The spar between Sushang and Jingliu ended very quickly.
Sushang's turn: Activated Ultimate, Shape of Taixu — Phoenix, Manifest.
Jingliu's turn: Activated Spectral Transmigration state, one Sword Basic Attack, followed by a normal strike.
Sushang failed to solo the BOSS. Total Score: 0.
Forget about breaking the defense; she didn't even touch the hem of the BOSS's clothes.
The sword edge stopped half an inch from Sushang's throat. Jingliu gazed at the brown-haired girl before her.
The stupidity, clear as stream water flowing in her bright apricot eyes, was gradually covered by shock, explosion, blankness, and befuddlement.
Jingliu fell into silence.
Something seemed a bit off.
This girl... is she really 'Sister Sushang'?
If she is, Jingliu could only say that Sushang's acting skills were truly exquisite, portraying the flaws of a novice's swordsmanship in a lifelike manner, and her reaction to being frightened was acted out to perfection!
And the Shape of Taixu just now... Jingliu was certain it was distinctly different from the Taixu she felt last time; they were two realms far apart.
As for the Shape, she had to admire Sister Sushang. To mold the Phoenix Shape into that appearance... it would be very difficult for her to act that out even if she tried.
Thinking that Sushang hadn't revealed a trace of abnormality over the past decades, this required vivid and realistic acting skills, so logically it did make sense.
"Sister Sushang, we agreed to spar when we met again. Since you deliberately sought me out, why did you not draw your sword?"
Not feeling that her identity was exposed, Jingliu continued to pretend to be young.
"..."
The frost trembled and shook. Sushang opened her eyes.
The brown-haired girl remained stiff in her thrusting posture, the tips of her hair congealed with fine ice crystals, her mouth opening wide.
I did draw it!
I even used my Ultimate directly!
What is this situation!?
She didn't even see clearly when the opponent raised her sword. Her vision was filled by pale blue moonlight. She watched helplessly as her own Shape of Taixu froze within the moonlight, shattering into sky-filling ice sand.
When that crescent-shaped ice blade approached, the invisible pressure made her breath short. Even the sensation of pain was stripped away, leaving only the soul-shuddering cold seeping from the depths of her marrow.
Because she had encountered an opponent after a long time, Jingliu's heart surged with excitement, so she didn't warm up. Instead, she 'greeted' her with a bit of seriousness.
One sword. It completely shifted Sushang's mentality from 'I am very brave' to 'I am panicking like crazy'.
If this person hadn't stopped in time, Sushang felt she would already be gone—the kind where the corpse directly turns into an ice sculpture!
Even now, she tried to step back, but the ground within a ten-meter radius was covered in ice cracks. Her boot soles had been welded to the ice layer at some point.
Sushang's Adam's apple moved. The saliva she swallowed seemed to carry a few degrees of chill.
She almost died!
Mother was right. With her meager 'three-legged cat' skills, she was still far off. Outside, she must never get carried away; she must be humble and cautious.
Sushang somewhat understood the term 'difference between Heaven and Abyss'.
"Ptu, ptu!"
Sushang spat out the ice chips in her mouth, touching her intact body everywhere. She looked at Jingliu with fear and trembling, carefully probing:
"You... who exactly are you? I don't know you!!!"
Sushang's mentality collapsed, feeling a bit aggrieved. She truly didn't know the white-haired beauty in front of her.
And the other party called her 'Sister'?
On the Xianzhou, unless one had absolute confidence in their age, one wouldn't address someone like that.
Younger than her, yet so powerful, with swordsmanship that was outstanding and skills that championed over the crowd... just where did this genius swordswoman come from?
Hearing this, Jingliu froze in place, bowing her head in thought. Her gaze glanced at the Cloud Knight soldiers lying on the ground, who were about to go stupid from shock, and her icy brows twitched slightly.
Her cherry lips parted slightly, and she let out a voice that was both helpless and seemingly depressed:
"Forget it. Since Sister Sushang does not wish to compete this time, then we shall spar next time. Hurry and take those two for medical treatment. Farewell."
Jingliu flicked her finger, shattering the ice blade in her hand. She turned and walked away, stepping over the floor covered in Mara-struck corpses.
Was it because Cloud Knights were present that she didn't want to expose herself?
