Chapter 1096: Another Damn Treasure

Lu Caiwei's movements were as swift as a ghost, as fast as thunder!

One moment she was speaking, and the next, she suddenly launched a sneak attack. Her despicable tactics immediately incited the wrath of the surrounding disciples, who erupted in a torrent of curses!

"Shameless!"

"Senior Sister Zhongli, be careful!"

"How could someone like this have once been one of the Three Talents of the Southern Region alongside Senior Sister Zhongli? She has strength but no character, truly tarnishing the reputation of the Three Talents!"

"What a vicious woman!"

The entire arena was in shock, and even the few elders who had appeared were visibly alarmed.

As Lu Caiwei was about to succeed in her sneak attack, everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Zhongli Meng, however, remained as composed as ever, her toes lightly tapping the ground.

In an instant, she floated backward like a feather, her graceful and agile movements stunning everyone around her.

Lu Caiwei was momentarily stunned, but her attacks became even more vicious!

Zhongli Meng calmly drew her sword, her wrist flicking lightly, and several sword qi erupted, forming a barrier between the two.

With a series of skillful moves, she deflected the lethal strikes, causing the surrounding elders and disciples to beam with excitement!

"Is that the Cloud-Treading Step?"

"And the Cangyun Sword Technique!?"

"Chief Zhongli is truly a prodigy! In just a few days, she has already mastered the secret techniques of our Cangyun Heavenly Palace to a small degree!"

"These two techniques are both offensive and defensive. Although Chief Zhongli's cultivation is still lacking, her mastery of these two skills means she is already invincible below the Heavenly Rank. Even against a Heavenly Rank opponent, she can hold her own for a few moves!"

"Senior Sister Zhongli is truly a once-in-a-millennium genius!"

"Senior Sister, you're amazing!"

A sharp cry of surprise rang out.

Lu Caiwei, who had been pressing forward with her attacks, suddenly paused.

The cheers and praises were like a demonic chant to her ears, instantly fueling her jealousy.

What was even more infuriating was that everything they said was true!

Despite launching several attacks, she had failed to gain the upper hand. Instead, Zhongli Meng had stolen the spotlight. How could she tolerate this?

Suddenly!

A surge of malevolent energy erupted from Lu Caiwei's body, and a dark mist enveloped her!

In the blink of an eye, her cultivation soared to the Heavenly Rank!

The dark mist around her dispersed, and a sword suddenly appeared, wrapped in a dense, ominous aura, its cold gleam terrifying to behold.

Instantly, a chilling cold swept through the training grounds.

Everyone's eyes were locked onto the extraordinary willow-leaf sword, and a sense of impending doom washed over them. The cheers abruptly ceased.

The elders and thousands of disciples were furious, cursing loudly!

"Despicable!"

"She promised to suppress her cultivation, but she went back on her word!"

But no matter how much they cursed, Lu Caiwei paid no heed. With a cold expression, she charged forward with her sword!

The sword's gleam was terrifying, and Zhongli Meng's heart skipped a beat.

She retreated several steps, but she couldn't avoid the black sword. The ominous dark energy easily shattered her Dao power, and the sword was almost upon her!

Facing a Heavenly Rank opponent, she was clearly outmatched.

A sense of immense danger surged in Zhongli Meng's heart, and she decisively swung her sword to intercept.

The moment the two swords clashed.

Her sword was instantly shattered, as fragile as rotten wood!

"Crack!"

The crisp sound startled Zhongli Meng, her expression darkening, and the entire arena was stunned.

But the black sword showed no signs of stopping, thrusting straight toward her face!

If this sword struck, not only would her beauty be ruined, but she might also die on the spot!

In this moment of extreme crisis!

Zhongli Meng quickly bent her waist backward, and the black sword grazed her forehead. A chilling cold brushed past her hair as the two figures flew past each other.

"Swish!"

A soft sound echoed, and a strand of black hair floated down to the training grounds.

The two women stood facing each other, east and west.

Though they seemed evenly matched, their expressions were worlds apart!

Zhongli Meng looked at the broken sword in her hand, her face slightly pale. Disbelief shone in her eyes, and she didn't even bother to tidy her slightly disheveled hair.

