Outside the hall, on the plaza, the four hall masters of Dao Sect had already gathered with their respective core disciples, while the other elite disciples of Taiqing Palace, led by the Willow Skirt Beauty from before, were also outside the hall.
At this moment, the disciples of both factions had already begun to spar, but their strength was suppressed to around the Five Yuan Nirvana Realm, just a friendly exchange to avoid serious injury. The relationship between the two factions was not bad to begin with, and now there was even talk of an alliance, so naturally, they couldn't make too much of a scene.
As the doors of the main hall opened, Ying Xuanzi and the Taiqing Palace Master were the first to walk out, but it could be vaguely seen that Ying Xuanzi had a hint of apology in his eyes when he looked at the Taiqing Palace Master.
Ying Huanhuan's sudden challenge to Ling Qingzhu was something Ying Xuanzi had not expected. As the saying goes, a guest should be treated with respect, and Ying Huanhuan's actions were somewhat impolite.
After Ying Xuanzi and the Taiqing Palace Master took their seats on the chairs specially prepared for them on the plaza, the Taiqing Palace Master looked at Ying Huanhuan, who was actively walking towards the plaza, then turned her head to look at Ling Qingzhu, whose eyes had never left Ying Huanhuan, and sighed inwardly before speaking.
"Today's competition is aimed at mutual exchange and discussion of martial arts. Let's not harm the harmony, so let's all compete in the Five Yuan Realm."
After hearing the Taiqing Palace Master's words, Ying Xuanzi couldn't help but look at her gratefully. As the host, it would be a bit excessive for him to make such a request, but if they didn't compete in this way, Ying Huanhuan would probably lose very badly.
The Taiqing Palace Master was obviously aware of this. If Ying Huanhuan was directly defeated miserably, it would undoubtedly harm the harmony between the two sides and cause conflicts between the disciples.
The Taiqing Palace Master heard this and glanced at Lin Xuan, who was sitting there, staring intently at the two women in the arena, and then looked at Ying Huanhuan and Ling Qingzhu, who were fighting for jealousy, and couldn't help but feel a burst of helplessness in her heart.
Why bother? That person clearly has no romantic feelings in his heart. In the end, these two foolish girls are sinking deeper and deeper!
In the arena, Ying Huanhuan, dressed in a long azure dress, and Ling Qingzhu, dressed in a plain dress and holding a sword, stood facing each other.
"Clang!"
Ling Qingzhu took the lead in drawing her sword, pointing it diagonally at the ground, her clear, cold eyes fixed on Ying Huanhuan in front of her.
As Ying Huanhuan's hostility towards her grew stronger, Ling Qingzhu could vaguely feel that something seemed to be emerging from within Ying Huanhuan's body, so Ling Qingzhu, who was extremely curious, was already a little impatient.
However, looking at the Pure Origin Treasure of the Taiqing Palace's town sword in Ling Qingzhu's hand, Ying Huanhuan turned her head to look at Lin Xuan, who was standing outside the arena, looking at them seriously, and said to Lin Xuan affectionately with a sweet smile.
"Senior Brother, can you lend me your zither for a while?"
The girl's sincere eyes shattered the hearts of many Dao Sect disciples on the spot, but when they saw that the 'rival in love' was actually the Sword Saint, they all showed a bit of reverence.
That was the peerless genius who defeated the three Yuan Gate Sect Leaders with a single sword in the Ancient Battlefield. If it was him, then they could only offer their blessings, after all, they really couldn't compete.
Ling Qingzhu looked at Ying Huanhuan's actions, her clear eyes narrowed slightly, and her gaze couldn't help but turn to Lin Xuan. Immediately afterward, her pupils gradually contracted, because not only did Lin Xuan not refuse, but he didn't even hesitate at all, and directly took out the Heavenly Phoenix Zither and lent it to Ying Huanhuan.
Under normal circumstances, Spiritual Treasures cannot be shared. Spiritual Treasures have spirits, especially Pure Origin Treasures, unless the Spiritual Treasure has been refined by both people, or at least they have both tried to refine it and control it.
In fact, the Heavenly Phoenix Zither still belongs to an unowned object. Ying Huanhuan can control it because she has practiced for a long time. Lin Xuan purely relies on his own Wu Dao, as well as the Vermilion Bird inheritance in his body, to perfectly control the Heavenly Phoenix Spirit in the Heavenly Phoenix Zither without refining it.
However, Ling Qingzhu didn't know this, so when she saw Ying Huanhuan take the Heavenly Phoenix Zither and was able to control it skillfully, she was even more shocked, and she felt even more puzzled about the relationship between Ying Huanhuan and Lin Xuan.
Staring at the Heavenly Phoenix Zither in Ying Huanhuan's hand, strands of clear Qi gradually escaped from the Taiqing Sword in Ling Qingzhu's hand, circling around the sword, and finally including Ling Qingzhu herself.
Ying Huanhuan looked at Ling Qingzhu's movements, and her face gradually became serious. Even if her strength was suppressed in the Five Yuan Nirvana Realm, because her own strength was far inferior to Ling Qingzhu, she still did not have an advantage in the control of Pure Origin Treasures.
