That wisp of gray mist silently permeated her body. At first, there was nothing unusual.
Lu Xiaoluo remained fully focused on circulating her "Heaven-Supporting Sword" and "Mountain-Guarding Sword Intent," resisting Xu Yujun's increasingly fierce attacks. Her defense remained steadfast, like a reef in turbulent waters, immovable and unyielding.
Yet gradually, an imperceptible ripple began to spread through her crystal-clear heart.
Dark, unprecedented thoughts surfaced like silt stirred from the bottom of a lake, quietly rising to her mind.
'Why... can he leave Kunlun and ascend to the upper realm to enjoy better resources? While I... must be left behind in that frozen wasteland of despair?'
'Father... Mother... if they truly loved me, why did they choose to take him and not me?'
'Could it be... that I was merely a pawn used to placate people? An existence that could be sacrificed at any moment?'
'They kept saying they loved me, planning a path for my survival... but that family letter, those arrangements—could they be... nothing but hypocritical self-consolation?'
'They're actually selfish... they love themselves more, love their own dao path more, love that son who inherited more of their talents...'
'I am unloved... I have never been the one chosen...'
These thoughts were initially faint, yet they spread like a virus, rapidly growing, multiplying, and intensifying! They frantically assaulted the trust and devotion Lu Xiaoluo had always held regarding her parents' love!
"No... that's not true..." Lu Xiaoluo struggled within, attempting to dispel these terrible thoughts. But that gray power was extraordinarily sinister—it wasn't forcibly distorting her perception, but infinitely amplifying and catalyzing the most hidden, unnoticed trace of unease and doubt deep in her heart!
With her spirit in turmoil, her once-flawless and indestructible "Heaven-Supporting Sword" intent showed its first microscopic stagnation and flaw! A hairline crack appeared in the originally seamless defensive barrier!
"Now!" Xu Yujun's eyes flashed with brilliance—he had been waiting for this moment! He showed no mercy, his sword striking like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, precisely targeting that minute vulnerability!
"PSSSH—!"
Though the sword tip was deflected by sword energy that hastily closed the gap, it still tore through Lu Xiaoluo's protective spiritual light, leaving a trail of blood across her shoulder!
"Mmph!" Lu Xiaoluo stifled a groan, her figure swaying slightly as fire-hot pain radiated from her wound.
This sudden injury seemed to confirm the "correctness" of those dark thoughts, further shaking her spirit!
"Look! Elder Lu is injured!"
"The defense has been breached!"
"Defense can't hold forever! Xu Yujun's offense is too fierce!"
A chorus of gasps and worried cries erupted from below the arena.
Xu Yujun pressed his advantage, his sword momentum growing ever more violent and ruthless, like a storm that wouldn't give Lu Xiaoluo a moment to breathe! Various exquisite and vicious sword techniques poured forth, specifically targeting the vulnerabilities exposed after her spirit wavered!
Lu Xiaoluo grit her teeth, forcibly suppressing the intrusive thoughts as she struggled to defend. But with her heart in chaos, her sword intent couldn't achieve perfection. Her defense was no longer watertight—her parries and evasions appeared somewhat frantic and disheveled.
"SSHHLA!"
"PUH!"
Several more sword lights flashed past, leaving fresh wounds on her arm and waist. Blood stained her robes, and her breathing began to grow erratic.
It seemed she was about to fall under this relentless onslaught—or worse, face mortal danger!
Upon the high platform, Xiao Chen and the others furrowed their brows deeply. Han Yu's hand had already settled on his sword hilt.
Just at this critical juncture!
A flash of determination suddenly crossed Lu Xiaoluo's eyes! She no longer attempted to deflect the omnipresent sword light while moving. Instead, she did something no one expected—
She suddenly leapt backward, breaking away from the combat, then sat cross-legged upon the arena!
That ancient Mountain-Guarding Sword悬浮ed before her, emitting a low humming!
"What is she doing?!"
"Is she giving up resistance?"
In everyone's astonished gaze, Lu Xiaoluo formed hand seals with her eyes tightly shut, as if entering a state of self-oblivion!
"HMMMM—!!!"
A vast, mountainous sword intent suddenly erupted from within her! No longer the actively controlled "Heaven-Supporting Sword," but an instinctive protective intent born from the depths of her bloodline, completely fused with the Kunlun Mountain-Guarding Sword Intent!
Endless transparent sword energy spontaneously generated, interweaving and layering, forming around her an immensely thick, brilliantly radiant massive sword barrier! This barrier seemed connected to the very earth of the arena, radiating an ancient, immovable, all-dharma-invulnerable majestic presence!
"BOOM!!!"
Xu Yujun's certain-kill strike fiercely collided with this suddenly-appeared sword barrier, erupting in a deafening explosion! The barrier trembled violently, its light flowing and shifting, yet... it remained immovable! Steadfastly receiving this terrifying sword strike!
Xu Yujun was forced back by the recoil, his face filled with disbelief!
Everyone was stunned by this sudden transformation!
And then—
A light, melodious singing voice, carrying a hint of ethereal nostalgia, unexpectedly rang out above the clamorous martial arena.
The song was gentle and melodious, singing an ancient and familiar ballad:
"Gathering wei, gathering wei, the wei plants have just sprouted. Saying return, saying return, the year is drawing to a close..."
(Gathering wei plants, oh gathering wei plants, the wei plants have just emerged. Saying we'll return home, saying we'll return home, another year is nearly past...)
The singing wasn't loud, yet it strangely overpowered all the noise, clearly reaching everyone's ears, and seemed to resonate directly in the depths of Lu Xiaoluo's turbulent, closed-eyes, steadfast heart.
This song... it was... "Gathering Wei"?
[
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