Or was it that the brown-haired girl before her eyes was simply not the 'Sister Sushang' she met before?
The gap was truly too large—the kind that couldn't be acted out!
It was just like asking a top NBA star to perform Chicken Brother's singing, dancing, and rap basketball moves; absolutely no one could imitate it perfectly.
Movements carved into the marrow and formed into muscle instinct—trying to deliberately act 'bad' was harder than acting 'good'.
Therefore, Jingliu tended to believe the second possibility more in her heart.
But the first possibility couldn't be ruled out either.
Sushang... just what kind of person was she?
She decided to go back and investigate further.
"...Ah, hey?"
Stunned for a long while, Sushang reached out to hail the receding back: "Explain it to me, will you?"
Almost chopped me to death with one sword?
And just left like that?
And 'spar next time'... does she still want to chop me?
No, with such a huge gap, what is there to spar about?
Even Mother couldn't win if she came, right!?
"What kind of business is this?"
Little Pillow looked like she wanted to cry but had no tears. Shivering, she shook off the ice slag and limped over to pick up the Xuanyuan Sword that had been knocked down by the sword qi.
"Old partner, it was so dangerous just now and you didn't manifest? Do you have a spirit or not?"
The two Cloud Knights lying on the ground, who had been casually saved by Jingliu, looked at the girl talking to her sword and felt she looked a bit not-so-bright.
On the road back to the Realm-Keeping Commission's public corridor.
"Clothes and shoes countless to see... Ancient costumes and fashion must match thee... Smile a bit and jump with glee..."
Caelus had just recorded the 'Happy Girl' song sung by Little March and set it as his ringtone when his phone suddenly vibrated. A call was coming in.
Glancing at the caller ID, Caelus's expression changed. He answered immediately, speaking in a tone that was enthusiastic, humble, yet carried a trace of ruthlessness.
"Hello, Big Brother? Do you have a mission for us? Once the reward is in place, the General gets wasted!"
"Is there a possibility that I am the General?"
The chuckling tone was enough to demonstrate Jing Yuan's skill in qi cultivation and patience.
Caelus laughed embarrassedly: "Big Brother really overpraises me, I'm not that important."
"...?"
This time, Jing Yuan couldn't maintain his cultivation; his qi moved. Even he found it difficult to keep up with the brain circuit of this crazy gray-hair.
"Worthy brother... For this call, there is a matter I wish to ask you."
Silent for two seconds, Jing Yuan gave a light cough, his voice remaining gentle.
The Divine Foresight General had always been good at interacting with people. Leaving aside the relationship between Caelus and Dan Heng, there was nothing inappropriate about the two addressing each other as friends or brothers. Caelus himself was quite interesting.
Keenly hearing Caelus's voice, Stelle, who was walking ahead pondering whether to buy a few sets of Xianzhou ancient costumes to wear, twitched her brows slightly. She slowed her pace to walk side-by-side with Caelus.
Her long hair, soft as gray wolf fur, leaned close to Caelus's ear, brushing against his cheek with a slight tickle.
"Big Brother, ask whatever you want. I guarantee I'll say everything I know, and say it exhaustively."
Caelus thumped Stelle's chest loudly.
"Did you previously encounter a white-haired woman with her eyes covered by black gauze?"
Jing Yuan's tone revealed no abnormality.
"Oh? A white-haired woman with black gauze... Could Big Brother be speaking of Jingliu?"
Caelus feigned contemplation, then spoke with surprise.
"...Correct, it is her. Do you know where she is at this moment?"
A heaviness added to Jing Yuan's voice.
"Well, about that, I don't know. However, I can find her. By the way, Big Brother, do you know Jingliu?"
Stelle's beautiful girl radar activated. She held Caelus-cub's hand, staring into those golden pupils, her left and right eyes clicking as she wildly tapped out Morse code.
Who is Jingliu?
The telepathy under physical contact allowed Caelus to read these three words plus a question mark from Stelle's eyes. Caelus pointed to the phone, signaling Stelle to listen to what Jing Yuan had to say.
The other side of the phone was silent for two seconds before the voice came again.
"I know her. She is my mentor who taught me my skills."
"What? So Jingliu is actually Big Brother's Master!"
Caelus spoke with awe and respect.
