Chapter 1144: Equal Strengths

“Move aside!”
A joyful voice echoed through the mountain valley—loud and confident, with a determined gaze fixed on the Sword Sect’s leader, his eyes brimming with fierce fighting spirit.
The Sword Sect’s leader raised an eyebrow!
Seeming to sense something from Kai Xin’s sudden change in demeanor, his pupils narrowed slightly as he swiftly scanned the Heavenly Crystal Divine Weapon. With a deep, cold roar, his tone grew even darker: “Our sect has said—hand over the Heavenly Crystal, and we’ll let you go…”
“I’ve said the same,” Kai Xin replied, taking no step back, his fighting spirit growing even stronger. “Move aside, and I’ll spare your life!” His sharp words and resolute tone made the Sword Sect’s leader’s expression stiffen, his gaze growing colder.
“Dare you!”
The Sword Sect’s leader blocked the exit firmly, speaking slowly and through gritted teeth.
“…”
Kai Xin knew it was impossible to force the Sword Sect’s leader back with words. Without showing his strength, the leader would never give up the idea of seizing the Heavenly Crystal. So he said nothing more. Right in front of the leader, he put the Golden Scaled Divine Sword back into his pocket and held the ancient Heavenly Crystal in his right hand.
As he channeled his internal energy, the coldness emanating from the Heavenly Crystal intensified instantly! A tangible wave of icy coldness spread rapidly in all directions from Kai Xin as the center… In the humid mountain valley, a thin layer of frosty ice quickly covered the ground, spreading at a visible pace and closing in on the Sword Sect’s leader.
“…”
Feeling the intense icy aura of the Heavenly Crystal and the dangerous presence radiating from Kai Xin, the Sword Sect’s leader grew grave.
His long sword was slowly drawn!
Unperturbed by the leader’s cautious and solemn actions, Kai Xin circulated his internal energy within the Heavenly Crystal, carefully experiencing its connection to himself and feeling its immense power. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, a more confident glow shining in them: “Jian Ao, today, I’ll use your blood to sacrifice to the Heavenly Crystal…”
“Arrogant!”
The Sword Sect’s leader snarled coldly, unleashing a mountain-like pressure toward Kai Xin.
It was a special ability of the supreme masters of the Way of Swords—a mental pressure that merged the forces of heaven and earth! Enemies trapped under this pressure saw their combat strength and morale greatly diminished.
Yet!
Against Kai Xin, who possessed three wills, such pressure and mental coercion brought him no advantage at all.
Kai Xin stood firm, holding his sword, completely unshaken by the Sword Sect’s influence. He slowly raised the Heavenly Crystal before him, examining it closely:
Truly an ancient divine weapon!

In addition to its greatly enhanced properties, the sword blade is long and lightweight, with a terrifyingly sharp edge! It’s sharper and more reliable than the 4th-stage Golden Scaled Divine Sword, giving one the confidence to easily split anything in its path!
Internal energy flows within it, and Kai Xin can clearly sense two extremely powerful forces ready to burst forth at any moment—these are the “Sword Intent” and “Sword Qi” of the Heavenly Crystal.
With the Heavenly Crystal in hand, the distress he felt when escaping from the Sword Sect’s master has completely vanished…
Kai Xin even believes that with the Heavenly Crystal and enough time, it would be no problem to wear down this Tian Dao expert who has been scheming for it for years.
Boom!
At this thought, a surge of powerful confidence and fighting spirit rises within Kai Xin.
……
On the cool night, with Kai Xin and the Sword Sect’s master gone, the island once again falls silent.
The Face-Shifting Fox, left on the beach by the two, is now extremely anxious, racing against time to gather a little true energy to unlock its blocked meridians, looking utterly desperate…
First, it was captured by Kai Xin and brought to this island. Later, it nearly died at the hands of the Sword Sect’s master. This made the fox, who loved collecting treasures, face death twice in one night—even though Kai Xin only used Chu Liu Xiang as a threat, it was far more painful for it than dying once.
After what happened, the Face-Shifting Fox became extremely cautious about its life!
Now that the location of the Heavenly Crystal was exposed, it didn’t want to lose its life for something that wasn’t its own. All it wanted now was to unlock its meridians and leave this place as quickly as possible. The farther away from the island, the better!
If the Heavenly Crystal fell into the hands of Kai Xin or the Sword Sect’s master, the loser might turn their anger on it.
The Face-Shifting Fox focused entirely on unlocking its meridians!
Half an hour passed…
Through its efforts, it finally sensed a slight loosening in its blocked meridians. Its eyes lit up, and it didn’t dare slack off, preparing more earnestly for its final push!
Puh!!
As the meridians were unlocked, its life energy and internal force flowed throughout its body.
The Face-Shifting Fox rolled uncontrollably on the ground…
“Haha!”
Overjoyed, it got up immediately, shedding its previous desperate appearance. Eagerly, it lifted its robes and prepared to leave the island.
Just then!
Its ears twitched slightly, and it stretched its neck in shock, looking toward the lake outside the island.
Faint sounds were gradually becoming clearer…
The sound of clothes swirling in the wind;
The sound of stepping through waves;
Along with faint voices…

