A Martial Odyssey

Xiao Youxue had run out of the city in tears, attracting stunned reactions and pitiful sympathies from many.

Those inside the inn may not be able to hear their conversations but they could hear Yi Ping raising his voice. When Xiao Youxue had dashed out of the room, the crowd began to curse the man that had caused such a delicate maiden to be in tears!

When she had reached the outskirt of the city along a river bank, after making sure that there was no one following her, she could not hold back her grief any longer. She collapsed on the grass as she wept bitterly.

She did not know how long she had been crying in the dark.

"Youxue, don't cry please…" It was Ding Yunzi. It took her awhile to find her in the darkness.

Xiao Youxue fell into her embrace as she wept bitterly, "Why must fate torment me just like that? Why must the person that I like, is also the person that hates me the most?"

Ding Yunzi said, "Youxue, don't cry anymore. It is impossible for you to kill the Celestial Fairy for I have seen her on the same day that you have lured us to the Honor Manor."

Xiao Youxue sobbed melancholy, "Sister Yun…you are still trying to comfort me. I have really killed her with my own hands…"

Ding Yunzi was in bewilderment as she asked, "If you have killed the Celestial Fairy, then who is the Celestial Fairy that Xiao Shuai and I have fought against?"

Xiao Youxue looked at Ding Yunzi in her eyes as she asked, "You have really seen the Celestial Fairy? What does she look like?"

Ding Yunzi said, "I will never forget her sight. She is like a heavenly fairy and looked extremely delicate and graceful. Even though her voice is very soft and gentle, I can hear her clearly. Her internal strength is also terrible to behold. With just her sleeve alone, she can deflect Xiao Shuai and my flying scabbards…"

Xiao Youxue gasped, "You have really fought against her? Did my fath…Xiao Shuai and you kill or defeat her in the end?"

She had made that conclusion because if the Celestial Fairy had won against Xiao Shuai and Ding Yunzi, then Ding Yunzi would not be here talking to her!

Ding Yunzi said, "We didn't fight any further. So the fight is inconclusive."

Xiao Youxue asked, "Xiao Shuai let her go, just like that?"

Ding Yunzi nodded as she said, "It seems that Xiao Shuai and the Celestial Fairy are old acquaintances so when she had left, we didn't pursue them. Moreover, we have expended considerable amount of our martial power and need the time to recuperate first."

She began to sigh heavily, "Now I know why Xiao Shuai wants Yi Ping dead."

Xiao Youxue asked, "He wants Yi Ping dead? Why? He didn't even know him!"

Ding Yunzi said coolly, "At first I didn't know the reason. Now I do. It is because Xiao Shuai may have feelings for the Celestial Fairy and that is why we are ordered to kill all the male protégés of the Eternal Ice Palace. Now I have finally understood that he meant to kill only Yi Ping because he is the Celestial Fairy's husband!"

Xiao Youxue was startled, "Shui Yixian is still alive? She is really not dead?"

She was stunned yet she was relieved at the same time.

She said, "If the Celestial Fairy is still alive, why didn't Yi Ping know?"

Ding Yunzi said, "I do not know the exact reason. There are many questions to be asked too. The only way for us to know is to ask the Celestial Fairy herself. But you have to be wary. The Celestial Fairy is looking everywhere for you too…"

Xiao Youxue smiled weakly, "Good. I have tried to kill her. She has every reason to kill me. As long as Yi Ping does not bear a grudge against me, I am content…"

All of a sudden, there were dozens of sparks in front of them as dozens of brilliant needles flew in their direction!

Lie Qing had suddenly appeared in front of them as she deflected the secret projectiles with her dark sword as she cried out alarmingly, "Be careful! There are others here too!"

Lie Qing had arrived just after Ding Yunzi but chosen to remain hidden as she did not want to disturb the emotional moments. After some time, she had suddenly observed two other maidens in black velvet dress had quietly moved towards Xiao Youxue!

If Lie Qing had not seen them with her very own eyes, she could not believe that they could move so rapidly in the darkness like apparitions and it appeared that they were just treading onto the tip of the grass!

Xiao Youxue and Ding Yunzi were alarmed! It was because someone else had not only secretly sneaked within their alert zone without their knowing and had thrown the secret projectiles in such a quiet manner!

