producing explosive popping sounds, ice shards and sparks fell like a sudden downpour.

Blood Venerable let out a sinister laugh, the Soul-Binding Rope slithered through the air like a spiritual snake, its barbed chains glimmered with a faint blue light, corroding the air into black cracks at each passage. Shi Feiyang tapped the ground with his toes, using the Deep Concealment of Body and Name lightweight technique to swiftly retreat, but saw Xie Zhichuan’s long sword charging from the left with the heat of the Kunlun Flame Technique, while Dugu Yan’s repellent swordsmanship stabbed out from the right like a snake’s tongue, and Zhong Renwang’s iron arm swung, the palm force of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms overwhelming like a tsunami.

"Snow Shadow Splitting Light Sword!" Xue Li’s jade sword thrust swiftly, myriad icy rays cascading like a galaxy, temporarily fending off the Soul-Binding Rope.