Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Subduing Xu Liu

At the edge of the forest, two tall figures stood beneath an ancient tree.

The long-faced young man glanced around uneasily. “Are you sure Lin Zhao will really come?”

He couldn’t be blamed for his doubt. Over the past month, Jia Lan and Zhao Ji Xing had moved nonstop—purges, recruitment, threats—while Lin Zhao hadn’t shown her face at all.

Worse, rumors said Lin Zhao had run into Zhao Ji Xing, saved someone, and then fled.

Hard not to think she was scared.

Beside him, the wheat-skinned young man crossed his arms, jaw tight. After a long moment, he exhaled. “If we don’t trust Lin Zhao, what else can we do?” His eyes darkened. “Don’t forget how many of our brothers died at Zhao Ji Xing’s hands.”

Zhao Ji Xing’s team didn’t care about cultivators like them—people with no backing, no family name worth fearing. They promised those without backgrounds would get the fewest points and rewards while doing the most work.

That was exactly why these two had refused to join.

But stubborn pride didn’t keep you alive forever.

At this rate, Zhao Ji Xing would eliminate them before Lin Zhao ever arrived.

The wheat-skinned young man, Liu Wen Dong, murmured, “We can only hope this Phoenix Maiden of Destiny is smart enough.”

Xu Cheng Feng scoffed. “What if she’s just a talented idiot?”

A bright, amused young woman’s voice drifted down.

“Talking behind someone’s back isn’t a good habit.”

Both men snapped upright.

“Who’s there?!” Xu Cheng Feng drew his saber, scanning the shadows.

“Stop looking around.” The voice sounded almost helpless. “Look up.”

They looked.

A young woman in a sky-blue dress floated above them, hair streaming like ink, gaze calm and sharp. The air around her pressed down like a weight.

“Lin Zhao?” Xu Cheng Feng’s voice came out rough.

Both of them felt it—undeniable pressure, the kind that made their skin prickle.

They had fought Jia Lan before.

They knew exactly what this meant.

Xu Cheng Feng swallowed. “Great Perfection of Enlightenment?”

Two months ago, hadn’t Lin Zhao been only First-Layer Enlightenment?

How had she climbed that far, that fast?

Liu Wen Dong rose on Sword Flight, meeting her in the air. He clasped his hands, expression controlled. “I’ve long admired your name. Seeing you is better than hearing. Immortal Maiden Wang Shu.”

Lin Zhao smiled. “Just call me Lin Zhao.”

Her gaze flicked between them. “You’ve been waiting for me?”

Liu Wen Dong answered honestly. “Yes. We originally wanted to ask Captain Lin for a private lesson, but now…” He exhaled. “If I fought alone, it would be underestimating you.”

So it really came to this: strength.

For people like these—people who could actually change the outcome—she needed to show power so absolute they couldn’t pretend otherwise.

“Then please instruct me.” Lin Zhao summoned Bone Sword and steadied herself in the air. “My cultivation is higher, so we won’t judge this by victory. The two of you attack together. If, within three moves, you can force me to retreat even half a step, you win. How about it?”

Xu Cheng Feng bristled. “Even Jia Lan—who’s been in Great Perfection for over a month—wouldn’t dare claim he could take three full-power moves from both of us without retreating half a step. Captain Lin, what a bold mouth!”

Lin Zhao’s smile didn’t change. “My target isn’t Jia Lan. Just because he can’t do it doesn’t mean I can’t.”

She lifted her chin. “Please. Make your move.”

Xu Cheng Feng and Liu Wen Dong exchanged a look, then nodded.

“Then, Captain Lin,” Liu Wen Dong said, “my brother and I will offend you.”

Two beams of spiritual light shot upward, nearly solid.

Lin Zhao watched closely. These two had been at Ninth-Layer Enlightenment for a long time—so long they had begun to show faint signs of stepping toward Great Perfection. Either one was no weaker than Xu Hao had been.

Xu Cheng Feng’s spiritual energy surged into the shape of a red tiger. Liu Wen Dong’s condensed into a pale green giant eagle. Wind and fire howled together, rushing toward Lin Zhao.

[A fire cultivator and a wind cultivator.]

Wind fed fire. Fire drove wind. Together, they were stronger than most pairings.

No wonder they had survived this long.

The wind eagle and fire tiger lunged. Lin Zhao formed seals with both hands, green spiritual energy pouring outward and shaping into a massive Qing Luan that cried like a clear bell.

It slammed into their Spirit Qi Manifestations.

Xu Cheng Feng and Liu Wen Dong’s eyes widened.

Their constructs—meant to amplify each other—tore apart like paper in the face of that Qing Luan and shattered completely.

The Qing Luan looked graceful, almost harmless.

But every strike landed like a hammer.

Their Spirit Qi Manifestations destroyed, the two drew blade and sword without hesitation. Blade light and Sword Intent surged toward Lin Zhao in a tidal wave.

Tiger Soul Shakes Heaven and Earth!

Wind Rolling Sword Art!

Lin Zhao raised her sword.

The Hong Hu sword array formed around her in an instant, deflecting blade light and Sword Intent with clean, effortless precision.

Seeing their strongest techniques dissolved so easily, neither man grew angry.

They lunged together, appearing right in front of Lin Zhao with startling speed.

“Captain Lin,” Xu Cheng Feng said through gritted teeth, “we forgot to tell you something.”

Liu Wen Dong’s eyes sharpened. “We’re body cultivators.”

Spiritual energy was never what they were best at.

A kick and a punch crashed toward Lin Zhao at the same time, aimed with lethal accuracy.

Lin Zhao’s expression didn’t change.

She simply lifted one pale, slender hand.

Liu Wen Dong’s mouth curled in a sneer.

[Has this delicate young miss gone crazy? Bare-handed?]

Fine. He’d show her what it meant when fists and feet had no eyes.

Xu Cheng Feng clearly thought the same. Both poured everything into their strike.

Fist. Foot.

They collided with Lin Zhao’s palm.

The impact felt like slamming into solid steel.

The recoil hurled them backward, flying blades skidding through the air as they struggled to regain control. They slid several meters before they could steady themselves—breath knocked loose, limbs ringing with numb pain.

Force went both ways. If their bodies weren’t as tough as they were, their own strength might have shattered bone.

Even so, their arms and legs tingled, useless for a long moment.

Lin Zhao lowered her hand, calm. “Three moves.”

They stared at her.

What else was there to misunderstand?

This seemingly delicate young woman had a body tougher than either of them.

They had been praised in their clans as the best physiques among Enlightenment cultivators. They had believed even the five Newcomer Kings might not outmatch them in raw flesh.

Meeting Lin Zhao proved the old truth: there was always someone better.

Xu Cheng Feng and Liu Wen Dong exchanged a look and forced a wry smile.

Lin Zhao withdrew her Phoenix Wings and landed lightly. “So,” she asked, “what do you two think now?”

Liu Wen Dong clasped his hands, voice steady despite the sting in his limbs. “From today onward, my brother and I will follow your orders, Captain Lin.”