Chapter 1066: Chapter 49: Both Cooperation and Vigilance_2

Now that An Zhisu has the Xuanguang Ruler, these vulnerabilities were naturally filled. With just a shake of the ruler, clusters of radiant flowers separated and flew swiftly towards Jiang Lian.

She also utilized the Flying Smoke Sword, shaking out numerous smoke-like wavering Sword Qi, enveloping the entire surrounding space, and swiftly constricting, trapping Jiang the Witch in the center.

Jiang Lian dodged the collisions of the radiant flowers and glanced at the surrounding smoke Sword Qi, feeling a bit irritable inside.

If it were merely Sword Qi, with the Great Heavenly Demon’s indestructible body, there would naturally be no fear. However, the opponent now wielded the Dual Polarity Dust Sword, interweaving threadlike suppressive Sword Qi among the ordinary Sword Qi, directly charging in would appear too foolish.

She took a deep breath, the black fog around her contracted by half a foot, then abruptly exploded in all directions.

Both the Flying Smoke Sword Qi and the radiant patterns were all dispersed by the shockwave of the black fog.

An Zhisu was ready to continue her attack, but Jiang the Witch had already approached within an instant, with the black fog transforming into two giant claws, tearing towards her from left and right.

At this moment, to retaliate with the Xuanguang Ruler was too late, so she had to retreat using the Cloud-Parting Eight Trigrams Step. But the black fog’s speed was too rapid, almost shadow-like, closing in on her, each time she gained distance, within a few breaths, it caught up to her side again.

The two engaged in a relentless chase and fight at the seabed.

Jiang Lian proceeded unhurriedly, knowing although the opponent seemed to handle her attacks effortlessly, each defense was exerted with all effort. Even one mistake would ensure no chance for reversal.

The Great Unrestrained Heavenly Demon was undying and indestructible, so mistakes were inconsequential. But how long could you maintain this state?

She slightly shifted her thoughts, and the black fog around her expanded further, vaguely cutting off An Zhisu’s retreat.

Yet An Zhisu appeared to have no intention of fleeing, instead, wielding the Xuanguang Ruler as if controlling a sword, unleashing numerous radiant patterns without restraint. Each time they struck the black fog around Jiang Lian, they tore off a small piece, which then vanished in the dazzling explosion.

Beneath the ground, Chen Guanshui was concentrating on manipulating the Formation and refining the Heaven-Mending Stone when suddenly he asked Ah Jing:

“Did you hear any sound?”

“No.” Ah Jing shook her head, her hands supporting her cheeks.

“How come I seem to hear banging and crashing sounds?” Chen Guanshui suspiciously asked, “Could it be someone outside is sparring with Sword Control Technique?”

“You probably heard wrong,” the Kunlun Mirror replied. “If two people were comparing swords, the sound should be clanging, while what you describe sounds like fireworks.”

“So someone is setting off fireworks outside?”

“Outside is all seawater, where would there be fireworks?” Kunlun Mirror impatiently retorted. “If you don’t trust my scan, just go out and check yourself!”

Chen Guanshui chuckled, but internally he was cautiously tense.

Even though Ah Jing consistently denied it, she never explicitly said “there’s no one outside,” which implied someone likely found their location again.

What about the promised Art Calculation concealment?

Despite not having much faith in this broken mirror, after careful thought, Chen Guanshui realized there were no other better options.

Considering that Liuli Lady’s Art Calculation skills were too formidable, the other individuals seemed to have some sort of targeting lock, always able to track him no matter the location, placing reliance on Ah Jing seemed the only option.

Yet, thinking it through, at least until the Heaven-Mending Stone was refined, Chen Guanshui should still hold some value for Ah Jing to use, unlikely to be easily discarded.

While Chen Guanshui deliberated the pros and cons below, above, An Zhisu and Jiang Lian were engaged in an earth-shaking battle.

Jiang the Witch’s surrounding black fog had expanded to a size of a hundred feet, obscuring the sky and sun.

This black fog, inhaling like a giant whale, absorbed all attacks and turned them into nothingness; exhaling like a giant dragon breathing, everything in its path corroded, disappearing into smoke.

An Zhisu also unleashed her True Yuan to the limit, with clusters of radiant flowers from the Xuanguang Ruler whirling densely around her, fending off the tidal-like black fog. The Sword Qi threads of the Dual Polarity Dust Sword transformed into a massive net, cutting through the black fog over and over again.

