91: Burning at the stake

In front of the Sword Tomb altar, Shen Lian lightly fanned himself, quietly waiting for sunset.

Compared to his calm demeanor, Wu Aozhou seemed a bit anxious, constantly pacing back and forth in front of him.

"Alas!"

After a long while, he plunged his heavy sword from his shoulder into the ground.

"To think that I, Wu Aozhou, have lived for three thousand years, and this is the first time I've been forced into such a desperate situation by a junior like you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian didn't even lift his eyelids: "A mere Immortal Realm Seventh Layer cultivation is enough to make you so complacent. I can only say that an ant's vision and scope are truly too shallow."

Wu Aozhou simply sat cross-legged opposite Shen Lian: "From what you're saying, even the Immortal Realm doesn't enter your Dharma Eye. You're merely at the Peak of the Tribulation Crossing Realm, where do you get the nerve to spout such nonsense?"

"The knowledge of a frog in a well is always so narrow. I've seen too many self-satisfied people like you."

Shen Lian slowly opened his eyes.

"Soon, you will realize what an honor it is to stand on this high platform with me today."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Because my future achievements are destined to make you look up to me. You should feel honored now,

to be able to speak to me at eye level. Perhaps this will be the most boast-worthy capital of your life."

"Kid, why is it that every time you open your mouth, you can't say anything pleasant? It makes me really want to beat you up."

"If you don't want to listen, then don't speak, or perhaps make yourself deaf, that's also not a bad choice."

"Can't you communicate normally with people?"

"Am I not communicating normally with you right now?!"

Wu Aozhou found that he couldn't communicate with Shen Lian at all. This arrogant attitude, as if even the King of Heaven would have to kneel, he really didn't know where such confidence came from.

So, to prevent himself from being angered to death by Shen Lian, he simply got up, grabbed his sword, and walked to another spot.

The atmosphere fell silent once more.

Fortunately, this silent atmosphere didn't last long, as Clear Moon finally arrived at the Sword Tomb altar with Nangong Li.

"Shen Lian, are you truly disregarding our fellow disciple affection?"

As soon as Nangong Li saw Shen Lian, she preemptively questioned him.

"If you care so much about your fellow disciples, why don't you commit suicide immediately and join them!"

Shen Lian's playful reply was Nangong Li's answer.

"Why, why have you become like this!" Nangong Li's eyes turned red, "The old you would never have been so aggressive. Shen Lian, we are fellow disciples, fellow disciples!"

"Shut up, bitch! I have no interest in playing the act of deep fellow disciple affection with you!"

Shen Lian directly interrupted her, then turned his gaze to Clear Moon: "I only asked you to bring the crouching dragon marrow. When did I allow you to bring this bitch to appear before me?"

Clear Moon: "Shen Lian, Nangong Li is willing to hand over the crouching dragon marrow, she just wants to give it to you personally."

"Fool!"

"You, are you cursing me?"

Clear Moon's expression instantly became bewildered, utterly unable to believe that she would one day be called a fool, and by a junior at that?

"Are you not a fool? Why did I ask you to get the crouching dragon marrow from this bitch? It's because this bitch is a white-eyed wolf who eats people without spitting out their bones.

If I could easily snatch the item back from her, would I need to go to such great lengths to find you? It seems the Southern Domain is destined not to see the sunrise tomorrow!"

"Shen Lian, don't get agitated!"

"Who are you calling a bitch!"

Clear Moon was about to dissuade Shen Lian from going to extremes, but Nangong Li was completely broken by Shen Lian's repeated insults of "bitch" and "white-eyed wolf."

"Shen Lian, how dare you curse me like that!"

"You're just a dog that I can summon and dismiss at will..."

Slap~

Seeing Shen Lian's expression grow increasingly cold, Clear Moon, fearing he would resort to extreme measures of mutual destruction, immediately slapped Nangong Li to the ground, stopping her from continuing to rant like a shrew.

"Elder, you hit me..."

"Enough, you wicked creature, hurry up and hand over the crouching dragon marrow!"

Facing Clear Moon's cold face filled with anger, Nangong Li felt for the first time that she was still quite far from her dream of being superior to others.

Looking at Shen Lian's deep, playful eyes, her heart was filled with hatred.

It was all Shen Lian's fault; if not for him, why would she have suffered such great humiliation time and again?

