"What?"
Shen Lang's protective qi had only been broken by the Po Gang Thorn before, and never by anyone else, let alone in such a brutal manner. His face instantly turned ashen.
Shi Feixuan's ordinary sword strike possessed such terrifying power, making Shen Lang feel the vast chasm between himself and true powerhouses.
However, what had broken his innate qi was merely the sword energy. In the next second, the terrifying sword strike truly descended.
This strike locked down all of Shen Lang's evasion angles, leaving him no choice but to meet it head-on.
"Swish—"
In the next moment, Shen Lang swiftly drew his Yi Xi sword and unleashed the first of his three sword moves—Ba Jian Zhan (Sword Draw Strike).
Ba Jian Zhan concentrated all its power at the instant of drawing the sword, an ultimate killing technique that Shen Lang had used to defeat countless powerful enemies.
Facing a top-tier expert like Shi Feixuan, Shen Lang could only resort to killing moves.
As the Yi Xi sword unsheathed, the terrifying strike faced Shi Feixuan's sword head-on. However, before the Yi Xi sword could touch the white jade long sword, it was almost ripped from his grasp by the formidable sword energy. The power of this strike was instantly weakened by ninety percent.
Seeing this, Shen Lang unleashed the second of his three sword moves—Po Kong Zhan (Sky Breaking Strike).
Po Kong Zhan was more powerful than Ba Jian Zhan. With a single strike, it shattered the void and was invincible. He refused to believe that this strike wouldn't be able to block Shi Feixuan's sword.
But soon, Shen Lang truly understood the gap between them. The Yi Xi sword unleashed Po Kong Zhan, yet it had no effect whatsoever on Shi Feixuan.
At the critical moment, Shen Lang could only employ his third sword move—Jian Liu Xing (Sword Meteor).
Just as Shi Feixuan's sword strike descended, Shen Lang, wielding the Yi Xi sword, flashed past like a meteor. As Shi Feixuan's sword cleaved a massive ravine hundreds of meters long, nearly ten meters wide and deep, in the ground, sending dust flying, Shen Lang had already appeared behind Shi Feixuan, swiftly thrusting his sword towards her back.
However, Shen Lang's sword could not pierce further when it was half a meter from Shi Feixuan's body. This was because a terrifying sword energy enveloped Shen Lang. The slightest movement from him would result in him being instantly dismembered by this terrifying sword energy.
"Youngster, not bad. You managed to survive my casual sword strike and even launched a counter-attack."
Shi Feixuan hovered in mid-air, as ethereal as an immortal, and looked back at Shen Lang behind her, saying, "Your sword techniques are decent, but unfortunately, they can only be considered third-rate. Such techniques will forever prevent you from becoming a true sword dao master."
If anyone else had said this, Shen Lang would have likely retorted. But coming from Shi Feixuan, Shen Lang was rendered speechless.
Shi Feixuan's casual sword strike had left him helpless. He had used all his trump cards and was now under her control. Such a sword dao expert was indeed beyond Shen Lang's reach.
Shen Lang dared not imagine what would have happened if he had faced Shi Feixuan's Jian Po Xu Kong (Sword Shattering the Void) or Jian Zhu Tian Di (Sword Ruling Heaven and Earth) earlier. He would have died countless times by now.
"Shen Lang, you survived my sword strike. You may leave now."
Shi Feixuan glanced at the dejected Shen Lang and said indifferently.
"Senior, what about the San Chong San Hua Gao?"
Shen Lang asked, looking at Shi Feixuan.
"I have already given you the formula for the San Chong San Hua Gao. You just need to mix the ingredients and refine the medicine according to it. It's not difficult."
Shi Feixuan said plainly, then leaped back towards the pavilion.
It was then that Shen Lang discovered that his Yi Xi sword now bore several lines of densely packed small characters, which was the formula for the San Chong San Hua Gao.
These small characters were formed by Shi Feixuan's sword energy. After Shen Lang memorized them, the sword energy quickly dissipated, and the characters vanished with it.
"Thank you, Senior."
Shen Lang put away the Yi Xi sword and bowed gratefully to Shi Feixuan.
"Shen Lang, you, Wo Long, and the others should return to Nan Ling first. I need to stay at Ci Hang Jing Zhai for a while."
As Shen Lang looked at Song Shidao, Song Shidao smiled and revealed his intentions.
Shen Lang felt that the relationship between Song Shidao and Shi Feixuan was too complex, and he didn't approve of his uncle staying at Ci Hang Jing Zhai. However, his uncle was an adult and had his own decisions. Shen Lang couldn't say anything.
"Uncle, take care. We'll be leaving now."
Shen Lang said to Song Shidao, then led the group away. As they walked from the back mountain to the main gate, they saw the Old Zhai Master standing in front of the mountain gate, taking a selfie with the latest iPhone, making a V-sign with her fingers pulled back slightly.
"Shen Lang, come here."
Seeing Shen Lang, the Old Zhai Master beckoned him over and said.
"Old Zhai Master, what is it?"
When Shen Lang saw the Old Zhai Master, he remembered the forbidden curse planted in his mind, which made him unhappy, but more so, fearful.
"Shen Lang, don't be so nervous. There are still three months until the forbidden curse erupts. You're fine for now."
The Old Zhai Master smiled at Shen Lang and said, "Come over and take some photos for me. I haven't posted new content in a while, and my social media followers have dropped by hundreds of thousands."
Shen Lang heard this and walked over, taking the phone from the Old Zhai Master's hand. He was stunned when he saw it. The Old Zhai Master's social media account had dozens of videos, some in elegant Hanfu, others in seductive attire with stockings, and had over ten million followers.
"Old Zhai Master..."
Shen Lang couldn't believe that the person before him was the Old Zhai Master of Ci Hang Jing Zhai. He was utterly astonished.
"Don't be so shocked. Ci Hang Jing Zhai also needs to eat."
The Old Zhai Master cupped her chin with both hands, looking adorably naive, and said, "Life is not easy. The Zhai Master performs for a living. Please understand."
"Take good pictures, or I'll detonate the forbidden curse early."
The Old Zhai Master looked at Shen Lang, who had a displeased expression, and clenched her fist as a warning.
Seeing this, Shen Lang reluctantly picked up the phone and took dozens of photos for the Old Zhai Master until she was satisfied.
"Shen Lang, remember, bring Gu Qinghan to see me in three months, or I will kill you."
After taking back the phone from Shen Lang, the Old Zhai Master smiled and said.
"I don't understand, why do you want to see Gu Qinghan?"
Shen Lang frowned and asked, "Gu Qinghan is just a very ordinary woman. Why do you insist on seeing her? What do you want to do?"
"Are you asking for an explanation, questioning me, or are you interrogating me?"
The Old Zhai Master rolled her eyes at Shen Lang and said, "Just do as I tell you. Don't ask too many questions."
"Let me tell you something. It's not just you. Even in the entire Dragon Country, or even the entire world, no one dares to question me. Do you know why? Because what I say is truth."
With that, the Old Zhai Master turned and walked into Ci Hang Jing Zhai.
Wang Yuyan watched all of this silently, a cold killing intent flickering in her eyes.