However, the next moment, a bright smile appeared on Ying Huanhuan's face, and she turned her head to look at Lin Xuan, even playfully winking at the latter.
Immediately afterward, in the puzzled gazes of Ying Xuanzi, the Taiqing Palace Master, and others, Ying Huanhuan gently plucked the fiery red ancient zither with her jade hands.
"Ree!"
A clear Phoenix Cries in the Nine Heavens resounded through the clouds, and then, everyone saw a phantom of a fiery red divine bird, a phoenix, flying out of the fiery red ancient zither, circling above Ying Huanhuan's head.
"This is?"
Ying Xuanzi was stunned as he looked at the Heavenly Phoenix Spirit above Ying Huanhuan's head, but the Taiqing Palace Master on the side quickly understood and said softly.
"Sword Saint is indeed powerful, able to tame this Heavenly Phoenix Spirit!"
Clearly, with Ying Huanhuan's strength, she couldn't summon the unrefined Heavenly Phoenix Spirit. So, even with the Heavenly Phoenix Zither in hand, it would be very difficult for her to contend with Ling Qingzhu, who also wielded a Pure Origin Treasure.
This is because, for Ying Huanhuan, although the Heavenly Phoenix Zither was powerful, it placed a great deal of pressure on her. After all, she wasn't the owner of the Heavenly Phoenix Zither, and it wasn't easy to activate its power. Ling Qingzhu, on the other hand, had already refined and controlled the Taiqing Sword in her hand.
But now, with the help of the Heavenly Phoenix Spirit, Ying Huanhuan had a certain advantage in terms of Spiritual Treasures, which could almost offset Ling Qingzhu's advantage in cultivation. After all, higher cultivation meant stronger control and application of Origin Power.
In other words, right now, with both of them suppressing their strength to the Five Yuan Nirvana Realm, there were no other factors influencing Ying Huanhuan and Ling Qingzhu. It was purely a contest of their understanding and application of martial arts.
"Just a coincidence."
Lin Xuan replied softly, his gaze fixed on Ling Qingzhu and Ying Huanhuan. He was curious to see what level of mystical realm Ling Qingzhu's application of the Supreme Force could reach, and how superb Ying Huanhuan's zither skills were.
Outside the arena, many Dao Sect disciples looked at the divine bird phoenix above Ying Huanhuan's head and couldn't help but exclaim. Most of the disciples had heard of the Heavenly Phoenix Zither, the Heaven Hall's treasure.
In comparison, the faces of the Taiqing Palace disciples were a little more serious. However, they were very confident in Ling Qingzhu.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Ling Qingzhu withdrew her gaze and looked at Ying Huanhuan again, the fighting spirit in her eyes becoming more and more high-spirited.
With a shake of the Taiqing Sword in her hand, Ling Qingzhu raised her fair hand, and a Sword Qi that seemed to have no energy fluctuation was waved out from the blade, heading straight for Ying Huanhuan.
This alone made Lin Xuan's eyes light up, staring intently at the Sword in Ling Qingzhu's hand. The latter's application of the Supreme Force was no less than his, but the two people's understanding of the Supreme Force was completely different.
Faced with Ling Qingzhu's seemingly ordinary and unthreatening Sword, a special feeling welled up in Ying Huanhuan's heart. Immediately afterward, she raised her head and gently plucked the strings, and the next moment, a crisp zither sound echoed in everyone's ears.
At the same time, the divine bird phoenix above Ying Huanhuan's head also raised its neck and cried out.
"Chirp!"
In the crisp cry of the phoenix, a scarlet sound wave rippled out, attacking the Sword Qi.
"Boom!"
The Sword Qi and the sound wave collided in space, erupting a remarkable energy fluctuation, causing the faces of the surrounding spectators to be shocked, because the power of the two people's casual strike was enough to defeat ordinary Four Yuan Nirvana Realm experts!
However, what surprised Wu Dao, Qi Lei and other Life Profound Realm experts was that Ling Qingzhu's strike, whose specific power could not be seen through, was actually completely blocked by Ying Huanhuan's sound wave. It seemed that she could detect the other party's fluctuations.
"Hiss, could it be that Senior Sister Huanhuan can discern the other party's attacks!"
Lin Dong looked at this strange scene and couldn't help but gasp. If it were him, he would definitely use his full strength to directly shatter the Sword Qi. It was absolutely impossible to perfectly defend against it, controlling the power just right, not a bit stronger or weaker.
"Nonsense, why do you think Sword Saint would have saved her in the first place? That's Ice Master, whose strength was only below my old master and the Otherworldly Demon Emperor back then. Even if her true spirit hasn't awakened yet, her combat talent is still there!"
Yan's somewhat irritable voice sounded in Lin Dong's heart, causing Lin Dong's face to change slightly. He widened his eyes and looked at the girl with the fiery red divine bird circling above her head, whose temper even seemed to have become a little fiery. He then looked at the Young Clan Leader sitting there, staring intently at the competition, and couldn't help but shrink his neck, asking in a low voice in his heart.