The next moment, she slowly got up from the ground and coldly said to Shen Lian: "Alright, you want the crouching dragon marrow, right? Then I'll return it to you!"

With that, Nangong Li raised her hand and unfurled it. In an instant, a Dragon Spine emitted soft hums, coiling around her arm.

"Shen Lian, have you thought this through? If you dare to take this item back, from now on, our kindness will be severed, and our righteousness broken!"

"Hahahah!"

Shen Lian couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this.

"Nangong Li, do you still think I'll be like before, being played around like a dog by you? The enmity between us is already irreconcilable, so how can there be any talk of severing kindness and breaking righteousness!"

Nangong Li's eyes were bloodshot, and she gritted her teeth, forcefully flinging the Dragon Spine: "Here, take it back!"

Shen Lian flashed forward and immediately caught the crouching dragon marrow.

The moment it entered his hand, a surge of fiery Dragon Qi entered his body, subtly suppressing his agitated emotions.

"Go to hell!"

Just as Shen Lian was momentarily distracted, Nangong Li suddenly roared and thrust her sword at him.

This sword strike was both vicious and cruel, filled with endless hatred for Shen Lian.

"Stop!"

Caught off guard, Clear Moon and Wu Aozhou simultaneously roared, then moved to envelop Shen Lian from front and back, intending to shield him.

But the full burst of Innate Sword Intent instantly caused the two Immortal Realm powerhouses, who were half a beat slower, to fall behind by half a step, watching helplessly as the Autumn Moon sword pierced towards Shen Lian's chest.

"Shen Lian, you deserve to die!"

At this moment, Nangong Li was completely insane, her mind solely focused on eliminating Shen Lian quickly.

"Kill me? You don't have that ability yet!"

Just as the sword was half an inch from his chest, Shen Lian let out a deep shout. The heaven and earth root activated the rapid circulation of Yin and Yang Qi throughout his body, and he actually caught Nangong Li's sword with his bare hands.

Boom—

The Sword Tomb instantly exploded with sword cries, and the surging Qi waves caused the central stone sword to rumble faintly.

"Not good!"

Clear Moon and Wu Aozhou, who were originally going to stop Nangong Li, immediately halted their steps simultaneously. They both leaped to the stone sword, pouring immense True Essence into it to stabilize the earth core strange fire deep within the earth's pulse.

"Shen Lian, you're dead!"

Nangong Li, on the other side, disregarded everything, concentrating all her cultivation on the Autumn Moon sword, forcibly pushing Shen Lian forward rapidly.

With continuous booming explosions, Shen Lian was directly forced behind the stone sword.

"Nangong Li!"

Suddenly, Shen Lian roared, his pupils turning blood-red.

"Purgatory of the Buddha is your final destination, you bitch!!!"

Accompanying Shen Lian's furious roar, his left arm, entwined with the crouching dragon marrow, slammed violently onto the stone platform behind him.

Boom—

Immediately, the entire Chess Sword Pavilion began to shake violently.

"Not good, leave!"

Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Clear Moon and Wu Aozhou, knowing they were powerless to reverse it, simultaneously retreated from the Sword Tomb stone platform.

Just as they left, a crack appeared on the stone sword.

At the same time, the enraged and frenzied Nangong Li suddenly saw a faint smile appear on Shen Lian's lips.

Before she could ponder what was happening, Shen Lian suddenly retracted his hand and leaped three zhang away.

"Want to run? Too late!"

Nangong Li was about to give chase, but as soon as she stood up, she felt an extremely hot wave of Qi rush towards her face.

The moment she regained her senses, her pupils involuntarily contracted.

The next moment, a surging flame erupted directly from the crack in the stone sword, engulfing Nangong Li's body.

"Ah~~"

With a painful shriek, Nangong Li, engulfed in flames, continuously rolled on the ground.

"Hahahahaha!"

From a distance, Shen Lian's wild laughter echoed.

"Nangong Li, the embers of the earth core strange fire are enough to tear apart the Qi energy of an Immortal Realm Peak expert. Enjoy the gift I've given you, and experience the despair of becoming a cripple! Hahahaha!"

After the laughter, the heavy sound of horse hooves echoed, receding into the distance across the sky.

Left in front of the Sword Tomb were only Nangong Li's burning body rolling on the ground, and her mournful cries echoing from her throat.