Her sword was a high-grade Saint-level treasure.

How could it have been shattered so easily in just one clash?

The black sword in Lu Caiwei's hand...

Was it a Heavenly Rank weapon!?

Seeing the shock on Zhongli Meng's face, the surrounding elders and disciples were also filled with astonishment!

The earlier excitement had now been replaced by overwhelming shock. Thousands of people stood frozen, their faces pale as they stared at the center of the training grounds.

No matter how much anger and disdain they had felt earlier, no one dared to speak now. Even the courage to cheer for Zhongli Meng had suddenly vanished.

Especially when they saw the black sword, a sense of awe filled everyone's eyes.

A Heavenly Rank sword...

That was a legendary weapon, a treasure revered by any sect!

Lu Caiwei already had Heavenly Rank cultivation, and now she possessed such a treasure.

What kind of fortune had she encountered!?

Lu Caiwei was indeed despicable and shameless, but she was terrifyingly strong!

With Heavenly Rank cultivation and such a divine weapon, she was practically invincible in today's Heavenly Palace training grounds!

Even if Zhongli Meng was a prodigy, there was no way she could win now.

The surroundings fell into a deathly silence.

Both the elders and disciples clenched their fists in frustration.

Seeing the fear in everyone's eyes, Lu Caiwei felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. Wherever her gaze fell, no one dared to meet her eyes. Even with thousands of Cangyun Heavenly Palace disciples present, they were all like ants to her.

This was the feeling of being a powerhouse.

This was the glory she had always dreamed of!

Lu Caiwei finally experienced the feeling of being a true powerhouse. In her eyes, no one else mattered. Even with so many elders present, she was confident she could take them all on.

She threw her head back and laughed, her cold, beautiful face trembling with glee!

"Hahaha!!!"

"So this is the chief disciple of your Cangyun Heavenly Palace? It seems she's nothing special! From today onward, the name Zhongli Meng will no longer be among the Two Talents of the Southern Region!"

Her arrogant laughter echoed, and the elders and disciples were filled with rage!

If the palace master and the other elders were here, how could a junior like Lu Caiwei dare to act so recklessly!?

But the sect leader and the elders had gone to the Central Continent to attend a grand event. The elders left behind were not particularly strong, mostly older members of the Heavenly Palace who handled daily affairs.

The strongest among them was Zhongli Meng.

Now, even Zhongli Meng was being forced to retreat step by step. Even if they wanted to help, they were powerless to do so!

A sense of despair spread across everyone's faces.

After a few moments of maniacal laughter, still no one made a move.

Having intimidated the entire crowd, Lu Caiwei's eyes grew even more ruthless.

Zhongli Meng's sword was broken, so by all accounts, the match was over. But Lu Caiwei couldn't stand that flawless face. A small advantage wasn't enough to wash away the humiliation she had suffered recently!

She wanted Zhongli Meng to disappear, to make the entire Southern Li Heavenly Region tremble in fear!

Gripping her sword tightly, Lu Caiwei charged forward again, her killing intent fully unleashed.

In an instant!

A black streak of light flashed across the training grounds, and a chilling cold filled the air!

The terrifying killing intent was overwhelming. This strike would decide life and death. Zhongli Meng only had a short sword—how could she possibly defend herself? It seemed she was about to meet her end here.

The elders and a few Heavenly Palace disciples were horrified. Without hesitation, they threw their swords toward Zhongli Meng!

"Chief, catch the sword!"

"Senior Sister, catch the sword!"

But no matter what Saint-level swords they threw, they were all swept aside by Lu Caiwei. With a single wave of the black sword, broken blades littered the ground like chopped vegetables!

"Crack!"

Several crisp sounds rang out, and the shattered remains of the swords fell to the ground like rubble!

"This!"

"How is this possible!?"

"Chief Zhongli, be careful!!!"

The onlookers were frantic, shouting in desperation.

As the black sword closed in on Zhongli Meng, the hearts of everyone in the Heavenly Palace were in their throats. They felt utterly powerless, only able to shout in desperation.

Zhongli Meng had no room to retreat, and the hearts of thousands were hanging by a thread!

