Wu Li released his Flying Sword to slash at Shi Feiyang, and Zhu Changyuan, seeing that he wasn't moving, hurriedly intercepted it with two Demon Refining Immortal Swords.

Without a doubt, Wu Li's mana was far superior to Zhu Changyuan's. After all, he was someone on the verge of Ascension. Although he couldn't compare to a Pure Yang Heavenly Immortal from the Mysterious Sect, such as Tian Can, he was certainly not someone that Zhu Changyuan, a young boy who had just begun his journey into the Daoist path, could rival.

The True Qi attached to his Flying Sword was extremely condensed and heavy. When Zhu Changyuan's swords encountered it, he felt his sword technique sinking as if his sword were lifting a mountain peak.

However, Lv Zu's Demon Refining Flying Sword was no ordinary artifact; it had already become sentient. Two against one, the swords combined their force, and Wu Li's cyan sword light began to fade. He had to inject more True Qi to make it burst with cyan brilliance to resist, but after a moment, the light weakened again, and he had to infuse more True Qi.

On one hand, he was overjoyed that these two Immortal Swords were indeed powerful, thinking that if he could obtain them, he would dominate the world with them, sweeping away all enemies. Who could then be his match?

On the other hand, he was secretly alarmed. He hadn't expected that Zhu Changyuan, a mere youngster, would possess such a high level of swordsmanship. His sword movements were expansive and seamless, coinciding mysteriously with the Circulation, impervious to leaks. No matter what changes he tried, they were all encompassed within the reach of the two Flying Swords.

He continuously spewed True Qi for a fierce onslaught, and although Zhu Changyuan appeared weaker, he remained standing resiliently.

Shi Feiyang instructed from the side, "You are practicing Lv Zu's Heavenly Escape Sword Technique. Paired with these two Pure Yang Immortal Swords, it naturally complements and brings out their greatest power. However, there is still room for improvement. Your grandfather is not well versed in swordsmanship. The Circulation Sword Dao that I taught you a few days ago, you have not yet been able to integrate the two. You just need to remember,

"Circulation is inherently numerical, and though it has three hundred and sixty figures, it describes but one object: the heavens. Earth Evil changes every five days, totaling seventy-two transformations, and Heavenly Gang changes every ten days, accounting for thirty-six transformations. Your Heavenly Escape focuses on the concept of 'escape,' but the origin remains the heavens. Reflect deeply on the idea of 'escaping into the heavens,' and you will naturally comprehend."

Jiang Shu listened, nodding continuously by the side. Shi Feiyang had told him, anything that involves heavenly timing, no matter how many patterns there are, is all describing one thing—our world.

Creating so many patterns are just about describing the world under different states at different times. If one thinks that there are really that many things, then one is mistaken.

It's like a clock, where the hour and second hands, the dial, have no significance in themselves. What matters is the time they collectively point to—the state of the world at that moment.

Only by understanding this layer of meaning can one trace back to the origin and grasp the essence of the Huaxia Daoist heritage. Otherwise, if one talks big without substance, one is just showing off superficial knowledge—useless posturing.

Zhu Changyuan was exceptionally talented. Shi Feiyang had already taught him these principles when guiding him on Daoist techniques and swordsmanship. Understanding the theory was one thing, but applying it in practice was another. Now with Wu Li, a great expert, as his sparring partner, he integrated the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique with the Circulation Sword Dao, understanding the "Sword Escaping into the Heavens" realm, and quickly had many new insights.

Listening to his patient guidance, Zhu Changyuan responded with questions, while Jiang Shu nodded again and again, almost snorting in disapproval.

He was eager to slay Zhu Changyuan, but given that using only swordsmanship couldn't achieve this quickly, he resorted to using his magical treasure, throwing his hand forth—a cluster of white needle glares shot straight at Zhu Changyuan.

To use a magical treasure against a junior like Zhu Changyuan, for someone of his status, was truly unbecoming and even shameful.

The key point was, since Shi Feiyang first saw Zhu Changyuan in the Haideng Temple, he had taken a liking to the boy, repeatedly advising him on the experience of dueling others—to be cautious and wary of sudden fatal attacks.

