“I can win? Song Shijie, you flatter me,” Lin Dongming smiled and shook his head. “Bai Shimei probably didn’t even use her full strength.”
“Huh? But she’s so competitive by nature. How could she hold back at a time like this?”
Song Yumian was very puzzled.
Lin Dongming then hit the nail on the head: “Song Shijie, have you ever heard that Bai Shimei has an innate Dao Body?”
Song Yumian nodded.
“Do you know what kind of Dao Body Bai Shimei has?”
Song Yumian thought for a moment and shook her head.
“Dao Body is a very vague and broad concept. The Innate Sword Body is a Dao Body, and the Yin-Yang Dao Body is also a Dao Body, but these two are completely different types. Setting aside which one Bai Shimei has, you didn’t notice any special display from her on stage just now, did you?”
Song Yumian came back to her senses.
“So you think she probably still has a trick up her sleeve? But many Dao Bodies only increase cultivation speed, which doesn’t really help in a comparison match, right?”
“So it’s just a guess,” Lin Dongming tilted his head.
“The rest is intuition. I just feel Bai Shimei wouldn’t easily show all her cards on the table.”
“You’re talking about yourself, aren’t you?”
Song Yumian teased.
“At least for Song Shijie, all my cards have been seen,” Lin Dongming said, turning away and waving his hand. “Just cut me some slack for now.”
“I can’t stand you,” Song Yumian waved her hand and turned to walk in another direction.
Lin Dongming glanced toward the direction Bai Zhiqing had left and weighed the Jade Pendant in his hand. “Should I give this to her now?”
Suddenly, a faint movement came from the treetops in the corner of his eye.
Lin Dongming immediately squinted. “Looks interesting. Let’s follow and see.”
The area near the Sword Dance Terrace was a Forbidden Spirit Zone, established to prevent grudges from spilling over into private fights after matches.
Therefore, to leave by Yujian, one had to exit near Duyuan Lake. So it was not difficult to catch up with Bai Zhiqing on this path.
Lin Dongming concealed his aura and quietly followed behind Bai Zhiqing.
Bai Zhiqing glanced back and, seeing no one behind her, calmly turned forward and stepped out of the Forbidden Spirit Zone.
“Although I think Senior Brother Lin might not have good intentions, following Sister Bai like this isn’t right, is it?”
Bai Zhiqing looked back again and directly pointed out Lin Dongming’s presence.
Lin Dongming didn’t bother hiding.
“Sister Bai, you’re sharp. I thought I wouldn’t be noticed.”
Bai Zhiqing chuckled lightly.
“If I hadn’t noticed, what would Senior Brother Lin have done?”
“That would be to wait until whoever’s following you tries to ambush and then step in to stop them—play the hero and save the beauty,” Lin Dongming said, flicking his right hand and shooting out three streaks of light toward three different directions.
Unfortunately, the three small swords all missed and returned to Lin Dongming’s hand.
Ahead appeared three figures—one in front, two behind.
“Oh? Duyuan Peak?”
Bai Zhiqing seemed not surprised by the appearance of the figures. “Why are you all acting so sneaky?”
The three simultaneously drew their weapons. “You’re too arrogant, Bai Shimei.”
Lin Dongming thought for a moment.
“I remember the one who was just defeated by Bai Shimei was Hong Xing, a Direct Disciple of Duyuan Peak? He’s caused quite a bit of trouble lately. You wouldn’t be working for him, would you?”
The three were stunned, silent in response.
Lin Dongming hadn’t expected his random guess to be right and felt a bit conflicted inside.
Bai Zhiqing frowned. “Duyuan Peak does have many Disciples in Heavenly Extreme Sword Sect, but I didn’t expect the Direct Disciples to be such scoundrels. Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
She drew her long sword from her waist.
No sooner had she spoken than the sword at one Disciple’s waist shot out, dividing into ten, then a hundred blades, raining down like a hail of sword light.
“Kongjian Technique… Duyuan Peak really loves this move,” Lin Dongming recalled fighting against Duyuan Peak’s people when he was just an Outer Sect Disciple. Back then, they were arrogant and haughty, and all he could do was endure.
But now was different. Lin Dongming was no longer a powerless Outer Sect Disciple. He activated Tiandao Jingxin Jue, understanding all the flying swords’ movements like the back of his hand.
Pressing his right leg down hard, Lin Dongming turned into a gust of wind, weaving through the sword rain. Duyuan Peak’s pride, Kongjian Technique, couldn’t even graze his clothing.
“Tch,” the opponent clicked his tongue and pointed with his right hand, disturbing all sword trajectories, surrounding Lin Dongming from all directions, shooting with no blind spots.
Lin Dongming didn’t retreat an inch, drawing his long sword to strike away blade after blade as he rapidly closed in on the enemy.
Seeing normal Kongjian Technique was ineffective, the opponent changed tactics again.
Lingli rapidly gathered in the sword above his head, the blade swelling larger and larger until it resembled a small mountain, striking toward Lin Dongming.
Lin Dongming was prepared. With full strength, he swung his sword in a crescent arc.
Tiandao Jingxin Jue · Duankong!
The massive sword was forcibly repelled. Lin Dongming was already in front of his enemy, locking his sword at the throat. “I suggest you all stop now if you don’t want to suffer.”
The opponent eyed the sword at his neck with lingering fear, cold sweat streaming down.
Glancing back at Bai Zhiqing’s side, Lin Dongming saw she had already taken care of her opponents as well. When he chose his opponents, Lin Dongming deliberately picked the strongest one. But defeating two on one with ease showed Bai Zhiqing was indeed formidable.
“Leave. If you don’t want to die,” Bai Zhiqing said coldly.
The three quickly rode their swords away.
“I’ve long heard that Duyuan Peak’s Direct Disciples are overbearing and unreasonable, but I didn’t expect them to be this shameless,” Lin Dongming shook his head.
“Indeed. In comparison, some playboys are much better,” Bai Zhiqing hinted.
Lin Dongming gave a wry smile.
“Don’t compare me to those kinds of people. I’ve never done anything truly wicked.”
He paused, then said, “Besides, what others say is just rumors. If Bai Shimei wants to believe them, that’s her choice.”
“Then why are you helping me, Senior Brother Lin?”
Bai Zhiqing asked.
“Hm…” Lin Dongming hadn’t expected this question so soon. Today he had only planned to visit Sword Dance Terrace and leave, just to make some acquaintances.
He didn’t expect to first be provoked into a duel by Bai Zhiqing, then get into a fight with those tailing Disciples.
“Because Sister Bai is pretty?”
Lin Dongming made up a casual excuse.
“Isn’t that just being a playboy!?”
Bai Zhiqing was both angry and amused.
“Not necessarily… You’re injured,” Lin Dongming said, noticing a sword wound on Bai Zhiqing’s forearm, bright red blood still flowing.
“Just a small injury, nothing serious,” Bai Zhiqing waved it off.
“Still, better be careful.” Lin Dongming casually cast Liaoyu Spell, the green spiritual power slowly seeping into Bai Zhiqing’s wound. In the blink of an eye, it healed.
“There’s still some residual Lingli on the sword that you’ll need to dispel yourself, but the flesh wound is healed.”
“Senior Brother Lin, you really know a lot,” Bai Zhiqing was a little surprised.
“Just some experience,” Lin Dongming said, gazing at the woods ahead where he sensed other spiritual power lingering.