Just as the black sword was about to strike...

In the moment between life and death...

Zhongli Meng, in her desperation, suddenly had a flash of insight!

She still had another sword in her storage ring!

That sword originally belonged to Yi Feng. Although it wasn't as good as her Heavenly Palace sword, it was still a Saint-level weapon. With no other options, she had no choice but to use it.

At the very least, having a sword in hand was better than nothing.

It might be able to block some of the terrifying sword qi from the black sword.

After the earlier clash, Zhongli Meng didn't dare to be overconfident. She couldn't afford to hesitate for even a moment. She immediately drew the sword and prepared to block!

At the same time, she channeled all her Dao power!

The moment the two swords clashed, a clear, crisp sound rang out!

"Crack!"

The sound was expected.

But what shattered was the black sword!

In just one clash, it was the black sword that proved to be fragile!?

Both women were momentarily stunned, as if they couldn't believe what had just happened. One held a broken sword, while the other held an ordinary-looking sword. Both were completely dumbfounded!

Before they could even take a closer look.

Lu Caiwei, her face filled with shock, was instantly swept by the sword's aura. Even though she instinctively tried to block with her broken sword, she couldn't withstand the relentless sword qi!

In the blink of an eye, her body was covered in wounds, like a fishing net.

The cold, ruthless beauty from moments ago was now a disheveled mess, her clothes in tatters and her hair a tangled mess. She could only gasp for breath!

"Ha... ha..."

She barely managed to stand for three seconds.

Then, with a "wah," Lu Caiwei spat out a mouthful of blood!

The black sword was connected to her soul, allowing her to unleash immense power. It also allowed her to borrow demonic energy, making it even more powerful than other Heavenly Rank weapons. It could even grow infinitely!

But now...

Today, this divine weapon had been destroyed, and she was severely injured.

To be able to easily shatter the demonic sword, that sword must be at least a top-tier Heavenly Rank weapon. How could Zhongli Meng possess such a terrifying sword!?

Struggling to stand, Lu Caiwei's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Her trembling gaze fixed on the broken sword in her hand, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets!

"How is this possible...!?"

She had never imagined that the black sword could be broken!

Her instinctive attempt to block with the broken sword had only worsened her injuries. She was now almost completely incapacitated!

Even though the surroundings were silent, with thousands of people standing like statues, she could feel their gazes on her. Her face burned with shame.

But she had no time to dwell on that!

Her eyes snapped up, and she stared intently at the sword in Zhongli Meng's hand.

It looked like an ordinary sword.

But now, it sent a chill down her spine!

In that brief moment, she had experienced the most terrifying sword intent of her life. Even though the sword looked plain, it had already made her tremble with fear.

Trembling...

Shivering.

Fear!

A fear she had never felt before began to grow in her heart. The confident, arrogant woman who had stood above the clouds now felt as if she had been plunged into a freezing hell. Her lips turned blue with terror!

The more she looked, the more afraid she became. At the same time, an even more twisted jealousy began to grow in her heart. Lu Caiwei's eyes turned bloodshot, filled with rage and resentment!

Why...

Why couldn't even the demonic inheritance compare to this sword?

Why did this bitch also have such a treasure!?

Wasn't Zhongli Meng supposed to be an easy target? How did she end up with another damn treasure protecting her!?

The demonic shadow had assured her, and she had believed it.

But now, the more she looked, the angrier she became. She felt deceived and used by the demonic shadow. She wanted to drag it out and demand answers, and maybe curse the demon race's ancestors for eighteen generations!

But as she stared at that sword, her mind was in chaos. She had lost all confidence, and the fear of death was right before her!

In her mind.

A voice kept telling her...

If that sword struck again, she would surely die!

"Whoosh..."

A cold breeze swept past, sending a chill down her spine!

Lu Caiwei's heart clenched, and she gritted her teeth, fleeing in panic.

"Swish!!!"

The sea of clouds was instantly parted, and the explosive speed created a howling wind.

Thousands of disciples were left dumbfounded. By the time they realized what had happened, all they saw was a rift in the sea of clouds and the roaring wind.

The elders were left with their beards fluttering in the wind, utterly bewildered.