"Yan, you wouldn't be mistaken, would you? This is the Ice Beauty, Ice Master, you told me about before? With this temper, it's more like Flame Master!"
"You ask me, who am I going to ask? Besides, don't you know what kind of temper your Lin Ke'er has? That thing you humans call love, who knows what kind of magic it has. I hope Ice Master's temper will be better after her true spirit recovers, otherwise, I'll be in trouble!"
Staring at the girl in the arena, sitting cross-legged on the fiery red ancient zither, surrounded by scarlet light, Yan only felt that the second half of his spiritual life was a dark abyss.
At this moment, Lin Xuan's pupils suddenly shrank slightly, and he immediately sat up straight, staring unblinkingly at Ying Huanhuan's ten fingers pressing on the strings.
Under Lin Xuan's gaze, Ying Huanhuan's ten fingers were constantly plucking the strings, even leaving behind afterimages. Under Ying Huanhuan's ten fingers plucking, sounds that seemed like the chirping of various spiritual birds echoed in everyone's ears along with the zither music.
"Senior Sister Ling, be careful!"
The girl's clear shout, like the long cry of a divine bird, actually blended with the zither music. Immediately afterward, countless large and small illusory images of spiritual birds constantly emerged in the air, flying around the huge phoenix divine bird in the middle.
Above the cries of countless spirit birds, the phoenix divine bird also began to accelerate its circling. As its speed continuously increased, it faintly seemed to be transforming into a vortex of fiery-red flames.
Ling Qingzhu's willow brows gradually furrowed, and her jade hand gripping the sword tightened. The power within her body continuously gathered on the long sword. The flames stirred up by the divine bird's circling gave Ling Qingzhu a familiar feeling, like the aura of the Nirvana Fire she had experienced during her Nirvana Tribulation, but there was a difference.
"Chirp!"
From the Taiqing Sword, bursts of soft chirping sounds emanated. Streams of special pure Qi were continuously released from the sword's edge. Behind Ling Qingzhu, they gradually converged into an elegant Azure Lotus. The Azure Lotus exuded an aura of transcendence, yet it possessed a detached intent that kept all laws at bay.
The Taiqing Palace Master gazed at the massive divine bird above Ying Huanhuan's head, her eyes also carrying a hint of amazement, and couldn't help but praise.
"Ying Sect Leader is truly blessed. This move of Huanhuan, I'm afraid she comprehended it from the Swordplay taught by the Sword Saint? Such talent is truly enviable!"
Not to mention the Taiqing Palace Master, even Lin Xuan himself was somewhat surprised. He naturally knew this piece, called Hundred Birds Worshiping the Phoenix. He inevitably brought in some of the aura of the Feathered Sovereign when playing it because he possessed the Vermilion Bird bloodline inheritance. However, he did not expect that Ying Huanhuan would be able to comprehend this move from it.
Not only was Ying Huanhuan's zither music surprising, but even Ling Qingzhu's sword, that special application of the Supreme Force, reminded Lin Xuan of when he fought Ling Qingzhu. He had used Sword Qi to invade her body, hindering the circulation of Origin Power within Ling Qingzhu, thereby defeating her.
And now, Ling Qingzhu's sword was clearly created to target him. It could prevent the invasion of external forces such as Sword Qi, thereby ensuring the circulation of Origin Power within.
Ying Xuanzi, who was on the side, heard this, and the smile on his face became even more pronounced. After glancing at Lin Xuan, he responded with a chuckle.
"Not at all, not at all. Ling Qingzhu is even more talented, actually able to cultivate the Taiqing Swordplay to such a transcendent realm. It's truly amazing!"
While Ying Xuanzi and the Taiqing Palace Master were chatting and laughing, the auras on the two women in the arena also condensed to their peak. In the next moment, a shocking Phoenix cry resounded.
"Screech!"
"Hundred Birds Worshiping the Phoenix, Phoenix Cries in the Nine Heavens!"
Under Ying Huanhuan's ten fingers, the zither strings vibrated rapidly. The divine bird phoenix above her head instantly soared into the sky. A high-pitched Phoenix cry rang out, and then, countless spirit birds flapped their wings and flew towards Ling Qingzhu.
Facing the overwhelming phantom images of spirit birds flying towards her, Ling Qingzhu's clear eyes slightly narrowed. Then, she waved the long sword in her hand and shouted.
"Taiqing Swordplay!"
That otherworldly and independent Azure Lotus flew towards the flock of spirit birds at a seemingly very slow speed, but in the blink of an eye, it arrived in front of the flock of birds.
The seemingly delicate Azure Lotus stood horizontally in the air, like a serene and elegant lotus flower that was detached from the world, leisurely blooming. However, it prevented the flock of birds from advancing an inch. Streams of pure Qi rippled from the Azure Lotus, like gentle waves of emerald, and wherever they passed, they silently eliminated all the approaching birds in the air.
That astonishing power caused everyone's gaze to congeal.