"Why don't you test those attacks on me instead?"
A clear voice resonated through the realm.
A burst of white light erupted in the distance, discharging a plentiful amount of holy energy.
The boundless holy energy engulfed the whole area and covered half of the sky.
Touheng squinted his eyes at the eruption of holy energy. As creatures who were naturally inclined to darkness, the demonic cultivators were displeased at the presence of this holy energy. However, some of the non-demonic black-robed cultivators were frowning too.
"Judging from the aura, it seems like those pretentious b*stards have arrived."
"But the voice doesn't sound familiar. Besides, when has anyone in the Holy Light Religion displayed such strong holy energy?"
The black-robed cultivators were unsure.
On the other hand, Nangong Huang, Murong Xuan, and Shang Qingxue were excited. They had seemingly thought of something.
"It's her!"
A silver-haired lady dressed in a set of elegant armor emerged from the majestic light.
Everywhere she went, a plentiful amount of light energy intertwined and manifested into dozens of holy white flames that paved a pathway of light for her entrance.
It was as if the holy flames were marking the arrival of a Maiden Sage!
Many were instantly bewitched by the lady's appearance.
"Oh my, what a beautiful person."
"How majestic! Could she be a goddess from heaven?"
"Who's that lady? Her aura is very extraordinary."
The cultivators were blown away by her presence. Even the outlawed sky-prides were moved by it.
The trio of Black Heaven Sect could not contain their excitement.
"It really is Lan Yu!"
"She's here. It looks like she has gotten a few folds stronger since her arrival at the Emperor Road."
"What a powerful aura. That is no doubt Lan Yu."
The lady was the newest-appointed Maiden Sage of the Holy Light Religion, who also happened to be Chu Kuangren's closest disciple of the Black Heaven Sect. It was Lan Yu!
Soon, many cultivators of the Holy Light Religion appeared behind Lan Yu.
Their entrances riled up the cultivators at the Ancient Lavish Cave.
"The Holy Light Religion! They're from the Holy Light Religion."
"The Holy Light Religion and the Dark Shadow Religion are the two major religious orthodoxies of Emperor's Road. They're said to be the most ancient of the archaic orthodoxies to date."
"The lady possesses a remarkable battle presence. Look! Even the Holy Bachelor Sage, an outlawed sky-pride, is standing behind her. I can't imagine this lady's status within the Holy Light Religion!"
Lan Yu's spectacular appearance and holy aura had become the focus of attention at the Ancient Lavish Cave.
Even the Sword Daoist, who was a man who had seen a lot of attractive ladies, was in awe.
"When did the Holy Light Religion have someone like you? Bai Tianxing, do you care to explain all of it?"
Bai Tianxing lightly chuckled and said, "She's the newly-appointed Maiden Sage of the Holy Light Religion."
"The Holy Light Religion has lacked a Maiden Sage for many years, but it looks like you've finally filled the spot. However, why are you interfering in this affair?"
The Sword Daoist asked calmly.
Bai Tianxing was unsure too.
Lan Yu did not care to elaborate. She merely stared at the Sword Daoist and uttered, "If you wish to hurt them, you'll have to get past me."
The Black Heaven Sect was Chu Kuangren's orthodoxy, and it was also her home.
Nangong Huang, Murong Xuan, and Shang Qingxue were like a family to her. How could she sit back and watch the Sword Daoist hurt them?
"Well, it seems like you're determined to interfere in our issue."
The Sword Daoist frowned.
Although Lan Yu's remarkable beauty had caught him off guard, it was not enough for the Sword Daoist to show them mercy.
"Make your move!" Lan Yu said firmly.
"Let's see what the Holy Maiden Sage is made of."
The Sword Daoist began to unleash a boundless wave of domineering sword qi, and all the swords in the vicinity began to tremble uncontrollably.
"As I've said, I'll let them live if they can survive three of my sword strikes."
"And since you wish to be the hero, you'll be the one bearing these strikes instead!"
The Sword Daoist swung his sword and cast his first sword attack!
Like a pouring rain, the torrential sword qi descended from above!
Remaining in her place, Lan Yu's palm began to burn with a ball of holy white flame.
As she struck out with her palm, her holy flame shot toward the sword ray!
The moment the two energies collided, the holy flame went out and the sword ray shattered!
The impact forced the surrounding sky-prides to retreat.
Meanwhile, Lan Yu stood unmoved. "Is that all your Exquisite Nine Orifices Sword Heart has to offer? Compared to Master's, yours is way weaker!"
It seemed like Lan Yu's Master also possessed the Exquisite Nine Orifices Sword Heart.
At that, the cultivators immediately connected the dots.
The Sword Daoist was stunned. "By Master, do you mean Chu Kuangren?!"
In the distance, Bai Tianxing, the Holy Bachelor Sage was surprised too. It turned out her Master was Chu Kuangren all along.
"Come, show me your next move. Let's see how close you can get to Master's level with your full strength."
Lan Yu did not explicitly answer the Sword Daoist.
In the crowd's opinion, it was understood as a sign of admittance on her part.
The cultivators were dumbfounded.
"Tsk, I never would've thought the Holy Maiden Sage would have such a level of admiration for Chu Kuangren. What a surprising revelation."
"Chu Kuangren has way too many hidden surprises."
"Indeed."
Among the crowd, Li Celong's eyes were burning with envy as he stared at Lan Yu.
F*ck. Why did all the outstanding cultivators have ties with Chu Kuangren?!
Leng Ningyu, Swordsman Mei, and now Lan Yu…
Each of them was a stellar sky-pride, and each of them possessed remarkable status in the world of cultivation.
"Those who stand with Chu Kuangren are my enemies!"
"The Holy Maiden Sage shall be no exception!"
The Sword Daoist grunted, and a powerful Sword-based Daoist Rhymes erupted from his body. Then, his spiritual powers began to converge and form an illusionary sword shadow.
As he swung his sword downwards, a devastating typhoon swept out. Like a mirror, the fabrics of the realm tore apart, and a white crack appeared.
"Wind of the Sword!"
Facing this Wind of the Sword, Lan Yu stood firm in her poise as her silver-white armor glittered majestically and emitted an endless amount of holy light aura!
"Holy Light Shield!"
Her holy light energies erupted and formed a divine shield before her that burned in white flames.
The blustery sword crashed into the divine shield with a clunk so loud that the surrounding earth rumbled.
With that, the shield broke into pieces, and the remaining power of the Sword Daoist's attack managed to hit Lan Yu and force her back by several steps.
"Not too bad."
Lan Yu patted the dust away from her armor and said calmly, "You still have one more left!"
"You won't survive the last attack!"
"Don't get too cocky now."
"Hmph!" The Sword Daoist's spiritual power began to mount. All at once, his Three Great Daoist Physique Transformations manifested.
As it was his last attack, the Sword Daoist pushed his spiritual powers and Sword-based Daoist Rhymes to its limit. A four-colored sword shadow then formed with the power of the Four Mystical Elements. The Sword Daoist did not have the sword emblems, but he still possessed the Four Mythical Sword Dao.
In fact, refining the Sword Emperor's inheritance had given him a new level of insight into the Four Mythical Sword Dao.
The Sword Daoist struck out with his sword, channeling the power of Four Mystical Elements to form a dazzling sword shadow that aimed at Lan Yu!
"Spear of Judgement!"
Lan Yu's Holy Divine Fire burned brighter and turned into a divine spear. In an instant, it was launched into the air!
The divine spear and the sword shadow collided violently!
The impact sent Lan Yu and the Sword Daoist each a few hundred meters back.