348: The way to break the deadlock

"Not good, they're going for the kill!"

"Disciple, be careful!"

Nangong Lin, Xiao Yiyi, and the remnant soul of the Old Beggar inside Nangong Lin were all horrified.

The four Sword Emperors no longer held anything back, their bodies surrounded by chilling Sword Qi; they were clearly determined to kill the two of them here.

At this moment, the speed they erupted with was terrifying, so fast that even Nangong Lin couldn't react in time to summon the chengying sword.

Buzz!

One Sword Emperor's figure suddenly flashed close, and the sword in his hand slashed ruthlessly towards Nangong Lin.

At this critical moment, there was a loud bang!

The chengying sword manifested of its own accord, powerfully blocking the Sword Emperor's strike.

The two swords clashed, colliding with countless brilliant flashes of sword light, shaking the entire hall violently.

The two forces wrestled with each other, erupting with world-shaking power.

That Sword Emperor quickly retreated after the blow and steadied himself.

However, the chengying sword's fierce offensive did not end there; the blade drew a cold light in the air, suddenly turned around, and slashed toward the other three Sword Emperors with an incredibly swift posture.

For a time, sword light crisscrossed, and those three Sword Emperors were instantly pushed back.

After doing all this, the chengying sword hovered steadily in front of Nangong Lin and the other.

The four Sword Emperors were pushed back to their original positions, but the expressions on their faces were not of anger, but rather filled with uncontrollable excitement.

"Hahaha! Spirit Treasure! This is the power of a Spirit Treasure; it truly opens my eyes!"

These Sword Emperors all laughed loudly, their eyes locked tightly onto the chengying sword, each pair of eyes full of greed.

"How shall we divide it? This sword is mine!"

"You can name any conditions!"

"Heh, Fellow Daoist Pei, you're all alone; what kind of bargaining chips can you offer?"

"It's a pity about that girl; I originally wanted to take her as a Cauldron, but I didn't expect she'd already collected the Legacy. It seems I'll have to kill her to take it out."

"Three Fellow Daoists, if each of you gives me two high-grade magic treasures, I won't compete for this Spirit Treasure. I'm only interested in the Cultivation Techniques and Magical Artifacts on the two of them."

"You guys divide the Spirit Treasure; I want their belongings."

"Old Man Hongya, this is what you said. If you dare to go back on your word, I, Pei, will be the first to settle the score with you!"

"Of course, of course. I have always been a man of my word; I will definitely not go back on it."

After Sword Emperor Hongya accepted the Magic Treasures thrown by the three, he no longer participated in their discussion regarding the ownership of the chengying sword.

These four Sword Emperors thus unscrupulously discussed the ownership of the chengying sword in front of Nangong Lin and the others, as if they were dividing spoils.

Regarding this, Nangong Lin, Xiao Yiyi, and even the Old Beggar, who was the remnant soul of a powerful expert, were helpless.

Now their only hope was the chengying sword, but the opponent was only a low-grade spirit treasure, capable of exerting the strength of a Two-star Sword Emperor at most. How could it help them resolve the crisis?

"Senior... Senior Chengying..."

"With your power as a low-grade spirit treasure, can you defeat those four Sword Emperors?"

Nangong Lin couldn't care about anything else at this moment and immediately spoke to the Chengying Sword Spirit to inquire.

Upon hearing this, the chengying sword trembled slightly and let out a low sigh: "I cannot."

"The power of a low-grade spirit treasure can only temporarily suppress them but cannot defeat them, so... you..."

How could Nangong Lin and Xiao Yiyi not understand the unfinished meaning of the chengying sword's words?

"Is there really no turn for the better?"

Nangong Lin and Xiao Yiyi's faces gradually turned pale, and the Old Beggar inside Nangong Lin was also full of regret.

Had he known this would happen, he shouldn't have suggested they come to Yongning Prefecture so soon; they should have stayed at the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect to further consolidate their cultivation.

"No! There is still a turn for the better!"

"I still have a way to break the deadlock, but... the choice is up to you."

"There's still a way to break the deadlock? Senior Chengying, please teach this Junior quickly!"

Then, the chengying sword's voice rang in Nangong Lin's mind again, "As long as you give me your low-grade spirit treasure to devour, I might be able to help you escape this trap..."

"My low-grade spirit treasure?"

Nangong Lin subconsciously looked at the twenty-four hour blood leaking jade he was wearing; this low-grade spirit treasure held extraordinary meaning for him.

It wasn't just a simple low-grade spirit treasure; it was a token given to him by his mute Dao Companion.

This item not only allowed him to remember her through it but was also the key to whether he could reunite with his beloved in the future.

For such an important item, Nangong Lin was naturally unwilling to give it up.

He sent a voice transmission: "Senior Chengying, this item is of vital importance to me. Please, Senior, give me another way."

"Fine, I will give you another choice."

"The female cultivator next to you—kill her, take out the Legacy she has already absorbed, and give it to me."

"I can also help you break through the encirclement!"

The female cultivator the chengying sword referred to was naturally Xiao Yiyi. When the Legacy of the Nine-star Sword Emperor was collected by her, it had already entered her body.

Unless she was killed, there was no other way to retrieve the Legacy.

Nangong Lin slowly looked at Xiao Yiyi, and she also happened to lift her head slightly, her gaze meeting his.

"Don't worry, her injuries are extremely severe, and she has completely lost the power to resist. She is no match for you at all."

"Think carefully! She is just an unrelated, dispensable stranger. No one will know if she dies here."

The chengying sword's voice echoed repeatedly in his mind, throwing Nangong Lin's thoughts into chaos.

On one side was someone who had, in a sense, saved him; on the other was the only token from his beloved.

Nangong Lin was in inner agony, his vision gradually blurring.

The sword in his hand trembled slightly, and his footsteps gradually moved uncontrollably toward Xiao Yiyi, his expression extremely solemn... "Fellow Daoist Nangong, what's wrong with you..."

Xiao Yiyi spoke weakly, her voice filled with confusion and a hint of unease.

"Disciple, what are you doing?"

Just as Nangong Lin was about to reach Xiao Yiyi, he suddenly stopped.

Every moment spent with his mute Dao Companion, every affectionate look, and every warm, healing smile flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

Nangong Lin fell into hesitation again.

But at this moment of life and death, the crisis before him allowed for no more hesitation.

"Fine! It's decided!"

The discussion among those Sword Emperors was quick; after a dozen breaths, it was finished, and their gazes all turned toward this side.

Finally, Nangong Lin made his choice.

He slowly took out the twenty-four hour blood leaking jade, his voice carrying a bit of trembling and deep reluctance.

"Senior Chengying, please act!"

"Oh? You are willing to give up this item?"

"Yes. Although I am reluctant to part with it, I will definitely not be an ungrateful person!"

Nangong Lin's gaze was firm, his expression incredibly serious.

But in the next moment, the chengying sword—no, wait, it should be the Fellow Countryman Gu Xinyan inside the chengying sword—nodded in satisfaction.

"You passed!"

"I acknowledge you!"

In an instant, a majestic and peerless Sword Intent soared into the sky.

[Ding! Host information is as follows:]

[Host: Gu Xinyan]

[Sword Body Grade: Medium Grade Spirit Treasure]

[Sword Body Experience: 43,181/100,000,000]

"I'm sorry, I am actually a Medium Grade Spirit Treasure!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The chengying sword swept out, its sword power exerted to the limit, its might comparable to a Six-star Sword Emperor!

Within moments, the four Sword Emperors all fell... Fellow Countryman Gu Xinyan's current situation ended, and Li Jinian looked toward the next Fellow Countryman's perspective...