The Thousand-Faced Fox, who had just relaxed, became tense again instantly.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
After a brief moment of shock, numerous dark figures emerged densely from beneath the moonlit lake. The Thousand-Faced Fox had sharp eyes and could even see, thanks to the moonlight, that these mysterious people were all dressed in nightwear, revealing only their cold eyes.
“The Sword Sect!”
Although he couldn’t see their faces, having roamed the martial world for many years, he knew well the combat skills of various sects—few in the world could compare. From the unique martial arts techniques and light-footwork they displayed at first glance, he recognized their identities and his expression changed!
“Thirty-Six Stratagems: Retreating is Best!”
Without hesitation, the Thousand-Faced Fox vanished from the beach in an instant.
But to his frustration…
This time, the Sword Sect sent quite a large number of people.
Using the trees as cover, he quietly made his way to another side of the island and found that dozens or even hundreds of Sword Sect disciples were already lined up on the beach there. Under the moonlight, it was clear that they had completely surrounded the island!
“…”
The Thousand-Faced Fox frowned deeply.
Although most of the Sword Sect disciples were only at the Wuwei level, it was easy to tell from their formation layout that once these arrays of varying sizes were deployed, even someone at the sect leader level would be trapped and unable to escape in a short time.
“Bastards.”
At that moment, he saw several Sword Sect experts at the Mythical Realm leaving the beach and heading toward the interior of the island. Not daring to stay, he was forced to hide inside the island.
…
Boom!!!
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
Just as a large group of Sword Sect experts landed from all directions and began to encircle the cave, Xian Kai, the leader of the Sword Sect, emerged from the chaotic dust.
An entire hour!
After an hour of fighting, Xian Kai finally forced Jian Ao out of the cave.
When they separated, both could see the seriousness and wariness in each other’s eyes…
Jian Ao was originally a master of the Heavenly Dao, his strength reaching the Hua Realm. He had only been at a temporary disadvantage in the brief clash earlier because he didn’t know Xian Kai well. In a full-scale fight, with Xian Kai’s strength, it would indeed be difficult to suppress Jian Ao.
However, Jian Ao’s situation wasn’t much better either!
The Ten True Dragon Styles, the One Yang Finger, the Light Step, the Muscle-Toning Scripture, and the Bone-Purifying Scripture—even against the Evil King, Xian Kai could fight him evenly for a while without falling behind. Now, with these five supreme techniques combined with the ancient divine weapon, the Tianjing, they didn’t achieve a crushing advantage, but they fought a close match.

The relentless wind had long shattered Jian Ao’s protective aura, and now his snow-white satin robe was in tatters, covered in dust, flapping wildly in the wind. There were also over a dozen bloodstains on his body—no trace left of the masterly demeanor he once possessed.
But Happy’s situation was even worse…
Over the course of an hour, in an attempt to master the unparalleled skill “One Yang Finger” and the unique sword technique of the Wu Wei Realm, he had consumed countless pills to rebuild his vital energy field to withstand Jian Ao’s sword energy. His magical armor had been completely ruined, turning into nothing but a plain iron suit.
Just then!
Boom!!
A bright rocket exploded high in the night sky, casting a dazzling glow. The intense red light illuminated both of their faces.
“Happy, the leader of the Happy Sect…”
The leader of the Sword Sect spoke again:
“My disciples have already taken control of the island. Tian Jing—I will definitely get it! It’s not too late to hand over Tian Jing now.”
“Even you, the sect leader, can’t stop me. Sending so many disciples here is just sending them to death…”
“Oh?”
The Sword Sect leader smiled coldly:
“I alone am enough to keep you busy. Do you really think you can stand against my entire Sword Sect with just your own strength?”
Hearing this, Happy replied calmly, “Who said I’m alone…?”
“That was just using you to hone my sword technique. How about we fight again? Let’s see if you really have the ability to stop me!” Before he finished speaking, Happy quickly took a drop of the Fire Qilin’s blood from his Qi Bag and swallowed it.
The Blood of the Fire Qilin turned into a warm current upon entering his mouth, generating an astonishing surge of internal energy from his dantian!
Under the astonished and solemn gaze of the Sword Sect leader, Happy’s wounds began to heal at a visible pace. At the same time, his internal energy, which had gradually dried up from continuous use of Wind Filling the Sky, surged wildly as his aura rose rapidly back to its peak.
“…Useless.”
The Sword Sect leader was stunned for a moment before slowly shaking his head, a drop of bright red blood appearing in his hand.
“…”
This time, it was Happy who was astonished. Watching as the Sword Sect leader swallowed another drop of the same Fire Qilin’s blood, his wounds healing swiftly while his once-depressed aura exploded with power!
Boom!!
Merging with heaven and earth, thanks to the powerful effects of the Fire Qilin’s blood, the Sword Sect leader returned to his peak condition. With a determined gaze, he stared intently at Happy:
“Hand over Tian Jing, and I’ll spare your life!”
With that condescending tone, along with the frequent sounds of his robes rustling in the wind, Happy’s pupils gradually narrowed.