Ding Yunzi immediately drawn out her long sword and saw that there were two maidens in front of them!

Ding Yunzi and Xiao Youxue were startled as they took a step backward!

Indeed it was Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian. It was only after the grand congregation in the Honor Manor that they had heard that Yi Ping and the Holy Maiden of the Holy Hex Sect had barged to disrupt the gathering. They had missed Yi Ping only narrowly!

Because Yi Ping was now a fugitive wanted by the majority of the orthodox fraternity, Shui Yixian deducted that since the Honor Manor was planning a western expedition to attack the Holy Hex Sect, then Yi Ping may well be there too since he was associated with the Holy Maiden of the Holy Hex Sect.

A third maiden was standing delicately behind the two beautiful maidens. She was very beautiful as though she was a goddess. All three of them were very fair and were very white. In the darkness, in their dark velvet dresses, they had appeared to be supernatural beings.

Xiao Youxue was shocked. It was because the third maiden that was here was indeed the Celestial Fairy! She thought, "She is really alive. She has really come to kill me…"

Lie Qing was startled too. It was because she was very sure she had seen two maidens but there were now three?! These two maidens that she had seen were identical and it was obvious that they were twins. They had a long precious sword in their hands and the secret projectiles were thrown by them!

Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian were equally startled. They had quietly moved into striking range and were confident they could not miss but their attacks were intercepted by a beautiful maiden with red eyes.

Even Shui Yixian was looking at Lie Qing as she appraised her opponent. All of a sudden, Shui Yixian hurled three silvery needles towards Lie Qing!

Even though the three silvery needles were hurled at the same time, the three silvery needles were moving at different speeds and that was what made it extremely deadly!

The first silvery needle flew with startling speed as it burst with an extraordinary power through the air. Lie Qing's eyes were exceptional sharp as she raised her black sword as she said, "Secret Projectiles are useless against me…"

But to her surprise, the first needle suddenly grew dim and disappeared! Lie Qing was startled as she raised her black sword just in time to parry off the second and third silvery needles one after the other!

The second needle was so powerful that she was forced to take two steps backward and the third needle sent her moving a further three steps backward!

Just when she had just recovered her footings, the first needle reappeared again and flew straight into her body and flew out in the opposite direction with a thunderous impact!

In that single moment, blood spilled out of her body and her dress was tainted red with her blood!

Lie Qing shrieked softly as she was hurled a further five to six steps backward before falling on the ground!

Xiao Youxue and Ding Yunzi immediately flew to her side as they cried out her name!

Ding Yunzi turned and stared sternly at Shui Yixian, "I didn't know that the Eternal Ice Palace has to resort to such despicable means to kill us."

Shui Meijian smiled sweetly, "We just want to teach you a lesson. I still remember we have an unfinished fight with you the last time!"

Ding Yunzi said, "Indeed, we have."

Shui Yujian said coldly, "That old man isn't here today to protect you. Do you think you can escape from our swords tonight?"

Lie Qing trembled as she got up slowly.

Xiao Youxue said, "Lie Qing, you are injured…"

Lie Qing steadied herself as she said to Shui Yixian, "Is this the best that you can do?"

Shui Yixian was startled. This young maiden had actually survived her Soul Seeking Needles? And she had those unusual red eyes…

Lie Qing said, "The same trick won't work against me again. The needle that had struck me is actually a black needle. You have made use of the reflection of the other silver needles and the sudden burst of your martial power to deceive my eyes."

Shui Yixian had noticed that the blood on her dress had also dried and she was not bleeding anymore. She sighed softly as she said, "The Golden Impervious Body Divine Skill. It seems that this fight is not going to be easy. You are so young and yet you have mastered such an extraordinary divine skill."

Lie Qing said coldly, "Do you really think I am as young as you thought?"

All of a sudden, there was a fearsome aura around Lie Qing as she said, "You have dared to injure me. I am going to let you pay for the price!"

Shui Yujian gasped, "That aura is an impervious force?!"

Even Shui Meijian was shaken! That was because even though the Divine Emerald Skill was a type of invisible buffer force, it was extremely draining to use and hard to maintain its focus. This type of impervious force protects the body in its entirety against exterior blows.