"En. When I was in the Cloud Knights, she was also my superior. She has left the Xianzhou for hundreds of years; I didn't expect her to actually return."
And at this current juncture where the Xianzhou was beset by crises.
This made it hard for Jing Yuan not to overthink things. The situation on the Xianzhou was getting messier and messier.
"Caelus, what did you and she talk about?"
The video only lasted until Caelus held Jingliu's hand and left the performance grounds. Jing Yuan wanted to know what happened after the two left.
"Talked about what... uh, this..."
Hearing Caelus's hem-and-hawing, extremely vague voice—which sounded like 'I have something to say, but I don't want to say it'—Jing Yuan's brows twitched slightly, yet his tone became even more relaxed.
"Does my Worthy Brother perhaps have some unspeakable difficulty?"
He switched the address back to 'Worthy Brother' to better match Caelus.
"Right now, it is indeed a bit inconvenient to say."
"Oh~?" Jing Yuan's voice was meaningful.
"Recently, the Stellaron erupted, and the Xianzhou is facing internal trouble and external aggression. I wonder if Worthy Brother could show some understanding for me, this Big Brother, and tell me Master Jingliu's whereabouts and your exchange?"
"Since Big Brother really wants to know... sigh, alright then!"
Caelus's tone seemed to fall into a struggle, and finally, he gritted his teeth.
"I am all ears."
Jing Yuan narrowed his eyes.
"Since it's come to this, I'll lay my cards on the table with you!"
Caelus smiled with simple and honest brilliance, speaking sincerely: "Jing Yuan, I've thought it over. From today on, let's address each other separately."
"I'll call you Big Brother, and you call me Grandmaster (Shigong)."
Crack!
The smiling expression on Jing Yuan's face seemed like plaster that had instantly solidified.
"What, did you say?"
"I'll call you Big Brother, and you call me Grandmaster."
Discarding the previous tone of a little brother facing a big brother, Caelus's tone at this moment was like a disciple facing his wife, possessing the demeanor of an elder.
"..."
Honestly speaking, Jing Yuan had the impulse to use the Lightning Lord on Caelus.
He definitely didn't believe Caelus's words. Jingliu, his Master, finding him a Grandmaster?
That wouldn't happen even if the Xianzhou sank!
"Caelus, this kind of joke isn't funny."
With his approachable personality, Jing Yuan felt that having a lively young man who loved to joke like Caelus by his side was quite nice.
But now that it involved his own Master, Jing Yuan felt it necessary to give a warning.
"I'm not joking. You don't believe me, Jing Yuan? I'll show you the evidence."
"?"
Hearing this, Jing Yuan was stunned: "Evidence?"
There was actually evidence?
"That's right. Add me as a friend, and I'll send you a few photos."
A few seconds after speaking, Caelus saw the friend request. After accepting it, Caelus sent Jing Yuan the photos taken when he was drinking with Jingliu at the Slanted Moon Pavilion and conducting the deal.
Three photos. A total of three sheets.
The first one was taken by Herta No. 5. A photo of Caelus and Jingliu drinking together under the moon. There were no intimate movements, yet it still silenced Jing Yuan.
He thought of the former High-Cloud Quintet.
In the second one, cracks exploded across the solidified plaster smile on Jing Yuan's face.
That was a photo of Jingliu inside the Slanted Moon Pavilion. The angle was tricky; there was no wardrobe malfunction, but it only showed half of her, revealing only a fragrant shoulder and the shadow of Jingliu's movement of taking off her innerwear.
The third one caused Jing Yuan's smiling expression to shatter completely, falling away to reveal the unprecedented terror beneath.
The photo showed the gray-haired young man—Caelus!
Caelus's palm held a black object. The photo only showed a part of it, but one could barely make out that it was a woman's intimate garment.
Most importantly, that exposed part and the strap exposed in the second photo—through detailed comparison, one could confirm they were the same one!
"Jing Yuan, I believe the Xianzhou has ways to determine the authenticity of these photos. If you don't believe me, go do an appraisal."
Caelus's voice came from the communication device, making Jing Yuan's brain buzz. He only felt that he was about to 'Moyu Shuang'—his mind turning to mush.
What Caelus said... was true!!!???
Jing Yuan's mentality gradually changed!
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