Previously at the Zhuanlun Temple, he was burned by the Demon Fire, and not only did the meridians within suffer damage, his feet and shins also blistered severely. If not for the Divine Effect of Shi Feiyang's Spirit Pill, his root bone would have been injured. From then on, he always reminded himself to be extremely careful when dueling, and to guard against unexpected treachery!

When Wu Li raised his hand and launched the Flying Needle, Zhu Changyuan instantly used dual swords to block as he saw the silvery light flying. The needles were numerous—over three thousand about a foot long each—striking the swords with a sharp ringing sound.

Knowing he couldn't block it, Zhu Changyuan's body shot back like a spring, his shoulders shaking as a pair of black wings burst forth. The wings grew automatically from his back, spreading out to four or five zhang (about 40-50 feet) wide.

Flapping the wings, 360 Feathered Arrows, all gleaming with dark U-light and tipped with Mars, shot ferociously towards Wu Li.

When these two wings combine, they form the Celestial Dragon Sword; when spread out, they became the Heavenly Feather Arrows. Each arrow was equivalent to another person's Flying Sword, and their quality exceeded the one Wu Li held. All 360 firing at once, Wu Li could not withstand it—first, his cluster of Flying Needles was dispersed by the Heavenly Feather Arrows, meeting the arrow tips' Mars, they exploded violently, and the needles shattered instantly.

Wu Li then released a shield-shaped magical treasure, expanding over three zhang long, its concave shape protecting him.

Zhu Changyuan controlled the continuous stream of arrows attacking the shield, clinking, crackling, and sparking, directing a relentless assault.

But within a dozen breaths, Wu Li's cherished Protective Dharma Treasure, cultivated for many years, was blasted to pieces. He desperately howled and, using his Flying Sword, jabbed and chopped, rotating left and right to intercept the torrential Heavenly Feather Arrows. Zhu Changyuan kept sending the Pure Yang Immortal Swords for constant fast attack.

Wu Li's own Flying Sword was inadequate, and the True Qi attached couldn't withstand such rapid attacks. Finally, it broke under the strain, with a series of crisp sounds, snapping into many pieces, scattering as trails of cyan light!

Having lost his Flying Sword and magical treasure, facing the overwhelming dark light, Wu Li roared in anger and frustration, using an Escape Skill to flee with fiery speed.

Zhu Changyuan pursued the Heavenly Feather Arrows for more than a hundred li before retracting them.

Having been driven away by Zhu Changyuan, Wu Li's disciples were all stunned. They had exerted great efforts to become disciples under Wu Li, some even from the outside of Qingcheng Mountain, bowing step by step until reaching Golden Whip Cliff, begging for a long time before being accepted.

They truly believed that Wu Li was the most formidable Immortal under the heavens, indeed just like the Immortals they heard about in storybooks and storytelling sessions.

The young man, Shi Feiyang, had a face filled with youthful innocence, yet now he had sent them fleeing in a sorry state!

They exchanged looks, unsure of what to do. To release their Flying Swords and fight would be akin to marching to their deaths, as their master had already been overpowered. Yet, doing nothing and just staring blankly at each other was unbearably awkward.

In the end, they all came up with the same solution—escape!

The five disciples each released their Flying Swords and waved their small banners, preparing to flee, when suddenly two sword lights flew down from the top of Golden Whip Cliff, bringing a moment of relief to their hearts.

The person who had arrived was none other than the Hemp-robed Daoist Si Taixu, accompanied by his disciple, the Divine Spider Geng Kun.

Si Taixu was dressed in a plainly, with a hoary beard, and he held a rattan cane. From midair, he pointed the cane forward, and a massive cloud of yellow smoke sprayed out from its tip, enveloping Zhu Changyuan.

Zhu Changyuan, without a second thought, flapped his wings violently, releasing a barrage of Heavenly Feather Flying Arrows. A massive amount of dark light, accompanied by sparks, shot through the air in all directions.

The yellow cloud produced by Si Taixu was incredibly peculiar: the Heavenly Feather Arrows passed straight through it as if unaffected by any force, gathering and scattering as they threatened to encase Zhu Changyuan within.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Zhu Changyuan acted promptly, merging body and sword into one and transforming into a white rainbow that soared upwards.

From below, Shi Feiyang transmitted a message to him, "My Celestial Dragon Sword isn't just for shooting people like an arrow, it can also fan wind!"