Moreover this Lie Qing had mastered the Golden Impervious Body Divine Skill, so she had doubly the protection. An ordinary exponent would never have the chance against her! Needless to say, this type of skill required an extremely strong foundation in internal strength to even use it!

Even if Shui Yixian was startled but she did not shown it. It was because years of practicing the Emotionless Rhythm had made her emotionless.

She just said simply, "Is that the Divine Virtuous Force?"

Lie Qing nodded as she said, "That's right but the original name of this skill is called the Invincible Divine Force."

Xiao Youxue was still looking at Shui Yixian in startled surprise as she muttered, "She really is not dead? I didn't kill her after all…"

Shui Yixian said gently to Xiao Youxue, "We have met again."

Xiao Youxue regained her composure as she said, "Indeed…You have survived."

Shui Yixian was expressionless as she said gently, "Yes, I have survived."

Lie Qing said to herself, "I have heard of the Eternal Ice Palace even during my time. Their most formidable skills are the Divine Emerald Skill and the Icy Heavenly Tears. Even if the three of us join hands, the outcome will be uncertain."

It was because she had suddenly discovered that she could detect no sign of life from this Celestial Fairy. This could only mean one thing, that her internal strength was extremely formidable!

And the fact that her needles had penetrated through her Golden Impervious Divine Skill means that she could also breech her Invincible Divine Skill too…

All of a sudden, she had lost confident in her Invincible Divine Force!

Ding Yunzi was calm as she analyzed, "Youxue, let's us attack the Celestial Fairy at the same time. She is the most formidable opponent of the three. If we split our attention, we may not be able to win. On the other hand, if we join hands and attack her at the same time, she may not be able to guard against all our attacks. After all, she doesn't have a weapon in her hands. So that is to our advantage. Avoid pitting your martial power against her as we wear her out. I have heard from Xiao Shuai that the Divine Emerald Skill may be a formidable skill but it is an extremely draining skill."

Shui Yujian interrupted coldly, "You really think we are invisible?"

All of a sudden, Shui Meijian had attacked Ding Yunzi!

Ding Yunzi immediately slashed her sword towards Shui Meijian but was immediately repulsed by an invisible circular force as soon as she had attacked when Shui Meijian had raised her left fingers in front of her!

Ding Yunzi leapt back a few steps in surprise as she had never fought against the Divine Emerald Skill before. She took out the foldable sword from her belt to her left hand as she thought, "So the direction where her finger is pointing is where the buffer force of the Divine Emerald Skill is centralized. If I slash against the buffer force, I will weaken her martial power or if I attack her from where she is least expecting, I can avoid the Divine Emerald Skill entirely."

So she began to slash from right to left, left to right, as she began her counterattacks, saying to Shui Meijian, "I will like to see how long can you last!"

As soon as her sister Shui Meijian had attacked, Shui Yujian had attacked Lie Qing!

Shui Yujian raised her left finger and her long sword in her hand as she displayed the eerie cold energy wave of the Frosty Icicle Swordplay. But as soon as she found a weak point to strike, she would always be deflected by an outer force similar to the Divine Emerald Skill!

Lie Qing had raised her martial power and display the Invincible Divine Force, merging the Invincible Divine Force into her swordplay as she counter-attacked against Shui Yujian, "You are courting your own death!"

From the initial impact, she could tell that her opponent mastery in the Divine Emerald Skill was not strong enough to withstand the full impact of her Invincible Divine Force. Therefore she had raised her martial power to her zenith.

All of a sudden, Lie Qing sensed that something was not right as she felt her Invincible Divine Force seemed to be faltering when she had struck against the Divine Emerald Force. She gasped. "You are able to neutralize my Invincible Divine Force?"

Shui Yujian replied softly, "This is the exchanging spirit of the Dual Inertness Intricacy, the divinity state of absorbing the essence of heavens and earth as my divinity state, the changes of heavens and earth as my changes, changing the opponent martial power to be used as my own. I am afraid that even before my martial power become exhausted, you would be fallen by my sword instead."

Lie Qing broke into a cold sweat. She had never expected that this young maiden of eighteen would be able to hold against her! This fight was not as easy as it had appeared!

