Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 692 - 343: This Dowager Must Meet Him in Person

Chapter 692: Chapter 343: This Dowager Must Meet Him in Person

The sword corpse slave on the sixth level clearly possessed greater strength.

Even Qu Hongling had to expend considerable effort to defeat it.

Walking out of the stone gate of the barrier, Qu Hongling appeared somewhat worried as she said:

"Jiang, maybe let’s call it quits. Although the sword corpse slave’s cultivation is at the Initial Period of the Heaven Desolation Boundary, its lack of pain perception makes its attacks exceptionally fierce and difficult to manage."

Jiang Shouzhong patted the young woman’s fragrant shoulder: "It’s not like anyone dies from this, let’s give it a try."

With that, he stepped into the stone gate.

Qu Hongling initially wanted to share some combat tips but resigned herself as she saw him stride inside.

The other disciples waiting in line couldn’t help but start speculating on when Jiang Shouzhong would emerge.

"I think it’ll take him about thirty minutes."

"I don’t think he’ll win."

"He might win, but certainly not easily. After all, it’s said his flying sword is quite powerful, and his cultivation level is high. But to defeat it effortlessly? Impossible. I’ll wager an hour."

"..."

However, just as the crowd’s chatter hadn’t gone on for long, Jiang Shouzhong emerged, muttering: "I thought this level would have some sophisticated Sword Manual, but it turned out to be mediocre. Zhenxuan Mountain’s stinginess knows no bounds."

The outer corridor instantly fell silent.

Everyone stared at Jiang Shouzhong in stunned silence, unable to utter a word for a long while.

"Brother, you’re done already?"

Qu Hongling wore an expression as if she’d seen a ghost: "Jiang, are you... Have you purposely been hiding your strength before?"

"I haven’t been hiding anything. I told you—I radiate an overwhelming Kingly Qi; they don’t dare attack me."

Jiang Shouzhong spoke half-jokingly, half-truthfully.

He waved at the rest: "Fellow Daoists, keep pushing forward. We’re heading up."

Jiang Shouzhong grabbed Qu Hongling’s small hand and ascended to the seventh level.

There were only two people waiting in line on this level.

One of them was Zhong Yan, who earlier seemed rather smug as he provocatively challenged Jiang Shouzhong.

Upon seeing Jiang Shouzhong and Qu Hongling arrive, Zhong Yan’s brow twitched but immediately broke into a grin: "Looks like you’ve got some skills. Not bad, not bad. This is finally getting interesting. Across all of Zhenxuan Mountain, among our peers, only Junior Brother Feng is worthy competition. It’s been dreadfully boring."

"Senior Brother Zhong, you’re so powerful! I’m afraid even Feng Yichen couldn’t compare to you in the slightest," Qu Hongling said sweetly, her smile laced with playful charm.

The young woman once again employed her tactic of subtle praise and provocation.

Zhong Yan sneered at the corners of his mouth and mocked:

"Little girl, I’ll admit you’re quite pretty, but don’t lump me together with those fools who lose their composure at the sight of beauty. Your petty tricks are laughable to me."

Qu Hongling pouted, sulking: "Can’t you just appreciate genuine compliments? You’re really impossible!"

Zhong Yan dismissed her words with a laugh and ignored her.

Moments later, a disciple emerged from the stone gate of the barrier, visibly disheveled, a trail of blood streaking his eyes.

"Senior Brother Zhong."

Seeing Zhong Yan, the disciple immediately bowed respectfully.

Zhong Yan clapped the disciple on the shoulder and said indifferently: "Given your abilities, it’ll be impossible for you to defeat the sword corpse slave on this seventh level within the next two years. Best to focus on closed-door cultivation; don’t come back here and embarrass yourself again. Even if you’re not tired of it, I am tired of seeing you."

With that, he disregarded the disciple, whose face had flushed with humiliation, and entered the stone gate barrier.

"What kind of person is that?"

Qu Hongling grew increasingly irked as she observed Zhong Yan’s cutting demeanor toward his fellow disciples.

Still, she couldn’t deny his formidable strength.

He emerged in less than fifteen minutes.

"I’ll wait for you upstairs."

Zhong Yan halted mid-step on the staircase, turned with a mocking smile, and said, "Although I doubt you’ll make it, let me wish you good luck—you might just avoid losing too disgracefully."

Qu Hongling huffed angrily, watching his figure disappear from view, her face livid with indignation.

Jiang Shouzhong consoled her: "Having the skill to show off is part of his ability. There’s no need to take it to heart."

Qu Hongling snorted coldly. After waiting for the next disciple to complete their trial, she entered first, intending to act as the scout for Jiang Shouzhong once again.

This trial was significantly longer.

An entire hour passed before Qu Hongling emerged.

Jiang Shouzhong, who had been waiting anxiously, finally relaxed upon seeing the young woman unharmed.

"Barely won, but I can’t be bothered with the Sword Manual."

Qu Hongling exhaled softly, catching her breath, and said to Jiang Shouzhong, "Jiang, the sword corpse slave inside wields a heavy sword, attacking in a sweeping and powerful manner. The space inside allows it to fully unleash its moves, making evasion difficult. Maybe you should..."

"Don’t worry, I’ll be out quickly."

Jiang Shouzhong interrupted her gently. He wiped the sweat from her brow tenderly before entering the stone gate.

In the trial room, the sword corpse slave was a man of ordinary appearance but an impressively robust physique, his muscles defined with particular intensity, especially his arms, which rivaled those of a seasoned sailor.

The sword he held was much wider than others.

It was clearly a heavy sword.

As before, it didn’t perceive Jiang Shouzhong’s presence and stood motionless like a puppet.

Jiang Shouzhong circled around it to examine the Sword Manual on the wall.

"Spirit Water Sword Technique..."

Upon seeing the name inscribed on the wall, Jiang Shouzhong furrowed his brows slightly.

He swiftly unsheathed the Spirit Water Sword that Ran Qingchen had gifted him from his waist, studied it carefully, and chuckled: "So this Sword Manual was written by the owner of the Spirit Water Sword. Quite a coincidence."

Next to the Sword Manual was a small annotation, likely penned by the Taoist Ancestor. Its general meaning stated:

This sword technique is among the world’s finest. To unleash its maximum power, the Spirit Water Sword is the ideal pairing.

"Qingchen, you’ve truly given me a wonderful gift."

Jiang Shouzhong’s expression was complex as he let out a soft sigh and sat cross-legged on the ground, carefully studying the Sword Manual on the wall.

——

Meanwhile, deep within the bamboo forest.

Upon hearing a voice she knew all too well, Yelü Miaomiao froze, her expression stiffening as she stood in place.

She turned around rigidly.

Standing in the shadows of the bamboo grove was a woman clad in black martial arts uniform.

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