Chapter 464: Azure Sky Grass
The bamboo flute spun once in Kong Lanyou's hand, stirring a wave of true qi, then her arm snapped forward, striking out swiftly.
Those bamboo leaves, like flying swords, shot toward Zhang Ruochen like raindrops rippling across water.
"Whoosh!"
In Zhang Ruochen's eyes, what flew toward him were not bamboo leaves but tiny figures wielding sharp swords. They charged like a thousand troops, murderous and majestic, emitting a thunderous roar.
Kong Lanyou's sword technique was sharp and overwhelming, forcing Zhang Ruochen to retreat step by step.
"No, I can't keep retreating. My cultivation is higher than hers, my strength greater—why shouldn't I go all out?"
Zhang Ruochen sank his legs, driving his feet three inches into the ground, halting his retreat. Gripping his sword with both hands, he slashed straight forward.
It was a move from the Thirteen Soul-Chasing Swords: Soul-Steadfast Shadow-Standing.
This sword technique was immensely powerful, its momentum imposing. It split the incoming bamboo leaves to both sides, shredding countless leaves into powder.
"Crack, crack!"
Even so, seven bamboo leaves, controlled by Kong Lanyou's true qi, pierced through his protective heavenly shield and struck Zhang Ruochen's body, leaving seven wounds.
The wounds were shallow; the deepest leaf had only penetrated half an inch of flesh, missing any vital points.
Kong Lanyou let out a soft exclamation of surprise, a flicker of astonishment in her eyes. "You've actually opened the Wheel Meridian—how interesting."
The so-called "Wheel Meridian" was one of the extraordinary meridians, hidden within a martial artist's skin.
For every year a martial artist trained, a layer of skin would form, increasing their defense, much like the annual rings of a tree.
It was because Zhang Ruochen had cultivated the Wheel Meridian that the bamboo leaves left only shallow wounds.
Of course, if Zhang Ruochen had used the sacred dragon power of the Dragon Pearl, he could have blocked the leaves without injury. But then, the sparring with Kong Lanyou would have lost its meaning.
Kong Lanyou was now suppressing her cultivation to the mid-stage Heavenly Extreme Realm, three levels below Zhang Ruochen. She was also only using sword techniques, without any other methods.
Naturally, Zhang Ruochen would only use his own strength, engaging her in combat.
"Swish!"
Kong Lanyou struck again, executing the fourth sword.
Zhang Ruochen raised his arm once more, blocking forward, intending to continue the clash.
"Bang!" The bamboo flute in Kong Lanyou's hand slipped past Zhang Ruochen's arm, striking his right shoulder and sending him flying.
Zhang Ruochen felt his right arm go completely numb, half his body turning limp. Just as he was about to fall awkwardly, he channeled true qi, extended his left hand, and struck the ground, flipping his body back up.
Before he could steady himself, Kong Lanyou's fifth sword move was already aimed at his brow.
Zhang Ruochen didn't dodge. Instead, he pushed his left palm forward, striking toward Kong Lanyou's lower abdomen.
If Kong Lanyou didn't withdraw her bamboo flute, her abdomen would be hit. A mid-stage Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist could never withstand Zhang Ruochen's palm and survive.
Kong Lanyou snorted, twisting her slender jade waist like a fish swimming in water, darting upward to evade Zhang Ruochen's strike.
At the same time, she struck downward, pointing the bamboo flute at Zhang Ruochen's back.
"Not good."
Feeling the chill at his back, Zhang Ruochen knew he couldn't avoid this move. So he immediately mobilized true qi, forming a protective heavenly shield and pushing it backward.
The protective heavenly shield transformed into a massive orb of light, enveloping Zhang Ruochen at its center.
Kong Lanyou's bamboo flute struck the orb's surface, causing it to cave inward.
"Break!"
Kong Lanyou shattered Zhang Ruochen's protective heavenly shield, the flute landing on his back.
However, after the shield's resistance, the power within the bamboo flute had diminished by more than half. When it struck Zhang Ruochen, it only produced a dull thud, sending him stumbling forward without seriously injuring him.
Ignoring the searing pain in his back, Zhang Ruochen spun around. As he turned, a bamboo flute pressed against his heart.
If this had been a real life-or-death battle, his heart would have been pierced by now.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his hand. "I've lost."
"It took six moves to defeat you. In just half a month, you've grown this much. Your comprehension of the sword path has far exceeded my expectations."
Kong Lanyou withdrew her bamboo flute and walked back to the bamboo pavilion.
With a light wave of her hand over the table, a teapot and two celadon teacups appeared on the stone surface.
Kong Lanyou blew out a breath, and the teapot slowly rose, hovering in midair.
"Hiss, hiss!"
Without any visible effort from Kong Lanyou, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged continuously toward the teapot.