This reminder sparked an idea in Zhu Changyuan, who retracted his three hundred and sixty Flying Swords, morphing them back into two wings. With a gentle flutter, they grew tens of feet long, gigantic dark wings that blotted out the sun.

Zhu Changyuan formed a hand seal to summon wind from the Southeast Xun Position to amplify its force, then he vigorously waved his wings, creating a chilling gale. In an instant, the sky darkened, daylight faded, and the vegetation within a dozen miles shook violently. Trees nearby snapped with loud cracks.

The yellow smoke Si Taixu had released to capture him was blown back by the gale. He retracted it with his rattan cane and demanded loudly, "What is your relation to the East Sea Winged Daoist Geng Kun?"

Zhu Changyuan was stunned. "I don't have any relation. Geng Kun? I don't know him."

Si Taixu was highly suspicious, knowing that among the cultivators under the heavens, aside from the Winged Daoist Geng Kun, there was no one else with wings. Yet Zhu Changyuan kept denying knowing Geng Kun.

As he was about to press further, a thunderous long roar came from the southeast direction: it was Wu Li returning after going there. This fellow had moved a small mountain from a hundred miles away—thirty to forty feet high, a massive boulder scattered with a few pine trees and vibrant grasses sprouting from the crevices. He lifted it with his mana as if it were a meteorite from the heavens, hurling it directly at Zhu Changyuan!

Si Taixu's heart skipped a beat upon seeing it, knowing that the fellow Daoist had become truly enraged, showing the intent to fight to the death. He hurriedly tried to stop him, "Fellow Daoist, you mustn't!"

But Wu Li didn't heed his warning and continued to smash the mountain towards Zhu Changyuan.

Zhu Changyuan again flapped his wings, releasing both the Flying Arrows and the Immortal Swords. They struck the approaching mountain, and upon contact, the arrows caused a loud explosion, blasting a hole about a foot in diameter. The Pure Yang Immortal Swords even pierced straight through the middle of the mountain.

With continuous attacks, the mountain visibly shrunk at an astonishing speed, quickly turning into a cloud of dust.

Wu Li used a spell to catch the shattered dust and prevent it from falling. Rubbing his hands together and exhaling essence energy, he shouted, "Go!"

All of the dust was directed at Zhu Changyuan, who quickly retracted his Heavenly Feather Arrows and conjured a gale to blow away all the dust and fine particles.

Despite Wu Li's maneuvers, he had still failed to harm Zhu Changyuan directly, but a smile appeared on his face.

Zhu Changyuan soon felt something amiss; his body inexplicably heated up, as if invisible flames roasted him head-on!

It turned out, Wu Li had previously attached his self-refined Yin Fire to the surface of the stones. This Yin Fire was completely transparent, nearly impossible to see. After the mountain shattered, the Yin Fire spread to every piece of stone and dust. If Zhu Changyuan hadn't had his large wings to create gales and blow away the bulk of the rocky debris, he would have been entirely engulfed and burnt by the Yin Fire by now, which would result in severe burns if not death.

Even so, Zhu Changyuan was in considerable discomfort. In panic, he merged body and sword into one and plummeted downwards, reaching Shi Feiyang's side, staggering and pitifully seeking help, "Great Uncle Master, save me!"

Shi Feiyang reached out and grasped the invisible Yin Fire, crushing it in his palm until it dissipated into ash. He then pinched Zhu Changyuan's red-hot face and chided, "Suffering again, aren't you? I told you to be careful and prudent, yet you immediately fell for someone's trick. If I weren't here, you'd be getting skinned alive!"

Zhu Changyuan had only been slightly scorched by the Yin Fire thanks to his quick plea for help, and the brisk frontal baking had left several burned blisters across his forehead, cheeks, and chin—with the exception of the area Shi Feiyang had pinched. Despite this, he was in tremendous pain, gritting his teeth.

Shi Feiyang produced an Elixir for treating fire poison, advising Zhu Changyuan to take it internally and apply it externally, while teasing him, "Are you afraid of being left with a scarred face, to be disfigured like this?"

Zhu Changyuan bravely shook his head, "No, I'm not afraid!"

Shi Feiyang expressed surprise, "You're not afraid of being disfigured into an ugly monster?"

With a painful grin, Zhu Changyuan replied, "I believe with Great Uncle Master present, I won't be disfigured, so I am not afraid."

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