All of a sudden, Ding Yunzi had stepped next to her, startling her!

After Lie Qing took a glance at Ding Yunzi and looked at her opponent again, she was startled! It was because she could not tell which of the twin sisters that she was previously fighting as they moved and attacked at the same time!

Ding Yunzi said panicky, "Lie Qing, be very careful. This seems to be a sword formation!"

In terms of martial strength and techniques, Lie Qing and Ding Yunzi had the advantage. Somehow, to their utter surprises, the twin sisters did not show any sign of fear as they calmly dismantle their strokes one by one!

Lie Qing had displayed one after one another of her mesmerizing sword strokes but the twin sisters were simply unaffected! She thought, "It is impossible…"

Ding Yunzi had rained dozens of her best sword strokes against them. Even a super exponent would have to take a step or two backward but the twin sisters would always find a way to retaliate as though they could see through her feint!

Was that not bewildering?

What they did not know of course was that Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian had combined the Defense Harmony of the Tranquil Spirits with the 'Linking Spirits' progression of the Dual Inertness Intricacy they had just recently learnt. Even before Lie Qing and Ding Yunzi had changed their sword strokes, they had already sensed their intentions through the changes in their intricate energies!

Shui Yixian and Xiao Youxue had also exchanged blows almost immediately!

Shui Yixian raised her fingers as she attacked with her Jade Icy Fingers while Xiao Youxue was attacking furiously and rapidly with her Penetrating Hands Skill!

Both maidens were attacking so fast and furiously that their arms and hands could scarcely be seen! It appeared that their legs were not moving but that was the opposite. As soon as Xiao Youxue raised her foot, Shui Yixian had struck her thigh with her fingers! As soon as Shui Yixian prepared to kick her, she was restrained by another slight kick!

Even though Xiao Youxue's Penetrating Hands were extremely formidable and fast, all her attacks were blocked by the Celestial Fairy and she could feel deadly painful numbness through her hands!

Shui Yixian had raised her Icy Heavenly Tears to the seventh level and was startled that Xiao Youxue would absorb the full impact of her Jade Icy Fingers. Eventually she raised her Icy Heavenly Tears to the eighth and the ninth level but still her opponent persisted!

Xiao Youxue had recited the Absolute Spirits Intricate Formula to fortitude her willpower and there was an outline of faint golden aura around her that only a highly skilled internal martial expert could see!

Shui Yixian muttered softly, "You know the Golden Impervious Body too?"

Xiao Youxue did not reply her. It was because she was focusing all her attention on her opponent! Any slight distraction would be fatal to her!

All of a sudden, Shui Yixian saw a flying sword that spin towards her with startling speed! It was hurled by Ding Yunzi when she saw an opening!

Shui Yixian immediately raised her fingers and swept the flying sword away!

All of a sudden, Lie Qing had flown to Xiao Youxue's side as she shouted, "Attack now!"

Even before the twin sisters could stop Lie Qing, Ding Yunzi had intercepted them by throwing her scabbard and her foldable sword at each of them to buy Lie Qing the precious time!

It was because Lie Qing had quickly discovered the weakness of the Divine Emerald Skill! When the Divine Emerald Skill was activated, it was at its strongest and would wane!

Lie Qing displayed her Mesmerizing Swordplay and had used all her martial power as she leapt upon the Celestial Fairy with a powerful slash.

Lie Qing prayed, "Youxue, keep her engage! Don't let her have the time to use her right hand for the Divine Emerald Skill…"

Xiao Youxue seemed to know Lie Qing's stratagem as she used all her strength to prevent the Celestial Fairy from breaking free of her continuous attacks so that she did not have even a second to use the Divine Emerald Skill!

Lie Qing's sword was the Perpetual Darkness, a sharp precious renowned sword that could cut through metal as though it was like mud! Moreover, her martial power was empowered by her Invincible Divine Force which instead of using it as an impregnable defensive force could also be turned into an unstoppable offensive force too!

Even when Shui Yixian had raised her left fingers to halt Lie Qing's incoming attack, she could feel her Divine Emerald Skill offering minute resistance as Lie Qing's sword slash viciously at her!

Both Shui Meijian and Yujian cried out panicky, "Mistress, watch out!!"