The intense commotion naturally garnered the attention of Xu Yinglian and Shi Liuli from afar.

Shi Liuli, even from a distance, recognized it as the busty yet brainless Shushan Sword Immortal Jiao Xiao Daoren, and the Vice Sect Master villainess Jiang the Witch from the Mortal Life Path.

The latter’s entire body undulated and contracted in a black fog state, swallowing all attacks without a scratch, evidently a very advanced Heavenly Demon Divine Skill, surpassing the “pseudo-Heavenly Demons” who took attacks directly with their bodies in the Feather Courtyard Gate’s secret realm.

The former, though extensively experienced in Magical Competitions, was greatly restrained by the Great Unrestrained Heavenly Demon against Sword Control Technique. Thus, she barely managed self-preservation with the Xuanguang Ruler, without any capability to retaliate or harm the opponent.

Moreover, the opponent was using the innate divine abilities of a Heavenly Demon, while she needed to expend True Yuan for defense; eventually, she would be exhausted to death.

The front was fiercely contested, evenly matched. She held her breath and focused, believing if it were her standing there, she might be killed in less than a dozen breaths.

As for the Jiao Xiao Sword Immortal… disregarding personality, strategy, and the like, her combat awareness was truly formidable, managing to hold out for so long.

However, judging by the current situation, even such a formidable Jiao Xiao Sword Immortal was no match for the Great Heavenly Demon. If she joined forces with her and Qiong Ying Daoren, could they match the opponent?

Shi Liuli pondered for a moment, deciding without even using the Eight Trigrams:

We must save her.

If Jiao Xiao falls here, who would confront the Great Heavenly Demon afterward? Then they could just wait for that bastard to be ground down to the bone and marrow, with their essence and energy drained!

However, there was a proper way to aid. She excelled in strategy and was not suited for direct combat; revealing herself rashly would make her a priority target for the witch.

Thus, she considered briefly, then silently transmitted her voice in a certain direction:

“I see that the Great Heavenly Demon coming here without wandering or searching, heading directly in a certain direction, isn’t just a coincidence. It’s arrived with a specific purpose.”

“…How do you know I’m here?” Xu Yinglian responded in surprise.

“I have Art Calculation.”

Xu Yinglian: …

Art Calculation is really handy; should I go learn it too?

She continued secretive voice transmission towards the source direction:

“Do you mean that the Great Heavenly Demon is also searching for the Mender of the Heavens?”

“That’s the only explanation.” Shi Liuli answered, “She is our common enemy.”

Need it be said? Even without this connection, the Heavenly Demon is the enemy of all Human Race… Xu Yinglian silently gazed at the distant battle.

Of course, she could also see that although An Zhisu was combat courageous, she was severely restrained by the opponent in various aspects, rendering victory impossible.

Without rescue, after Jiao Xiao’s fall, she might not be able to stand as a match alone against the Heavenly Demon…

With this in mind, Xu Yinglian had made up her mind and asked Shi Liuli:

“Do you have any ideas?”

Shi Liuli thought that she had already hinted so clearly, why was she still probing?

She carefully deliberated, then candidly said:

“Honestly, given my cultivation level, I might be outmatched against this Heavenly Demon.”

This was quite honest, but Xu Yinglian evidently wouldn’t relinquish trust based on such reason, especially in handing her back to someone hidden like Shi Liuli.

Even though Kunlun Penglai were branches of the same Orthodox Sect Three Pure Ones, in such wilderness away from the Divine Land, no one could guarantee what might happen. What if during fierce combat with the Heavenly Demon, someone unexpectedly stabbed her in the back…

“Fellow Daoist Qiong Ying.” Shi Liuli continued, “If you can’t trust me, you can maintain distance from the Heavenly Demon for long-range magical combat. I will support you with Art Calculation methods, what do you think?”

Xu Yinglian remained silent, instantly understanding.

She couldn’t fully trust this Dong You fellow, but the opponent, being too weak, might have even greater concerns.

If supporting Jiao Xiao with long-range methods and avoiding perilous close combat with the Heavenly Demon, even if this Penglai Dong You had ill intentions and launched a surprise attack, she wouldn’t be afraid.

“Be specific?” Xu Yinglian asked coldly.