Some of the spiritual energy flew into the pot, merging with the water inside. Other energy transformed into wisps of flame, enveloping the teapot.
Before long, a faint tea fragrance emanated from the pot, curling into white mist that spread through the bamboo grove.
"Zhang Ruochen, I said that if you could withstand three of my moves, I'd treat you to something good. Now, you may enter the pavilion," Kong Lanyou said calmly.
Zhang Ruochen stepped into the bamboo pavilion, and the tea fragrance grew stronger.
Taking a deep breath, drawing the fragrance into his abdomen, Zhang Ruochen felt a surge of abundant spiritual energy burrowing into his blood vessels. His blood seemed to boil.
He immediately activated the *Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture*, circulating true qi through thirty-six meridians in a full cycle.
As Zhang Ruochen practiced the scripture, Kong Lanyou gave him a deep, puzzled, and complex look.
"What's in that teapot? Just inhaling the fragrance has benefited me so much. If I drank the tea, it would be even more remarkable," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Suppressing his curiosity, Zhang Ruochen walked to the opposite side of Kong Lanyou and sat down.
Kong Lanyou lifted her eyelids slightly, glancing at Zhang Ruochen. "A mere Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist dares to sit across from me, on equal footing. You've got some nerve."
Zhang Ruochen remained relaxed. "Senior invited me into the pavilion to share tea—why wouldn't I dare to sit?"
No matter how high Kong Lanyou's current cultivation was, Zhang Ruochen couldn't fear her. He still saw her as his younger cousin, feeling no pressure.
From their recent encounters, Zhang Ruochen could sense that Kong Lanyou harbored no hostility toward him from eight hundred years ago. In fact, she still cared deeply for that version of him.
Even so, Zhang Ruochen still didn't plan to reveal the truth to her now.
If Kong Lanyou learned the truth, with her current cultivation, experience, status, and will, she would undoubtedly plan Zhang Ruochen's future, perhaps even taking him back to the Bright Hall.
If he returned to the Bright Hall, how would he and Kong Lanyou relate to each other?
He was just a young martial artist at the Heavenly Extreme Realm, while she was a Bright Hall Saint Ancestor who had lived over eight hundred years. The gap was too vast; it was impossible for her to obey him as she had eight hundred years ago.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen didn't want to expose himself so soon. He was a proud man, with his own plans for his cultivation path, unwilling to rely on Kong Lanyou and the Bright Hall's power.
Tell her? Or not tell her?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Kong Lanyou seemed to be pondering something as well, falling silent.
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands together, inhaling the tea fragrance, and began cultivating rapidly.
Drawing the fragrance into his body, Zhang Ruochen felt his mind become clear and empty. Many doubts about martial arts that he usually encountered were suddenly resolved.
"If I could keep inhaling this fragrance and maintain this state, I estimate I could break through to the Great Extreme Position of the Heavenly Extreme Realm within a month."
With his spiritual power strong, reaching the forty-first rank, Zhang Ruochen immediately focused on three things at once.
He inhaled the fragrance while circulating his technique.
He replayed the sparring session with Kong Lanyou, grasping the essence of her sword techniques.
At the same time, his sword-intent heart took human form in his qi sea, practicing the sword techniques over and over.
"Gurgle, gurgle!"
The water in the teapot began to boil.
Under Kong Lanyou's control, the teapot first flew to Zhang Ruochen, filling his cup with a clear green tea.
Then it flew back, filling her own cup.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes, glancing at the tea in his cup. "Could this be tea brewed from the legendary sacred medicine, 'Azure Sky Grass'?"
"You have some insight. In the pot is indeed a leaf of Azure Sky Grass."
Kong Lanyou lifted the delicate teacup to her red lips and took a gentle sip.
Legend had it that Azure Sky Grass didn't grow in soil but in the clouds of the sky, absorbing moisture and spiritual energy from the clouds, gathering sunlight and moonlight, eventually forming leaf-shaped sacred medicine.
Such a treasure was rarer than the Five Elements Spiritual Treasures. If one appeared, many half-saint-level figures would fight desperately for it.
Azure Sky Grass not only helped martial artists improve their cultivation but also aided in comprehending the sacred path.
Thus, it was truly precious to those at the ninth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm and half-saint-level figures. Using a leaf of Azure Sky Grass to brew tea for a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist was an enormous waste.
"She's using sacred medicine like Azure Sky Grass for me to consume—has she recognized me?"
Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Kong Lanyou set down her teacup, fixing her gaze on Zhang Ruochen. "If you don't drink it soon, the medicinal properties of the Azure Sky Grass will start to dissipate."
Zhang Ruochen stopped overthinking, lifted the cup, and drank it all in one gulp, leaving not a drop.
Before he could set the cup down, Kong Lanyou's words nearly made him drop it in shock.
"You're cultivating the *Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture*?" she said, staring at him.